Chapter 29: Rido Kuran

"Would you stop looking at me like that?" Zero huffed annoyingly at his childhood friend who insisted on staring at him suspiciously.

Zero had done as Kaname had suggested and somehow was able to negotiate some kind of outing together with Yuki and Len.

Yet being the observer that Len was, he knew that there was some kind of conspiracy to Kaname's allowing Zero to be so chummy with Len of all people. The special guest arriving to the Moon dorm this evening was no doubt the causes of Kaname's sudden mood change toward Len.

Len was aware of the head council member Asato making his appearance to the night class; Yuki had let it slip earlier this morning during breakfast. So it was only a matter of time before Kaname sent Zero their way as a means to not get the later involved with the meeting. Len knew Kaname did it for the wellbeing of Zero but that was clearly a violation to the orders that Shizuka had given to both vampires. Len was even more surprised to see Zero obediently following the other's orders without so much as a refusal.

No doubt something had happened between the two the night Kaname confronted him in the woods that changed Zero's behavior toward the pureblood so quickly.

Len could confidently say that he knew Kaname far more than Zero did himself. No matter how indifferent the pureblood made himself out to be around others there was always one person that had an effect on him that always seemed to shatter Kaname's mask of indifference to pieces.

Zero Kiryu.

Whenever it came to Zero, Kaname was like an open book. Yet for Zero, it was different. Len knew Zero long enough for him to pick up on secrets the other was hiding, but now he couldn't. Zero was like an unmovable rock wedged between a narrow openings that was once unblocked before. Zero had become good at hiding things.

Now whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, depends on the person your asking.

Len sighed. There was no way of asking Zero if something happened between him and Kaname without sounding nosy, so for now he will let the idea dissipate and instead enjoy the milk shake he ordered.

Zero eyed Len drinking his vanilla milkshake in silence.

Yuki had left the two men alone while she went across the street to a woman's boutique to exchange something before they headed to the movies just a few blocks from the café they had dinner at.

There were definitely some kept secrets lingering in the air between them. Zero had his and it would seem Len had some too, but neither of them would say what it was, too proud really. It was childish if you really thought about it, but Zero knew Len to blow a fuse whenever it involved purebloods. Nonetheless, Zero knew he couldn't continue to let Len be in the dark about his relationship with Kaname. Especially now that Zero couldn't fool himself in to believing his love for Kaname was anything but real.

Zero took a deep breath in and slowly let it out through his nose.

'Well, here goes nothing.' Was the thought circling around Zero's mind as he focused his eyes on Len.

"Len?"

"Hmm?" Len muttered, his mouth still busy sucking his milk shake from his straw.

"What would you say if I told you me and Kaname are now dating?" Zero finally let out and was lucky to have lifted the dessert menu just in time to shield him from the milk shake that had spurted out of Len's mouth.

A nearby waitress quickly made her way over to Len where she gently patted Len's back as he coughed the rest of the milk shake out of his windpipe.

"Sir are you alright? Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

"Not necessary," Len replied, as if spurting out vanilla milk shakes at people was an everyday occurrence. "I'm fine…just need some napkins."

The waitress nodded and handed over the stack of paper towels she had in her hand. After making sure Len was all right a second time, the waitress then dismissed herself to attend to other customers leaving Zero and Len alone in their booth.

"Don't you think your reaction is a bit too extreme?"

"Oh so I was suppose to act with a merrier response?" Len bit back sarcastically.

"I would think you would at least have some sort of self control while we were out in public."

"Have some self control?" Len repeated, "don't you think my reaction to this is justifiable? Anyone in our position would act like that?"

"That is rather debatable, Len." Zero leaned back against the seat, legs crossed before him as he frowned.

"I can give two shits about whether it can or cannot be. I'm more concerned about our plan. The plan we spent years perfecting."

"I understand that but as far as I'm concerned Kaname was never part of our plan."

"I'll admit, you being sent to Cross Academy and being put under Kuran's care was an unexpected outcome that we did not plan. However, you know that our plan is to eradicate the pureblood race. It's been our goal since the beginning."

"You have to understand that Kaname isn't like the others, he won't betray me."

"How do you know that?"

"Because he loves me!"

"When has love ever changed anyone?" Len questioned.

"It changed you." Zero answered back, his eyes staring straight at Len. "I see the way you look at her. You think I didn't know? You've fallen for Yuki."

"What of it? It still doesn't prove your point."

"It does when Kaname is involved. An invisible thread neither you nor I can see binds Yuki and Kaname together. There is a reason to Kaname's gentleness towards her and that he would do anything in his power to protect her. What that connection is I don't know, but what I do know is that your love for her is preventing you from using her to get to Kaname. So you are just as guilty to this game of love as I am."

There was a silence after that that hung between them before Len broke it with his chilling response.

"Who said it's preventing me?" Len tilted his head to one side and stared at Zero with hollow glassy eyes that reminded Zero of a porcelain doll, empty and cold.

Zero was stunned speechless. It would seem that Len still had the power to detach himself and become a soulless demon that would risk it all if it meant he could get revenge on those who deserved it. Yet what was most shocking was that Zero saw himself in that look. It made him remember all those times he was in the arena killing and slaughtering countless vampires all for the enjoyment of others. And for the first time…it terrified him.

Zero was afraid of what he done. Who he had become…who he still is now.

Clenching his fist by his side, Zero stood. He needed some air. Fresh winter air to chill him to the bone so he wouldn't feel anything. That's what he needed more than anything right now.

Len didn't stop Zero as the other dismissed himself to get some fresh air. Len would give Zero the moment he needed to collect himself.

Once again Len has played with his friend's emotions without having really done anything. Len just showed him the truth through his own actions. There was no going back to innocence after what they've done. There was no time to play house with Kaname or Yuki who Len fell so madly in love with, but he didn't want to taint her.

Yuki's pureness was no good with his sinful past. He loved her too much to dirty her and if that meant he had to push her away, then he will at any cost.

Zero leaned his back against the cold cement building in an alleyway just around the corner toward the left side of the café he just left. Zero's mind was buzzing with so many different feelings and thoughts that Zero almost failed to miss a familiar scent further down the alleyway.

Zero followed it and came upon another street, this one less crowded than the main street forgotten behind Zero's back. There were some few antique shops, bakeries, and jewelry repair stores along the strip of road before Zero. Yet Zero's focus was on a particular jewelry repair shop that had a black limo parked in front of it.

From where he stood, Zero could see a small gray cloud of smoke seep through the slightly opened window. Zero watched for a moment in a daze as he saw the end of a cigarette appear from the slightly opened window where the cigarette was gently tapped a few times to let the ash fall to the ground before retreating back inside, which was soon followed by another small cloud of smoke.

Zero found himself unsteady. Eyes getting fuzzy as darkness began taking hold of him before he knew no more.

Asato sat inside his limo quietly smoking a cigarette, which was something he rarely did. However, on this occasion the elder gentleman felt he needed it to get his mind out of the sour mood he was in.

His meeting with Kaname hadn't exactly gone the way he had hoped it would and that frustrated him to no end. Asato could say he was a man of great patience but his patience was wearing undoubtedly thin. His hold on Kaname was slipping; he was no longer the orphan boy he raised to some day control.

Asato needed a new pawn or at least the guidance of the only true Kuran member he would follow. Rido Kuran. The pureblood's body was in his possession but his soul was lost somewhere Asato didn't know and with Kaname distancing himself from Asato's hold, he needed something or someone stronger who would be a match with the young pureblood.

Yet, where would he get such a person?

Asato leaned forward to press the end of his cigarette in the built in ashtray before him when suddenly the car door to his right opened.

"Well it's about time your finishe-" Asato stopped when he realized the figure who slid in next to him was not his driver who he sent moments ago into the jewelry shop to drop off his broken watch to get repaired.

The boy looked familiar, but Asato couldn't place where he knew the boy from. "How dare you enter my private car you hooligan!"

The boy looked at Asato before chuckling. "Do you not recognize the eyes of the vary man you protected from my own siblings after I slaughtered their child?"

It was after Asato met the boy's eyes did he finally notice the mismatch color orbs staring back at him.

"I-it can't be…" Asato was at a loss for words. It took a moment before Asato could utter the name those mismatch eyes belonged to. "Rido Kuran."

TBC…

D/N: This chapter and the next chapter happen roughly at the same time; only difference is that the perspective changes. Today's chapter shows what's happening on Zero's side while the next chapter will focus on Kaname. So please look forward to see what unfolds.

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