The day Zero died started out normal.
I remember it very well. Prof. Yagari's class was as expected. He droned on while everyone dutifully scribbled down every word he was saying. Every once and a while, I would catch myself looking around for Zero before remembering he was now officially in the Night Class. When the bell rang, I jumped up and rushed out of the classroom, quickly slipping my armband on while dodging the other students. Night Class' fan base was active as ever that night, and it took all I had just to stay upright. Without Zero's intimidation, controlling the Day Class was more difficult, but I had made Headmaster Cross a promise and I intended to keep it for as long as I attended Cross academy. Finally the doors to the Moon Dorm opened and the Night Class filed out. As per usual, Aidou lapped up the attention, his blue eyes glowing with happiness. He was followed by the other vampires, most of whom just gave their adoring fans a tight lipped smile before moving on. Bringing up the rear of the class was Zero and Kaname. Since Zero's turning, the two of them had become unlikely friends, although at times Zero remembered just how much he hated vampires and locked himself away for a few days. As they walked past, Kaname smiled warmly at me, much to the dismay of his own personal fan club. Zero smiled at me too, although it wasn't as warm.
He still resents me for having him turned instead of killed. I thought to myself sadly, watching the two most important men in my life walk to class. With the class gone, everyone from Day Class dispersed, going off to their dorms or to the library to study. Since Zero stopped attending the Day Class, rumors began to fly and when he made his debut appearance in the Night Class, everyone was shocked. These days, I don't have to worry too much about loiterers because of Zero. In the Day Class he was known for his harsh words and actions. The girls are all too afraid now to go out after curfew, in fear they'll run into Zero. Patrol was quiet and uneventful as a result, so I spent a lot of my time watching the Night Class, watching the way they moved and talked. It was fascinating, the level of grace and poise each vampire had. I was envious of their beauty and sometimes I wished I was a vampire too. Class finally let out and I stood in the shadows of the trees, watching them walk back to the Moon Dorm. Zero slowed down a bit, his head turned to the side as if he was listening to something. Abruptly he turned and disappeared into the thick undergrowth on the other side of the walkway. Worried, I followed him wondering where on earth he was going. To me, there wasn't any indication of what Zero was going after, but he seemed to know what he was doing. After a little while, he slowed down a bit, his head now cocked in confusion. Through the trees, I heard him call out.
"Yuuki? Where'd you go?"
I started to speak from behind him when I was interrupted by a syrupy sweet girl voice. A young girl with pearl white hair stepped out from behind a tree. Her hair swished around her knees and her eyes were a dark shade of purple. They flashed in the darkness, as did her teeth, which were bared in a twisted smile.
"Poor, poor Zero. You're so gullible, you know? It didn't take very much to convince you that I was your precious little human girlfriend." There was the familiar click of Zero pulling out his gun, Bloody Rose.
"Who are you?" He snarled, bringing the gun to rest on the girl's forehead. "Tell me or I will shoot you with no mercy."
"Awe you don't remember me? Pity. See, I remember you very well. I remember how you left me for dead all those years ago. How you ditched me. I almost did die that day. It would have been better if I had. Well, better for you. I'm really good at holding grudges and holding a grudge against you was so easy. All I had to do was remember how I felt that day, when you looked me dead in the eye and left. That was the first day I killed a vampire by myself."
"Aspen?" Zero choked out, lowering his gun. "I…everyone told me you were dead."
"I know. I'm really good at hiding Zero. I hid and trained for years. I perfected my style and my weapon. My original goal was to find you and challenge you to a dual, to show you how much stronger I am than you. But then I heard that you'd been turned into a vampire and like that, everything fell into place. Now I could really show you how much stronger I am. By killing you, I would prove that you leaving me behind were the biggest mistake of your life." With a flourish, Aspen pulled out her gun, a machine gun and aimed it at Zero's chest. "And now, Zero here's where I leave you. Cowering in the presence that is Bloody Rose Jr.!" She shouted. I didn't realize that I was so close until my body threw itself in front of Zero at the exact same moment Aspen fired the gun. I didn't even feel the bullet pierce my body, but I saw the blood spurt out of the wound, thick and red. Behind me, Zero grunted in shock before the bullet found his chest and went straight through his heart.
"ZERO!"
Back at the Moon dorm, every vampire was uneasy, tempted by the smell of blood that permeated the air. That was when they all heard the scream. Instantly, Kaname vaulted over the railing and was out the door running towards the sound. He could smell her; her blood covered every other scent in the area. When he found the source, what he saw angered him in a way he never knew was possible. Yuuki was on the ground, clutching the wound on her shoulder, moaning pitifully. Behind her, Zero's lifeless body was sprawled out, his lavender eyes open and staring at nothing. The sound of labored breathing snapped Kaname back into reality. A few inches in front of him, a young girl stood with her gun in hand. She was the one who did this. Without hesitation, he stepped up behind her, gripping her upper arms.
"Who…who are you?" the girl started, trying to get a look at him.
"You've hurt someone very dear to me. Forgive me, but I can't just ignore that." Kaname said quietly, gathering his power up. He rendered the hunter useless, making it so she couldn't move, see or hear. Releasing all of his power at once, he slowly suffocated the hunter, making her suffer in the only way he knew how. She finally stopped struggling, then went limp in his arms. He dropped her and she crumpled to the ground. That was the last thought he spared for the hunter as he stepped over to Yuuki, who had stopped moaning and was now just lying on the ground, breathing rapidly. Gently, Kaname reached for her, kneeling in the quickly widening pool of blood. He tried to staunch the blood with his powers, but they weren't up to full strength after killing the hunter. Even if he managed to stop the bleeding now, trying to move her would just reopen the wound and his beloved Yuuki would die before he even had the chance to tell her he loved her. There was only one option left, and it was the one that Kaname had hoped he could avoid for as long as possible, but now he had no choice.
He had to turn his love into a vampire.
Sighing sadly, he leaned over Yuuki and tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. She whimpered in pain and Kaname's heart broke. "It's going to be ok Yuuki. I'm going to make the pain go away now I promise." He murmured into her smooth, soft skin. Trying not to think too hard about what he was doing, Kaname bit down. There was no going back now.
Yuuki was finally going to be like him. She was finally going to be his, forever and always.
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Waking up as a new vampire was interesting, to say the least. Truthfully, I hadn't realized right away that I was a vampire. It dawned on me when I saw the glass of red liquid sitting next to the bed. I reached for it, grateful to have something to drink, my throat was so dry. I took a quick gulp only to taste the unmistakable tang of blood. Why am I drinking blood? I thought, panicked. Another thought hit me, sending ice through my veins. Why do I like it? The door opened slowly and Kaname slipped in, his normally perfect hair tousled and his neatly pressed clothes wrinkled and stained with a dark substance. He saw I was awake and a smile lit up his weary face.
"Yuuki. You're awake." His tone was relieved and he walked over to the bed, kneeling beside me. "How are you feeling?"
"I…Kaname what happened? Why do I feel so different?"
"Yuuki…please understand I did what I had to do to save you." He said softly, imploring me to comprehend.
"What do you mean? Where am I? Where's Zero?" Fear took over my body as flashes hit me. A loud bang, pearl white hair, pain in my shoulder, Zero's blood spattering my face as I fell. "Kaname, where is Zero?"
"Oh Yuuki." Kaname sighed sadly, his red eyes meeting mine. "There was nothing I could do for him…the bullet hit him straight in the heart. He was dead before I got there. I barely saved you. I'm so sorry."
A small strangled sound escaped my lips and I pitched forward. Kaname caught me as I sobbed, the pain in my heart growing and growing until it eclipsed every other emotion. He couldn't be dead. Not Zero. Zero was strong, resilient, and smart. There's no way he was beaten by a stupid girl with a stupid gun.
"You're…you're lying. Zero can't be…" I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud. Saying it might make it true, which it couldn't be. Zero was going to burst through the door, telling me this was all a prank.
"I wish I was lying. Oh, Yuuki I am sorry I couldn't save him…by the time I reached you both, he was gone. The hunter shot him right through the heart."
"That damn hunter!" I shouted, letting all my anger and sadness out in one gust. Once I let it out, I felt deflated and empty. I had been with Zero since he was young. He was quiet and reserved, but I cared about him so much and now he was gone. It felt like there was a hole in my heart and I felt like it wouldn't ever go away.
"I took care of her, don't worry." Kaname's eyes darkened angrily.
"Did you make her suffer?" I asked, sniffling. Kaname smiled slightly.
"Yes I did." He said, cupping my face in his palm. "Although I do have to tell you something Yuuki."
"What? What is it?"
Kaname took a deep breath, looking me in the eyes. "You almost died too. I was almost too late. And after disposing of the hunter, I didn't have the strength to heal your wounds. You were bleeding out in my arms." Kaname sounded pained and his eyes grew sad. "I only had one option Yuuki…I couldn't let you die too. Please understand I didn't want to do this to you, at least not this early in life." He was struggling to speak, his words coming out jumbled and frantic. "I didn't want to lose you…I'm sorry…I just…"
"Kaname, please just tell me." I said, putting my hand over his. He seemed to calm down and bit his lip in concern.
"Ok. Yuuki, the reason that glass was by your bed was because I knew you'd be thirsty and I can't get you the nutrition you need until tomorrow. I know it's not the most satisfying but it'll hold you over for the day." He took another deep breath, looked out the window and then back to me. Early morning sun fell across his face, illuminating his beautiful eyes, which looked sad and tired. "Yuuki, you're a vampire."