Zero reached out and lightly fingered the soft tufts of coffee brown hair, framing her face perfectly. Her eyes were blissfully closed. He slowly traced his forefingerdown her jawline and onto her neck. He felt the familar two small holes punctured on her neck. He stopped short. He was unable to shut that feeling within him, no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to hold her tight and never let go, but feeling those all too familar holes, he knew he had to repress that urge, simply because he knew it was no longer possible. Tiny droplets of what resemble tears dotted the corners of his eyes.

Stop, he forced himself, don't even go there.

Zero had stopped crying since that fateful day when he was four, his life filled with hatred, and his mind with vengeance since then. He had even forgotten that such emotion exist. Yuki was the first to be able to make his heart waver and give him a vague memory of that emotion.

"Sorry," he whispered, "you don't deserve this. I'm sorry for putting you through all this, through what I used to despise."

Finally, Zero gave up. He allowed his emotions to overwhelm him, something he had once vowed he would never allow. Yuki opened her eyes just as a hot tear warmed her cheek. She glanced up at him, her beloved friend, her childhood mate, her brother, and maybe, her soulmate. She held his hand.

"Zero, are you alright? Is it the cravings again? Do you need me? I don't mind, Zero, you don't have to feel bad. Zero? Talk to me."

She pushed away his silver locks from his eyes and wipe away his tears.

"That's not it.It's...you know...about...how...I...I..."

Zero choked back on his words. He could not say it out, not without hurting them both. He knew Yuki would beat herself up because of it. He knew it would be wrong.

"Come on, Zero, you know you can tell me," Yuki pressed on, resting her hands lightly on his.

Zero snatched his hand away and forced himself to shift his gaze from her. Her eyes, her lips, her hair, her...

"Me and you," he blurted, unable to completely shut out his feelings. "Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. That was stupid, but..." his voice trailed away as Yuki's mind replayed the scene from days before.

She had ran away that day, leaving him behind, all alone, to face the darkness that was about to engulf him. For the first time, she broke her promise to stay by his side no matter what happens. She had always been there for him, whenever he needed her, but that day, she had selfishly ran away. She knew she had hurt him, much more than what the reality of becoming a vampire had. She realised that she had indeed crossed the boundaries of pure friendship for more than once, but hearing it coming from Zero was completely different. It was surprising, shocking, and she needed time to sort out her feelings. They were soulmates, it would have been easy, and she would have been sure, if only there was no Kaname Kuran.

"I think I should leave, rest well." Zero stood up from her bed and started towards the door.

I can't hurt him again. Master Kaname, I'm sorry. But I know that without Zero, I would truly be nothing. He had trusted me, he had suffered too much, much more than he deserved, and I promised I would be there for him no matter what.

Yuki put her arms around Zero and leaned on his solid back, the one she was so familar to, yet now it felt different, more comfortable, much sweeter.

"Zero, I am unable to promise anything for now, and I can't say those three words to you the way you had to me. But I can promise that you have always been, and will always be, in my heart. And my promises are hard to break." she said with a grin, but at the same time, tears in her eyes.

Zero smiled.He turned around and pulled her into a tight embrace.

And that alone is enough, at least for now.