A/N: I was not thrilled with how the Vampire Knight series went, so I've decided to take the story in what I feel is a more interesting direction. I didn't read the story to the end, so some of my stuff won't match what happened in the series.

Kaname's heart burned with pain as he looked out his dorm room window and saw Yuki walking with Kiryu on patrol. It seemed her memories were coming back. Not entirely, but enough that she was desperate to learn more, to learn the truth. Part of Kaname wanted her to remember. He wanted Yuki to remember that she was supposed to love him and not Kiryu. He wanted her to remember that they were promised to one another. He wanted to live out eternity with her. He wanted the impossible.

Wordlessly, Kaname let the curtain swing shut. It had been too long since the furnace that powered the vampire hunters' weapons had been fed. If things went on like this, the Hunter Association would be useless, and dangerous vampires would run rampant. As much as Kaname disliked the hunters, he knew they were a necessity. Too few vampires were willing to police their own kind, even the Level E vampires.

It felt like the lives of millions rested upon Kaname's shoulders as he forced himself to his chaise and flopped down. He covered his eyes with the back of his arm, detesting his existence. Why did he have to have been reborn now? Why did that foul Rido Kuran, in all the centuries that he lived, have to pick the moment he did to resurrect Kaname?

Humans who craved immortality were fools. It was a bleak and destitute existence. One that dulled the heart and the senses. Kaname's world, through his millennia of living, had become gray and lifeless. He could summon up no feeling for the events occurring around him. Descending into what he hoped might be an eternal slumber had been as close to bliss as he could hope to get.

Then…he'd been awakened by Rido. He'd turned his weakened form into that of a baby and his kind descendants, Juri and Haruka, had raised him in place of their lost son. Then…then…the Kurans had another child. Yuki. Impossibly, she'd brought light back into his dark world. She made him feel hope, and joy, and love. Life had meaning again. The days with Haruka, Juri, and Yuki had been the best of his very long life.

The thought of marrying Yuki one day had made the thought of eternal life not only bearable, but something he looked forward to, something he suddenly desired more than anything he'd ever desired before. To live with Yuki by his side was a dream…and only ever a dream. It lasted a few short years before Rido destroyed that dream and Juri gave her life to lock away Yuki's vampire side, to turn her into a human. Before she'd died, Juri had begged Kaname to protect Yuki. To watch over and keep her safe. As a human.

Everything in him had rebelled at the thought. His promised eternity with his very reason for existence had been snatched from him so quickly, so unfairly. Leaving the young Yuki with Cross had been excruciatingly difficult. To simply walk away from the source of all his light and joy…to have her look at him with fear in her eyes…something inside of him broke.

True, he'd still been able to see Yuki upon occasion, and those moments were the only thing that kept him going. And then he'd been able to work with Cross to create a school to foster better relations between humans and vampires. He did it for Yuki's sake, of course. Better relations between the two species meant Yuki would be safer…the school also meant he would be able to see Yuki more often. Being so close to her, yet unable to really be by her side was almost as much a torture as it was a joy…and seeing her grow so close to Kiryu had been pure torture.

The Kiryu boy was a useful tool to keep Yuki safe, but every time he laid his hands on Yuki, Kaname wanted to rip his arms off. Every time Zero looked at Yuki, Kaname wanted to gouge his eyes out. What right did that pitiful Level D vampire have to even gaze upon Yuki's brilliance? What right did he have to bask in her presence? But the worst thought of all was…when Kaname sacrificed himself and was once again sealed into a deep slumber, for as the original ancestor he could not die, would Yuki, his Yuki, become Kiryu's lover?

~.~

"Please come with me, Zero," Yuki begged.

"Why do you need me to talk with Kuran?" Zero asked, brusquely tugging his arm away from Yuki's grasp. "You talk to him all the time, don't you?" Zero paused when he realized Yuki was no longer beside him. She'd stopped walking a few paces back. He tried not to sigh when he saw her expression. She was doing that little kid/puppy dog pout she had that always made him feel like a jerk for not bowing to her every command.

"I need you there," Yuki said quietly, gazing at her fingers as she tangled them together. "I know that Kaname knows something about my past, but every time I try to bring it up with him, he avoids the subject. He talks me around in circles until I don't even remember what I asked him in the first place." Zero stiffened. The thought of Kuran manipulating Yuki like that pissed him off. "I need to know what happened in my past. Now knowing…these half remembered nightmares…they're driving me crazy, Zero."

Zero sighed. He knew how upset Yuki was by all this. How afraid she was. He wanted to help her, he just wished they didn't have to go to Kuran of all people for answers. "Yeah," he said in a gentle tone. "I'll come with you to talk to Kuran." When she smiled at him he knew he could never really deny a sincere request from her. She meant too much to him. Had done too much and sacrificed too much for him.

~.~

When they arrived at Kuran's room, oddly not running into any 'guards' on the way, Kaname opened the door and they saw packed suitcases in the background.

Yuki opened her mouth to ask what she'd come to ask, but her eyes moved between Kaname and the suitcases. Instead she asked, "You're going somewhere, Kaname?" Her eyebrows creased downward and she felt her heart speed up in panic. Where would Kaname be going and why? Surely it could only be a short trip. Something to handle some vampire emergency or another that required his attention. It couldn't be that she'd chased him away with her questions, that he'd rather leave than tell her the truth.

Kaname smiled sadly. "It's just a small matter," he said, reaching up and cupping the side of Yuki's face in his hand. He gazed down at her and ran his thumb across her lips. "Headmaster Cross knows about it. You…can ask him about it later. It's not something you need to trouble yourself with now."

"But—" A blush covered her face from Kaname's touch and her earnest eyes pleaded for an answer, but Zero interrupted her before she could say more.

"Yuki," he said sternly. "This isn't why we came. You can ask him about it later."

Yuki bit her lip, moving back from Kaname's hand. She couldn't think clearly when he was touching her, and she was sure Kaname knew it. "Kaname, please…tell me about my past." She gripped the side of the coat he wore. "I know you know something, and you're the only one I can ask. Please, please tell me."

Kaname took her hand from his jacket, though kept ahold of it. He looked behind her to gaze at Zero and his mouth twisted in distaste. "I suppose you must truly be desperate to bring him here." He stepped back to let Yuki in. "I'll tell you, Yuki, but must he really be here?"

"Yes," Yuki said, her eyes determined. She curled her hands into fists. "You've said you'd tell me the truth before, Kaname, but you never do. I brought Zero to make sure you tell me this time."

Kaname sighed, but allowed Zero in as well. "You are cruel to me sometimes, Yuki, but I suppose that I deserve it at times." He closed the door behind Zero and gestured for them both to sit. Neither of them did. Kaname sighed again and turned away from them.

"I knew your parents, Yuki," he said. Even though she was expecting something like this, she still gasped. Zero put a supporting hand on her shoulder. "They were very kind," Kaname told her. "My own parents had passed away long ago, but yours took me in. They…had some dealings with the Hunter Association, but they desired peace between humans and vampires, your mother especially…It was my fault they were killed. There were vampires who came after me because I was a pureblood. You know that purebloods are more powerful and can control other vampires. Because I was young, there were noble vampires who wanted to kidnap me and raise me, hoping they could control me and use me to their advantage. If I hadn't been there, your parents would have been safe. I'm sorry, Yuki."

Stunned, Yuki sat down on the chaise, her legs no longer able to support her. "We knew each other?" Yuki asked softly. "We were raised together?"

"For the first few years of your life, yes," Kaname answered. "I was able to save you from the attack, but you hit your head and lost your memories. And then you were attacked again by another vampire who worked for the ones who were after me, which is the first memory you have. I should have stayed by your side until I could get you to Cross, who was a dear friend of your mother. Again, I'm sorry, Yuki. Much of the anguish in your life has been because of me. I still wanted to stay close to you, that's why I continued to visit you." He knelt next to her and placed a hand on her knee. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Yuki stared down at him in stunned amazement. She opened her mouth, then realized she didn't know what to say and closed it again. After a moment she asked, "Why didn't you ever tell me?" She couldn't stop a tone of anguish from entering her voice. How many times had she wondered about her mother and father? About how she ended up alone on a snowy mountain at night? And all this time, the person with the answers had been in her life.

Kaname stared at his hand on her knee. "You mean so much to me," he said quietly. "Your family meant so much to me and you, more than anything…" He paused and looked into her eyes again. "You mean more to me than anyone else in this world, Yuki. I couldn't bare it if you found out the truth and hated me. If you found out it's my fault your parents died and blamed me…I couldn't lose you like that. It was cowardly, I know."

Yuki shook her head, her hand lightly touching the back of Kaname's. "It's not your fault, Kaname. What the aristocrats did has nothing to do with you. You were just a child. I—" Her voice shook with unshed tears and she tried to get ahold of herself. "I'm glad my parents took you in. I wish I could remember our time together."

Kaname smiled at her sadly. "Thank you, Yuki, though I think it's best you don't remember. Your parents' end was not a pleasant sight. I'd hate for you to have that in your memories."

He hesitated before raising his face and kissing her lips. Yuki's eyes widened and she blushed. When he slowly pulled away, her eyes slid to Zero. He was looking away from them, his face stoic.

"I'm afraid I must ask you to leave now. I still have things to prepare," Kaname said as he stood.

Yuki felt reluctant to leave. Something about all this felt wrong. Why was Kaname leaving suddenly? He'd done so before, but never with packed bags. She had the terrible feeling she was never going to see him again. She told herself she was being ridiculous, but the feeling lingered.

Kaname turned away, but Yuki caught the edge of his sleeve. "Can we talk more?" She blurted. "When you get back? You…you can tell me about when we lived together."

He stared at her before smiling sadly again. "Will you do me a favor before you go, Yuki?" He took both her hands in his own. "Will you tell me your feelings me?"

Yuki turned red. "My-my feelings for you, Kaname?" Again, her eyes slid toward Zero. "You already know," she said quietly, staring at the floor.

"Humor me," Kaname said, releasing one of her hands to tilt her chin up. "I want to hear you say it at least once."

"I-I love you, Kaname."

Kaname kissed her again, longer this time. When he pulled back, his gaze moved behind Yuki. "Take care of her, Kiryu. Things might be…volatile for a little while."

"Why?" Zero asked, narrowing his eyes. "What's going to happen?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Kaname said, opening the door in a clear signal for Yuki and Zero to leave.

~.~

Kaname delayed his leaving later than he should have. He needed to reseal Yuki's memories, but after kissing her…he wasn't sure he trusted himself near her so soon. Part of him, a big part of him, wanted to throw his plan away. Forget about helping the Hunter Association, forget about all the people who would be harmed. He could change Yuki back into a vampire and take her far away. The two of them could live in a place where they never had to see anyone else again. Hadn't he already suffered enough in his long life? Wasn't it too much to ask him to willingly leave the only true source of happiness he'd ever had?

Kaname shook those thoughts off. He didn't plan to throw his heart into the furnace yet. He still had things to take care of to ensure Yuki's safety. Rido was still alive, and Kaname couldn't chance that Rido hadn't leaked to someone in the Senate that the Kurans had a daughter. On the off chance that some of them knew and might endanger Yuki, they all had to die. Their descendants, the Night Class, could take over and hopefully run a more just system. Cross had certainly tried to teach them to live that way.

~.~

Two weeks later, Kaname stood in Cross' office for the last time. "You're sure that Rido is dead?" Kaname asked.

Cross nodded, his face pale. "It was a near thing, but Zero and Yugari were able to kill him. There will be questions, though, Kaname. He kept talking about the 'Kuran Princess'. He also talked about Juri as though she were still alive, so we can pass off some of his statements as mad utterings, but…Some people are bound to take his words seriously."

"It doesn't matter," Kaname said, his eyes unreadable. "I've finished killing all the members of the Senate. They're no threat to her now." He turned to leave.

"So you're really doing it?" Cross asked. "You're really going to give your life without even telling Yuki about it? About any of it?"

Kaname paused. "That information will only cause her pain. There's no reason for her to know her true heritage at this point. Let her live out her life in blissful ignorance as a human, the way her mother wanted her to."

"That's not all that I meant, Kaname," Cross said, his voice uncharacteristically hard. He softened his tone. "You're leaving her without even saying goodbye. Without telling her that she'll never see you again."

"I already told her goodbye," Kaname argued, then smiled bitterly. "And I'm sure she'll be able to find solace in the arms of Kiryu, much as I hate to imagine it."

~.~

And so, Kaname Kuran carried out his promise, sacrificing his heart to the Hunter Association's furnace to power their weapons. A shockwave went through the vampire community when they realized the vampire Senate was no more…and that Kaname Kuran was dead. The Night Class dissolved, instead devoting their efforts to trying to keep their fragmented society together.

As for Yuki…despite her belief that a relationship between her and Kaname was impossible, she was still devastated at the news. And even more devastated that Kaname hadn't trusted her with his plans, hadn't trusted her enough to try and come up with an alternate solution with her.

But, as after every tragedy, life went on.

A/N: I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this, but I've been in the mood to write a new fanfiction and nothing else was catching my interest. Since I'm not ahead in my writing like I usually am, I don't know how frequent updates will be.