This story takes place right after the second season of Vampire Knight. Please enjoy!

Yuki

There were no words to how I felt. I tried to act like I was having fun and laughing with the others, especially for Kaname's benifit, but inside me, there was a mix of swirling emotions. I can't stop loving Kaname, but I now realized that I love him as a family member, not as a lover. I want to protect him and make him happy, but I know that I do not love him like he loves me. I feel desgusted that someone could fall in love with their own sister. I'm sick that I am the offspring of siblings.

Apart from loving Kaname, I resent him for changing me into a vampire. Even though I'll never be completely the same as I was before, I'm still the same girl deep inside. Everybody looks at me differently now. I am the pureblood princess, and everybody now pays attention to me. I just want things to go back to the way they were. I want people to simply call me "Yuki" and not beg for forgiveness when they accadentally speak to me without respect. Even Idol, who is a cherished friend, looks at me differently.

There is another part of this, too, that is tormenting me. The same conversation keeps ringing in my head.

"You know Yuki, that I will eventually have to come and kill you?"

"Yes. I'll be waiting."

Zero. . . What seems like ages ago, I promised him I'd kill him if he ever went out of control. But so far, he hasn't become a Level E, and I don't think he ever will. Since I'm a pureblood, I will never become a Level E, but the reason I will be waiting for Zero to come and kill me is because I don't know if I want this life.

I also made another promise to Zero. It was that I'd protect him no matter what it cost me. I want so badly to protect him, to be by his side. . . to. . .be. . . by. . . his. . . side. I want to be with him right now, but now he hates me. He hates himself.

I let out a small whimper.

"Yuki?" Kaname is at my side in an instant. The way he holds me and touches me repulses me. I push him away.

"It's nothing," I tell him.

"Yuki," he says softly. "I -" he stops and hangs his head. "Let me know if you need anything.

Suddenly, I change my mind. Do I really want to leave the acadamy? Should I leave the headmaster and my best friend . . . and Zero?

Everybody is looking straight ahead. I'm in the back of the group. Nobody will notice if I slip away quietly. I duck under a tree and begin to run back toward the acadamy. I run as fast as I can and faster still when I find I am stronger than when I was a human.

"Yuki? Where are you going?" comes the headmaster's voice.

"I have to do something!" I call out to him.

I have no idea what that "something" is, but I just know in the bottom of my gut that I have some unfinished business.

Zero

There is no way to stop the torment burning it's way through my head. Memeries flash through my mind:

Yuki holds my hand and tells me she wants to help me. . .

Yuki smiles wide and presses her hommade chocolate through my lips. . .

Yuki tells me she is happy to give up her blood for my benefit. . .

When I such Yuki's blood, I can sense her thoughts of Kaname and that she feels strongly for him. It makes an uncontrolable wave of sadnes go through me. . .

Yuki tells me that she is no longer the person I knew. The vampire she has become has erased that girl. . .

Yuki's hair is long. She steps toward me and pierces her fangs into my neck. Realization hurts more that the wound. She is a vampire, and there isn't a way to stop it. . .

I scream of agony rips out my throat. What will I do without her? Now that she is a vampire, has she completely gone away? Is there none left of the girl I -

The girl I - what? The girl I loved?

I sigh and slump down onto the cool, hard stone. I havn't left the spot where Yuki told me she would be 'waiting' for me. I was shocked when I realized she expected me to come after her. I know that I will have to kill her someday. She is a purblood. It is my destiny to eliminate all of them. If she is no longer Yuki Cross, than I won't have a problem with that awful deed.

Yuki

The one thing that stops me from running is seeing Zero. He is slumped down on the ground, still covered in blood. For a moment, I'm worried that he is dead. But when I see the steady rise and fall of his chest, I breath out a sigh of relief.

He hears this and opens his eyes.

"Yuki," he whispers. "If only you were really here."

What? Does he think I am an allusion?

"It's me, Zero," I say. I kneel down by his side.

"Prove it to me," he says softly.

I reach out my hand and gently touch his hand. He jumps back in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" He stands up and backs away from me. It makes me want to cry to see him like this.

"I don't know," I say as a tear slips down my cheek. "I just need to tell you that I lied to you." What I'm saying surprises me. "I lied to you when I said the 'Yuki' you know is gone. I'm still here, and I always will be. I wish I'd never turned into a vampire. I wish that I was human, and that I could please you."

Zero seems at a loss for words.

"I needed to come back and tell you that. No matter what happens from now on, the only thing I ask of you is to remember the words I say now. I only said those things to you before because I was afraid that you would be hurt when I left. I though a clean brake, if you know what I mean, would be better. You've been my friend for a very long time. I'll never forget you or the way I feel about you," I say.

A confused look crosses his face.

"I mean, I'll never forget that you've always been there for me," I tell him, feeling imbarassed by the way I said 'the way I feel about you.'

Then, I turn and start to run away. I can finally go now with peace.

"Yuki!" Zero calls out. I feel him grab my hand. "Don't leave me."

I turn to face him and gasp. He looks so broken and so sad.

"Don't leave me," he echos.

Tears resurface on my face. There's no way I could turn down his request.

"I can't find the will to live without you. All the people in my family are dead. They were the only ones I loved. And then the headmaster took me in and I met you. I learned your kindness and your smile. I learned the way you laughed and how you always tried to make others happy. You're so brave and you never fail to fight for the ones you love. I never had anyone to love when my parents died. And now my brother is dead. You're all I've got."

I can feel the tears pouring now. Does he really think that much of me?

"I can't keep my feelings for you hidden any longer. I -" he looks intensely into my eyes and puts his hand on my cheek, "Love you. I love you, Yuki. And I don't want you to be with Kaname," he takes his hand off my cheek and looks away from me. "That's all."

I'm at a loss for words.

Zero

I feel so much better now. I'm so relieved that I could finally tell her what I've wanted to say for so long. I'm also curious to see what she will decide to do next. If everything she says is true, and if she really is sure that she is still the same, than maybe it's a good thing she is a vampire. If we ever get to be together, than maybe being more alike is a good thing.

"Zero," she whispers. "I don't know what to say."

"Just tell me what you think," I pleed with her. "Or walk away and leave with Kaname. It's your choice." I feel bad for putting things so bluntly, but I don't have another choice.

"I think that I'm happy," Yuki smiles at me. That beautiful, charming smile that I crave so much. "I'm happy that you think I'm all those wonderful things." She blushes.

I think back to the time when I dreampt Yuki was dead. When I woke, I called out her name. I remember her asking if I was alright. She put her hands on my face and I recall feeling so calmed and happy. I leaned in to kiss her, but changed my mind. What if I had kissed her? Would things be different now?

At this moment, I've never wanted to kiss her more badly.

She continues to speak. "I've always felt safe at your side. I've always wanted to be there for you and talk with you. And now that I've realized I no longer love Kaname the way I thought I did, I can't stop thinking about you. But -"

I can't take it anymore. I lean in toward her and press my lips against hers. I can feel her surprise. My eyes are closed, but I still know hers are wide open in shock. But I don't care. I can't lie to myself anymore. I love her and I will prove it to her. Her lips as soft as they were on my neck when she drank my blood. . .

"I see," a cool, omonous voice whispers from the dark. Yuki and I snap apart and spin around. I'd know that voice anywhere.

Kaname stands in the shadow of the building. He stares at Yuki with a greivous expresion on his face.

"My dear Yuki. I can't understand why you'd do this to me. Did you really think I wouldn't notice you were gone?" Kaname hisses, his words as smooth as a snake's.

"Kaname!" Yuki gasps. "I - I - er," she stumbles on her words. "Have you been here the whole time?"

"The entire time. It's a pitty that I didn't step in earlier. What you said about me was true? Do you really not love me the same anymore?" he asks harshly.

"No, Kaname. I mean yes. I can't go on thinking that you could be my lover! It doesn't matter if our parents were siblings, too! It's sick! You're sick! I love you, but I can't force myself to be with you in the way that you want," she breathes out in a huff. "As Princess Yuki, a pureblood, I demand that you let me live my life they way that I want!"

"Yuki, I would never force you into a marriage that you didn't want. I thought you were happy to leave with me. I thought you wanted this?"

I feel awfully alone at this moment. Ever since Kaname anounced his presance, I've been completely ignored. I clear my throat, buy niether Kaname nor Yuki even glances my way.

"I did. At least I think I did. But you were suductive and cruel, Kaname Sen-pi. You never told me we were siblings before and let me think I should love you. In fact, I've loved you ever since that snowy day ten years ago. But I don't think I can love you anymore," she finishes. Then, she turns and runs away.

"Yuki," Kaname whispers, his voice full of agony.

"Ya. I know the feeling," I tell him. Then I go after Yuki.

Yuki

I am full of sadness. If I've made Kaname hate me now, I don't know what I'll do with myself. All those words just poured out. . . I hope I didn't hurt him too badly.

I hear Zero calling out to me from behind. Oh, Zero. What will I do about him? I'm still completely sure how I feel about him, but after he kissed me, I feel like he's unlocked something inside of me. Even though I'm not positive I'm in love with him, I know that there's a part of me that has always meant to be his.

"Yuki!" He catches up to me and folds his arms around me. These arms in which I feel so safe and warm inside. He's held me like this before. It was after I had taken a shower. Zero was sleeping on the couch when he sudenly bolted upright and shouted my name. He said he was so glad I was alive. Then, he put his hand on my cheek and almost kissed me. I couldn't get that out of my head the next day. I feel like that day has returned.

I hope you liked my chapter! Please review me so I can know if I should write more. Thanks so much for reading!