Introduction: This is a collection of one-shots that include unlikely encounters between characters. If anyone would like to suggest an encounter between two Vampire Knight characters, I'd be happy to write it for you. Just PM me after you've written your review.

Updated: Yes. I think I've done well with this chapter and with only a few errors found. It still gives me that sad vibe, but manages to pull up the ends of my mouth at the end. I'm happy here.

To Reviewers: When possible, I will gladly read a story of yours and critic it.

Genre: Friendship

Summary: A couple of unlikely characters cross paths. Whether or not they are friends or foes will be justified in the meeting itself. Who will meet and will there ever be a happy ending?

Vampire Knight: Collective Friendships

One Shot – The Two Humans

. . .

A young girl was startled upon her own ignorance. Her uniform was in ruins, tattered at the ends of each legging and sleeve. She knelt in the tall grass below her, looking at the unfamiliar surrounding woods.

"I'm such a fool." She exasperated as she laid herself on her stomach, "Getting myself lost like a child."

She turned to lay on her cheek, her brown hair moving over her wet brown eyes. She gripped the blades of grass in her shivering left hand.

"It's not like it matters. Zero-kun will probably be better off without such a troublesome girl like me."

She smirked, giving a small chuckle in unison. "I offered up so much blood to him. I guess I truly was useless. After all..."

She turned onto her back. "I just ended up hurting him. This Yuuki. This Yuu-ki is not Yuki Cross.. anymore."

She smiled at the clouds looming above her. Even with the wind, trees and sunlight surrounding her, she still felt alone. Her eyes shut for a moment leading her ears more closely to the outside she no longer thought as pleasant.

A sweet aroma of cherry blossoms filled the mist in the air with a calm sense, almost weakening the trees themselves.

Yuuki, growing stiff, curled herself into a ball. She could hear the footsteps of another approaching the area, seeming too at ease to conceal herself.

The footsteps belonged to a tall silver haired young gentleman. Without a mask and without a particular purpose, he kept his pace down the path of trees. He stopped abruptly to glance at the girl laying to his left. He seemed to notice the girl's eyes staring straight forward, ignoring his own.

The young man continued forth with a book at right hand and with little acknowledgement, he spoke no words.

Yuuki's eyes widened as he strayed further. She became in deep thought. 'Why did he not speak? He is..'

She pushed herself up with her eyes still open to the boy. "Ze-ro." She spoke lightly.

Yuuki quickly stood up and yelled. "Zero-kun! Why won't you-"

She was caught in her own mistake, having realized the sudden pause in the boy's steps.

He turned to her voice with neither a smile nor a wince to show his acceptance of the call. His silence spoke in rhythm. The book he carried opened slightly and a red ribbon slipped out of its pages. Attached to the ribbon, a small golden bell.

Yuuki gasped in apology. "You're not. Of course, my thoughts must have been elsewhere. Forgive me." She bowed swiftly.

The boy's faded lavender eyes traveled down Yuuki's cheek, where her tears lead him. He walked over the fallen bell toward her.

"Yuki?"

Yuuki stiffened. "Y-yes?"

He withdrew a light green cloth from his jacket pocket and with it, wiped away her tears.

"Th-thank you." Yuuki took the cloth in both hands. "Um.."

"You, called me Zero earlier." He paused. "Is there something bothering you, Yuki-chan?"

"I- I am sorry." She stuttered, noticing him get closer to her now blushing face. "Ichiru-kun. This is the first we've spoken since..." She noticed him nod and didn't continue. "B-but, why did you not.."

Ichiru interrupted her once again, stepping back somewhat. "I didn't bother to speak to someone whom I have no interest in speaking to, nor if they have none to me. You were obviously ignoring me because you were in deep thought and imagined I was someone else."

Frowns enveloped his face. "That makes me... a little angry."

Yuuki's arms fell to her sides. She couldn't respond.

Ichiru looked back up at Yuuki with a grin. "But, you did apologize. And so I am relieved.."

"Um.. Ichiru-kun." Yuuki's stance became fierce as she advanced toward his chest. Do you think... I am a burden."

He stared at her shivering shoulders. "A burden?" He thought aloud. "I wonder myself."

Ichiru wrapped his arms around her shoulders and brought her to his chest. "Are you? Do you think you are a burden, Yuuki-chan."

She tried to look up at his eyes. His silver locks got in the way. She cuffed her hand against the heart pounding through his chest. "No." Yuuki finally answered him.

"I know Zero wouldn't think that way either."

Yuuki gasped, pulling away from him quite easily in fact. 'He heard me.'

The air became silent as she took in what could have been the smell of cherry blossoms coming from the trees, but was emitting from Ichiru himself.

"I am the real burden." Yuuki overheard Ichiru whisper to himself.

She shifted her embarrassed posture to an uneasy one. "Ichiru. Do you truly think, that you're a burden?"

Ichiru's eyes shifted from the trees, to Yuuki, and back at the cherry blossom trees. He finally nodded. "Yes."

Yuuki clenched the cloth in her left hand. "Why?"

"I am ill, Yuuki-sama." He told her in a respective tone.

Yuuki nodded. "Then, I'll allow you to drink my blood."

"No." He stressed. "I can't trust you to help me. Thank you, but I cannot drink the blood of another."

He noted. "It would be... disloyal."

Yuuki's right hand trembled. "I understand, but you..."

Ichiru stepped back, interrupting. "I can't keep living like this, using pure bloods like they're nothing. It's not in my nature." He walked over to pick up his ribbon and bell, returning with a casual statement in mind. "So, I've decided to become one with Zero."

Yuuki shook her head with eyes wandering. "I.. can't understand this."

"You understand, but you refuse to- even still." He peered down at the cloth he used to clean her tears. She was clutching it rather tightly. He began walking away in the same pace as he had at the preface.

Yuuki was left in deep thought as Ichiru moved further and further still. She snapped out of her mind's eye, all reason for crying out to him had not mattered. She ran to reach him, calling out to him, she yelled, "Ichiru-kun! I'm lost!"

He turned to her voice and with a small smile he accepted their last meeting. He called back to her, "So am I." He chuckled.

Yuuki stood near him with a returning smile. The golden bell held by the red ribbon chimed as Ichiru switched his book from one hand to the other. They grasped each others hands, returning to the academy grounds together.

. . .

Collective Friendships

One Shot - The Two Humans - End

To be continued...

. . .

After Thoughts: Thanks for Reading!

[1] Girls, don't you wish you were Yuuki now?

[2] The purpose of the title "The Two Humans" is a reference to the old Yuki and young Ichiru in normal times before all the hardships. It's what they had in common.

[3] I switched Yuuki/Yuki's name around to represent what Yuki/Yuuki is being spoken about. I apologize if that is confusing. Chances are if the names are spelled differently, it was deliberate.

Yuki as in Yuki Cross (Human)

Yuuki as in Yuuki Kuran (Vampire)

[4] You can interpret the 'hand holding' to whatever you fans want, but I really just did it to show a newly found friendly relationship between the two. I thought it was cute and hey, I wrote it in the same day that I posted it, but I posted it kinda late... T-T. Hope this can be seen soon.

[5] There is a reason for Yuuki's tattered clothing and another for why Ichiru didn't ask her about it. Hm... wonder what that's all about?

And thanks again!