Author Notes: This is the last AU scene for Blood Moon so that means this fic is now complete! -breaks out the champagne-

I had to write this scene after Yagari found out about Kaname and Zero's relationship through that idiot Seiji in Blood Moon Chapter 27. Of course, it was a completely skewed version Yagari heard but I remember thinking how much I wanted for Yagari to go and confront Kaname - not to get himself killed but just so that the pureblood could set things straight on how he and his beloved hunter actually cared for each other. I wanted Yagari to go on teaching Zero everything he knew, I wanted Zero to have his sensei's respect and love and I wanted the master hunter to understand and accept, if not support, the special relationship between Kaname and his student... LOL, do I sound like Kaname or what! Well, it's there in my review :D

I edited the beginning of this scene since it started rather abruptly but that's about it. Of course, it isn't anything like the awesome one that Blackened Wing finally unleashed upon us in Chapter 30 but I'm thrilled that it had a hand (however small) in inspiring that greatness! –smiles happily- The paragraph where Kaname openly and sincerely declared his love and his intentions for Zero to Yagari while in that horribly weakened and vulnerable state is one of my absolute favourites in Blood Moon! –feels the urge to read it again for the millionth time- Oh, and I brought up the 'L' word again. Sorry - just couldn't help it! -smiles-

Summary: A furious Yagari drags Zero along to confront Kaname after Seiji informs him about the pureblood bedding the hunter.

-- Chapter Start --

Kaname massaged his neck almost absentmindedly, frowning. His bond was telling him that something was wrong with Zero. The hunter's disturbed emotions were filtering through to him. It was morning and Kaname should be getting ready for bed but he would go seek out Zero first, once his lessons with Yagari were over. Suddenly, the pureblood tensed, his eyes snapping to the door. He could hear footsteps approaching his room rapidly.

At first, Kaname's eyes lit up - perhaps Zero had come here to chew him out for marking his neck here Yagari could see it? Then he realised that there were two sets of footsteps and both presences were hunters. One was Zero and the other, Yagari. Why would the master hunter be coming up here to see him?

In the next second, the door of his bedroom was thrown open with stunning force. Touga Yagari stood there, his blue eye blazing, one hand clamped tightly around Zero's upper arm. The younger hunter had his head down and was looking at the carpet.

"What's up?" Kaname asked quietly. Yagari looking at him with barely concealed dislike was nothing new and it didn't bother him. But to have the master hunter look at him like he was the lowest being on earth, like he had done something so wrong, nothing could ever redeem him again...

Kaname turned to the younger hunter. "Zero?" his voice was soft but a tinge of his confusion filtered through. "What's all this about?" Look at me...

And Zero finally did. The look of confused hurt in his eyes and the shamed flush on his cheeks told volumes. And even before he heard the mumbled, halting words, Kaname knew... that Yagari knew.

"He – he saw your bites... on my neck," mumbled Zero, his eyes darting away again. Oh, he loved getting Kaname's love bites even if he hated the timing, and he had marked the pureblood as well but that was different – Kaname always healed so damn quickly. Not him... "And then Seiji said -" Zero broke off, swallowed and looked away again.

A low snarl issued from Yagari and his hand tightened on Zero's arm. "It's not enough that you take his blood and use him as your punching bag, you had to - to -" The words faltered and Yagari's chest heaved – he couldn't seem able to finish his own sentence. Despite the fierce anger, there was raw, genuine pain in that strident voice, and Kaname heard it. He was furious at Yagari because of how Zero was acting now, like he had just had the razzing of his life from his own sensei. Kaname knew Yagari had always hated vampires – it didn't take a genius to figure out the gist of what Zero's sensei must have said to him earlier, and how it might have prodded painfully at very recently healed wounds.

But Yagari wasn't done speaking. "You like to show the world Zero has your sponsorship and support but you're just using him, aren't you? Punching him around and screwing him in bed! You tell me, vampire, you tell me what you're going to do once you tire of him – are you going to sell him to the highest bidder or you just going to kill him?"

Yagari paused, almost choking on his rage. Almost of his own volition, his hand whipped to his shotgun again. In the blink of an eye, it was out of its holster and confidently held in his steady grasp. He wouldn't let it go. Not this time. He would save Zero from his own folly, even if the boy didn't want him to.

Zero's eyes widened immediately. "No, master, no!" he protested. Automatically, he twisted out of his teacher's grasp and stepped around in front of him, arms flung wide to protect the pureblood in the room.

Yagari's single eye was ruthless. "Move aside, Zero! You said you were willing but – " the low, gravelly voice sounded almost choked. Yagari inhaled sharply, biting out the rest of the words through clenched teeth. "You tell me this - how can he possibly care for you when you've always been the one screwed, when you've always been his bitch?!"

Angry tears blurred Zero's vision and he roughly palmed them away. Not for himself this time, but for Kaname. The unfairness of it stung him badly even though there was a time when he had thought the very same thing. Back when they were both floundering around in the dark, lashing out blindly at each other, terrified of being rejected, too scared to even hope.

But not now.

They weren't just a pureblood and a Level D. They were lovers and equals. Kaname had said that and Zero trusted him, with his heart and with his life.

Taking a deep breath, Zero held his master's blazing gaze steadily even as his face burned with embarrassment. "No, master," he said again, his voice softer, begging for understanding, for acceptance. Zero threw a slight glance over his shoulder, as if begging for Kaname to understand what he was about to reveal. "I – I was not always the one scr – taken."

Zero was embarrassed as hell at admitting this and his words were soft but there was no mistaking the sincerity in those beseeching silvery amethyst eyes. Eyes that were so familiar to Yagari. The older hunter sighed. "Do you think me a fool, Zero?" his voice was softer as well but sad and filled with despair.

Have I taught you nothing?

"He's a vampire, Zero! Granted, you are one too, but he's a pureblood! He would never let you screw him, it always has to be the other way, they always want to control others." How can I bear to see you under his spell anymore? That he's got you so lost you think he's good even when he's just using you?

There was a moment of utter silence – Zero didn't know what else to say but stare at his master, knowing that they were once again on opposite sides here. There was a gap between them now, a gulf so wide that it seemed impossible to cross.

What else could Zero say to make his teacher understand? That he wasn't with Kaname just because he had to, but because he wanted to? That the Kaname he knew was one who would rescue three children he didn't know, would expend his own powers and risk his own life to move heaven and hell... just to keep a safe a group of townspeople? That this pureblood didn't want to bind him, that he wanted Zero at his side and had given him not only his life back but a future that at long last, held happiness, respect, promise and fulfillment for him? That Zero cared so much for Kaname, he felt he could die for him, die a thousand times knowing it would never be enough because he loved him? God help him, he did...

Zero turned around, blinking his tears away as he faced the one person who held both his heart and his future in his hands. "Kaname," he pleaded softly, wanting and needing the other's support. Kaname couldn't breathe. He had never seen Zero look at him like this before. No, not when he had woken up from that coma, not when Kaname has admitted how much he cared for him, not even when they made love. But from the way their bond tingled softly and from the way Zero was looking at him now like - like, perhaps... if all the stars in the universe had somehow magically aligned and if Kaname was suddenly oh so very, very lucky... just maybe...

"Zero, answer me! Has he ever let you screw him? Has he ever laid on his back, or got onto his hands and knees for you, even just once?"

Both Kaname and Zero had forgotten the master hunter standing there, so lost were they both in each other's burning, longing gazes. At the loud, frustrated tones, Kaname glanced almost absently at Yagari, who was looking somewhat bewildered at the completely weird way the two were staring at each other.

Then Kaname reached out, placing a protective arm around Zero's shoulders and pulling him close to his side. The pureblood never wanted anyone else to find this out, other than the group of nobles in his inner circle who had already accidentally found out that day in the library. But seeing Zero to torn and so conflicted, knowing how deeply the boy felt for his teacher and craved his respect...

What the hell.

Kaname would do anything for Zero, even if it meant lowering his pride once again. The pureblood's long fingers tightened on Zero's shoulder and his eyes gleamed a soft red, borne of fierce anger and a certain degree of embarrassment. But there was no shame at all in the burning depths that now held Yagari's surprised attention.

"Yes, I have, if you must know." Kaname voice was quiet... matter of fact... and absolutely, compellingly sincere. "More than once. Ask Zero if you don't believe me. On my back or on my knees, it doesn't matter how."

Kaname ignored the damning flush creeping hotly over his cheeks. He didn't have to hear the soft, surprised inhale at his side or feel the confusion echoing in their bond to know that Zero was confounded at his admission. Kaname's arm tightened around his lover's shoulder and he felt Zero's fingers closing convulsively over his hand. "I would also crawl through the fires of hell for Zero, Yagari. Not that I care whether you know it or not. But only because Zero looks up to you that much."

Yagari blinked rapidly. He wasn't such a novice to be taken in by a vampire's sweet talk... but he had to admit that he had never before seen such burning, radiant honesty in the pureblood's compelling eyes. "He is not my thrall, Yagari," Kaname insisted. "He never will be... but he is mine."

Likewise, the utter possessiveness in those eyes were unmistakable. But it was tempered with something else. Yagari was shocked now to realise that Kaname Kuran, pureblood prince, really did care for Zero after all.

Had the world suddenly turned on its head?

"Kaname?" Zero's whisper drew the pureblood's gaze. Still feeling a bit flushed, Kaname turned and smiled a little at the amazement in the younger hunter's face. "You... didn't have to tell him... that," Zero whispered, still torn over utter embarrassment at the pureblood's revelation of their love life, and the sweetest kind of pride he had ever felt.

There really was no one like Kaname after all, was there?

"And I love you," Kaname confessed softly, his gaze locking with Zero's as he placed both hands on the hunter's shoulders. Zero was trembling slightly and Kaname realised that it didn't matter anymore that they were not alone. It didn't matter that this was not how Kaname had planned to let Zero know – in fact, he hadn't actually planned on telling him anytime soon. But somehow, Kaname knew that there would be no more perfect time than now, to tell Zero just how much he mattered to him, and to put whatever fears he still had left to rest. Once and for all. And if letting Yagari witness this very private, very precious admission would help Zero in any way, then so be it.

"I love you, Zero. With all my heart. With everything that I have," Kaname said, his voice and his look radiating nothing but honest sincerity.

Hot tears welled up and slipped unchecked down Zero's cheeks. He couldn't say or do anything but stare at Kaname as if all his wildest dreams had come true at one go and he was actually a little frightened of it.

"Wha – Kaname, no, you don't have to say that," he protested weakly, his mind spinning. Oh God, is it true, Kaname? You would not say that unless it were so...

Kaname's smile deepened. "Why not?" he asked softly, both his hands coming up now to cup Zero's flushed, damp cheeks. "When it's the truth?" he murmured, then bent forward to plant a soft kiss on Zero's forehead, against the fall of silver hair. Zero's lips parted on a sigh and his amethyst eyes closed in sheer, unbelievable joy.

A distracted cough sounded beside them. Flustered, Zero glanced sideways then struggled to get out of Kaname's arms. The pureblood resisted, of course, and at length, Zero got his freedom, or part of it anyway, since Kaname's arm was still firmly around his shoulders.

Yagari was staring at them both, part shocked, part disgusted... and a very small part of him touched. "You – you're not just saying that to get out of this alive, vampire?" he drawled, striving for a less shell shocked tone. But after a moment and without even waiting for an answer from Kaname, the older hunter holstered back his shotgun.

Kaname took that as a positive sign. "No," he agreed gravely. "But it is only because Zero looks up to you that you know this – and live," he added, unable to resist making a quiet threat of his own. Tell no one else, his dark eyes warned silently.

The older hunter nodded decisively. He respected Zero too much to drag his name in the dust like this and besides, who could he tell, anyway? The one person he might have told had already passed on but Yagari had a feeling old Cross would in all likelihood not mind as much... or perhaps even at all.

Yagari hesitated. He had as much as told Zero he would no longer be the boy's teacher, but in truth, Yagari still wanted to. He wanted to stick around the boy, to train him up, to see him reach his full potential and to keep watch over him. So the pureblood cared for Zero – well, it wouldn't harm the boy to have someone else watching over him, would it?

"About your lessons, Zero," Yagari started somewhat diffidently. Zero opened his mouth then closed it and glanced at Kaname.

"I would appreciate it if you would continue to train Zero" the pureblood said, his voice once more smooth, his features in control again. "It would mean much to him... and to me," he added quietly.

Yagari hesitated again before nodding. But there was something else he wanted to know. "Even if I train him to be the best hunter in the world?" There was a touch of arrogance in his gruff voice now... and the return of a threat as well.

It only made Kaname smile.

"Especially if you train him to be the best hunter in the world," he affirmed smoothly. Another moment of silence passed as Yagari took in Kaname's cool and steady gaze and Zero's softer, more hopeful one. Then the older hunter nodded once, turned around and left the room.

Both Kaname and Zero were alone again. No more interruptions, thought Kaname, except to reassure the hunter in his arms of his true feelings. He didn't care if Zero would never love him the way he wanted him to. Just having Zero close to him, knowing that they would always be together and that Zero cared for him in his own way was enough.

Peace settled warmly in Kaname's heart as he wrapped both arms around Zero and held him close.

-- Chapter End --