Because the Night

Based on the song Because the Night by Patti Smith.

Because the Night


At first, he knew he was dreaming. The room was quiet; all he could hear was the gentle whisper of the wind as it moved through the trees. Zero sighed, his body felt heavy and his head was filled with dark clouds. As he inhaled deeply, he could taste the night on the back of his tongue.

It was rare that he was able to relax like this. Usually his damned body kept him awake with an insidious pulse that made his limbs twitch no matter how he tried to keep them still. Zero wanted to sleep, wanted it in the worst way possible, but his vampire nature made him restless. It spoke to him of darkness, of the rhythm of the moon, and nothing he did seemed to make a difference.

Sleeping at night was a wretched failure, and exhaustion followed him during the day like a hound trailing a fox.

He could smell her blood as she stood outside his door and was instantly alert. Like a predator, he kept himself still and counted the seconds until she entered his room. Her feet moved against the floor soundlessly, but to Zero, her pulse was like thunder. Without even realizing it, he began to time his breaths to the steady beat of her heart.

When she knelt beside his bed, he stopped pretending to sleep.

“Yuuki,” he whispered. “What’s the matter?”

Her dark head was bowed and he couldn’t see her eyes. Slowly, a pale hand reached for him under the covers. He caught his breath as cold fingers crept across his bare stomach, sliding towards the waistband of his pajama bottoms. Something had to be really wrong with him, with her, for this to be happening. He bit down hard on his lower lip…

The taste of blood woke him and Zero sat up with a wretched gasp, almost choking as his throat seized and his hands clenched the sheets savagely. Damn it!

It was the third night in a row he’d dreamed of something like this, of Yuuki, and it was really pissing him off. If it had just been a fantasy, just the nocturnal dream of a normal teenager, he could have been embarrassed or chagrined and only regretted that it hadn’t continued just a bit longer. Zero knew better, knew because he’d had dreams like this before, but they hadn’t been so…

He could still feel her fingers on him and kicked off the bedsheets with a grunt of annoyance. The dream felt so real he was half tempted to head over to the girls’ dorm just to make sure Yuuki was safe in her bed.

Knowing he wasn’t going to be able go back to sleep, Zero got out of bed and started to dress. It wasn’t quite morning yet, he didn’t have to look outside to know that. The movements of the night were second nature to him now and he judged it to be at least a few hours before the first hint of dawn would start to lighten the sky.

Day class students would still be fast asleep, it was long before breakfast and there was little chance he’d meet anyone in the halls. As for the night class, Zero snorted to himself as he buttoned his shirt. They’d already be back in their rooms even if they weren’t sleeping. What the hell they found to do…Zero didn’t really want to know and wasn’t about to ask.

He supposed that if they were like normal students they might work on school assignments or their own projects. Hell, he’d never thought much about it until recently, but more and more he’d been wondering. Vampires had very long lives, so how did they stave off this boredom? He knew damned well they didn’t sleep all the time even if they were lazy and wan during those sunlit hours.

Some of them seemed to read a lot, some of them he suspected spent a lot of time just admiring themselves or gloating about their “superiority” over ordinary humans. Maybe they just sat around thought about blood all the time, which seemed likely. Hell, it was all he could think about himself when…

Zero stopped that thought and put it behind him. He found he was gritting his teeth, his fingers clenching and unclenching without realizing it. Blood. It was all he could think about sometimes. The smell of the other students in class, their flushed and rosy faces. He hated the way he was always aware of it now, even if the insatiable urges had faded to a dull ache since he’d taken Kuran’s blood.

“Bastard,” he whispered, hating Kuran for what he’d done…had to do really. It made him sick that he’d needed anything at all from Kaname Kuran. For Yuuki’s safety, the only concern that he seemed to share with night class president, they’d both been willing to make the sacrifice.

The corner of Zero’s mouth turned up slightly as he made his way across the deserted campus. He wouldn’t mind running into a few of the night class students right now; he could use a good fight to take the edge from his nerves. Considering they’d been after him for just insulting their precious Kaname-sama, he knew how horrified they’d be if they knew the ugly truth.

That he, the lowest of the low, a human-turned-vampire, had the privilege of tasting their master’s pure blood. Their jealousy and confusion when Kuran so obviously favored Yuuki was hard to miss. Zero could just imagine their frustration that night, hearing the gunshots, smelling Kuran’s blood. And getting no straight answers, he was dead sure, from Kuran even if they’d dared ask the questions.

They’d kill him on sight if they had a clue what he really was, he was pretty sure they’d find a way even with the promises they’d sworn. It was something he was coming to understand as he slipped into their world and there was more going on than any of them were willing to let on.

There was a war about to break out, simmering hot. Not between humans and vampires, but among the vampires themselves. Something that had brought Shizuka Hiou to the academy and Zero didn’t believe for one minute that she’d come for him. If she’d wanted him dead, she’d had her chance at it when she’d murdered his parents.

If she wanted him to suffer, all she had to do was wait and let him fall into the lowest beast of all vampires, a Level E. He knew she’d never intended to let him drink her blood or didn’t think that she’d come just to taunt him with Ichiru’s existence at her side.

Again he’d just been the bait, the lure set on the hook to draw in something else…something bigger, something important…

Something that was a threat to Yuuki which Kaname Kuran took seriously enough to give his own blood to Zero as long as he’d protect her. Something that had scared Shizuka Hiou into making her move and dying here, most likely at the hand of Kuran, another pureblood who would have instinctively moved to take her power for himself.

All while letting the blame of her death fall on Zero and then moving to shield him from the vampire nobility who had to be howling for his blood.

He wanted to know what was really going on.

“And you’re going to tell me,” he muttered, staring up at the top floor of the moon dorm. It wasn’t like he hadn’t known he’d end up here. He’d known from the moment he’d woken from that erotic, despairing dream. That dream…it threatened him and haunted him.

It seemed to say that she was forever out of his reach and feelings that Zero hadn’t even known existed were being pressed tight, tormenting his body and now his heart. As if craving her blood hadn’t been bad enough, now that the instinct to feed had retreated, something just as primal and demanding was coiling up from the base of his spine.

Like a snake, bloodthirsty and reckless, what was going to happen when that desire wouldn’t be quieted? Was he going to go crazy, run off into down like a sex-starved monster and start raping human women? Would everything he’d suffered mean nothing when he couldn’t control his desire for blood or his body’s lust? Sickening, it would have been better if they’d just let him die like his parents had died. Better if he’d never come to the academy, never met Yuuki or Chairman Cross, never pretended he had any right to keep living after Shizuka had murdered his parents and turned his blood.

Zero took a deep breath as he passed by the moon dorm’s main entrance. Not this time, he told himself. Not going to walk in the front door and scratch politely for Kuran’s attention. This time it was going to be a private talk and if he didn’t get the answers he wanted…

He grit his teeth, feeling the sharp tips of his fangs almost pierce his lip. Staring up at the side of the building, he could see the windows of the upper most floor. They were still lit; Kuran must be awake even if he wasn’t expecting a visitor. Or perhaps he wasn’t alone. A salacious thought about what the vampire might be doing if he wasn’t alone wormed its way into Zero’s mind so fast that he caught his breath.

“So what,” he muttered, hardly breathing as the blood roared in his ears. “I don’t care what the hell he’s doing; he’s going to listen to what I have to say.”

Quick as a cat, he jumped for the nearest trellis, scrambling up the side of the sheer wall with hardly a second thought. His hands knew where to go; his feet didn’t slip against the smooth stone. Falling to his death certainly never entered his mind and Zero was unaware that he was climbing so swiftly that even if a sleepy day class student had been watching from below all they would have seen was a silver-edged blur.

His body felt light as air and Zero dropped over the side of the balcony without a sound. Silent except for the thundering of his own pulse, he crept close to the elegant French doors until he could peer inside Kuran’s room. When he was satisfied that he would be the vampire’s only guest, he gently eased the latch open and slipped inside.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been here and Zero shuddered, feeling slightly sick as he remembered the taste of Kuran’s blood. It should have tasted disgusting, like the poison he knew it to be, but instead it had been like the finest liqueur imaginable. Heady, overwhelming almost, but rich and somehow alive in a way that made his tongue quiver for more.

He could still smell it, lingering in the air although that night had been weeks ago. The hole where Kuran had thrown him through the wall had been patched, no doubt by some confused vampire servant, and little other than cracks were visible on the painted plaster. Right there, he’d been forced to his knees. Right there, he’d held the gun to Kuran’s head. And right there, on the elegant marble floor of a vampire’s bathroom, he’d been allowed the privilege of tasting pure blood.

At least that’s what the other vampires would call it, a rare privilege indeed. Zero didn’t see it that way, not at all. That blood was a poison, eating away at his humanity the way that acid would eat flesh. It burned and sang inside his body like a choir from hell, repulsive, yet compelling with its own dark melody.

He wondered if he was alone in experiencing this insane perversion of music.

He wondered if Kaname could hear it too. If…if he had any idea…

Zero stopped short, staring at the slender figure reclining on the divan. It was still night, he hadn’t been expecting to catch the vampire asleep. Although if he thought about it, Kuran was much more active during daylight hours than the rest of the night class, so perhaps it was normal for him to rest at this time.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a bloodsucker healthy and wise, Zero thought with a bitter smile. Still, how unexpected to find Kuran in a vulnerable position. With one slim hand resting on his chest and his other arm draped gracefully over the side of the divan, Kuran’s fingers just brushed the floor as if he’d fallen asleep while reaching for one of the papers scattered next to him. His long legs were crossed at the ankles, elegant and relaxed.

Looking closely at the pureblood’s face, Zero found his expression to be completely unguarded, as if an innocence unreachable while awake had overtaken the vampire in sleep. Kuran’s normal appearance was so composed that Zero found it unbearable, not only because such cool confidence was highly irritating, but also because he knew it was a lie.

There was nothing gentle about Kaname Kuran. Zero's thoughts raced in his mind, feeling the anger start to boil inside his body. Nothing kind or self-effacing either, that was a mask worn only for Yuuki. She believed in the lie and believed it enough to love the bastard beyond reason.

Without consciously choosing to do so, Zero found himself with the gun in his hand. The Bloody Rose killed only vampires. He didn’t know how long he’d been like this; standing over Kuran’s sleeping form with the barrel of the gun inches from the vampire’s forehead. He was breathing hard, sweating and dizzy and knew he was out of control…again.

So what, he thought as he tried to quiet the hammering of his heart. He’d be doing everyone a favor by destroying this pureblood. Nothing else would keep Yuuki safe from him or safe from herself. Since he’d probably die minutes later at the hands of Kuran’s enraged followers, he’d even be protecting Yuuki from himself. The Chairman would have to forget this insane idea of peace between vampire and human, the Association would take steps to make sure that it never happened again. He didn’t have anything else to give her. Although she’d hate him forever, Yuuki would be free of them both, free to live in the sunshine and never again think about filthy monsters like him and Kaname Kuran.

“If you are going to fire, you shouldn’t hesitate like this.”

Zero blinked, his eyes refocusing as suddenly Kaname was in front of him, one hand gripping the muzzle of the pistol. For a moment, his muscles tensed with resistance, the overwhelming desire to shoot raging in his heart like a torrent of hatred. Kaname’s cool expression didn’t falter and he didn’t even try to wrench the gun from Zero’s grip.

“Are you still hesitating?” The pureblood’s voice was soft and sardonic, like a dissonant hymn. “Too cowardly to follow through or are you simply wasting my time?”

He jerked the gun away, stung by the insinuation that he was afraid to kill the vampire in cold blood. It was quite untrue and both of them understood that. “I knew you were awake.”

“Is that so?” Kaname looked past him at the balcony’s open door. “Not that I could sleep with the noise you made, Kiryuu-kun.”

Zero snorted, shoving the gun roughly into its holster. “I came to talk to you,” he began, realizing this conversation was going to be nothing less than excruciating.

Gagging, the cold hand around his throat was like steel. It had been a mistake to put the gun away, Zero knew as he dug his fingers into Kaname’s arm. Unable to speak, he could only glare as the pureblood held him tightly. Kaname’s eyes glinted red, studying him like an insect.

“Talk? Is that why you pointed your gun at me?” Their faces were only inches apart now, so close that Zero could hardly think as the blood pounded in his temples, beating against the back of his eyes like a sadistic drum while every instinct screamed at him to fight.

Enough of it, he’d had enough! Slowly, he let his hand drop away, throat still in Kaname’s grip and teeth bared defiantly, daring the pureblood to end him right here, right now. Just for a moment, the hard fingers contracted and Zero knew deep in his heart that Kaname would really like nothing better than to tear him to shreds.

“Why aren’t you fighting back?” The question was a whisper, a thought voiced aloud and Zero staggered when he was suddenly released. Coughing, he rubbed his bruised neck while Kaname regarded him with slightly less threatening gaze. As he took a deep breath, Zero’s head filled with the scent of Kaname’s blood and body. It was enough to make him dizzy, spinning inside with strange, repulsive desires and sickening lust. He closed his eyes, trying desperately to bring himself under control before Kaname could guess what was wrong.

“You don’t look well.” Zero flinched from the sentence and then gasped when Kaname reached out, barely touching his face to brush aside the pale hair that fell across his eyes.

“Don’t touch me!” He hated the sound of his voice, almost a pleading cry rather than an angry shout. Trembling now, Zero grit his teeth and glared murderously at the pureblood he hated more than anyone else alive. Right now his body was burning with the need to sink his fangs again into Kaname’s milky white neck, bite him as hard as he could while driving him to the floor.

His cock was so hard it felt like it was going to break…

“Kiryuu-kun?” Kaname leaned closer, his breath ghosting across Zero’s skin and tasting sweet on his lips as a drop of honey. “Look at me, Kiryuu.”

An impossibly soft palm cupped his chin, forcing him to raise his eyes. It was as if he no longer had will of his own or strength to move his arms and legs. Instead, he passively accepted the smooth caress of Kaname’s fingers along the rigid line of his jaw. Brushing the hair away from his cheek, lingering thoughtfully as it traced his lips, that sensual touch made his pulse race until he noticed Kaname's smug expression. Zero’s stomach twisted in anger when he realized that somehow the pureblood was controlling him just by touching his skin.

Perhaps sensing Zero’s outrage, or just enjoying the fury that burned in the younger vampire’s eyes, Kaname smiled lazily. “Come on now,” he whispered with mocking intimacy. “Try and understand.”

He twisted away, almost staggering as he had to put some distance between himself and Kaname. “I’m not under your command,” he spat, squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists.

“Is that so?” All the contempt of the world was in that simple question. “Didn’t you come to my room for a reason?”

Zero stiffened. “Forget it,” he bit out, unwilling to be played with again. “We’ll talk about it later, bastard.”

He spun around, heading for the door only to see Kaname standing in his way. Quick bastard for sure, he should have expected it.

“Get out of my way,” Zero growled dangerously.

“Am I stopping you from leaving?” Smiling faintly, Kaname leaned against the wall and fixed him with a steady gaze. “Have you been having unusual dreams, Kiryuu-kun?”

Flushing, Zero ducked away from the question. “None of your damn business.”

“I shall make it my business,” Kaname murmured. Zero jerked, suddenly the pureblood was behind him again, one hand resting on his shoulder and his lips just behind Zero’s left ear.

“If you’ve been dreaming of Yuuki,” the vampire hissed, “I’ll make it my business to deal with you.”

Guilt flooded him and Zero slumped, the aching despair of the dream was overwhelming. “I’d never hurt her,” he muttered. “Not ever…”

The world spun and Zero was flung hard across the room, crashing against a delicate table and smashing it to splinters. Stunned, he tried to get to his feet only to have Kaname seize him by the collar and throw him like so much trash over the back of the divan.

“As I’ve said, I have allowed you to live this long because you’re useful to me,” Kaname said in a cold, dark voice that Zero had only heard once before. It penetrated his flesh and embedded in his bones like shards of ice. “I’ve allowed you to drink her blood so that you would remain somewhat in control of yourself, but make no mistake…”

Why couldn’t he move? Why did it feel like his brain was turning to mush and his muscles were made of mud? Fighting the urge…no, the need…to stay passive, Zero fumbled for his gun only to have Kaname snatch it from his hand and hurl it across the room. Damn it.

Pinned on the divan, he stared at the vampire looming over him. Shock made his nerves tremble and he was horrified to hear his own voice groan when Kaname’s hand fell to Zero’s groin and squeezed him hard. Humiliation, pain, disgusting pleasure…he couldn’t do anything other than pant like dog when Kaname grabbed the back of his hair and forced Zero to look at him again.

“Make no mistake,” Kaname repeated, the threat like a knife against his throat. “You are not allowed to lust for her.”

Almost choking on the words, Zero was disgusted that his desire had been naked enough to be exposed like this. “It's not like that. I...I love...”

Kaname's expression tightened. “Lust disguised as love,” he muttered, almost to himself. He stared down at Zero pitilessly. “Are you sure that it's Yuuki you love? Or is her blood?” Smiling with a bitter twist to his lips, Kaname released Zero and leaned away. “If you're so sure of your pure feelings, then why did you come here tonight?”

If he was absolutely sure, he wouldn't be here. Zero knew Kaname had made a point of asking, like he could see into the dark recesses of his mind. The erotic dreams, the tingling feeling in his cock, the sensation of blood raging in his veins like he was always on the edge. Intoxicating feelings, passions so dark and difficult to resist that they left him weak and soaked with sweat.

Swallowing the shame, he glared at Kaname. “What the fuck is happening to me?” he ground out, the words like acid on his tongue. “Ever since I drank your blood, it's like there's an animal inside me. I can't stop myself from wanting...”

Wanting to grab someone…anyone…and fuck them hard until they fell apart. Staring at the girls in class, their smooth legs and soft breasts. Thinking that it would be so easy, so fucking easy just to bite into them like a piece of ripe fruit, feel their juice spill down his chin and lick it up. And Yuuki, dreaming of her touching him, of pushing her face into the bed to smother her cries when he took her from behind. It was obscene and disgusting; Zero was ashamed to admit that the thought of her squirming made him even harder.

“I see,” Kaname said, still staring at him. “Your body is telling you what it wants now that your blood has quieted.” Zero glared when the pureblood laughed softly.

“Don't laugh at me!”

“Why shouldn't I?” The question was cold, Kaname was enjoying this. “You're like a kitten in its first heat, ready to offer your ass to anyone who wants it.”

Zero snarled, his self-control shattered and he swung at Kaname. The other vampire dodged the blow easily, grabbing Zero by the collar with a hard yank that sent them both tumbling to the floor. He scrambled wildly, his breath hot and harsh in his throat, but Kaname was already on top of him. Zero lashed out, heard Kaname grunt when his elbow connected with flesh and then a hand grasped the back of his head and slammed his face into the floor.

Once, twice, until Zero stopped thrashing under him and gave in to the pain. Both arms wrenched behind his back, all he could do is grind his teeth together as Kaname held him down. He didn't come here to fight; he just wanted some damned answers!

“Listen to me, idiot,” Kaname hissed, his anger barely in check. “Vampires are taught from childhood how to control their instincts. This is one of the reasons why. Your body was born human, but you're not human anymore. My blood has slowed your descent to a Level E, but you're still a vampire.”

“What's that got to do with it?”

“Everything.” To emphasize his words, Kaname shoved Zero's face to the floor. “Desire is hunger, is the fire we breathe. Love, or lust in your case, is a feast as potent as blood, every bit as vital, and we must feed. Your body has matured, Kiryuu-kun. It knows what it needs and you are powerless to control yourself.”

To be powerless to that need, it was as bad as he'd feared. Zero felt the reality of Kaname's words close around him like a vice. It wasn't safe for him to stay here, not with Yuuki nearby, or other innocent people that he might turn into victims. It would be better if he just left, abandoned everything and found some isolated place to live out this miserable existence.

“I'd rather die,” he whispered into the carpet. “I'd rather die than live like this.”

“Too bad it's not up to you.”

Kaname's hand left the back of Zero's head and the pressure on his arms eased. Twisting, he pushed himself up and rolled his body to the side. Expecting another snide remark, he glared at Kaname and found the vampire's expression to be unexpectedly lost in thought. Sitting on the floor with his back against the divan, Kaname seemed to have come to an unhappy decision.

Zero wiped at his bloody nose, wondering how he'd explain the bruises tomorrow. When it became obvious that Kaname wasn't going to say anything else, Zero scowled. Not up to him? Too bad? Since when did that happen? Unlike the vampires who lived in the moon dorm, Zero wasn't going to meekly obey Kuran's orders like they were handed down by God.

“I should have expected something like this,” the pureblood said at last. “With giving him my blood, this also became my responsibility. If not, it's only a matter of time before he will act and bring down retribution upon himself.”

“I'm still in the room, bastard,” Zero muttered. Talking about him like he wasn't there, condescending to him like a child, he'd had enough of Kaname Kuran for one night. Tomorrow, he'd come clean with the Chairman about what was really happening. If he was lucky, the hunters wouldn't come after him the minute he left the school.

Kaname sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Zero found himself watching the motion greedily, like the glossy dark strands that fell across the vampire's pale face were somehow fascinating, precious. Drawn to the smooth skin, his eyes followed the elegant line of Kaname's jaw and throat, the flesh enticing him from the pureblood's half-opened shirt.

What am I thinking?

“I'll do it,” Kaname said at last, snapping Zero out of his trance. Mouth suddenly very dry, Zero wasn't sure what Kaname meant, but his body certainly had opinions on what it was hoping for. His skin flushed, sweat collected on his forehead and the erection that hadn't eased even during their fight was demanding his attention.

“Take my hand,” Kaname said, rising to his feet in a fluid movement. As if chagrined by his own words, he extended a pale palm to Zero.

Slowly, Zero sat up, his eyes focused on Kaname’s fingertips. Then it hit him what exactly the other vampire was offering and he swallowed hard. “No fucking way.”

“As I said before, it’s not up to you.” Raising an eyebrow, Kaname’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Afraid, are you? Fearful to have me touch your body…or fearful of your own desires?”

“Not with you,” Zero whispered. He closed his eyes, trying to use sheer willpower to beat back the heady sensations of lust and longing. Kaname was right, his body didn’t care who it was. As long as there was warm skin, firm flesh, anyone would do right now. Zero hated that, hated the licentious and permissive vampire nature that threatened to devour his heart.

A soft finger brushed his cheek and suddenly Kaname was kneeling beside him, so close that Zero could taste the faint sweetness of the pureblood’s breath. “Hate me if you want,” Kaname whispered, his eyes glittering with intent. “You can hate me all you want if it will make this easier for you.”

“I do hate you,” Zero muttered, unable to pull away even as Kaname moved closer. “Makes me sick, you vampires…murderers…”

He fell back as Kaname kissed him, swift and sure, without hesitation as if this were some kind of planned seduction. Zero’s mind went blank, emotions and desires welling up from the deepest parts of his body. Parting Zero’s lips with a gentle thrust of his tongue, Kaname’s half-closed eyes watched his for any sign of resistance. Finding none, he deepened the kiss, searching for Zero’s response until they both slid to the floor next to the divan.

His head spinning, Zero caught his breath when the pureblood broke their moist kiss.

“To speak of murder before a kiss,” Kaname said, running a fingertip over Zero’s wet lips. “How like you, Kiryuu-kun.”

“Huh?” He couldn’t think straight, couldn’t move. Part of him wanted to fight, part of him wanted to run away, and most of him just really wanted to forget about everything and hoped that Kaname would kiss him again.

“So that’s how it is,” Kaname murmured, sounding amused. Zero scowled and then couldn’t stop himself from staring when the other vampire smiled and reached up to nick his own finger on a sharp fang. A ruby drop appeared on his fingertip, glistening with temptation.

“Want this?”

Zero licked his lips, fascinated yet again by the sight and scent of Kaname’s blood. Sitting back on his knees while straddling Zero’s chest, Kaname reached down to trace his lips with the bloody finger. Zero’s body started to shake, overwhelmed by the desire, no, the need to taste it.

He would not give in!

Kaname sighed. “So stubborn, it’s really troublesome, Kiryuu-kun.” He licked his fingertip, his expression softening as he tasted his own blood. “Could it be that this is your first time?”

His face burning, Zero stared at the ceiling and set his jaw. Every inch of his body was on fire, desperate for Kaname to touch him, but his bruised pride was screaming at him to not give in, not submit to the desires of his flesh and the lust of his blood. It looked like his pride was going to take a beating tonight.

“Of course it’s your first time,” Kaname said softly. Zero winced when the pureblood suddenly grabbed his hair again, yanking his head off the floor and staring right into his eyes. “Do you want me to say I’ll be gentle?”

“That would make you a liar,” Zero muttered, his voice thick. He already knew there was no point in fighting because Kaname wasn’t going to let him out of this room. “Just get it over with, Kuran. Take me now, here as I am.”

He closed his eyes, helpless as his lips were parted again by the vampire’s kiss. It wasn’t in his nature to just submit passively and visions swam in his head, wondering what the pureblood was going to do with him. Then the taste of Kaname’s blood reached the center of his brain and Zero forgot all about submission. That taste was like a firestorm on his nerves, awakening him once again and he couldn’t remember why he’d even thought about fighting this.

Their tongues met, sliding together hot and fast as Kaname kissed him hard. Zero gave it right back to him, shoving his tongue past Kaname’s fangs like he was daring him to be more aggressive. A tiny pain surprised him when Kaname bit down on his lower lip and Zero tasted his own blood.

Licking the corners of his mouth, Zero opened his eyes again to see Kaname’s lips smeared with scarlet, a bright trickle on his chin. He tried to push himself up, aching to lick it clean, but Kaname held him down. He’d always resented it, the way Kuran seemed to command the other vampires without effort. That and the way Yuuki’s eyes lit up at Kaname’s words or the way even the Chairman deferred to the pureblood’s authority.

It hadn’t made sense, at least before now.

He hissed when Kaname bit him gently on the neck, right over the place where the seal was tattooed. For a moment, his desire was replaced by pure panic, remembering how it had felt when Shizuka had attacked him. Her fangs had gouged the skin of his throat like sharp barbs, tearing the flesh and ripping him apart. He could still remember the savage pain, the terror as she consumed his human blood and the cold, icy feeling of death as it crept into his veins.

“Please, please stop, it hurts,” he heard himself say, repeating the words he’d said back when he’d begged for his life as a child. He saw the bodies of his murdered parents, forced to see them as she fed, unable to shove her away no matter how hard he tried.

“Zero…calm down.”

Kaname’s voice brought him back from the dark memories. Breathing hard, he realized he’d been trying to shove him away, just like he’d tried to push Shizuka so many years ago. Surprised, he looked up to see Kaname’s face only inches from his and something like pity in his eyes.

“She can’t hurt you now,” the vampire murmured, brushing Zero’s lips with another blood-flavored kiss. “Can’t touch you now, can’t hurt you now.” Willing to let the nightmares fade in the back of his mind, he nodded and reached up, touching Kaname’s face and letting his fingers lace into the dark hair.

“Just concentrate on me, on what you feel.” Twitching a little when he felt Kaname lick the small punctures on his throat, he relaxed and closed his eyes again. He didn’t want to think, not at all.

Sensations were rippling down his body now, as if Kaname’s hands were tracing the skin with delicate needles, making his nerves electric and sensitive. Zero groaned when he felt Kaname’s lips again, teasing the tips of his nipples, warm and sensual as they explored his body. Sucking the skin to bring the blood close to the surface, just the tiniest of scratches and a warm tongue that soothed him with intimate attention.

“Why are you doing that?” Zero whispered.

He could feel Kaname’s smile against his belly, just above the waistline of his trousers. “Isn’t it obvious, Kiryuu-kun? I do it because you enjoy it.”

Zero thought he’d lose his mind when he felt Kaname start to unbuckle his belt and shivered when a cool hand grasped his cock with a firm grip. This was happening, it was really happening and he didn’t know how he was ever going to look anyone in the eye if he let…

“Stay with me,” Kaname’s soft voice whispered. “Believe in things too real to feel. Forgive the yearning and accept the desires of your body.”

Embarrassed, Zero covered his face with his hands when Kaname took him inside his mouth, sucking and licking at the taut flesh until he wanted to scream. Nothing had ever felt like this, his heart was pounding, his pulse racing and the pleasure pulled him inside out. Without meaning to, his body jerked, he thrust his hips and cried out before grabbing wildly for Kaname’s hair.

Seemingly oblivious to the yanking on his hair, Kaname continued to pull Zero deep into his throat before drawing him slowly out again. He held the younger vampire’s legs apart, blew lightly on the straining, flushed erection and licked his lips. When Zero caught his breath, Kaname leaned over him again and slipped two fingers into Zero’s mouth.

“Here, have another taste,” he whispered, pressing his fingertips against Zero’s fangs. It was an invitation to bite down and when he did, Kaname thrust his hips against naked flesh, exciting him until Zero was so dizzy and so drunk on the taste of blood that he groaned and came quite suddenly.

“That was fast, Kiryuu-kun.” Kaname seemed amused, glancing down at the milky fluid that had splattered across his bare stomach. He pulled his saliva and blood coated fingers from Zero’s mouth, smiling again when he saw the other vampire lick his lips as his eyes tracked Kaname’s movements. Leaning over him with an intense gaze, Kaname slowly dragged his fingers through the sticky come before dropping his hand between Zero’s thighs.

Slick and warm, Kaname’s fingers slid into his body and Zero hissed, lifting his hips as if to pull away. Gentle prodding, slow thrusts, he tried not to tense up as Kaname worked to soften the tight muscles. He ground his teeth, turning his face to the side and throwing an arm over his eyes. It was uncomfortable, embarrassing…more embarrassing than coming all over Kaname’s stomach and he suddenly wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else.

“Don’t,” he muttered, hearing his own voice as if from far away. “I can’t do this.”

“Really?”

Zero held back a scream when Kaname suddenly shoved his fingers all the way inside. He abandoned all pretense at being gentle and ruthlessly invaded Zero’s body, twisting and thrusting hard. Snarling, Zero tried to sit up only to have Kaname pin him to the floor and continue prying him open.

“God, stop it!” Zero shouted, struggling against Kaname’s hold until the annoyed pureblood snarled out a curse and let him go. Zero sat up fast and punched Kaname hard in the mouth. He was panting, fighting against the instinct that had overwhelmed him in the last few minutes. It said he needed to fight, he needed to get away from this pureblood monster that would devour him, body and soul.

Kaname licked the blood from his split lip, his eyes almost glowing with lust and anger. “You little bastard,” he whispered, as if tasting his own blood from Zero’s blow was a grave insult. “We’re not done yet.”

“The hell!” Zero swung again, tried to get his feet under him as he surged up, throwing Kaname back with a violent shove. Ready to do real damage, he tackled the startled pureblood, unable to believe that finally, after all this time, he was going to take him down. Looming over Kaname’s prone body, Zero forgot he was half naked, didn’t notice that Kaname’s trousers were unfastened and sliding down his hips.

“Looks like I’m on top now,” Zero said fiercely, relishing the sensation of victory.

“So?” Lying quite still, Kaname wasn’t struggling or trying to fight him off. Instead he lazily ran his hand up back of Zero’s thigh. Watching Zero’s expression go soft at the light caress, the younger vampire shuddered as Kaname started to fondle his ass. Much gentler now, one of his fingers slid inside easily, teasing Zero until his face flushed and he bit his lower lip.

“Just what did you think you were going to do?” Kaname whispered, watching as Zero struggled between his instinct to fight and overwhelming desires. Groaning, pale hair falling across his eyes as he threw back his head, Zero finally surrendered and pushed his hips against Kaname.

He was hard again already, his cock stiff and trembling although he’d come just moments before. It felt good to let Kaname touch him, making soft noises in the back of his throat helplessly. Just like a cat, no, a kitten crying in her first heat like Kaname had said. Zero thought he’d never been more ashamed in his life.

Two fingers inside now, still slick and hot, pulling at the taut flesh and pushing deeply into his body. It had hurt before, felt so much like an invasion that he’d tensed up, tried to reject the perverted lusts, the hollow ache that needed to be filled somehow. Unable to look away, he stared down at Kaname’s face and found himself hypnotized by the crimson trickle from his split lip. He wanted to lick it, have Kaname's tongue deep inside his mouth as the taste of their blood mingled obscenely on his lips.

“Because you’ve been so stubborn,” Kaname said, whispering again in that intimate, compelling voice. “I’m going to make you ask me for it, Zero.”

Wordless, teeth clenched as Kaname’s hands moved to grasp his cock in a painfully tight grip, Zero shook his head. He hated this…he wasn’t going to beg…he just needed…

Fucked!

Taking Zero’s wrists, making no sudden moves to break Zero’s fragile surrender, Kaname sat up carefully. No resistance left at all, Zero was barely aware when his school jacket was removed, the buttons of his shirt unfastened one by one. It was like the air had become too thick and heavy, a damp fog of lust that felt like steam against his skin. Slowly, Kaname pulled him forward in his lap, felt the pureblood’s lips like silk against his throat.

“No…” Kaname bit down hard, sinking his fangs much deeper than before and Zero felt sticky blood run down his chest. The bite from earlier had been a nibble, a nip to tease the flesh and excite his senses. This was something else and there was no way that Zero could have any doubts about what Kaname was doing and why.

Feeding from him, just like Shizuka had done after she’d killed his family. He’d been a fool to believe that mere sex could satisfy the burning lust. His body still craved the blood of its master, and since she wasn’t alive to master him, Kaname would be the one to dominate the dark passions in his soul.

He understood then. Purebloods were born to rule over all other vampires, the ones they created from humans and the ones that were born instead of made. It was something they couldn’t help, not anymore than the nobles and lesser vampires could help but seethe with resentment…and desire.

Weak with a dreamy lassitude that comes when blood is drained, Zero’s consciousness spiraled, falling away from his body as the room started to spin. Yes, that feeling, his heart pumping harder to try and compensate, the dizzy panic hidden in the dark place where mortality used to whisper his name. And under that panic, the knowledge that death wasn’t coming today, not while he rested in Kaname’s arms.

“Sorry, Kiryuu-kun,” he heard Kaname murmur, the heavy scent of blood filling the room like an abattoir. “I can’t be gentle with you, even if you wished it so.”

“Quit talking and just fuck me,” Zero muttered, pressing his forehead into the floor as Kaname lifted his hips. His legs were spread, light fingers slicking and prodding until his balls drew up in anticipation. He could feel Kaname pushing into him, the blunt head of a cock ready to violate his ass like a threat and he wanted it, wanted it so damned bad…

“Did you just ask me to fuck you?” Kaname paused, sliding the wet head of his cock along the crack of Zero’s ass. “I think you need to say it louder.”

“Do it,” Zero hissed.

“What was that?”

Snarling, hatred and lust fighting for space in his heart, Zero braced his arms and turned to glare over his shoulder. “Goddamn you, fuck me now!”

Kaname shoved inside with a single hard thrust, breaking Zero open so suddenly that he choked back a scream. It hurt, but something more was happening inside his body. He moaned shamelessly when Kaname pulled away and gasped when he shoved deep inside. Zero clawed at the floor, shredding of the expensive carpet as he instinctively recoiled from the violent thrusts that shattered his body.

Grabbing his hair as Zero squirmed, Kaname fucked him hard, deliberately wringing the other vampire’s body for every bit of pain and pleasure. Nothing else would satisfy the violent desires, the burning passion that was a vampire’s hunger and need.

“With lust we sleep,” Kaname hissed, yanking Zero upright, the other vampire’s throat constricting from Kaname’s tight hold on his hair. He kept thrusting, pounding into Zero’s body until the flesh ceased resisting and Zero was openly moaning for him.

“With doubt this vicious cycle turns and burns, but there is no other way.” Kaname leaned back, bracing his shoulders against the divan as he splayed Zero’s legs even wider. Sweating, flesh sliding against flesh, Kaname held Zero’s cock in a tight grip, forcing it to thrust against his palm as he pushed himself deep inside until, with a shuddering gasp, Zero came in his hand.

Exhausted, Zero fell against Kaname, too spent to do more than shiver as the pureblood thrust inside him a few more times before finishing with a soft curse. Stuck together, sticky and wet, Zero’s ass stung painfully as it twitched around Kaname’s softening cock. He wanted to pull away, but he was too sore and tired to move. Still, he was surprised when he felt Kaname’s arms tight around his chest.

“Stay,” the pureblood whispered, the command unbroken between them. His face pressed tightly against Zero’s neck, Kaname seemed to be clinging to him in desperation, as if he hadn’t just screwed Zero ruthlessly to quell his uncontrollable body. “Stay with me.”

Confused, Zero closed his eyes. The connection between them was a raw wound, aching and deep, and by the next nightfall it would scab over like a wound and they could both retreat from this painful intimacy. He understood then, that as a pureblood, Kaname couldn’t show weakness, or be gentle with a rival or potential enemy. Except…

Except for right now. Because the night belonged to them and was often lonely, they could pretend it was something else and cling to each other in the darkness. Cold comfort, but because it was all they had, he could do that much.

“I’ll stay.”