O.o who is this strange writer posting a chapter? O.o

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight. It belongs to the loverly Matsuri Hino-sensei and always will 3 I don't make money off this fic, or any fic, or even in real life cuz I don't have a job at the moment :P

Zero was pushed up against the wall, long, pale fingers caressing every inch of his displayed chest. The man pinning him dipped his head into Zero's neck, purring in delight at the rush of blood to the surface of his prey's skin. It was so soft and oh god, the smell and feel of the beautiful pale skin. He pushed the lithe body harder into the wall, rubbing his erection on the hunter's thigh, needing to feel more of his body against the silver haired hunter's. He meshed their lips together roughly, teeth and fangs moving against the now struggling hunter's mouth. Dominance. That was what he so desperately needed now.

He could feel his breathing increase, his lungs struggling to pump enough oxygen into his speeding blood. His body felt so hot, melting form every tough and caress form the predator above him. He groaned when warm breath ghosted over his neck, slowly moving down to his collarbone. Zero arched into the man's touch as he nibbled on the defined clavicle, molten fire pooling sweetly in his groin.

"M-more…" Zero moved his hips into the other's thighs, wanting, needing, to feel more of the pleasure sensations overdriving his nervous system.

The man purred into the sweet skin of Zero, "Anything you say, dear hunter." The man felt the boy stiffen. So he enjoys that… He could sense the body beneath him growing taut and hard—ready. Swiftly, he moved the two of them to the couch in the middle of the room, pinning the panting boy underneath him once more. He smirked at the overflow of lust coming from the hunter's body and eyes.

"My dear hunter…" he whispered on the soft, pale skin.

Slowly, drawing out the movement, he slid his hands down the moaning hunter's middle, scratching, teasing the defined muscles; he planned to memorize every dip and rise of the hot body beneath. His hands reached the hem of Zero's trousers; he growled at the opposition and began undoing the meddling clothing. Tugging the pants off the sculpted legs of the hunter only made him want to conquer the boy more, his own pants growing uncomfortably tight. He ran his hand lightly over the bulge in his prey's boxers, gripping firmly only after hearing the soft whimpers coming from the hunter's mouth.

"My sweet little hunter," the man purred once more.

Zero threw his head back, arching his body into the touch of the man above him. His mind had gone blank as soon as his back had hit the couch, now the only thing sitting in that emptiness was the need for more: more of this man's touch; more of his voice, the look in his eyes every time they met his own.

When cool air started hitting his nether regions, Zero gasped, sitting up only to be pushed roughly back down, his head bouncing on the plush couch, "W-what are you doi-ngh!" His lips were forced apart, his mouth invaded by the tongue of the man above him, exploring, taunting his own to respond and explore back. The kiss was rough and passionate, leaving Zero, again, with no room for thought or even breath. His eyes slid closed, his mind happily sweeping away any and all previous thought. The predator had effectively captured its prey.

His mouth was released and Zero gasped for breath. His mind was screaming at him: he needed to get away. His body had a different idea. He rocked his hips up, trying to get more friction between their bodies.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Zero shot out of his bed, his head and his heart pounding. Never in his entire life had such a vivid dream come to him, not even his nightmare about that night so long ago could compare. He could still feel them: the hands, those lips… the fangs. He shook from the heat of his body meeting the cool of his room. At least he wasn't in the Moon Dorm where any and every vampire would be able to smell him. The sensations from his—dream or nightmare he could discern—still remained and were currently making his sitting position on the bed very uncomfortable. He definitely needed to solve his problem. He looked at the clock and cursed knowing that this was when the showers were the most crowded. Silver eyes glanced at his locked door and his mind made up, laid back down on his bed. He swiftly undid the clasp of his jeans and rolled them down his legs. The cool air hit his body, making him shiver and speed up his ministrations.

He made his way down to the Headmaster's office, grumbling to himself about the incompetence of his adoptive father. What kind of parent lets their kid just sleep in through a whole school day? An irresponsible fool with too much trust in his children's' integrities, that's who.

The door to Cross' office was closed which usually meant he wasn't there or he had an important visitor. Zero knew if wasn't the former, he could hear the man's muffled voice from here, so he had to be in a meeting. Zero sat for a minute, debating whether to stay and wait for Cross to finish or if he should go to class change-over. Since he missed it this morning, he really should go and help Yuuki, at least for a little bit. The young hunter opted to stay and patiently sit outside the office, Yuuki could deal for one more session.

Zero waited for twenty minutes, occasionally hearing a raised voice, most often coming from his Headmaster. Every couple of minutes, the ex-human's curiosity would over-power his logic and he would try and listen in on the heated discussion occurring within, but Cross was and ex-hunter, meaning he knew his way around the art of charm work.

It was only after the final muffled shouting match that Cross and his guest finally emerged. Zero couldn't decide if he was only mildly surprised or totally shocked that Kaname had been the one arguing so loudly with Cross. Whichever face he chose to display at the moment the pureblood's face met his own was mirrored—to a tee.

Kaname knew somebody had been outside the office for a while, but for it to be Zero however, the very topic of such a heated discussion, had only flitted across the pureblood's mind.

Cross reacted the way he usually would.

"Zero, how did you sleep? I was wondering when you would wake up. Yuuki was so worried about you, oh but I knew you were just exhausted." Cross babbled on and on about how his son and daughter were so caring for each other and how proud he was of the two of them.

The young hunter only nodded, not trusting his words to come out as anything even remotely coherent. His shock at seeing the pureblood so soon after waking up and the memories of his dream still replaying clearly in his mind was palpable.

"Oh I bet you're starving to death! What do you want me to make for dinner? It can be anything you like."

Zero really didn't care what they had as long as it was edible. But a quick glance at Kaname and the open windows made him formulate a scenario that would grant him total leave from the school for at least a couple hours. "How about I make dinner tonight, Headmaster? I can go into town and get all the ingredients needed."

He smiled on the outside and kept up the confident face he knew would help convince Cross of the legitimacy of his request. On the inside he tried to keep his more pessimistic thoughts at bay and attempted to not go over the idiocy of asking to go out after having slept for seventeen hours at least.

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Zero-kun? You didn't seem very well a second ago and we don't want you passing out or getting sick while you're all by yourself in town."

Damn it—

"If it would make you more comfortable, Headmaster, I could offer my assistance to Kiryuu-kun on his outing?"

Damn it!

Cross' face lit up—of course he would! He would love the idea of that vampire coming with me!—"Oh really, Kaname-kun? That would make me feel so much better!" The former hunter was silent for a second then glanced at Zero's glaring eyes then back at Kaname, a little more unsure, "But what about classes?"

The pureblood shrugged, "It won't be a problem if I'm absent one day, Cross." Kaname's face revealed only a devious little smirk glistening in his eyes. The way he saw it, the other vampires would behave themselves as long as his closest companions remained vigilant in attending class, especially Takuma. His teachers would notice his absence but none would inquire any further than that of a mere observation No, everything would be just fine without him for a couple hours.

"Great! Then you two get going then! I look forward to dinner tonight, Zero!"

"Hold on Headmaster, I need to talk to you."

Cross surprised him then, his usual cheerful demeanor changing slightly. "Of course, Zero-kun." He turned to Kaname quickly, and started pushing him towards the front door, "Why don't you wait for Zero outside Kaname-kun? I'll send him out lickity-split."

And with that, the puzzled pureblood was practically shoved out the front door.

The sun was just falling below the horizon far to the West. It would have been bothersome to the individual crouching low in the bushes just beyond the outer gate of the famous Cross Academy, if he was not already completely protected by the low sun as well as the complete cover of shade. He looked normal enough to the untrained eye, but to any of the Night Class that resided within these walls, or the hunters that were also there, he was a vampire, creeping in the bushes… very suspicious. But he was hidden well enough that nobody would be able to see him unless they walked directly up to where he was crouching, and there was a charm on him that completely killed his vampiric presence and scent.

He was as inconspicuous as a shadow.

Lord Ichijo had given him very specific orders to keep an eye on the academy for at least two days. The Kiryuu boy and Kuran-sama were his mission. He was to report all comings and goings of the two whether they were together or separate. The leader of the Senate apparently needed to keep a close watch on the Vampire Prince, this the man didn't find odd in the least, his superiors always wanted to know what their potential enemies did, but the hunter was a different story.

He wasn't the smartest of vampires, hence his low position on the ladder of power, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut and his questions in his head, so when he was assigned this mission, he had wanted to ask so badly why the turned hunter was also on his list of targets. After he'd left though, rumors began bombarding his ears. Apparently, Ichiou had gone to see the hunter President earlier, nobody knew what the two of them had allegedly spoken about. For him though, it wasn't that hard to put two and two together.

These rumors explained nothing however for he still had no idea why the hunter seemed of any importance to the Senate besides maybe his death, after all, he did kill Shizuka Hio a while back.

The vampire was broken from his thoughts when the gate, which was due for a much needed oiling, swung open and two figures emerged. Keeping his presence as masked as was possible, the vampire watched as the hunter, a scowl evident in his ethereal features, and Kaname Kuran-sama walk out. They appeared to be having a very tense discussion that he really wanted to eavesdrop on…

"You are such an ass, Kuran."

"I saved you from a very awkward and loud class change-over, you could at least be thanking me."

The hunter only huffed and walked a little quicker, trying to put more distance between him and Kaname. Sure the vampire had saved him for screaming vampire fans but now he had to travel into town with the very vampire he was mostly trying to avoid. This was not going to be a very relaxing trip.

"Well at least you've given me an escape as well."

Zero refused to talk with the pureblood, his dream still fresh and replaying in his mind no matter how much he didn't want it to. It took every ounce of his will power not to blush and run into the nearest wall. Could Kuran say the same? Zero highly doubted it.

"So you are not even going to speak with me then?"

The pureblood prince was met with only the sound of Kiryuu's shoes hitting the pavement as he stomped ahead. "How very mature of you, dear hunter."

Kaname halted, his body only barely avoiding smacking into Zero's back. The hunter had completely stopped, his eyes staring straight ahead, a slight reddening on his cheeks could be seen in the setting sun.

"What's wrong, Zero-kun?"

The sudden memory of the Kaname in his dream calling him the same thing left as soon as it had arrived. He willed his body to start moving again, keeping his face down. "It's nothing, Kuran." Even the tone had been the same.

He hadn't wanted to drop it, but a flare in Zero's aura told him to let it go for now. Kaname could feel the heat in the hunter's body rise; the tips of his ears were turning an adorable shade of pink. Even if he had wanted to pursue the topic, they needed to at least get into town before they started to go at it tooth and nail, else the Headmaster might actually make the two of them return to their respective duties and class.

The walk was a long silent one, the awkward atmosphere was almost smothering. Zero continued to have high blood flow to his face every couple of minutes and Kaname continued to respect the hunter's need for a little privacy. Apparently, he'd gone way too far last night. Perhaps I should apologize. But Zero beat him to the punch.

"Hey Kuran, about last night," the hunter paused, trying to grow a pair and tell Kaname exactly what was going on, "I know that it was sudden, and the way I presented it was totally crass, but it was the truth. And no matter how much I've asked Cross last night, he keeps telling me that there is no changing it or switching around."

The two vampires had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. They had barely made it into town and with sun was just barely peeking over the tips of the far-away mountains. Zero refused to look at or around Kaname at the moment. He just knew that his face was blazing red, and his voice was shaking already. If he were to look at the damn pureblood, his face would probably catch fire and he wouldn't be able to speak at all.

This whole thing was just screwed up. And he hated it.

But, so far, there seemed to be no way to get out of it. No way to avoid what he would eventually have to do…and who he would have to do it with. Ah he really wanted to slam his head against the nearest wall until the perverted and arousing thoughts and sensations were gone for good. And he really didn't want to speak to Kuran, or anyone for that matter, about this kind of stuff, but he had to.

"Zero-kun, I actually spoke to Headmaster Cross about it before you woke up as well." Kaname said, uncharacteristically nervous about their conversation. He enjoyed awkward situations as much as the next pureblood, but never when he was a main actor on that stage. "He told me everything, every detail."

Zero's head shot up from its hanging position, his face flushed even more at the added two words. "God Kuran!" He shouted, embarrassed beyond belief, as he stomped to the market to buy the food.

He wasn't quite sure what had gotten the hunter to react that way, hell, for all he knew it was just the fact that they were actually talking about this, but Kaname was sure that their shopping trip wasn't going to be getting any less awkward between them.

In fact, the whole time they were in the market, Zero made a point of avoiding Kaname to the best of his ability, refusing to acknowledge his presence and absolutely not speaking to him at all. Every time the pureblood would attempt to break their desolate silence, Zero would storm off to find an ingredient in a completely different part of the store. Some of the other people in the store noticed them and took a liking to one boy or the other.

Kaname took notice of the multitudes of girls who trailed a couple "discreet" yards behind Zero whenever he trailed off to a different part of the store. Of course, he notice the five or six women following him as well. It was only when the two of them went up to the cash registers to pay for their stuff, that the hunter actually looked at their group of followers. His expression quickly changed from mildly annoyed to the scowl he usually reserved for the squealing day-class girls. The two vampires could hear the girls giggling and gossiping to one another. Kaname kept a straight face throughout; having to go through the same thing every day helped with one's patience rather well. Zero on the other hand was quickly becoming more and more irritated and only wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

"Good God, do they have to be so annoying all the time?" he hissed as he pulled out Cross' money from his pocket.

Kaname chuckled at the hunter's barely concealed contempt for the women behind them, "Just do your best to ignore them, Zero-kun. At least there isn't a whole class here to bother you every day before you go to classes."

"Au contraire, Kuran, I have to deal with them just as much as you do," he said after he'd gotten the change from the cashier and began the long walk back the academy, "and when you get the affectionate side of the girls, I get the pissed and annoyed side."

"Um, excuse me…"

Kaname smirked and Zero froze. They both knew what was behind them before they even turned. It was one of the girls that was following them in the store. If Kaname was correct, and he usually was, this one had been a follower of the hunter. She had a uniform on that placed her in a high-school in the next town over, her head was down, but Kaname could perceive the blush that was flaming on her pretty face.

She glanced up and her eyes locked onto Zero's form, "I—I was just wondering if I could get your name?"

Zero rose an eyebrow and glanced at Kaname, who couldn't keep a smile from his face. The hunter felt bad when he looked at the windows of the market and there they were: three other girls with the same uniform on giggling maliciously.

He sighed and put on his best smile for the girl, "It's Zero Kiryuu, and this," he gestured to Kaname, "is Kaname Kuran."

It was safe to say that Kaname had not expected Zero to actually introduce himself, let alone use his real name. Even more amazing was that he actually had the balls to bring him and his real name into it as well. But, being the gentleman that he was, Kaname inclined his head and outstretched his hand.

"It's wonderful to meet you miss…?"

The girl blushed even more, but she smiled and took Kaname's hand and shook it. "I'm Mikuzu Sudou."

"Well Mikuzu-san, it was a pleasure to meet you." Zero said, shaking her hand as well. "But we really must be going; we have perishables."

Her reaction was uncannily Yuuki, the way she reeled back and her face blazed a darker shade of pink.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to take up your time!"

"It's no problem at all, Mikuzu-san." Kaname said, smiling at the girl who smiled back, despite her nervousness around them.

The two vampires turned once more and began walked back when—

"Hold on!"

"Yeah wait!"

This time, Zero growled under his breath. Couldn't these girls just leave them alone! He was hungry damn it!

When the turned this time, there were three other girls who had joined Mikuzu Sudou outside the store. She stood behind them, looking a little terrified, but her companions were full of confidence. They made a rather chilling sight.

"We wondering if either of you have plans tonight?"

"Yeah, or if you're free in the relationship department?"

Kaname knew that Zero would blow a fuse if he were allowed to answer so, if only to piss the hunter off a little he smirked.

"I'm terribly sorry, ladies." He wrapped a strong hand around Zero's waist and pulled him close to his side. He gave the hunter a look that told him to keep quiet if he wanted to get home any time soon. "Zero and I have…" he paused for effect and he bent to put his face right next to the hunter's, "prior engagements this evening."

The four girls ceased all movement and blood rushed to each and every one of the faces. The three newcomers' mouths were slightly open, but Mikuzu's was upturned in a small smile.

Leaving his smile, Kaname turned the both of them, excused them in the most polite way possible.

0o0o0o0o00o0o0

Despite what had just occurred, Zero could not help but burst out laughing as soon as they left the four high-schoolers far behind.

"That was the funniest thing I have seen since Yuuki tried to sneak up on me the other night!" Kaname had promptly grabbed the bags from Zero as soon as giggles started coming out of his mouth. Which freed up the hunters hands to clutch as his sides.

"Did you see their faces! They were completely shocked and totally speechless!"

"Yes well if you hadn't been focusing on avoiding me then perhaps you would have heard the whispers of them hoping we weren't together." Kaname pointed out.

Zero's laughter died down and he looked away from Kaname. He felt a little guilty at how he'd been treating the pureblood tonight even though the hunter curse said that the two of them would have to be together if Zero wanted to continue on living. The whole thing was just making him angry. He didn't want to be hunter-bond to a pureblood vampire who probably just thought him to be completely wacko. He wanted to choose who he loved, not have to live with somebody else's choice.

But—he spared a quick glance back to Kaname—if they both knew that they were in the same boat, why not give it a try.

"Hey, Kuran, I'm sorry… about how I've treated you tonight."

Kaname was taken by surprise again by Zero. Honestly, he had expected nothing less from the hunter when he offered to accompany him to shop. He wouldn't have put it past Zero to try and completely leave him somewhere in town, but the worst he had done was try and escape him in the market.

"There is no reason to apologize, Zero-kun. This situation is one that we are both completely unfamiliar with and it's only natural for the both of us to be apprehensive."

"… both?"

"Yes, that is what I said." Kaname knew he might be throwing himself to the sharks, but he was beginning to think that Zero and he could actually get along enough to fulfill the requirements set by the curse. At least, and who knows, perhaps it would indeed grow something more like Cross had implied. When he had spoken to the Headmaster earlier that evening, Cross had been adamant that Kaname at least give Zero the chance. And Kaname had tonight in town, and he had to say, the blushes that spread across the hunter's face, the smile he'd given the Mikuzu girl—he wanted to see more of them. This was a whole new side of Zero that he was starting to get addicted to.

The gates of the Academy came into focus and the Kaname couldn't help the feeling of being observed. It was nothing like the multitudes of women that had watched them in the market, it was more like a specter had appeared and was intent on haunting them. He had gotten the same chills up his spine when he lived in the Ichiou family home when he was younger. There was always somebody watching him there, whether it was the man of the house or one of his dozens of servants. But this wasn't quite the same as that either. He could sense that something was off, but for some reason he couldn't pin it down.

"I'll just go graffiti the school buildings and streak through the forest and maybe make-out with Yuuki later."

Kaname whipped around, his eyes insanely wide and completely confused.

"W-what did you just say?"

"Geez! I've been trying to get your attention for minutes now and you just keep staring off into space. You didn't even flinch when I said I would hand Yuuki over to Aido for a night-time get-together." Zero stomped passed the gates and into the Academy grounds. Exasperated, he shook his head, "What the hell were you thinking about?"

Kaname glanced over his shoulder at where he had gotten the chills. There was something off about the Academy walls, but when Zero repeated his question with worry leaking into his voice, he filed away his suspicion away and told himself to have Seiren check it out later.

"I guess I was just spacing out." He said and shrugged.

"Welcome back to earth, spacer."

Kaname chuckled at the hunter's antics. Yes, he was enjoying Zero's presence more than he thought he would.

"So what do you say?"

"To what?"

"You're going to make me say it again? Really?"

"Well you could always communicate it to me telepathically."

There was a long pause as Zero stared at Kaname.

"Did you get that?"

"Sadly, no. I guess you'll just have to say it again."

"Damn, it was worth a shot." He sighed again, "I said that I bought extra ingredients and I was wondering if you'd… well you know."

Kaname blinked. Then he blinked again. Then a smile broke out on his face. "I would love to, Zero-kun."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Progress report."

"Yes sir, the subject is further along than expected. His results continue to escalate at a steady rate. We expect to see more promising results in the near future."

There was a pause where the only thing that could be hear was the breathing of the two individuals in the room. "Go on."

"Sir, the two of them were together this evening in town. Our tracker reported signs of high blood pressure on the subject and inner emotional turmoil with the variable. Their interacts went beyond our expectations and we expect to see the heightened emotions raise within the next couple of days."

"I see. Continue to monitor him and give me daily updates."

"Yes sir."

"Make sure you keep yourself hidden from all three of them. If that brain-dead man found out about my plans, I'd be dead in the water. That boy is much too loved for his own good."

"Of course, sir."

What? There's an update? I don't even know where the time went from when the last chapter was posted… Oh well. I really don't have any excuses lined up for this one except I have ZERO motivation to write lately. So be forewarned…. Business Terms is next and I'm also working on another story that's been on my computer for months! I refuse to post it though until one of my ongoing stories is finished… AAAH BUT ITS SO GOOD! XD I love it :3

Also, please excuse any typos, random words, really bad grammar, and all my dumbass mistakes... I wanted to post this as soon as possible... O.o I'm pretty sure there are some really bad ones in there O.o O.o O.o

Anyway leave a review if you wanna :3 They be much appreciated.