Midnight Ascending

Pairing(s): Yaoi eventually - KanamexZero/ZeroxKaname. Mentions of Yuuki, but only because she's important to the storyline.

Notes: I wanted to try something a little different…Goes AU prior to Zero biting Yuuki for the first time. This is what could have happened if Kaname found Zero before he lost himself to the bloodlust, and decided to intervene to make very sure he was never a threat to Yuuki.

For the original idea of ex-human binding, credit goes to the exceptional Blackened Wing.

Warnings: Rated M for blood, language, suggestive themes and eventual yaoi.

Night had settled over the Academy grounds like a heavy, silent blanket. There was no moon, and the darkness was thick and velvety beyond the light of the evenly spaced lamps along the narrow path.

Staccato footsteps sounded against the cobbles, the soft glow picking out a tall, slim male in a dark uniform, advancing unsteadily down the track. A light breeze caressed the boy's face as he walked, stirring his milky mane. His mouth was set in a pained line, his brows drawn together slightly, and a small bead of sweat made its way down his cheek as tension held every muscle in his lean frame.

It was happening again.

He was… hungry.

He paused for a moment, clutching his chest and trying to catch his breath around the hollow, greedy ache within. These cravings were becoming worryingly frequent in the last month, and they were getting worse. He was finding it more and more difficult not to focus on people's throats when they spoke to him, and even being around them was now a struggle. At first, he had tried eating more, and drinking more… but he'd soon given up on that – it only intensified his need for something else. The thing he loathed to think about, but which occupied his thoughts constantly lately.

Blood.

It was the diet of monsters, the stuff of nightmares. It sickened him, yet he yearned to taste it with a fierce longing that clawed at his very soul.

He was changing. It had been inevitable ever since Shizuka's hated fangs had claimed his flesh with savage cruelty, but that did not make it any easier to accept. He'd fought the transition with every fiber of his being for the last four long, torturous years, but he knew he was losing the battle.

Any day now, he would be one of them… and Yuuki would be lost to him forever.

-x-X-x-

Lectures had ended a while ago, and the night class had returned to their dorm to occupy themselves however they wished until they decided to seek their rest for the daylight hours. In the largest, most sumptuous of the rooms, the pureblood president of the night class was ensconced behind his elegant desk, lost in thought.

Kaname idly rocked the white knight back and forth on the marble chessboard. The object of his contemplation was the living embodiment of this chess piece. The knight, the guardian, Yuuki's unwitting shield… Zero Kiriyu.

Of course, these days the boy was far from the pristine perfection of the exquisitely carved bit of pale marble in the pureblood's hand. Absently, Kaname sliced his finger on the sharp edge of the knight's ear, causing a small rivulet of blood to flow across the gleaming stone. That was more like it… Zero Kiriyu, the bloodied knight.

Kaname had known of the hunter's impending transition for a while; it had only surprised him that it had taken this long. He'd supposed it was Zero's hunter side and the taming spell helping him resist it, but the willpower required was impressive nonetheless. He knew though, that Zero had reached the end of the road. His stubborn defiance was now measured in days, perhaps hours.

As a pureblood, Kaname possessed many powers that other vampires did not, including the ability to sense the subtle chemical shifts in the blood of those around him. This ensured that a pureblood was always completely aware of the exact strength, current mood and level of potential threat those around them posed.

Other vampires may have been able to tell the basic power levels apart by aura, but that was an inexact measure. Kiriyu, for example, had nearly no discernible vampiric aura, it having been suppressed by the spell bound to the tattoo on his neck. The other vampires in the night class had no idea of Zero's imminent change despite the fact that they passed within a few feet of him every evening. Kaname, however, could sense the rising levels of vampire hormones pulsing through the boy's body and knew Zero would change soon.

The very thought made Kaname restless. Yuuki's blood would undoubtedly be the most tempting to Kiriyu… her becoming human had not been able to completely mask the potency of her blood. Even Kaname sometimes had trouble controlling himself around her, and the incident with Aido a few nights back had proved he was not the only one.

Earlier this evening, at the class changeover, Zero had been looking especially peaky. Kaname had grit his teeth as he passed the hunter, not wanting to let something slip and give the secret away; but he could feel the unstoppable tide of bloodlust rising within the silver-haired prefect. All through class, he had been distracted, thinking about his options.

He had mulled it over, tried thinking of many alternatives… in the end, none of them were truly viable. He would not kill the hunter, for his death would cause Yuuki too much pain. For the same reason, he would not have Zero apprehended or sent away.

It had been a most inconvenient impasse, until another idea had surfaced in Kaname's mind. It was so unthinkable that it had not been in his first list of options, but the longer he thought about it, the more perfect it appeared to be. It would make sure that Zero was not a threat, and Kaname would be able to ensure the hunter's loyalty without a shadow of doubt. The pieces of the plan began to fall into place, every detail, every forthcoming deception honed and perfected.

It was the ultimate solution, but there was only one problem – Kaname was not sure he would be able to bring himself to do it. Even now, rather than acting on it, he sat here trying to reconcile himself to the idea. In truth, he feared the consequences.

Bringing his already-healed thumb to his lips, he cleaned the remnants of the blood from it, gathering his resolve, trying to look past the small, unsavory details to see the larger picture. Yuuki needed him, so he would swallow his apprehension and his misgivings and do what needed to be done to keep her safe, as he had sworn he always would.

The chessboard soon lay abandoned. On it, a toppled white knight anointed with pure vampire blood stared at the ceiling with sightless eyes, unaware that it was a reflection of things to come.

-x-X-x-

Zero willed himself to move, put one foot in front of the other, and continued on his way. The night was making his senses hum with life, each nerve, every cell wide open to the myriad of awareness the darkness offered – and he hated it.

As if he needed yet another reminder of his impending fall.

Already, he'd started longing for the cool darkness of the night… his eyes found the sun too bright and the colours of day too garish. His body ached for sleep during the daylight hours, and then refused to shut down and rest at night. He hadn't had a proper night's sleep in ages, and it was one more thing which was wearing down his resistance.

He realized he was drenched in sweat and breathing as if he'd run a marathon. He couldn't go back into the building and risk running into Yuuki until he'd gathered himself, and the trees lining the path seemed to rustle in peaceful, quiet invitation, so he went towards them, gratefully leaning back against one of the sturdy trunks before sliding down to sit. He laid his head back, watching the sky. The stars were clearer than usual against the moonless backdrop, and he found himself almost entranced by their sparkle.

The night really was beautiful…

The smallest shifting of the leaves beside him was not the first sign that he had company. His senses – both hunter and vampire – had caught the intruder's unique aura a full minute before that, but he had been loath to acknowledge it and break the moment of quiet contemplation. When the expectant silence told him the vampire was not going to talk until he did, Zero settled a dark scowl on his face before speaking.

"What do you want, Kuran?"

"I find that question rather personal in nature, Kiriyu. While it is most flattering that you would express an interest in my desires…"

Zero could hear the smirk in that cultured tone, and his already shortened tether threatened to snap. He interrupted Kaname's speech by whipping out the Bloody Rose, pointing it at the pureblood's head.

"I'm not in the mood for games, vampire. Find someone else to annoy before I do something Yuuki might regret."

Kaname's tone became serious.

"Which is exactly why you will not do it, despite how much you may want to. Make no mistake Kiriyu - we are both bound by love; even though it is not for each other."

Zero made a disbelieving noise, despite the fact that deep down he was disturbingly inclined to agree. When the hell did Kuran become so insightful anyway?

Reluctantly, Zero returned the gun to its place inside his jacket. Although Kaname was annoying him, classes were over for the night and the pureblood was pretty much allowed the run of the campus by the chairman, so there was nothing Zero could do to make him leave except hope he'd get bored and wander off. It seemed there would be no such luck, however. Kaname had now leaned one shoulder lightly against the tree and looked like he had no intention of leaving anytime soon.

Zero didn't really want to admit defeat by being the one to walk away… after all, he was there first - so he laid his head back on the trunk and continued to watch the stars.

As the pureblood's scent began to fill the air around him, Zero realized it might not have been the best idea to remain. Involuntarily, his eyes closed for a second as he inhaled the fragrance. It was crisp and clean at first, like cologne; then gradually became deeper, with enthralling hints of something rich and decadent underlying it. Despite himself, his chest began to tighten again, his throat becoming dry. He knew he had to get out of there – fast. Rising, he made to leave, but Kaname caught his arm in a vice-like grip.

"It would not be wise to go near all those hapless day class students in your current condition."

Zero knew that Kaname was aware of his secret - wretchedly arrogant pureblood always found out everything - but the casual way the older vampire was throwing it in his face was pushing it.

"I'm not one of your night class lackeys. Don't tell me what to do."

He tried to yank his arm out of Kaname's grasp, but the slender fingers may as well have been made of steel.

"This is for your own good...and hers."

A frown creased Zero's brow even further. The pureblood was acting very strangely tonight and it was starting to grate on the hunter's last nerve. He was about to reach for the Bloody Rose with his free hand, when he suddenly found himself slammed into the tree trunk with bone-jarring force. Kaname's body pressed stiflingly close, making sure there was no room between them so Zero could go for the gun.

"How rude, Kiriyu. We had not finished talking."

Zero tried to draw breath to retort, but the air had been knocked of his lungs by the force of the blow, and Kaname's arm was across his windpipe, impairing his attempts. He brought his hands up to grab at the pureblood's wrist and elbow, trying to prise it away, but was unsuccessful. Only when spots were starting to dance in his vision did Kaname finally let him breathe.

Zero panted harshly, each lungful of much-needed air filled with Kaname's intoxicating scent, even more tempting in its nearness. The pain in his chest hit him again, hard. His vision seemed to grow exponentially sharper until he could pick out the smallest details in the pitch-black night, including the way the pureblood's throat pulsed faintly with warm, luscious blood…

Kaname caught the hunter's chin roughly between his fingers, holding his jaw while examining his eyes. Zero knew they were the swirling scarlet of bloodsucking beasts everywhere. Another pang of hunger tore into him, causing him to utter a choked gasp. The pain was moving past intense and into unbearable. Before he could stop himself, he'd raised his hands and knotted his fingers into the back of the pureblood's black shirt. Reason was fleeing in the wake of thirst; he felt like he was wrapped in a dreamy red haze, unable to really focus on anything except the thumping of Kaname's heart, the blood-filled heat of the pureblood's body everywhere it made contact with his own.

"Bloodlust." Kaname remarked casually. "You are fully a vampire now - you can no longer deny it."

Zero's hands clenched tighter into the fabric of Kaname's shirt, but in truth he had barely heard the pureblood's words. He drew his prey closer, leaning into the smooth, pale neck, mouth opening to send his tongue sliding slowly over the area, finding the largest vein. Aching fangs were only moments away from burying themselves with bloodthirsty zeal when Zero was firmly pushed back. He snarled at being denied his meal, still trying mindlessly to lunge for Kaname's throat.

Zero's hunger made him strong, but that strength was nothing to the pureblood. Kaname observed his efforts with interest. He'd never seen the usually stoic and emotionally guarded prefect this… alive. Zero was clawing at Kaname's shirt like a man possessed, eyes glowing eerily scarlet and fangs snapping mere inches from the older vampire's face.

Kaname knew what he had to do next, but he wasn't relishing the thought. He had hesitated because of that. He'd never allowed himself to be bitten, and looking into the blood-crazed eyes of Zero Kiriyu, he knew it was going to be an unpleasant experience. Reminding himself of what was at stake, he took a steadying breath and released his grip. Seconds later, the ex-human's fangs sank deeply into his throat, drawing blood with frenzied desperation. Kaname's composure threatened to shatter, every instinct screaming at him to fight this, but he held himself still as he was drained harshly. Once it was enough, he forced Zero to let go. The hunter's eyes were halfway between crimson and lilac, glassy and unfocused, his senses still swamped with the power contained in Kaname's blood. It was exactly the effect Kaname had been hoping for – he needed Zero passive right now.

Reaching for his pureblood powers, he began to chant the required spell. The words were in the lilting, ancient dialect of the first vampires, a language almost lost to time and unknown by all but the purebloods themselves. Kaname could feel the magic gathering, rising through his blood like frozen fire to concentrate itself in his lengthening fangs. He tried his best to control the flow, to make sure there was just enough to tie Zero to him, but not to tamper with the hunter's memories or mind. Most purebloods weren't even aware that this power could be manipulated so subtly, but Kaname was of the oldest bloodline and it felt natural to him, despite his never having used it before. He was driven by desperation – this had to work – there was no other option.

When he judged the strength of the spell to be adequate, he tilted Zero's head to the side, examining the lines of his tattoo, searching for something. There… his keen eyesight found the two small scars left by Shizuka's bite. Since Kaname hadn't been the pureblood who turned Zero, the only way to bind the ex-human was to lay his marks over those of Zero's sire. The hunter would then be bound to him unless Shizuka decided to claim him back.

Zero's fuzzy awareness was gradually sharpening. Kaname was still pinning him against the tree, one hand tangled in Zero's hair, canting his head to the right and exposing the tattooed side of his neck. Panic was starting to claw its way into Zero's mind, but he couldn't find the strength to move or speak.

When sharp fangs suddenly sliced into his skin, in the exact place where Shizuka's had, he screamed. It came out as a strangled groan, his throat not working properly yet. A strange, almost electric charge seemed to jolt into the flesh around the bite, spreading a tingling numbness through him. Within seconds, Zero's world went black.

As Kaname watched the unconscious hunter, he wondered once again if he'd done the right thing. Other purebloods did this all the time… but Kaname was different. He'd always believed binding was an uncalled for and antiquated practice, and when done completely, it was unconscionably cruel. He just hoped he'd judged the spell correctly, and that it would not affect Zero's fiery temperament. He needed the binding to remain a secret, and that would be difficult if he'd accidentally turned the ex-human into a mindless puppet.

It was too late to turn back though, so there was nothing to do but wait and see.

Picking Zero up effortlessly, Kaname slipped into the embrace of the night, observed only by the cold and distant stars.