A/N: Hi there to all readers! Thank you for all those who've reviewed the last chapter and also added this story to their lists. You guys have kept on inspiring me to go on with this story… ^_^ My two week break is almost over and my classes would resume in a few days time so I was hoping to finish this newest chapter as soon as possible. And finally here it is. ^_^ I would be quite busy again but I'm hoping to be able to update more in that time. –sigh- I'll be handling a new batch of paper work once again.

Well, let's not keep you guys waiting… and here's another chapter to the story…

Please Read and Review… ^_^

Chapter 13 – Seeking Lost Time

Touga Yagari had been pacing in the office for the better half of the hour, his agitation clear in the manner of his movements. The light in his cigarette had long been extinguished but he paid no heed to it as he continued on with his certain task. Several thoughts had been racing in the forefront of his mind lately, and it was a tumble of ideas that gave him quite a headache as well as a matching temper. The events from the last few months had been quite frustrating to say so in the least. Several hunters and vampires were murdered by some mysterious assailant. Rido Kuran had returned to bring more trouble to them. Sayori was working against the association once more and things were not looking too good on their side. All in all, he was having quite a crappy week. Looking at it from his point of view, the pacing and agitation was clearly understandable.

He had taken a couple of missions for the past few days just to loosen his frayed nerves. Hunting rogue vampires seemed to help in calming down his mixed emotions but lately, it didn't seem to work anymore. He had been aware that something was changing in the horizon and he knew that whatever was going to happen wouldn't be good news at all. And that added to his list of growing problems.

The only good news he had this week was that Zero had already regained consciousness but the young hunter was still unable to participate in missions. At least this time though, Yagari was able to have a consulting partner or partners if he counted Kuran even if it involved visiting the hospital numerous of times. Making decisions by himself had been draining to some extent. Kaito was busy with tracking down Rido's whereabouts, Cross had the academy to deal with, and Lilina was still stationed in the cathedral streets. He would've wanted their opinions but they had their own tasks to finish. And it left him to do everything all at once.

Well, it gave him an insight about Zero's job in the association and how freaking hard it was in reality. As soon as they clean up this mess, Yagari vowed to himself that he would force the young hunter one way or another to take a long vacation. The kid deserved it and maybe it was high time the others in the association start working seriously. Of course, he wasn't talking about the hunts but rather the paper work to be submitted. How hard was it to pass a piece of paper? He always finished his on the dot. Late papers tend to pile up and it added to Zero's duties.

Seriously, what was so hard about passing a written report?

His mouth opened in surprise as another thought invaded his mind. One he didn't expect at all and it caught him off guard.

He finally noted clearly how he was acting like a father. What the hell was that about? Of course he was always worried about Zero but this was the first time he even thought about things like that. Looking back at the time he spent with the young hunter, he didn't think it would warrant such a stupid thought. Zero had been with him for a long time so it was natural to feel at ease with the young man. He even took over the young man's hunter education and trained him for some time. Of course, there was some hair ruffling, the scolding and nagging, the worry and such – oh hell. He stopped that thought before it could go any further. He was really acting just like a father. No wonder Lilina was giggling most of the time he was with Zero. Her hyperactive imagination was probably at work again. And he didn't fancy that one bit.

His phone rang suddenly, interrupting his private and frustrating musings. He walked the length of the office to pick up his phone and answered, "This is Touga Yagari speaking. Who's calling?"

"It's Aria Lilina. This is urgent. I feel something weird here near the cathedral. There's an aura somewhere of a high level vampire or a rogue hunter but I can't pinpoint its location," the voice in the earpiece said seriously.

"A high level vampire or a rogue hunter?" Yagari asked in disbelief. He had no proof that it would be Rido or Sayori but it wouldn't hurt to take this chance. He had thought that Sayori had no connection to this incident anymore after the trouble she caused at the association in the past. He remembered that Lilina swore that time that she would never forgive Sayori for her betrayal. Yagari could only wonder how their meeting had gone.

"I have a bad feeling that a murder is going to be committed again tonight. I'm still posted here and there hasn't been anything else but it might not be much time before something does," Lilina answered once again. "I'm going to need some back up and fast," she added.

"All right, I'll be heading there with some of the hunters and I'll try to call up Kaito as well," Yagari said gravely. "Meet you in a couple of hours."

"Roger that." The call ended and Yagari shoved his phone in his pockets and made his way out of his office, summoning the available hunters to the meeting room. He also sent a hunter to notify Zero and Kuran about the latest mission. As soon as that was done, he left the headquarters along with the others. They had arrived a few hours later in the location; they opted to do things covertly and hoped that they would catch the culprit off guard…

The streets near the cathedral appeared to be deserted that night for some people who passed by, but the truth was a different matter. Those who watched the tortuous lanes and darkened alleys were master at the craft of hiding, observing unseen. Most of the experienced hunters were here tonight, slinking from shadowed doorways or peering over gutters from tiled roofs. Among them walked Kaito Takamiya, strolling nonchalantly alongside the slender frame of Shielle Adnade who was recently released from the hospital and volunteered for this mission vehemently. Stating that she wanted to help this time and not be a complete burden. They patrolled the streets just as Yagari and Lilina did, pushing through the sparse tendrils of mist with their eyes darting about, knowing that, somewhere nearby, something was waiting to strike. In all of the location, there were perhaps fifty men and women whose sole aim was to spot the murderer and prevent the kill. But this place had many streets and many alleys, and in the final analysis, would it be enough?

A small truck drove past Yagari and Lilina, probably returning from some late-night delivery. Yagari, a night-creature by trade, knew well how the heartbeat of the city sped and slowed in the dark hours, and he knew that even on night it still pulsed dully with traffic and commerce. People still visited, lovers stalked home after arguments, favors were called, and urgent business were concluded. The city never slept, but only dozed with one eye open.

Lilina felt the cold breath of the breeze across her skin, a chill rippling in its wake. But it didn't bother her that much, having gotten used to such temperature and because of her being a vampire. Together with Yagari, they turned on to another connecting street and strolled onward. Yagari touched the tip of his top hat at a couple coming the other way. With his features concealed by the shadow of its broad brim, and his weapons concealed by his heavy coat, Yagari made an entirely convincing gentleman or civilian. No one would suspect that he was out here to hunt someone. Or something.

The two had been walking for perhaps two hours now, making random paths through the streets, not knowing what they were looking for or if they could even deal with what they would find.

"Excuse me, sir?" came a voice at Yagari's elbow; he looked around to see a small, pale-skinned lady in an elegant yet simple black dress. She slipped out of the shadows of a stone stairway. "Could you please offer some assistance?"

Yagari glanced at Lilina whose light blue eyes stared right back at him. It helped confirm his suspicions that this woman was another noble vampire. The aura was pretty weak and he came to the conclusion that she was suppressing it. He then nodded to the woman. "How can we be of service?"

"I'm being followed, sir," she said politely. Yagari felt Lilina's grip tighten slightly on his arm. "At least, I believe I am."

"Who is following you?" Lilina asked. Her doll-like features creased in concern.

"I don't really know," the woman replied. "My car broke down and my companion said that it would take a while so I told him that I would walk back. And then, the sound came. I cannot see the person, but I heard his footsteps. But I think that maybe I'm just tired and I'm letting the night play tricks on me." The vampire noble seemed less than convinced with her own rationale.

Heck, even Yagari was. The woman was a noble vampire and her eyesight should be able to pinpoint who or what was following her. Vampires did have more advanced senses than humans. The older hunter thought that maybe they were dealing with a whole different kind of enemy this time. He noticed that the woman in front of him was feeling a bit of unease and he couldn't blame her. She was being stalked after all by some person or creature she didn't even know.

"We could walk with you to your destination," Yagari offered.

"Oh, I couldn't, you see…" she trailed off, quickly averting her eyes. It was pretty obvious that her journey was intended to be a secret. Certainly, it was difficult to imagine why a lady would risk being out alone at this hour, especially a member of the vampire council. It was already well-known in their world that a murderer was on the loose.

After a moment, she came to a decision and spoke. "Could you wait here for a few minutes?" she asked. "If someone is following me, they will pass by here and… sir? Are you all right?"

Yagari wore an expression of pain on his face, his head inclined as if facing a stiff wind. His hunter senses had suddenly blossomed with a painful intensity, a pressure inside his skull such as he had never felt before. He didn't know what was wrong but there was definitely something amiss in this place.

"Yagari?" Lilina queried, seeing him cringe all of a sudden.

"Perhaps I should… well, thank you for your time," said the lady, eyeing Yagari nervously. Her frayed nerves were evidently not up to any more strangeness. "I shall be going."

"No, wait a moment," Lilina said, trying to prevent her from leaving while simultaneously attending to Yagari, who was scrambling inside his coat for something. The lady was having none of that, however; she saw only a hunter reaching for a knife or a gun, and was retreating as fast as she could without running. The two realized that Yagari's aura must have slipped a little and the woman had figured out that he was a hunter. The woman must have believed in the rumors that hunters were involved with the murders. Lilina seemed about to follow, to keep her from slipping away, but Yagari gripped her arm. From his pocket, he withdrew a phial of pre-prepared sulfur, glowing faintly from the charm; he had cast upon it, and tipped it on the ground.

The lady had already made a good distance away from them, and had turned a corner into a side street by the time the liquid splashed on the cobblestones. Yagari straightened, having managed to get over the initial shock of the sensation on his head, but Lilina's eyes were on the sulfur compound that was spreading through the gullies and valleys between the cobblestones, creeping away from them with a life of its own, branching and dividing slowly to follow several paths. And as she watched with increasing horror, the sulphur began to form a shape in the road, a vague yet unmistakable outline of a footprint. It looked like from some sort of creature she had read somewhere.

"Oh," she said.

Yagari broke into a run, his hat toppling from his head and flying free as he sprinted after the woman. It was impossible, it just couldn't be…

Don't look behind!

Yagari projected the thought at the lady as he turned into the street where she had gone, still not quite believing what he was allowing himself to think, what the thing they were facing would be. But he already knew nothing could stop it now. He saw her, hurrying away from him, alarmed by his pursuit and thinking that he was the one she had to fear. She cast a terrified glance over her shoulder.

It was her third backward look since she had started to notice the extra footstep in her walk, and that was all it took to make visible the thing that trod behind her.

There was no shimmering as the creature revealed itself to the eyes of its victim, no gradual unveiling of the moon from behind a cloud. It was simply there; one moment not, the next it was lunging at her, a huge and terrifying bulk of claws and metal teeth that dwarfed her as it reached to open her up.

The roar of Yagari's gun sounded like a cannon on the still of the night, blasting the creature aside at the same moment as its claws made contact with their target. There was a scream as the lady was pitched bodily across the street; she slammed across the cobbles and rolled to a stop in a storm gutter, dark blooms of blood moistening her black dress and seeping from her hairline to inch down her face.

The creature staggered, turned a baleful gaze at the older hunter, and he felt his heart shudder under its glare. What he was seeing was inconceivable.

A familiar. Not just any familiar. A hell hound.

When he was a child he had stared for hours in horrified fascination at the drawings in a hunter book. There were several illustrations of familiars there and most of them were used to frighten young hunters, like the things that lived in cupboards and hid in the dark beneath the bed. Now he stood facing the creature that had haunted his childhood nights, when he had lain awake in terror at the thought of what might reach up and eat him. No myth anymore, but real, as if the drawing that had scared him all those years ago had come to life.

The hell hound was huge, grotesquely muscled and hunched, a heavy brow shadowing small, glaring eyes that sat above a wide mouth in which small, pointed teeth of brass gleamed faintly in the light of the gas lamps. He was an exaggerated mockery of a dog, terrible and fearful, and Yagari felt himself suddenly wishing that he was not alone, that the others who must have heard the gunshot would arrive soon. It was just like the dogs he had faced before when they rescued Zero but this one was fiercer and scarier. For one thing, it could stand on two legs, just like a werewolf from those stupid myths.

A slow snarl came from the throat of the thing as it took its stance to deal with the newcomer. Yagari's anti-vampire weapon had done no discernible damage, even though he was quite certain he had struck the creature in the side of the neck.

The hell hound came at him like a bull, roaring as it charged; the older hunter leveled his pistol and shot it square in the face. The creature's forward momentum was checked violently, as if by a hammer blow, and it was lifted off its feet to collapse heavily to the cold stone of the road. Yagari was already holstering his gun, tugging free from his belt a long string of charms, an array of warded artifacts linked by wire. Cured snakeskin wrapped in hay; vulture feathers; a depiction of the evil eye carved in a coin-sized piece of wood – there were perhaps twenty in all. It was the vampire hunter's first line of defense against an unknown familiar: a broad spectrum of wards and charms that had proven effective in the past against other forms of those summoned beings. The theory was that at least a fraction of the arsenal would work against the enemy.

The hell hound had already regained its feet by the time Yagari had the charm-string ready, his heart trip-hammering against his ribs and cold sweat slicking his hands. He focused himself to start activating the power of the charms. No mark showed on the creature's face from the bullet, but it was certainly enraged. The creature lunged again, bellowing mindlessly, and Yagari threw himself aside as the enemy thundered towards him. But the hell hound had moved faster than the older hunter had credited, and his dodge was clumsy this time. One foot snagged the other, and he felt himself trip. He lashed out with the charm-string as he fell, praying that fortune was with him.

This time, it was.

He crashed to the ground, the familiar missing him by centimeters, and the charm-string snagged on the creature as he passed. It tore free from Yagari's hand, wrapping itself loosely around the body of his enemy, and as he rolled he felt the wave of force wash over him that was the wards flaring into life. There was an animalistic howl of fury and pain, and then Yagari was up and ready once more.

In the steely moonlight between the gaslights, the charm-string lay on the floor, blackened and smoking faintly. Of the hell hound, there was no sign.

"Yagari!" came the cry, and there was Kaito, appearing from the side street with Shielle, attracted by the sound of gunfire. Two others, the hunter who were stationed nearby, were with them. From the opposite street, Lilina was running hurriedly towards him.

The older hunter blinked, realizing by the fading intensity of his hunter senses that the hell hound really was gone. A moment later, he was rushing to the lady, whom he had all but forgotten. The others reached him as he crouched by her bloodied form to check her pulse.

"Are you all right?" Kaito panted. "What was that you – "

"Never mind me," Yagari said sharply. "She is still alive. There is hope yet. She can still be saved."

"Get her help!" Lilina barked at the other hunters. The pair of them ran to comply.

Yagari was beginning to feel tired now, the adrenalin leaving his body and making him a bit weakened. After all, he did cast some powerful charms to stop the familiar. Kaito crouched next to him and put an arm around him.

"It was a hell hound. A damned hell hound," he said quietly.

"A hell hound?" Kaito asked with surprise evident on the tone of his voice.

Yagari laid his hand over his face as his head ache returned with full force. "How could it be here, Kaito? It was supposed to be hard to summon and no ordinary vampire could do it. Even Kuran admitted that it was difficult."

"It only means that a very powerful enemy is present and I'm guessing that Rido was involved. He used a different kind of familiar that time according to your reports but there is no denying the fact that he summoned those things," Lilina said seriously as the two hunters turned their gazes towards her. "Looks like we're in deep trouble this time," she added grimly.

"We'll have our hands full trying to prevent whatever is going to happen soon," Kaito added as an afterthought.

"≈≈ΩΩ~Ж~ΩΩ≈≈"

Kaname Kuran heard a fabric shuffle. His eyes didn't open as his mind struggled through a haze of sleep to comprehend what he heard. There was also a weird scratching noise but he refused to get up whatsoever. If he ignored it for just another second it would probably stop. He thought about how this drafty building was always making unidentifiable noises. The shuffling of fabric and scratching assaulted his ears again but it felt too good to hold his eyes down.

The scratching of pen… against paper?

The pureblood's eyes shot open, but they were straining against the light coming from the hallway. He pushed himself onto his elbows and peeked through drowsy eyes. He saw Zero Kiryuu propped on a sitting position on the bed with a folder and pen in his hands.

"Zero?" Kaname called groggily as he straightened from the spare bed on the room and noticed that the hunter was now looking at him.

Sorry, did I wake you? The familiar voice brushed in Kaname's mind again and having this kind of conversation for days had gotten the pureblood quite used to it. Though Zero could talk normally, Kaname didn't want the hunter to strain himself more since he wasn't healed yet and the pureblood was quite alright with telepathic messages.

"Shouldn't you be resting, Zero? You shouldn't over exert yourself again," Kaname reminded the hunter who only offered him a small smile in return.

I know, Zero's voice told him softly.

"I'm under the impression that you don't," Kaname answered back as he heard the hunter sigh before placing the folder on the bedside table next to the flowers that Takuma had brought a few days ago when he visited.

The pureblood assessed the hunter's condition. Zero was well enough that he no longer needed to be hooked up to machines, but not well enough to leave the hospital. He was still dealing with some of the after-effects of the poisons that once ran through his system; fevers, fatigue, chills, nausea, and a significant impact on his immune system. The doctor wanted to keep an eye on Zero's condition a bit more before he could be released.

The files stated that everyone at the association was going to conduct a mission this time to stop a murder from happening again.

Kaname heard the voice in his mind and caught the worry and frustration in them. He knew that the hunter wanted to help but given his condition, it would be impossible. Still, it wasn't as if Zero wasn't doing his fair share of work. Whenever the hunter was having a better day, Zero would be seen checking the paper works or reports sent by Yagari and offered some suggestions afterwards.

"It still didn't mean that you should wear yourself out by worrying about it," Kaname responded gently. "Besides, they can handle something like that," the pureblood added with a smile.

I can't help it, Kaname. Things are confusing and dangerous enough as it is, Zero's voice echoed sadly in the pureblood's mind.

"So you're going to be stubborn and impossible?""

Maybe, Zero answered cryptically and the pureblood sighed in defeat.

Kaname walked up to the foot of the bed and leaned over the footboard steadily watching the hunter with his garnet eyes. Zero was busy straightening out the blankets.

"The whole reason I sleep in here is so I can help you," Kaname said softly.

Is that the only reason?

A laugh escaped from Kaname's throat. The past few days had been quite fun in the pureblood's opinion especially when he always gave soft declarations of affection. The hunter never told him outright his feelings but Kaname felt that Zero also felt the same way. That kiss was proof enough as it is. Aside from that, he was serious in telling the hunter that he was prepared to wait. "Yes, of course, who wouldn't want to sleep right next to you?" Kaname walked away and headed back to the spare bed. He pulled the covers over his torso and closed his heavy eyes. He didn't get enough rest last time so he was trying to make more of this free day.

The room wasn't exactly quiet to begin with. The pureblood could hear the machines beeping down the hall, the buzzing of fluorescent lighting, and the clangs and whirls of the struggling heating system. He could also hear Zero's shallow breathing. He noticed that the hunter usually gets winded so easily. Well, it was the hunter's fault. Kaname wondered how long Zero was up checking those reports instead of getting some more rest. He's going to be so tired in the morning, he thought afterwards. Which means he'll be irritable for a while. The pureblood sighed. He hoped that Zero was asleep now and getting his needed rest.

Kaname? Zero asked suddenly, breaking the non-silence.

"What?" Kaname replied, making sure to let the hunter know how annoyed he was in that single syllable. He had already told Zero to rest a couple of times. Sometimes, Zero was just too stubborn.

I'm sorry. Would you come here please? The hunter asked softly.

Kaname sighed for the second time and reminded himself of what he just said to the hunter. He was here to take care of Zero, whether the hunter liked it or not. The pureblood threw the covers aside and stood up again. "Is there anything wrong, Zero?"

His eyes are soft and vulnerable; all traces of the steadfast hunter weren't there at the moment. Zero reached out for the pureblood's hand and Kaname let the hunter link their hands together. I can't seem to push those worries away no matter how much I wanted to believe that everything would be okay.

Kaname leaned forward and rested his elbows on the mattress. He gave Zero's hand a gentle squeeze. "Well, you're always like that, a complete worrywart, so I might not be able to convince you entirely. But right now, all you should focus on is getting better," he reminded the hunter with a smile on his face.

I hate this, Zero told him after a while. I hate not being able to help or do anything. It… it makes me remember some painful things that happened years ago.

"It's only been a week since you've regained consciousness. You're getting stronger everyday so it's only a matter of time. I wish I could help you forget those memories, to lessen the pain you felt," Kaname said gently and earnestly as he noticed the look in Zero's face, like the hunter had failed something. The pureblood was aware that Zero's recovery would be going much faster if the hunter didn't also have to deal with the repercussions of being injected with a powerful toxin. There were some days he wasn't able to do his therapy, which significantly slowed down his progress. Even now, as Kaname held the hunter's hand he noticed that Zero's temperature had spiked again. "You're warm again," he added, pulling the hunter's hand to his face so the backs of Zero's fingers touched his cheek.

Ignore it.

"I can't simply ignore it, Zero."

We both know that the medicine can't do much. No need to waste them on me.

"Don't be stupid," Kaname said with a forced smile. He partially meant it as a joke. How many times had they done some stupid things in their life? Maybe too many to count.

I'm serious. I get the fevers all the time. There's not much I can do about them other than to wait them out. Don't get the nurse or the doctor involved again, Kaname, Zero said gently.

The pureblood didn't want to agree, but the hunter presented a fair argument. He also knew that Zero was just exhausted and weary of being sick. He could sympathize since he would also feel the same if he were in the hunter's place.

"Very well if you insist," he conceded, choosing not to argue with Zero this time. The hunter pulled the pureblood's hand into his lap and Kaname was forced to life his elbows from the mattress. He tugged on Kaname's arms and gave him a small smile that the pureblood begrudgingly smirked at.

Kaname noticed since long ago that whenever the hunter was remembering painful memories, he always needed someone to hold him. To keep him together while the pain was still there in his heart. It had been unusual for Kaname since the hunter was usually the one who shied away from contact. With a smile of his own, Kaname lifted himself onto the bed. The hunter pulled him close against his chest and the pureblood complied; Kaname's head rested on Zero's shoulder and the hunter's arms wrapped around his torso while their hands were linked together as usual. Wrapped up like this with the hunter, Kaname became even more aware of how warm Zero's body is and he wished that he hadn't let the hunter persuade him not to find some medicine for the fever. The pureblood was too distracted to even relax in the bed, like he normally would during these small moments of privacy.

His head kept replaying what happened the last time Zero had a bad fever. It was awful. The hunter tossed and turned in the bed all night, sweating through the sheets and moaning incessantly. The fever was giving the hunter nightmares and what Kaname wouldn't give to be able to reach in and pull out every bad thought, every bad dream. This time wasn't remotely like that bad fever; now it is only slight and is probably making him more uncomfortable than it is to Zero. He couldn't help the anxiousness that he felt for the hunter.

I don't like this, Zero said after a while. Kaname looked up at him, confused. Catching up the pureblood's confusion, he looked down at him meaningfully, and continued, I mean, I don't like being so unhealthy. I can't protect anyone even you.

"Protect me from what?" Kaname inquired.

From anything. From everything, Zero answered vaguely.

"You can't protect me from everything even if I admit that you're a very strong and capable person."

At least I'd have a fighting chance, Zero replied.

Things started to piece together for Kaname then. He wanted to smack himself for not realizing it earlier. Zero's frustration and unease came from a different place than he had expected. The hunter wasn't the least bit worried about himself but he was worried about how vulnerable the pureblood was. Zero had always known about the increasing amount of people ready and willing to take Kaname's life and somehow, the hunter noticed how the recent events had affected the pureblood. Throughout these past months Kaname did his best not to think about those things, because it was really too overwhelming to comprehend. If he lied in bed counting the number of people who wanted to kill him, he'd never sleep again. That was why he chose not to dwell on those things and focused on helping Zero. However, throughout all those times, Zero hadn't been focusing on his own needs, he had always thought about Kaname's. And somehow, Kaname felt something warm in his heart at that discovery.

Kaname twisted his body around so that he was on his side and he could see Zero's face. The hunter looked exhausted. The pureblood could see it in all of his features. He could also see the fear – fear that some of his nightmares would come true. Kaname wanted to reassure Zero that he would be safe, that he would always be with him. Yet he couldn't make that promise. Especially now that things had gotten too complicated. He couldn't even make that to himself. The future was too unclear and the idea of living another day is too indefinite, perhaps even unlikely.

"Zero, I'm here. I'll always be here for you," he promised. Zero closed his eyes for a while and Kaname pushed himself up onto his elbow and brushed his lips softly against the hunter's. This would be another memory, another feeling both of them would never forget. His lips fall onto Zero's again and his body rested against the hunter. Zero's arms came around him, enveloping him in that uncomfortable warmth. A sweat broke out easily on the hunter's forehead and neck and Kaname thought about how winded the hunter would be when they came up for air. As if Zero knew what he had been thinking about, he held the pureblood even tighter and a shaky moan vibrated in his chest. His kisses are soft and Kaname would do anything to be able to be with Zero without this fear hanging over them. He would give anything for some certainty.

One of Zero's hands pushed against Kaname's back; the other gently pushed against the spot below the back of the pureblood's neck. Kaname pressed his mouth harder against Zero as he tried to make the hunter forget about the circumstances and troubles they would face. His tongue was quick and eager and he felt as if his entire body would collapse into Zero. Seconds pass, maybe minutes. The pureblood lost track of it. All he could concentrate on was the electric current running through his body and how it intensified with each small progression of their movements. The hunter's hands moved from his lower back and danced around his side, pausing at the pureblood's thigh. Kaname noted that Zero's feather light touches tickled him a bit, while the unhealthy heat practically felt like it would burn through his flesh. A few moments later, he noticed how hard Zero's chest was working to keep up with their efforts. Kaname snapped back into reality and abruptly pulled away. Zero didn't release his hold, but Kaname knew that he was grateful for the break. The pureblood leaned away from the hunter as much as he would allow giving him room to breathe. Zero closed his eyes again as his breathing slowly returned to normal.

Will you stay here? Zero asked and Kaname noticed that he was panting a bit. The pureblood knew that when Zero mentioned 'here,' he didn't mean the room, because he had stayed with hunter every night. He meant 'here,' as in, his own bed. They've shared a bed numerous times especially during missions out of the city; however, they always had a bit more privacy in the past. Zero was a primary concern of the doctors here in the association hospital, which was why people come and go on a regular basis. That was the reason he slept on the spare bed. He tried to keep his closeness to a minimum since he didn't want anyone to walk in on anything; that includes Takuma, and god-forbid, Yagari, who would try to castrate him alive for being to intimate with Zero. That man was Zero's guardian so it was understandable.

"That depends, will you sleep this time?" Kaname asked as he wiped a sweat off Zero's forehead with his sleeve. He would have gotten the hunter a cold compress, but he doubted Zero's willingness to let him go now.

Sleeping had become my least favorite thing lately, Zero muttered. The pureblood still appreciated sleep, as fleeting as it may have been. Those hours of unconsciousness are such an underrated blessing. Then again, when your hours of unconsciousness overshadow your hours of consciousness, as was Zero's case, you rapidly learn to appreciate the blessing of being awake.

"I'm going to be here when you wake up," Kaname promised again as he nuzzled his face into Zero's neck, allowing the hunter to him however he wanted to. He wanted Zero to feel his breath, to feel his heart beating, to feel how real and alive he was when he was with the hunter.

Zero's breathing was slow and shallow again but his body temperature had moved up a degree or two – most likely because of their recent actions. Kaname knew that the nurse would scold him if she ever knew what they were doing. She didn't like it much that he was staying here in general, but she doesn't have much say in the matter. Right now, he knew that Zero needed him. He also knew that the hunter needed to rest now, but he was aware that maybe Zero was too wired to fall asleep. This was what usually happened when he slept in the hunter's bed. Zero got too anxious and worried and can't relax enough to let himself sleep.

Kaname placed a kiss on Zero's neck and another along his jaw. Zero sighed and his hold lessens slightly on Kaname. It was a good sign since it meant that he was relaxing. "Let's spend some time together when you are released. Just us. No one else."

Are you asking me on a date, Kaname? Zero asked with a bit of embarrassment.

"I guess. Wouldn't it be nice to do something together for once? Something that doesn't involve going on life and death missions," Kaname told him as he smiled against the hunter's skin. Praying that Zero would say yes.

Zero leaned back so he could see Kaname's face and the pureblood could see his. Sure Kaname, I'd like to do that some time, he answered after a while. Kaname's face lights up in happiness and he kissed the hunter on the nose, and lingered for a few seconds on his lips. The pureblood was right about Zero being exhausted, because even amongst the nearby beeping machinery, the noise of the building, and his presence on the bed, Zero fell asleep within minutes.

Unfortunately, it all had the opposite effect on Kaname. It was nearly dawn now, and while Zero was asleep, his mind was still buzzing with their discussion earlier. At this point, by the time he fell asleep someone would be knocking on the door to wake Zero up and take him to some check up.

He let a few more moments pass, completely assuring himself that Zero was entirely asleep before he disentangled himself from the hunter's arms. It wasn't something he usually did and he was well aware that he was breaking a promise to stay with him. Normally, he was the most desperate for these small moments of togetherness with Zero, but he figured that a few moments to get his thoughts in order may be for the best interest.

He left the room and headed towards the dining hall hoping to find some coffee for himself and for Zero. Everyone was still asleep and all he could hear was the obnoxious whirring of the ventilation system. He passed a few miscellaneous rooms which were empty. He entered the hall and was surprised to see Takuma who seemed to be thinking about something. The room was dimly lit and he wondered what his friend was doing here of all places.

A lot goes through you when you're staring someone down without a weapon. Initially, you feel surprise at what you have discovered and at being discovered. Next, there is fear because you have nothing with which to defend yourself. There is always the underlying tension caused by the inevitable adrenaline that pumps through you. While at the same time, your mind hurdles through every survival technique buried in the arsenal of your brain. Ironically, as all this is happening, you often find yourself paralyzed, as Kaname did at this very moment.

Takuma wasn't someone he should be afraid of nor should he find himself in need of a weapon when he faced him. And truly, these feelings aren't a result of fearing for his life. The panic that left him frozen on the spot was an all too common reaction that a person had when he is caught in a situation he didn't know how to handle. That was why he was stuck standing there and he had no idea what to do or say.

The last time they met was almost a week ago and it didn't go out very well in Kaname's opinion. They had a bit of an argument and it seemed that it hadn't been resolved very well.

"Did you need something?" Takuma called out softly.

Kaname gave a sigh and composed himself, "I was just going for some coffee or tea," he answered. It seemed these were the first words they've spoken since Zero regained consciousness. They've passed the hallways, shared occasional eye contact in some meetings, but private conversations were all but missing between them.

"I have some here, if you'd like it." Takuma gestured to a tarnished metal pot sitting amongst a scattering of papers and notes.

"I'll gladly have some," Kaname answered formally as he headed towards Takuma. He poured coffee to his cup while he felt Takuma staring at him all the way. He attempted to ignore the heavy atmosphere and pressed the mug to his lips and took an audible sip. The bitter liquid helped him focus a bit and he knew that he had to resolve things with Takuma. "I prefer tea better," he muttered.

"I agree with you," Takuma replied as he dropped his eyes back to the numerous papers strewn about the table. It was a line after line of solid black text on white backgrounds that seemed to be from the council and a few from the association.

"What are you doing here?" Kaname asked in an attempt to maintain conversation.

"Reading correspondences from some members of both council and association. These are just some of the reports about the level ends hunter this week."

He could only offer a nod as his only response. Something must be wrong with his head at this point. Because for the past few weeks, he had done his best to forget how close they have all been to death, how close they remain. His stomach lurched at how horribly he had been honoring the deaths of those who have sacrificed themselves for the peace. Zero seemed to think about it constantly. Every smile the hunter had was accompanied by a strain of fear in his eyes.

"Where's Yagari? Usually he's here to drop Zero a visit or something," Kaname asked casually, trying to keep his mind away about those things.

"He hasn't slept in three days and the mission didn't go well as they had hoped and he finally crashed."

"Sounds like something he'd do," Kaname mentioned after a while.

"Maybe he'll turn up for a visit in another twenty-four hours."

It wasn't until now, when Takuma's eyes are off of him, that Kaname could absorb his friend's current state. There was a dark shadow under both of his eyes. He's tired, like the rest of them. he didn't appear to have lost or gained any weight, which was interesting because half of the people who had jobs like theirs have been accustomed to skipping meals often. Aside from the small changes, there was something about Takuma that he couldn't quite discern. He'd always been able to read him so well. When did he lose that ability?

"How was Kiryuu-kun?" Takuma asked.

"He's fine but he needs to stay here for a while," Kaname replied.

"I see."

Kaname sipped from his drink again. It was finally at a moderate temperature and easy to drink. He noticed the sounds of the building again. The complicated ventilation system creaks. The lighting above them buzzed and the papers on the table make sharp shuffling sounds as Takuma adjusted the piles. Then there is the silence. The audible, crackling silence that hovers around the two of them like a heavy fog. It felt like they were in the woods on a muggy morning; attempting to track their prey but knowing how impossible it would be when they cannot see more than a foot in front of them. As he stood in this tiny room with gray walls and cold floors, his vision couldn't be clearer, yet he never felt so lost.

Takuma set the notes down and pressed his palms over his eyes. On top of the fatigue Kaname noticed initially, he saw how his friend's shoulders drooped, and it wasn't the result of being tired. He is beaten down and wounded – as if he's given up. This isn't Takuma, not the Takuma I knew. Takuma Ichijou wass supposed to be cheerful and his spirit unwavering. But now, he appears so broken, and Kaname left to consider the reason why. A heavy, intangible weight hits the pureblood's chest. He couldn't even help his friends just like he couldn't to Zero.

"Do we really have nothing else to say to each other?" Takuma said from behind his hands.

"I don't know what to say at the moment," Kaname answered honestly. He suddenly felt like a coward, a failure, and a horrible friend. How could he even begin to apologize to him, and yet, is there anything to apologize for? Of course there was, but he had no way of putting that into words. This situation had always been complex. And even now that he'd found a scrap of undeserved happiness from Zero, he couldn't even enjoy it because pain was still permeating it from all sides.

"Well if there is nothing else. I'm a bit tired so I'm going to lie down," Takuma said as he stood up and began gathering the papers into the file folder.

Kaname sighed deeply. "Wait, Takuma. Let's talk for a while."

"You know, Kaname. I wasn't really mad at you. You don't need to do this if you don't want to," Takuma muttered as he sat down.

"I wanted to get this out of my chest and I think that you deserve to know the truth," Kaname replied.

"Well, I guess I should do the same. You know that the council is having problems right now and honestly, it tires me too much," Takuma began to say. "It doesn't make it any easier that Shiki is related to Rido Kuran as well and I hate how other vampires judge him because of that. I can't even do anything because I know that it would only make things worse. I always had to stand on the side and watch as the person I care about suffer," he continued bitterly.

"I believe that I've told you before that you are a strong person Takuma," Kaname said gently. "I know for certain that Shiki could go through those insults simply because you would always be there for him."

"Thank you," Takuma said gratefully. "It's really gets things of my chest to hear others say it," he added sincerely.

Kaname sat down next to his friend as he thought about the words to convey what his friend should know about him and Zero. He continued to sit and think and imagine. And then he noticed his fingers running absentmindedly over his collar bone. He remembered the night when Zero placed a kiss there, how it made him grin, how relaxed it made him feel, how he wished for more.

"Do you love him?" Takuma questioned after a prolonged silence.

Kaname knew that the answer to the question was yes. Zero was not a part of the world he had with Takuma and his friends in the council or the vampire world. He knew that the Kaname then wouldn't have even considered being with a hunter. But the person he was now not only wanted Zero, he needed him. His heart needed Zero.

"Takuma, I love him," Kaname whispered. Had he ever said it out loud to his friend? Offering loved was such an abstract and vulnerable act of charity. He always felt that actions speak much louder then words, but these words felt astoundingly massive.

"Are you going to tell me that it was all destiny?" Takuma told him softly, bringing up the star-crossed lovers routine.

"No," Kaname replied immediately. He didn't like the idea of his and Zero's relationship being reduced to something so out of their control. "You know that I want to control my life. The same way that I know Zero wanted his. I feel that both of us including you as well had our choices taken away from us our whole lives. That's why I refused to be manipulated anymore."

The blond noble pushed his fallen hair out of his face and sighed heavily. "I apologize for that," he whispered sincerely.

"Don't apologize. There's practically nothing to be sorry for," Kaname told him because he didn't need Takuma to do any apologizing. He only needed for his friend to understand that his feelings were his own. He also needed to know how much he wanted to apologize for acting like a complete jerk last time. "If anyone should apologize it should be me."

"I said some pretty harsh things last time, Kaname," Takuma said sincerely. "That was why I want to apologize. I didn't mean to say those things to you," he added.

Kaname nodded and Takuma smiled before their conversation had lapsed into silence.

"Do you know when I chose him? Not why, but when?" Kaname inquired.

A nervous laugh escaped from Takuma. He shared a smirk with the blond noble, understanding the ridiculousness of his question. "Probably not, but go ahead," he answered.

"After Zero was captured I wasn't the same person. You know this; you saw me that time after all. I thought it was because of the guilt. I wanted so much to make sure that he was protected. I felt like a complete failure when I couldn't save him."

"To be fair, it wasn't your fault. Things like that are out of our hands."

"I realized at the time when I thought that I almost lost Zero that I loved him since long ago, maybe even then when we began going to missions together. There was something in him that made me feel so happy and complete. He treated me the same as everyone else yet that was what endears me to him. I thought that what I felt for those three years were only friendship and gratitude. I never realized that I would be in love with him."

"Would you still feel the same if you knew who Kiryuu-kun really is?" Takuma asked as he locked eyes with Kaname.

The pureblood understood what his friend was trying to say. Frankly, he knew little about the hunter even after the three years they had been partners. It was only recently he found out that Zero was a vampire and who knew what secrets he would uncover in time. The fact remained that Zero was a complete enigma. He could only count the number of things he knew about the hunter. He had no knowledge about what Zero had done before they worked together and the only time he met Zero was in passing during their days at the academy. Yet he promised to himself some time ago that he would be prepared to accept whatever truth he would find and he vowed to himself that his feelings would never change.

"I was prepared long ago to take that risk and I told myself so many times that I would be prepared to accept all of him," Kaname answered determinedly.

"You know that I'll always respect your decision," Takuma said gently. "I don't know if I should say this because it concerns Kiryuu-kun. I don't know the exact details but I think that you should deserve to know."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Zero Kiryuu knew your uncle and had apparently known each other a long time ago. The council had been talking about it recently," Takuma replied seriously. "I heard that Kiryuu-kun tried to kill your uncle in the past but the council managed to stop that from happening since there was no proof of your uncle's misconduct. In the end, Kiryuu-kun had no choice but to stand down no matter how much he hated it."

"What reason would Zero have to go after my damned uncle?" Kaname asked as he pondered about that new information. Was that the reason why his uncle went after Zero?

"Your uncle killed someone important to Kiryuu-kun. That was all I knew," Takuma answered in the same tone.

"I see that my uncle seemed to have a knack for ruining other people's lives," Kaname said in distaste. Rido must be the reason why Zero always felt the need to distance himself to everyone else. He wondered who was the person that his uncle murdered and why did he choose Zero out of all people? It didn't seem to add up in his opinion. There were still pieces missing from the puzzle.

"I know and sometimes I wonder how Shiki was related to that man," Takuma added.

"No wonder my cousin pretended not to know my uncle."

Takuma smiled and laughed good naturedly. It seemed that the distance between them had disappeared to who knows where. He knew now that his friend said those things out of worry for him. It seemed that he was just too stressed out to see through those words and let it get the better of him.

"So, why aren't you with Kiryuu-kun right now?" Takuma asked in a good-mannered tone as he gazed at Kaname with his emerald green eyes.

"I wanted a drink. And I needed to sort some things out."

"What kind of things?"

"You don't want to hear this," Kaname assured his friend.

"Just say it, Kaname. I'm tired of not talking to you," Takuma answered back. "Besides that, I've gotten quite curious about it," he added cheerfully.

Kaname found it difficult to fathom their conversation. A few moments ago, there was this awkwardness and barrier between them. And now it felt like normal between them, but in a much better way. It seemed as if that conversation from some time ago never happened and they were back to being good friends. Nonetheless, it was a bit awkward to talk about his love life even if the person he was talking to was a childhood friend.

"Zero has a lot of anxieties about the future," Kaname told Takuma vaguely.

"We all do, Kaname."

"He's been down lately and I know that the real issue was he felt that he couldn't protect me or anyone else. He's also afraid that I'm going to disappear one day. What makes it worse is that I can't tell him he's wrong," Kaname said as the words spilled out before he could stop them. He glanced over at Takuma, expecting the latter to look uncomfortable. Instead, it looked as though his friend was thinking of something.

"I can't really blame, Kiryuu-kun. You tend to disappear sometimes."

The pureblood's shoulders slumped. For all of the noble's thinking, his words aren't certainly helpful in the least. "It's different now though. I'm in control and I am trying to be. I'm not going to let anyone use me especially the council, and more importantly, I am not going to leave Zero without telling him."

Takuma smiled at him, and pushed a stray lock of his hair behind his ear. "Then he definitely needs to hear you say that."

Kaname gave him a small smile. "Thank you for listening. You've always been helpful in things like this." The pureblood knew that words can't encompass everything he was thankful for. He could only hope that over time he could show his friend. Takuma had always been there whenever he needed someone to talk to or share his problems with.

"There's something I've wanted to ask you," Takuma began with a slight shift of his body. "How did you take it when Akatsuki told you?"

"When Akatsuki told me what?" When Takuma didn't answer right away, he looked up at him. The blond noble angled his head in a gesture of encouragement. Kaname was still at a loss as to what his friend was talking about.

"You do know that Akatsuki and Ruka had started going out together, right?"

"I didn't hear anything about that," Kaname immediately responded. "That was surprising news," he added with a smile.

"I suppose you could say that. They didn't seem to get along that well back in school and I thought Ruka was still in love with you," Takuma said gently.

"That was all in the past, Takuma," Kaname answered. "Besides, I'm glad that she found someone who would love her and that she could finally let go of her feelings for me. Before I forget, how did you know this?"

"Shiki told me about it and I asked Akatsuki afterwards," Takuma replied with a mischievous glint. Kaname could only wonder how his friend managed to make Akatsuki admit that.

"You and Shiki are still doing well, I presume?"

"Of course, though we haven't seen each other for a while because of work," Takuma said with his overall cheery smile. "Well, we'd better get going."

Abruptly, Takuma gave him a light friendly hug that he returned. The hug felt comfortable and safe. Kaname heard a sigh over his shoulder and he hoped it was a sign that everything was now okay between them. They parted after a few minutes.

The two then heard some shuffling down the hallway. People were waking up to start cooking and cleaning and doing all the everyday things that make this place run. Kaname helped his friend up and encouraged him to go to bed. He wished him a sweet dream as Takuma walked out the door, and even though he wasn't planning on going back to bed, his friend wished him the same.

Before he left the room he filled another cup of coffee for Zero. When he got back to the hunter's room, Zero was still asleep and there wasn't any way for him to be able to snuggle back into the hunter's arms without waking him up. It was too important that Zero got his rest. Kaname grabbed his blanket from his own bed and swung it around his shoulders. He sat at the foot of the bed, crossed his legs, and sipped the coffee until Zero began to stir. Zero lifted up his head when he realized that Kaname was not lying next to him. He was half-relieved, half-irritated, when he saw the pureblood.

Kaname, what are you doing over there? Zero asked groggily as his voice invaded Kaname's senses lightly.

"I got up early to get us something to drink," Kaname answered automatically and he knew that it wasn't the complete truth but it was good enough for the moment. He stepped off the bed to pick up his cup from the side table. It wasn't steaming any longer, but at least it meant that he would be able to drink it immediately. Zero pushed himself to a sitting position as Kaname handed him his cup. The pureblood climbed up onto the bed again only this time he sat next to the hunter so their shoulders were touching. Somehow, they looked so innocent together. There was really nothing to be embarrassed about if anyone should walk in.

How did you sleep? Zero asked after some time.

"Fine," Kaname said over the rim of his cup. He noticed that he was a terrible liar in front of Zero, and he knew that the hunter could pick up on it better than anyone else he knew. So, in those instances where he found it better to lie, he tried to keep the sentences as short as possible since it would have a much better chance of being successful. Besides, he had been sleeping well prior to their late night conversation.

Good. I'm really sorry for waking you up last night and especially how I've been lately.

The hunter's apology caught Kaname off guard. After everything he just went through earlier, waking him up or even his moody behavior seemed like a silly thing to apologize for. "You don't have to apologize. You'll get better soon." Zero didn't smile. He just stared into his cup. It startled Kaname a bit. "Is there something wrong?"

I know that it's going to happen one of these days.

"What's going to happen?"

One day I'm going to wake up and you're going to be gone, Zero replied sadly and his voice carried the pain that Kaname had sensed a long time ago when they first got to know each other. Despite how Zero had pretended when they worked, there was always a shadow of something lingering behind those amethyst eyes.

"Zero, you know that I won't do such a thing," Kaname told the hunter honestly.

We can't be sure of anything, Kaname. I have lost far too much all my life and I felt my heart shatter so many times. I'm afraid to feel those kind of emotions again, the hunter continued as he remembered the people he had protected and lost throughout his lifetime. His parents, a few of his friends, especially Yuuki. And now that he admitted to himself that he did love the pureblood as well. He was afraid.

Afraid to lose that special someone once again. Because he knew that this time, he would die if that happened.

Kaname took Zero's cup as well as his and set them both on the side table. Keep his blanket on his shoulders; he gently climbed over Zero, straddling his hips. He pinned himself as closely as he could to the hunter. He had embraced Zero a couple of times. He also held Zero while he slept and sometimes the hunter does the same to him. But this was new. Other than last night, they've never been together like this. It made the air feel electric and alive. Maybe because he knew that he was going to regret this if someone interrupted the moment, but for now, he didn't care. He loved the closeness. He loved the feel of Zero's body close to his. He ran his hands over the hunter's cheeks, through his hair, and down his neck. Zero was surprised at first but later on, his hands automatically moved to rest on the pureblood's waist.

"I can't even offer any argument with what you said to me," Kaname whispered softly. "There are too many unknown factors and there might be something that would pull me away – something that could guarantee a safe life for us – for everyone. But I know that it would be worth the risk. But I'm not going to make that decision without you. Now that I have you, I won't let you go. I'm not going to disappear without a word," he added in the same tone of voice.

Zero didn't reply and opted to stay quiet. He closed his eyes and tried to accept the truth of Kaname's words. He knew the risks and he knew about their responsibilities. Both of their lives hung on a thin thread. Him, more than Kaname. He couldn't even tell the pureblood about what transpired between him and Rido. It was just too painful to recall especially how that man had reminded him of Yuuki's death and reminded him of his weaknesses. He also remembered being bitten by that bastard and he knew that because of it, he had little chance of ever killing that man. He shared half of the bond with Rido and even if he was a noble, he was still ranked lower than a pureblood. With those factors into play, even if he didn't want to, direct contact with Rido would allow the man to have control over him.

Not only that, he also shared half of a bond with another pureblood. To another Kuran no less. It was a different matter entirely and a cause of argument between him and Kaname sometimes. The pureblood had always coaxed him to take his blood in order to heal faster and though Zero often relented, he had to concede after much prodding. Kaname had always reminded him that he wanted for the hunter to take his blood if he needed to. When Zero had asked why once, the pureblood only answered in a gentle tone that it was because he loved Zero as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

He tried to forget about the matter with Rido for a while and focused on more simple things like his relationship with Kaname.

Time, as well as healing some of my wounds, taught me something strange too: that it's possible to love more than one person in a lifetime. He thought to himself. No matter how much he denied it, he was surely falling in love with the pureblood. He was still in love with Yuuki Cross, who was his first love and who died in his arms all those years ago. She was long gone but his feelings for her never changed. It never crossed his mind that he would fall in love again. But the chairman reminded him that Yuuki would be happy with whatever decisions he made. Zero knew that it was the truth because she was a kind person. That was one of traits he loved about her. She was always there for him and he tried to protect her with everything he had, but in the end, she passed away, leaving him behind to grieve.

Ever since then, he felt as if his heart died along with her. He immersed himself in his work and hoped that it would distract him from feeling the sadness and guilt that weighed him all the time. That was where it started. The feeling of trying not to get too close to anyone else. He didn't know if it was his curse or something that usually ended up with the people closest to him dying. But he didn't want to feel those things again and he came to the conclusion that if he retained his distance, he wouldn't feel the pain of losing someone.

That was until Kaname came and broke all his resistance slowly but surely. He sighed deeply. I want to believe what you're saying. It won't change anything, but at least I won't feel so weak, so incapable, he voiced out to the pureblood.

Kaname licked his lips against his nerves and thought about what Zero said to him. This whole encounter had been quite a stretch for him and even if he tried to advance with Zero, he was still quite nervous. Zero didn't discourage him but it didn't help straighten his worries that he might go too far and drive the hunter away. Feeling a bit of bravery at the fact that Zero's eyes were still closed, he leaned forward until his lips hovered over the hunter's. "The battle may come sooner than expected and we'll be forced to take risks or jeopardize our lives," he whispered. "However, that day is not today." He tried to be seductive for that part but unfortunately for his ego, Zero responded in the worst possible way. The hunter's eyes snapped open, his shoulders were shaking and a quivering breath escaped through his nose. It seemed that he was trying not to laugh.

The pureblood pulled back. "What?" he asked, half offended and half pleased at the same time for making Zero laugh.

Were you being serious?

"Oh my God," Kaname groaned in a way that was unlike his normal regal and calm self.

Are you blushing? I haven't seen you blush in a long time. Zero replied, knowing that Kaname would feel the mirth he was trying to suppress. He reached out and touched the pureblood's hot cheek. Kaname tried to flinch away but he held the pureblood still. What exactly were you trying to do?

"I don't know. I was just… I was trying… to… to show you that I'm not…" Kaname stuttered out and he cursed himself deeply. Oh hell. His confidence and vocabulary skills failed him yet again and in front of the hunter too. It also didn't help that the hunter in question was pretty amused by this unexpected turn of events.

Going to disappear. Zero repeated Kaname's words earlier. He never thought that teasing Kaname would be so much fun, no wonder Kaito always tried to dig at the pureblood.

"Yeah," Kaname muttered lamely as he felt Zero's continued amusement at his expense. It seemed all of the electricity had gone out of the room in his embarrassment.

I apologize. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Zero said sincerely.

Kaname found it hard to smile or accept the apology. "I'm going to get the nurse." He made a move to get up but Zero's arms wrapped around him and their chests were pinned together once again.

You're not going anywhere, Kaname. After all, I have you right here where I want you.

"I can't believe you make me feel like an idiot. A complete idiot at this moment," Kaname muttered under his breath. "I'm a pureblood and I seem to be reduced to a stuttering idiot in front of you. What would the others think if they saw me like that?"

Don't think that way. That was the cutest thing I've seen in a while. You don't have to try with me, Kaname. Seeing you smile when you think no one is looking or sleeping next to you or just being able to touch you… it means a lot to me, you know, Zero told him and Kaname was enveloped with that warm feeling. And just like that, the room was buzzing with electricity again. Things were made much easier now that some of Zero's previous anxieties seemed to have settled down for now.

Kaname reveled in the way his heart speeded up just a little and the way his stomach was having butterflies fluttering around. Zero placed a kiss on his hairline. Another on the ear. Another on the nose. The pureblood tilted his head so the hunter was forced to meet his lips. The feeling was warm and satisfying. The heat spreading through his whole body. The hunter's hands move from his back to his waist and continue down until they were running back and forth over his thighs. Their lips never stopped moving and neither do the hunter's hands. Back and forth. Back and forth. Inching forward just a little more each time until the hands stopped right below his hipbone and squeezed. Kaname gasped in surprise, much like he did last night. His hips began to move under the power of Zero's gentle hands. The movement felt natural and exciting, and coupled with the furious way their lips moved, he felt kind of dizzy. Zero responded with a similar gasping sound he'd never heard from the hunter before. Kaname smiled at his small victory. He wanted so much to hear the hunter make that sound again and again.

Zero grasped Kaname's hips a little tighter, but that didn't stop the pureblood from rocking. Something seemed to ignite in the pit of the pureblood's stomach and it made him wonder if the hunter felt the same thing. As he rocked, the fire in his belly was slowly building. He pressed down onto Zero with a little more force, experimenting with the fire. Both of them gasped into each other's mouths. It seemed as if that fire turned into a full blown blaze.

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking at the door and Kaname pulled himself backwards at the sound of a woman's voice. "Mister Kiryuu! Time to get up!" The pureblood almost jumped back as if the hunter pushed him away, though Zero hadn't moved. They stared at each other for a moment, in wild confusion, like two people finding themselves suddenly transported to a strange landscape where nothing was familiar.

"He's already awake," Kaname answered back for Zero hurriedly.

"Five minutes then!" the woman said through the locked door.

Zero leaned back against the pillows and ran his hands through his silver hair a few times. His breathing a little fast, but no more than the pureblood's. She and Lilina would have been the best of friends, the hunter's voice resonated in Kaname's head. They both have the worst timing in the world, he added quietly.

Taking advantage of the hunter's moment of frustration Kaname climbed off of him and the bed to help Zero stand up. The hunter took the pureblood's hand willingly as he sighed deeply, wondering what they had been doing beforehand. It was a good thing the door was locked. He blushed a bit as that realization hit him full force. What would the people think if they saw him and Kaname in that position?

Kaname smirked at the hunter and the expected reaction – the blush across that pale face was something he always yearned to witness. Feeling a bit mischievous, he leaned in and whispered quietly, "Don't forget, we still have a whole day. The association matter could wait." Seeing the blush intensify, Kaname laughed lightly as Zero glared at him.

Loving someone so madly and helplessly like this… I will never love like this again, Kaname thought deeply as he held the hunter's hand tightly. Knowing that he was projecting his thoughts through the hunter clearly. The only one for me is you. It would always be you, Zero.