Only after Zero finally left through the window did Kaname try to rise from where he was sitting. He wavered slightly, gripping the wall beside him for support. Could never have let Zero see that, couldn't let anyone see that. Of all the things that Kaname Kuran was expected and required to be… weak was not one of them. No one could see him weak.

He was still bleeding. Damn that boy and his stupid gun. Slowly shrugging out of the dark, now bloodstained shirt he was wearing, Kaname threw it into the fireplace, letting it burn, like he'd burnt the white school uniform stained with Shizuka's blood after he killed her. Kaname ran his hand through his hair, stumbling to his wash room to clean up. He could feel and smell the presence of the other night class students gathered outside his door. Silent, confused, worried. They could smell his blood… a scent they had never smelled save by accident before. Their instincts and perhaps their friendship drew them like a moth to a candle, instinct telling them to protect him, to protect the pureblood. But they also respected him and none would enter without his permission.

Good. They couldn't see him like this. The respect he demanded from the others here and the vampire world in general demanded that they never see him as anything but in control. It was a heavy weight, this responsibility, but one he'd learned to bear since childhood.

Kaname turned on the tap and let the water run, cupping it in his hands and washing the blood from his face, letting it disappear down the drain. Blood was still dripping down his chest and back from the wound to his neck and he reached for a washcloth. He needed to get rid of the scent of blood, for the others' sake. He was going to be subjected to enough questions later as it was.

A wave of dizziness swept over him and Kaname dropped the washcloth, gripping the edges of the sink tightly to retain his balance. His lips curled in a silent snarl of frustration. This was very unusual. He'd expected himself to be much stronger than this. He told himself, it was only because he'd never given blood before that it was affecting him so, and Zero had needed a lot. The pureblood had been shot with an anti-vampire weapon and then drained harshly - his reaction shouldn't have been a surprise. Kaname expected too much of himself. He felt ill, blood hunger seeping through him in a way he'd not felt in a very long time.

Suddenly, Kaname was aware that he was not alone. Someone had trespassed upon the border of his room without permission, and even though his keen sense of smell told him exactly who it was, he still started to turn sharply to face the intruder. That was a mistake. The action was too sudden for his weakened body. To his deep mortification, the world blacked and Kaname wavered and started to fall.

Supportive hands caught his shoulders, not letting him crash to the tile floor, holding him and offering stability. "Kaname!"

Kaname held onto consciousness stubbornly, recovering quickly from the brief spell. His dark eyes flashed angrily and he held in the urge to tear the interloper to shreds, especially for forcing him to show such weakness. With extreme effort he wrenched away from the hands that deep down, he knew only wanted to help. Leaning his hips back against the sink and gripping the edge with his hands, Kaname glared daggers at the tousle-headed blond trespasser.

"Aido. We may need to have a talk about you entering my rooms without permission. This is the second time tonight, is it not?" Kaname said coldly, the ice in his voice and in the dark, stormy aura hanging around him much more chilling than that which Aido could summon at his command. Kaname may not have seen Aido earlier, but he'd smelled him. He simply hadn't wanted to alert Zero to the fact that they had a witness, and he trusted Aido's discretion, or at the very least, his fear, to keep him silent. Now, Kaname was furious and the very real danger of that fury burned in his dark eyes.

Aido tensed instinctively, half expecting Kaname to slap him again at the very least. He felt his heartbeat accelerate through the roof at seeing that kind of fury in the pureblood's eyes, directed at him. That look could have stopped lesser men's hearts completely. "Forgive me, Kaname," he said quietly. I was worried about you… he didn't say it, but his eyes did.

Kaname knew. He knew that was why Aido had crossed him. It just angered him to be seen like this. And most of all it angered him that right now he was almost glad to see his friend. He almost… needed… Aido. And that was wrong. Kaname Kuran did not need anyone. He couldn't afford to. Even Yuki… he tried desperately not to need her, although he knew he failed on that score, and that's why he worried so about keeping her safe. Why tonight had been necessary in the first place.

Kaname turned his back on Aido, facing the sink again. He said nothing.

Silently, Aido picked up the fallen washcloth and reached around Kaname, running it under the tap. Without a word, he washed the blood from the dorm president's back, cloth sliding up to gently dab at the raw, ragged wound on the side of his neck.

Kaname's fingers tightened on the porcelain sink edge. That hurt and the area was also provocatively sensitive still. "You going to let everyone in here to gape, Aido?" he asked between his teeth, focusing on anger to keep the other sensations at bay.

This time, however, Aido did not tremble at Kuran's wrath. He was too transfixed in his own angry horror at the mess that had been made of Kaname's graceful neck. "You know I'd never do that," he said quietly, maybe a little shortly. "I told them all to stay outside and that I'd make sure everything was all right. They'll not disobey. Kain and Takuma are making sure."

Aido dabbed at the wound again, at a loss over what to do with blood that wouldn't stop flowing. That was just… wrong, unspeakably wrong. It wasn't so easy being near Kaname's blood like this either. It was the sweetest scent he'd ever inhaled. He tried to only touch it with the cloth, but some got on his fingers and it seemed to tingle against his skin. Enticing. Almost seductive. Aido finally pressed the cloth tight to the wound, waiting for it to stop. He'd never looked at Kaname that way, his interests ran towards the ladies, but there was no denying the intense draw of that pureblood scent. At a moment like this, he almost couldn't blame old Ichijo so much for desiring Kaname's blood… even though he'd still try to make a frozen popsicle out of the elder vampire if he ever tried, no matter the consequences.

Kaname gasped softly at the press of the cloth against his torn flesh. He could sense the trouble Aido was having being near his blood. He turned towards his friend, trailing his fingers through the blood still wet on his chest and holding it out towards the other vampire, an unreadable expression on his face. "Do you want it? Aido?" he asked quietly, his look indecipherable. "I am weak; you could take it from me with little resistance. For an aristocrat like you, the power you would gain would be immeasurable. It would be easy to blame it on Kiriyu. The council would never know what you'd done."

Aido stared at Kaname as if he'd grown a third head. Yet there was no denying that his instincts deeply desired the temptation Kaname was dangling so perilously before him. It was, after all, the vampire way. Weakness, meant opportunity. Even the laws protecting purebloods could not stand against such strong desire. But friendship, could.

Aido swallowed hard and tore his eyes from Kaname's bloodstained fingers, keeping the cloth pressed gently against his friend's neck. "No, Kaname. I desire no such thing," he murmured.

Kaname's gaze softened and his hand dropped. "You're lying," he murmured, but his voice was soft now, almost fond. His usual reserved but approachable manner was returning. He could see the desire, the blood red lust lurking in his friend's eyes. But he also saw it being controlled and contained, being chosen against. "You're a good friend, Aido," he murmured softly, closing his eyes as his friend continued to carefully clean him up. His relationship with Hanabusa had never been particularly simple. It was like they were always stepping the wrong way around each other in a dance with no music. But ironically, Kaname sensed that Aido was one of the last people who would intentionally betray him. In the world Kaname lived in, that was something.

Aido was gratified by Kaname's words, and implied forgiveness, but still inwardly seething over what had happened here tonight. He knew. He knew this was Kaname's first bite on the receiving end, and it burned him right down to the ground to know it had been so rough and meaningless. That that little… insect… had dared hold a gun to Kaname as he drank, had hurt him, had torn his neck so badly knowing Kaname would be unable to heal after the wounds inflicted by that stupid toy. It was obvious that Kaname had been nicked by an anti-vampire weapon, or else the wound would already have closed and there would be nothing for Aido to be tending. Aido couldn't know, of course, that Zero had had no idea Kaname wouldn't heal, and had in fact been utterly clueless about the whole thing, really.

"How could you let him, Kaname?" Aido whispered somewhat huskily after a moment, unable to stop himself. He felt as if his friend had allowed himself to be raped, and he just couldn't understand it. "How could you subject yourself to that? I know you want him to protect that girl, but to do such a thing… I'll kill him!"

Kaname put his hand on Aido's shoulder, silencing him with a faint, enigmatic smile. "That would be rather a waste of my blood, don't you think? It was necessary. I will heal, Aido, this…" he waved his hand dismissively. "This is nothing." He paused, brows furrowing slightly, voice taking on a sterner tone. "Stay away from Kiriyu. He took nothing I did not allow him. He does not know our ways, Aido."

Aido didn't like it, but he gave a small, clipped nod. He would obey. He always obeyed.

The blood finally stopped flowing and Aido washed it all away, running the cloth under the water until it was clean. But it was still stained, and the scent of it lingered until Kaname took the cloth from him and cast it into the fireplace.

Kaname managed to make it to his bed on his own, sitting down heavily on the edge and letting his head sink into his hand. The hunger was gnawing at him, pain running through his insides and stabbing in his veins. His fangs had grown partially, simply from his need and the nearness of Aido's scent. He squeezed his temples.

"Aido… blood tablets please, get me a glass…" he requested faintly, willing his friend to hurry as he pressed his eyes shut, dealing with the pain. Blood tablets wouldn't enable his body to heal, or give him what he really needed and wanted, but they would take the edge off his aching need and his body would eventually recover on its own. "Then go," he added softly, for Aido's own safety, his free hand curling into the bed sheets. He couldn't have anyone near him much longer. He was starving and although his control was great, he was weak right now.

Aido didn't move, looking down at Kaname's hunched form.

Kaname's head came up in slightly desperate irritation, his dark hair framing his pale features, blood red tinting his irises. There was no hiding that his fangs had extended. "Now, Aido!" he snapped, not sure how much longer he could hold on.

"Blood tablets aren't going to help you, not enough," Aido said softly. Sure, he knew Kaname would survive. Kuran was strong. He was a pureblood and even now he was not in any serious danger. But the pain he would endure tonight, the tormenting hunger until his body finally replenished itself in its own sweet time… Aido would not see him go through that. Especially not like this. Kaname had given away the right to have the pleasure of choosing someone he wanted, someone he liked, to be his first bite. Aido would not see him suffer so terribly for his generosity.

Kaname frowned up at his friend, impatient, not understanding.

Aido's hands were already undoing his school tie, pulling it off and putting it in his pocket. He tugged his sweater jacket off over his head and unbuttoned his shirt partway down his chest, pushing the collar away from his neck. He'd never offered Kaname his blood before, and Kaname had never asked or shown interest. But Aido knew that his friend needed blood, real blood tonight, to help him heal and recover.

Kaname stared at him, reddened eyes sliding inexorably to the exposed curve of his neck. A deep, dark hunger flared in that passive face. "Aido…" he whispered softly. "I am too hungry. I might hurt you. Get out while you still can," he urged softly, long, pale fingers knotting harder into the sheet he was sitting on as he struggled with his instincts and his desire. Last time he'd drank a friend's blood when he was stirred up with need he'd hurt Ruka. He hadn't been able to stop when she'd told him too and he had yet to completely forgive himself for that. That kind of loss of control bothered Kaname greatly. He knew he was stronger than his friends; they didn't have a chance against him. He knew he could control them with his will as well as his strength. He could kill them. And he wouldn't even be blamed. Kaname feared what he would do to Aido if once he got his teeth into the other man's neck.

If Aido had any sense, he would run now, and leave Kaname to suffer through the path he'd chosen on his own. But Aido wasn't moving, damn him…

"You offer this to me, as your duty to a pureblood?" Kaname rasped, his voice hard-edged, almost haughty were it not for the strain of controlling himself. His gaze bored into Aido.

"No," the answer was soft as Aido knelt down in front of Kaname, putting his exposed neck in easy reach. He was perfectly aware of the risk he was taking. Just as Kaname had been aware of what he was doing for Kiriyu, Aido realized. It went against nature, but it was a choice. "I offer this, to my friend," he murmured. Aido sliced his own skin with his fingernails, drawing a fine line of blood across the junction of his neck and shoulder. He knew the smell would be too much for Kaname to resist in his state, and the rest would follow naturally.

Red completely engulfed Kaname's eyes, his pupils shrinking down to pinpoints, fangs growing out fully at the scent of blood. Before he could stop himself, he'd fallen upon Aido's neck, teeth sinking deeply into his friend's flesh, drinking hungrily.

Starved as he was, Kaname was skilled at blood drawing and he wasted none of Aido's, quickly and easily lapping up the stray drops that escaped as he sucked the other vampire's blood. His friend's blood was delicious, strong, and regenerative. One hand gripped Aido's shoulder, the other sliding into his friend's tousled gold hair, pulling his head back and to the side a little more as Kaname sank his fangs deeper, wanting and needing more.

Aido's eyes closed as he tipped his head willingly. Even ravenous, Kaname was not rough, his mouth naturally skilled at giving pleasure even as he took what he needed. Save for the depth and amount of what was being drawn from him, Aido felt no displeasure at the contact. Actually, it was quite stimulating and he groaned softly into Kaname's hair as the other vampire drank.

The groan rung a shudder from Kaname as he buried his face in his friend's neck, receiving sustenance and breathing in his scent. The intimacy that had been sorely lacking from his earlier contact was disturbingly easy to find here, even though there was nothing but friendship between he and Aido. Silently, the gouges in Kaname's neck healed shut and the gash across his temple disappeared.

He could feel Aido weakening in his arms as he drank, but it didn't matter. Aido wouldn't fight him. Even if he would have, he couldn't, and Kaname needed more, needed… the sudden vision of Ruka, sliding limply from his arms, of the terrified look in little Yuki's eyes as she understood for the first time that all vampires had a dark side flashed upon him, and with a great show of will, Kaname stopped drinking.

Gently, he lapped and caressed the bite wound on Aido's neck with his tongue and lips until it had healed up completely. He'd taken a lot, but he'd not drained his friend critically. It meant that Kaname was still hungry, but no longer critically weak himself. He could deal with the rest on his own.

Aido shivered slightly at the touch of those warm, sculpted lips and he gave a glazed, rueful little smile as they finally separated and he straightened up again. Kaname had not taken as much as he'd been a bit afraid he would, given the other vampire's state, and although Aido felt a little light headed it wasn't serious and he had no trouble rising easily to his feet.

He touched Kaname's cheek, cupping it and turning his friend's face up towards him, fingers brushing gently through the long dark locks that cascaded across the pureblood's features. "You didn't have to stop," he murmured, well aware that Kaname was still quite hungry.

Kaname smiled faintly up at him. "Yes, I did. I'm much better now," his fingers brushed across his healed neck. "Get me some of the blood tablets now please, Aido. I need to rest a while and I truly shall be fine."

This time, Aido did as requested, mixing up a drink and dissolving the tablets in it. He gave it to Kaname. Re-buttoning his shirt, he pulled his sweater back on and re-knotted the tie. No doubt, his fellows on the other side of the door had smelt the scent of his blood as well, even though Kaname had not spilt much of it. But he had no intention of answering questions if asked.

"Aido… tell them it was nothing, a small accident with some sharp glass if they must know," Kaname said quietly from the bed. He downed the red water and lay down, letting his head sink back into the pillow. The others probably wouldn't entirely believe it, but if Kaname Kuran said it, they would accept it.

Aido nodded and slipped from the room.

Don't ever forget. Who it was that gave you this blood.

Zero pressed his face into his palms as he stood beneath the shower. The hot stream had long ago washed away the mix of blood – his own and Kaname's – from his body, but it couldn't wash away his problems. Couldn't wash away the disgustingly amazing sensation of Kaname's blood flooding through him. That… poison… that incredible poison.

Don't forget… how could he ever forget? How could he ever forget what he had been made to be? A creature in a quasi-human shell, lusting for blood in order to sustain his pathetic life. Just waiting for himself to go mad. For his life to have to be ended by Yuki's hand… or maybe Master Toga, or even the Chairman… or one of Kaname's pets perhaps. He'd seen the way they dealt with mad "Level E's". The creatures that their own kind had created.

Zero nearly punched his fist through the wall of the shower. He managed to catch himself in time and only cracked the tile a little. It was going to take time to get used to this new power he seemed to have acquired. The bruises and cuts Kaname had inflicted upon him when he slammed him into the wall and slashed his neck with those unusually sharp nails of his, were already gone as if they'd never been. Hell, Zero practically glowed with health, thrumming with an almost nervous, pent-up energy as a result of drinking Kaname's blood.

Kaname…

Just thinking of that bastard disturbed Zero. He couldn't understand him at all. It bothered him when vampires tried to act like they had hearts, like they could be good people and not just monsters. Zero knew he himself was a monster. It was galling for them to think they weren't. Zero didn't understand the pureblood. He'd killed Shizuka and Zero had been blamed by everyone. But although he'd not cleared Zero, Kaname had not let him take the fall for it either, when it would have been so easy to do so. All he would have had to do was nothing. And now this… strengthening him, prolonging his life and giving him an indefinite ticket to avoiding the madness that had been creeping up swiftly upon him...

Damn it, he would not be indebted to that bloodsucking son of a bitch!

But he was. And that's why he was angry. Sure, he knew Kaname wouldn't have cared if it'd just been about him; it was all for Yuki's sake and the vampire made no qualms about making sure the ex-human knew that. But that only made Zero more miserable. Because Kaname had as much as admitted he loved Yuki, and Zero was perfectly aware that Yuki had been infatuated with the vampire since before he met her. What kind of hope did that leave him? None. And that was probably as it should be – he could give Yuki nothing. Nothing. It was her, always giving to him. If he really loved her, he'd not tie her to his hopeless future. But neither could he stand the thought of her and Kaname… because inevitably, that bastard would turn her into a…. no. No. He'd never let him do that. It didn't matter how much Yuki liked Kuran. Didn't matter how much the pureblood had done for them. He'd kill Kuran before he let him do to Yuki what Shizuka had done to Zero. Before he let him strip her of her humanity and her choice.

That's why he hated Kaname Kuran.

That's why it made no sense, the incredibly intense pleasure he'd taken in sucking Kuran's blood, in playing his lips and tongue against the vampire's tender, torn skin, in wringing from him that small gasp of shock that seemed to reverberate through Zero's soul. Zero wasn't a vampire by birth. He didn't understand the kind of connection caused by drinking another vampire's blood. Didn't know it was normal. To him it was very un-normal and disturbing. All he could do was hate himself for how he had felt and feel guilty. Guilty, angry… and grudgingly, very grudgingly… grateful.

When Kaname awoke, he could tell there were still people waiting outside his door. He pulled himself to his feet and crossed to the dresser, donning a clean, white shirt which he didn't bother to button all the way. He was feeling much better, although still a bit hungry and he made himself another blood-tablet drink, standing by the window and looking out across the Academy grounds. He was going to have to get his room fixed up. He and Zero had made quite a mess of it earlier. Zero… His hand slipped to his healed neck and he sighed quietly. The area where he'd let the other man bite him was still sensitive, even fully healed. He knew that happened sometimes after a bite from another vampire. The sensation lingered, sometimes tingling when the other was near. He'd rather hoped it wouldn't in this case. He didn't want to form any kind of bond with Kiriyu, but what was done was done. It was a minor annoyance and would pass with time, he imagined.

He caught sight of dark hair and a dark uniform bounding across the courtyard from the girl's dormitory. He knew at a glance that it was Yuki and his gaze followed her attentively until she was out of sight. He ached for her. Ached at how formally she treated him, how she didn't seem to be able to just be herself with him as she had when she was a child. How she always, always took Zero's side over his. Did Kiriyu have any idea how much he envied the ex-human? How much he envied the casual way Yuki clung to him, protected him… loved him. No, not romantically. At least… he didn't think it had turned into such on her part, although to be honest he sometimes worried about that. Zero was a brother to Yuki, and she'd do anything for him. But Kiriyu didn't love her as only a sister, Kaname could see, even if Yuki was still blind. Yuki was such a sweet, innocent girl, in many ways still a child. She'd yet to give her heart away to anyone. But sometimes, Kaname feared who it was she would choose if both he and Kiriyu laid forth their hearts.

Most would think that insane, as he was the obvious choice, given their respective positions and prospective futures. But Kaname knew that the heart wasn't a rational organ. His love for Yuki was proof enough of that. No one would ever understand him taking a human bride, would never completely forgive him for so grievously diluting his pureblood line when all the daughters of the aristocrats and even another pureblood princess would all have welcomed him with open arms. Yes. Life was ironic to the point of absurdity sometimes.

If only Yuki could really understand what it was he wanted to give to her. It wasn't a matter of stealing her humanity, it was giving her something so much better. Humans were like a brief breath of wind on the earth. They were here then they were gone, while the vampires, especially the purebloods, simply went on and on. Why anyone would want to remain human when offered the choice was beyond him, but he wasn't callus to Yuki's probable fears and concerns. Especially given what Zero was going through. It wouldn't be the same for her though… He would drink Yuki's blood, and let her drink his freely, as much as she wanted, and she would become a full vampire, still an ex-human, yes, but she would never have to live in fear of becoming a Level-E. The blood bond, so much deeper than a normal marriage vow, would protect her, and bind her and Kaname together for life in the deepest kind of intimacy.

Kaname sighed again. Yes, that was his wish, his deepest, most personal wish. Only time would tell if it would be Yuki's wish as well. He just hoped her heart was not so blind as to lead her into Kiriyu's arms. He wasn't worthy of her and he had no future. Kaname knew she cared for him, wanted to help him… but he would be seriously tempted to kill the frustrating little upstart if Yuki really considered throwing her life away on him. If... he hadn't known that that would make her hate him forever.