Bloody Petals

Chapter 34

Everything was already falling into place... and yet he felt like it was getting even more complicated than it was before.

"So when those Level Es attacked me, you were already watching." Zero voiced, earning him a nod from Yoru. "And the part where the Level Es lured me deep into the forest was still part of the Association's plan." Again, he earned a nod.

"Yes, it was to lure you to where Shizuka Hiou was." Yoru agreed. "However, our plan was put into motion right afterwards. I shot you with the red bullets just as I hid my presence so that Shizuka wouldn't realize you weren't alone. The Association is actually in cahoots with some noble vampires in the Council. They asked to use her in return for gaining something else. They wounded her to make sure she would be desperate for blood."

"Wait, so you can hide your presence?" Aido suddenly asked, as if just realizing that fact. "That means..."

Yoru looked confused because of the sudden change of topic but he still nevertheless nodded. "Yes, I can do that... an ability a normal human can never do. I can erase my presence to the point where even pureblood vampires would have a hard time trying to feel my presence. It's the perk of my vampire blood I was telling you guys about earlier. I can also change my presence at will. That's why Kiryuu never realized that the hunter that night and his classmate Yoru Miura is the same person. I can change my presence to make myself into just a normal high school student..." And he did change his presence to the one they were all accustomed to – the presence of a simple Day Class student. "...Or I can change into my hunter presence so that Kiryuu and Aido-senpai will recognize me." When he changed his presence into that of a hunter from that night, Zero's eyes immediately widened. It was Yoru alright. Aido also recognized that presence as the one who appeared in that church that afternoon. "I can also change my presence into that of a vampire so that I will appear as a normal vampire to everyone's senses."

"Wow." Yuzuru voiced when he recognized the presence as that of a vampire. "That's some talent you got there."

"It was just a simple ability I gained from my vampire blood. Aside from that, I am simply just a normal human hunter." Yoru then reverted back to his real presence – the one which he had been using this entire time. "Going back to the topic, I shot Kiryuu because it was needed to make him weak in order for Shizuka to be able to bite him. I was instructed by Ichiru-sama to never leave him alone in the woods. When Shizuka told him an enemy was approaching, it was actually me whom she felt." He explained patiently as he looked at Zero. "I made my hunter-presence fluctuate to alert her. That's why she left you all alone. I watched you the whole night. I was instructed to help you in case your body can't take the sudden change. However, Ichiru-sama also warned me not to approach you carelessly because my presence might register in your senses as an enemy and you might attack me even in your state."

Kaname growled quietly at that just as he gave Yoru a glare. He was right to suspect Yoru after all. The way that male looked at his lover was way too familiar for his liking. It irked him to no end. Not to mention those words he kept on saying were just too flattery. It's like he's telling Zero that he was the one who saved the hunter that night and not anybody else. It's really annoying.

Takuma bit the inside his cheek to prevent himself from laughing. Shiki subtly nudged him on the side to warn him. Aido cheered in his mind because he wanted to do just that. How dare that Yoru guy try to seduce his Kaname-sama's lover!? He definitely gave Yoru one hard glare before he looked at his Kaname-sama. Kain sighed quietly since their leader was being overly possessive again. Ruka nodded in agreement at Kaname's action. It was only right for his leader to tell Yoru that Zero already belonged to someone else. It was somehow romantic for her.

Zero arched an eyebrow at his brunette lover since they all heard the quiet growl. It made him feel even more uneasy when Kaname actually gave him a rather bright and stunning smile even though the brunette was oozing with too much dark aura. The hunter couldn't help but sigh. Kaname must be thinking something along the lines of romance, third party, and jealousy again. He didn't know it but he was actually right.