Chapter Title: A Taste Of Sweetness

Disclaimer: I own nothing about this story but the ideas.

Warning: Un-betaed.

A/N: I know this chapter took a little longer than usual, but I was busy last week. So while I really wanted to upload this on Valentine's Day, here's the chapter several days late. This one's sweet both literally and figuratively. I tried not to overdo it, but again, I can't say that I really succeeded. And it turned out with less Kaname and more Yuuki in it than I had originally planned. But I needed Yuuki in it to balance out the story and prevent it from crossing the line between fluffy and diabetically sweet. *has slight aversion to writing the latter kind though reading sometimes is fine* Typing 'St. Xocolat's Day' was fun, by the way. XD Hope you all enjoy reading!

Background: The assumption is that Kaname and Zero are a couple and that Yuuki was reawakened as a pureblood but loves Kaname only as a brother and remains in the Day Class with Zero to finish school. Heavier issues with the war and Rido will be ignored for these mostly fluffy stories.

The Day Class girls were unusually excited and high spirited despite the bitingly cold weather. It was like this every year, as February 14th approached. The adoring girls, and some boys, were ever so eager to give chocolates and candy to their favorite Night Class students.

This of course, meant more strenuous work for the two prefects, leading to a frazzled Yuuki and a more irritable Zero. Both were exhausted in the mornings because they had to survive on even less sleep than usual.

It was on the morning of February 12th that Yuuki suddenly thought of something that had nothing to do with eager fangirls out at night ending up drained of blood. She looked up blearily from her bowl of mushy cereal to see Zero absently chewing on a piece of half burnt toast.

"Zero, what are you going to give my brother on St. Xocolat's Day?"

The question jolted Zero out of his dazed state. It took a few seconds for his half-asleep mind to understand what the girl had said, and when he did he shrugged.

"Nothing."

The toast was as dry as cardboard and difficult to swallow. He washed the bite down with a large gulp of milk and put the remaining piece of bread back on his plate with distaste. The chairman had taken it upon himself to make 'a delicious breakfast for his hardworking children' and 'his children' had worked too hard with too little sleep to put up any significant resistance.

Zero decided that he could last until lunch, having polished off one third of a toast as breakfast and pushed his chair back. The sooner he got to class, the sooner he could take a nap. But his thoughts were interrupted by Yuuki's exclamation.

"What do you mean 'nothing'? It's St. Xocolat's Day, and you're a couple! Of course you have to give him something!"

Though she had been close to dozing over breakfast just a minute ago, Yuuki was now looking at her companion with wide, earnest eyes.

Zero sighed and distractedly ran a hand through his hair. He knew that look. She'd try to convince him and plead with him to have her way, and it usually worked. On the rare occasions it didn't, she'd then move onto scolding, bullying and eventually, blackmail. In the end, she almost always got her way. He had sometimes commented to Kaname that the pureblood spoiled the girl too much but the hunter himself hardly had the room to talk. But even knowing all this, Zero attempted to brush it off.

"We may be a couple but we're not sappy. We don't do romantic stuff and we're not observing Valentine's Day. Besides, how is it any of your business?"

Well, at least they didn't do a lot of romantic stuff. Zero adamantly told himself that little incidents here and there didn't count. Sure, Kaname was really sweet and often delighted in making him blush with words and gestures. And Zero would reciprocate now and then with similar words and gestures. But that didn't mean they were a romantic, sappy couple who would eagerly follow the traditions of the overrated holiday.

Or… did it? Now that he thought about it, the hunter wasn't sure if Kaname would simply let a lover's holiday pass by. The pureblood see it as an opportunity or sorts. But Kaname always got a heap of sweets from his admirers so the pureblood wouldn't want even more sweets from him, would he?

Yuuki could easily read the hesitation in Zero's violet eyes and pounced on her chance.

"It is my business because I won't let my best friend not give any chocolates to his lover, who just so happens to be my brother, on what is the most celebrated, traditional lover's holiday around. Plus, he's going to give you something so you'd better not disappoint him!"

Actually, she hadn't asked if Kaname was going to give Zero something. But Yuuki knew her brother well enough to be pretty sure he would. He was the type who would give Zero a bouquet of roses as well if he thought he could get away with it. Of course, her stubborn and easily embarrassed friend would balk at such a gesture.

Zero paused at Yuuki's words. Well, if Kaname was going to… Having made up his mind but unwilling to stay and see her smug grin, Zero turned away. As he strode out of the kitchen, the hunter commented over his shoulder.

"Don't be late for class."

"That's my line!"

Left alone in the kitchen, Yuuki grinned smugly.

Two days later, Zero and Kaname entered the latter's room once the Night Class had been escorted back to their dorm after class. The younger vampire surreptitiously scanned the room for the large pile of chocolates and candy the pureblood had received earlier in the evening. But the room was as it always was with no sign of the sweets anywhere. Apparently, the pureblood had handed them to the other vampires. Zero had no doubt that most of them would have been falling over themselves to rid Kaname of the unwanted burden. Not to mention, they would have been overjoyed to possess sweets that had once belonged to their precious pureblood.

Zero firmly told himself that the brimming satisfaction he felt did not stem from jealousy. He definitely hadn't been jealous of those mindlessly squealing fangirls from the Day Class. Even when they had given Kaname prettily wrapped sweets and looked up at him with starry eyes when the object of their adoration had politely thanked them, the hunter had not been jealous. He was just… irritated. Yes, simply irritated.

"Do you want something to drink?"

Zero's gaze returned to Kaname to see him pouring a glass of wine for himself. Shaking his head, Zero silently made his way to the couch and sat down.

Kaname watched his lover contemplatively and wondered what was on his mind. He seemed uncomfortable, a bit embarrassed and nervous about something. Maybe he ought to coax Zero into telling him what was wrong later. For now though, the pureblood hoped to distract him from whatever it was that troubled him.

Picking up a small box from a side table, Kaname joined Zero on the couch.

"For you."

Zero looked at the tastefully wrapped box that the other held out. Wordlessly, he took the offered box. It obviously contained chocolates. This was the first time he willingly accepted sweets for St. Xocolat's Day. Yuuki's awful homemade chocolate had been shoved into his mouth without allowing him a chance to protest so he disregarded that.

"Thanks."

Opening the box, Zero saw half a dozen pieces of dark chocolate, all of them delicately and intricately decorated. He was almost sorry that they were meant to be eaten. Gently closing the box, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small, plain box. As he gave it to Kaname, the hunter was secretly relieved that he'd listened to Yuuki this time. Not that he'd let her know that. She'd never stop being smug if she knew.

"It isn't much and it's just a little something that I made but it should taste alright."

This was also the very first time he was giving someone anything for St. Xocolat's Day and Zero found it quite awkward. But seeing Kaname smile as he accepted the gift was worth it.

"Thank you, Zero. Home-made gifts are definitely precious and I'm sure these taste better than alright. After all, you're a great cook."

Kaname then proceeded to open the box and put one piece of chocolate in his mouth. The pureblood felt his smile deepening in surprised delight at the blend of creamy chocolate and sweet caramel. Zero knew he had a bit of a sweet tooth and apparently, he had made the confection accordingly. This was definitely better than 'alright'. The knowledge that the hunter had personally made it only sweetened the taste further.

Seeing Kaname's delight on his features, Zero was relieved. It felt good to have his effort appreciated. So he in turn took out a piece of chocolate from the box that he'd been given and let it melt on his tongue. And though he was no lover of sweets, it was surprisingly good. The dark chocolate and espresso filling gave it a slightly bitter tang and lessened the sweetness. It suited the hunter's tastes.

As if reading Zero's mind, Kaname spoke.

"Since you don't like sweet food, I thought you might prefer those. Was I right?"

The younger vampire nodded.

"Yes, it's really good."

Pleased at his lover's answer, Kaname leaned in closer. The pureblood's smile turned teasingly seductive as his lips hovered a few centimeters away from Zero's.

"That's good to hear. May I have a taste, then?" Kaname questioned.

Kaname's words made little puffs of warm breath stir against Zero's lips, causing them to tremble ever so softly. Zero was willing to bet Bloody Rose that Kaname wasn't thinking about trying a piece of the chocolate himself to 'have a taste.' And since they were in the privacy of the pureblood's room, it wouldn't hurt to just go along with it. Maybe he could even take the initiative this time.

Kaname hummed softly in content when Zero responded to his query by closing the distance between them. Unhurriedly, lips parted for questing tongues and each took their time in sampling the other's chocolate. The sweet aftertaste mingled with their own unique flavors made for an exotic experience.

Some minutes later, Zero pulled back. By then, both of them were breathless. Violet eyes rested briefly on the other's kiss swollen lips and darkened further. Reaching over and taking a piece of his home-made chocolates, the hunter placed it against those lips. Kaname understood what was being asked of him and let Zero feed him the sweet.

"I want another taste."

Kaname was perfectly happy to comply with Zero's demand and allowed his lover a taste almost before he finished speaking.

As they continued to kiss, taste and explore, Zero decided that maybe St. Xocolat's Day wasn't so bad after all. And it turned out that although he really did like the ones the pureblood had given him; his favorite chocolate was the kind that was flavored with a hint of Kaname.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review, it'll be greatly appreciated! :D