Desert Rose Epilogue

Zero was finally contented with what he wore. It consisted of a collared, short-sleeved top and black pants. He was a little embarrassed when Hanabusa's words kept repeating in his head about not wearing overly tight clothing. There were no footwear in sight so he treaded out barefooted.

When he was in the corridor, he looked about curiously. It looked like a basement, to be honest. Apart from the room he had exited from, there were four other doors – one across and two to his left opposite each other. To his right was the staircase Yuuki had mentioned. Choosing to ignore the rooms for now, he walked up the stairs, pondering on where it led.

At the top of the stairs, to his right was a lounge, and the left were ivory French doors. The glass was frosted, rendering him unable to see what was on the other side. Even with the doors shut, his hearing picked up the sound of wind whistling.

What are they doing outside? Zero wondered.

He pushed the doors open gently, flinching when a gust of cold wind invaded the interior of the place. His body shuddered against the strong breeze, and he could feel the tips of his fingers already going numb from the cold. When the winds died a little, he could finally open his eyes, and he was more thank just shocked at what he was looking at.

The first thing he registered was white. It was snow. The entire land was this particular color, and it stretched into the distance. Next were pine trees, and they stretched like fences across his vision. It was a forest of pine trees, and they were massive.

As Zero breathed, vapor formed, and his form was shaking against the cold. He hugged himself, wondering if there was something he could use. He found a piece of cloth (blanket?) on the couch in the back lounge and grabbed it. The red velvet was smooth on his skin, and he wrapped himself. It didn't keep him very warm, but it shielded him from most of the wind, save his face.

The hunter stepped out onto a semi-circle balcony. A cover above prevented most of the snow from littering the area. The porcelein floor was spiking the base of his feet with the cold, but he didn't bother. He was more intent on finding the two brunettes, if this was the right location Yuuki had directed him to.

A loud snap sounded, catching Zero's attention. It originated from within the pine trees, but from which direction he hadn't been sure. It was followed by a loud caw, sounding like a crow. Ignoring it, he looked around on the snow, finding numerous holes which resembled foot steps. Some were small, while others were larger, almost bowl-shaped. They were scattered all over the place. Judging by the depth, the snow was about knee-high.

Just then, louder, multiple snaps occured, and from the pine trees, a large, brown form was being pushed out, resembling a sack of potatoes being tossed. It landed in the snow, and Zero was immediately alarmed by the sight of the Exile crumbling into the snow.

"Sacred!" The hunter yelled, his heart racing. He jumped off the railing, landing some three feet below onto the snow. Snow that had already melted against his legs due to his body heat started to sting his skin. Even so, he struggled to move his feet through the snow, straining to get himself to the crossbreed.

Said individual reared up, snow caught in the fur. Sacred extended his neck first, before shaking the snow off. His wings flapped twice, doing the same. Belatedly, he heard his name being called and he looked over his shoulder. The topaz eyes widened. He could see the human trying to waddle through the snow some hundred yards away and he ran over right away.

For someone who didn't live in this realm, he could tell Zero was way too underdressed for such conditions. With a few bounds he cleared the distance between them, catching Zero off guard when he lifted him out of the snow. Just as he did, he morphed back into his humanoid form, frowning at the hunter.

One of Sacred's arm supported him around the hip while the other curled around Zero's shoulder. The latter himself had his own arms around the brunett's neck. Inside he was very relieved, because the body temperature of the Exile was a lot better in providing warmth than the flimsy blanket he had snagged.

"You shouldn't be walking out here," Sacred said with a hint of disapproval. Zero was going to say the same, when he noticed a few minor wounds all over the other's body. Cuts and bruises.

"What they hell were you doing?"

"That would be what you call sparring," a calm tone replied and Zero looked away from the crossbreed. Kaname walked out from where Sacred had emerged from the trees. The brunette was in the same state as the one holding him, except that he looked more dusted up than wounded.

"Sparring? How long have you two been doing that?"

"For about two hours. Yuuki was meant to tell us when you woke, but I'm guessing we might have been too far to hear her," Kaname deduced.

Too far? Zero blinked. Did you guys use this enitre place as your battle ground or something?

"I trust you slept well?"

Zero nodded, watching as Kaname walked over. "How long was I out for...?"

"A few days. Nothing to worry about, though. Consider it... 'jet lag'," the pureblood almost smiled.

"Some jet lag," Zero muttered. He watched as Kaname dusted off the small clumps of snow from his legs.

So what exactly happened? The last he remembered was coming to a conclusion that they were all coming back to the human realm. For some reason now there was little to no hostility between the two brunettes. Apart from the fact that they were sparring before, neither were giving the evils or glares.

"Let's go in first, shall we?" Kaname offered, leading the way. Zero nodded, unable to hide his relief.

xoxo

"You probably didn't even know you passed out," the pureblood started explaining as he sipped on some tea left by the attendant. "It was probably the strain of being in such an environment for prolonged periods of time. We come back here after, and this is a private estate owned by Kurans for generations."

Zero had heard of this particular estate before, but very few people knew of its exact location. The only fact known is that the land owned is very big. Very big. The thought of the pine tree backyard crossed Zero's mind. Just how far was considered Kuran territory?

As if answering the question, Kaname continued: "The territory under the Kuran territory stretches to the point where you see the rose bushes. They are not hard to jump over, but believe me when I say tresspassers are not going to have it pretty."

"I would imagine..." Zero snorted.

For a brief second he came to analyse they people settled in the lounge near the balcony. Kaname was settled on a single seat to his right, while Sacred and himself shared a three-seater. The Exile took a spot to his left, now dressed in a shirt and jeans. If he knew better, the latter actually looked normal in such casual clothes, unlike the trench coat and deadly accessories.

"I'm going downstairs," Sacred announced all of a sudden. Without waiting for a reply, he stood up and walked off, down the stairs. Zero blinked at the sudden dismissal, looking over at Kaname, tossing a silent question.

"Honestly, that's all we've been doing for the past few days - sparring, getting ourselves used to each other."

"People usually have friendly conversations or do something in common," the hunter frowned a little. "Not try to beat the shit out of each other."

Kaname chuckled, knowing what Zero was trying to get at. "Well, guess that's our common ground then."

"I never thought you were the physical type."

"You learn something new each day." The brunette paused, staring at Zero intently which got the latter a little alarmed. Zero looked away and at his hands clasped in front of him. They laid against his abdomen, and he could feel the same bump from before.

"Hey Kaname..." Zero started, and the pureblood caught a hint of uneasiness from the hunter. "Do you think... the baby will be fine?"

The brunette's eyes narrowed, before closing. Kaname rested his chin on his palm, supported by the elbow on the arm rest. "Aah... I wonder too... afterall it's being tainted by my-"

Smack!

Kaname's brown eyes opened, and he found himself staring into lilac ones above him. Zero stood before him. Both sides of his cheeks started to ache, but not too painfully. Zero's hands remained clasped both sides of his face, whilst the hunter's own cheeks were red with anger mixed with embarrassment.

"I'm not talking about that! I'm a guy and I don't have those super pureblood thing – I don't know if I can bear them properly!"

Oh, Kaname thought. That.

"Just so you know, I don't regret having the baby," Zero scoffed, averting his gaze.

Kaname couldn't help but genuinely smile. He reached up and encircled his arms around Zero's middle, leaning his forehead against Zero above where the baby was.

"You'll be alright, Zero," Kaname assured. "I hope you don't turn out like your mom, being violent and all," he whispered after, words not meant for the hunter. But he knew Zero heard him because of a hard tap on the top of his head.

"Speak for yourself!"

The pureblood chuckled, pulling back only after he gave a quick kiss to the bump.

"Go find Sacred. At this point in time, he needs you the most."

Zero sniffed. "Something's wrong with you two. It's only been a few days and your attitudes toward each other is just scary now."

Kaname simply smiled. "Some people change for love, Zero."

xoxo

Zero called out the Exile's name as he entered the room he had been sleeping in. Whilst he did, he wondered why there were rooms in the so-called basement. Then again, it had been practical since vampires tend to avoid sunlight.

As the hunter walked in, he found Sacred standing by the side table where the daggers and rose were placed. The brunette had been staring at the rose he held in his hand, before looking up to greet the arrival.

"Is something wrong?"

"Desert rose."

Zero blinked. "What?"

"This," Sacred answered, walking over and holding out the flower for the other to take. Confused, Zero took it without question, only staring at it. "It's a flower that takes several moon cycles to die even when it's being plucked from its bush."

"It's from the underworld?" The hunter exclaimed. Sacred nodded.

"Only when it turns red will it start to wither."

Zero was rather speechless at the odd physiology of the rose. By no means was it similar to those they had here - most flowers start to wither in days or weeks. From the sound of it though, 'several moon cycles' seemes like a very, very long time.

"I can't stay here forever, Zero." Lilac eyes widened and stared at the brunette, disbelieving. "Once the rose is pure crimson, I have to go back." He reached out for the other, pulling Zero into his arms. The familiar warmth emitting from the crossbreed made Zero relax almost immediately. Clutching the stem of the rose in his hand against his chest, the hunter let his head fall, resting nicely in the crook of Sacred's neck.

"I'm sorry," came a barely audible whisper from the brunette.

"What are you apologising for... If anything, I'm the one who should be doing it. I made you have to... stay this way. I know you don't like Kaname very much and vice versa but-"

"We don't hate each other, but it will take time before we accept each other," Sacred assured. One of his hands gently thread through the silver locks. "But no matter what, as long as I'm here, I will protect you. You, and the child you will bear."

Zero felt his heart tug. He couldn't believe his ears. Sacred...

The hunter pulled back a little, just far enough to look up at the other's face. A hand touched the side of Sacred's face, slowly trailing over the permanent wound on the crossbreed's ear. At the sight of it, Zero felt guilty. He made so many mistakes and caused the Exile so much harm. Yet, here he was, able to accept everything he had so selfishly thrown at him.

Sacred blinked at the sight of a tear running down Zero's cheek. Zero himself hadn't realised it, until the tear was tickling his chin. Embarrassed, the hunter apologised, commenting about how stupid he was being. But the crossbreed took none of that. He cupped Zero's face while lowering his. In a heartbeat, their lips were locked.

Caught off guard, Zero stood there baffled. Seeing as how stunned Zero was, Sacred did nothing more other than pulling back and almost causing the other to stumble into him due to an embrace.

"I've never really been the type to be affected by things... but the one thing I can't stand is to see you cry. That's why... I'll do my best to make you happy."

Zero would've laughed, and by accident, he let slip a smile. The difference betweent the Sacred he knew the first time he met him was miles apart from the one before him right now. He wasn't complaining.

What laid before them was unseen. Truth be told, Zero wasn't sure how it was going to be like. He couldn't even imagine any situation or scenario. Everything was so... unpredictable. But to the hunter, it didn't matter. There was bound to be a thousand roadblocks, but as long as he had the two brunettes by his side, Zero felt like he could take on the world. Figuritively, of course. Afterall, it wouldn't be a pleasant sight to see a pureblood and a crossbreed run rampage.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE AND I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

And here we are, at the end of Desert Rose! Honestly, I never expected to finish it this smoothly XD or unsmoothly, for that matter (or mabbe even apologies if it seemed so fast!) It was terrible, trying to think of a plausible plot for how the three will end up together. No, believe me it wasn't easy -sweats-. It's like... how to make sure the two don't end up killing each or be all nice and kind to each other with a wave of a wand... It's pretty complicated trying to pull these two together. Or at least, make them get along with each other considering they're always at each other's throat aha.

I know a few people out there (and honestly myself even) think Kaname has this too easy haha... Don't worry, there will be more problems for the three in the future. OOOPPSSS i mean. -cough-. Well, you know. -slowly sneaks away- CoH, CoH, CoH...

Btw, the title 'Desert Rose' is adapted from a song by a Japanese boy band called Abingdon Boys School. So is 'Via Dolorosa', which is a (random) prequel to Desert Rose. I love the band!

Sorry, I'm just going to ramble about each character individually cos I'm bored.

Zero
Having written several stories in VK, Zero in DR has got to be the most anal ahaha... By the semi-dark theme of this story (2nd attempt, first being Forgiven), Zero here is very cold, hostile and just about the Zero would be post Rido-battle. Clearly, he isn't my character so I don't know him 100% well enough to give the pure-Zero feel, but yeah I do try to keep him in character. Think anal. LOL no not really. Everyone knows Zero can be a nice guy sometimes XD and no doubt he's expressed that multiple times in multiple stories I've had with him. Short-tempered, but caring individual. The typical damsel in distress.

And you know we all bully the damsel in distress. Save that, Zero is my no. 1 character in the whole of VK.

Kaname

As I've declared before, I did not intend to make him the resident dick lol. Okay, I admit, I made him a looooot meaner than I intended/usually would... ): Sorry Kaname... -cough- but yes. Kaname – authoritative, commanding, but useless against an individual as stubborn as Zero ahaha. That makes them the canon couple in VK yaoi. No, my love for KXZ did not die just because Sacred came into the picture aha. Not to mention, Sacred is another bull-headed individual in which Kaname would most definately get a headache from dealing with :P The thought of the two is actually really amusing to me.

Sacred

I'd leave a text wall on him, but I know I don't have much to talk about him anyway aha. So, this is the OC I've introduced into the VK series in which I'm very glad to receive such pleasant (and hilarious) comments on this crossbreed. And I like his nickname TheDarkLordAvenger_9666. It made me laugh so hard. Sacred as an OC resembling Kaname is purely coincidental. Really! I have a thing for shoulder-hair length guys... Kaname happened to be one of them -sweats-

So yeah, as we all probably know by now his mindset is far from human, and not quite vampire. More werewolf blood runs in him than vampire, making him a pretty feral individual. Alike Zero and to a certain extent Kaname, he's pretty cold towards people he doesn't give a hoot about, but becomes a very attached puppy when he does like someone. That's the fun part of him, I guess, all the bias treatment toward Zero XD

Other Exiles

I haven't gotten around much to introduce these guys properly, but I don't think you'd really wanna know them that well anyway XD. I mean, they're an interesting bunch, but apart from a one time appearance, they're not really there. I'm mostly just expressing my personal opinions on them :3

Curse: Has the best personality of the litter. He's kind, doesn't judge, and is the mother hen of the lot. He usually keeps the others out of trouble ahahaa... Especially Anbu, who has a nasty habit of picking fights. He uses a bow make up of two curved swords combined at their hiltes and the hairtail of a centaur.

Anbu: Short-fused, with also a protective personality. His feral blood makes him very prone to causing fights. The only ones who seem to quell this streak are Curse and Elle. Especially Curse. He has his way with the werewolves XD What can I say... He does I suppose hand-to-hand combat... with additional teeth ofc.

Elle: The quiet, but most sadistic of the group. XD haha... Although it wasn't mentioned, Elle manipulates elements to a certain extent.

If I gave a percentage for all the brothers on the vampire-werewolf, it'll be something like this:

Sacred: 30-70

Curse: 80-20

Anbu: 10-90

Elle: 99-1

Sakki
The defecto (haha jk) father of Sacred, vampire king of the underworld. With an image to uphold he has to be cruel sometimes, but he does love his sons albeit expressing them very... unlovingly. Naturally, it leads Sacred to mistakening this aspect. However, he gets fun out of bullying his oldest son, since he has a pretty protective streak of his brothers.

Anywho, thank you for reading this far! And for those who usually do, here's a little tidbit, following the ''oops'' i made earlier XD

XoXoXoFromDuskTilDawnXoXoXo

"So you failed to detain Zero?" The tall, long-haired blond muttered, looking out through a frosted glass. A pair of crimson eyes looked over his shoulder at the young man standing behind his work desk. "You know what this means, doesn't it?"

The other didn't flinch at the cold tone that promised death. Instead, he looked at his boss straight in the eye, not fearing the bloodred orbs the least bit.

"I didn't expect him to go after the Exile this quickly."

"Expect the unexpected," the blond huffed. A sudden 'caw' sounded by the window, and both their attention turned to a raven perched on the ledge. Without relent, the man grabbed the avian, crushing its neck. However, instead of blood which was spilt, the raven dissipated into a shadow. "I see... They've decided to risk it and make a family union back in the human realm."

The blond let out a soft chuckle at first, before bursting out with a cynical laugh. The other individual in the room shifted his weight on his other leg, clearly uncomfortable with the news.

"Should we hunt them?"

"No." came the swift reply. "Give them three years to enjoy themselves. During this time, we will prepare for our goal. When everything is done... even Kuran will not have the power to stop it."

Another laughter echoed the room, and the young man dropped his head, acknowledging the order. In the back of his head though, he could catch a hint of remorse from himself, even though he didn't want to.

Sorry, Zero.

"Kaito, see to it everything is ready by then."