Bloody Petals

Chapter 10

Cross watched Kaname's expression and he was convinced that the pureblood looked at Zero in quite a different manner than other people. Kaname caught his gaze and merely smiled. Cross then patted Zero's head again. "I'll protect you. So you better finish your meal now!" He voiced the last statement in his child-like manner and it made Zero's worries ease a little. The young hunter ate fast and Kaname watched him in amusement. Cross stood up from the table and prepared milk for the silver-haired hunter. "Kuran-kun, do you want milk too?"

"No, it's the middle of the nigh–, I mean day..." Kaname answered distractedly.

"You like it, right?" Cross smiled at the silver-haired hunter and put the glass of milk on the table beside Zero's now empty plate. Zero nodded and took the glass.

"Thank you, Chairman." Zero answered before he gulped from the glass. He really wanted it right now, especially now that his heart and mind were in disarray. It was calming him down and making him think better.

"Neko." Kaname muttered under his breath but Zero and Cross, both having a keen hearing, heard the word quite well. Zero's thoughts and fears about the day after tomorrow were immediately dampened by the sudden urge to punch some pureblood with a smug grin on their faces.

"You spout the same thing as Aido. You really are his master." He answered, restraining with all his might. He knew he wouldn't win against a fight with a pureblood. He would only look more pathetic. "Cats aren't the only ones that drink milk. And not all cats drink milk either."

"Oh?" Kaname voiced with that same smug tone that annoyed the hell out of Zero even more. "Really now, Kiryuu?" The hunter's annoyed expression was amusing him and he was enjoying how Zero always reacted so strongly when it came to him. He liked how he could change the aloof and cool expression that Zero wore in front of other people.

"Shut up, vampire." Zero couldn't help but say the words. He knew he wouldn't win against a verbal battle with some witty pureblood whose happiness was brought upon by Zero's humiliation and annoyance. Kaname chuckled and Cross couldn't help but laugh as well. After all, it was a very nice tactic for Kaname to take Zero's mind off the subject earlier. He was thankful the pureblood was a very cooperative person right now, not that Kaname ever refused to cooperate with him though.

"Don't tease him too much, Kuran-kun." Cross said in his childish voice and expression.

"Sorry, I just can't help it. Silver-haired hunter-san is a very amusing person after all." Kaname voiced as if the subject of their conversation was not present at all. He knew that would annoy Zero all the more, and it did. Zero glared at him and he enjoyed it even more. The glare showed how annoyed Zero was, but it wasn't the hostile glare that the hunter wore during their first meeting and it also wasn't the glare that Zero wore the first time he talked to Zero about the matter of drinking his blood. It's somehow refreshing to know that Zero was slowly but gradually warming up to him.

"Why are you here anyway, vampire?" Zero asked in annoyance. "Shouldn't you be sleeping with your rowdy pack?"

"How rude. I'm here to wait for Yuuki." Kaname answered in amusement. If any other vampire said that to the pureblood, not that there would be someone to do so, he would've immediately gripped that vampire's throat and crushed it with his overwhelming power. But it was Zero. And not only was he okay with it, which surprised him a little, he was even amused. Zero was way too vulgar with his words, and that was exactly what Kaname was enjoying. No one had ever dared say something offensive to him and the hunter was the first. Zero's cool expression twisted with annoyance was only too gorgeous for Kaname to gaze at. Zero gave him another glare before the latter drank his remaining milk. Kaname smiled to himself. The way Zero was acting, he would think that the hunter's guard was down even in his presence. He'd take things slowly, and then he'd definitely, definitely... He leaned his head on one side and gently put his cheek on his curled fingers. His elbow rested on the table and he wore a delighted smile as he stared at the hunter, or more specifically, the hunter's creamy neck.