Disclaimer: Borrowed with much love. Not my own.

Summary: Eyes fluttering open from a black abyss, Zero tilted his head to glimpse the irritatingly smug form of Kuran.

"Pastry?" Zero thought that eerie smile meant trouble and he probably wasn't far off the mark. Hell, if the pureblood could act nonchalant, as if nothing had happened and he hadn't tried to strangle him, then so could he.

A/N: Blackened Wing gave me the idea for the soiree, so a big thank you goes to her. One of the lines in this chapter is from Schindler's List. Enjoy and review!

Chapter III: The Breaking Invitation

Eyes blurry from the darkened abyss Zero unexpectedly rose from, he tilted his head dizzily and glaring at the smug form of Kuran, lifted himself heavily to his uncovered feet.

“Pastry?” Zero nearly choked in annoyance, was that a trick question? Apparently being strangled did not change the pureblood’s… optimism. Holding one of the sweets, palm upward, as if in invitation, the curling grin on Kaname’s lips a telltale sign of hell. Crankily,

“You can take your offer and shove it up your ass, for all I care.” Shivering, Zero moved his hands as if to pull something around himself. Great. Could it possibly get any worse than this? Maybe he was an optimist too, because he sure as hell wanted everything to smooth over.

Being naked, vulnerable in front of the vampire, especially after the startling rage that followed earlier had him on edge, uneasy, shifting his weight to his right side. Calmly taking small bites of the sugary substance in his fingers, Kaname couldn’t control the wavering want to taste the pale skin of Kiryu’s body, instead of attempting to enjoy the pure sweet shoved down his throat.

“How about some common courtesy or does the great pureblood actually lack in generosity behind closed doors?” Ignoring the vindictive stab of guilt clutching at his heart, Kaname shifted and stood from his position, an air of detachment lingering on the planes of his face.

“Yes, Kiryu?” Zero groaned, comparing the older man to a walking temptation, sin itself. Brushing closer, achingly close, trying not to trace the firm, barely hidden, slim body with his dark, dark eyes, Zero breathed heavily, swallowing uncomfortably.

“Can I cover myself now?,” coughing bluntly in red irritation, heat prickling behind his ears, he couldn’t believe he had just parted his lips and come out with it, raising an irritated eyebrow. Teasing,

“Would you like my robe?” Trying not to flutter his eyes closed at the unbidden, impressive image of soft skin and rippling muscle, Zero retorted tartly,

“Yeah, it’s as black as my heart, very amusing, pureblood. Step aside.” Kaname obeyed mutely, a driving curiosity in watching the ex-human’s hurried strides and searching gaze. Gladly accepting the vampire’s un-offered attire, Zero quickly thrust his legs in the nearest pair of pants, not being overly picky, buttoned them and just as swiftly slid his arms through a starched, stiff, button up shirt, struggling with the cuffs at the arm.

Glaring at the offered assistance, forgetting to contain the hushed moan building at the back of his throat, Zero could feel the acute pressure of every slim finger Kaname tightened around his wrist. Rigid, whirling passion sapped his strength, the younger man caught his desire by the neck, pulling away fiercely.

Kaname admitted sternly that yes, at this hesitating moment, Zero was compelling, more so when the collar of his shirt dipped to reveal taunting glimpses of his muscled chest and especially because his scent clung to the ex-human’s skin, refusing to be rubbed off.

Why should he deny himself from the pleasure that could be had? Mainly because Kiryu was not a willing participant, and Kaname found himself pleading guilty to wishing that he actually needed this.

“We are connected by a blood bond, right? So what the hell do you want me to do about it? Act like nothing ever happened and you didn’t try to strangle me?! Try to persuade myself that the ache in my chest that’s eating me alive… if I don’t touch you at every passing second is nothing more than a passing fancy?”

Beginning to apologize, Zero cut him off, harshly, eyes glaring,

“It’s my life Kuran and if I want to blow it away and waste it, then by God, too fucking bad for you!” Anger boiling in the depths of his body, Kaname struggled to contain it but decisively changed his mind, a wicked grin wrapping around his face, twisting the features, demonic shadows playing around his eyes.

“If you sever the blood bond between us, I will die Zero. Or go mad.” Baring his fangs now, Zero barked,

“Oh, yeah, I am so happy that I’m tied to you, pile on more responsibility for the ex-human and then watch him crack! Is that what you want? You want me to believe that this sick, twisted game is for my own benefit? I’ve always hated you, and now you’ve given me even more reason!” Bitterly sickened, Zero snarled unpromisingly at his enemy, the demon drawing on his powers of persuasion to move him.

Nature was reacting to the pissed off aura blistering around the older vampire; bleeding red from his eyes, Kaname exposed his glistening, lengthening fangs. Rows and rows of them winked ominously at the darkening gray in Zero’s eyes, blood searing inside, neither would stop until the other turned into a mesh of broken bones and tattered skin to be unrecognizable. This was going to be bloody.

Cracking his knuckles with intent, Zero began to grin, there was no reason why he couldn’t enjoy this, right? Before he would’ve jumped at the chance to smash his fist into the pureblood’s smug, arrogant, regal, beautiful… ‘don’t finish that thought.’

Reaching for Kaname’s throat, the older man surprisingly indulgent, waiting, and watching. Powerful, cruel fingers tightened, cutting off Kaname’s oxygen, still smiles from Kiryu, demons rolling from his eyes. Scraping jagged nails into the fragile skin, Zero whispered words of looming death, oddly soothing to the pureblood.

“Any last words?” Serious, absorbed, Zero felt like squeezing that firm neck closed forever. Maybe someone could blame him, but he wasn’t about to feel regret.

“A man who saves one life, saves the world in time.” ‘You won’t kill me Kiryu, our bond is throbbing at the mere intent.'

“You’re intolerable pureblood, you know that?” Kaname had won, for now. Zero released his hold and the older man gratefully rubbed his bruised skin, wincing imperceptibly.

Hanabusa Aido strolled in the direction of Kaname’s quarters, carrying an invitation for the upcoming soiree for the pureblood himself. Grumbling about being an errand boy, he only agreed to the job because he felt like he owed it to Kaname. So, here he was, knocking respectfully on the door, hearing an “enter” from inside, and stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of one Zero Kiryu.

Why was he wearing the respected pureblood’s garments? Did he have permission for that, and even if he did, what the hell was going on? Kaname had a cloth to his neck, dabbing at the closing skin, and Kiryu looked ragged, as if itching for a fight. Suddenly feeling the intense need to leave and never look back, about to excuse himself, the older vampire beckoned Aido further into the hellish aura between the pureblood and the ex-human.

“You have something for me?” Extending a hand for the invitation, it quickly passed from one set of fingers to another.

“Thank you Hanabusa. You may leave when you’re comfortable.” Was that a small, teasing smile drifting over his face or had the blond imagined that?

“Y-yes Kaname-sama. You’re welcome.” Glaring at Zero as if to ask why he was so close to the esteemed, treasured, well-known Kaname Kuran, Aido turned on his heel and swiftly closed the door behind him, blocking out the sight of Kiryu shrugging his shoulders in response.

‘Why don’t you ask your Master over here and see what lies he has to tell you.’

Silence settled over the rustling, billowing curtains and silk sheets that Zero had come to despise. They had almost made love on them a few hours before, oh God, he was slipping. Making love? Enemies did not make love; it must‘ve been one of those obvious rules that he and Kaname overlooked.

Kaname briefly scanned over the words in his hands. Closing the paper with a flick of his wrist, the vampire braced himself for the inevitable, patience willing. Red eyes reaching for even an ounce of compassion, he found none.

“I want you to come with me to this soiree, Zero.”

“As your partner, Kuran?,” he scoffed, feeling wrath building in his chest again. Walking a fine line, Kaname tried to appeal to him,

“We don’t have to walk arm in arm, if that’s what you’re wondering. You would attend under the auspices that you are merely observing so the two sides get along. This is hardly a request.” Taking offense to the harsh command in the pureblood’s rich, demanding words, Zero strode to the only escape.

“I’ll make sure to spill coffee on this, so take it as a thank you.” Tugging on the end of the crisp shirt, he promptly closed the door behind him.

Kaname seethed in anger for a moment before securing his… feelings for the ex-human deep inside where he could no longer sense anything other than the ache.

The pureblood opted for a strict conformity to covering all traces of his desirable skin for the soiree. Yearning only for Zero’s touch, he snarled, unwilling to leave in this state. Breathing heavily, Kaname wearily pulled on his mask, hiding, the one that never failed and tightened the tie around his neck, cutting off his oxygen.

Demons didn’t need to breathe, did they?