Chapter Text
It was maybe four am when Zero heard loud knocking on his house door. He grumbled loudly on his pillow. He had just gotten back from a mission not even two hours ago. His hair is still damp when he passes his hand over it, gets out of bed, and grabs Bloody Rose from his nightstand.
Right when he got close to it. The person behind the door yells his name.
“Zero!” Oh, it's her, Yuuki. “ I know you’re there! Please open the door, it's an emergency.” She pleads.
Zero hesitates for a second while looking at the intercom camera. She looks the same as she did three years ago, though her hair is now styled up, making her look a bit more mature and more regal. Like a real high-class vampire that she is. It almost takes Zero half a second to register the Yuuki of now to the Yuuki of then.
Zero and Yuuki had parted ways after the whole Rido accident, and her getting her memories back, after that, it was like she became a whole different person that Zero found too disquieting to be around. It wasn’t the Yuuki he grew up with, despite still maintaining those same memories they went through. She acted pridefully and gave off the ‘I'm stronger than you’ aura that would make even her friends annoyed. It was too much like Kuran that it kept sending his hunter instincts into overdrive.
Nevertheless, Yuuki stayed with Kuran, doing who knows what during the last one and a half years of the academy; meanwhile, Zero finished Cross Academy and graduated. He continued his vampire-hunting obligations despite being a vampire. It's a miracle he managed so far, especially with the hunter’s council having allowed it with minimal opposition.
“Zero, open the door, c’mon!” Yuuki yelled, banging on his door.
Zero sighed again and went to open the door, completely glossing over the bundle cradled on Yuuki’s arm in the camera until the door was wide open and in his face.
She quickly stepped forward, Zero startled, stepping back, but Yuuki moved the bundles into his chest, causing his arms to naturally wrap his arms around…something moving..?!
“Yuuki..!”
She steps back and stares coldly at the bundle, then at a bewildered Zero. Zero looks down, it's a baby, he’s wearing sun-printed sleeping pajamas, a mob of dark brown hair, and large brown eyes that reflect red at the right angle. Zero’s mind works at breakneck speed to come up with a reason for this, and he doesn’t like any of them
He glares fiercely, or as fiercely as he can with a babbling baby in his arms in his sweats and large T-shirt. “Yuuki. I am not taking care of this baby. No matter what you say. Go to Cross-”
“ I can’t!” She interrupted, she wiped her hands in her expensive dress, almost as if disgusted at what she had just held, Zero thinks. “ Cross can’t know, Zero. He just can’t.” She wiped her eyes.
“How the hell wouldn’t he be able to tell, huh? The baby is a pure blood vampire, even I can tell.” He argues back. Though a baby, he can feel a small, barely traceable, dangerous aura from him. It’s the same for when he meets a high-class vampire, less noticeable, but maybe they just hide theirs to make themselves less dangerous to humans. Plus, the fact that he’s practically a copy of both Kuran and Yuuki isn't any better.
Yuuki continues, completely ignoring what he just said, “I can’t- I can’t take care of him, Zero. Kaname’s not waking up, no matter what I do. So what's the point of raising a child if he’s not there?” She asks mournfully. “Plus, I didn’t think he would be so-so fussy all the time! I can’t even do the things I like anymore. It’s too much! “ She hisses loudly, causing the baby to hiccup and wiggle around, starting to weep.
They both stare at the baby, Zero in uncomfortable horror, and Yuuki in frustration.
“See! I had had enough, Im too young to be dealing with this, I just want a break from it all! Even Kaname’s council wouldn’t stop asking about him. It's like they think I’m going to drop him. Waking Kaname up should be the priority! Not him.“ She argues back, she looks almost half mad, Zero doesn’t know what to say, “I've had enough.” She turns and starts walking away quickly. Leaving Zero to digest her decision for a few seconds before it caught on.
“What the fuck?! Yuuki! Yuuki-wait!” Zero runs after her, but when he gets out of his front yard past his gate, she's gone.
How the fuck is Zero, a twenty year old vampire Hunter, and a low level E vampire going to raise a pure blooded vampire child without royally fucking this up.
He goes back inside, baby in his arms, and heart heavier than a boulder. He softly puts the baby on the couch, who is now happily content with making baby sounds and looking around. Zero stares and stares until it starts becoming real that this is really happening to him.
Oh, when he gets his hands on Yuuki….
He sighs, passing his hands over his face. He's too tired to rationally process this, yet still too irritated and angry to go back to sleep. He gazes at the baby that looks at him with wide, trustful eyes, completely at ease near Zero, A well-known vampire hunter. The irony is not lost on him.
Zero curiously moves one hand to caress and press on one plump red cheek, making the baby smile, small fingers grasping onto his own.
He is so small, so tiny. Something in Zero fills with warmth and a sense of rightful anger. How dare Yuuki rid herself of her newborn baby just because he's an inconvenience to her? Or because Kaname’s not with her to share the responsibility. She could've given him to any of the other vampires around her, and yet she went to him. He doesn't even have the slightest clue as to why.
The baby whimpers again, and without hesitation, Zero holds him again. Carefully supporting his back and head (thank God for those random bits of knowledge he knows about babies), and snuggled him to his chest. The baby stopped whimpering the moment he felt Zero hold him. Something deep, hidden behind hunter instincts in his core felt delighted, proud, almost purring at the sight, and his vampire seal felt warm against his neck, but he ignored it.
“Well, at least you're cute.” He says, wiggling his finger to amuse the baby.
Then he realized, Yuuki never gave him a name. He swallows another lump in his throat. And thinks of a name, something simple since he's never been good at naming things. Usually, he left that for Yuuki back when they were kids.
…Alright. Hmm. “ How about..Seiju?”
“Buh!” The baby squeals happily. Zero nods. Good enough for him.
Now he has some calls to make, the sun rays are just starting to enter the window. He can’t raise a child without food, diapers, and other baby supplies.
Gods, he hopes he knows what he’s doing.