AN: I want to apologize for the late update on this chapter. This is the second to last chapter of part 1. Hope you enjoy it.

Zero let out a soft moan, as he began to regain consciousness. His head felt heavy, as he used the little strength he had and raised it slowly. He saw Rido sitting in a chair and was staring at him with a smirk. "Well, this looks familiar, at least to me. It's been 10 years, but I never forget one of my best memories. Seeing you tied down and screaming. The agony you felt of having your memories sealed. If you think that was painful, you are sadly mistaken. You see, this one is set up a bit differently. It will give you back all your memories, just as painfully as sealing and it will seal them again. And this will be on a continuous cycle. That fear you are feeling will turn into tears of great agony. How I pitiful you, little Kiryu." Zero couldn't help but whimper in fear. He turned it on, as Zero's eyes widened in pain and he screamed. He knew that Zero remembered everything and waited until he knew he had all his memories before turning it off. Zero panted trying to control his breathing, as he glared at Rido with enormous hate.

"Why?" Zero shouted in anger, shaking with pain, fear, and fury. Rido got up from his seat, making his way over to the young teen. "Answer me!' Instead of answering him, he jerked Zero's head to the side and licked his neck. He shivered, as the breath tickled his skin. "No! Please don't!" Without mercy, Rido dug his fangs into Zero's neck. He screamed in agony, unable to move due to being chained down to the chair.

Toru was in the room against a pillar with a gag in his mouth, staring in horror. 'No, Zero. No...' The tears that formed in his eyes made it difficult for him to see. Zero's screams just kept going, and Toru sobbed as he pulled against his binds. Kenshin was in the same room beside Toru, gagged and tied down as well. He was struggling to free himself as well, tears in his eyes. He was watching one of his best friend's painful sealing being undone. The screams that escaped the silver-haired teen made the nearby servants of Rido shiver with excitement. They enjoyed seeing their master's enemies in pain and agony. Zero uttered a painful gasp before he passed out. Rido released his grip, as the teen went limp in his bindings.

"You see boys, my enemies are the Kuran siblings and the Kiryu family. Your association with them placed you in great danger. So I'm giving you a choice, but in return, I will take something for you. I can make you forget about them all and in exchange, I'll let you leave this mansion without a single scratch. No one will bite you and no one will attack you. You can continue living your lives as you have just without him." He said glancing at Zero. The two teens were horrified. Forget everyone? Including their best friend? Rido pulled the gags from their mouths, allowing them to answer him.

Toru cried softly, knowing he couldn't do that. He didn't care if he died. He couldn't just leave Zero, as he raised his head to Rido. With a fierce look and glare he spit in Rido's face. "Go to hell, you bloodsucking monster! I will never abandon him or anyone else! You got it!?" Rido calmly grabbed a napkin wiped his face and smirked at Toru. He approached the teen and punched him so hard, he crushed a few ribs. Toru gasped in pain, as Rido grabbed his head by his hair. He glared hatefully at the teen, as blood appeared on the sides of Toru's mouth.

"Where are your brave words now, little hunter?" Rido grinned. Toru didn't bother answering him, as he glared at him hatefully. "Such a beautiful look on your face, I wonder what your blood tastes like." Toru's widened at his words, as Rido laughed. "Oh don't worry, I'm not biting you. I will make him do it eventually." He gestured towards Zero., who was slowly regaining consciousness. "He is gonna need blood so he can become a full and true pureblood again." He slowly approached Zero, who slowly raised his head and glared at Rido, the pain in his eyes made Rido smirk. "I have something for you, dear boy." Without a word, he jerked Zero's head back, causing the teen to gasp in pain. Biting his tongue as hard as he could, he placed his mouth over Zero's, forcing the blood into Zero's mouth. The teen tried to struggle, but he couldn't. Zero ended up swallowing the blood that was pouring into his mouth. A scream escaped his lips, as Rido kept them in place. A smell of burning flesh filled the room, as Rido finally released Zero. The tattoo on Zero's neck was burning him, as he screamed in pain. He wanted to crawl his neck, anything to escape this painful process.

Kenshin broke down even more, as his senses were now picking up that his friend was turned back into a pureblood in front of him. Toru only whimpered softly, as he also sensed it. "Can't you just let him go? Have you no honor? He can't even fight back." Kenshin whispered with fear laced in his tone. Rido smirked as he looked at the hunter. Kenshin's jaw tensed as Rido approached him. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No, I won't, but I can't promise anything else." Rido made his way to Zero, who was glaring at Rido with crimson hues. "Now you will listen to me, Kiryu." Zero felt as though his body was moving at Rido's words. He didn't even know how until a memory popped into his head. His father's words. 'The ability to control you...' His mind went blank as he stared into Rido's eyes. The unstable pureblood turned to a few of his underlings. He pointed to Kenshin. "Untie him and hold him next to the Kiryu. He is going to need human blood, after all."

"No!' Kenshin tried to pull away, knowing what was going to happen. Toru watched in horror, as they pulled Kenshin so his neck was next to Zero's mouth. "Please don't!"

"Too bad, it's too late!" He looked at Zero. "Bite and drain him!" Kenshin cried, as Zero's head leaned forward and licked his neck. Zero's eyes turned a glowing crimson, fangs elongated and barely touched Kenshin's neck. The teen feared his best friend was going to be draining him, as he closed his eyes. "Zero please stop! You're going to kill me!"

Suddenly Zero stopped, as Rido watched him, growing confused. "I didn't say stop. Continue!" Zero raised his head before he pulled against his chains breaking them. He pulled the device off his head, staring with hatred at the man before him. The underlings released Kenshin, who fell to his hands and knees. Toru and Kenshin realized Zero was back in control. Rido took a surprise step back as Zero ran straight at him, grabbing him by his neck, and slamming the pureblood into a wooden statue behind him. It pierced above Rido's heart and he gasped in pain.

"Too bad you're not as strong-minded as Kenshin!" Zero yelled, his eyes turning lavender. At that moment, Toshiro and this group showed up—the ones who came with him untied Toru and dealt with Rido's underlings. Zero saw them and allowed his father to stand in front of Rido.

"Toshiro..." Rido coughed up blood as Toshiro stared at him with disdain. He ran his hand through Rido, making sure to pierce his heart. Rido shivered in pain, knowing he was going to die.

"If only things were different and you didn't do everything you did for the last 1,000 years..." Toshiro whispered. "Sadly it ends today..." Rido closed his eyes, as his body turned into red crystal-like particles and shattered into thin air. He turned to Zero, who stared at his father. "Do you remember everything?" Zero nodded, as he looked down "I don't blame you if you hate me."

Zero raised her eyes to his father and shook his head. "No, I told you before that you realized your mistake. I think I was too young to comprehend and grasp the entire situation, father. I finally remember my family and I don't ever plan on letting that go again." Ichiru stopped a few feet from his brother, as they both felt the connection return before embracing each other. "Otouto-san," Zero whispered into Ichiru's ear.

"Nii-san," he whispered back, as the twins finally felt complete. Toshiro placed his arms around his sons, glad they were reunited and that Zero remembered everything and was now a pureblood again.

"Let us go so we can get some help for Toru," Shiki whispered gaining the Kiryu's attention. Kenshin was on Ruka's back, but he was conscious. As the boys approached him, Toru was passed out in Shiki's arms. "It seems Father crushed some bones to almost nothing. I'm so sorry."

"Your father's action does not reflect on you, Shiki-senpai," Zero replied gently, earning the attention of all of those present. "No one could have stopped him even if they tried. Unfortunately, he did a lot of damage to Toru, can it be fixed?" His eyes stared at the red, purplish-blue bruises that graced Toru's abdomen and his chest. He raised his eyes to his father, who was also staring at the young teen's skin. His fingers barely grazing over the bruise and the teen was flinching from the pain in his sleep.

"Yes, but I'd rather do this back at the manor than the Academy," Zero heard his father's words and appeared confused. "Oh, I didn't tell you. For the past 10 years Shizuka, Ichiru, and Kaiya cleaned and fixed our old home. It's become rather big and has a building attached through a hallway. That building has 50 bedrooms for anyone who needs it. Right now, we are relocating all the night class students there. I will continue to protect them. But we can get Toru there and we have the best doctors." He gently pulled Toru into his arms, as Zero ended up on Ichiru's back.

"Let me help you, Zero," Ichiru whispered, as the teen nodded. He placed his arms around Ichiru, as his twin placed his hands on his brother's leg to keep him up.

Within an hour the group arrived at the Manor. Shizuka, Hiroshi, and Ayaka cried out in surprise as they saw Toru's condition. "Follow me, Toshiro," Shizuka whispered, as the two purebloods raced down the hallway.

Kenshin was put down gently by Ruka and then Ichiru gently placed Zero on his feet, as Hiroshi's eyes widened. He saw Zero, as he screamed and pointed, "Oh my god, you're a...a...a pureblood again."

Zero appeared hurt by Hiroshi's reaction, but he nodded softly. Ayaka walked up to Zero and threw her arms around him. "Ayaka, wha-?"

"I was so scared!" Tears from the young teen's eyes, as she cried into Zero's neck. Anyone would think they were lovers, but they weren't. "I don't care if you're a vampire. You might be Zero Kiryu, but you will always be my best friend, I don't care about the details." Zero's eyes softened as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her closely. A second later, he was across the room, controlling his breathing. "Zero...?"

"Sorry, I have to get used to controlling my bloodlust and I also need blood," Zero closed his eyes, and Ichiru was at his brother's side in seconds. "Until then, I need to keep my distance."

Ichiru looked at Shiki, Rima, and Ruka. "Could one of you please get Father if he is available?" Ruka nodded, as she made her way to the Infirmary. Ichiru kept a hand on Zero's shoulder until Ruka returned with Toshiro. Zero's eyes connected with Toshiro's and he saw a hint of red mixed with amethyst. "Father, he needs human blood..."

Zero could smell Ayaka's blood, which was mouth-watering. He closed his eyes and covered his nose and mouth. "Ayaka, please go for right now. I don't want you hurt. Please." Toshiro and Ichiru were surprised by his restraint.

Ayaka opened her mouth until Toshiro stepped forward. "Ayaka, he isn't telling you this for no reason. When a pureblood is awakened after being dormant for many years, its thirst is uncontrollable until it gets what it needs. It happened to both Kaname and myself when we were forced into a deep sleep for 10 years. Zero's seal broke after 10 years so he is experiencing the same thing. You are human and your blood is what he doesn't want to devour. He doesn't want to hurt you or bite you. It would turn you into a Level D vampire or worse, kill you. It's not a pleasant thing my dear. Please do as he asked. Just for an hour or so. We will get you when it's okay again."

Hiroshi led his sister out and Toshiro looked at him. He held out his arm and whispered, "Go ahead. My blood is enough to help, and once you get used to controlling it, you'll be okay again." Zero's eyes turned crimson, as he grabbed his father's arm and his fangs grew. Toshiro and Ichiru watched as Zero's fangs slowly sunk into Toshiro's palm. He closed his eyes, as the thick blood entered his mouth for the first time in over 10 years. Zero savored the taste of that sweet, intoxicating blood, which was so pure and completely irresistible. After a few minutes, Zero raised his head. A thin line dripped from his mouth, as Ichiru wiped it off. His eyes were amethyst again and he took a deep breath.

Are you alright?' Ichiru questioned, as Zero gave his brother a small nod.

AN: Let me know your thoughts.

xHylianticipated~
01|18|2025
1:46 PM