Chapter 1: The Escape

Note: This Chapter was written by the wonderful Anneliezz :D

They were never meant to meet. They were never meant to be close. They were never meant to fall in love. But they did. They fell for each other. Zero and Yuuki met in rueful times and separated in a tragic world of war. They would find each other again. At the moment both of their lives were in danger.

Zero Kiryuu was standing in front of his apartment door. He could sense that someone was inside. He had invited no one. In one swift move, he pulled out his gun and opened the door. With his fingers already on the trigger, he quickly scanned through the room. It was not a vampire he saw, but a hunter. Kaito looked rather agitated. "Zero, have you gone to the association yet?"

Zero sighed. "Not in a while, I was planning on going now. You coming along?" He put the gun back in its place and turned around. He felt one strong hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

Kaito looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't."

It was something in his voice that drew Zero's attention. "Why not?"

"Because I know what order you're going to get. The order to kill Yuuki Kuran."

Yuuki was in her room at Cross Academy when someone knocked at the door. Aido's apologizing face appeared in sight. "Yuuki-Sama, Kiryuu-kun wants to speak to you. I told him you were busy but...ugh...he was getting rather...angry."

"Let him in." Yuuki turned around, her back to the door. Somehow she felt it was safer to not look at Zero's penetrating amethyst eyes. Losing her composure in front of him was the last thing she wished for right now. She heard some hesitating footsteps coming towards her and was surprised when she heard him lock the door; but she didn't turn around. It's was awfully silent for a while. She was hoping he would start the conversation but in the end, she couldn't hold it any longer. She turned around and her breath stuttered when she found him only inches away. She hadn't expected him to be this close. A sudden urge to close that distance took over her and she clenched her fingers, hoping that somehow it would help her to keep her composure. "Zero?"

Only now she saw the look on his face. It was a long while since he had looked so vulnerable. She was worried. His hand reached up to touch her face, "Yuuki, pack your things and leave." Yuuki had no idea where this was coming from. "There has been a riot in the association. The hunters want the Purebloods dead. The ones who aim for coexistence have temporarily fled. You need to get out of here."

The news sent a wave of shock through her entire body. She was about to say that she was going to be brave. Yuuki knew she was innocent, and the hunters had no legal excuse to kill her. No need to panic. Zero must have guessed her thoughts. He knew her too well. He grabbed her tightly by the shoulders and moved even closer. "Yuuki, my order is to kill you."

One day, I will kill you.

For a moment she thought that he was finally going to do it: pull the trigger, and fulfill his promise. But then she remembered his words. Pack your things and leave. It confused her more than anything. Zero, he wouldn't do it. He hadn't done it the last time, and he didn't seem able to do it now either. Zero, who was dutiful above all things, was letting her escape. Perhaps there really was a part left of him that didn't hate her. "What will you tell them? The hunters will know you let me escape. There's no way a powerful hunter like you would miss his target." He didn't answer and she knew what he was thinking: It doesn't matter, not if it's about someone like me. She had seen that emotion on his face many times, and each time it would break her heart. Even after all this time, even if she shouldn't feel this way, Yuuki would never leave Zero's side. Impulsively she took his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. "They'll never let you live after this. Even if the situation gets better, for now those people are in power. I won't leave your side, Zero. So just….come with me."

Zero thought he was imagining things. Come with me. She had really said those words. Her soft, sincere eyes evoked more emotions then he would've ever wanted. He had seen no way out for himself this time. And then she had utter those words. It was a such a painful, yet attractive idea. As always he knew what he should and should not do. He shouldn't go with the woman he loved but could not have. He made his decision and told himself he didn't know why. Of course he did know. But he nodded. This was something that only could go wrong. Two people who were pretending to be enemies, who were supposed to run from each other. They now ran away together. The situation was dangerous. Within an hour they had left the academy. Always looking behind, they fled