"I think we turn right up there," Yuki instructed, bent over a map taken from the bus station which she had spread across her lap. "Ichijo said Ume Blossom road, right? The name's not on the map, but that road's the only exit for another good stretch, so that might be it."

Zero and Yuki had left the city far behind by now. There were plenty of cars on the road, but not much to see besides trees and highway trash on either side.

"Ume Blossom road," Zero confirmed as soon as he caught sight of the small, worn sign indicating the road's name. Signaling, he pulled off into the turn lane.

"The winery should be somewhere down that road then. Doesn't look like there's much traffic, we can probably pull off into the trees somewhere and leave the car, in case anyone's watching the grounds," Yuki suggested, folding the map back up and tucking it into the glove compartment.

Zero nodded in agreement. "We'll drive past the winery and then ditch the car. That way we'll know where we're going."

Yuki was silent for a minute as they traveled down the quiet, sparsely trafficked roadway. She'd been thinking a lot on the long drive out here, and now that their destination, and whatever waited for them there was drawing near, she knew she needed to try to put those thoughts into words.

Her gaze turning to focus on Zero, Yuki reached over. She didn't want to get in the way of his driving or concentration, so she just let her hand rest lightly on his thigh, giving a small squeeze. She had no way of knowing quitehow distracting that actually was, but Zero battled down the body response he had to the touch and shot her a questioning look.

"Zero..." Yuki said quietly. "I just... That is, I wanted to say..." She swallowed. This was a lot harder than she'd thought, even though she'd been rehearsing the words in her head for the past twenty minutes. She'd learned something from this whole, terrible mess they were now caught in, and that was to not take anything for granted, or leave anything important unsaid. She refused to believe that they might lose Kaname, but having been faced with that very real possibility, she had also been forced to realize that there was so achingly much she'd wanted to say to him and she just never had. She'd been too shy, too unsure... or she'd simply taken for granted that there would always be another chance. She knew now that there might not be, for any of them, and she didn't want to make the same mistake with Zero.

Yuki drew a deep, steadying breath. There was nothing like realizing that one or all of you might not be alive tomorrow to get you past a bad case of nerves.

"You never gave me a chance to respond, to what you told me, earlier, by the park," she said quietly.

Zero colored slightly and started to shake his head. "Yuki... I shouldn't have-"

"No," Yuki stopped him, earnestly squeezing his thigh tighter. "You should have."

Zero breathed slowly through his teeth, trying to concentrate on driving and looking for the winery and not on how very warm he was feeling.

"And I'm glad you did. I didn't... I didn't know," she admitted. "I thought I was just your little-big sister and you barely even realized I was a girl. Zero, I know my timing stinks and I don't know how to explain or understand how all this works with what I feel for Kaname or whatever you, um... feel for Kaname..." Yuki was trying desperately not to let this get awkward, but she really needed to say it, even if she didn't really understand it. "But I... I care about you a lot, Zero. I always have. Sometimes it's just not so easy to see when your best friend starts turning into something... more than your best friend," she whispered.

Zero looked at her, stunned and swallowed whole by the look in her eyes. He'd never expected her to look at him that way. Never felt worthy. He smiled, softly and Yuki smiled back, their eyes locked in a breathless moment in time.

One side of the car vibrated as the wheels left the pavement and trolled along the gravel shoulder.

"Zero! The road!" Yuki yelped and Zero quickly compensated, turning the wheel and steering them back onto the pavement.

Yuki laughed, and Zero felt himself laughing too. "Um... hold that thought for if we survive this whole mess, huh?" he said softly.

Yuki leaned over and kissed Zero's cheek softly. "I will," she promised, before settling back into her seat. She saw something out the window and leaned to get a better view.

"Zero, look... that building over there in the distance. It's pretty big, could it be the winery?"

Zero tilted his head forward to see a little better as they passed the locked and gated entry to a private drive. As they passed, his keen sight picked out the fact that the gate was rusted with age, but the padlock and the chain were new.

The hunter nodded with a thoughtful frown, driving on past and down the road while searching for a suitable place down the road to pull over. "Looks like it to me."

Water dripped from wet brown curls, down onto pale, ivory skin. Rido ran his hands, Kaname's hands, down his face, wiping away the loose droplets of water as he leaned over a sink in one what was once one of the winery's the employee restrooms. This whole place was shabby and run down and he would be glad to be well shut of it and back to someplace where he could take a decent shower, but for now, this would do. Rido splashed a little more water on his face and upper body before drying off and shrugging into a fresh shirt.

For one with such keen senses, getting used to a new body and the almost disturbingly foreign smells that accompanied it wasn't as easy as might be expected.

Rido hadn't ever met his son before he took over his body, so Shiki's scent had taken getting used to, but it was benign and easily forgotten. Kaname... he had plenty of associations with Kaname's scent, and it was somewhat disconcerting to have it around him all the time now, but he knew he'd get used to that. It was a minor inconvenience at best.

Rido hummed softly as he buttoned up his shirt. He was only half paying attention to what he was physically doing. The other half of his attention was focused inward towards where he was having far too much fun tormenting his captive nephew.

Rido was innately skilled at possession and cruelty. He'd had a lot of time to practice with Shiki, and even though Kaname's mind was much stronger, his blood oath to obey left him vulnerable and exposed to anything Rido wanted to do to him.

The mind was such an incredibly fascinating thing. If it thought you were in pain, then you were in pain, whether or not there was any physical reason for it. This was something Rido had enjoyed playing with for years, long before he ever lost his first body. If you knew how to do it, you could make someone writhe on the floor in pain, you could kill them from sheer agony... and it was all in their mind, the bodies never leaving any tell-tale trace of evidence.

It was so much easier to do like this though, with Kaname's consciousness left naked and exposed to his whims. If Kaname had a voice, he would have been screaming. The younger pureblood was trapped in a nightmare from which he could not awake. All the while, Rido was entrenching himself deeper and more firmly into the mind and body he had stolen, building up a stronger and stronger barrier between their two consciousness, trapping and cementing Kaname ever more firmly into the dark niche of his own mind which he now occupied.

Zero's own breathing sounded loud and harsh in his ears as he and Yuki slid down the long, dim hallway, dark as shadows in the gloom. He could hear the soft, telltale whine of electronics around the next turn, only just audible to his enhanced hearing. Zero held out his arm, halting Yuki. Yuki was staying close to Zero's back, occasionally holding onto the back of his shirt for guidance. She couldn't see in the dark like he could, so sometimes she followed blind. There were lights on in the hall beyond however, and the pair stopped just outside the circular glow being thrown around the corner.

"Security camera," Zero murmured, close to her ear. Yuki gave a small nod. They'd encountered a couple of them all ready and had their system of dealing with the surveillance down pat now.

The winery was indeed being guarded, but fortunately, Zero still remembered everything Master Toga had taught him years ago, including how best to avoid detection by vampires. And the gear that Kaname had prepared for he and Zero when they broke into Ichijo Enterprises, served double duty now as Zero and Yuki put it to good use once again.

"You first," Yuki whispered back as she shifted the small, remote device in her hand. One of the many useful little gadgets retrieved from their backpacks, the small jammers were about the size of a key fob. Zero knew Kaname had originally brought them along in case Zero wasn't able to manage the rate of speed needed for them to bypass security cameras unseen in the Ichijo building. It hadn't been necessary there, but it was necessary now.

Zero gave a nod and Yuki quickly leaned around the corner, aiming at the security camera and pressing the button on the jammer. The camera froze in place, facing away from them, as if its swivel head had momentarily jammed. Yuki kept the invisible beam trained on the camera while Zero sprinted swiftly to the end of the hall, taking up position direction under the camera, out of its line of sight. As soon as he was in position, Yuki released the button and slid back around the corner. She waited for a ten count, her heart pounding silently in her ears. They had to give the camera a couple of normal sweeps before disrupting it again in order to not throw up anything suspicious to whoever was monitoring the security feeds.

It seemed forever to Yuki as she slowly counted off the seconds before she edged her head around the corner again. Zero, still waiting in place beneath the camera, saw her and pushed the button on the jammer he was holding, aiming straight up at the camera over him. Again it stuck and this time Yuki sprinted quickly down the hall, joining Zero under the camera. Zero released the button and as the camera panned away they both made a quick break through the nearby door, plunging back into semi gloom once more.

So far, luck had been on their side as they infiltrated the 'abandoned' building, because although he obviously had resources, Rido apparently didn't have that many minions left loyal to him after the fallout from the events the other night at Ichijo Enterprises. Judging from what they'd seen thus far, Zero was pretty sure that the goons they'd seen at the sugar refinery were most likely the bulk of Rido's immediately available forces with perhaps a few more that were stationed here. So now that meant something like 8, maybe 10 vampires to reckon with in all. Or at least so he hoped. That was more than enough to completely overwhelm him and Yuki in a fight, but perhaps not quite enough to securely guard and patrol a facility of this size. The electronic security was no doubt supposed to cover the gaps, which was good for them, and hopefully bad for Rido.

It was slow going, checking out each room of the winery one at a time while evading the security, but it was the only thing Zero and Yuki could do, since they were unfamiliar with the layout of the building and had no idea where what they sought was being kept. Zero was fairly sure it would be in the basement level though, and thus far the heightened level of security they had encountered down here seemed to confirm that.

The room they now found themselves in was stacked with empty, dusty barrels, shelving and equipment and as they passed through, Zero felt himself weirdly reminded of the night he, Kaname and Yuki had escaped the Ichijo mansion through the wine cellars. It seemed impossible to consider that that had only been a few days ago, a week at the most. It seemed a year, an age, a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then.

Zero rubbed his neck. He felt... weird. The strong ache he had felt earlier had stopped abruptly during the drive here. At first, Zero had felt a surge of panic, but then he realized that the sensation hadn't completely gone away, it had just changed. It was like... static... that was the only word that came to Zero's mind to describe it. He wished he didn't know what it meant, but somehow... he did.

Rido had already taken Kaname. They were too late to stop him. What exactly that meant set a dull, aching dread gnawing at the pit of his stomach, but Zero was resolutely trying to ignore it. The funny, tingling buzz in his neck was getting stronger now however and Zero moved warily. Did that mean they were near where Kaname was? Maybe... but it didn't feel like it usually did, so he couldn't be sure.

One thing was sure. There was definitely a vampire about down here. Maybe more than one... he or they weren't close enough for Zero to tell for certain. He didn't feel as many as he'd felt on the upper levels near the entrance, but there was a definite presence.

Rido was enjoying Kaname's suffering intensely, but eventually he pulled back on the phantom pain he was dishing out, giving Kaname a bit of a respite if for no other reason than to enjoy Kaname's shame at how desperately glad he was to be left alone, ignored for a few minutes.

Rido left the bathroom and headed down the hall, making for the upper levels. Something in the hallway made him pause though, his steps slowing. He smelled something, some lingering trace that was out of place.

His eyes narrowed. There'd been intruders in this hallway. He started to head for the stairs, to alert his security forces above... but then he stopped again. No... he knew these scents. This body knew these scents, it was in fact, quite attuned to them, or he might have missed them entirely.

Kaname was being very quiet now inside his head and Rido smirked, catching out his game. His nephew had obviously recognized the smells before he had.

Kaname felt a horrible, sick, sinking feeling as Rido turned his body and started following the trail of the scent back down the hall, away from the stairs.

Oh... you thought I wouldn't notice, hm? Seems your pets are loyal, Kaname. Stupid, but loyal. Let's go welcome them properly, shall we? Just you and I...

The room let out into another hall, then another room... Zero froze as they entered the large, mostly empty cellar chamber. It was well lit for a change, and there was something unusual on a platform near the center of the room – a large, metal tub. From what had been described to him the other day, Zero knew they had found what they sought. His hand jerked towards his gun as he caught sight of another, much too familiar figure... then he stilled again just as quickly. It wasn't Rido. At least, he didn't think so.

Senri Shiki was lying on a low palate near the far wall. His eyes were closed, arms crossed over his chest as if he had been laid out there. He was very pale. Zero was getting almost no readings from him, which was why he hadn't noticed the presence sooner.

Yuki noticed Shiki at the same time and shot Zero a worried look. They knew each other well enough that no words were needed. Zero read Yuki's look correctly and shook his head to reassure her. The young vampire in the corner wasn't dead, but his presence was very faint and weak. Zero guessed he was in a coma and from the dimness of the aura the hunter sensed around him, Shiki was probably not likely to waken any time soon.

If Shiki was here then... Zero swallowed.

"Yuki, watch the door," he whispered quietly as he slid swiftly forward. Yuki nodded, pausing just inside the doorway and pressing against the wall so she could watch the hall beyond without being seen.

Zero crossed the room and made his way swiftly and silently up the platform, pulling his gun from the back of his waistband. He'd hesitated to take a life, even a vampire life, the first time he'd been commissioned to do so. Now, though, there was no hesitation in his movements as he clicked the safety off, bringing the weapon around to bear on the figure in the tub.

Zero feared that with the death of his original body, Rido would simply transfer permanently to Kaname as had been the concern with Shiki. But then... Kaname had been perfectly aware of all that. That's why he'd... asked Zero what he had. Zero still hadn't told Yuki. She thought this was what they were here for, to eliminate Rido's original body, to try to save Kaname. Zero wanted to believe that too. Wanted to believe that if they weakened Rido enough, they could give Kaname a chance. But deep down, he feared... he knew... that it wouldn't be that easy. If it was that easy, Kaname wouldn't have been agonizing like he was this morning in the hotel over how to try to defeat Rido without killing his host too.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Zero knew they were merely cutting off one head of the hydra. The other would still have to go. But he couldn't think about it. Couldn't face that thought. There had to be another way. Had to be.They could figure that out later. Right now... this body's time had come.

Zero only had a moment to register the gristly form soaking in the pool of blood below as he started to squeeze the trigger before suddenly his arm was moving of its own volition, as if knocked aside by an invisible force. The anti-vampire bullet slammed harmlessly into the far wall.

Zero felt cold all over. He tried to wrench the gun back around, but he couldn't move. Not his arms, not his legs, not his head... nothing. He was frozen completely in place. A light pressure constricted his chest, but he was not in pain. He simply couldn't move, couldn't struggle despite the urgent messages his brain was sending to his muscles. He'd felt this way once before in his life – at the academy, when Shizuka had immobilized him.

A soft laugh from behind him and the distinct, bright, double point of light in his senses that screamed vampire sent a hard chill up Zero's spine. The voice was familiar, and yet... not.

"Well, well, well... I knew this place was old, but I didn't realize it was infested with vermin. What are you doing here, hm? Looking for something perhaps? Or someone?"

Zero felt himself being turned around by the invisible grip holding him until he'd rotated to face the doorway. His heart thudded in his chest and a spike of fear stabbed through him as he saw Yuki lying crumpled on the ground by the doorway, her eyes closed.

Kaname was standing over her, but... it wasn't Kaname. His aura and even his body language was all wrong. Zero felt a small, weird punch in the stomach as the pureblood's gaze locked on him. Kaname's normally chocolate brown eyes were two different colors.

The bi-colored gaze was hard with cold amusement as the pureblood stepped carelessly over Yuki's body. It looked like he'd recently showered. The wavy brown hair was damp and he was wearing a white, button down shirt that was different from the one Kaname had been wearing at the sugar plant.

As Rido approached him, Zero wondered if had bathed, as if he was trying to wash away all trace of this body's previous host. All trace of Kaname.

The hunter's gaze was accusing as it shot between Yuki and Rido. Not Kaname. He wouldn't think of the vampire facing him as Kaname, because it wasn't. It just... looked like him.

"What did you do to her?" Zero ground out carefully between his teeth. Speaking was an effort, but he managed.

Rido raised an eyebrow, surprised at the boy's ability to resist enough to use his voice. It was actually very hard to keep holding the ex-human still as he was doing, much more than Rido would have expected. Perhaps there was some basis for Kaname's interest in this one; he was an unusual specimen, certainly. Rido was intrigued.

Rido smirked, Kaname's mouth curling into a mocking grin that was hideously out of place on his features. "Don't worry; she's quite all right and unharmed. She's only sleeping."

Rido paced up the stairs until he was standing uncomfortably close to Zero. Zero's gun was still in his hand, hanging limply at his side, but he couldn't get his fingers to move. He kept trying though, slowly, stubbornly butting against the force holding him.

Rido glanced dispassionately down into the tub beside them. "Now, now... I wonder what interest a nasty ruin like this could be to you? Didn't anyone ever tell you that curiosity killed the cat?" he purred, his fingers tangling lightly in Zero's hair, palm cupping his cheek.

"I like my new body much better. Don't you like it, Kiriyu...?" he murmured, breath brushing Zero's face. He was trying to make the boy uncomfortable, but it was strange... so close to the ex-human like this, Rido found himself struck by a strong sense of hunger that bordered on desire.

Zero felt a warm, sick shiver course through him. It wasn't Kaname! But it was Kaname's hands on his skin, his face so close, his scent filling Zero's senses. Zero's body reacted to that, he couldn't help himself. The eyes though... the eyes were what told the truth. Those were not Kaname's eyes; it was a stranger looking at him. A ruthless bastard who had stolen his friend's body. Did Kaname know? Was he aware of what Rido was doing with his body? Deep down, Zero hoped not.

"I don't think it suits you," Zero growled back softly, still focusing all his energy on trying to twitch his fingers.

"No?" Rido looked amused. His hand slid down to grip Zero's chin. He could tell the boy was reacting to his nearness and it fed the wicked hunger in his eyes, as did sensing how distressed his trapped nephew was becoming. Rido chuckled cruelly.

"You've got a lot attitude, you know that? I have no idea why Kaname put up with such a stubborn bed toy. Although, I'd be willing to try to find out..." Rido's mouth ghosted slowly down the side of Zero's neck, lips teasing his skin. He'd seen the rather passionate kiss Kaname had given the boy, but he was incapable of fathoming anything beyond the idea that his nephew had been keeping the boy for pleasure. He was an ex-human for goodness sake. Mmm... but such a tasty, enticing one...

Rido was unaware of the bond that Kaname and Zero shared. He didn't know why the body he now inhabited was so drawn and reacted so intensely to Zero's scent and the touch of his skin, but he didn't bother questioning it, as it pleased his dark nature.

"My nephew always did have a taste for the unusual. Are you that good, Kiriyu?" he murmured huskily, pushing Zero back against the edge of the tub behind them, body pressing against his. He curled one hand at the back of Zero's neck, the other sliding to his hip as he continued to worry the boy's neck with his mouth.

Zero's stomach burned at the hateful insinuations being made. It wasn't like that! He was nobody's toy and... and Kaname wasn't like that. The hunter swallowed tensely as the lips that were not Kaname's worked his neck and the sharp teeth grazed lightly, seductively across his throat.

Watching helplessly through his own eyes, Kaname raged in agonized, impotent fury as Rido purposefully tipped Zero's chin up and captured a slow, possessive kiss from him. He wanted to scream at Rido to get his hands off him, but Kaname knew that Rido was already aware of his displeasure. He also knew that the more he violently he reacted; the farther Rido would continue to push, intentionally tormenting him with his own body's actions.

Kaname had already been forced to observe in silent agony as Rido dropped Yuki into a senseless sleep before she even knew he'd appeared behind her. And now...

Rido intentionally kept his eyes open during the kiss, forcing Kaname to watch Zero's face, forcing him to feel the sensation of dominating the boy's hot mouth with his own, and to know how much Rido was enjoying it.

Calm down, Nephew... Rido's voice mocked in his head as his hand slid down the front of Zero's chest. I'm not harming him. I think he rather likes it. It's not like he isn't already familiar with being used by this body, apparently...

Kaname was simmering hot enough to melt iron, but he refused to answer, because anything he said right now would only make things worse. Kaname wanted to fight, wanted to slam himself against the invisible bars holding him prisoner, but he couldn't. He was as trapped as Zero was, perhaps even more so. Rido was being very careful to pleasure Zero, not harm him, so Kaname's oath kept him bound, helpless to even attempt to interfere. This powerlessness was not a feeling with which Kaname was acquainted, and it was the most horrible one imaginable.

Zero shivered in response to the slow, deliberate kiss, but it was weird because despite the natural reaction, he felt like his flesh was crawling, felt like he wanted to claw off the skin that Rido was touching. There was heat, but no warmth in the kiss. Rido was treating him like an object to be used. It was a dirty feeling, like the mere touch was a violation. It had never felt like that with Kaname. Even when Kaname had been rough and lost control with him... he'd never treated him like a thing. It was incredibly hard, being touched this way, by these hands.

Rido sucked Zero's tongue into his mouth and nibbled his lower lip, then trailed his lips back down the side of Zero's neck as if drawn by a magnet back to that vulnerable location. Zero tensed instinctually, but curiously, Rido didn't bite him. The hungry way the vampire was licking and lathing his skin told Zero he wanted to, but he didn't. Zero was struggling for composure as the pureblood molested him, his skin flushing hotly, but Rido's unlikely carefulness suddenly struck him as odd. Rido had had no compunction about biting him viciously earlier, in the van...

Rido's words about Yuki came back to Zero suddenly. She's quite all right and unharmed. Unharmed. Of course. Because if Rido harmed either one of them, it made his deal with Kaname void, that's what Kaname had said to them back at the factory, wasn't it?

"Give me my head back and I'll show you how good I am..." Zero growled softly in a darkly seductive tone. It made him flush to the tips of his ears, but he knew what he was doing. He felt Kaname's... no... Rido's body shudder against him, responding strongly to the husk in his voice. He had one advantage against the pureblood. He didn't think Rido realized they were bonded.

Rido's breath rasped against Zero's neck. He'd started this out as a casual game, a way to torment Kaname and his pet at the same time, but his body was literally burning now and it was quickly becoming more than a game. Rido wasn't stupid enough to free Zero... but he couldn't do much damage with just his head... Rido let Zero have what he asked for and Zero's neck quickly dipped forward, mouth grazing heatedly along Rido's jaw. Zero closed his eyes. Pretend it was Kaname. Pretend it was Kaname. It was his body after all, it shouldn't be so hard.

Kaname was slightly shocked as he felt Zero's mouth trail down his... Rido's... neck. What on earth was...? Suddenly, Kaname understood, and just as swiftly he knew he couldn't let Rido catch on to the fact that he understood. So instead he started seething again, radiating nothing but raw rage inside his head. It wasn't hard to do, since it wasn't an act.

Zero sucked and licked the side of Rido/Kaname's neck, kissing and teasing in the way that he knew drove Kaname crazy. Apparently it had the same effect on Rido because the pureblood's hand tightened in his hair and Rido's own exploration of Zero's neck grew more fevered and intense. He wanted to bite the damn boy so bad his teeth hurt, but he knew he couldn't. Rido was not good at self-denial and heated frustration was swiftly edging in on his focus.

Zero nipped and nibbled the pureblood's neck with his fangs and Rido growled softly, fighting the insane urge to slam the boy down to the ground and tear him to pieces as he ravaged him. His control wavered and Zero's fingers twitched.

Rido's fingers slid to the neck of Zero's t-shirt, starting to tear downward. The vampire's fingers were ruthless, but trembling. Zero grinned grimly against Rido's skin.

"Maybe I'll come to like this change, hm? Kaname was usually much rougher with me..." he purred, filling the role that Rido had already shown he expected. Zero could not afford to feel shame right now, or at least he could not afford to show that he felt it. His finger inched painfully slowly back to the trigger of his weapon, but it still had no strength.

The dark words egged Rido on and as Zero's hot mouth worked his neck he lost what remained of his scanty self-control. He bit down on Zero's neck hard. He didn't suck his blood, because he knew Kaname had let the boy drink his and he was smarter than to form that kind of bond, as he would have assumed Kaname was as well, but the sensation of his fangs digging into flesh was inhumanly delightful. Rido couldn't stop himself, he tore the pale flesh harshly, needing to feel it give, needing to hear Zero's sharp moan of pain as the pureblood gouged his neck with cruel intensity.

It was what Kaname and Zero had both been waiting for. Rido had broken their agreement. He had harmed Zero. Released from his oath, Kaname threw himself violently against the bonds holding him prisoner in his own mind, forcing Rido to pull back on the control he was exerting over Zero in order to face the new threat.

The pain and Rido's slackening of control was a catalyst. Zero's fingers jerked and tightened on the trigger of his gun. He knew where the first shot had to go and he put it there without hesitation, shooting himself in the thigh. Just a grazing flesh wound this time, he knew now he didn't need to make it as deep as he'd done last time, to break free of Shizuka's control. The reason Rido had put Yuki to sleep instead of freezing her, was because for some reason direct immobilization worked much better on lower class vampires than it did on humans. The Bloody Rose stripped Zero of his vampire abilities... and weaknesses. Rido could control him that way no longer.

Zero tried to snatch the gun up towards Rido, but the pureblood was too fast for him. He lashed out with his elbow, knocking the gun out of Zero's hand and sending it flying across the room. The pureblood's mismatched eyes blazed with hell's fury. He realized he'd been played, and he intended to tear the hunter apart with his bare hands for this. With nothing further to lose now, Rido's teeth tore sharply into Zero's shoulder, his claws extending wickedly as they too sank into the boy's flesh, tearing and rending, intent on causing as much pain as possible.

The feeling of Zero's flesh giving way under his hands was sickeningly horrible and Kaname fought like a demon with Rido for control of the limbs that were doing the damage. He couldn't win, ultimately, he knew that. He'd handed over control when he let Rido take his body, and he couldn't oust him by force, it was too late for that, Rido had already entrenched himself far too deeply. But he could certainly give his uncle one hell of a struggle.

Rido's reactions were slowed, his reflexes dulled by having to fight Kaname and Zero at the same time and Zero was able to twist away from his deadly grip, lashing out with his good arm and punching the vampire viciously in the chest. Blood flowed freely from Zero's torn neck and shoulder and he stumbled slightly on the stairs. Rido lunged for him, claws digging into the backpack he was still wearing and throwing him off balance. Zero twisted as he fell, yanking his arms free from the backpack with a wince of pain as he escaped, rolling down the stairs and springing up unsteadily when he hit the bottom.

Rido was suddenly behind him, arm curling around Zero's neck and yanking him back against his chest. Damn, purebloods could move uncannily fast. Rido started to squeeze, hard enough to crush his windpipe. Then he stumbled as something heavy slammed into him from behind. Small, but strong hands caught and scrabbled at Rido's throat and his eyes, clawing him and forcing him to let Zero go in order to reach up and protect his face.

"Stop it! Let him go!" Yuki had apparently woken up in the unfolding chaos. She'd ditched her backpack for greater mobility and now clung onto Rido's back as she clawed at him like a wild cat. She couldn't bring herself to think about what she was doing, couldn't afford to let herself think this was Kaname she was attacking, despite what he looked like. She knew it wasn't Kaname. It was Rido. Rido, who was hurting Kaname as much as he was hurting Zero by using his body in these ways. That gave her the strength to strike viciously as she held onto his back, kneels clamped to his sides. She was under no illusions about the strength of her opponent, and knew it was best to try to stay behind him, out of easy reach.

Zero yanked free, choking and gasping for air, but he didn't have time to try to catch his breath, he didn't even have time to worry about Yuki, although his stomach was still knotted anyway. He took advantage of the distraction she'd caused to quickly dive across the room and snatch up his fallen gun.

Kaname tore at Rido, mentally shoving and kicking. His heart was in his figurative throat as Rido stumbled and slammed Yuki back against the nearest wall, knocking her harshly against it. Kaname could feel the impact of her body caught between his back and the unyielding stone wall, but she was still holding on. Oh God...

Rido was beyond enraged. He struck back violently at Kaname, incensed at the way the other's struggles were slowing him down and allowing this pointless battle to continue. He knew far too well how to use the dichotomy of their shared body and Kaname's pseudo connection to reality against him. Once more invading the pain centers of Kaname's mind, he manipulated them ruthlessly, making Kaname feel like he was literally being shredded alive, every phantom nerve burning in pain.

Kaname had nowhere to escape and it felt like he was being dragged through a field of razor sharp glass shards, but being trapped in his own head went both ways. Rido couldn't escape either and despite the harsh reprisals, Kaname continued to lash out at him, learning quickly from his own torment and attempting to strike back at his uncle in the same manner.

Yuki's fingers tore a long scrape under his eye and Rido grabbed her wrist, swinging around and using the momentum to tear her off his back. He released at the midpoint of his turn, throwing Yuki across the room and sending her crashing backwards into the empty wooden shelves along the wall. Yuki hit hard, the shelves crashing down atop her.

"Yuki!" Zero couldn't help crying out her name in alarm.

Kaname smelt her blood. She didn't stir from where she had fallen. Nearly blind with the searing pain Rido was inflicting on him, Kaname's struggles started to become desperate. Worse than the mental agony was knowing what was happening to Zero and Yuki, through him, and being powerless to stop it. This needed to end. It had to end... before either Zero or Yuki ended up dead.

There was a soft click and then a bang.

Rido dodged to the side just in time to avoid the shot Zero aimed for him. He wheeled around to face the hunter.

Zero scrambled backwards. Blood continued to run freely down his shoulder but the gun was clenched firmly in his good fist. He was aiming at the pureblood's heart... but he didn't pull the trigger again. His eyes had locked on Rido/Kaname's face and there was a critical moment of hesitation. Kaname could see the agonized pause in the ex-human's features, could read that he was trying desperately to find some other way to end this. It was ironic. A couple of months ago, Kaname was fairly sure that Zero could have shot him without a second thought. Now... their new closeness was a weakness the hunter could not afford.

Shoot! Shoot, damn it! Kaname silently begged as he felt Rido lunge his body forward. A lightening fast blow sent Zero slamming to the floor, Rido pouncing quickly atop him. Wicked, claw like fingers punched for Zero's heart before the hunter had a chance to bring his gun to bear a second time. Rido had had enough. He intended to rip the ex-human's heart straight out of his chest, and Zero didn't have time to stop him.

Gritting past the unspeakable agony of the barrier Rido had erected between them, Kaname reached out with everything he had, struggling for control. It didn't matter if it was an ultimately futile battle, he had to try. He couldn't watch Zero die at his own hands.

Zero saw the razor claws plunging downward like knives, but they faltered, the arm suddenly coming to a stop right over his chest, the body atop him jerking as if having a seizure. For half an instant, Zero thought he saw a flicker of Kaname behind the pureblood's eyes. The gaze was urgent, desperate, pleading. Please, Zero... please... I'm begging you, end this!

The momentary glimpse was gone in a flash, replaced by Rido's cold, deadly fury.

Rido threw Kaname back harshly as their wills clashed and Kaname reeled dizzily, having overextended himself by trying so hard to cross the barrier between them. Rido was distracted, but still intent on his prey. The scent of Zero's blood filled the air, and Kaname's body reacted instinctually to it. Kaname was losing control; he couldn't hold his arm back any longer. His talon-like fingernails sliced through Zero's shirt and started to sink into his skin.

Rido, you're a fool! Kaname raged at the other with near maniacal amusement and desperation in a last ditch attempt to save Zero's life. My body is blood-bound to this boy, he's the only reason I survived after Ichijo's death. Kill him, and you've just committed suicide!

As intended, that timely bit of information was enough to totally distract Rido's attention for a moment as he forced himself harshly into Kaname's memories, searching for whether that was the truth or a lie. He never had a chance to find out that it was, in fact, the truth.

Two loud shots rang out at close range and both Kaname and Rido felt the sharp punch of the pain as it jerked them backward.

There was a glimmer of unshed heartache and agony in Zero's eyes as he clutched the grip of the gun in both hands. He pulled the trigger again, punching a third hole in Kaname's chest, straight through the heart. He'd tried... he'd so hard tried to think of any other way that this could go down... but he'd seen Kaname's desperation in the brief moment he'd seemed to be in control. He remembered the loathing and horror in the pureblood's voice the morning in the hotel when Kaname had spoken of the idea of being a prisoner in one's own body.

Zero understood. Better than anyone else ever could. Surely, Kaname had known he would, that's why he'd made his final request to Zero back there in the refinery. Zero had once made Yuki promise him the same thing that Kaname was asking of him now. Kill me when I can no longer be myself, when I am nothing but a danger to others. It hurt like hell, but he cared about Kaname too much to not give him this final escape.

Kaname felt relief, even as pain seared through his chest and blood blossomed darkly down the front and back of his shirt. Rido's reaction was far more violent. He shrieked in rage and pain, seething as he struck out at Zero as one possessed. Zero squeezed off another shot quickly, making the pureblood jerk in pain as a fourth round tore through him. But it didn't check Rido's forward motion. Blood trickled freely from the corners of Rido's mouth, but the vampire was still moving on the steam of sheer hatred as he struck Zero hard across the face, then in the gut, snapping several ribs. Red eyes blazing, he whipped his hand to the side, sending the Bloody Rose flying from Zero's hand and skittering across the room, far out of reach.

Kaname's body was too strong. Zero knew he'd put those first three shots squarely through the pureblood's heart, but he was still moving. He wouldn't be for long – he was a mortally wounded bear lashing out in rage – but he would very probably last long enough to take Zero with him to the grave.

The ex-human only just had time for a moment of panic before another blow rocketed his head back against the floor, dazing him and only narrowly missing snapping his spine. Rido's head dropped to his neck, fangs sliding harshly into flesh again. This time he did drink, urgently, harshly. Zero's blood wouldn't be enough to save him, but it was instinct to try. Already, Rido's grip on Kaname was starting to loosen a fraction, preparing to flee back to his own body in a desperate bid to survive longer than his current host. Kaname felt the barrier between them fall away as Rido began to cede control as he fled. Underneath it all, Rido was a coward who was secretly terrified of the nothingness of death.

Suddenly another gunshot rang out. Rido's head shot back with a shriek and Kaname's body jerked. But the shot hadn't touched Kaname's body this time.

Yuki stood on the top step of the small platform, leaning over the tub. Blood ran down the side of her face and covered her forehead, but she was on her feet again. She'd picked up the Bloody Rose from where it'd fallen and held it now in both hands, pointing down at the thing floating in the tub. Her eyes were painted with anguish as she looked towards Kaname and Zero, but her face was set with determination, and her hands didn't shake as she pulled the trigger again, and again. This creature was responsible for everything... the death of Kaname's parents, the death of her parents, all the pain and suffering of the past few weeks... What he had done to Kaname... what he had done to Zero... Yuki emptied the rest of the clip into the body in the tub, one after the other in rapid succession. Just die already, you horrible, horrible man!

Rido lurched unsteadily, trying to get to his feet, to lunge at her, but he didn't make it farther than his knees. White-hot pain roiled through him as the bond with his real body was severed. Yuki's well placed shots finally stopped the beating of the misshapen heart and Rido's shell gasped once and perished.

Rido panicked and clutched hard at Kaname's body once more, now bereft of any other means of escape and trying desperately to rebuild the barriers he'd just taken down, to reassert control. It was too soon for comfort, but it was still possible for him to transfer completely... His will and his drive to continue existing was strong.

Kaname fought back with everything he yet possessed. His body was failing, his blood seeping away too rapidly, his shattered heart fluttering and seizing, unable to repair itself fast enough as his life hemorrhaged away. This was in his advantage, however. If his body had been strong, Rido could have used that strength against him since he was the one still currently in control of the body. With the inroads he'd already cut so deeply in place, Rido would probably have been able to complete the transfer successfully, even with the early termination of his previous shell. But right now... with one body dead and the other on the brink, Rido was unable to gain purchase, to find the strength to hold on. Unspeakable agony was tearing him apart and fear was starting to gain a hold.

Inside, locked in their internal battle, Kaname smiled coldly. He was in agony too, but he didn't care. He'd already accepted that death was the only outcome for him and it just didn't matter anymore. With Rido still in primary control, he wasn't feeling the full force of the pain either, not yet. But Rido was. He was feeling the agony of two bodies dying at the same time, and Kaname took grim satisfaction in that as Rido shrieked in voiceless torment inside his head.

Do you taste it, Rido? Can you feel the cold grip of death reaching up to squeeze you from existence? What lays beyond, Uncle? What? I'm ready to find out, are you? Kaname hissed darkly. Go ahead and stay, Rido... cling to your pathetic excuse of an existence for a few minutes longer. This body is dying. Do you feel the pain? Is it tearing you apart? I'm going to hold you still and make you feel every last agonizing moment of it... Then I'm taking you down to hell with me. I can spend eternity there happily, as long as I can watch you suffer, he promised savagely.

Rido struggled, flailed... but he was fading and Kaname's strength was growing as Rido's suppression faltered and finally gave way. Kaname felt the mental shackles on him slide free as Rido slipped away, at last, into the much deserved oblivion which he most feared.

As Rido finally died for the last time, awareness and sensation of his own body, previously dulled by Rido's enslavement, rushed back upon Kaname with full force. Pain flooded his senses and he slumped silently to the floor in a growing puddle of blood. His eyes clenched shut in agony, and when they opened again, Zero and Yuki had both edged as close to him as they dared – watching, anguished, uncertain.

"Rido's... gone..." Kaname murmured with a weak hint of a smile touching his bloodstained lips. He was too weak to move, even though he could now. He knew he didn't have long. "Sorry... going to leave a... mess..." he coughed, ruined lungs contracting painfully as he brought up more blood.

Zero didn't need the words. He'd known from the moment the two solidly brown eyes fluttered open again that it was Kaname in control once more. He'd felt it in his bones, through their bond... just as he could feel the pureblood's life slipping swiftly away. Anguish lanced through him. He and Yuki were both beside Kaname almost immediately.

Zero rolled him onto his back, checking Kaname's wounds, pressing on his chest, trying to staunch the bleeding while Yuki gently cradled the pureblood's head in her lap. She was looking questioningly at Zero, who wouldn't raise his head to meet her eyes... because he knew it was already too late. The anti-vampire weapon had done its job with devastating effectiveness. He had killed Kaname. And even though it's what the pureblood had wanted him to do... Zero didn't know how he was ever going to live with that.

"Kaname," Yuki whispered softly, urgently, quickly tugging her shirt away from her neck.

Kaname smiled faintly. He knew what she was thinking, but it was too late for that. He could drain her and Zero both dry and it still wouldn't save him, wouldn't even buy him more time. He was too far gone already. He shook his head slightly.

"No good, dear one," rasped, choking softly on the words and the effort to speak. "S'okay. Not... afraid." His chest was nothing but sheer, horrible fire and he choked again, speaking taking far too much effort and strength. It was true, though. He wasn't afraid to die. He didn't want to, but he had already escaped his worst nightmare. Comparatively, this would be peace.

Kaname's mind was growing foggy, his vision and attention wavering and swimming. Numbness was starting to spread through him, bringing welcome relief even as his mind was dimly aware that it meant the end was very near. But at least he didn't have to die with Rido still in his head as he'd thought he would. At least he was free for these last few moments in time.

Yuki's head was bowed low over Kaname's to hide her tears. She'd shed so many today that she felt empty, stupid and useless... and yet they still wouldn't stop coming, burning her eyes and her skin.

"I love you, Kaname. I have since the first day I remember," Yuki whispered hoarsely into his hair as her tears flowed down to wet the tangled brown curls. Strangely, in so saying, she felt no conflict with what she had told Zero before. Both confessions were equally true. Kaname and Zero, her moon and her sun... they were always there for her, they owned her heart. Life was cruel beyond words. Only now, when it was too late did she finally understand clearly what her heart had been trying to tell her for years. They were both as deeply special to her as living beings could ever be. It was as Kaname had said to her back at the hotel... there was no fathoming the mysteries of the heart, or the incredible cruelty of fate.

Kaname eyes caressed Yuki's face gently, returning the unspoken words she already knew. I love you too.

Zero was still pressing on the wound to Kaname's chest, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Damn it! There must have been something he could have done differently... something he overlooked... something he could have tried to keep this from happening. His head too was bowed, hiding the unmanly tears streaking hotly and unstoppably down his face. He was too wretched to even feel embarrassed about them.

Zero wasn't a pureblood; he wasn't even a vampire by birth. When his bond with Kaname broke, it would not do to him what it would have to Kaname... but it would still leave an aching emptiness inside him. Bond or no bond, losing Kaname would leave an aching emptiness inside him, one that nothing else could ever fill no matter how long or short his life was from here. It was like the pain of losing his family all over again. Zero hadn't thought he had enough left of his scarred heart to feel this way again, to hurt this badly more than once in his life, but apparently he'd been wrong. Nothing could ever make up for this loss. Nothing could ever make it right, or okay. Nothing.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Zero murmured in a broken, almost inaudible whisper, his lips barely moving. He started slightly as he felt something brush his wrist. Kaname's bloodstained fingers slid up to curl around his with great effort. Kaname was so weak they could do no more than just linger there, against Zero's skin, offering whatever comfort he had left to give and seeking one last touch, one last caress... Zero felt like something inside him shattered.

Speech was beyond the pureblood, but he smiled again faintly. His warm gaze held both Zero and Yuki for a moment, before his eyes glazed and fluttered shut, his raggedly struggling chest falling still. His heart stopped. His fingers slid away from Zero's hand, falling back to his side.

The soft, peaceful blanket of death settled over the pureblood with deceptively quiet, aching finality. In the numb silence that followed, Yuki's sobs were the only noise in the still chamber. The sound echoed hollowly in the emptiness, bouncing back like the tears of fallen angels, weeping for an immortal life cut cruelly and unforgivably short.