The Healer - Rido (Kaname 6 Years 6 Months)

. . .

Zero was out and about town, having just finished a quick shopping trip, when he felt a familiar vampire coming at him rapid speed. Tilting his head to take a moment to wonder how he should tackle this one, he decided why not, and headed into the nearest cafe.

Placing his bags on the floor, he took a seat by the corner, also close to the windows. It didn't take long for the seat across from him to be occupied.

"What is it, Rido?" He asked, grateful he'd only gone out to buy dry ingredients. Who knew how long this would take?

"What are you doing to him?" Was Rido's opening question.

...Apparently Zero's delightful seatmate wasn't really up to making any sense. There was a bout of confused silence before, "You want to give a little background on that?"

Looking as if he were doing Zero a huge favor, Rido ground out, "I know he's been visiting you nearly every time it happens."

Visit? That one word lit the proverbial bulb and Zero could have smacked himself - Rido's objective should have been obvious from the get go.

"Nothing," Zero said. "I'm not doing anything." How that impression was ever made, he had no idea.

"You must have given him something."

Zero laughed softly. "Then you're an idiot." Not that he didn't already know that.

"He's stabilizing faster than I ever assumed he would." Poor pureblood, so frustrated.

"Then whatever it is, he's doing something right," Zero shrugged, "but it's not related to me."

Rido sent him a glare. "I'll know if you were actually doing something to aid him."

Zero snorted. "No you wouldn't. That's why you're here now - because you have no idea what I've been doing."

Rido's glare didn't lessen. "How is it his mind and memories are stabilizing so quickly?"

Zero raised a brow. "I'm no expert on founders, but I'm guessing it's not something you'll ever understand." Kaname had Haruka, Juri, and Yuuki. That was why. The reason behind the 'how' was very simple. But then again, Rido could be a blind mule sometimes. Well. All the time. He tended to overthink things that didn't need the attention and underthink things that shouldn't be discarded so easily.

Kaoru once likened him to a hamster spinning its wheel all day, getting absolutely nowhere, and Zero didn't disagree.

"Stop being a NEET and do something more productive with your spare time than harass Healers while they're grocery shopping." He made to get up from his seat.

"He will betray you."

"He might," Zero shrugged again.

"And you'll let him?"

Exasperated, he held in a sigh, picking up his groceries. "Maybe, maybe not. But you're probably wrong. I don't know why you're asking questions you know the answers to."

Kaname was too much of a softie to ever betray someone, much less someone he held a certain amount of affection for. If Kaname were to betray anyone, it would be himself, and the only person who would truly be hurt in that situation would also be Kaname. Everyone else's pain would just be collateral damage. Neither Zero or his family would want to see him hurt, even if the main cause was himself.

Rido's face suddenly melted to a frown. It could have been from Zero not reacting like he wished him to, or being told his opinions were meaningless, Zero didn't care to confirm either way.

"I can see why you're interested in him, but he's not as intriguing as you're making him out to be," Zero threw him a pointed look over his shoulder.

It would only be to Rido's benefit to have him at least reconsider whether Kaname was as useful as he thought him to be. The major sticking point to that concept was, 'if Kaname liked him' and he didn't. Not an iota. The boy would move mountains if his loved ones hinted at wanting it, but he wouldn't lift a finger if someone he didn't care for was on fire and screaming for mercy. The only other option would be to brainwash him, but that was slowly becoming moot with every patch of memory Kaname was incorporating successfully into his mind.

And while Rido didn't care enough about Zero to like or dislike him (and so there was no gain or loss to coming to him for help), the fact that he'd approached him with wild theories regarding Kaname's adjustment showed he was grasping at straws. If he really wanted to know what the cause was, the first on his list should have been Haruka and Juri (though Rido couldn't reach out to them for obvious reasons - like signing his death warrant and hashing up old, unhealed wounds).

Though, if anything, Zero was more worried about Haruka and Juri should they meet Rido again in person. He was well aware how family-oriented they were. Despite how much of an asshole Rido displayed himself to be, he was still their older brother who they grew up with under the same roof. Considering the death of Ayumu, they might not go so easy on him, but Zero doubted they could ever truly cut him off or disown him. A tragedy for sure, but it wasn't Zero's place to tell them how they should handle their own brother. They hated what Rido did, but they didn't hate Rido himself.

As of now, their feelings went along the lines of: 'You're a shit brother, but we still love you. Deep, deep, deep down.'

Glancing down at his wrist watch, he estimated calling Haruka and Juri in a couple of hours to tell them about Rido sniffing around. They were most likely meeting other humans at this time to plan out their vampire-human school idea, and wouldn't be back as of yet. Also, since Zero had admitted to taking no part in Kaname's adjustment, Rido might head elsewhere for information, though he wasn't as worried about the outcome of that venture. Short of asking another pureblood for help (which Rido would never do even with a hunter weapon held at his head) there was nearly nothing he could scrounge from an outside source.

Hopefully Rido would see there was nothing to gain from having Kaname under his thumb and simply leave the child alone. Yuuki, on the other hand... Zero's face tightened. Once Rido found there was another child available to fuck with, he wouldn't miss the opportunity to aim directly for her throat.

Yuuki was currently the youngest, purest vampire to date. Kaname, if he hadn't regained his memories, would be good competition, but the additional life experience those memories gave him only left him purity of blood, much like Haruka and Juri. What made Yuuki's blood so 'pure' wasn't just based on her lineage as a Kuran, but her actual age. She was unblemished through her ignorance, her power left with no real direction, and that made it so terribly easy to mold. It was literally the equivalent to taking candy from a baby.

If Rido killed her and consumed her power for his own, he would never have to consider Yuuki's own thoughts that might sway the strength of her blood. He could overwhelm her essential character and unsolidified morals with the advantages that came with his age and experience to use her blood however he liked.

The last resort to prevent anything of the sort would be to turn her human, but Haruka and Juri knew Zero would never agree to that, the risks were too great, and they had better consider his views on it if they didn't want their asses kicked six ways to Sunday.

Regretting not punching Rido in the face at least once, Zero went up to the counter to order a cup of coffee. No matter how short of a time he'd been at the cafe, he did not want to be 'that guy'.

"Get me one too."

Zero's brow twitched. He was still here? "You are not fucking making me pay for your fucking coffee."

"Hey, you're the self-employed adult here. What did you call me not just a second ago? Oh right, a NEET."

"I see. Would this NEET also be inclined to having a few bullets shot into his gut? We can be creative and have one through the eye. And since this is such a special occasion, let's make those anti-vampire bullets," Zero suggested in a monotone.

"How mean. Making fun of me for having no money."

"What a tough society. Must be hard." Fucking liar. Rido was living off of family funds. Even if he didn't, he could whore himself out like the best of them. And enjoy every moment.

"Zero, it's a cup of coffee."

"Exactly. You can just bat your eyelashes at a few people and get yourself a cup. I don't know why you're making this harder on yourself by asking me."

Rido huffed a laugh and shook his head, as if Zero was being the unreasonable one. "You seem to be under a slight misconception. I don't just want coffee. I want coffee from you."

"Right." Because he just couldn't get enough of annoying the hell out of him. Born an ass, always an ass.

The barista at the register smiled at him. "What can I get you?"

Giving her a nod, he glanced briefly at their menu and ordered, "Two regular coffees, one small, one large, extra sugar and cream for the small one and just black for the large." Shooting her his best bright smile, he added, "Really, go wild on the sugar for the small one. This dick behind me has a huge sweet tooth."

The barista blinked once, twice, and then laughed and chirped, "Sure! Coming right up!"

"Zero..."

"You wanted a coffee, you're getting one."

"...You're being a petty bitch."

Zero smirked. "You're the last person I want to hear that from."

Any sweet tooth Rido could've had, had been hijacked by Haruka and Juri. They couldn't get enough of baked desserts and sugar, but Rido couldn't stand them. He tended to give desserts the middle finger. So of course, he took his coffee black.

"I'm taking your coffee."

Zero sent him a derisive smile. "Go ahead. But I know you won't."

Rido narrowed his eyes.

"Your objective is to annoy me. Taking my coffee wouldn't do anything. I can just buy another one."

Rido's eyes went half-mast, as if to say, 'Seriously?' and he sighed heavily. "Yes, yes, you've derailed my master plan." He clapped slowly, managing to make it sound sarcastic. "Well, whatever. I can still brag to Haruka and Juri you bought me coffee. You've never done that for them. They're going to be so jealous."

Incredulous, Zero stared at him for a moment (those words wouldn't be out of place from a villain in a children's book - for three-year-olds), before coming to the conclusion trying to decipher the actions and thoughts of Kurans everywhere was a useless endeavor, and blandly thanked the barista who brought out their order.

Turning to Rido to hand him his overly sweetened drink, he gave his most friendly farewell, "Enjoy your coffee, asshole. Go die in a fire."

Seeing Rido's face twitch, he made sure to smile blandly before firmly closing the café door on him. He at least got to leave with the last word.

. . .

"Who were you with?" Kaname asked the moment Zero walked past the threshold. His face was scrunched in a rare show of confusion and disdain.

"You-know-who," Zero drawled, heading straight for the kitchen.

His suspicions confirmed, Kaname followed after him. His brows were knitted in a heavy frown. "Why? Did he come to see you?" It was as though he wanted reassurance Zero hadn't met Rido by choice.

"I sat down for two minutes and told him to mind his own business."

"...He was standing awfully close," Kaname mumbled, not entirely convinced with Zero's answer.

Zero shrugged. "Well, we did stand in line to get a cup of coffee." He didn't dare mention the fact that he bought a cup for Rido.

"I would prefer he be on the other side of the globe, buried to the core of the earth, never to see the moon."

"Right," Zero said dryly. Kaname seemed to get more cynical by the day.

"By the way, I hope you know better than to point out you can tell who's been with who to other vampires." He tacked on.

However sensitive regular vampires, even level Bs, were with their five senses compared to humans, their sense of smell wasn't so accurate it could trace lingering scents specific to an individual or object. Within the vampire animal kingdom, only the purebloods held such a strong nose.

Humans would think it somewhat creepy, but vampires just saw it as a breach of etiquette if a pureblood blurted something like that aloud. Although, then again, as most purebloods worked on a, "you'll take it and like it," sort of mentality, that kind of courtesy might as well not exist. That wasn't even factoring in their terrible sense of humor - outing someone's dirty little secret would simply be another form of entertainment.

Zero just became used to it via exposure to Haruka and Juri.

"I suppose I should refrain," Kaname gave a show of thinking it over.

Zero raised a brow.

Smiling sweetly, Kaname tilted his head. "I know, I know. Only be mean when necessary."

Zero nodded in approval. "No need to go out of your way to be a dick. That's also a fast track to becoming You-know-who."

Kaname's tone took on a playful quality, "and god forbid should that ever happen."

"Hey, just saying," Zero said. "Be picky, and you won't have to worry about as many level Bs plotting to snuff the life out of you." He sent a smirk over his shoulder. "It's also cost efficient."

Let nobody ever call him impractical.

"Yes, yes, ever the wise one," Kaname said lightly, but fell silent afterward, his eyes looking contemplatively down at his folded hands.

In all honesty, both of them knew that hope was a lost cause, not as long as Kaname's memories continued to return. But they also knew wallowing over the inevitable wouldn't change a thing. Having lived for so long, there was almost no guarantee Kaname's mind would be filled with unicorns and rainbows once he regained everything. From merely a 'potential for evil' standpoint, it was more likely that Kaname would rate much higher than Rido ever could.

While Zero could never be fully certain which way Kaname might roll, he knew he wouldn't be able to stand and watch the shit hit the fan should the worst come to pass. If his mentor had taught him anything, it was that accepting things as they were and still forging ahead was a lot more productive than sitting on his thumbs or wetting his pillow with self-pity.

'He goes over the deep end, and he's done.'

Zero took a few minutes to finish up the rest of his groceries and turned to the fridge. "There's some left over earl grey ice cream if you're up for that."

He knew the topic of his memories, especially concerning any effects they had on his present circumstances, was generally a tender spot. And any mention of Rido was a quick trigger.

Visibly glad for the subject change, Kaname's face brightened. "Yes please." He pulled out two small bowls and spoons and sat down at the table.

Watching Zero scoop the ice cream out, Kaname's expression sobered again and he murmured, like a man confessing his crimes out of an unbearable amount of guilt, "you know they will force you to choose. The moment our parents came to you, they already had war in mind, and they knew you would be their best asset if they managed to gain your loyalty."

And they used Yuuki and I to get exactly what they wanted. It was very heavily implied.

Keeping his face blank, (there was a strong impulse to throw his hands up in the air and beg for divine protection) Zero handed Kaname his share and returned to scooping out his own portion. He was more than aware how much of a biological anomaly he was, but at the bottom of it all, that was all he was - a strange glitch in the system. If Haruka and Juri thought he would be a solid asset, that was fine, but that didn't mean Zero held the same opinion. If only the most troublesome species in existence could view him the same way he viewed himself.

It had started out with Kaoru, then Haruka, Juri, and Rido, and the few times he'd been dragged into meeting other purebloods, there had been similar reactions. Apparently he was just that weird.

He didn't care to know why, but more often than not, he tended to get the 'useful tool' label slapped to his forehead.

It was nothing to rejoice over.

"Your confusion over this is amusing, but also very vexing," Kaname rested a hand under his chin. "You genuinely don't understand how valuable you are."

"I would apologize for being a dunce, but I wouldn't mean it, first of all, and second, I know exactly how valuable I am," Zero said calmly. Once upon a time, he would have been mortally offended at possibly being viewed as some sort of commodity, but as his timeline would prove, he experience with vampires far outweighed those with humans, and he had developed the unfortunate skill of decoding their condescending word choices. "It's just that my measurements of value or worth are different from the rest of you."

Kaname pouted. "Well, that's vexing."

Zero hummed absently in agreement, placing the ice cream back in the freezer. "Such is life. A mix of vexing opinions. Whatever shall we do."

Catching onto his very obvious sarcasm, Kaname's pout deepened.

"You're the only person I know who can make us feel this way."

Eyes glinting, Zero took a bite of his ice cream. It was a good reward for his (surprisingly) pleasant, satisfying day. "I try." He was able to indulge in one of his favorite past times: ruffling the feathers of purebloods.

"And Kaname, you've got enough on your plate, don't add me on there," he sent the boy a sharp look, "I can take care of myself. If they think they can sway me onto either side, let them think that for a few more years." Haruka and Juri, Rido, the council, or the HA, it didn't matter. Zero worked on his own clock and he planned to keep it that way. "I'm a Healer and a hunter. I'll do what I feel is within my own laws."

"What of manipulation? I know you care for Yuuki and I. Should we be threatened..." Kaname started.

"That wouldn't be manipulating, really," Zero tilted his head. "And it's still my decision to go and save the both of you."

No one in this current generation would be stupid enough to pull that on him anyhow. There were very few vampires who hadn't heard of his achievements as a hunter. He would be the first to admit he could hold a grudge, and ten out ten would claim Zero on a vengeance spree was anything but pretty.

Kaname might have picked up a few rumors, but even with his maturity, there was only so much he could piece together, and he had never seen how ruthless Zero could be at his worst moments. As the saying went, seeing and hearing were two different things.

"Worry about yourself and Yuuki," he emphasized. "Kaoru and I will deal with Haruka and Juri." Those two were definitely going to need an extra kick up the ass when the time came. Offing Rido wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't impossible.

Kaname sent him a tired glare. "I never know what action you'll take and you're hardly one to tell me. Having to accommodate for your unpredictability is truly vexing."

Zero reached across the table to ruffle his hair. Seriously, what a satisfying day.

. . .

O.M.A.K.E.

(In which Haruka and Juri find out)

"Zero!"

"Zero!"

"Sorry Zero, they wouldn't listen."

"What?" Zero demanded, irritated. He took off the goggles he was using for his experiments and turned around.

"You...you bought him coffee!" Haruka cried.

"Coffee!" Juri repeated, somehow under the impression Zero needed the redundancy.

"Oh my god," Zero muttered. Kaname patted his pant leg and looked up at him with eyes full of sympathy. A good kid, however unhelpful.

"How could you?" Haruka sniffled, tearful.

"How could you buy him something first, out of any of us!" Juri added. "Not including you, sweetheart, I just mean us," she made sure to whisper to Kaname. Zero had bought Kaname numerous things over the years, besides.

"His face! When he told us!" Haruka growled, crossing his arms.

"Like he owned the entire world!" Juri nodded, also crossing her arms in a show of unity.

"You're all idiots. I don't have time for this."

"Zero! You have to buy us coffee too!"

"And not a small one, like Rido, but a large one!"

Placing both hands on his work table, Zero took a long, deep breath, and let it back out. He spent the next few seconds developing more than a few homicidal fantasies.

"Zero..." Kaname looked on worriedly.

Zero sent him a tight smile. "You don't need to apologize for them. They're the idiots, not you." He patted the boy's head. "I can't believe they haven't realized how many things I've gotten them already. Where do they think all the ingredients for the snacks they stuff down their throats come from? Thin air? A magical garden that shits out endless supplies?" He said. Very pointedly. "Because I'm pretty sure they're all coming out of my wallet when I go to buy. Them. From. The store."

Kaname's eyes were slowly growing wider as Zero continued to speak, and once he was done, blinked twice before turning to his parents. "Yes...Mother and Father are being silly," he whispered.

From his tone, it sounded more like, 'Fear for your lives. You've awakened the beast.'

"Um, Zero..."

"Still in the mood for a large coffee?" Zero asked pleasantly.

Haruka and Juri quickly shook their heads.

"Good. Kaname, why don't we make some cupcakes? You can take some home to Yuuki."

"Zero...?" Haruka called.

"And make sure neither of those idiots touch any of it. They're just for you and Yuuki."

"No!" Juri wailed. "Not the cupcakes!"

Haruka was speechless, already out cold on the floor.

Kaname stared down at them, eyes full of pity.

"I would love to make cupcakes with you, Zero." That was under no question.

"Kaname...!" Juri looked...terribly betrayed.

. . .

A/N: Ah, it's been a while. For anyone who's kept up, huge, huge thanks and lots and lots of love! May you be blessed with Zero and Kaname bonding moments and Zero poking fun at pretty much everyone. (Since he gets to do that, like, never in canon. It's always the other way around. Very sad.)

Always, thanks so, so much for reviews that have been left for this story. Y'all make ma heart sing! That is also under no question. Please take some of Zero's ice cream and enjoy sweet, cool days whether you're on the sweltering part of the globe or on the chillier side.