What? WHAAAAAAAAAT???? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS you might be wondering. Yes an update. From the suddenly disappearing author.... Fnal chap guys. enjoy it while it lasts OTL

Akatsuki would try to occasionally try to hide his grin of triumph. It was a big success for him – never in his entire life, vampire years, would he have thought that Zero would agree to be taken under his wing.

They both parted when Zero seemingly excused himself as he had classes. The redhead watched the silhouette of the hunter disappear from the doorway before making his own way back to him room, where he thought he could have gotten the best sleep since forever.

He casually strolled under the sun, uncaring of the UV annoyingly prickling his skin. What made him actually felt annoyed was from the moment he saw his vampire leader standing by the door of his room in the dormitory.

The pureblood looked as calm as ever, and not a single emotion was shown. His arms were crossed, and looked like he had been waiting for a while now.

Akatsuki frowned a little when they made eye contact. He looked away after, passing Kaname and reaching for the doorknob when the pureblood spoke.

"May I have a word with you? It shouldn't take long." It wasn't a request.

Straightening up, he nodded. He was sure he was prepared for whatever Kaname would do, be it a quarrel or maybe even a fight. All he knew was that he wasn't going to let Kaname have Zero and watch the latter being treated the way he witnessed it.

"Come. This place isn't suitable for our conversation," Kaname said and began walking in the direction of his room. Without hesitation, the redhead followed.

In the brunette's room, Kaname settled himself on the couch, and Akatsuki opted to stand before him, out of a decent respect he still had for the pureblood.

"I see you've gotten along well with Zero," Kaname began, crossing his legs and leaning back. He eyed Akatsuki for any emotional changes.

With that single line alone, Akatsuki started imagining what Kaname intended to do. Arouse jealousy, or had the intention to pick a fight? Maybe an encouraging statement, but Akatsuki doubted it. His hands fisted, and sparks were flying.

"I never expected anyone to be drawn to him, frankly. He's such a solitary creature."

That sentence made Akatasuki's blood boil. Zero was a lone wolf, Akatsuki knew. All the more he wanted to be with him. He wanted, and knew he could show Zero that his life doesn't have to be lived alone.

And that a potential partner would never hurt him in any way.

"And that one-sided love of his is simply amusing."

Immediately, a glare was sent towards the brunette sitting on the couch. Kaname gave a slightly amused smile at the response.

"All the more I am glad that I had taken him away from you," Akatsuki suddenly growled without thinking. His mind was screaming at him to stop and remember just who he was talking to right now. But his heart was saying otherwise. "Zero isn't some toy for you to play with. He's not something you can pick up and mess around with for your own amusement. Just because you're a pureblood it doesn't give you the right to mess with his emotions." Shut up Kain! His mind was telling him. "So if you ever come close to him again, I will kill you."

The redhead froze. That wasn't meant to come out of his mouth. He hadn't realized that his arm had circlets of flame which blossomed through his anger. He restrained his powers and the fire dissipated. Silently, he was swearing at himself for digging his grave. However, for Zero, he gritted his teeth and waited for anything which would descend upon him.

The two vampires in Kaname's room stared at each other eye to eye. They searched each other for a response or a reply which lasted several seconds before the brunette broke it.

Akatsuki got startled when Kaname started chuckling.

"My eyes were set on the right person," he sighed out, and the aristocrat was thoroughly confused.

He was expecting a sudden lash out from the pureblood, but here he was with an amused face.

Kaname stood up and walked to his work desk, not at all bothered by Akatsuki's gaze on him.

Suddenly, Akatsuki could tell that the pureblood was different - the atmosphere of rivalry died, and became saddening instead.

"Dorm leader…?"

Kaname looked over his shoulder with smile, but Akatsuki could tell it was a painful one. He was stunned for seconds, wondering what had gone wrong.

"That day when it snowed – I should thank you for it. It was then I could find someone whom I know could take care of Zero," he started. Kaname gracefully picked up a black ink pen, and aimlessly twirled it with his fingers. "I do know how Zero feels towards me, Akatsuki."

"And I suppose you have a reason for the way you treat him the way you did?"

There was a quick, affirmative reply.

"Have you ever felt that you were being pulled in two different directions before?" Kaname asked as he averted his gaze to the redhead. Akatsuki stiffened, but gave no reply. "Whatever I tell you from now on stays between the both of us - you, me and only the walls of this room."

Knowing it was an order, Akatsuki bowed his head.

"A war will reach the gates of this very school, Akatsuki. One I cannot avoid. And because of this war, I am only capable of protecting one person. It was a decision between Yuki and Zero. Even my power cannot protect the both of them. It was either one, or none."

"So you decided on Cross?"

Kaname gave another pained smile. "Yes, I chose her. Although it meant that I couldn't protect Zero, if he kept enough distance away from me, his safety is less compromised. I tried what I could – to seem like a cruel person ignorant of his feelings. To have inflicted the pain I never wanted him to feel was pure agony…"

Then, it clicked. "You love Zero," Akatasuki whispered. The brunette tightened his grip on the pen he held.

"I love him as much as I do Yuki. If it was within my power both of them would be by my side. But I know that cannot happen. It was a painful decision, but you eased it the moment I saw you with Zero in the snow."

"So you came back? What had you intended to do if I wasn't there?" Akatsuki asked, and realized that he had sounded too casual. But Kaname didn't mind.

"Heaven knows. It was agonizing to have left him up there alone in the cold. It was also a bad decision. If you weren't there, he might've frozen to death. His stubborn side is so childish sometimes," Kaname chuckled, placing the pen on the table. "That's why I was glad when I saw you there. The way you held Zero, I knew you were someone I could count on to take care of him."

Akatsuki snorted. "So I'm being a caretaker?"

"A friend and lover, perhaps. Zero's life would be better if I wasn't near him," Kaname let out a small sigh. "I have one request, Akatsuki Kain, and one which is not from a pureblood, but from Kaname Kuran. Protect him, from the world, and maybe even me."

---

Night came, and Akatsuki ditched his first class to find Zero. The hunter was on the balcony where the guardians kept watch, alone. Zero was casually leaning on the rail, staring into the dark distance. He noticed Akatsuki approaching, and looked over to the doorway.

The redhead walked out, hands in his pockets.

Zero dropped his head a little, mentally embarrassed from the incident earlier in the day and turned back to watching the pitch black horizon. He pretended to ignore Akatsuki, but failed to do so when the redhead suddenly appeared behind him and wrapped his arms around his middle. A small blush immediately crept to his face.

"Oi, get off. You're heavy," Zero grumbled, elbowing the other slightly.

Akatsuki mumbled an excuse about keeping Zero warm on his neck.

The hunter let out a sigh and let him be. He was truly warm after all.

"Is something wrong?" Zero asked, sensing that Akatsuki was a little odd.

The redhead closed his eyes, the words of the pureblood repeating in his head, and more importantly the line he had replied.

Even if you didn't tell me, I will protect him.

"Shooting star!"Zero suddenly exclaimed and Akatsuki looked up just in time to see a sparkly object shifting and disappearing. He chuckled, saying that Zero was like a child and the hunter snorted. "Whatever," and he fell silent.

From the back, Aktasuki couldn't see what Zero was doing, so he shifted to the side to see Zero with his eyes closed, as if asleep.

"Zero?"

"Done," came the reply and amethyst eyes looked over to see Akatsuki's.

"What?"

"I'm not telling you."

The redhead gave a small evil grin and tightened his grip on Zero, causing the latter to give a small gasp. Akatsuki turned him around and quite easily hoisted him up, placing him on the rail. Being about three stories high, Zero had absolutely no intention of being thrown over and instinctively circled his arms around Akatsuki, in which at the moment leveled at his neck.

"Oi Akatsuki!" Zero hissed, hanging on for his dear life.

Akatsuki chuckled, leaning over and locked his hands at Zero's lower back like a safety harness. He dropped his head on Zero's chest, able to hear his racing heartbeat.

Zero mentally sighed, gently intertwining his fingers through the messy red locks. Being able to feel the other's warmth, he felt at ease. Without much thought, he curled over the taller person, giving him a hug.

"Thank you, Akatsuki…" Zero whispered, sure that the other would hear it. "That day when Kaname had brought Yuki indoors, I knew Kaname would have never accepted my feelings for him. I had a thought of just remaining here and maybe dying… but you came. The stupid fool who had stayed by my side in the freezing cold until dawn."

The hunter fell silent, but Akatsuki waited, sure that he was going to speak further.

"When I woke up to find you holding onto me, something in me changed. When you told me my love for him was only burning lantern bright, I realized that I was a fool."

Akatsuki pulled back and Zero straightened as well, looking a little embarrassed. The redhead gave a small smile and leaned over, catching the hunter off guard. He placed his lips on the other's. He didn't want to push his luck, so he had not made it as intimate as their first one, and retreated after.

Surprised, Zero just blinked. Belatedly, his face started to turn red, and he looked away.

"Zero," Akatsuki called out, and the hunter side glanced over. The vampire stuck his tongue out showing the silver ring. "Yours truly."

"Idiot," Zero let out a small laugh. It was a refreshing one, and Akatsuki smiled as well.

Keeping one hand on Zero to make sure he didn't fall off the rail, he used his other hand to gently grab one of Zero's. He made Zero's hand rest on his chest, where his heart was.

"From now and forever, this is yours and yours alone."

Warmth crept into his hand. Zero's gaze softened, before a smile was tugging at his lips.

"I don't want that," he said playfully, pulling his hand back.

"Then what would you like?" Akatsuki chuckled as he threatened to let go of Zero, forcing the hunter to wrap his arms around him once more.

On second floor, Kaname could finally smile as well.

End note: the war Kaname mentioned is referring to the one with Rido :) thought i could make use of it.

I suck i know OTL I'm so sorry |DDDD It's going to take me another decade before i can update my final ongoing story. I'M REALLY SORRY BLAME DISTRACTIONS. ok blame me. all on me. -sobs- There goes another KainXZero!! And sorry to disappoint if you actually expected Kain and Kaname to fight LOL.

yes, my dear reviewers. Review me the agony of your long wait so i can bury myself OTL