I know.. another Zero/Yuuki story... what can I say. I can't help myself :) This idea just struck me today and I just had to write it down. I know it's a little short but it's more like a little intro. So hopefully you like it :) Oh and it's rated T for some laguage used.

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight... If i did Zeki would be canon.. and Kaname wouldn't have even been created haha :)

The Only Exception

What is love? I've heard it can be such a beautiful thing that can be shared between a man and woman. I remember when I was little, my dad used to read me stories. Fairy tales, about princesses always pining and waiting for the prince to come and rescue them. He would always be riding on the back of a white stallion and defeat the villain of the story with ease. Then they would ride off into the sunset together and live happily ever after. And 5 year old Yuuki always believed that her prince would come one day and sweep her off her feet. That was until a few days before her 6th birthday.

Her mom and dad always fought. She could hear it through the paper thin walls of their small home. Her dad would sometimes come home drunk at 2 or 3 in the morning and her mom would always accuse of him having an affair. It was the same thing over and over again. So on this night, it seemed no different. That was until she heard her mother screaming and crying. It wasn't usual at all.

Little Yuuki tip-toed over to her parents room to make sure everything was alright. Not too soon after she reached the right room, her dad came storming out of it with suitcases in his hands. He walked briskly past her and her mom was chasing after him. "Please don't do this, Haruka!"

The older man stopped and abruptly turned around, "I have to, I can't do this anymore! Did you even think for one minute, Juri, as to why I would have an affair? I can't take being with you any longer!"

He took in one long breath and looked at his only daughter. And in that moment, Yuuki knew she was never going to see her dad again. "...Dad?"

He looked at her only a moment longer until he looked down and quickly walked out the door. Yuuki ran after him and yelled Dad over and over again. Not once did he look back. She stood in the front yard as he got into his car and drove off into the darkness. She began to cry. Her mother cam up behind her and hugged her, "Listen to me, Yuuki. Never let a man become your entire world, because in the end it's not worth it at all."

And through the years to the now 17 year old Yuuki Cross, she listened to her mothers words. She never heard from her father again. She later learned that he did run off with another woman and they have a family of their own. No room for her in that picture but he never tried to get in contact with her. After he left, her mother had to sell their home and move into an apartment building. She had to work 2 jobs just to make sure Yuuki had everything she needed. She loved her mother, valued her above anyone else.

So for that, Yuuki hated love. She hated the emotion, the actual thought of it was revolting to her. It was just some silly little girl's fantasy. It never lasted and true love just didn't exist. It was a revolting thing that someone created to be funny. It brought nothing but heartbreak and shame. Why would she want anything to do with that? Her best friend Yori was the exact opposite.

She believed that her soul mate was out there. Love was something you had to sacrifice a lot for but in the end it was well worth it. Yuuki watched her go through her many break ups and sat up late at night to hear how her last boyfriend cheated on her. Or the many times she had to hear her dear friend get upset over something that she shouldn't even worry about. Men were all the same. They get what they want then drop you as suddenly as they came. Her friend never got that.

Yuuki always remembered Yori saying how beautiful Yuuki truly was and how she could have any guy she wanted. And Yuuki always rolled her eyes and said, "I don't want any one of them in the first place."

Now that it was the 2 friends' senior year of high school, Yori would not shut up about Yuuki finally getting a boyfriend. Because of her outlook on love, Yuuki of course never had one. And her best friend thought that was such a taboo. She never cared so why start now just because it was her senior year?

"What about him? He's the perfect package; tall, dark, and handsome." Yori pointed over to the closest guy to them. He was leaning up against the lockers and practically undressing her with his eyes...disgusting.

Yuuki rolled her eyes and pulled her friend into the classroom 214; they were supposed to go in. "Oh yeah and the fact that he was practically eye fucking me makes him the total package. Girls must simply swoon over that little fact."

"God Yuuki, its a crime for a guy to check you out. You know, most girls take that as a compliment." The blonde turned away from her friend and sat down in her seat. Yuuki doing the same. "It's supposed to mean that you are beautiful enough to catch his attention."

Yuuki rolled her eyes again as she took out her Calculus book and homework. She couldn't believe how wrong her best friend was. "How so naive you are, Yori. You want to know what that really means? He just wants to fuck me then leave me for the next best thing that would come along."

"You're so cynical." She pointed out before taking out her book and homework too. "Sometimes I wonder how we are best friends."

"Believe me, I wonder too." The two girls looked at each other but then giggled. Class then started and so now it was Yuuki's time to focus. Math was never her best subject.

What is love? He always thought he used to know it. With his mother, father, and twin brother, there was always plenty of love to go around. He would remember they were always considered such a close family. Hardly any argument could be heard in the house. His mother and father loved each other will all their hearts. You could just see it in their eyes. Ichiru, his twin, was weaker than most kids. But he always wanted to stay close to his big brother. Zero remembered feeling such love when he was with his family.

That was until that horrible night when he was only 6 years old. It was way past midnight and Zero didn't feel right all night. He just couldn't shake that feeling he had. He was very in tune to his surroundings at even his young age. All was quiet when he finally drifted off too sleep. Everyone in the house was way past gone from this world. Until suddenly Zero woke to an awfully loud scream... his mothers scream.

He hurriedly hopped out of bed while he heard Ichiru say, "Don't go, Zero. I'm scared."

Running over to his twin's bed side, he said, "It's ok... I'll be right back I promise."

Then he ran to the door. For someone who was only 6, it was pretty brave. But once he thinks back now, he should have just took Ichiru and ran away from the house. Then at least his twin brother would have survived. There was no hope for his parents by the time he had awaken.

Because as soon as he peeked out his bedroom door, he heard someone say, "They have children!" And after that, everything was such a blur. He remembered telling Ichiru to run and hide but then everything was black after that. And when he came too, he was in a white hospital room with machines hooked up to him. He had been shot in the back and they told him it was a miracle he was still alive... some miracle.

His beloved family slaughtered, every last one of them. So because of this and since he had no other family to take him in, he was put into a foster home. But that was the first of many to come. He swore to himself from that day on, he would never love anyone again. Never even get attached to anyone or anything. Let the government system do whatever they want with him. Go on with life without any problems or weaknesses which love brought.

Now 18 year old Zero Kiryuu had been to 12 foster homes and about 3 or 4 group homes. He built up that wall and no one has much less penetrated it. But now that he was 18, he didn't have to deal with foster homes anymore. He got a job and could afford a single room apartment. He thought of dropping out of school but decided against it. Might as well finish it since he always got the best grades of the many schools that he has been too.

Although on the first day of his new school, he was already late for class. As he was walking out of the parking lot into the school he heard the bell ring loudly.

He cursed silently to himself. He hurriedly walked to his classroom, hoping the teacher wasn't the kind to care too much of tardiness. He couldn't afford to get a detention because he had his job he had to go to after school.

He opened the door to room 214 and stepped inside to meet the gazes of his classmates that were all on him. The teacher who was up at the board writing their latest equation they had to solve, cleared his throat. Zero's gaze shifted to the teacher. "Mr. Kiryuu, I hope tardiness isn't your usual."

He gave him a blank expression, "No, Mr. Shinji. I just had a hard time finding the classroom."

"Ok, I will accept that since it is your first day. Just don't make it a habit." Mr. Shinji turned fully toward his students, "Class this is Zero Kiryuu. He's a transfer student so please make him feel welcome... Zero, please take that empty seat next to Miss Cross."

Zero only lightly nodded and took the seat next to a pretty brunette girl that didn't even seem to notice him. Not that he cared one way or the other. Although the blonde on the other side of her was eying him up and down. Great, just what I need. A girl that thinks I'm totally hot. That's what all girls seemed to be. Every one he met seemed to swoon over him... pathetic.

So tell me what u think? Continue or don't? Review to tell me :)