I do not own Vampire Knight, nor the characters of whom belong to Matsuri Hino...although I wish I could... I do, however, own the extra characters that will later on reveal themselves in these chapters.

Also, just a quick note-this is a KanameXYukiXZeroXOC love story. So yes, KanameXZero is also included. Mainly this story focuses on a ZeroXOC love fanfic. For a better understanding of how Kaname and Zero act toward one another, I recommend reading BlackenedWing's CRIMSON DOOR fanfic. You don't really have to, to understand the concept of this story. It just helps, is all.

Anyway, Hope you enjoy yourselves...! Reviews and Flames are welcome.

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Chapter One: Lost

The darkness of the night was nothing short of an omen as it slowly crept across the sky. It resembled a velvet blanket unwrapping itself far and wide. The stars were hidden as thunder clouds remained hovered in the air, and the scent of fresh rain was everywhere. The grass, a dark shadow laid flat across the ground, was spread out as a vast ocean.

Death lingered around him.

It emanated from his clothes, even.

Still, despite the black sky and the raw stench of blood on his torn clothing, the silver haired boy dragged himself up the grassy hill. His cheeks were the palest of pale, no emotion whatsoever on his face. His eyes, usually a shade of dim amethyst, were colorless. They held no life at all. No trace of hope... no light...nor amity...or peace... They were completely dead, drained from the afternoon events. The boy felt numb all over, down from his toes all the way up to his torn open, bleeding neck.

Zero winced as he stumbled slightly up the hill, causing for his injured arm to reach out to catch himself steady. His other arm was completely useless; Zero guessed it was probably broken in several pieces. He couldn't even feel it anymore.

The mere fifteen minute walk up the hill turned into an hour filled with agony and pain. Every step for him was pure torture, seeing that his left thigh was practically ripped open while the other leg carried the rest of his weight up the hill. His clothes, or what was left after that brutal beating, hung limp in tattered rags off of his figure.

Zero tried not to think about anything other than getting to the top of the hill, to where Yuki and Kaname were waiting for him inside the Academy.

Yuki...

Kaname...

He couldn't imagine the expressions on their faces if they ever found out about where he had been for the past two weeks. Almost fourteen days... Two weeks, Zero had been away from them. Normally, Yuki would be worried sick about him. And after exchanging Blood Bonds with Kaname, the pureblood vampire would also be wondering where he had gone off to. Normally, both of his loves would have been worried sick after him, sending search parties out to look for Zero.

But after that last fight that they had shared almost three weeks ago...

Zero mentally shook his head clear of such memories. He couldn't think about that fight now, nor the fact of what to do if Yuki or Kaname refused to let him enter the Academy grounds anymore. He had to focus on just getting to the Academy.

Minute after minute, Zero was losing more blood. Second after second, more of Zero's life was being drained away due to his injuries, and because of his dispirited heart. He was becoming weaker with every step he took, and he craved the bitter taste of blood.

Every few minutes, Zero would have to pause for a long awaited breath before he could go on. But finally, the outline of Cross Academy slowly loomed into view over the treetops of the forest.

The boy felt his knees grow weak, and his throat become dry at the mere sight of it. He swayed with fatigue the closer he got to the Academy gates, and sweat dripped off his upper lip. After a moment, his legs gave out and he fell to the ground, leaning to one side as he concentrated on breathing correctly.

Inside the gates, two figures approached him fast. Zero breathed out a heavy sigh of relief as he gazed up at the nearing face of Yuki. Her brunette strands clung to her face as she raced toward him, her eyes brimming with tears once she had gotten close enough to see the damaged state he was in. Zero had almost forgotten the warm glow that surrounded Yuki every time he looked at her; he had almost forgotten the sweet scent of her racing blood that belonged to her and only her.

How could he have forgotten all about her? Yuki...his Yuki? But he knew the answer to that question, and he didn't want to face that now. So instead, he just savored the expression of relief and love on her face as she knelt close beside him.

"Zero...?" she breathed, her voice trembling in the cold weather. "What on earth happened? Are you alright? Do you need...?" Blood...? But Yuki had already glimpsed the crimson hue in Zero's eyes before she had managed to finish her sentence. His bloodlust was growing strong, and Zero could feel the tough, tight bands that stretched across his chest. He could heart the loud beating of Yuki's heart so close to his ear. A tilt of his head to the side, and he would be devouring her neck.

But he couldn't do that. Not after what's happened... Zero pinched his lips together, looking past Yuki above her head to where Kaname stood. He was frowning toward the ex-human, a look of deep concern etched onto his face. Kaname couldn't help but feel a huge wave of guilt and remorse as he watched his love bleeding his life out on the grass. He could smell blood everywhere on Zero. Blood that wasn't his. Bruises and cuts covered every inch of his body, his left thigh had been clawed on one side, and his right arm appeared broken.

"Yuki, he needs to go inside," Kaname said to her, kneeling beside Zero as well to look more closely at his injuries. "Please prepare his bedroom and a warm bath."

Without another word, Yuki nodded and hurried off back into the Academy. She risked a glance back at Zero, pursing her lips together at the awful mess she saw.

"Take care of him, Kaname," she whispered before she finally strode off. She couldn't bare the sight of Zero, desperate and hurt, on the ground in a puddle of blood. What on earth happened to him...? She wanted to know.

"K-Kaname," Zero whispered, staring at the vampire as he reached down to pull Zero into his arms.

"Shhh, don't speak," he coaxed, brushing the wet strands of silver hair from Zero's face. "Don't worry, Zero. You're safe now. I'm here," he muttered. Then, with one sweep of his hands, he had Zero cradled close in his arms. In the past, Zero would have absolutely refused to be carried this way, especially by Kuran. But he was weak and slowly dying. He couldn't refuse Kaname's hands off even if he wanted to. Besides, it felt good to snuggle up to someone's warm chest. Zero dipped his lips into the bend of Kaname's neck, his mouth brushing the night class uniform away from his throat.

Kaname chuckled at the sight, inhaling softly as he felt Zero's lips touch his skin. How he longed to feel those cool, soft lips again. How Kaname had missed Zero's warm, heated touch. For two whole weeks, he and Yuki had done nothing but worry over him. They had sent out search parties after Zero, afraid that he had ended up hurt or dying in a ditch.

Sadly, their fear wasn't too far from the truth.

Just before Zero had left, the two of them had gotten into a fight with Zero. A stupid fight, really. A pointless one, in fact. At that moment, the pureblood couldn't even recall what it had been about. But Zero had stormed off into the town, and the pair had left it as that. They thought that Zero would let off some steam, and then shortly return back home to them. But hours had passed, and the hours turned into days, which later turned into weeks.

To see Zero alive, and...somewhat looking alright, was a tremendous relief to the pureblood. And yet, something wasn't right. Zero didn't smell the same as before. Something was different. Odd almost. And Kaname was scared to admit that he didn't like the fact of Zero feeling or smelling different. Not at all.

Zero couldn't even feel the rocking movement of Kaname's walk as they traveled over the courtyard toward the Academy entryway. Kaname moved with the grace of silk. Zero recalled several times when he had held Zero, and he snuggled his head further in Kaname's neck. How he missed the scent of the pureblood. How he missed being carried so gently by him...

What had possessed Zero during the last two weeks? What kind of sick monster was he to forget all about Kaname and Yuki, to make him abandon them and do something so unforgivable?

...Still..., Zero couldn't help himself, even with his lips inches from Kaname's, he couldn't help think of that person. The mere thought of that face sent flutters into his stomach, and there was an empty feeling in his heart that wouldn't go away. It would forever be there, Zero thought darkly to himself. For the rest of his existence, that empty, achy feeling in his heart would forever last as a deep scar.

He almost whimpered at the thought of it.

How could he have been so stupid...!?

Kaname could sense the diverse, raging emotions playing within Zero, and his curiosity wondered. Depression...humiliation...death...devotion...and love -- all these things, Kaname could feel inside Zero. It was thanks to the blood bond that they shared that he could even feel the sudden hollowness in Zero's heart. The pureblood frowned.

What on earth happened to his Zero?

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Yuki listened to the roar of the faucet as water poured into the large tub. Her sleeves were rolled up as she waited silently by the sink, her mind wandering over to Zero.

For two weeks, Yuki had lived in guilt and anxiety. Not a second went by when she was wondering where he was, hating herself for having that stupid fight with him. She wished she could take back those words that they had all exchanged to one another. She wished things had gone about differently.

But that was impossible. She knew it, too. Even if Zero was back, despite whatever had happened to him, she knew, deep in her heart, that Zero would never forget what happened. He would never ignore the growing resentment in his heart.

Ever.

And that's what hurt Yuki the most. She loved Zero. But she loved Kaname as well. These last few weeks had been hard on her just as much as it had been for Kaname. For the last couple of days, the light in his eyes had almost completely disappeared. Maybe if it hadn't been for that Concealment Spell that Zero had put on himself, maybe Kaname would have reacted to his disappearance a bit better. But that just made it worse. Kaname had no idea where Zero was, and that painful itch at the side of his throat where Zero had bore his mark on Kaname continued to trouble him. No matter how much Kaname tried to soothe Yuki by telling her that Zero was alright out there by himself, she knew that he was trying to comfort himself at the same time.

Yuki sighed, mentally shaking her head from such memories.

Zero was back.

That was all that mattered.

He was back and everything would go back to normal as it had been...

...Somehow, Yuki was having trouble believing her own words.

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Hey it's me! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I really do!

Sudden voice in background: Of course they will. If they don't, I'll kill them all!! Mwahaaahaaahaa!

Me: Huh? Who are you? Who's there?!

Voice: ...

Me: Uh, ok...Anyway, Next...! Part Two. Yay! Have fun!

Voice: ...They better...(grins evilly)

Me: ...