Zero squinted his eyes and groaned as he heard Yuuki knock on the door. She walked in and pulled back the curtains. Even through the slits of his eyes he could still manage to glare but like that had any effect on her these days, she was too used to him. So instead he just rolled over and pulled the blankets up over his head hoping she would get the message that he wasn't going anywhere outside his room today. She wasn't getting it.

"I didn't give you permission to annoy me."

"That's alright, I didn't ask for it."

Zero just groaned again and pulled the blankets higher over his head.

Yuuki had other plans. She had prepared a big week for the both of them and very little of it would be spent at Cross Academy. She planned on helping Zero get past his vampire issue which she had only recently found out. She stood there and recalled what had happened only a few nights ago.

'Zero. He's a vampire; a Level E. He's going to lose his sanity. Just like the other Level E's we encountered in the town. His bloodlust will take over him. He will begin to crave blood.'

She placed her fingertips on her neck and lightly skimmed the two holes where Zero's fangs had pierced her neck. She had forgotten to put a new adhesive strip on it.

'But, he was born into the family of vampire hunters, he hates vampires. His family was killed by one, all on the one night. He was bitten back then too, he was bitten by a pureblood. That's why he's becoming a Level E. That's why he will lose himself if he doesn't get to drink off a pureblood. Maybe Kaname-"

Realising Zero was sitting on his bed had stopped her thought track. She could feel his eyes on her and prayed that they weren't looking at where her hand was covering the marks.

'It must have been hard for Zero. He couldn't help it. Its what he is.'

"Yuuki…"

The sound of him saying her name made her jump. She looked at him and saw that her reaction was a bad one. Zero still had his familiar scowl that sent the Day Class students fleeing from his sight. But the corners of his lips had lowered a little more than usual, making it look like he felt guilty. He wasn't looking at her, he was staring at the floor just infront of her shoes.

"Yes Zero?"

"You… alright?"

Zero could see that she was holding the place where he had bit her.

'She's afraid…of me…'

Noticing her hand was still on her neck she lowered it and tugged at the hem of her skirt. This left the wound exposed to Zero's eyes and they quickly turned red as he began to remember the taste of Yuuki's blood. He shut them quickly, trying desperately to prevent himself from moving any closer to her. He began feeling frustrated and scrunched a part of the blanket in his fist. He hated himself.

Yuuki had been looking out at the window and couldn't see Zero close his eyes but she could hear the blankets ruffle as he clenched them, taking it as a sign that Zero was angry at himself.

'It's not his fault. I know he can't stop it. He doesn't have to feel this way.'

She slowly closed here eyes trying to hide the pain that she felt and turned to Zero with a smile on here face.

"Of course I am stupid."

Her eyes were shut so she couldn't see that he had his closed as well but she heard him get up and walk over but she still kept her smile on. She had a slight shiver as she felt his hand on her shoulder and the touch brought her to open her eyes instantly.

"Yuuki…"

Looking up, she met a pair of lavender-coloured eyes and strands of hair covering parts so as to weaken the strength of his stare. Zero had managed to control his blood thirst for four years, and even having tasted Yuuki's blood, he still managed to keep the sane part of himself in control. His gaze was reaching into her soul and it was so intense that she couldn't speak.

'The last time Zero looked at me with such strength was when he…'

Recalling that night was still frightful for her and seeing his eyes the way they were now made the events of what had happened more real. She could see the guilt and apology in them and it made her feel the same. Looking back out the window she finally decided to respond.

"I'm fine Zero."

She decided that she should behave the way she normally does to make it more convincing so before walking out the door she turned and faced him. Zero looked up at her.

"Now hurry up. I've got plans for us and you can't say no. So get dressed and come eat."

And with that she left him.

Zero waited until she had closed the door until he took out the blood tablets from his drawer. He stared down at the packet, and pulled out a tablet. Disgusted with himself, he shoved the tablet back in its box and threw them across the room. The sunlight had crept between the two curtains and was irritating him after a while so he finally decided to put on a pair of black jeans, a dark grey T-shirt, some socks, black Converse shoes and a navy blue jacket with a hood. Looking at himself in the mirror he fixed his hair and looked at the tattoo on his neck, placed over the spot where that woman had bit him.

It had been a year since he joined the Cross family. Zero sat by the fireplace and was clawing at his neck at the spot where he was bitten. He scratched at it until it was bleeding and even after that he kept going. Yuuki had found him doing this, she gasped and here eyes swelled with tears. She immediately grabbed his wrist to put his bloodied hand to her head and put one of here small hands where the scratch marks were. She spoke to him with tears in her eyes,
"Stop… It's gonna be okay"