Well, he thought upon turning over in bed, it could have been worse. He could have woken up next to a crocodile. As he moved instinctively closer to the warm body beside him in bed, Zero Kiryuu had to rethink that last thought. Perhaps a crocodile retained puppy status when he considered the pureblood in bed next to him. He winced lightly at that, feeling the sore ache of his still tired body. His hips, especially, hurt like hell. Yeah, a crocodile he could handle. A crocodile would snap and hiss at him. A pureblood prince, however, could slyly seduce him against his will to come to bed with him. Wait… He paused and memories of the previous night came flooding back to him. No, it hadn't just been the bed. If his memory was still working correctly, it had been Kaname Kuran's office desk, pressed up against a hallway window, against Kuran's door, leaned over the bed, and finally in the bed itself. He shuddered at each vivid recollection and the ache in his hips only grew more noticeable. At least he'd not moaned that loud…most of the time.
Because he didn't know whether he could, effectively, make his way around the room to collect his clothes and leave, he remained there in the pureblood's large bed, tucked under the covers and pressed flush against Kuran's body. It had to be daylight, he thought wearily. The heavy crimson curtains were drawn shut, the lights were off, and the idiot pureblood was asleep. Admittedly, and he was still reluctant to accept this reality, he'd begun to follow that same sleep schedule himself. He wanted to hiss at that. He refused to be one of them, to be a bloodsucker.
He yawned slowly then, head lowering instinctively to rest on Kaname Kuran's shoulder, close to his neck. It was at that moment that realization hit him and more memories accompanied it. Crimson blood, glowing red eyes, sex, fangs… and pleading for more all raced through his mind in a flurry of emotion that churned his stomach. No, he thought, that was only a onetime thing. He refused to do it again. He refused to take Kuran's blood so willingly again…except he'd refused before, just as adamantly, and still he'd fallen so easily to the pureblood prince and his sadistic whims. He couldn't decide what aspect of that was more degrading: falling so low, or enjoying the sensation of sex and blood. The taste of both still lingered in his memory and he felt his body grow warm.
Despite his annoyance, he couldn't deny how soft the bed was, or how warm Kuran was in his sleep. Vampires weren't cold creatures by any physical means, and he was finding his body had readily accepted that fact and left his mind to catch up. Already it had become natural for him to snuggle up close and sleep in that warmth created by Kuran and several soft blankets. Damn, he thought bitterly, was this what they called addiction? His mind, still weary, answered with a silent 'Yes, you idiot' before it went silent and he drifted into sleep.
… … …
He felt good. This thought drew him out of his restful sleep and into the darkness of his bedroom. He was warm, comfortable…peaceful, if he was feeling sentimental. For a while, he laid there and simply pondered these feelings. It wasn't until the feather light brush of hair against his neck caught his attention that he knew he had company. Without looking, he knew who lay beside him. Those very…interesting memories found him, fit together with his lazy peacefulness like puzzle pieces, and it all came back to him.
His hand came up, long fingers carding through silver strands in thoughtful admiration as he replayed every second of their night together. Zero, the same wild eyed, untamed hunter who infuriated him to no end, had wrapped himself around Kaname's naked body in his sleep, resting his head on the pureblood prince's broad shoulder. Over time, after long bouts of arguing and reluctance, he'd gotten Zero into his bed…among other places… Now, and he knew Zero would try to kill him if he voiced his thoughts, Kaname had slowly watched him change. It no longer took hours of fighting for the hunter to give in. The silver haired ex-human was still his grouchy self, of course, but something had changed, had shifted inside him.
In the month or so they'd spent in one another's company, Kuran Kaname had trained the hunter's body, had made it sensitive to every kiss, every touch, every softly whispered word. The rabid hunter was no longer feral. Instead, the vicious bitter anger melted into pleasured moans at every intimate touch of Kaname's fingertips. He'd tamed a tiger and made it a kitten. Without regard for Kiryuu's pride, he'd broken down those walls and forced aside that hatred for all vampires enough to take precedence in the level-D's heart and mind.
The flash of memory filled him again and his sharp vermillion eyes closed slowly in order to focus on it. He was behind Zero, and the hunter's naked body was pressed up against the large arching window of the hallway. No one was around, but he vaguely wondered what anyone looking up from outside would think of their little show. Zero was, by then, moaning and reacting to every small touch, every movement. This pleased the pureblood greatly, for he'd begun to move faster, with more intensity. The sight of the level D in the moonlight back arched and eyes glowing red, pleased him, though the protruding ivory fangs sent something primal through his body. He didn't feel at all bad that he was humiliating the ex-human.
Just as quickly as it had come, the memory left him and he tucked it away in the back of his mind to ponder later. For now, he could feel Zero stirring in his sleep. He wasn't used to this sleep schedule yet, and for a while he knew it would prove difficult for Zero to find enough rest. When the boy didn't fully wake up, he sighed and brushed silver bangs from a beautiful pale face. They'd made a break through, at least. It usually took arguing and a bit of fighting to get Zero to take his blood. Last night, deep inside the hunter, it took a simple command to break that resistance. He'd seen that animalistic hunger there, the need that Kiryuu refused to voice whenever Kaname offered. Still, the pureblood couldn't quite put his finger on what held Zero back. It was more than pride. It was more than hatred for vampires. He'd sated that hunger momentarily, though, and the affect his blood had had made Kaname's stomach flutter. Zero had let go completely, and it had been beautiful-like art.
He had to force his mind not to go down that road again as he lay there in the darkness, dark eyes cutting through it like sharp knives. Slowly, those eyes lifted from Zero's peacefully sleeping face to the bedside drawer. Opened only with a key, the draw contained Zero's transfer papers. The hunter might throw a fit, might try to kill him, but Kaname was earnestly trying to help the boy. Perhaps earnest wasn't the right word, but oh well. With the level-D's growing hunger, Yuki was no longer safe with Zero in the day. At least at night, Kaname could keep his eye on Zero and still look out for Yuki. He'd already gotten looking after the nobles down to a science, thankfully. At least the chairman and Yagari-Sensei agreed with him. They might have been vampire hunters, but they had common sense.
Yuki... His sister would worry about Zero to no end, Kaname knew. He would reassure her later, though. In her own way, she might be the best choice to convince Kiryuu to accept his new position in the Night Class. That meant it was crucial to convince her Zero would be safe.
As his mind flickered from Yuki, it landed on the Night Class students. They wouldn't like his decision – that much he knew. He might have been able to handle them, but they had their ways of getting around that. He didn't doubt they'd corner Zero outside of class when Kaname had other things to attend to. He didn't doubt a fight would break out. He couldn't afford that, though. His experiment in pacifism was precarious at best, and he had to pass Zero off as part of that experiment smoothly. With the pride of the nobles and Zero's own hatred of vampires, that wouldn't be easy.
Almost lost in thought, he barely noticed the shifting against him. When he did, he watched Zero's lip twitch and heard the boy mutter something in his half-sleep state. He smirked at that and, slowly, his fingertips began twirling a strand of silver hair. "Sleep well?"
… … …
Zero's body, obviously still worn out from the night of intense…exercise - twitched and curled around the warmth beside him. Still, his eyes didn't open. Just for this moment, he thought wearily. He wanted to enjoy this warm feeling and not open his eyes. The world beyond his closed eyelids included insatiable hunger, disgusting blood tablets, vampires in human masks, and loneliness. It included a twin who loathed him and a future he knew was out of his reach. It included the shame of being a vampire when he had had a promising future as a hunter. Sadly, he knew he couldn't dwell in this warmth forever.
His eyes opened slowly, almost reluctantly, until hazy lilac pools peered up past strands of silver bangs at the vermillion eyes that watched him with such interest. After his recent feed, he found that his sight had become sharper, and the darkness of the room no longer applied. It wouldn't last, he knew. He'd grow hungry again, and slowly he would become more human more…hungry. He refused to let his mind settle on that thought, however. Instead, he yawned and rubbed his eyes slowly. They'd woken up in the same bed on a few rare occasions, so it didn't fluster him to see the vampire there.
Still, the longer he looked, the more beautiful that fall of wavy dark hair became. The more he studied Kuran Kaname, the more those eyes drew him in and those lips teased him. The more he looked, the more he wanted to touch that pale skin and feel its smoothness – No, he commanded himself, chastising himself for his thoughts. That was Kuran's blood talking, not him. Like hell he wanted to touch that bastard. Not with a ten foot pole… Perhaps if it was silver and pointy, he might consider it.
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the spell was broken and reality returned to him. "I'm leaving," he muttered bitterly, sitting up to toss back the covers. Instantly, his body screamed at him to lie back down and reenter that warmth that was Kaname. No, he told himself. He refused. He stood, swayed, and steadied himself quickly as he shuffled around the room for whatever articles of clothing resembled his. He found his blazer, his pants, the prefects' red armband, and his shoes… Where were his vest, tie, and shirt? More importantly, where was his Bloody Rose? Had he left it in his room?
No, said a voice in his mind, you pointed it at Kuran the minute he came up behind you… He gritted his teeth at that and sighed, knowing just where to find it. After all, Kuran had been fast in disarming him. He'd nearly forgotten to be angry about that and hadn't asked where the damn pureblood had put his gun. The jingling of a silver chain told him, without having to look, that Kuran was holding his anti-vampire weapon by its chain in his hand.
He turned on his heel, pulling on clothes as he moved, and strode towards the bed again, holding out his hand demandingly. "Give me my gun, bastard vampire…" Through gritted teeth, he dared the vampire to test him. Obviously, he wasn't the most pleasant person upon waking.
When Kaname didn't move to hand him the gun, Zero hissed through gritted teeth and leapt onto the bed without a second's thought or hesitation. His gun was probably the only constant he had in his life right now. The sleek cool silver was the only thing that grounded him-that and White Lilly, of course. He sat straddling Kuran's hips now over the blanket, chest pressed up against the vampire as he reached for his gun, which was being conveniently dangled out of his reach by the vampire's longer arm.
When Kaname spoke, Zero wanted to hiss. The bastard sounded oh so smug just then. "What's your hurry, Kiryuu-Kun? You've never had a particular fondness for school, so there's nothing dragging you back to the middle of class now." Zero froze in his struggle to get to his weapon upon hearing that. The bastard had let him sleep in THAT long? Kaname seemed to understand the look of astonished anger in his eyes because he was smirking now. "I bet you didn't know you're a clingy sleeper, Kiryuu-Kun."
Was he TRYING to get on Zero's nerves? Scowling deeply and forgetting he'd not gotten to button up his black school slacks, he moved forward again to reach for the gun. The friction against the blankets eased his pants off his hips slowly, so slowly that he failed to notice at first. He was almost there. He could almost touch the barrel of his gun. A shift beneath him and a leg brushing up against the thin layer of fabric between himself and Kaname had Zero's eyes widening.
Instantly, his face grew a deep scarlet and his wide eyes nearly melted. For a moment, he'd failed to hear anything. He was fairly certain the moan he heard after a moment, a low wanton purr, had come from his lips. He stopped reaching for the gun then and hid his face against Kaname's chest. Damn, that had slipped out… His hands, now resting on that familiar broad chest, tightened and loosened sporadically, as if Zero were trying to grip his already lost control in them and failing miserably.
… … …
The sudden change might have been horrifying to Zero, but Kaname found he quite enjoyed it. Perhaps too much, but he hardly cared about that. He moved again, having eased his leg out from under the blankets before Zero had leapt forward. Honestly, he'd thought the hunter would at least try to fight him. Didn't he know how much those movements had provoked him just then? As he sat staring down at the hunter-who'd been reduced to shuddering and gasping and hiding his face in Kaname's chest-he found he quite enjoyed the reaction.
Slowly, easily, he began to speak and his words dripped with suggestion as he leaned down close to the ex-human's ear. "Zero, did that feel good? Do you want me to make you feel good? I know every inch of your body, Zero. I know how to make you moan, make you scream for me. You know I can, and you know I will, so don't fight it."
His chuckle was deep and satisfied as he nipped the shell of Zero's ear, licking it slowly. Already his fingertips had begun easing down the hunter's already undone slacks. So he hadn't found his boxers then. As he felt Zero's body shiver at his touch, he slid his fingertips down the level-D's back and to the indent between the slopes of the vampire's ass. He knew he'd won when that familiar moan-though stifled by a still reluctant Kiryuu-hit his ears. He continued on after that, vowing silently that he'd hear more of that lovely voice soon. "Zero-Kun, lift your hips and spread your legs some more." he instructed, his own shaft twitching to life now between them.
He watched as Zero sat up, eyes falling on the boy's shaft now as it stood hard and ready. "So eager," he mused, taking his hands away to stroke himself, much to Zero's displeasure. He watched the boy force down a pout and arched a brow in amusement. "I can't do everything for you, Kiryuu-Kun. You'll just have to ride me." He paused then and bit his lip as if regretfully. "You'll have to ride me dry, though. I forgot to get lotion or lube." After a night of passion, he doubted they'd need it, though a vampire's body healed quickly. He'd probably tightened back up, especially with how much blood he'd taken from Kaname. He was always as tight as a virgin and just as sensitive.
… … …
Zero, realizing the implication of the words and the cruel teasing, flushed a darker shade of red and glared weakly up at Kaname. "Bastard…" he muttered and began shifting until his pants slid down enough to shimmy out of them and kick them away again. "Why do you continue to tease me like this?" he muttered, watching Kaname's fingers move over the already engorged base of his shaft. His own length was pleading for attention as it was, but he'd be damned if he begged.
When Kaname's only response was a sly smirk, Zero sighed and lifted himself, taking Kaname's length in one hand as the other found his hole and eased it open some. A tingle of fear was there, the same fear he always had whenever they did it without preparation or foreplay. This was going to hurt, and his aching hips would be almost impossible to rely on for a while. He'd tightened up even more than last time, and he couldn't ask Kaname to stretch him out. That would be admitting defeat. As he lowered himself, painfully slow, to the thick pulsing tip, his body gave a shudder of anticipation. He moved then and, inhaling sharply, pressed the tip against his hole and felt it clench.
"It…won't fit…" he managed, glancing up at Kuran as if pleading for mercy from this. "It won't go in." His heart was throbbing painfully in his chest now and he sighed, averting his gaze in frustration.
"Use your fingers, Kiryuu," was Kaname's only instruction, and Zero wanted to hiss at the smugness in it. That bastard was enjoying this, and they both knew Zero wanted it too much to refuse. "Remember how I did it? I put them in one at a time until you were nice and ready. Your fingers are long enough that it won't be a problem, and you're a very…flexible hunter. I'm sure you can do it."
Because he knew Kaname would stare at him even if he demanded the vampire look away, Zero sighed and, face flushed, reached back and to the twitching ring of muscle. He winced as the first finger slid in, and he nearly yelped in pain. He'd gone too fast without realizing it. Damn, it hurt… Still, he continued on and added another finger. That hurt worse, but he'd been in pain before. He knew, somewhere in his mind, that he was going too fast and not trying to stretch himself, but he wasn't concerned with that. He just wanted to prove he could do it so that Kaname wouldn't tease him.
… … …
Kaname sighed, shaking his head slowly as he watched the boy add the third finger. "You'll tear something at this rate," he muttered, grabbing Zero's arm and yanking it away. "Idiot hunter, didn't I train you better?" He watched those lilac eyes snap open and cursed silently. Damn, wrong way to put it. Perhaps he shouldn't have called him an idiot at this point. After all, he'd gotten Zero to that point where the boy was at his most vulnerable.
He knew by the startled stare and the hurt and anger building slowly in those lilac eyes that he'd slipped up. He watched Zero's eyes narrow and quickly leaned up to brush his lips against the hunter's. "Next time, just say it hurts." He sighed and reached out, pressing on the ring of muscle. It was tender and twitched even as Zero flinched. "Drink my blood and it'll heal. Just let me stretch you, ok?"
… … …
Zero, gritting his teeth, leaned in reluctantly and rested his head on Kaname's shoulder. "Don't want to," he muttered, pride getting in the way now. His walls had flown back up the moment Kaname called him an idiot. He'd done something stupid in trusting the pureblood. How had he forgotten that? "I think I should just leave for now. This won't work today…" he muttered, pulling away to attempt to stand. A wave of pain had him stumbling, however, and he gritted his teeth. Yeah, he'd been the idiot. He wasn't going to admit it, but he'd been stupid enough to not ask Kaname to do it. He'd rushed and now it hurt. Still, he refused to take the blood. He'd only taken it the night before because he'd not been thinking straight. Kaname had that affect on people, after all.
… … …
This didn't escape Kaname as he stared down the silver haired vampire. He sighed, tossing the anti-vampire weapon to the darkest corner of the room now before reaching out with both hands to grab Zero and yank him back onto the bed, the grip not letting up even as he felt Zero struggle. It only tightened as he shifted their positions and forced Zero onto his stomach below him. "I wouldn't struggle if I were you, Kiryuu-Kun. I'm at least going to heal you before you leave."
Did Zero realize just how pissed off he was? Didn't he realize how angry he'd gotten when the silver haired vampire had begun to stumble? The idiot hadn't even considered asking him, he bet. Now that his mood had changed, Kaname no longer felt any warm and fuzzy feelings about the ex-human. Just then, they were back to those early stages of their…odd relationship. In the beginning, both had hated the other; both had wanted to express that. Now, though, that anger from before was mixed with the foreign feeling of worry and it was making Kaname's stomach flip.
He didn't move again until Zero had eased his struggling. Even then, he pinned both hands above Kiryuu's head. Using his free hand now, he bit down hard on his wrist and held it up to pale lips. As far as vampires went, Zero was severely malnourished. Not even Kaname was THAT pale. He waited a long moment, not moving his injured wrist until the standoff had been decided. He felt Zero licking slowly, reservedly, at his wrist and knew he'd won. Kaname watched Zero lap at the blood as if going too fast might break that thread of control he'd woven so carefully. In that moment, Zero reminded him again of a kitten who'd been chastised, unsure and a bit afraid. It was possibly that thought that made him lean down and gently press a kiss to the level-D's upper back, between the shoulder blades that had tensed in irritation.
He waited, pleased to feel the sharp points of Zero's fangs at his wrist now as they sunk into the flesh. The pain was minimal, all things considered, and he had to chuckle in amusement. Yes, he'd trained Zero well… He watched as Zero pulled back, licking at his fangs as they withdrew back into normal length. Kaname knew without looking that those lilac eyes had gone red and back now to their normal color. He'd sated the hunger in Zero before the boy could have a chance to let it grow and not come to him.
He waited a moment to speak and finally sighed when it seemed Zero was content to simply lay there, cheek against Kaname's wrist now. "Go now and regroup in your room. Eat at least some human food with Yuki and Cross. Take a shower and by then it'll be time for the Night Class to begin waking. I need to meet with you and Cross after class has started to discuss something of great importance." He pulled his wrist away, to Zero's displeasure, and stood up to gather the hunter's clothes for him. "You should be healed enough to walk. Now get going."
Minutes passed in awkward silence as he watched Zero fumble around to try and put his uniform back together and slide into his shoes. He handed Zero his anti-vampire weapon and used the opportunity to lean down and kiss the boy's lips lightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, knowing the intimate tone and the lack of space between them would bring about that blush he loved so much. "I'm sorry I called you an idiot, Kiryuu-Kun. Next time let me take good care of you, ok?" By then his skilled fingers had buttoned the boy's shirt and secured the tie in a clean knot around the boy's pale neck.
He watched him go like that, noticing the small limp he retained as he saw him pass under the window and over the bridge. And as Zero walked away, Kaname couldn't help the odd twist and flutter of his chest. What was this urge to kiss and coddle the hunter he'd once wanted to kill? Turning from the window then, he froze and his eyes widened but a fraction.
There, in the doorway, Ichijou stood with knowing emerald eyes and crossed arms. "You've filled out his transfer papers, I take it… How will he react to that, I wonder? You've spent this last month braking down every barrier he's put in place, Kaname. He trusts you most and he hates you most. Don't you think that will tear him up inside? You can't keep someone as feral as Kiryuu-Kun as a pet and expect him to act domestically for long. He isn't a kitten. You'll be throwing him in with a group of nobles who already hate him. His hate for vampires is still there, even if it doesn't expressly include you anymore. You might want to consider that before meeting with the chairman tonight."
Kaname's eyes were cold, but he was listening. It wasn't like he hadn't thought of these things before. Hell, he'd lost sleep in doing so. Ichijou was only worried. He didn't blame the blond, though. How could he? It just went to show that Kaname hadn't changed that much since beginning this affair with Zero. He was still cruel, still cold… He didn't care about the damn prefect.
Ichijou, sensing the emotional tension, smiled serenely and held up a volume of BL (boys love) manga. "Perhaps you should start reading these. After all, Zero's clearly a bottom, and you need to learn how to handle that…and perhaps make him accept that." That calm expression didn't change even as he moved to leave. "You have papers to fill out for the Senate before class. Don't think I forgot."