Disclaimer: Vampire Knight belongs to Matsuri Hino.

One shot. Zero POV. Yuki and Zero have reconciled, but they're still leading seperate lives. They make a point to meet once a year and these are some of Zero's thoughts during one of those times. Kind of hastily thrown together, but I'm quite pleased with it anyway. I hope you like it. Please leave me a review and tell me what you think :)

And you'll keep your thirst to yourself and I'll keep mine inside the ice cage of my ribs. Sometimes I think my veins are on fire for you, but it never burns hot enough to melt those bars.

We sit. The ground is cold and the air too, but we barely feel it. The fog is our disguise. I can barely see your smile, your eyes, but I can feel you. You give off a warmth I could never attain. Your fingers brush like a feather against my own.

You stand suddenly. The translucent white fabric of your dress swishes around your legs as you slip off your shoes, sink your feet into the dewy soft grass. Then you slowly disappear into the fog. I close my eyes. Your scent is still in the air and after a few seconds I hear the sound of water splashing as you step into the lake. I hear the tiny sound you make and I bet the water is like ice. I can still feel your presence all around me.

You call my name.

The cover of the fog is making this easier and infinitely harder at the same time. There has been a war raging inside of me for years and at the moment I know which side is winning. I want to see your face.

I stand. I follow you into the mist.

I remove my shoes at the water's edge – and my coat. I step into the water and wade until it is up to my knees... there you stand.

I was right; the water is like ice. I'm cold, but you're so warm. I close the distance between us. You smile up at me as I take your hand.

I peer down at you and I'm captured once more by those eyes. How I've missed them. I see my faint smile reflected back at me. This was always my safe place, do you remember? I can't count the number of times your smile has saved me, brought me back from despair. Every time I threatened to go over the edge, your warmth gave me something to cling on to. Your eyes hold more than a touch of sadness now, but you're trying so hard and I want to do the same.

With the hand that isn't tightly clasping yours, I reach up to touch the milky soft skin of your cheek. I'm being gentle, as if to make up for all the times I haven't been. I'm aware of how there is only the two of us, adrift in a sea of white, silent, except for the sound of our breathing and our hearts beating. It's almost as if we've slipped into another world; I don't think I've ever felt this calm.

It's so cold. You're shivering now, but the heart I encased in ice is thawing, because I'm holding you so close. It's a different type of warmth that's melting it. Your eyelids drift closed as I touch your face with more tenderness than I ever thought myself capable of. But as I lean in, they flutter open once more.

Zero, you whisper, a warning.

Just this once, I murmur, unable to bear the thought of not kissing you right now, everything will be back to normal by tomorrow...

You say nothing, but you aren't protesting so I do it. Softly at first, then all longing breaks loose from the corner of my heart that I locked it in, then neglected for so long. I still can't tell if you're letting me because you feel the same, or if it's just pity. I try not to care.

I can't say the words, but I know you've realised: it was always an act, always. I even tricked myself with it. And tomorrow I'll pick it up again. Tomorrow, everything will go back to normal. I'll pick up the Bloody Rose again and you'll go back to him.

The thought is another blow to a heart that can only take so many.