ZeroXYuuki is LOVE!!!! ^_^ GAWD i hope you agree =D ....though i gotta say, this site has a couple of KanameXYuuki's that are enough to break your heart. ...

Seriously, though? I do NOT like Yori. Except for that last scene when she told Yuuki that she'd be her friend no matter what blah blah blah....that kinda had me respecting her for like two minutes and then pshaw....idk i just...don't...like her....XP ... though ive tried to tone it down a little here XD ...

And for crying out loud, STOP PAIRING HER UP WITH AIDO!! I THINK THE POOR GUY'S GONE THROUGH ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! XO

Disclaimer: This fic was written with much love for my darling Zero-kun whom I have dreams of marrying and having babies with some day ^_^ ...though i'd probably burst into tears on our wedding day and insist he marry Yuuki, cuz I cannot go through that kinda traumatic shit by pairing him with anyone other than Yuuki...(*or at least in a het relationship....yaoi requests open ;D)

Hope you like it!! Enjoy =D

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Kiryuu Zero was not having a good day.

It wasn't that hard really—to just walk up to her and tap her on the shoulder and demand why she wasn't sitting with him that afternoon after lunch break. Yuuki wouldn't even lie to him. She'd just widen those huge, meltingly soft russet eyes of hers, rub the back of her neck shyly, crinkle that small, pretty nose while smiling that huge, bashful Yuuki-grin of hers, and let out a few apologetic giggles. "Ehhh…Zero, gomen ne? I'll sit with you now for sure, 'kay?"

And with much uncharacteristic inner squealing at the near-extreme cuteness of it all, Zero would nod shortly, accepting her apology.

But he was a man. And men had their pride—no matter how many times he'd been closing to losing his before her (and, several times, because of her.) Trying his best to dismiss it as something that didn't matter, Zero slumped on the table before him, nestling his head on his folded elbows, trying his hardest not to let his eyes stray towards Yuuki's dark-haired, eagerly bobbing head sitting three tables away from him.

He couldn't—not for long, at least. Hoping that they were at least obscured by his silver bangs, Zero's eyes narrowed as he took in the slight figure of the girl next to Yuuki—that skinny, brown-haired female with the bob-cut, the one with the amber eyes…Wakaba something, she'd been called. What's so special about her, huh? He found his eyes narrow into resentful slits. What's so bad about…about me that Yuuki actually—

Bad about me? There's everything bad about me.

Feeling a sudden weight in his chest, Zero slumped down onto his desk again, staring fiercely onto the swirls and patterns of the wooden surface beneath his face.

Today had actually started off as pretty well—none of those terrible, choking sensations clamping his gut and spreading in white-hot tendrils throughout his body, throat parched and desert-like, whenever he looked at Yuuki…hell, he hadn't even had one of those…those dreams that night—sleeping peacefully—without those unusually vivid, explicit dreams he often had of him…and her…stop it. It's a good day today. Goddamn you, it's a good day! Don't spoil it!

Yes, it was turning out to be a good day. A VERY good day, in fact. Yuuki had sat next to him that morning…well, she didn't usually ever sit anywhere else—and Zero pleased himself with the idea that she actually liked sitting next to him…even though, in hindsight, it wasn't really an idea he thought as possible. What could she possibly likeabout him? Him, Kiryuu Zero—grumpy, moody, sullen, bad-tempered, irritable…nothing like that damn pureblood…

But Yuuki still sat next to him. Yuuki still smacked him over the head with her textbook to wake him up—sometimes, on the really good days, with her warm, tiny hand. Yuuki still often reached out—without quite knowing it—to push away a strand of silver hair that would fall into his eyes—supremely unaware of the hint of red that would color his pale cheeks at the touch.

He'd always act as though her presence near him was a hindrance—something to be tolerated, nothing more.

He'd never even look at her when she sat next to him…though he'd never let her notice how much he loved gazing at her throughout class, silver bangs hiding his eyes.

He'd only glare, rub the offending spot where her textbook (or hand) had struck, shrug his shoulders, slump back (all the while fighting to keep his eyes open) and mumble a "Jeez, Yuuki…" when she woke him up…though he'd never let her notice how his fingers lingered over the spot where her hand would hit him, savoring her warmth.

He'd always pull away with a "Tch!" of seeming irritation when her hand brushed away the strand of hair…but it was only because her touch upon his bare skin caused nothing short of a hormonal havoc inside him that immediately sent half the blood in his body to pool at his groin—at times, growing uncomfortably hard in his pants, often having to excuse himself from the classroom to relieve himself in the toilet. By now, Kiryuu Zero was an expert at walking down the hallways of Kurosu Gakuen towards the toilet, with a partial-erection and looking normal at the same time—all because Kurosu Yuuki had brushed her fingers along his right temple and cheek, down to his neck.

But today…today, right after lunch break—which, being the VERY GOOD DAY that it was, had him sitting with Yuuki in a secluded little spot overlooking the lake, eating their sandwiches in a companionable silence—the sensei had walked in with a new student. A certain Wakaba Sayori.

Zero felt his fists clench beneath the desk, feeling a frown beginning to tug against his forehead once more. Goddamn it, it was supposed to be a good day today! he'd thought fiercely. But nooooo…that…that…Wakaba chick…

He felt his eyes turn towards them again—ears pricking at the sound of Yuuki's sweet laughter, feeling his nails dig furiously into his palms, even though his face remained impassive. The Wakaba girl had said something funny…or at least, something that Yuuki must have found funny—which wasn't saying a lot, really…Yuuki found almost anything and everything worth laughing at—but…ahhhh, that's just not the point! Zero felt his frown beginning to deepen, finally accepting what he was actually pissed about. Why'd she ditch me, huh? Why'd she ditch me for that…for that…he squinted at the Wakaba girl, wondering what made her so special in Yuuki's eyes.

Thin, pale-skinned, soft-spoken…nothing special. Transferred from Shimako High in Kyoto, probably a scholarship student who'd while away her entire evening with her nose buried in a book. Not especially pretty, not especially ugly. Hair a very ordinary brown, eyes a very commonplace…well, they were brown too—just a hint darker than her hair…holding none of Yuuki's warmth, none of Yuuki's kindness…merely calm, level-gazed—perhaps a hint of curiosity, no more. Nothing like Yuuki. She's nothing like my Yuuki.

It was only a moment later that he wondered why he wasn't instantly denying the my that had unconsciously cropped up before Yuuki.

Zero didn't even know the girl, but she'd already made him her enemy.

Her voice—he'd been only slightly glad to notice—wasn't as high-pitched and squeaky as the other Day Class girls…or maybe that was really pushing it—maybe it was as high-pitched and squeaky…just not that loud. It'd be a relief, really…having one less shrill scream pounding into his ears during class changeover, when the Night Class students emerged from their dorms.

The mere thought made his eyes narrow, wondering if she'd be one of those hopeless, squealing, love-struck fangirls—shrieking, "IDOL-SENPAI, I WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABIES!" right into his ears during class changeover. Oh, wouldn't he just love to…ahem…put her in her place then…

Though it might make Yuuki annoyed at him later…Zero frowned, watching the female prefect's dark russet head throw back with laughter, pale cheeks now rosy with mirth. It warmed his heart for a moment—a tender, longing ache—but he stifled it quickly, turning the slight smile that had tugged a corner of his lips turn quickly into his customary frown. Kiryuu Zero's smiles were as rare a sight as his glares were common, and only for Kurosu Yuuki would they ever have reason to find place on his face.

He felt the glare deepen as he remembered. Within moments of the sensei introducing her to the class, within moments of that Wakaba female bowing and murmuring a polite "Yorishku onnegaishimasu-" Yuuki had shot up on her seat as though there were hot coals beneath her skirt, hand shooting into the air, "Hai, sensei!" when the teacher had requested that one of the prefects undertake the job of showing the new girl around.

Zero had rolled his eyes at that. Even had Yuuki not taken the job with such alacrity, he doubted he'd have laid any claim on it. His own life had been messed up enough.

But Yuuki…well, it shouldn't have surprised him, really—seeing the way she'd half leapt out of her chair to half-run, half-walk towards the rather astonished-looking new girl, taking her hands eagerly into her own and shaking them enthusiastically. "Hajimemashte! Kurosu Yuuki desu! I'll be your new guide now!" Despite everything, despite their friendship, despite the loving depth with which Zero cared for her…he knew that Yuuki was lonely. Their jobs as prefects gave them both privileges that the other students couldn't even hope to have for themselves—such as their close proximity to the Night Class—and he knew how this must have alienated her from the other girls, all of whom were the biggest fans of the Night Class students.

And while Zero mostly kept to himself in the male dorms, it wasn't really that hard getting along with the other guys—even for him—and on good days, he'd even accept their invitation of joining them for a couple of (sneaked in) beers in Kamiya-senpai's room. They shared his dislike for the Night Class, though for entirely different reasons—claiming that out of the entire Day Class male population, only around ten guys had girlfriends—and Zero had been surprised to find out that his male classmates actually admired him for his no-nonsense attitude before "them Night Class bastards". "I-I feel m-much s-safer in th-this sch-school now, Kiryuu-senpai!" one of his kouhais, a skinny, bespectacled and very obviously gay kid called Yamamoto had stammered, reddening furiously beneath Zero's single raised silver brow. "Th-those N-Night Class b-bastards d-don't stand a ch-chance if w-we got you

Zero had roared with derisive hilarity at that, astonishing the other guys for a moment—they'd long thought Kiryuu Zero incapable of laughing out so damn loudly—though they joined him soon after, even when he took to his feet, tottering wildly, finger pointing into the air as he slurred—"Kuran-hic-Kaname…ish a-hic…SHTINKING PUSSHY!"

Often the nights would end up with a thousand drunken insults (and darts) being hurled at their least favored Night Class member—of whom Aido Hanabusa was the most called-for, a picture of the grinning blonde playboy vampire pinned against the wall, surrounded by a halo of missed darts.

And then there'd come those talks…of the Night Class women—Zero would add in, loudly and boisterously, only if he was really, really, really, really, really, really drunk—"Th-that-hic-T-Touya chick looks like-hic-something out of a-hic-porn movie, eh? Hahaha…hic-"—even though he'd schooled his tongue into never letting slip what they really were. He'd also never really understood why Yamamoto had burst into tears when he'd once let slip that he'd caught a flash of something black and lacy beneath Souen Ruka's skirt that one particularly windy day, while on prefect duty.

Through all of this, he'd gradually formed a grudging acceptance of the Day Class guys (while they'd grown to, quite literally, hero-worship him in return­) and while they, by unspoken agreement, gave him his space, it made life in the male half of the Sun dorms a little easier for him.

But Yuuki…he wondered what she must have gone through. Girls were possessive bitches when it came to things like this, and the thought of his poor best friend (HIS best friend…no one else's—he'd often told himself in a flare of protective anger…even despite the fact that he'd proved himself a very bad best friend when it came to her…) having to defend herself against scores of angry girls all rounding on her only because their precious Kaname-senpai had stroked her cheek and murmured something soft to her during class changeover, or because Aido-senpai had wrapped his arms around her that time (causing Zero to nearly pull out his Bloody Rose on him…as if dealing with Kuran wasn't enough!) pressing a loud, smacking kiss on her cheek…it filled him at once with anger—both at the girls as well as the Night Class bastards…it filled him at once with a natural rush of protective possessiveness he'd accustomed himself to knowing would occur only with her…it filled him at once with a slight hurt—filled with a sudden ache at what he saw to be his own inadequacy.

And then there were those moments…those moments that Zero would find his mind at an utter blank, unable to have understood a word of what Yuuki had said—schooling his features into their usual bored annoyance—while inside him, his brain was working furiously to understand what she had just said. Female hormones? What am I thinking of when my brows furrow like…what?! Not quite love, not quite fascination, not quite crush? Aquamarine flip-flops? Maroon halter-necks? Puppies? No, Yuuki—you're not fat! No, I LOVE IT when you ask me to go shopping with you! No, I do NOT find you irritating! Well, yeah…I do SOMETIMES, but AAAH! I'm half in love with you, woman! YES, I think you're beautiful…and definitely more beautiful than that cover girl on that stupid magazine. And goddamn it, one zit doesn't matter—I can barely see it! Okay, what the FUCK? _

Yuuki would merely sigh at his half-hearted mumbling—completely oblivious to the sensory overload Zero was currently suffering, wondering when his sweet, innocent Yuuki's simple, childlike nature had suddenly taken such a hideously complex, womanly turn—brows drawing down in frustration, eyes turning away, lips pressed into a fine line. "You just don't…you just don't understand, Zero…"

The hurt would return then…flaring sharply, achingly in his chest—making his eyes widen for a moment, narrowing at the corners in pain, lips parting with stunned bewilderment…though in a moment, he'd have replaced it with the usual sullen glare, the brooding shadows returning to his eyes, descending once into his glowering silence, which was enough to terrify any of the Day Class girls into toeing the line during class changeover.

But even this, he could put up with…as long as Yuuki decided to stay by his side.

After all, she was his best friend…right? She was his sole companion…right? Of course she was. Of course she'd always come back to him. Of course she'd never let some skinny, ordinary scholarship student called Wakaba-something take that away from him…"REALLY? I think so too! Yori-chan, I think you and I are going to be best friends!"

Thwack. Strike one.

Wh…WHAT?!

He was gripped with a sudden numbing sensation—icy, frigid, grasping him with a sudden vice-like ferocity…something like a baseball bat to the face. Horse-hoof to the gut. Bullet wound to the skull. Dagger to the heart. His brain was suddenly reduced to a fool's sluggish capacity, piecing together words and connotations with a slowness that betrayed the extent to which his ears stubbornly refused to let the words through.

Y…YORI? Yori-CHAN? Wh…what the fu—

"Ne, Yuuki-chan—you like parfait, right?" Pitcher in position. Cool. Calm. Infinitely collected.

Bitch.

"Parfait? I LOVE parfait! Especially with extra chocolate!" Eager spectator. A few imaginary "Kyaaaaaaa!"s. Wild fangirling.

Ditcher!

"Well, me and my friend back home in Kyoto used to go for parfaits every day after school…I figured you might wanna go with me today?" Small smile, head tilted slightly to the side…what was it they used to call this form of persuasion? 'Lovely' something? 'Lovely' transformation? WTF?

Hmm…gotta practice how to do that one…it might actually get her to…

Okay, what the FUCK?! _

Yuuki nearly suffered a bust vein in her eagerness of response—"Of COURSE, Yori-chan! I'll…I'll…of course I'll come!" =D

Thwack. Strike two. Hot-coal poker stuffed into stomach, yanking out innards. Boiling oil poured into gaping hole in chest. Thumbscrews. Iron-maiden. Rack machine, more like.

She'd promised she'd help him in the stables today.

"Hah…" a short, abrupt expulsion of breath, hand clutching at chest—a motion he'd usually find himself doing whenever those…fits would come onto him. Those cold, choking sensations clamping his gut, parching his chest with an agony powerful enough to make him scream. Was it so different to what he was feeling now? Hah. I…I…god…damn it…

She'd…she'd promised…she'd promised him…

"…looks really cute on you, Yuuki-chan~" ^_^

"Rea~lly, Yori-chan? Uwaaa—you have one too! You should wear it more often, Yori-chan~" =D

"Yes…we get these at Kyoto too. I'll get some back for you, Yuuki-chan~" ^_^

Zero felt his brow drag down until he was sure the frown was covering his eyes. Bribery. Pure bribery. =.=

"Ne, Yori-chan—do you have a lot of brothers and sisters?" =D

"I have three oniisans…can you believe that, Yuuki-chan?" XP

"Uwaaa! THREE? I have only one!" XO

"Rea~lly? Does he study here, Yuuki-chan?" ;D

"Yes he does…but that's not important, Yori-chan—tell me about your oniisans!" =D

Zero felt his head snap up, gaze fixed onto Yuuki—hurt exploding in his chest. Not important? Not…important? He…he wasn't…that…important to her?

And despite everything…despite his feelings towards her being far from platonic or even big-brotherly…she still saw him as a brother? As only a brother? Nothing…nothing more? He'd heard the words. He'd HEARD the words, falling from her lips. Goddamn it, he'd even seen it.

Yes he does, but that's not important…that's not important… that's not important… that's not important…that's not important…it kept playing again and again in his head like a broken radio, making his teeth clench, the sudden agonizing weight in his chest making his eyes burn suddenly.

So now he was an afterthought? After nearly three years…after nearly three years of their having lived together as a family…he meant nothing to her? Nothing?

"…like any of the guys here, Yuuki-chan?" ;D

Oh. SHIT. The million-dollar question. Zero's head snapped up again—glaring openly, heatedly at the Wakaba chick, hurt suddenly replaced with foreboding, his gaze so furious that a couple of girls sitting nearby had begun to stare at him nervously. Don't you…don't you fucking dare—

Yuuki had begun to blush as though every cell in her body was pumping blood into her cheeks, flushed and fidgeting wildly. "Y-yes," she whispered, eyes fixed resolutely to the shoelaces of her boots.

"Yori-chan" was looking curious, leaning forward. "Well, who is it, Yuuki-chan?" she whispered in a conspiratorial manner, gaze roving around the classroom as though the one Yuuki spoke of were sitting in there with them.

Zero relaxed perhaps an inch. Kuran should be…er—sleeping right now or something, right? Far, far away in the Moon dorms. Despite the twinge of hurt it caused within him, it also brought him a slight satisfaction. At least here he didn't have to worry about Yuuki liking anyone aside from that pureblood…

What then he saw hit him like a knife in the gut.

Yuuki's eyes had widened at the other girl's movements—tugging onto her companion's sleeve and pulling her down to the desk. "Yori-chan, mitanaide! He'll…he'll see you looking!"

Thwack. Strike three. Sudden, instantaneous death. Cold, cruel, raw, inexplicable agony. The final nail in the coffin. The final lash of leather whip striking bone.

Yuuki…Yuuki liked someone else?

Someone…other than Kuran?

Someone…someone in the Day Class?

Someone…else?

Zero suddenly fell back against the seat, feeling as though every bone in his body was being ruthlessly, mercilessly torn through his flesh. It felt like chewing and swallowing bits of broken glass, head pounding with the sudden agony exploding in his chest and in the pit of his skull, making his teeth clench at the sudden pain. Yuuki…liked…someone…else?

Who was it? Which one of that endless line of commonplace humans was she in love with? Who was it? Who was it? After all these years of loving Kuran Kaname…she had found a lesser being in the Day Class to fall in love with?

Someone who wasn't…him, Kiryuu Zero?


"Hah…"

Get a fucking grip. She'll never love you. Ever. Get it outta your head. It's not you. It's not you.

He could have put up with Yuuki loving Kuran. It was expected that she love him—her savior…something he would never truly accustom himself to—if accepting it, albeit slightly. Of all the people, the pureblood would be the one who could truly protect her more than anyone else—and only because of this…only because of this, Zero accepted her love for him.

No matter how much it broke his heart to know it.

But now…now, Yuuki…loved someone else?

Yuuki…loved…someone…else?

The entire class descended into silence as Kiryuu Zero pushed away from his desk—the single motion holding to it a violence that nearly toppled it over, striding out of the classroom, slamming the door behind him. The vehemence with which he'd wrenched it open had half torn it off its protesting hinges, the slam as he pushed it behind him as he left echoed slightly in the silenced classroom. No one so much as moved.

An entire minute had passed before Yuuki took to her feet—"I'll see you in a bit, okay, Yori-chan?"—before striding purposefully in the direction Zero had left, gaining more than just a few admiring gazes in her wake. Not many of the Day Class would ever so much as even dare to look at the silver-haired male prefect when he was in a foul temper.

But not Yuuki.

Reviews are love =D ... spread em, spread em, im open!! XD

Hope you liked it so far ^_^