Together At Last

It was only him and Zero in his rooms. Kaname couldn’t believe his luck. If he didn’t have to keep himself composed, he would have danced around the room. Stay calm. He reminded himself, don’t blow this.
“If you’re not even going to talk to me, then I’ll just leave,” Zero said, not wanting to stay any longer than needed.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Kaname turned to Zero. “Why don’t you tell me what you already know.”
“Basically, everything a Class E needs to: You go crazy, the council kills you.”
“Let me get this straight, you learned nothing from your family?”
“No, I was too young when they were killed.”
“Alright, from the beginning then . . .”

*~*~*

For the next few weeks, Zero spent increasingly longer hours in Kaname’s rooms. As a result, they grew closer and Zero’s hatred started to disappear. Yuki had been forgotten, pushed aside like a doll no longer played with.
The whole campus sensed a change in the boys. Both were lighter, happier, more alive. They were no longer rival, but they weren’t quite friends either.

*~*~*

Kaname was dosing on his couch when there was a knock on the door. He leapt up and quickly swung the door open. He did his best to keep his face from falling when he saw it was Yuki, not Zero, at his door.
“Yuki,” he said, caught off guard.
“Hello, Kaname,” she said looking at her feet. They stood in the doorway for a moment before Kaname remembered his manners.
“Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
Kaname was wondering why she was here when she asked, “What have you done to Zero?”
Taken aback by her forwardness, he was at a loss for words. He settled with, “What do you mean, Yuki?”
“He’s different. He’s never home, he’s not following me everywhere, he is even making jokes!”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Yuki looked up, “I guess it is. It was just so sudden, I . . .”
“Yuki,” Kaname interrupted, “you don’t have to worry. I have done nothing to Zero.”
“I know. It’s just that he’s acting like he doesn’t even notice me.” She paused, realizing something. “You either!” she accused, “You haven’t talked to me in weeks! What the hell is going on?!”
Kaname sighed, his cover was blown. It didn’t really matter seeing how he was going to tell Zero later that night, but still. “Yuki,” he started, “you had better sit down.”
Within the next hour, she knew everything. From his secret love for Zero to why he had had to use her. Worst of all, she understood. She didn’t scream or yell, just wished him luck and hugged him for his comfort, not hers.
She was at the door when she turned and said, “Thanks for telling me Kaname. At least now I know.” With one last small smile, she turned and left.
It was about fifteen minutes later when another knock came. This time he was careful to not get his hope up. He walked calmly to the door, opened it and . . . there was no one there. Only a card hanging from a string.
It read:
Kaname-
Meet me in the back gardens. It’s a little
more private there. I have something I need to
tell you.
See you soon,
~Zero

Kaname’s heart leapt. Where was more private than his rooms? There must be another reason he picked that place. He couldn’t figure it out, so he headed down to the garden.

*~*~*

When Kaname walked into the garden, he looked around, expecting to see Zero. He wasn’t there. Kaname didn’t get it. Zero had told him to meet him there. Maybe Yuki really was mad. Maybe this was a trick, revenge. Well, he thought, I might as well take a walk since I’m out here.
He walked along the path that led to maze that was the back garden. Hands in his pockets, head down in disappointment, Kaname didn’t see the shadow that moved ahead of him.
Yes, Zero thought, He did exactly as I expected. I was afraid he wasn’t going to show at all.
It still doesn’t mean that he feels the same, said another part of his brain.
I thought I told you to shut-up, he retaliated.
Kaname was about ten feet in front of Zero, but still hadn’t noticed him. Too distracted by his thoughts, Kaname walked right past where Zero was without noticing.
Zero took a deep breath, readying himself. He grabbed Kaname’s hand before he got out of reach. Kaname, surprised, spun around . . . right into Zero’s arms.

*~*~*

~ One hour and twenty minutes earlier. ~

Yuki hadn’t been in class. He knew that she wasn’t sleeping, he had woken her up. There were only two places she would be: the chairman’s office or Kaname’s rooms. Seeing as he had just walked out of the chairman’s office, she was with Kaname. He didn’t know why that made him so angry, he’d analyze it later. First he had to go see why she had skipped class.
He was down the hall from Kaname’s room when he heard him invite her in. she was just getting here? Where had she been all the rest of the time? He was about to barge in and demand to know when he heard her ask demandingly, “What have you done to Zero?”
That question made him stay outside the door and listen. He had heard the whole conversation.

*~*~*