Kaname had never thought that it would end like this.

War was one thing, he'd fought many and seen more, it was inevitable when one lived as long as he had. He'd even faced the Apocalypse before.

Although 'the' Apocalypse wasn't appropriate anymore. What was the plural of Apocalypse anyway? Apocalypses? Apocalypsi?

What did it matter? This Apocalypse was worse than the one before, particularly because this time, it was of his own making.

And he wasn't just saying that because of his masochistic tendencies. He was the vampire's ruler, even if it was more de facto than de justo in recent centuries. He had a responsibility to his race. He should have seen it coming.

Why oh why had he not seen it coming?

Decades after it had begun, Kaname still didn't have an answer to that question and it haunted him. The signs were all there. Kaname had the experience and the political savvy to know them for what they were and yet it had still come as a surprise, leaving him scrambling to keep up. That had been half the problem. It was always better to act rather than react.

First had been the Council.

Kaname had always suspected them – how could he not? He'd lived with Ichio, he'd seen the undisguised lust in the old vampire's eyes when he'd looked at him. Yet lusting after Kaname's blood was hardly uncommon. Kaname had always known that any sign of weakness on his part would have the vultures descending. That was just part of it was to be a Pureblood. Perhaps, Kaname acknowledged, he had under-estimated Ichio and his ilk. He wouldn't be making that mistake again.

Second had been the Humans.

With the Council's manipulations so widespread, and damaging, it was unsurprising that secrecy had begun to fail. The Hunters had lost sight of their original purpose long ago so almost no one had been aware that the evidence had been piling up within certain governmental organisations that said, actually, vampires exist, and yes, they are dangerous.

The fall out of that had been… ugly.

Third, well, Kaname preferred not to think about the third blow. Some things should have stayed dead.

Footsteps.

Kaname tilted his head in acknowledgement as one of his Generals jogged briskly up the hillside trail towards him. The sound of Zero's footsteps were unmistakable – the slightly uneven tread and beat were as familiar a sound to Kaname as his own heartbeat.

Undoubtedly someone had noticed him brooding in the ever-fading moonlight and had sent Zero up to escort him back to the camp. No one travelled alone anymore. Especially him.

"They have found us, my Lord. Scouts say two hours, max."

Kaname barely resisted the urge to comment on the exceedingly rare use of formality; sending a knowing glance and a small smirk towards the silver hunter. Pigs had flown. Although, really, if there was ever a time for it…

"You're supposed to bow," he chided lightly, allowing a touch of amusement into his voice. "Or kneel at my feet." He turned, and eyed Zero up and down, a familiar glint in his eye. "Personally, I'd prefer the latter."

Oh, the possibilities. For all his battles, the Hunter was as exotically beautiful as ever; hair of purest silver, eyes of amethyst and flawless skin. Three scars clawing across his lower face, splitting his lips with narrow lines – lips Kaname had indulged himself in many times in recent decades.

"Oh, Piss off," came the mechanical response, although it was markedly less heated than it would have been a century ago. Kiryuu glared, and Kaname would never admit that he found the sight adorable rather than intimidating.

The glare intensified; perhaps Kaname's opinion was not as hidden as he would like, Zero did have the dubious honour these nights of being the vampire that knew Kaname best.

How times had changed.

Kiryuu was no longer a traumatised teenager, struggling to fight the Change, and later fighting the bloodlust. No, now he stood before Kaname, confident and proud. A truly dangerous Hunter, a stabilised level D, and a damn fine General. Perhaps his scars bothered him when it rained, perhaps his eyes were tired, but Zero had survived.

Kaname himself had come a long way. His kind had always been highly adaptable. But it had taken the near extinction of his people for Kaname to shake off his utter depression. He'd reaffirmed his will to live; he'd quit his rather vague agenda of peace with the humans and had stopped hopelessly wanting to keep Yuki innocent and safe.

In fact, once he'd shaken such notions off, it was truly difficult for Kaname – even with his perfect memory – to understand his own thoughts. Just what had he been trying to accomplish? It just didn't make sense. His actions had been illogical – sure he'd been depressed, millennium of life and it wore you down every so often – but even low he'd never been stupid.

Whatever was to blame – reality had come back to haunt him with a vengeance.

Kaname had swiftly shaken off his mood. Duty before pleasure; he was needed so he stepped up to the plate. Once he had rallied the tattered remains of his people, he'd felt refreshed. He accepted that some parts of his nature he'd once struggled to fight didn't need to be fought if only they were accepted. Perhaps he too, like Yuki, would have been driven insane by conflicting morals if he hadn't had that wake up call and remembered what it was like to live and not survive. When had he even picked up human morals anyway? They were a recent fad, even amongst their creators.

"Kaname?"

Kaname exhaled silently. Zero was right. It was time. He took one last glance over the ravaged landscape, and then looked up into the sky. The stars, at least, were familiar.

Then he turned his back and headed back down the trail, Zero falling into place behind him automatically.

Without waiting, he walked confidently back to their camp with his head held high, back down the hillside to the vestiges of a vast army, projecting an aura of utmost serenity and power. His men knew something was happening tonight. Any odd behaviour from him would only fuel their superstitions.

"Will it work?" Zero asked, falling into step, eyes systematically scanning the surrounding countryside for any whisper of an attack from both without and within.

"Yes."

Zero appeared startled by the conviction of his tone. But Kaname didn't have any doubts. The ritual they were about to use was old to be sure, but he'd been the one to invent it, millennia ago. He knew it would work – the only question was what price he'd have to pay this time.

And there was always a price.

"Is it true that you learned it from a lullaby?"

"Since when have you been one for the soldier's gossip?"

"I'm not. This is pragmatism. A lullaby isn't reliable."

"Technically it's a Teaching Ballad," Kaname replied with a smirk as Zero glared at him again.

"Thank you o King," Zero replied in a monotone as he nodded to one of his captains. "That was extremely enlightening and reassuring. Truly, no other has your gift for language."

Kaname rolled his eyes, allowing himself to smile openly – it did the soldiers good to see their commanders relaxed and happy. "It's what we sing to infant purebloods."

Zero nearly walked into a tree.

"You sing?"

"Enchantingly, or so I'm told," Kaname agreed blithely.

Zero's eye twitched.

"So it is a lullaby. Fantastic."

"An instructional lullaby."

"And that makes it any better how?"

They had to pause their bantering as another captain jogged to Zero, who gave quick instructions for the upcoming battle, and then they carried on, more and more men and women rushing past them to take their places with only quick nods in greeting and respect as their focus turned to the upcoming battle.

A long time ago, Kaname thought with no little amusement, a nod of greeting to him would have been tantamount to suicide. Disrespectful at best and a deliberate insult at worst – either would have been met with harsh reprisal. Now, it was only because the soldiers respected Kaname that they nodded at all.

There was no time for fripperies in war; besides, bowing exposed your back.

"The Ballads are designed for this situation, Zero," Kaname replied softly. "Parenting is dangerous for a pureblood, there is a good chance that the infant will be orphaned young. If the child survives that vulnerability, they have no one to teach him or her about their powers. The Ballads are sung over and over until the infant has them memorised. When they grow, they know what they can do, and how to do it."

"And someone thought it wise to tell a child they can travel through time?"

Zero's tone said it all. Kaname shrugged.

"Better to know it can be done, and the price it will cost, than to attempt it and be unprepared."

Zero eyed Kaname from the corner of his eye.

"What, exactly, is the price?"

"Something potent enough that no pureblood has tried it since the experiment was considered a success," Kaname said lightly, waving a negligent hand as if that somehow dismissed Zero's concerns.

"Kaname-

"Hush. It's my burden to bear."

Billions were dead. It was stupid for Kaname to think it was entirely his fault, but why didn't he see the signs? It wasn't like him. Kaname pushed the niggling suspicion aside. He had to focus.

"Only because you've put it there. We all deserve a portion of the blame. You might be the one going back, but don't keep it to yourself. Get allies or you'll go mad."

Kaname was silent for a few steps.

"You know," Kaname said nonchalantly, focusing on the positive, "when this works – I could help you, the past you, I mean."

"What are you on about, Kuran?" Zero stopped abruptly, far too used to the pureblood's manipulations to let such an obvious ploy slip by him. Immediate confrontation was the way to go.

"I'll have years, Zero, Years to plan and prepare – that could include you." It would include Zero whether he agreed to it or not of course, Kaname knew he had at least that much honour left in him, and Zero was too skilled to be ignored. "You could be one such ally."

"I don't understand. I was a whiny little shit back then, not someone who you'd want at your back in this kind of war."

"Think Zero. This ritual… it has endless possibilities. I don't know how far back I can go, if I can go back far enough to stop Shizuka," Kaname didn't promise that he would stop Shizuka even if he could. Zero wouldn't be Zero without facing all the trials her bite had come with. And, ruthlessly, he knew Zero made a much better fighter by being a vampire. But he would give Zero hope, here at the end, even if he knew it for lies. He'd never denied being ruthless.

"I don't even know if I'll be in a position to do anything. But, I swear to you. I will do all I can to help you, if you want. I'll certainly be giving you blood, even if it'll be back to forcing it down your throat again."

"If I want?" Zero repeated harshly. "Don't fucking joke about that you leech. You know exactly what I would do if I had the power to change it."

"It's not a joke, Zero," he replied softly. "I wouldn't make light of your life. If I can make it back that far, I'll try. Know that at least. I'll certainly be treating you better this time around," he smiled wryly at the memories of their numerous arguments and resulting fights. Decades of failed communication later, they'd discovered make-up sex and had only argued since just so that they could keep having it.

"And what precisely would you be asking of me – my younger self or whatever – in exchange for your protection." Zero knew damn well it wouldn't be free or out of the goodness of Kuran's non-existent heart. Vampire society had undergone a lot of radical changes in the last century – but the time frame Kaname suggested meant playing by the old rules of debts, favours and lies.

OK, he'd matured enough to know Kaname did have a heart - he'd even seen it once - and god had that been a horrible night trying to stuff Kaname's guts back in with bullets and bodies flying overhead. Zero repressed that visceral memory without pause as his mind carried on desperately trying to see Kaname's angle in all this.

Even with the physical proof burned into his retinas, Kaname had to have a benefit for him squirreled away somewhere. No doubt. That was just his nature.

Never let it be said that a hunter had lost his distrust of vampires. His instincts were -of course -spot on.

Kaname chuckled softly. "Oh I have a price in mind."

"A price? Kaname don't make me hurt you." It was not an idle threat; Zero was already hefting his gun. Kaname eyed it, heat flaring in his eyes – how could he resist?

"As if you could."

Zero launched towards the infuriating arsehole in a blur of speed. Not one solider batted an eye; they were used to their leaders bizarre form of flirting. One woman even dared to whistle as she hastened past, shouldering a bazooka and dodging the odd limb.

"Why you!"

Kaname easily evaded the hunter's grab, appearing behind him instantaneously only to ruffle his hair in the same infuriating fashion as Yagari once had.

"Now, now," he wrapped his arms about Zero from behind, pressing the hunter's body firmly into his own, whispering sultrily into his ear, "is that any way to treat your beloved master, Zero-chan." He slid his hands up under Zero's shirt, gliding them across delectable warm skin. Seduction was his normal method of distraction for Zero; it rarely failed.

The horrified hunter spluttered and cursed incoherently, struggling valiantly but fruitlessly. "You are not my master," he gasped out, disgust evident at the very thought of the word. Apparently that distinction mattered more than his current molestation.

"Am I not the pureblood you are bound to?" Kaname inquired, delicately nibbling down the long expanse of pale skin, laving Zero's tattoo.

"Yes," Zero grudgingly admitted, as Kaname hurriedly released him when the hunter sparked the tattoo and managed to singe his questing tongue. Zero was willing to allow that he owed the pureblood that tiny, insignificant detail, "but that doesn't make you my master. Eww." He paused, realisation sweeping over him.

"Oh you bastard." Kaname tried hard to hide his smirk, really, he did.

"No need to be coarse, pet."

"You're going to offer to save me, and bind me to you instead of Shizuka. I will not be your lackey in any timeline, you…" he couldn't find a word coarse enough to describe the ancient vampire.

"…And your virginity." Kaname admitted, not bothering to hide his amused pleasure at the thought. What was a little bit of manipulation between friends?

"I knew you were jealous that you weren't my first, or fifth for that matter." Zero focused on that thought, denial sweeping over him. The pureblood had been awful during their school days, even imagining said pureblood with knowledge of the future and intimate knowledge of his character, and, he swallowed hard, his body, was traumatising. He'd probably pass out from all the blood rushing to his face and groin at the same time.

Kaname scowled at the reminder, Zero mentally tallied himself a point.

"I'll be your only soon enough."

Zero sighed. Minus a point. The leech could certainly hold a grudge.

"At least I'll never know the difference."

Kaname didn't answer. That was enough for Zero to pause. Kaname never missed an opportunity to needle him. He knew enough of Kaname to recognise a potential fuck up right then and there.

"I won't know the difference, right? Kaname, Kaname! This is not the time for your usual-

Kaname shrugged, somehow making the gesture elegant. "We share a blood bond, Zero. When I go back – I'll still have that bond within me. I only have theories…"

"You know what. I don't care." Zero's tone was brusque. It was too much maybe and if for it to warrant any consideration when they were on the brink of extinction. He was a general and he had an army to organise.

"If you succeed and save us all from this hell – I'll kiss your feet, suck you off, and beg on my knees for you to take me, master. Fuck, I'll even do it in public. Now get going, leech. I can only buy you so much time."

Zero was just as accomplished at distraction. The purebloods eyes had widened visibly at his pronouncement, the pupils darkening rapidly. Kinky bastard.

Kaname's imagination was providing all the encouragement he needed, even for a plan as insane as this one.

Before Zero could storm off to rally up some morale, post scouts and bully the last few hundred of their men into order, Kaname grabbed his arm and pulled him close, lips capturing the hunter's with ease, pressing one last comforting and familiar kiss on him, revelling in the ever-present spice of his taste, and delighting in how Zero struggled, then submitted to let him do what he wanted.

Kaname could never convey the gratitude he felt towards Zero, the hunter had been the only one with the courage and utter lack of reverence for him to have been able to barge straight into his rooms and threaten him to 'keep his shit together' after… well, after Yuki.

After that disaster they'd worked together plenty of times, just clicking into an unusual friendship that had utterly freaked his entire Court. He was not going to let the hunter just run off if this was the last time he'd ever see him. He was the last one alive that Kaname had known before the war. Without that link to happier times, Kaname doubted he'd be sane.

When Kaname didn't let up immediately, Zero knew it was one of those times where the pureblood was going to be stubborn about it. Zero kissed back as briefly as he thought he could get away with, gently caressing Kaname's tongue in warm pleasure, ignoring how addicting he found the experience with the ease of long practice. They'd made love for hours yesterday in a rare break from fighting and Zero wasn't going to tarnish that incredibly sensuous experience with a quick desperate fuck against a tree.

It would taste too much like defeat- even if they had had the time for it.

Apparently satisfied, Kaname let him escape the kiss but leant his forehead against the hunter's and looked deep into his lilac eyes that were wet with the tears he refused to let fall.

"That is how you are supposed to say goodbye, Zero."