A/N: uh…hey guys. It's been awhile. Remember me? I finally decided to finish this story. It's only been like..7 years? I apologize for the long-ass wait. I wonder if anyone is still interested in this old thing.

Chapter Four: Those Feelings That Can't Be Denied

A few months passed without incident. Kaname continued to take him randomly out on dates, even pulling him out of class to do so. The more Zero got to know the man, the more he actually liked him. They had a lot of common interests, mostly academic, and Zero found his company pleasant. He felt as though they might have been friends sooner if they had both been human when they met. Kaname was extraordinarily intelligent and charming, though he seemed distant to even those in his inner circle. Zero wondered why Kaname just seemed so…lonely. The only time Kaname seemed to truly be in the moment was when they were cozy and alone. Just the two of them. Zero yearned to know more about the pureblood. There were so many things he seemed to keep hidden. He wanted a peek inside the brunet's mind.

Zero also had a problem arising. His thirst for blood had changed. Yuuki still forced him to feed from time to time but deep inside he knew her blood wasn't enough for him anymore. It never would be. The only blood he craved was the pureblood's. He was constantly plagued by the need to bite the other when they were together. He resisted though. He would always fight the beast inside of him. But the temptation was so tantalizing, and he knew Kaname wouldn't resist him. He would eagerly offer his blood to him. He had already. Of course, Zero had denied him. Said he was getting enough. Kaname had looked a mix of disappointed and jealous. Zero secretly wondered how long he would be allowed to say no.

"Zero…hello?" A voice said in front of him.

Yuuki came into his vision. She was waving a hand in front of his face to get his attention. He noticed everyone else was gone. Yuuki had her Disciplinary Committee armband on and looked ready to go.

"It's time to go! Come on!" she said, walking out of the classroom.

After a minute, he rose to follow her, slipping his armband on and walking out.

He could hear the Day Class girls screeching already as he walked the long path to the Moon Dorm. When he arrived, he sent his usual glare to his side of the chaos. They immediately got quieter. Yuuki, as usual, was having trouble holding back her side when the Moon Dorm doors opened, revealing the attractive specimens of the Night Class. The girls all screamed again as their idols came streaming out. Kaname, as usual, was at the front of the line, followed by his inner circle. They still weren't keen on the idea of their dear leader dating some hunter. But they wouldn't dare say that to the brunet's face. Instead they tried to be as nice as they could as they were instructed to. The only one who was sincerely nice was Ichijou. He had been more than welcoming of the ex-human and had even offered to let him borrow some manga. Zero had politely declined but it was nice to know at least one of the vampires didn't hate him completely.

Zero wondered when his entire opinion of vampires had changed. He still didn't like them all too much, but he didn't despise them anymore. That much was clear. And Kaname…He hated to admit it, but he was very aware that his feelings had changed towards him. He was attracted to him and very much enjoyed being around him. Though secretly, and painfully, he wondered if this was all some horrible joke. That one day he would wake up and Kaname would tell him he never liked him at all. That he was just using him and had planned to throw him away when he was done the whole time. He'd even had a few nightmares about it. Of course, Zero never voiced these fears to anyone but himself.

A figure was approaching him. He looked up. Kaname had a slightly concerned look on his face. Zero shook his thoughts from his head and gave a reassuring smile to his boyfriend. The look on Kaname's face didn't go away completely but was less obvious than before.

A hand caressed his face. Zero stared into deep wine-red eyes. Those eyes that almost completely mesmerized and drowned him. He felt a blush form across his cheeks at the intense stare and looked to the ground. Kaname leaned in and spoke a whisper in his ear.

"Something's bothering you. Let's talk in a bit. I'll meet you by the fountain."

Then the tall brunet walked off to his classes for the night. The rest of the vampires following along. As they headed off inside the school building, the Day Class slowly dispersed to return to their dorms. Yuuki walked over to where he stood. She looked a bit awkward, as if there were something she wanted to say. But she held her tongue and told him she was going off to prepare for patrol. When she was out of sight, he let out a sigh. He longed to tell Kaname exactly what was on his mind, but his damn fear prevented him. He started pacing. Kaname obviously knew something was going on and, knowing him, he wouldn't be content to just let Zero hide it from him. Kaname was many things and possessive and nosy were most definitely some of those things. Zero resolved to just tell him. It wasn't like he didn't want to. In fact, he would probably tell Kaname anything. This thought shocked him. He trusted the other man. He hadn't trusted anyone in so long he hadn't even realized it. It was nice, he thought, these feelings he had for Kaname. He wasn't quite sure if it was love or not, as he hadn't felt it before, but it was much more than anything he felt for others.

When he got to the fountain Kaname was already waiting for him. He stopped to stare at the sight of his lover in the moonlight, looking at the sky. Those eyes soon turned to him and a warm smile spread across the pureblood's face, the way it did only to him, and Zero felt transfixed. His face felt warm and he quietly wondered when he would stop blushing every time Kaname paid him any attention. When he felt he could move again, he made his way over and sat next to the taller man. Kaname wrapped an arm around his waist and turned his head towards him with his other hand, kissing him softly. Zero turned into the kiss, heart racing as it did each time they embraced. Kaname pulled away from him far too soon.

"Zero, tell me what's wrong." He tone was almost demanding, and he had a serious look on his face.

Zero stood up suddenly. He was afraid. But he had told himself he would voice those stupid fears. He felt tears rise to his eyes, but none fell. He felt unusually emotional.

"I…" he started, "I just want to know that this is real. That it isn't some big joke. That you really…"

He stopped. That you really love me. He couldn't say the words. Kaname himself had not yet said it so directly, preferring to show how he felt through actions than words.

Kaname stood and took hold of his hands. Zero looked at him. Kaname's face was still serious, but a gentler seriousness now. He stared into Zero's eyes determinedly.

"I could never be that cruel to you." He said softly, "Perhaps I should have already said it. I love you, Zero."

Zero just looked at him, a lingering of doubt in his mind.

"Drink my blood, Zero. Feel my emotions for yourself. I know you want to."

Kaname ran a hand to his neck and with a sharp nail, pierced his own flesh, drops of blood rolling down the pale skin. Zero's eyes immediately went red and the pain of thirst already in his throat increased tenfold. Before he could stop himself, he found himself at the brunet's neck about to lick away the delicious smelling blood before him. He stopped. The beast inside him roared. The beast that wanted nothing more than to devour the man in front of him.

"It's all right, Zero."

Kaname's sweet voice whispered to him and he felt himself giving in. He lapped the blood on his neck up and then swiftly bit into it. As soon as the blood met his tongue, powerful emotions swelled over him. Contentment and affection were the first to come. Along with relief and a possessiveness. Most over-poweringly, Zero felt the deep love his partner had for him fill him up. Such passionate emotions nearly consumed him, and he drank greedily, eager to feel all his lover's emotions. The blood sated the beast inside him, and he made himself reluctantly pull away from the pure bliss that was Kaname's blood.

He looked into Kaname's face. A smile graced his features and his eyes were full of warmth.

"Do you understand now? He asked quietly, "I could never lie to you about how I feel, Zero."

Zero nodded. He wiped the blood from his mouth and pulled the other into an embrace. They stood there silently for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms before Zero pulled back, ready to admit his own building feelings.

"I'm in love with you too, Kaname."