Vampire Knight

Blessing or a Curse?

Four Hours Ago:

"Takuma." He stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Tell Zero to come here after ten minutes." Takuma nodded, bowed once again respectfully before going out and closing the door gently. He then sighed.

He knew it would be a mistake to tell the vampire hunter about the mating of vampires, but he also knew that Zero has to know about it since he is also affected by it. Being a mate to Kaname Kuran, a Pureblood vampire, leader of the vampire society is tough, especially with him being an ex-human, Level E vampire and a hunter to boot. With these factors, their social life would be thoroughly affected.

With Zero's practically almost anti-social behavior, his social life will suffer much more than that of the Pureblood.

And knowing the headstrong hunter, his hatred to all vampires, even though he is already one after being turned, will only complicate things. Not only to the vampire council, but also to the entire vampire society. Even the vampire civilization outside Japan, the main homeland of vampires where their kind first appeared and established civilization, would be having trouble accepting the partnership. And they are the most tolerant and accepting in the hierarchy of vampires.

Both of them can decide to keep the mating thing a secret, but only before they mate. After the mating, when both vampires accepted the changes and became one, they are required to tell the rest. Such is the law in the ancient times since having a mate means you are closer to the Gods and Goddesses. The law was established so no one can interfere with the courting. Interfering a courting can lead to death through shedding under the direct heat of the sun, the vilest and worst way to die for the vampires.

Shedding is taking the abilities, years, blood, and memories of the vampire, all the while making them feel pain ten times worse than they would normally have. Vampires have an abnormally high pain tolerance due to being a vampire and also being able to live for many, many years.

But that sentence and others given to those vampires who have violated the vampirism code can only be sentenced and executed by the Ius, those vampires who have been touched by Iuris, the Vampire God of Justice. But to be touched by Iuris isn't easy. One should have a mate, and have a strong will and sense of righteousness to enforce Iuris' sentence, and most importantly, chosen by Iuris himself.

No Ius existed for a very, very long time so the sentences were not executed and many vampires became confident. The vampirism code, which is the universal law for all vampires were slowly forgotten and only a few valued them.

The vampirism code:

• All vampires will respect each other.

• No vampires will turn a human without the express permission of said human and a God/ Goddess.

• No one will interfere with the mate courting if a vampire knows about the compatibility of two vampires.

When the mating between Kaname and Zero Kiryu is revealed, the council will become rabid. And that didn't sound good.

He was still around the dorm – there was no class that evening – and was in the living room area, unable to sit still when Kaname's brother through the time blood bond, Gared Mins who temporarily went by the name Gred Optimus entered looking a little frantic. Gared's unusually bright green eyes were alert, his entire body tense and it made Takuma stop pacing and stare at the green-eyed vampire.

Shiki, who was with him at that time, along with Ruka Souen, Hanabusa Aidou, Akatsuki Kain and Rima Touya turned to where Takuma was staring and saw the transfer student looking frantic. They blinked. It was the first time they had ever seen Optimus, the vampire who is always eerily calm and have a weird sense of humor despite desperate situations look like that. It rang alarm bells in their mind.

Before they can move, Takuma was already at Optimus' side and was talking to him in a low voice that they cannot understand even with their vampire enhanced hearing. They wandered what they are talking about.

They saw Takuma's face pale a little and Optimus' hand that Takuma was holding tightened at what Takuma had said. The green-eyed vampire nodded before he took off to the stairs. Takuma returned to them with a blank face. Rima asked immediately when Takuma was upon them.

"What happened?"

"Ze- Kiryu entered the shrouded forest." Takuma answered them. Their eyes widened at the news. The Shrouded Forest was forbidden from them. The forest swallows anyone who enters inside and they cannot be seen ever again. The search parties never returned after going inside.

In short, not one of the people – whether vampires or human – ever returned after entering.

And the hunter went in.

Aidou snorted at the news. "So? It was his fault he entered a territory he never even knew. That arrogant hunter." Ruka nodded at what the blonde vampire had said, a very rare thing to happen. Rima only looked at them and Kain looked at Takuma's pale face with his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Takuma seems concerned. We should look for him and tell Kaname-sama."

"We do not have to tell Kaname-sama about that Level E's irresponsible behavior!" Ruka snapped. Kain raised both his hands up to avoid getting Ruka's anger. Before Takuma can speak, Rima beat him to it.

"You want Kaname-sama to be responsible for a student's disappearance?" Was her clear and calm question before taking another stick of her favorite pocky and putting it in her mouth. Ruka snapped her mouth shut and just glared at her while Aidou's jaw dropped. Rima appeared to not have seen both reactions, or maybe she hadn't cared. Takuma sighed.

"Optimus-kun already went to tell Kaname-sama. We must secure the shrouded forest—"

"For what? We don't even know if Kiryu can get out of there. Why—" all movements and noise stopped when an oppressing aura washed all over the dormitory. All turned to the source of the aura and saw their leader standing at the top of the stairs, staring at them with cold, unmerciful eyes. They shivered. Takuma became even more worried at the lack of emotion he is seeing in his bond brother's face. It frightened him.

"Are you questioning Takuma's authority Aidou? Are you questioning me?" Aidou paled before shaking his head negatively.

"N-no K-Kaname-sama."

"Go."

They dispersed and only Takuma, Gred, Seirin and Kaname remained. Gared went beside Kaname and murmured words that calmed the pureblood down. If this is Kaname's attitude with Zero just in potential danger, Takuma didn't know what would happen if Zero never returns from the forest.

That would be disastrous.

Takuma hopes the hunter returns soon.

. . . . .

Kaname wanted to scream in frustration but suppressed the feeling very well. He knew! He always knew Zero hates vampires and wouldn't allow anyone within his presence if necessary so it didn't surprise him that he didn't allow Gared to be with him. Still, it frustrates him that Zero's very own stubbornness might be the death of the both of them.

And he hadn't even begun to have Zero accept him as a friend yet!

This is not good! Definitely not good! What possessed him to enter a forest shrouded in darkness?! Kaname knew Zero is not a simpleton. He has sharp instinct and mind so the vampire hunter should have known not to even get close to the suspicious forest! Just looking at it should have made him wary to approach in the first place! Let alone get close to it.

Kaname resisted the urge to face-palm. Zero's stubbornness is always an obstacle. It always creates a problem whether the hunter wanted it or not.

And he admires it as much as he dislikes it.

He walked with a purpose, keeping his stride calm yet fast. He knew Gared and Takuma are both looking at him in concern, he can feel their gaze in his back but he ignored it in favor of venting his frustration in his mind. Seirin, as always, kept up with them. After all, Seirin sees Kaname's protection as her purpose and job.

Zero better be alright or Kaname will drag him back just to strangle him in frustration. Then, friends or not, safe or not, wise or not, smart or not, he'd kiss him so deeply that Zero will feel his relief for seeing him safe. He'd hold him closely and tightly within him and never let him go so that he'd know how deep his feelings go for the ex-human.

He'd never let Zero be hurt ever again.

That, he promise.

. . . . .

Kaname suddenly stopped, feeling as if something is about to happen that he wouldn't have expected. He stared at the sky, feeling like the wind is particularly playful tonight. His hair flowed with the wind when it whipped past him.

"What's with this wind?"

"Is the weather going bad?"

Kaname held his hair above his head to get a better look at the sky. Though it is admittedly night already, the sky seemingly looked like it is shining. The ground shook slightly before it began to settle down, eerily expressing calmness.

"Let's go." Kaname began to walk towards his destination with renewed speed. Something is telling him that Zero is a part of what is happening.

He didn't know what to feel about it.

. . . . .

"The wind sure is picking up."

Yuki stared outside from the window in their dorm room and saw that what Yori said is true. Sure enough, the wind is whipping up past. Yuki stared some more. She cannot help but feel like something is about to happen.

"Yori, don't you think this much wind is weird?" Yuki asked uncertainly, wary of the weird phenomenon. Yori only shrugged.

"Hmm. Maybe a storm is coming." She stared at her friend's worried face and frowned slightly. "Don't tell me you're worried for Zero and Kaname-sama? Don't worry about those two. They're both mature enough not to kill each other. Besides, Kaname-sama would not really hurt Zero. You heard him earlier."

Yuki continued to stare outside before finally pulling her attention away and continued finishing her homework.

She really hopes nothing bad happens.

. . . . .

Suddenly, there was a piercing scream and it had sent a bolt of terror to everyone's heart at the shrill sound.

But nothing can compare to the feeling Kaname got when he heard it.

Because he felt like someone squeezed his heart tightly and he forgot how to breathe.

. . . . .

It's been perhaps an hour since Zero had explored but he hadn't found anything that would explain his sudden need of looking inside the intimidating forest.

It's really funny how he isn't creep out by the darkness the forest is exuding. Or he can just diagnose himself as crazily stupid to go on a quest in a place owned by leeches. Because instead of fear, he feels anticipation. Of what? He didn't know. He just knew that some of his questions would be answered.

But he didn't even know if he really wanted answers or if he should just leave it alone and continue living with ignorance.

Zero stopped suddenly when he saw at the corner of his eyes that the shadow moved. It moved like it was crawling.

Instead of waning, he can feel his anticipation heightened. He crept up silently at where he saw the shadow moved, being careful not to alert whatever it was that was hidden in the natural darkness exuded by the forest.

But he stepped on something. He only knew it since it made a sound that almost seem deafening in the unusually silent forest.

Then, a sudden flare of intensifying pain made itself known to him and he unwittingly gasped. He had never before felt that kind of pain. And that is saying something since he practically grew up with pain as his companion ever since his parents died.

Another wave and he staggered to his knees, biting his lower lip to stop the scream bubbling just beneath the surface of his throat. He did not dare open his mouth because he know for certain that a scream would erupt. He refused to scream. He refused to show any signs of pain.

He refused to give up his control.

But then, another wave made itself known, this time it made him feel like he is being burned from the inside of his chest and spreading throughout his body. His eyes rolled at the back of his head and his bloodied mouth opened unwillingly to let out an agonizing scream, now unable to contain the unbearable pain he can feel spreading in his entire body.

He desperately tried to contain it once again but his body refused to obey. His neck felt like it was being fried and electrified. It carries more pain that the one he is feeling the rest of his body. His mouth was still open and letting out his tortured screams that he would not have allowed letting past his mouth if he had been able to.

He didn't feel the wind picking up his body and lifting him from the ground, he didn't see the shadows currently dancing all around his lifted body, merging with the wind surrounding him and carrying him in gentle-like manner. He didn't hear the ominous sound of joyous laugh and the soothing sound of song around him. He didn't see his neck lighting up along with his eyes turning a silver color along with the full moon up in the sky.

All his senses are attuned to the pain he is feeling.

He screamed and screamed until his throat was raw, until he couldn't even make a sound anymore. He convulsed and tried to claw his body but didn't even have the strength to do it, too drained to even lift a hand. His eyes and mouth were wide open in agony. It seemed to be happening for a very long time before he passed out, not noticing that the wounds he had received were healing nicely, leaving his body in the same state as before he went inside the forest.

He didn't know that something is happening in him and he wouldn't find out until later.

. . . . .

A hooded figure watched as Zero's body stopped spasming and began to heal and the power surrounding him the vampire hunter began to calm down. Certain that the process is finished, he descended from the tree he is hiding and walked quietly towards the passed out hunter. "To be able to withstand the pain for a while, you have an admirable control. And it also means you had a very unhappy life." He said sadly. He knelt down and pressed his long and elegant finger towards the seal on Zero's neck.

Which now looked like a scorched seal on his flesh.

"Hmm, so that's why you needed an awakening. This is suppression. No matter, this mark is useless already. This will not stop the process any longer." The mysterious person looked at the hunter's face intently. He sighed sadly.

"If only Shizuka hadn't done that, I have no doubt you would be inducted. Too bad. Hmm, let's see." He traced Zero's face lightly before retracting it. "You are perhaps the best for this..." The man then pressed his fingernails lightly on the mark and watched as the binding seal dissolved into silver dust in the hunter's neck before reforming into two silver crossed swords.

"That's good. Then... Hmm... I don't think you'll like it being too visible so I should put it on you're..." He glanced down before his eyes dropped on Zero's left hand. "Aha! Here!"

The figure held Zero's left hand delicately, bit his own index finger until he bled. He placed his finger above Zero's backhand and dropped a single drop of blood on it, crystallizing it and embedded it until it became a part of the hunter's skin.

"There, finish." He carefully placed Zero's hand on the hunter's stomach and stood up, his clothes curiously bereft of dirt on the ground. "We will see each other soon Zero Kiryuu." With that, the figure blurred, as if being erased in a canvass before he was gone as suddenly as he had arrived.

. . . . .

All movements around the Cross Academy stopped when all heard the agonizing scream that seemed to come from every angle of the school. Students all around panicked in fear at what they heard but was appeased when suddenly, the school intercom announced that the scream is an alarm sound that is being tested to see if it would be appropriate wake-up call to the students. They grumbled, annoyed that their activities were disrupted but they settled down and continued what they are doing.

Except for the select people who knew otherwise. Yuki paled at hearing the scream and bolted out of her bed as soon as she heard it, ignoring Yori, her roommate's call. Still in her night cloth, he ran towards her adopted father's office, intent on knowing exactly what the scream was about. Praying that it didn't belong to the person she had thought of the instant she heard it.

Thankfully there wasn't a single human in the corridors and she ran without obstruction. When she saw the door to her adopted father's office, she didn't bother to pause and knock. She instead opened it with force. She panted as she scan the room and saw her father about to go out with a man who is wearing an eye patch. She didn't bother acknowledging the man even though she knew it was rude and instead ran towards her adoptive father.

"Headmaster! Was that Zero?!" She demanded. She saw Headmaster Kaien Cross' mouth opening and closing, his eyes looking like he is looking for a proper way to convince her that the scream was nothing. Yuki stepped backwards, her hands covering her mouth in worry. Seeing that, Kaien didn't speak, knowing that Yuki already knew the truth.

"That was Zero?" She whispered. "You're going to get him aren't you?" When her father didn't answer once again, she straightened up. "I'm coming!"

"Yuuuuukiii! My dearest daughter, why don't you..." Kaien stopped when Yuki glared at him. Even though it wasn't as impressive as Zero's glare, it still made him pause since Yuki had never glared at him with such seriousness and intensity before. Her eyes almost resemble Zero's glare.

"I am coming." She insisted. Kaien sighed, acquiescing to his adopted daughter's wishes. He knew that once Yuki set her mind onto something it wouldn't change anytime soon. That's what made her the same as Zero, their stubbornness.

"Alright. Bring your Artemis just in case." he said seriously. He looked at Yuki's overall attire and giggled in a slightly feminine manner. "And change into your uniform Yuki."

Yuki blushed angrily but did immediately went to her room and changed to her uniform. She also took out her Artemis without wasting any seconds and not even acknowledging Yori's call. She just waved her hand and shouted that the Headmaster needed her as he ran towards the headmaster's office.

She has a brother to see.

. . . . .

Kaname looked on helplessly at the looming forest in front of him, unable to get inside it and take Zero out of there with Gared and Takuma holding him back, preventing him from going inside.

He glared at them, eyes glittering red in anger and fear, but the two didn't budge. They didn't even move and just continued holding him back from his initial action of bolting inside the forest.

He understood why they did it, truly he did. He knew it wasn't his wise idea to just run inside and hoping to get the hunter out of there and get back unscathed. Not after hearing Zero, who has an abnormal tolerance to pain and had made it a point to avoid ever showing weakness to everyone, screaming like he had been tortured.

That had to have truly hurt to make the silverette scream like that.

But it doesn't mean he like it. He had threaten them severe harm and punishment should they continue to stop him but they didn't budge, not even an inch.

Hearing that sound continue again and again and again that seemed like it can go on forever made him feel like someone got a hold of his heart and squeezed it without any rhythm literally. Or someone gutted him and spread acid and salt to his wounds without care how he would feel.

He resented them for stopping him get to his mate yet he is thankful that they cared a lot about him to weather through his threats and continued to protect him.

He is usually level-headed, calm, rational and can think immediately on his feet but all of that flew out the moment Zero was involved.

It was agonizing, staying there for a couple of hours, hoping for Zero to get out of that forest, safe and sound.

Though that is wishful thinking considering that unholy scream.

It felt like forever, which was actually only three hours before they saw a silhouette of someone walking towards them, the person's aura extremely heavy and angry.

They all tensed, wondering who that could be but Kaname's eyes only widened, unable to believe what his senses are telling him. But he cannot deny it since no matter what, he would always recognize his mate's aura.

He moved suddenly towards the other. He caught both Gared and Takuma off guard that was why he managed to get out of their restraining grip with ease.

"Zero." He spoke but suddenly stopped when the hunter's eyes trained upon him.

Zero looked really angry, furious even. His aura was darkening as seconds passed and his narrowed eyes glittered in frustration. It might have been only his imagination but he is absolutely sure that Zero's purple eyes looked silver at the moment and it was glittering. It looked like brilliant silver gems were his eyes and the light of the moon emphasized its beauty.

The hunter continued his approach and he heard everyone gasped behind him. He wasn't really any better though. The one where he thought Zero's silver eyes was only his imagination wasn't true. In fact, what he had seen before was real.

His eyes really looked like glittering silver. But not gem, oh no. It looked like silver glittering dust.

It was breathtaking.

Zero glowered at him, hands gripping bloody rose tightly and his aura pushing against him in delicious ways. It feels intoxicating, arousing, fulfilling.

And just for the briefest moment, he felt complete.

He is surprise he is still standing.

"What the fuck is with that forest Kuran?! What are you and your pathetic leeches hiding in there?" Zero spat out, silver dust eyes gleaming in anger.

"We weren't hiding anything inside Kiryu-kun. In fact, all vampires and any guest are forbidden from entering the shrouded forest. It is because those who ever entered had never returned." Kaname heard Takuma's kind voice answer.

"And the fact that you came out alive is surprising. A miracle perhaps?" Gared continued in a matter of fact tone. At that moment, he was seized with an uncontrollable urge to snatch the other from where he is standing and embrace him tightly, to never let him go again.

He didn't want to feel that unpleasant experience ever again.

Unconsciously, he stepped forward and caressed the other's cheek gently. The smooth and soft feel of the other, even if it is cold was reassuring for him. He looked at Zero directly in the eyes and let all the pent up emotions he had felt ever since he learned about the other's 'adventure' inside the forest - the anger, the fear, his insecurities, helplessness and relief at seeing the other looking unharmed - pool into his eyes.

He wanted Zero to really see what he is feeling. And judging by the hunter's widening silver-dust eyes tinged full of disbelief, he saw all of it.

"I'm glad you are safe."

He didn't ever want to feel that helplessness again, especially that fear. The crippling fear that had been running right into his very soul as every hour passed without the certainty of Zero's health nearly left him insane.

No slow moves.

No delays.

No second guessing.

It's time Zero knows of their status to each other. His doubts about his decision to inform the other faded at this latest happening. He wanted to be with his mate without pretending that he had no ulterior motives. He didn't want to return to their previous and still present attitudes - the animosity - to each other.

He wanted to pursue the hunter now.

He wanted Zero Kiryuu to be is.

All of him.

. . . . .

This is becoming ridiculous.

Zero wanted to scream in frustration. He wanted to bash and mutilate that pretty face Kuran has. He wanted to gouge out that wine colored eyes the pureblood has.

Most especially, he wanted the pureblood to remain the same as his arrogant self.

He didn't want to see that kind of emotion from the other's face.

Because seeing it directed at him is making his heartbeat accelerate without any reason, without any valid explanation other than the fact that it was Kuran making it.

It makes him want to tear someone from inside out.

Preferably said pureblood.

"I'm going back." He spoke in a cold voice. He glared at Kuran one last time before walking towards his dorm room. But he stopped when Kuran spoke.

"We have to talk, remember that Zero?" The ex-human bristled at the familiar and casual tone Kuran was using while speaking his first name. He hissed before whirling around and pinning said pureblood with a look.

"You won't ever leave me alone aren't you?!"

Kuran smiled at him a little with a weird emotion in his eyes.

He knew what it is. He can read it. He can understand it. Most of all, he can feel what Kuran wanted him to see. But he deliberately turned his eyes blind to the look.

Because contemplating it is out of the question.

So he turned a little to look at the headmaster who has an unusual look in his face, Yagari-sensei who was scowling while having that questioning look in his lone eye and Yuuki who is now looking back and forth between him and Kuran while having a confused yet worried look on her face.

He tried to smile even for just a little bit on them but with the swirling contradicting emotions welling up inside him, not to mention how he never usually smile made it hard.

So he settled on looking at them, particularly at Yuuki reassuringly.

"I'll see you all later." He stared some more before looking at Kuran once again when they nodded. Kuran had that same smile on his lips, eyes full of emotions he had never even bothered to name before glowering.

What the hell are we still doing here?!" He snapped. His eyes darkened when all Kuran did was dip his head slightly at him, gave him another look that he couldn't help but notice as determined before walking towards the Night student's dormitory.

Not bothering to say goodbye to the three behind him, he took off.

He has a bad feeling about the talk they are going to discuss. He is sure it would change his entire world. He still isn't sure if it is for the better or the worse.

He'd decide when it gets there.

. . . . .

Zero looked at the pureblood in stunned disbelief.

"Do you understand me Zero?" Said hunter didn't even react to the casual use of his given name, too stunned to actually react to anything at that moment.

What did he say?

Kuran sighed before looking at him gently while speaking once again. "You are my mate Zero."

"No." He stated clearly. He made sure it is firm and not to be construed in any way other than refusal. His frustration was mounting as each seconds passed. Kuran's forehead creased and he looked at him like he is doesn't understand what he had said.

"We are mates Zero. I'm stating it, not questioning it because it is true. You and I are mates."

Zero looked at Kuran in a scathing manner, scowl ever present in his features, now more pronounced than ever. He can feel his frustration boiling on the surface, desperate to be let out.

"Whatever scheme you had in that fucking mind of yours, I won't be a part of it. Leave me out of-"

"This isn't a joke Zero-"

"STOP SAYING MY FUCKING NAME!" He roared. The office became silent at his outburst. Kuran looked at him intently before sighing. Zero didn't even registered it as he tried to visibly calm down. It worked, but not that much.

"I won't be saying this if it isn't true. We're mates. Destined together." Kuran stated after a few minutes of silence.

He looked at the other, certain that he is only saying this, doing this for his own amusement, to be his own tool. He had already done it before after all. There's no reason why Kuran wouldn't do it now. So with this in his mind, and with the conviction of never falling for this scheme, he looked at the other with his eyes stating how clearly unimpressed he is. "This isn't funny." Zero said in a flat tone.

Kuran looked at him as if he hadn't said something ridiculous. As if he was stating a fact. As if everything is okay in the world.

Acting the same as before.

Acting like his pureblood self.

He gritted his teeth before walking towards the table where Kuran was and slammed both his hands on said table, making sure that he had put too much force to display his displeasure. He couldn't care less if everyone in the moon dorm heard it. He leaned towards the pureblood slightly and stared down at him, glaring hard.

"Find someone else to play your little game Kuran." He said menacingly. He pulled back abruptly and sneered in disgust. "I'm not going to be you're plaything anymore." He turned, intent on walking out of said pureblood's office when someone held his hand in a tight grip. And who else would it be but the fucking pureblood himself.

He forcefully pulled his hand away from the grip but it tightened up, not intent on letting his hand go. He turned back to Kuran and glared at him. "Let my hand go!" he hissed. He really didn't have time for this. He would rather be on his dorm, sleeping on his bed.

Kuran looked at him in an unreadable manner, making him narrow his eyes suspiciously. He had a feeling that Kuran would do something he wouldn't like.

He pulled his hand once again and hissed when the already tight grip tightened up even more. If he wasn't used to pain already he would be crying out. It felt like his hand would snap.

He was admittedly distracted so he was taken aback - shocked more like - when he suddenly felt himself in the arms of the pureblood prince.

Kuran hugged him.

Kuran HUGGED him.

He snapped out of his stupor and immediately struggled to get out of the Pureblood's embrace. He felt... suffocated within Kuran's arms. He couldn't breathe.

And he didn't understand why his heart is beating fast.

"Kuran- fuck! Let me go!"

"Zero..." he heard Kuran breathe his name intimately just beneath his ear. It made him stop struggling.

There was some unnamed emotion within him that he didn't like.

"Zero..."

The sound of his name being spoken so intimately once again snapped him out of his frozen state and he once again struggled. "Kuran, stop it! - Gaah! What are you doing?!" he angrily shouted when instead of releasing him, the hug tightened, almost like he was being fitted within the pureblood's body perfectly.

"Zero..."

"I said stop it! We are not MATES! There is no way that would be true! Get it into your thick skull!" But no matter what he do, no matter what he says, Kuran didn't seem that inclined to listen. And he wasn't letting him go!

"Kuran!" he hissed angrily.

"Please... please Zero, just... just stay."

Zero felt like Kuran was pleading with him. But that cannot be, because Kuran is a bastard. He became increasingly furious. He didn't think he'd been that furious before.

"I said LET GO!" he bellowed, pushing the pureblood off him forcefully. He knew his strength wouldn't be enough, and he is expecting it to not have any effect. But something did happen.

Wind picked up around him, concentrating on his hand and before he know it, Kuran was already on the other side of the room.

Bang!

His eyes widened at how he had flung Kuran, a Pureblood Vampire Prince, with a strength that he didn't know he possess. And what's with the wind still gathering around him? He watched as Kuran stood up with difficulty with blood dribbling from his mouth and once again, he wasn't affected by it. His blood lust isn't spiking up at all. He stared at his hands incredulously, seeing as a ball of wind was wrapped on his hands.

Something is really wrong with him.

He blinked when his vision swam and he took a step back but his dizziness persisted. He fell on the floor when he couldn't find his balance and he suddenly felt so weak. He saw his hand blinking with light - blinking? - He blinked his eyes but wasn't able to concentrate.

He reached his head when it ached but then he felt someone holding him gently. He didn't even have to guess who could it be because only Kuran was in the room with him, though he can hear thundering footsteps coming towards them.

"Zero, are you okay?" he heard Kuran's worried voice, but that cannot be. Kuran wouldn't ever be concerned with him.

"You're my mate." Zero remembered what Kuran had said to him before he flipped out and he took a second to correct his thinking.

If what Kuran said is true, then the Pureblood probably is just worried for his mate and not him.

No one worried about him. Only Yuki ever does, and even then, Yuki is afraid of his parasitic self.

"Let... go..." he said sluggishly. He frowned when he couldn't speak and think straight. What's happening? "Di...zzy..."

"Zero? Zero!"

"Shut... up...!" He tried to stand but his movements were sluggish. He felt himself becoming weak and even dizzier and he collapsed on Kuran.

How humiliating.

He tried to pull himself out of Kuran's touch but he cannot even muster more strength to do that anymore.

"Don't worry Zero. I will take care of everything." Kuran said.

As if he'd like that.

But he was becoming weak and he couldn't even support himself.

He felt his vision swimming and the last thing he saw was Kuran's worried face.

I will not forgive myself if I pass out in his arms.

But the decision was taken out of his hands when after that thought, he really did pass out.

. . . . .

It's been three days and Zero still hasn't woken up.

Kaname sighed as he ran his fingers towards the soft - yet slightly greasy due to not being able to wash it for a few days already - silver hair of the vampire hunter.

His mate.

His mate.

How many times had he been agonizing over the unconscious form of the person he love even before he knew about mates? He realized that his approach on broaching the subject with Zero was wrong. He should have taken to account about his past actions and personality of his mate a lot more. He shouldn't have assumed that his declaration would be taken well. Or as well as it should have been.

But that regret is already too late.

He had been inside his room almost all the time since Zero had stayed unconscious. He didn't want to leave the hunter's side for much longer. He couldn't help but become worried as days pass and Zero still remains unresponsive.

He hadn't returned the hunter to his own dorm room. He couldn't fathom leaving his mate just like that. He had already told Headmaster Cross that Zero will stay in the moon dorm in the duration of his slight coma. Cross hadn't like that especially when Zero hadn't been conscious when he last saw him. Cross even wanted to argue with his serious face but he would not budge.

No one would take his mate away from him if he could help it.

As he looked at Zero's unresponsive self, he wish that he would wake up and grace him with his rare but beautiful smile. But he knew that won't happen so he is content with just seeing that eyes fluttering open once again.

Even if hate and disdain were to be the initial emotion in those lavender eyes, at least they are open and he is conscious.

He felt more than heard an incoming aura and light footsteps outside his room so he stared and waited as that someone - whose aura he recognize as Takuma - knock the door.

Knock knock

The door to his office open and he heard Takuma's sigh before the footsteps finally came onto the door of his bedroom.

"Kaname."

Of course Takuma wouldn't just open his room and come inside. This is his private room, his sanctuary. No one is allowed inside unless he has given them permission. Even if he indeed trust Takuma, he still feels uncomfortable letting the noble inside and see his room. Besides, no one had been inside his room except for Seirin and Gared. And even then he has been tracking all of Seirin's movements inside even if he trusted her. Gared not so much since the significance of their bond is enough to warrant a trust unlike anything he had given to anyone before.

And of course, Zero. He is his mate after all. He trust Zero wholeheartedly even with the relationship they have at the moment.

So he stood up. He looked at the peacefully sleeping Zero - who looked angelically beautiful at that moment without any scowls and angry lines on his face - before leaning down and giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"Sleep tight." He stood up and walked towards the door, opening it before going to his office floors and closing the door gently.

"Takuma." He greeted. If anyone heard it, they would hear the authority and importance in Kaname's tone. But of course, since they didn't know him at all, they wouldn't be able to hear the inflections of a question in his voice. Takuma answered.

"Grandfather is here. He wanted to talk to yo-" Takuma stopped and both of them froze when they smelled the sweet and addicting allure of blood that they both knew belong to Gared. Takuma's eyes went wide because he already have an idea who made Gared bleed and why without being present.

Kaname however became furious. Not only did he smell Gared's blood, he felt a fade pain on his right cheek before immediately fading.

Because of the bond between him and Gared, their connection to each other is almost like that of a Soul Mate but not quite. They can converse with each other through telepathy. But in order to do it, they must make eye contact. He can even feel Gared's physical pain but in a fading sense and vice versa.

And the pain he felt means that someone struck his brother.

He walked out if his room towards the living room area of the dorm to strike the person impudent enough to harm his brother but when he arrived there, someone else was there aside from his fellow vampires.

A human with silver hair and dark lavender eyes was inside holding the arm of Ichijo Asato.

"I am not being impudent. I am saving you in fact. You don't know what defenses Gared has when someone hurts him."

Kaname froze, not only because this human knows Gared's real name but because this human bore a very striking resemblance to his mate. With the exception of his eyes which were a shade darker and his hair longer, the human could have been Zero.

Except he is not.

And he knows who this is.

It is Zero's younger twin brother, Kiryu Ichiru.

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A/N:

Well, here goes the 5th chapter. Sorry for the delay. I forgot to say that I first update in Wattpad in three parts per chapter before I upload the entirety of it here. So sorry for the long wait…

Anyway, I have a question. Do you want me to update at the same time as in Wattpad but with short chapters or would you rather wait for a long time before I upload another chapter here but longer? I need to know what you want so we won't have this issue next time.

Link of my profile in Wattpad is in my profile btw. Go on and check it. I also have another VK fanfic there that I haven't uploaded here. Do you want me too? It is massively different than BorC though.

So, what do you think about this chapter? I finally had Ichiru enter the BorC scene.! Isn't that great? And I also wanna ask. Do you want Ichiru to be paired with someone? Who do you think is it? Tell me in your comment.

Oh, Gallant Halliviere and I already talked about his/her (sorry Gallant. I think your a girl but I'm not taking any chances of being wrong) review. I don't mind it since she/he is mostly right.

Did you all notice the difference between in Gred's POV and Zero's POV about him? He seems a good character in his own POV but somewhat a Gary Stu in Zero's right? That's intentional. Aside from the fact that I felt annoyed at my OC while writing Zero's POV, (I felt Zero's annoyance. Imagine that?) that's how Gred feels like to other people. That's why he has few friends in the night class.

Forgot to tell you about that in our PM Gallant. Sorry... Wait for this story to be finished everyone. There's always a reason for everything. Even Gred and Kaname's closeness has a reason.

So anyway. Anyone wants to talk to me personally? I'll answer you, you know. I like interacting with my readers. That's why I like wattpad.

Anyway, review?