This has been running around in my head for a while, so I decided to set the plot bunny free…

Disclaimer: They all belong to Matsuri Hino…

Pairings: This chapter contains some ZeroxKaname, but nothing too explicit.

Spoilers: Chapter 30 of the manga, but goes AU from there. I wanted to do a different take on the story, one that focuses on the fascinating mixture of love, hate and feigned indifference between Yuuki, Zero and Kaname, so I've twisted things a bit – and yes, that's where the title comes from ;P

Kaname kept reminding himself that he was doing this for Yuuki. It was only that thought that enabled him to hold still and not pull away when he felt Kiriyu's lips closing on his throat, the silver-haired guardian's hand fisted in Kaname's shirt as he brought him down to a more comfortable level. The pureblood closed his eyes as razor-edged fangs teased against his skin, sending delightful chills of anticipation down his spine. He didn't want to enjoy this… but vampire physiology was hard-wired to find pleasure in the act of giving and receiving blood. He tightened his grip on Zero's arm, barely managing to suppress a gasp as the ex-human's teeth sank into his flesh, finding the vein, and was faintly gratified when Kiriyu gave a small moan against his throat, pulling him closer as he began to drink.

Kaname's blood flooding his mouth was unlike anything Zero had ever experienced – it felt like pure energy crackling through his entire body, and the taste… if he'd known something this exquisite existed he would have sought it out long ago. Yuuki was sweet and soothing, like a drink of spring water on a summer's day, but Kaname was like black lightning, tasting of raw power and dark spices, setting his nerves on fire and whipping his vampiric side into a frenzy. Before he knew what he was doing, he had pulled the pureblood down on top of him and bitten into Kaname's throat a second time, tearing twin gashes in his neck, wanting, no…needing more of this scarlet bliss.

This time Kaname couldn't stop the hiss that escaped him as he was dragged to the floor, and Kiriyu's fangs embedded themselves viciously in his neck once more. He could feel hot liquid soaking into his shirt as the ex-human opened a new wound, causing a fresh stream of blood to spill from his veins. "Zero…" he meant it as an admonishment, but it came out as a throaty purr. The blood loss and pain were blending into a kind of twisted ecstasy, sending waves of heat through Kaname's body. As a pureblood, it was a natural instinct to associate feeding with physical intimacy, and the more violent it became the stronger the urge… he needed to stop this before he did something he'd regret, but the sheer pleasure of being taken this way was overriding his common sense. Releasing Zero's arm, he rested his hands on the hunter's sides, unable to prevent his nails from extending into claws and piercing through Zero's shirt to the flesh beneath. Zero arched against him and stifled a groan as the talons dug deeper, drawing blood. The smell of Kiriyu's blood filled the air, mingling with Kaname's own scent and awakening his bloodlust. He felt his senses heighten and the tightening in his chest as hunger overcame him. So help him, if he didn't end this now he was going to bite Zero – and that was something he could not afford, no matter how much his instincts screamed for him to do it. With a massive force of will, he retracted his claws and pushed down on Zero's sides, trying to dislodge the other vampire.

"Kiriyu – that's enough."

It was little more than a whisper, but the command in it was evident, and Zero's savage side felt compelled to obey. 'Damn purebloods and their powers.' He removed his fangs from Kuran's throat, but couldn't stop himself from running his tongue over the long gashes, savouring every last taste of the unique elixir that was Kaname's blood before the contact was broken. His entire body was shaking - throbbing with unexpressed energy and he felt like he was maybe going to pass out or get sick unless he moved. When he tried to however, he realised Kaname's hands were still resting on his sides. The pureblood lifted his head and looked Zero in the eye.

"You've taken too much. That's why you feel this way. Your body will need time to adapt to the power it's absorbed."

Zero could only nod, not yet trusting himself to speak without throwing up. He shut his eyes tightly and lay back on the floor, trying to stop the spinning in his head. It seemed to help, he felt more steady now and the buzzing under his skin was starting to subside. Dimly, he became aware of warm air skating over his cheek. Opening his eyes, he came face to face with Kaname, who had shifted and was now kneeling over him, seemingly studying the hunter intently.

"Kuran, what the hell are you doing?"

Kaname's mouth twitched into a smirk.

"Just making sure you aren't going to die on me… that would be such a waste."

He relished the look of half-disbelief, half-disgust in the ex-human's eyes - toying with him was so easy, his hatred of vampires made him terribly vulnerable. The pureblood wondered how far he could push him, and decided to find out. Swinging one leg over Zero's prone form, he straddled the other boy, effectively trapping him.

"My, my Kiriyu… you're such a messy eater…!"

He traced his tongue over Zero's cheek where trails of scarlet had marred the pale skin, tasting his own blood. It had the desired effect, making the hunter struggle beneath him. Kaname paid him no mind and continued his ministrations, licking the blood from Zero's face with long, slow strokes.

"St…stop it – get…off me!" Zero panted, finally managing to dislodge the pureblood by shoving him in the chest, knocking him to the floor and glaring at him in disgust. To his surprise, Kuran began to laugh.

"What do you find so funny?" Zero demanded.

"I was merely toying with you – your reactions are quite entertaining."

The witty retort Zero was about to give died on his lips as they both heard running footsteps coming up the passage.

"Go!" Kaname hissed, "It's the others – my blood has drawn them. They cannot find out what I have done, or they will kill you and it will all have been for nothing."

With a final nod of grudging gratitude to the pureblood, Zero took off out the window, leaping the three stories to the ground in a single graceful bound, landing silently as a cat. Wow, he mused, I guess there's more to that blood than just the taste… His hearing had improved as well, and just as he made it under the cover of the trees he heard Ichijo's voice from upstairs.

"Aido, Kain - search the grounds, whoever did this cannot have gotten far. Shiki, help me over here…" Zero expected to hear Kaname's voice next, domineering them as usual, but there was only silence.