The morning that followed found both Kaname and Zero entwined together between the sheets. Amidst long languid kisses and lazy caresses, both seemed content with the silence. Neither wanted to break the spell of the peace that filled the room.

It seemed as if the tension that had built for so long had finally burst, and with it brought a feeling of contentment. Both could breathe easier, sleep lighter.

Zero lay on his side, facing Kaname, tracing the contours of his face with his eyes, contemplation evident on his face. Kaname, though his eyes were closed, could feel the hunter's gaze roaming his skin. He didn't react. The hunter needed time to consider his previous actions; he needed to let it sink in.

Perhaps he would change his mind and say that he didn't want him after all; that seemed likely. Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he'd say that he really enjoyed his company and wanted to be with him...probably not.

The hunter watched as the vampire's eyebrows slowly twitched; his face subtly contorting into that of a frown. His expression made the younger boy smile. He spoke in a voice so low that only a Pureblood could hear, "I figured you'd be happy."

Kuran opened his eyes to find, just as he suspected, those pale lilac eyes already boring into his own. It wasn't obvious, but he could see the worry in those eyes. Perhaps the hunter was worried with the same thought that plagued his own: that the other would change his mind. Perhaps the hunter was plagued with the same concern that filled his mind: rejection.

The brown in the Pureblood's eyes seemed to become even warmer as Kuran's hand reached to stroke the hunter's cheek. The knuckles on the back of his hand gently grazed the pale skin, and he smiled as Zero leaned into the touch, if a little hesitantly.

"I am." The Pureblood whispered back, a little lower than intended. He moved closer to the hunter. Feeling the warmth of the other's skin spread through his body. A warmth that seemed completely different spread in his chest, causing an overwhelming need to kiss the other boy, to feed from him and be fed from. He needed to be connected with him in all possible ways.

Zero seemed to sense it too, by the look on his face, but made no further movement toward the Pureblood. He seemed shy -not unwilling- if the rosy hue that appeared on his cheeks and burned his ears was anything to go by. The Pureblood only nuzzled into the juncture between his neck and shoulder. He didn't want to pressure the hunter, after all, this was a huge step forward, initiated by Zero himself. He didn't want to push his luck.

The hunter, on the other hand, was surprised by the sudden rush of needs he felt. He wanted the Pureblood in more than a physical way, which somehow seemed worse than if he only needed physical satiation. He wanted to act on his feelings, but still felt extremely awkward about it.

Yes, he had taken a step forward. Although they had already...had..er.. sex, laying naked in the Pureblood's bed, cuddling, was a lot more intimate than he knew what to do with. Maybe they should go on a date...

The Pureblood pulled back as he felt the hunter subtly stiffen next to him. He quickly noted the red on the hunter's face spread further down until his neck and ears were red too. With a slight smirk, Kaname questioned, "What's the matter?"

The hunter only shook his head and directed his gaze elsewhere. He was filled with the childish

urge to hide under the covers and not come back out. However, he knew that would only spur on the incessant questioning and physical prodding from the Pureblood.

Before Kaname could raise an eyebrow to demonstrate his disbelief, and maybe gently question the hunter, a knock at the door interrupted his train of thought.

"Yes, Ichijou?" The Pureblood had already sensed him from down the corridor, but he had hoped he wouldn't be bothered. He may have been called but he was definitely not leaving the warmth of the cocoon he had created with the hunter.

The blonde on the other side of the door smiled knowingly. "Kaname-sama, it seems your sister, Yuki has arrived at the School. She's currently visiting Headmaster Cross. I thought you'd like to know."

Kuran felt the hunter tense once again, as he nodded. "Yes, thank you."

Zero felt as if the walls were starting to close in on him. This cocoon of safety suddenly felt more like a safety jacket. What were they going to tell Yuki? Admitting any feelings he had, to himself was difficult enough. Not to mention how long it took him to even convey he had feelings to the actual person he had feelings FOR. How was he supposed to tell her about him and Kaname? Wasn't she supposed to be marrying the Pureblood soon? He couldn't betray her like that. HER who had helped him when he was the most alone that he could ever remember being. The person who took care of him and loved him. The person whom HE loved too. Albeit in a familial way, now. What would they tell her? They WERE betrothed weren't they? Oh god. He couldn't do it. He knew that Yuki had been in love with Kaname for a long time. He couldn't do that to her. Could he? He loved her too.

Kaname watched as the other boy's eyes grew wider and he clutched at his throat, gasping as if some invisible force was lodged in there. He grabbed Zero's wrists pulling them away from his throat as the boy tried to scratch his way through the surface.

"It's ok! Zero, everything's ok! Breathe!" The other boy trembled in his hold, his eyes shutting tight as he began to curl in on himself.

Battling against the other's strength and thrashing, the Pureblood managed to get them up into a semi-sitting position. His hands going to the other boy's face, holding him firmly as he tried to coax him back to the present; out of whatever whirlpool of panic he was drowning himself in. He could feel the hunter's nails starting to dig into his skin, grasping at him as if for leverage.

"It's ok. Come back to me, Zero. It's ok. Look at me!" At his plea, the hunter opened his eyes. His lilac eyes clouded over as if far away, but quickly clearing up as the Pureblood continued to urge him back. Kaname didn't know what else to do. He'd never helped so helpless; watching as the hunter tried to find his way back, fighting his way through the panic.

After a few minutes, the hunter's gaze focused on the brunette in front of him. He could feel the hands on his face and the vampire's warm breath tickling his skin as he talked him back from that steep mental ledge he had approached.

"You're ok, it's ok." The Pureblood continued to hold him, pulling him tighter toward him. The hunter's hands loosening as the nails dislodged from his skin and the wounds closed back up. He looked at the brunette almost a bit shyly and began to move away, out of his hold and Kaname let him.

"Um...Sorry." He moved at such a quick pace that the Pureblood didn't have enough time to register what had just happened. He sat on the bed, face twisted into confusion as he watched the hunter pad around the room, pulling his clothes back on with such urgency that he put his shirt on backwards.

"Zero...what-" The Pureblood began to ask but was quickly cut of with a head shake from the hunter. He was done getting dressed and began to move toward the door without looking at him. The Pureblood began regretting that he let him go, and made to move toward him, only to be stopped by the tense pose of Zero's shoulders. He sat on the edge of the bed with the sheet covering him from the waist down.

In the silence that followed Kaname barely had enough time to piece everything together before it dawned on Kaname that Zero was terrified by the idea of telling Yuki what they had been up to in her absence. Of course, it wasn't as if they were just fooling around anymore, right? They hadn't really had time to talk about what their recent progress meant for their...relationship? Where they even IN one? They hadn't had time to talk about anything, really.

"She does not have to know." As the words passed his lips he realized that was the wrong thing to say. The hunter looked back at him with a startled expression, before he schooled his features into a mask of calmness.

Zero slowly nodded. "Ok, Kuran," His gaze slipping back onto the floor before he quickly turned and exited the room with a slam of the door, leaving an even more confused Pureblood standing in his wake.

Although they hadn't spoken much during the time they had spent together, the formal address felt like a slap in the face. He didn't want to revert to that, but he knew that the topic of Yuki was something a bit delicate to both of them. He knew they needed to talk about it, but not when Yuki was close. There wouldn't be enough time to talk and then talk to her. This would be completely sudden to her, and neither could handle to lose her. Although, they had both probably known that they would if they accepted each other. Yuki was already as good as gone from the moment they first kissed.

Where the hell had he gone wrong, though? He was sure that telling Yuki, or rather, her finding out, was what was worrying the hunter. He was SURE. But...then again the hunter's departure after assuring him that she wouldn't find out wasn't what he had expected. Zero should be relieved that he wasn't going to tell her. Right? He couldn't possibly think that he would accidentally tell or that anyone else would? He would keep their secret so that Zero wouldn't have to worry. He would guarantee that no one else told either.

There wasn't much he could do if any of the day class students had made the connection and blabbed. But on his part he would sure as hell try. He had to. It felt like every movement was one step forward and two steps back. He wasn't willing to go back to more steps from where they had just arrived. He couldn't let him go.

The knock at his door brought him out of his mental analysis. He rose to open the door, it was only polite after everything that had occurred. It was the least he could do. As opposed to lazily using his powers and allowing entrance as he sat imposingly in his chair.

He smiled warmly at the person on the other side of the door, opening it further and motioning into the room with his hand.

He watched as the other person stood a bit awkwardly in the middle of his room, turning this way and that, nervously.

"I hope everything has been well? Did you have a good trip?" He approached her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder as she turned to look at him. She quickly wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up from underneath her bangs. "I missed you, Kaname-sama."

"I have missed you too, Yuki." He hugged her to him, feeling a tight coil of regret in the pit of his stomach, as she stood on her toes and lightly pecked his lips.