A/N: Hey gang. I know I wanted to take a break, but I've still been doing some writing here and there. This is a story that will be multi-chapter, but probably short. Just a thought that popped into my head that I wanted to share with you all before concentrating on my next big project, whatever that may be.

This story takes place in present day. Everyone is human with no superpower/supernatural elements.

Disclaimer: Vampire Knight is owned by Matsuri Hino.


[Present day...]

"Won't you stay with me?"

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"Yuuki, please. I... I love you."

"It's... it's complicated."

The same conversation used to play over and over again in his head the following days and months after she left him. Slowly, as time passed, it dwindled down to a few times a week, then down to once a week, to once a month, to slowly, ever so slowly, once every few months.

When things were really bad for him or if he had been drinking a lot, the day she left him really hit him hard, even after it being a year later.

"C'mon, Kaname, I think you've had enough for tonight. Let's get you home." Takuma grabbed the thick glass filled with whiskey and set it aside. Some of it sloshed out and wet his hand along with the bar. He patted his best friend on the shoulder.

Kaname lifted his head off the polished wood, ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, and pushed Takuma away from him.

"Lee' me alone!" he slurred, almost falling off the stool. "I'm fff~ine."

"You're not fine. You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk, you're drunk!" Kaname retorted, trying to sit up. "I'm perf'ell fine!"

"You can't even speak properly anymore, Kaname. Let's go."

"Nn~o!"

He shoved Takuma away again and grabbed the glass of whiskey, downing it all in one shot. He stood up, swaying back and forth, and tried to point at Takuma. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, his tie was loose around his neck and his shirt was half untucked from his pants. Dark circles shadowed red rimmed eyes. He looked thin and sick from depression.

The bartender threw a towel over his shoulder and placed his hands on the counter.

"You having problems with him again, Ichijo?"

"Sorry, bro." Takuma sheepishly apologized, rubbing the back of his head.

"Need help?" He crossed his muscled arms over his chest.

"N-No, I got it. Thanks, though."

"Iuneed anyone's help!" Kaname slurred again. He spun around, almost losing his balance and falling over. "I'm leaving!"

He started marching toward the entrance to leave, but bumped into a table with a man and woman. He fell over the table, their bottles of beer tipping over and spilling everywhere. The woman shouted in surprise and stood up while the man pushed her behind him.

"Hey! You stupid drunk! Watch where you're going!"

"I'm not drunk, you're drunk!" Kaname replied.

"Stupid ass."

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry about him. Let me pay for your drinks," Takuma chimed in. He picked Kaname up and tried to straighten him while he reached for his wallet.

"I'm no' stupid," Kaname muttered to himself.

Anger started to fill Kaname's heart and mind as the room spun around him. Why would they call him stupid? He wasn't stupid. What did they know about him anyway? They had no idea what he'd lost. No idea what he'd been through trying to get it back.

He looked at the man and wondered why he seemed blurry. There he stood with his dressy shirt and pants, standing next to a woman who seemed annoyed but still in love.

Love.

Ha. He had love once. But he lost it...

Why did they have love and he didn't? Why wasn't he allowed?

He growled and lowered his head before picking up one of the bottles and slamming it against the man's head. He fell over as he laughed at himself, suddenly feeling nauseous and dizzy. People were shouting all around him.

He felt himself being shaken and thrown around, but nothing made sense anymore. Everything was spinning too much. It all went black.


Light shined through the open window, turning the darkness into a red sea of annoyance. He rubbed his face and turned over. Pain bloomed in his head as he regained consciousness. His throat hurt, his eyes burned, and his lips were cracked and sore.

"Ugh..."

He tried to sit up, but he moved too quickly and black spots shimmered in front of him. Dizziness made him fall off the couch he was lying on.

"You're awake," a deep voice spoke, surprising him.

That voice, the smooth and rich voice that caressed everyone into a false sense of security, ripped away any lingering thoughts of falling back to sleep he had. He jumped up from the ground and stood up, brushing off his pants and trying to smooth his hair into submission.

His whole body ached.

"Father," Kaname greeted with a bow.

He watched the broad back of his father. He was staring out the open window of his office with his hands behind his back. Kaname looked down to stare at his shoes.

Shit. Now what do I do? Why is he here? I need to get rid of him fast.

"You made a mess last night."

"I'm sorry, Father." He quickly apologized as he tried to recall the events of last night. He honestly couldn't remember much of it.

"THAT'S JUST IT! You're always sorry now, aren't you?!" His father shouted, spinning around to face him. He clenched his fist in front of him as his angry eyes stared at him. Veins protruded in Haruka's forehead.

"I-I'm sorry," Kaname whispered again.

Haruka sighed in frustration and dropped his hand to his side.

"I'm sick of hearing those words come out of your mouth. I'm sick of you and your lack of responsibility. I'm sick of dealing with you, your problems, I'm sick of even looking at your damn face. I'm sick of cleaning up after you!"

"Sor—"

"SHUT UP! Don't you dare say that or so help me I will beat the shit out of you! The entire military will be needed to stop me!"

Kaname bowed again, his hands clasped together in front of him. His hair hung over his face, covering most of it. His head was still pounding and his throat felt raw. He needed water badly, but he couldn't do anything until his father left.

"I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble, Father."

"You fuckin' son of a bitch!" Haruka shouted.

He lunged toward Kaname, jumping over the couch until he tackled him. Kaname fell backward, raising his hands up to try and protect his already aching face, as Haruka starting punching him, all the while shouting obscenities.

The doors to the office opened from the commotion. Takuma and Senri rushed in and tried to pull Haruka off of Kaname.

"Sir! Sir! Please! Get a hold of yourself! Stop this!" they begged.

Haruka jerked their hands off of him as he laid another hit on Kaname.

"Say 'sorry' one more God damn time, Kaname! I dare you! All this because of her?! Because of that bitch?!"

"Mr. Kuran! Please! S-Stop this!" Senri shouted.

Kaname numbed it all out. He closed his eyes as he covered his face and tried to put himself into the fetal position. His mind went elsewhere, as it normally did when his father had these angry episodes. It went back to when he first met a beauty, an ethereal deity that graced him with her presence and changed his entire world.

He forgot about all the pain, all the landing blows, all the depression and fights, all the hopelessness he often felt and the overwhelming sense of failure. It all melted away as he thought of her.


[One year ago...]

Spring was in full bloom. Flowers spread like a wildfire, painting everywhere in their vibrant and various colors while lightly perfuming the air. Birds chirped and cats lay in the warm rays of the sun. People buzzed around, too busy with their schedules to even notice the person next to them. Everyone was in a rush.

Kaname had just left the coffee shop with a warm cup in his hand and a suitcase hanging off his left wrist. His cellphone vibrated, alerting him of yet another irritating message about some meeting or deal that he had to address or attend. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and looked at the message.

"Things are going south with the Takahashi deal."

"Shit," Kaname mumbled to himself. He quickly closed out of the message and called his assistant and best friend.

The phone only rang once before it was answered. "President?"

"Takuma, this can't be happening right now. We've been working on this deal for almost a year. The past few months have been taxing trying to meet all his demands while making sure we still come out ahead. It can't fall through now."

"I know, but the opposing group approached him and are making promises of giving him a better package."

"What?!" Kaname shouted into his phone, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. One passerby bumped into him, apologized quickly and then ran off. "That damn cur? Again?"

"Yeah, his team contacted Takahashi's side and now..."

"That snake-like asshole! Hang up. I'm calling him right now."

"Do you think that's wise?"

"I don't give a damn. This deal will cost us millions if it doesn't go through. We can't let their side steal it from us."

"Alright, good luck. But... what about Mr. Kuran? S-Should I let him know?"

Kaname stilled for a moment as he thought of his father, the chairman of Harukan—the most powerful conglomerate in Japan. He shuddered for a quick second and shook his head. There wasn't anyone who didn't fear him, even if it was just a little. The man was ruthless and determined; he didn't care who he had to stab and step over to get what he wanted.

"No, don't bother him with this yet. Let me reach out to Cross and talk to him first. Maybe I can make a deal with him or have him back off. We'll go from there."

When the phone disconnected, Kaname looked around to see if there was somewhere semi-private he could go to before calling Kaien. That man was their life long adversary. Even from day one, if his father opened up a vegetable cart on the side of the road, Kaien Cross would open one of his own on the opposite side of the street, offering vegetables and fruit as a way to lure all the customers to himself.

It was a never ending feud between his father, Haruka Kuran, and the always present thorn in their sides, Kaien Cross. And yet his father was still the more successful and powerful one of the two, regardless of the constant backstabbing and tricks that Kaien tried to pull to steal their clients away.

Hell, his father, through Harukan, practically owned half of Japan and basically had the other half in his pocket. There was no escaping him.

Kaname found a small park nearby. There were a few people sitting and enjoying the scenery, mostly older people; the younger crowd too busy with their life to stop and enjoy what nature offered around them. He marched over to a desolate area of the park and stood next to a tall bush.

He was about to hit CALL on his phone when he heard a lilting giggle. It caught him completely off guard, making him cock his head to the side and wait to see if he could hear it again. He glanced around, trying to see if there was anyone around him, but he didn't see anyone.

"Aww, who's a little cutie?" a soft and angelic voice cooed.

His curiosity got the best of him as he pocketed his phone and started walking toward where he thought the voice came from. There, behind the tall bushes that he had stood against, was a woman sitting on a stone bench. She was leaning into a stroller, holding her hair away from her face with one hand, as she tickled the baby inside and smiled.

Kaname's heart started to run as he took in the sight of her. She was beautiful, accented by the sun shining on her and creating a soft glow around her. Her long hair cascaded down, just barely reaching her lower back. A light summer dress clung to her petite frame, showing off the small curve at her chest and waist.

Her eyes were large and bright, shining with adoration and happiness. She gave off a sense of peace, a sense of being home and safe, of love and warmth.

How was that even possible?

While Kaname never believed in love at first sight, he did believe in lust at first sight. But looking at the radiant splendor of the stranger in front of him, he was starting to doubt himself. His heart and mind were already in agreement to go way past just the physical attraction and desire. They were already in sync and settling into a till-death-do-us-part type of forever.

There was only one problem: The man sitting next to her, smiling and wearing a wedding ring, and the baby in front of her.

How was it possible to find and lose love in a mere second?

His heart sank and his arms went limp at his sides. Was she really married with a child? Did he really have no chance with her? Maybe her marriage wasn't as happy as it seemed. Could he perhaps convince her of having an affair or leaving him?

What the hell am I thinking? He thought to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

She sat back and crossed her legs, brushing some of her hair behind an ear as she turned to the man and smiled.

"She's so adorable!"

That voice... her gestures... they were just too perfect. Everything about her seemed so celestial and otherworldly.

"Yeah, she is," the man replied with a smile of his own. He stood up and Kaname couldn't help but start comparing himself to him.

Kaname was taller than the stranger. He glanced down at his own forearms, bare from his sleeves being rolled up, and compared them to the man. Kaname's was definitely more muscular, so maybe that could be a selling point for himself.

Wait, no. I'm not trying to whore myself out here.

Did the woman like facial hair then? The man had a little bit, whereas Kaname's face was clean and freshly shaven that day. He rubbed his hand over his cheeks. Well, he could grow a beard if that's what she liked. He didn't mind.

"We better get going now. Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me." He bowed twice to her, then grabbed the handles of the stroller and went on his way.

Kaname stared for a moment, watching her watch them leave.

Wait, so... are they not together? I don't understand. Where's he going?

The woman sighed contently before grabbing her bag, throwing it over a shoulder and standing. She turned to look in his direction and took a step toward him before she stopped.

He stared at her, seeing her whole face fully for the first time. His mind went blank and his mouth went dry as his heart pounded away, threatening to burst out of his chest. Her hair was full and bouncy, completely vibrant and shining. Her eyes were gentle. She looked like she always wore a soft smile.

She stopped in front of him and furrowed her brows.

"Sir, are you okay?"

He hiccuped and immediately covered his mouth, feeling the embarrassment creep up his neck and color his cheeks. With a quick bow, he stepped aside to allow her room to get past him.

"Yeah, sorry."

She bit her lower lip as she studied him.

Oh my God, I want to kiss her. Stay calm.

She inched closer, trying to turn her head to the side to see his face clearly. He hung it lower, trying to cover it with his hair.

She's getting closer. What do I do? Shit. I... I don't know! I want to hug her! What the Hell?

"Are you sure you're okay?" She raised her hand and placed it on his forehead.

He almost died.

"I think you have a fever. You should go to the hospital just to make sure. Do you have a guardian?"

He lifted his head to stare at her concerned face and blinked.

"Uh, I'm fine, really. I'm sorry if I concerned you. I was just a little worked up before because of work."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." He gave her a smile and rubbed the back of his head to set her mind at ease.

"That's good. Take care!" She turned and started to walk away.

Was his time with her limited to just that? He had so many questions, so many wishes.

"W-Wait!" he shouted. She turned to look at him. "Can I get your number?" he blurted, immediately regretting it. He waited and watched her, wondering what she was thinking and why she was so silent. "Too forward?" he finally asked.

She finally broke out into a smile as she burst with laughter, holding her side as she leaned over. He couldn't help but smile as well, even if she was laughing at him. She just looked so... happy, so beautiful.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, after calming down a bit.

"No, no, I should be the one apologizing. I can't believe I asked that even after seeing you with your family."

"My family?" she questioned.

Kaname pointed in the direction of the man and baby. "Weren't... wasn't that your husband and child?"

She raised her brows as her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh no, I don't know who they are.."

His mind started to race. If that was the case, then did he really have a chance with her? Maybe he shouldn't get his hopes high, but he couldn't help himself.

He smiled at her while still slightly confused. "I-I see. That's good! But, who were they then?"

"Just a father in need of some help. His baby was crying and he couldn't figure out what to do to stop her, so I helped."

He felt relieved to hear that. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel nervous around her and be in awe. It was so unlike himself. He hung onto every word she said, listening to the sound of her voice and feeling like he was being swept away.

"So then... would you like to get some coffee?"

"You already have one," she replied, looking at the cup he was still holding.

Kaname glanced around the park quickly, found a trash can a few feet away, and ran up to it to throw his cup out. He raised his hands up afterward and smiled at her.

"I could use a fresh one."

She giggled and bowed her head, tucking strands of hair behind her ear. He watched with a smile, feeling the desire to make her always laugh building up inside of him. It was so strange to him how much this woman affected him.

He wanted to always make her happy, he wanted to always be with her. And he had just met her!

She looked up at him, delighted, still shining with joy.

"Sure, I can go for some coffee."

His heart melted.


A/N: Any criticism, positive or negative, is welcome.

Thank you for reading.