Chapter 17

by lightpathetic

"YOU'RE insane, Shizuka. Completely insane."

"It's a good thing for you that you are useful to me. I do not tolerate anyone speaking to me like that."

"There are no guarantees that he can be contained. You shouldn't toy with him, regardless of how much you want him to suffer."

"What are you saying? Have you so easily forgotten the pain he has caused? Perhaps you aren't up to the task? Go home then. I am perfectly capable of taking care of this myself..."

The masked man grabbed Shizuka by the arm she'd waved at him dismissively, arresting her none too gently. Using his free hand, he tugged off the mask that obscured half of his face. Shizuka didn't flinch as she saw the cruel diagonal scars that ruined the right side of the otherwise handsome face. She had seen them too many times before. She had seen them when they were far worse.

"The hell I am leaving. I won't rest until I see that monster dead at my feet and my brother freed. But, I will never forgive you if your mischievousness gets in the way of that."

"Don't worry," Shizuka seethed, pulling away from him. "I have it all under control. We will have our vengeance."

KANAME opened the door to the bathroom and immediately went to pick Zero off the floor next to the toilet bowl. Zero moaned but didn't fight as he was hauled up into tender arms and carried to the bed.

He felt worse. His body was burning up and he was becoming delirious. Things were on his skin. Crawling. Little black things with red eyes...

"Zero..."

"Get away! Oh God, Kaname they're all over me..."

"There's nothing on you Zero. I am going to dress you now. They will go away soon."

"No. They won't. They've come to get me. They've finally come..."

"Zero, pull yourself together and help me. We are going out. They have the antidote. You'll be fine again. Soon."

"Who has it?" Zero asked stupidly, then it dawned. "You're crazy! You're going to give yourself up? To them?"

"Zero, hold up your arms..."

"You're nuts! How do you even know they have it?"

"I don't. But I can't take the chance..."

"Yes, you can!"

Zero pushed away Kaname's hands and tried to stand but was held down easily. Kaname, with almost bruising force, grabbed one of his arms and thrust it into a sleeve, even as Zero tried to fight him off.

"Zero. Stop it. Stop it! Dammit, I hate doing this to you...!"

"Don't you dare shut me up! You need to hear this. What if it's a trap?"

"I've told you. I don't kill easily. If they have the antidote, we'll take it and go."

"You think it's that simple? They obviously know you're a vampire! Don't you think they have planned for you?"

Zero removed his arm from the sleeve and Kaname growled. He didn't have much time. The sun was coming up and the woman had said to hurry.

"Zero, if you don't cooperate I am going to take over. I know you hate it, but I can't give in to you on this. I can't compromise with your life."

"That's what I'm trying to say! You should! There are billions of potential me's out there but you are the last one. You die and that's it. I admit, there was a time I wasn't all that weepy at the prospect..."

"Zero..."

"Kaname! Don't do this! Let me die! Walk away now and don't look back. Save yourself. Make another vampire, maybe a female and have lots of little..."

Zero slumped over and Kaname straightened him on the bed, continuing to gently but quickly dress him. He stood and carried him to the door and then away, down the back stairs to the brightening lot before taking off into the air. Kaname concentrated on this to the exclusion of all else. He had considered what Zero had said. For a moment. He knew he should walk away. He knew but... He wanted Zero. If there was a chance of saving him he would take it no matter how slim. Right now, he couldn't see the point of living on if Zero died.

KANAME walked slowly towards the plane, his senses searching all around them. There was one pilot and a small Cessna waiting on the deserted golf course. He smelled nothing and he heard nothing else amiss. As he approached, a small elderly man disembarked and ran out to meet him.

"Hey! Hey there! Are you Ken?"

"Don't come any closer," Kaname barked, arresting the man immediately in his tracks. The smiling face fell.

"Oh, sorry. I was waiting so long for you. My wife told me not to take this job..."

"Who sent you?" Kaname asked. He stopped in front of the door and pulled it, placing Zero gently inside after some inspection.

"I don't know. I was told to come here to pick up someone. No questions. I'd said no, but then they threw an envelope of cash on the table. It was enough to pay off the bank and some..." The man halted uncertainly, aware belatedly he was babbling to a stranger, but it did help his cause since Kaname realised the man's sin wasn't much more than being stupid and greedy.

"Get in and let's go. I'm in a hurry."

"Yes, sir. Are you...? Well I guess you are if you're out here like this..."

"And don't speak anymore," Kaname demanded quietly, but looking up at the silly man.

"N...," he began but on seeing Kaname's eyes decided to nod instead. Probably the first smart thing he'd done in his life.

KANAME'S mood didn't get any better as they flew east, into the rising sun. He was still wearing his contacts for the set lighting but they were never enough for the direct sunlight, which in the desert was many times worse. No clouds, no trees, no reprieve.

He closed his eyes at intervals as he did his best to turn away, mostly burying his face into Zero's neck. It reminded him of two things: Zero's fading pulse and how hungry he was. He had exerted a lot of energy last night and he had let Zero feed in an attempt to heal him, which didn't work. He couldn't sip from Zero because of the poisoning, which left the pilot, and he supposed he had better wait until he had taken them to where he was going. Kaname nuzzled Zero's sleeping form and found being there was comforting and relaxing. He wasn't even aware when his body's natural rhythms took over and he began to sleep.

KANAME came awake as the plane banked and threw him sideways. He "steadied" himself and gave the pilot a look of warning.

"Sorry. We are coming in to land," the pilot offered by way of explanation. It was hard to miss the relief in his voice. This passenger gave him the creeps. Kaname looked down to see a long track and a lonely cement building to the side of it. Kaname couldn't hear anything over the engines, or smell anything over the fuel fumes. Therefore, he killed the engine.

"What? What the...!" the pilot gasped, instantly checking his gauges in disbelief, failing to notice the plane was no longer in his control. He twisted the key and began to swear at "Thelma" with something akin to grim determination. A hand grabbed his hair...

THUD THUD THUD!

The pilot screamed as holes appeared in the roof of the aircraft and the hand in his head tightened. But soon it relaxed and fell away. The pilot didn't even look behind him. He grabbed his parachute and kicked open the door, jumping clear of the alarmingly quiet aircraft. He only looked back once to see where it had stabbed the landscape, many yards east of the dirt trail.

KANAME came to and tried to lift his head. But he couldn't. He was shackled into some kind of contraption. He pulled at his bonds and grimaced as his hands shook the chains weakly. He tried to swallow, but his throat was so dry. Somehow he could stand the pain in his body more than his thirst. Kaname opened his mouth and hissed as his eyes opened and surveyed around him, already looking for a food source.

"He's awake."

"Don't go near him. Call the others."

Kaname was aware of footsteps but he couldn't follow them. His head was trapped. He looked down to see tile. A dirty green colour, the grooves of which were stained to a dark contrast. He could see a drain near him and his eyes followed greedily the crimson trickle that he just knew was blood. From the way he was feeling, he feared it was his.

A door opened behind him somewhere and Kaname heard several footsteps as many people approached him. He tried to "break apart" the apparatus holding him but he couldn't. He was too weak. His powers wouldn't work. Kaname closed his eyes.

"I thought you said he was awake?"

"He was. He is..."

"Hey, 'Kaname'. Vampire! You awake?"

That voice. The woman. Kaname pried himself away from his own personal problems to think of some others. Including...

"Ze...ro..."

The group gasped in awe as the corpse spoke. They had witnessed the draining of his blood themselves. No one should have survived that. No one...

"My God, it's true!"

"I told you. I told you," the woman insisted.

Kaname moaned in pain as the scent of the people teased his nostrils. His fangs were already fully grown in preparation for what he could never get. He shook the equipment alarmingly though, as his concerns went unanswered.

"Zero!" he growled, the chains swinging. The group hushed immediately.

"Shut up, you scum. You are in no position to make demands. What are you on about? Your toy? You are lucky we didn't kill you for that alone."

"Is Hiou-san awake as yet?"

"Yes. I heard him on the way here. He was bellowing this creature's name..."

Kaname began to tug at his bonds in earnest. He refused to just stay here when Zero could be dying...

The woman with pale blond hair took a gun and shot him in the shoulder. Kaname screamed in agony.

"They don't have to be silver bullets to cause you pain. Your body is too weak to regenerate quickly. Too weak to help itself. You had better be quiet before I lose my temper and become more serious."

"What are you keeping him for? Why don't you kill him?" One of the group asked.

"In good time. Go and bring my nephew," Shizuka ordered, looking at some guards.

Kaname subsided again, his breaths coming in long agonised pants. He felt despair threatening to swallow him whole. Where was Zero? He tried to use his senses but he couldn't concentrate above the pain. Kaname closed his eyes in defeat. He hoped death came quickly.

"Let me go! Kaname!"

Footsteps headed towards him and stopped in front of him, but Kaname knew before he opened his eyes that it was...

"Zero... Zero..." Kaname moaned his eyes filling with tears. He was alive!

Zero dropped to his knees and held Kaname's head, stroking his hair.

"This is so touching. Really it is. Do you have a handkerchief?" Shizuka asked sarcastically of the masked figure next to her.

"Don't kill him. I'll do whatever you want, Aunt. I'm begging you..." Zero got to his feet and stood between the group of heavily armed gangsters and the shrivelled, snivelling, pathetic creature behind him. He forced a determination into his stance he didn't feel. An authority he had long ago given up. He heard Kaname gasp behind him but he ignored it. He had no right to judge him...

"Now you call me 'Aunt'?" Shizuka retorted, squaring her shoulders for the fight. "Now that you want something? You disowned us remember? Changed your name. Became a good, law abiding conformist.

"You are dead to us! You have no right to ask me anything...!"

"I have every right!" Zero yelled, stalking forward, the old pain coming to the fore, shining in his eyes, his hands going up to tug the multiple piercings in his ears as evidence. "I helped you get where you are! I helped you to hold on to my father's legacy! The blood of our rivals is on my hands! You owe me!"

"Shut up, Zero! Have some dignity! This creature isn't human! You are begging for the life of a beast! Do you know how many of us he has killed?"

"I know. But how many have we killed? He kills the guilty. Can you say the same for us?"

"Zero, I knew I should have put you out of your misery. Your father would be ashamed of you...!"

"The hell with my father!" Zero growled, his eyes flashing crimson in anger. "I have avenged his death many times over! That is the extent of my obligation to him. He chose his path and now I choose mine...!"

"With this creature? Are you serious?" The masked form beside Shizuka finally asked, raising his eyes to Zero for the first time. Zero looked away. He still had trouble looking at him...

"He's not a 'creature'. Don't call him that..."

"He is. But maybe you are too brainwashed to see it. Maybe his dick is really that good...!"

Zero ran forward and tackled the masked figure, his hands going for his throat, his eyes glinting with deadly intentions. Guards ran forward to part them but Shizuka held up her hand to stop them. Finally, the figure beneath Zero pulled his gun and shot Zero in the stomach...

"AAH! Shit!"

Zero rolled off and the figure rolled onto him holding the gun to his head, leaving his mask on the dirty green tile.

"You've gotten soft, Zero. The old Zero would have done the job right."

"Don't speak to me of him, Ichiru. He died years ago. I am ashamed of him. I am ashamed of you!"

Ichiru's eyes narrowed at Zero's words, his fingers squeezing the trigger. But then, he thought better of it, getting to his feet. He turned towards the naked vampire before them who looked wide eyed at the two of them. As if, he saw a ghost...

"You remember, don't you? I bet you do. I bet you remember leaving your marks on me," Ichiru sneered as he kicked his brother in the stomach. Zero cried out and clutched his bleeding stomach. He didn't see the look Kaname was giving them. A look full of pain and fear that had nothing to do with the blood loss and his hunger. He pulled at his manacled hands again as he tried desperately to make him stop.

Don't, please! Not the one thing on this earth...!

Ichiru smiled dangerously and knelt to his brother. He tugged him up to a seat, facing the shackled beast.

"I never told you, brother. Shizuka insisted I shouldn't. 'Don't tell anyone, they won't believe you.' Ha! For a while I didn't believe it myself, what I saw. I thought it was a nightmare I had invented to cope with the reality. But then you got careless, vampire. You let other people see you..."

"Stop! Just kill me! You don't have to waste any more time..." Kaname rasped, his eyes watching Zero's face. Zero's eyes were still closed, his breathing uneven in his pain. He wasn't listening. Not yet.

"Let me finish, monster. Zero came home later. He wasn't there. Everyone was relieved Zero was spared. The future of the Hiou rule was assured. Then he leaves. Isn't that funny? Then he deserts us and I'm the one to stay and hold it together!"

"Ichiru..." Shizuka warned. There was no telling what he would do if they told Zero…

"Be quiet! I'm speaking. It's time he found out. About the red-eyed demon that's been haunting my dreams since I was eleven. The tall figure with dark hair and pale skin, with teeth as long a tiger's...!"

"No... You're lying! You said it was an army of men! You said..."

"I said what was believable. I couldn't say one man defeated our bodyguards and shredded them before my eyes. I couldn't say he fed on... on our parents like cattle..."

"No! You're lying! You are lying!"

Zero began to fight again and Ichiru released him and stood. The smug expression returned as he looked down on his brother.

"Look at the little favourite now. Sleeping with the creature that killed your parents and left me for dead. We have videos you know. We all know how much you like it up the ass by this monster."

"Noo! It's not true! Kaname...? Kaname, tell me it isn't true!"

Kaname was lost. Zero's tears stung him like fine razors. The night came back to him, his memory of the frantic boy who had returned just after he had left, who had run around the grounds with a gun that was almost too big for him, yelling for "them" to come out and fight like men.

He had almost gone back to finish him off. But he'd liked the kid. His spirit. Had decided to spare him for another time. He hadn't thought it was the same one...

He'd killed his parents. His parents! He'll never forgive him. Kaname didn't think he still had enough moisture in his body for tears but his eyes blurred as he look upon Zero's face, shattered by betrayal.

"Kaname? Answer me!"

"I'm sorry, Zero. I… didn't know. I swear to you. It was just after a particularly… bloody massacre that was all over the news. I found out Sadao Hiou was responsible. I acted, knowing they would keep it quiet. You know how I… despise Yakuza."

Ichiru saw his work was done. He walked away, twirling his gun happily before returning it to his holster.

"If you're finished Ichiru..." Shizuka finally ventured, the tense atmosphere having robbed all of them of their speech. She turned away from the creature whose eyes, the look, was almost destroying her resolve. If anything could epitomize despair...

"Kill him. Remove his limbs slowly. Sadao's arms hung from his shoulders by bits of flesh as they carried him out. I want to see that. I want to see pain."

Zero watched as the men approached Kaname slowly, warily. Almost too afraid to carry out the order in case he got free. He was dangerous. He was dangerous...

"I love you. I'm... insane about you."

"You belong in the sun. You are glowing."

"Look at what you do to me. You rob me of any will to be apart from you."

"I promise I will never leave you, Zero. I promise, despite everything I will always appear at your side. Always."

Stop it

Zero berated himself as he sat, transfixed by Kaname's pitiful stare.

He killed your parents! He ruined your life! He made you suffer like nothing else...!

Yet, Zero's mind kept betraying him. It kept going over his life. Then and now. It kept making him see Kaname for what he was. A beautiful, powerful, ancient and lonely creature who loved him, who'd sacrificed himself to save him.

Whose heart he possessed... as Kaname did his own.

Dammit! He was fucking brainwashed!

Zero didn't even have to ruminate on why Kaname would have killed his parents. He was well aware of how he felt about Yakuza and had had many weeks and occasions to hear him out on the topic once the ex-human made the mistake of bringing it up. They killed for no good reason, including innocents, and they had no honour, is the polite summary. He'd gathered they had also crossed Kaname unforgivably in the past but he wasn't as forthcoming about that. He remembered thinking during his conversations with the vampire, given what Zero knew of his parents, that he was grateful they were already dead or Kaname would have killed them...

Zero'd come to a decision long ago that his parents' deaths was essentially karma. They lived their lives as they'd wanted to and died by the same rules they'd lived. It had played a huge part in the decision he'd made to walk away from it all. To make different rules for himself. He'd paid the price to get out and then... all too soon later Kaname took him from the freedom he'd finally won for himself. The chance to start his own life. Not his father's, not his aunt's... Zero still teared up when he thought of how stupid he'd been to think that karma wouldn't catch up to him too.

Karma, he thought, was a fucking bitch. There was no escape from it.

"You lied to me. You both did. You told me it was Fujii and his men. You told me he did it to claim the leadership. You made me kill all those people..."

"Please!" Shizuka scoffed, not even bothering to face her naïve nephew. "Is that what you're telling yourself, Zero? No one made you kill. You made yourself kill. You wanted an outlet for your pain and your need for revenge and I gave you one.

"I never held a gun to your head! You went off and excelled yourself and everyone here. It was when you had realised what you had become that you decided to disappear! That you decided to leave your family!"

Zero realised his stomach no longer hurt and he stood. It had been an ordinary bullet, which his body had expelled after a few minutes. They were so sure he was on their side. So sure he wouldn't turn on them and that Kaname was immobilised. He considered his options carefully.

"No! You manipulated me. A boy!"

"Do you want me to cry? What are you waiting for! Kill him!" Shizuka screamed at her hesitant lackeys.

"Wait. I'll do it. I want to. Hand me the sword."

Zero walked over confidently and took the sword from the man nearest him. Then... he swung him and pushed him onto Kaname's mouth.

"What? What are you doing? Zero!" Shizuka screamed, as the chaos broke out around her.

"I'm afraid I've already claimed Kaname as my prey. You can't have him. But don't worry. He won't kill you. I will."

ZERO walked into the music room carrying a tray of French toast and orange juice, next to a tureen of coffee. Kaname sat at the piano, his face contorted as he tried to come up with a melody for some lyrics he had written earlier. Zero approached and placed the tray next to him on a small table he had put next to piano for that purpose, because Kaname had been known to spend all day in here.

"Time to eat."

"I'm not hungry. This god-damned song! I'm going to put it in the shredder!"

"You say that all the time. I never thought you could become so clichéd."

"I mean it! The melody is driving me crazy...!"

"Maybe you are 'hungry'..."

"I'm not...!"

Zero came to stand behind Kaname and pulled back his head, roughly. He dipped and kissed him deeply, his tongue delving insistently into his mouth. Kaname moaned and reached up to hold Zero's head as he sucked on the bleeding tongue. He pulled Zero onto his lap and dragged away his collar before licking his neck. Zero shivered as Kaname's rough tongue promised a brutal bite.

"I knew it. You're always cranky when you're starving."

"I wouldn't be starving if you hadn't had insisted on being 'flown' to that lake..."

"I just mentioned it in passing because of the full moon! You were the one that dropped everything and hauled me to the window! Don't put words in my mouth."

"I can't help myself. I have so much to make up for. I only want you to be happy," Kaname replied, lifting his head to look Zero in his eyes, trying to convey, as he did every day, his pain, his regret, his gratitude...

"I know, Kaname. I know. I suppose, if even you can get over loving a Yakuza…"

"Former Yakuza," Kaname reminded gently. He had standards.

"…I suppose I should give you a chance to make me happy.

"Anyway, the lake was wonderful. Admit it. I thanked you, if you remember..."

"Mmmm..." Kaname moaned, remembering how as he sank his teeth into Zero's flesh, his hands sliding around him to hold his close, one dipping low to cup Zero's devastating behind. Zero chuckled and sighed.

"I hope you love me for more than my ass, Kaname. I've never seen anyone more obsessed..."

"Of course, I do." Kaname lifted his head to reply hastily. "I also love the way you taste. Without those two attributes you are basically useless."

"Moron..." Zero leaned in and kissed Kaname on his nose, then lower to his mouth, cleaning the blood on his lips. Kaname suffered the caress for a while, just to please Zero, before angling for his neck again. He wasn't finished. Zero closed his eyes and relaxed. He liked these moments. Feeding Kaname, who was always enthralled by this simple activity.

Zero yelped as he ended up on the floor.

"Kaname!"

"I just want to indulge in my other obsession," Kaname teased as he began to pull at Zero's clothes.

"What about the song? And breakfa...ah hmm!"

Zero stopped talking as he was thoroughly kissed.

"WAIT..." Zero finally managed as Kaname's kisses began to wander south.

"What?"

"Roll over. Onto your back..."

"Zero. No."

"Kaname..." Zero wheedled, but the edge was firm on his voice. It was an instruction. Kaname closed his eyes to gather strength and removed the hand that was cupping Zero inside his trousers. He first sat up, meeting Zero's eyes as if to confirm finally that this was what he wanted, and perhaps to seek a reprieve, before lying on the white rug next to Zero and the looming concert grand piano.

"Perhaps I should work..."

"I don't know why you hate this," Zero muttered softly to the brunette as he rose to straddle him over his stomach. "You said you like when I look at you..."

"It's torture," Kaname began irritably. "Even when I'm not trying to get into your pants. I'm sensitive to you at the best of times and then you insist on..."

"I know, Kaname. I know. I won't be long. Just hold still."

Zero began by sinking his fingers into Kaname's soft hair. He loved the wavy texture, how it felt against his skin. Especially after...

"You recover so quickly when you feed, Kaname. You feel so good..." Zero groaned on this last.

"Are you done?"

"No. Now be quiet or I'll have to start over." Zero leaned over and inhaled, leisurely sticking his face into his hair, ignoring the impatient pureblood beneath him.

He did as he liked with Kaname's body. It was all part of the numerous perks he'd taken for himself out of this Faustian bargain he'd found himself in. Kaname was supermodel attractive, sexy and uniquely responsive. Zero liked to exploit this at odd times.

He noticed Kaname was caressing his nipples. He smacked his hands away and gave him a look of warning. He was not to move.

"Palms down on the floor. And no tricks. Could you get the drapes?"

Kaname looked over at the windows and "drew" the curtains back and the large, candlelit music studio was at once flooded by the light of the moon over the Alps. They were in their mountaintop chalet this week as Kaname strove to meet his producer's deadline. The younger vampire purred gratefully as Kaname's gorgeous skin was illuminated in light.

Zero bent and began to kiss him, first drilling his left ear with his tongue, sucking the delicate lobe, before trailing up to his forehead.

Kaname trembled in anticipation even before Zero began to kiss his forehead gently. He smiled into his skin as he began to lick it, over and over again, leisurely. An odd choice. But, you see, this showed just how unique Kaname was as he gasped and twitched, fighting for composure, knowing, according to the game, that if he lost it, Zero would start all over again...

"Zero!" Kaname moaned. He couldn't stand when Zero licked his skin... there. He could feel the response build, the skin begin to harden and pucker to form his distinct ridge structure, a physical reaction to the sensation of Zero's taste and feel there. In a second his body would visibly change...

"Fine," Zero relented, lifting his head. On "good" nights he would continue until he could cut his tongue on them and well... Things got interesting. "But only because you have to work tonight."

Kaname sighed and relaxed as Zero went lower to kiss his cute nose, then his plump, red lips, all as he slid his hands over his torso, his broad shoulders and along his muscular arms, removing his shirt as Kaname easily arched off the floor to allow him to. He then cupped Kaname's face and thoroughly adored his mouth; sipping his lips, lapping the tender skin, nibbling the swollen saliva-slick flesh as he ground his arousal into his chest. Kaname's fingers were sunk into the rug at this point. He was only allowed to respond when Zero's tongue drove into him. He began to pray for...

Zero finally slipped his tongue into Kaname's mouth, rubbing his gums, tickling his fangs. Kaname finally enveloped him as he turned his head to try to plunder the ex-human's mouth. He was already tired of this game. He needed to...

Zero abruptly pulled away and sat up, waiting until Kaname's hands returned to the carpet. Kaname moaned pitifully as Zero began to fully undress. He was adding another dimension of temptation. The bastard...

"You're doing very well, Kaname."

"Fuck you."

Zero chuckled before bending, sliding his arousal along Kaname's taut stomach, to kiss his neck, licking, sucking then biting as Kaname groaned then submitted beneath him. He eventually forced himself to stop drinking, rising to allow Kaname to see him lick his blood from his lips in open appreciation, garnering the searing look of frustration he knew he would get - Kaname never could get enough of blood-sharing - before continuing south.

Zero ran his tongue along, between, beneath Kaname's pectorals, roamed his hands greedily over the soft skin of his torso as he sucked and kissed his tight nipples, fought to stay mounted as he moved down to the flat plane of Kaname's abs to run his lips, his tongue over the mouthwatering expanse of them, then, he trailed lower, his nose seeking the juncture of Kaname's thighs as he inhaled greedily of his fantastic scent, tugging his jeans down his long legs, savouring the slow reveal of their shapely lengths as he began to nuzzle the pureblood's copiously dripping erection...

"Zero. Please..."

"Not until after I worship your legs," Zero rasped. "Every fucking gorgeous inch."

Zero did just that, sliding his tongue along the insides of his thighs, his hands freely spanning their lengths as he placed greedy, opened-mouthed kisses on sensitive backs of his knees, as he ran his lips along his muscular calves and on to bite then suck his toes... Zero was lost by now, his body so hard, so tense from the arousal he fought to contain. He loved Kaname's body. Every inch of it. A fact he could have accepted from the time he'd first laid eyes upon its perfection if... the circumstances had been different. Maybe, if he had asked him out on a date, and had been invited back to his apartment, and he'd been kissed normally by those sensational lips, maybe he would have been transported to another realm where would have taken down the barriers of what he'd always known and lost himself in this sinfully beautiful creature.

Like now.

Zero lifted his eyes from where he was driving himself between the erotic sandwich of Kaname's feet and gazed upon the brunette as he watched the ex-human begin to cede himself to him. Kaname's eyes were crimson, his fangs marring the soft pillows of his lips as he watched him in rapt attention. Zero was actively fucking him. The game was over. He didn't have to keep his control anymore.

"Kaname! Kaname!"

Kaname was there, his mouth enveloping Zero's tender length as the ex-human closed in on a singular bliss, drawing on him, milking him thoroughly of his essence as Zero shuddered above him. Zero fell back on the rug, and ran his fingers into his hair as Kaname followed him, still drinking him in. God, that had been...

"Shit... I didn't even get to finish..."

"That's alright, Zero," Kaname chuckled, as he finally released him. He was well familiar with Zero's "thing" about his legs and feet.

"On your knees."

"You're not serious..."

"On your knees," Zero ordered emphatically, getting to his as well. "Lean onto the piano stool."

"Zero, there's no need to..."

Kaname pleaded for mercy but obeyed, getting to his knees, bracing himself against the smooth wooden furniture... as Zero came behind him and ran his fingernails up and down his spine...

Kaname hissed then growled, a brazen snarl emitting from his lips as he turned away protectively and "shoved" him. Zero laughed though, only getting back to his knees and going confidently back over to the brunette to kiss him in apology. He was unfazed. He understood it was a reflex and it was not like he'd given warning. He'd deserved that. Still, Zero was undeterred in his goal, leaving his lips to slide his tongue up his nose to his forehead. Kaname moaned, closing his eyes as Zero's flavour flooded his senses, his body reacting to this sensory slam by preparing to take the offer. As only he could...

"No! Turn around," Zero ordered, as Kaname's trembling fingers sought his neck, his body instinctively seeking an end to his suffering. By this point, Kaname was all crimson eyes, teeth and monumental restraint. He whined and tried to grab at the ex-human but Zero was stern, fighting his hold.

"The offer will be made after I get what I want, Kaname."

Kaname, at length, did as he was told. He shuddered at the thought of what was to come.

"Don't worry. I'll be gentle this time," Zero whispered, all before lowering his lips to Kaname's back, kissing then slowly licking the sensitive flesh the length of his spine. All as he slipped his hands around the brunette's hips and began to massage his long, throbbing erection, using the pureblood's intimate moisture as he ran his fingers along him. Kaname began to keen as he felt himself... react to Zero's caresses. His muscles cramped from how tense he was, how hard he tried to endure... for him. The youth loved to tempt him, to play with his worst nature, to dare him to lose control. The trouble was, it was anyone's guess which of his baser instincts would win. He suspected therein lay the thrill for the younger vampire.

"Fuck, yes... Kaname..." Zero moaned. "Let me see it. How stunning you really are."

Kaname closed his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth, as his body changed, reacting to the sensations Zero stoked inside of him. His body was alive, extra sensitive. At its peak he was devastating, effective. Deadly. Also very...

"Zero! Zero! Ah! Ungh!"

Kaname's breath caught, his chest, his body cramping excruciatingly as he erupted into Zero's palms, shuddering violently as Zero rapidly stroked his turgid length, all as he nibbled and licked the torturously responsive flesh of his back, the blood from his tongue spreading over the surface of his ridges as Kaname moaned lengthily as he shuddered in shocking ecstasy, mad from "tasting" him, his blood, better than if he'd bitten him himself.

Zero did eventually find out that Kaname's peculiar indicators of bloodlust had a purpose. They made him far more sensitive to scents, tastes and textures. He was efficient this way while he hunted but the downside was... his hypersensitivity. Zero's flavour and feel was multiplied by a thousand when he touched him directly like this. It was the difference between a playful pinch and someone stabbing through your thigh with a briny rock. It meant that Kaname could easily be tempted into... hurting him. But he never did. He usually just orgasmed like he was frigging going out of his mind.

Zero chuckled into Kaname's ear as he lay collapsed onto the piano stool. Kaname was barely conscious, but that was fine. Zero's was indulging in his other favourite activity; cuddling Kaname as he came down from his high. His fingers were intertwined in the older vampire's as he watched them slowly shortened and return to normal. If he felt mischievous he would kiss his back again and watch Kaname tense and his fingers reverse their recovery.

But not today. He relaxed against him as Kaname returned to his usual self.

"I hate that."

"I know you think so. But I love how sexy you are like that. When you start to 'show', I get so..."

"What if I hurt you?" Kaname demanded impatiently. Zero shrugged.

"You don't."

Kaname moved, relocating from the piano stool and back to the rug, turning to pull Zero onto his chest and hold him tightly, possessively in his relief. Zero resumed holding Kaname's hand, watching it become smaller and more dainty compared to his own. He loved this part. He l...

"I love you, Kaname."

Zero heard the soft gasp and then the increased heart-rate. Otherwise, there was no other sound. Zero lifted his head. Kaname looked away and covered his face.

"Kaname..."

"You didn't have to..."

"I know. I didn't want to say it before because I couldn't think what I felt was really love, given the circumstances, but... I want you to hear it. I want you to know because... I hate that the doubt is causing you pain. I hate that you're crying now because of it. I'm sick of hurting you because... I love you.

"I love you. Do you hear me?"

Kaname turned back to him, his beautiful eyes filled with tears. Zero straddled him to kiss them away impatiently.

"You have my heart as well as my body. You'll have to be extra kind to me."

"As you have mine, Zero. Always."

Zero dipped and kissed him, cupping his face then deepening the kiss. Kaname held him tightly, beginning to cry again as his happiness took him over.

"Shh, Kaname. My love."

"I don't deserve..."

"Yes, you do. You do. I wish I'd had the choice but... I believe I could have chosen you, Kaname. In any case, you'll pay for your mistake when you're sick of me."

"Never," Kaname growled. "Never. Never. Never."

Zero laughed and kissed him again. They were quiet for a long time as they shared this lengthy tender caress between them but soon Zero became impatient for more, especially as the fondling had become fairly intense. Zero tried to voice a coherent thought as Kaname's hand parted his cheeks and slowly circled his...

"You know, I think... you should continue what you started earlier," Zero managed through clenched teeth.

Kaname looked into Zero's eyes, feigning innocence as he slid his finger from his mouth and returned it to Zero's heat.

"What do you mean? You had other ideas, if you recall. I was all ready to pound your sweet ass into next Tuesday but you wanted to fuck my feet..."

"Are you saying you'd rather not?" Zero asked, biting off a moan as he pulled away from Kaname's talented fingers to eagerly lie on his stomach on the rug, his hips raised in invitation. He closed his eyes and shivered as Kaname covered his body with his. "Should I look elsewhere for satisfaction?"

"I was just saying, my love," Kaname began, as he vengefully sheathed himself into Zero's greedy core at this unsubtle challenge to his sense of ownership. He began to restlessly undulate his hips against Zero's pert cheeks as the ex-human began to groan in delight beneath him. "You'd better think of something to tell my producer. This may take a while."

"AUDIENCE what do you think of that?" Tyra asked, pouting a little as a hint to how the audience should respond.

A round of "Boo's" echoed around the room. Kaname's beautiful eyes opened wide in mock chagrin but Zero could tell he was enjoying himself.

"This is him, here? Is this Zero? Stand up, please, let the audience look at you. Wow, that's a fine man if I do say so myself. Nice ass..."

"Um, thank you," Kaname muttered, as Zero sat abruptly, glowering at the cameraman in his face.

"So what does he think of your sex addiction?"

"Well he likes it." Another round of 'boo's'. "Of course, if I hadn't filmed us and left it carelessly around the hotel in Las Vegas, no one else would have known about it..."

"Whatever happened to 'Whatever happens in Vegas,...?"

"Stays in Vegas!" the audience finished, to another loud cheer and round of applause. Kaname shrugged and shook his head.

"So you admit you were responsible for the video," Tyra accused.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Zero. I was watching it and I left it on to go to the studio..."

"You can't get good help these days. Some people should be ashamed of themselves."

More applause for the sage wisdom from Tyra's lips.

"...Indeed. So, now you all know that I'm in love, with Zero. It's not sordid. It was a tape for just my 'amusement' and it got leaked out..."

"You know that is how it always starts. Britney, Paris, now you. When will it end? Listen people, if you have to film it, lock it up. For God's sake, who needs these scandals? Does Zero forgive you?"

"No. But he still loves me."

A chorus of "Awww's" broke out at Tyra's puppy-dog face.

"Alright! Hold that note! Next on 'Celebrities With Sex Tapes and Sex Addictions' we have Matt Damon! Don't touch that remote!

"You know, you should consider modeling. You have fabulous skin and bone structure..."

The End

lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. They belong to "Vampire Knight".

Crack ending! LOL. But it's a happy one. I thought of it before I realised it was just like "A History of Violence" but I'll mention it here to say thank you if I did subconsciously get inspired and please don't sue me as I am making no money off of this.

Thanks to everyone who supported this effort. Please don't let the ending make you hate it. Just look back on the good times.

Alright! On to APFU and my long suffering fans...