Vampires… they are the rulers of the night, mysterious creatures that feed on the living by night and hide by day. I do not fear these beings, I rule over them. I am a vampire, a vampire queen.
Yuki Cross, my best friend, and I watched over the campus. We spotted two female Day Class students sneaking around the school to get a glimpse of the Night Class, a class full of noble vampires. The head of them all, Kaname Kuran, a very powerful vampire called a Pureblood. Only Purebloods can turn humans into vampires and Purebloods have the power to make other vampires follow their command. I sighed as Yuki and I grasped onto a branch and jumped down towards the two girls.
"Give me your names." I demanded and they stared at me with awe. "What?" I asked them and they stared at my different colored eyes. They always entranced people who had first seen them. I sighed irritated and put in my blue contact over my red eye. Yuki got the names of the two girls and I was shocked to find the smell of blood around us. I looked back at Yuki and saw that her hand was bleeding. "Yuki, we need to get out of here, they're coming!" I hurried her and she looked behind me in fright. I turned around to find Hanabusa Aido and Akatsuki Kane standing before me.
"Good evening my lovely Akane-chan. How are you?" Aido asked me as his kissed my hand.
"Ido- Aido… go back to class. We have this under control." I demanded of him but he completely ignored me.
"Hmm… what's that smell?" He asked as he sniffed the air. "Ahh… smells good." He said and looked at Yuki's hand. The two girls fainted from the sight of Aido and he made his move on Yuki. "The nice smell is your blood Yuki." Aido said and grasped her hand and leaned in towards it. "I'm just so… very tempted…" Aido said as his fangs pierced her hand and he sucked the blood out of her hand. She winced in pain and my eyes widened when I heard a rustling through the bushes. I turned around quickly to find Zero pointing the gun at Aido's forehead.
"Are you drunk on the scent of blood vampires?" Zero said as he pointed the Bloody Rose at Aido's head.
"Zero, no!" Yuki yelled as Zero pulled the trigger. The bullet only missed Aido by a hair as it crashed into the tree behind them. Zero looked down and saw me holding onto him.
"Akane- what're you?!" He shouted as I stared up at him sadly.
"Please, I beg of you not to hurt him." I said as tears started to fall from my face. I didn't know why but seeing Aido almost being kill saddened me. It was like he was my child and I wished to protect him with all my might.
"I'm sorry to have caused you any inconveniences." Kaname said as he appeared from the bushes and grasped Aido's arms tightly. He glared at Kain for not stopping Aido. He looked at Yuki and smiled. "I hope he hasn't hurt you."
"Oh, not really, it'll heal." She said and Zero wrapped his tie around her hand.
"Akane, would you please come with me to the Moon Dormitory? I must speak with you." Kaname requested of me. I nodded hesitantly and I stared at Zero and I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I turned and followed Kaname.
"This place... the smell of blood is all over here. I feel sick." I heard Zero say to Yuki.
I followed Kaname and Kain into the Moon Dormitory and my eyes widened when candles started to light up as we walked along the path to the dorm. I looked up at Kain and remembered that he could control fire. We walked through the gates and all of the dorm members were lined up for Kaname's return. Aido had already returned and I stuck my tongue out at him in disappointment. He grimaced at me and looked away. We walked up steps and Kaname sat in a very articulate loveseat with a ruby colored embroidery. Kaname stared up at me as I stood before him.
"Akane-sama, it's been awhile since you've been surrounded by this type of company, hasn't it?" He asked me and I nodded.
"Yeah, almost ten years. Time flew by so fast didn't it?" I said as we started to reminisce. "Kaname-senpai, please, tell me why you wanted to speak with me. I'm afraid I don't really have much time." I said and he nodded.
"Of course, the reason I called you here was because I want to discuss the importance of you staying at the academy, but it would be much safer if you stayed with the Night Class instead of the Day Class." Kaname suggested and my eyes widened.
"But… Zero and… Yuki-chan. I can't leave them." I said and he stood up. He pressed his thumb lightly against the lid of my eye and swiftly took the blue contact out.
"Akane-sama, you are our queen, you belong with your own kind. You do not need to reduce yourself as a human."
"But, I practically am human, Kaname-senpai!" I yelled at him. "I… I know that I do not belong among them, but… Zero, he thinks that I am… one of them…" I said and tears started to fall from my eyes. Kaname smiled down at me and leaned in to kiss the tears away.
"How dare she!" Ruka whispered and Rima looked at her angrily.
"Don't defy the queen, remember, she is the protection of the whole vampire community." Rima reminded her and Ruka gasped.
"She's the protection?"
"Yes, without our dear Akane-sama, we would be hunted down by many hunters." Ichijo said and Ruka sighed.
"But… she and Kaname-sama…"
"Are very close friends, but she prefers Zero over any Pureblood vampire. A human and a vampire queen, how unusual." Ichijo sighed and Aido stared at them curiously.
"Do not fret. I'm sure that you're not the only one keeping secrets." Kaname said and I looked at him in confusion.
"What?"
"Ah, it looks like he's here already." Kaname said and wiped away the tears and embraced me. "Be careful Akane-sama, I fear for your safety everyday that passes." He whispered and I walked away from him slowly.
"Kaname… you and Yuki should be together, not you and I." I said and his gorgeous red eyes widened as I walked away from him.
I walked along the pathway and over to Zero. He stared at me curiously as I kept my gaze from him. He closed the gates and we walked along the moonlight. It was so quiet that I wanted to scream out loud just because, but that would make Zero worry even more. He kept looking at me every now and then but it didn't mean anything to me. I just wanted to get back to my room and sleep my exhaustion off.
"Akane… what happened? I can smell Kaname all over you." He said and my eyes widened in embarrassment.
"You can smell him?" I asked but he didn't say anything. "Nothing happened. We just talked."
"About what?"
"Just… drop it okay?" I said and he sighed.
"I worry about you Akane. Whenever they're around you I worry that something might happen." He said in concern and I smirked a bit.
"Well, you're not the only one that worries. Zero, what is it that you want for your birthday? It's coming up in a few days." I asked and he looked at me with wide eyes.
"A present?" He asked and I nodded.
"I've given you one for seven years straight. It'll be eight on Friday." I replied and he stopped and put his hand on my cheek.
"Whatever is fine." He said and walked on. I touched my cheek and gasped at how cold his hand was.
Zero, there's something wrong; you're being too nice right now. And you're freezing all over. I thought as I took a shower later on. I heard the door open and I gasped in surprise.
"It's just me." Zero called over the running water. "Hurry up and finish, I can still smell blood…" He said softly and I gasped.
You can smell it too? I peeked through the curtain and saw Zero standing over the sink gasping for air. My eyes widened when I saw blood tablets in his hand. "Zero… can you give me my towel? It's on the counter." I said and he handed it to me through the curtain. Before he could pull his hand away I grasped it and gasped when I saw a blood tablet in his hand. "Zero… it can't be…" I whispered and he jerked his hand away violently. I was so scared that I didn't care what I did. I opened the curtain and saw Zero start to lose his breath. "Zero!" I called as I caught him before he landed on the floor. I hugged his head and cried. "Why couldn't I tell? The signs were there all along but I… Zero… I'm so sorry that this… this happened." I said softly and kissed his eyelids. "Headmaster! Come here Headmaster!" I called and he came rushing into the bathroom. His eyes widened and he blushed in embarrassment when he saw my naked body.
"Uh… s-sorry!" He shouted and went to shut the door but I stopped him.
"Don't worry about me right now! It's Zero, he's fainted!" I explained painfully and Kaien lifted Zero up from under my grasp. I grabbed my towel and covered myself as he walked out the door with Zero in his arms. "I'll be out soon so leave him on the couch." I ordered and Kaien nodded. I shut the door and looked at the sink. The water droplets from the faucet had leaked onto the tablets and the murky looking blood stained the sink's marble. Zero… I wish that I had noticed sooner… I thought painfully and washed the blood tablets down the sink's drain. I got dressed and walked out into the room. I kneeled down to the sleeping Zero and sighed.
"It's too late, he's been suffering his vampiric urges for four years." Kaien told me and I looked at him angrily.
"Why didn't you tell me?! I could've protected him from ever transforming!" I shouted and Kaien sighed.
"I… It just never crossed my mind. Maybe I should've told you." Kaien said and looked behind him. "I'm sorry, I need to attend to some other business." Kaien said and closed the door to his office and left Zero and I alone.
I stared at him sadly and tried to remember how this could've happened. Then I remembered it.
There was this vampire that had attacked Zero's family one night, because they were a family full of vampire hunters.
"Akane! Hide yourself!" Zero had told me as he locked me in his room's closet. I watched as the vampire killed Zero's family and I saw the vampire approach Zero. She had said something and left suddenly. I came out of hiding to help Zero up. He was so shocked and terrified that he wouldn't say a word, and he was covered in blood so much that I too was frightened. Nevertheless, I helped Zero walk and eventually Headmaster Cross had shown up and took us in.
"So, are you Zero's friend, Akane Sayuri, that I've heard so much about?" He had asked me as he approached us. I looked up at him and he saw that my eyes were completely different colors from each other. "I see, so you are the infamous heir of the Sayuri family. Does he know?" I shook my head confirming that he was referring Zero as he. "I see, make sure he doesn't, I'm afraid that he won't be too happy to know the truth." We had got in the car and I put my coat around Zero's bloody clothes.
"Zero, try to get some rest, why don't you?" I had said softly into his ear as I rested my head against Zero's arm. He didn't move or respond to me, but it was fine to just know that he was still alive and there with me. I fell asleep against Zero's arm and when we had arrived at the school, Headmaster Cross had us get us out of the car. He had approached a young girl with brown hair and eyes the same tint of red as mine.
"Yuki, this is Zero. A bad vampire killed his family. Help him get cleaned up."
"What about the girl?" Yuki had asked him.
"Have her help you clean him as well. She's a very good friend of Zero's her name is Akane Sayuri. I have to go run some errands, so you'll be by yourself for awhile."
The girl, Yuki, had led me and Zero to the bathroom to help clean the blood off of Zero's body. She had kept asking him if she could do this or that. I don't even think that she knew what Zero and I had just witnessed right before our eyes. I helped wipe the blood off of Zero's arms and after he was cleaned up, Yuki brought us a clean pair of clothes. I changed into them and helped Zero change into his. Yuki led us to a vacant room where we could sleep in. She closed the door and I turned the light on and stared at Zero who just stood there. I turned to lock the door and I finally heard Zero speak to me.
"Akane..." I turned around and looked at Zero's face. He had finally realized what had just happened and this must've brought the whole world down upon him. He had started to cry and I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him so suddenly. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I felt that if I had let him go, he would've faded away, crumbling into a pile of lonely sand. "Mother... Father... brother... they're all gone..." Zero said softly into my ear.
I hugged him harder and held onto him tightly. "Don't worry Zero I won't let anything like that happen to you again. I swear it to you." I said into his ear and Zero held onto me tightly and didn't want to let go.
We were friends a few years before that had happened, but it's my most cherished memory of him. I won't let anyone else see that torn face of his. The vampire was a pureblood, that's all I could think of. Most of my memories of the events that happened that night were a bit scattered, but I've slowly regained some of them. Zero started to breathe deeply and I watched over him in concern. His silver eyes opened and he stared into my different colored eyes.
"Akane… what's wrong…?" he asked me wearily and I smiled as the tears rolled down my eyes.
"Zero, tomorrow, I have to tell you something and you might hate me for it." I said and he stared at me curiously.
"What're you talking about?" He asked and I sighed as he wiped away my tears.
"Why do you keep Zero in the Day Class when you know he is dangerous?" Kaname asked Kaien angrily.
"Because Zero hates vampires. You know that Kaname-sama." Kaien answered and Kaname sighed.
"Well, what about Akane-sama. She's just as dangerous, no, even more so." Kaname asked and Kaien sighed.
"I cannot pressure Akane-chan to be away from Zero, she loves him, and you know that." Kaien answered. "You know a lot of things but you still question them. Why?" Kaien asked but Kaname's attention was diverted by something.
"Blood…" He said firmly.
"What?"
"Blood, it's Akane-sama's. Is Zero in there?" Kaname asked and Kaien nodded. Kaname looked at the door angrily and opened it to see Zero sucking on Akane's neck.
"What're you talking about?"
"Zero, you… shouldn't resist any longer…" I said softly and he looked at me with frightful eyes. I moved the hair away from my neck and he stared at it hungrily. "Go ahead, it's all yours." I said and he leaned into my neck cautiously. He slowly opened his mouth and inserted his fangs into my skin. "Kh…" I said in pain at first. It hurt until Zero eased up on his bite and I held him tightly. Just until the door opened.
"Why?" Kaien said.
"You've been reduced to a bloodthirsty beast Kiryu." Kaname said and I knew what he was going to do. I pushed Zero behind me and blocked Kaname from reaching Zero.
"Please, don't. It was all me, I made him drink." I said and started to feel weak. I heard footsteps approach and saw Yuki in a blur before I passed out. I fell back into Zero's arms and he held me firmly. "Ze…"
"Akane-chan? Zero? What's going on? Kaname-senpai?" Yuki said and Kaname held Yuki tightly. Yuki stared at Akane's neck and then Zero's mouth. "You mean… Zero's a vampire? But… why… how?" Yuki asked painfully and Kaien looked at her depressed.
"A pureblood, the one that killed his family four years ago was the one who changed him. He's been suffering his instincts for four years now and he has finally turned." Kaien explained and Yuki gasped.
"What about Akane, what's going to happen to her?" Yuki asked and Kaname sighed.
"She's going to be all right. She just needs to recover from the exhaustion." Kaname said and pushed Yuki out. Kaien followed Yuki out of the room and shut the door. Kaname walked over to Akane and lifted her into his arms. He glared down at Zero. "Was her blood that delicious? You almost sucked her dry." Kaname said angrily and Zero cursed at himself.
"Kill me…" Zero said and Kaname's eyes widened. "I don't want to hurt her again. She… means so much… she's the only family I have left." Zero explained and Kaname looked down at Akane.
"No. I will not kill you. If I did, someone wouldn't be very happy about it." Kaname said and walked out of the room with Akane in his arms.
I woke up the next morning in my bed and gasped in fright. "Zero!" I shouted as I ran out of my room and towards the headmaster's office. I walked into the office hurriedly and saw Zero sprawled out on the couch sound asleep.
"Ah, Akane-chan. How wonderful it is to see you. Zero's still sleeping so be quiet." Kaien said as he walked out of the office. I walked over to Zero and rested my head against his shoulder.
"Zero… if you can hear me in your dreams then listen. What I'm about to tell you might make you hate me, but I'll stay far away from you as I possibly can if I have to." I said as I started to shed tears. "Zero…" I began and he slowly started to open his eyes. "I… am the Vampire Queen." I said and his eyes shot open wide. I backed away in fright of what he might do. But he just stayed there, lying on the couch with wide eyes.
"Vampire… Queen…?" He said softly and I stood up and ran out of the office.
"I'm so sorry!" I yelled and ran down the hallway. Even if you hate me now, even if you want to kill me, I will always love you the way you are!!
"So…" Kaien started as he walked into the office again. "Do you hate her now?" he asked but Zero didn't respond.
"Kaname-senpai, please, I'd like to stay in the Moon Dorm." I said and he nodded.
"Understood. I will have the headmaster get you a uniform, but in the mean time, you will have to use your Day Class uniform. I will show you to your room." Kaname said and invited me inside the dormitory. As the door closed slowly, I stared out at the light for the last time and saw the image of Zero standing there, looking more hurt than I'd ever seen him.