A/N: I finally got around to updating. I don't think I can update often. I have a lot to do, and ideas don't always come to me. I'll do my best, though, and I never leave a story unfinished, so you won't have to worry about me abandoning it. It might be awhile, but it will get done. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!


Chapter 2:

Yuki stumbled to class, her cheeks flushed and hot. She swayed a bit, feeling dizzy. Deep inside, she knew she had no business going to class in this condition. For the past few days, she had been severely ill; however, she did not know the cause. That did not mean, of course, that she would shirk her duties or her classes. She had to go. She had to perform her duties.

As she staggered, weak-kneed, into her classroom, she began to wonder if Mizuki had caused her illness. It was possible. After all, he wasn't typical of most vampires.

"Yuki, you're back."

She looked up to see who had addressed her. "Hi, Zero."

"What are you doing here?" he asked, seeing her swagger, "You're still really sick. Go back to bed."

She feverishly shook her head and insisted weakly, "I'm fine."

He leaned over, looking her right in her eyes. Her heart thumped as she swallowed nervously.

"You're not fine. Let me take you back to your room."

"But, then you'll miss class…"

"It doesn't matter. And don't even think about coming to perform your duties tonight."

He took her by the arm and led her down the hall. Trembling and sweating, she clutched his sleeve, not wanting to collapse. Before they could even reach the end of the hall, her knees buckled, giving way to her weight.

Gasping and shivering, she tried desperately to regain her strength and stand up. She found she could not. It was as though her quivering muscles were too loose yet too tight at the same time.

"Zero!"

He knelt down by her. "Yuki, this is all my fault." He looked sheepish.

"Why?"

"I shouldn't have been taking so much from you." He whispered, looking resentful.

"No, no! It's not you…I think…you do know what Mizuki did to me? Kaname told you?"

He nodded in affirmation. "You suppose it was his doing?"

"I suspect as much. I can't be sure."

"Here, let me take you to the infirmary."

"No! What if they find out about the secret? That vampires walk amongst us?"

"I'm sure the nurse already knows. Why else--"

"No! Please, just leave me alone."

"I can't. I can't leave you like this."

She shivered harder, and thought about Kaname. She looked up at Zero with guilty eyes.

"Just…go. I can make it myself. I don't want you to miss class or your duties. I'll be…all right."

She attempted a weak smile, trying to convince him.

"You expect me to believe that when you're in such a condition? You're not exactly high in mighty crumpled on the floor like that. Please, let me help you. You're too weak."

He held a hand out to her to help her up. She stared at it for a moment, but didn't take it. Ignoring it, she finally managed to get back on her feet. Zero's face fell a bit, since he knew what this meant. She was rejecting his affections.

"You confuse me so."

She smiled feebly at him. "I'm sorry, Zero. I know there was more meaning to that gesture than simply to aid me. I'm not ready. The roses were sweet, and I'll let you drink my blood, but….there's something holding me back. I can't tell you about it yet. And I can't accept your assistance right now. I need to figure some things out."

"Since when did helping someone turn into a gesture of affection?"

"You know very well what you meant by that gesture." She told him, eyeing him evenly, then said softly, "You can't take me back to my room. You know why."

He blushed, ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry. I overstepped the boundaries."

"Since when do you behave as such? What's causing you to act so strangely?"

"I've been under a lot of stress," he muttered, looking away, then, with a small smile curving his lips, "I thought you were my 'older' sister."

"Then why'd you--"

"Because you let me take so much of you. I'm ashamed of my condition, but since it can't be helped…"

"It's Ok, Zero. I just don't know who…." She quickly cut herself off, thinking of Kaname and the information she had almost given away to him. "Nevermind."

He eyes her curiously, but let it go.

"I'd better go."

She turned, saying no more to him, only feeling guilt, shame, and hurt. She didn't want to treat him like this. She didn't usually act like this towards him. What was wrong with her? She couldn't understand her own action, much less Zero's. Perhaps their most recent interactions had some way to contribute to this awkwardness.

When she finally reached her room, she was much surprised to see Kaname waiting for her.

"Kaname! You can't be here, not now!"

"I'm sorry, Yuki, but it is of utmost importance that I speak with you."

"Well…" she hesitated, "Ok."

She unlocked the door, letting herself and Kaname in the room. When she shut the door, she happened to look at the wilting roses that Zero had given her. Crimson flushed her cheeks as she felt more shame and discomfort. She wanted to let him in, she really did. But, where would that leave Kaname?

"Yuki, you should lie down."

She only did as he asked and looked up at him with almost helpless eyes. He looked down at her sympathetically, almost tenderly.

"Mizuki…" he paused, then started over, "Yuki, I think I know what Mizuki meant."

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

"You see, there's a legend about an extinct race of vampires. These vampires were, indeed, pureblood; however, every time they bit a human, they somehow assimilated human DNA and characteristics into their systems. Over time, these vampires, so to speak, evolved so that they can be hardly distinguished from ordinary humans. They are not level E, seeing how they were never human in the first place; however, they can be mistaken for such due to the human characteristics they possess."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm not finished. You see, when they bite a human, they turn that person into a vampire as well, since they are pureblood. Unlike most, though, the characteristics never sink into until later. And the human retains their characteristics and can still be drained by vampires. Other vampires cannot recognize that the afflicted human is not entirely human. Therefore, the human who has been bitten, although obtaining certain vampire characteristics, is not entirely vampire. They are caught between a human state and a vampire state. They never morph into a level E, and can live most of their lives in peace. However, the only way they can survive is if they create a type of partnership with another vampire--a pureblood."

Yuki's heart skipped a beat. "Are you telling me…that…"

Kaname smiled sadly at her. "And that pureblood vampire," he told her, "due to the toxicity of his partner's blood eventually….dies."

Yuki caught her breath in her throat. "Am…I…"

Kaname nodded. "I'm afraid so, Yuki."

Yuki sat still in a state of shock. Finally: "Thanks for telling me."

"I'm so sorry."

Kaname slipped his arms around her. She found herself thrusting her arms around his waist, holding on tightly. How could this have happened to her? No, she mustn't cry. The tears came anyway. Soon, she was sobbing into his jacket. Though she had tried to be brave, she couldn't take it.

"Is this why I'm so sick? Because I need a pureblood to drink my blood? But wouldn't that make me more of a…"

"Not if you're already one, somewhat."

"But, I…"
"Yuki, it's Ok. I'm afraid you are sick because the potency of Mizuki's bite. Hopefully, the fever will subside in a few days. If not, then I'll have to drink you blood to remove the poison and prevent you from dying."

"But…Zero…" she found herself gasping. "No! I meant--"

He sighed. "Yuki, I already know about Zero. You know I know."

She only nodded. "How…will I be able to break it to him?"

"Nothing is impossible, though it may seem so. Just tell him the truth."

She nodded. "But, Kaname…Zero…he…loves--"

He placed a finger to her lips. "I know."

She shivered at his gesture, then felt more guilt. "I can't--"

"Yes, you can."

"Kaname, I've already let him--"

"I know."

"And now, he wants…more. He's trying to deny it, but I can tell…"

"I suppose he can't help it."

"But, are you saying that I should…with you?"

He was silent.

"Kaname, I can't…"

"I never said you had to."

"But, what you said about me needing to find a pureblood…"

"It doesn't have to be me."

"But it can't be Zero."

"You denied him anyway."

"I know. But I can't figure out my feelings. I'm confused."

"I don't blame you. Take your time, Yuki. There might be a solution. I'll do my best to find one. If there's any way to reverse this, I promise, I will find it and treat you with it to change you back to normal."

Seeing that he wasn't trying to take advantage of the situation, Yuki relaxed. "Thank-you, Kaname."

"I'll do anything for you, Yuki," he murmured, touching his hand to her hot cheek, "even if it hurts me."

Blushing, she wondered if she would give in to him. Maybe she was feeling awkward around Zero because of Kaname. After all, she had feelings for him. But, then, what would become of Zero? He needed her, and she had been giving her blood freely to him. But now that he wanted more, what was she to do? She couldn't just give in. Sooner or later, she would have to make up her mind. She would have to choose.
Outside, a vampire lurked in the shadows, waiting for Kaname to leave.

"Hayato, everything is in place. All we have to do is wait for Kuran-sama to leave now."

Hayato smirked. "So fitting to refer to him so respectfully," he laughed, "when we are about to treat him so disdainfully."

Mizuki ran his long tongue over a silver knife, "I can already taste the young girl's blood again."
"Be still, Mizuki, you don't want to lapse into a state of death again. It was hard enough to bring you back from the dead a first time. Now, I suggest you wait before you do anything rash. You've performed adequately thus far, but if your impatience screws it up…there's no second chance. It must go through a first time."

Mizuki nodded. "Of course." Then, retreating farther into the shadows, "Kaname-sama will have to surrender his false title. He does not deserve such respect. It was not for him to take."

Hayato agreed. "The revolution has begun."


A/N: So, what'd you think? Kaname's gonna have some trouble, huh? Well, not that I have you interested, I'm going to be evil and wait at least a week before updating. : )