Disclaimer: Anybody who's actually reading this would know that Vampire Knight is the creation of Matsuri Hino. I am merely a fan.

Warning: Potential spoilers to those who have not reached Chapter 48 in the manga yet.

Belief

Prompt: [Placed at the end of the story to avoid any foreshadowing]

Everybody at the Cross Academy loved the weekends.

For the day class students, it was two days of unadulterated bliss in which they can escape from the humdrum lives they had at the academy. There were no lessons to attend. There were no timetables they had to follow. They could do anything they wanted (well, within the school rules, of course). Most importantly, they were able to leave the school grounds and go out into the town.

For the night class students – in particular, Hanabusa Aidou – the weekends held a special meaning. It was the only two days they could enjoy a peaceful rest from dawn to dusk. During the week, there were hordes of fan girls outside the front gates of the Moon Dormitory every morning. And although he appreciated the gestures of adoration, when it was his bedtime, he wished those girls would just keep quiet and let him sleep in peace. Suffice to say, if Hanabusa was up and about during the day, he would be in a bad mood.

And he was currently in a very bad mood.

"Explain to me why we are out here." Hanabusa Aidou yawned as he walked down the main street of the local town. It was four o'clock in the afternoon and here he was, in broad daylight, wide awake and walking among the humans.

Hanabusa glanced to his side and glared at his cousin, Akatsuki Kain. Unlike Hanabusa, whose hands were free and swinging idly by his sides, Akatsuki's were loaded down with heavy shopping bags. Despite his heavy burden, and all the passersby staring at them, the tall redhead seemed unperturbed. His brows were unfurrowed. There was no tightening in his lips. And his shoulders were loose and free of tension.

Having grown up with him, Hanabusa knew this was as relaxed as Akatsuki was ever going to get.

"I asked you if you wanted to come," Akatsuki pointed it out calmly. "And you agreed."

The blonde was grumpy and looking for a fight. "And explain to me why you decided to disturb my sleep and ask that question?"

"Actually, that wasn't my idea," Akatsuki shrugged his broad shoulders. "I was merely the messenger."

"Of course," Hanabusa grumbled. "There's only one would be annoying enough to drag me out of my bed. And speaking of the she-devil."

He nodded his head. Akatsuki followed his line of sight and found Ruka Souen in the crowded street. She was standing in front of a stall stand, perusing through their goods. And judging by the smiling expression on the vendor's face, she wasn't going to walk away empty-handed.

As he watched, Ruka absentmindedly lifted a hand to tuck a few stray strands of her caramel-coloured hair behind her ears as she continued browsing the stall. Looking up, she spotted them and lifted a hand in greeting.

"Ah yes," Hanabusa muttered darkly as the two of them strolled over to where she was. "Now, explain to me why we still hang out with her."

"She's family," Akatsuki said simply.

Hanabusa snorted. "She's a she-devil whose single purpose in life seems to be to irritate me. I want to –" He stopped short when Akatsuki shot him a warning glance.

Wisely, Hanabusa decided to keep his mouth shut.

When they reached Ruka, they discovered she had not one, or two, but four miniature glass statues in her hands. Each one of those hand blown glass figurines were delicate and exquisite to the extreme. Which probably explained the three-figure price tags on them, Hanabusa thought darkly.

"You have way too many of those," He said, shooting Ruka a look of disapproval. "Didn't your parents warn you not to buy anymore of these?"

Ruka trailed a fingertip down the length of the swan's arching neck. "But they're really pretty."

"You already have twelve swan figurines just like it back home," Hanabusa pointed out.

"No I don't," Ruka shook her head for emphasis, causing her shoulder-length hair rippling and swaying. "They're all different."

"Well, yeah, that's how they trick you into buying more," Hanabusa muttered darkly under his breath. That comment received a sharp elbow jab from his redhead cousin.

Sighing, Akatsuki shifted the bags in his hands to lean in closer to the stand and have a look at the figurines in Ruka's hands. "They really are pretty," he offered, almost as a way of explaining her obsession with them.

Ruka nodded but shook her head again. "Hanabusa is right, Mum and Dad probably wouldn't let me buy any more of them." With one last stroke of the fingertip down the swan's neck, Ruka moved to return the figurines back onto the stand.

Akatsuki looked at the price tags again and quickly did the maths in his head. "I'll take them," he told the merchant, who instantly brightened up after looking downcast at the prospect of another lost sale. Ignoring Hanabusa's horrified hiss of his name, Akatsuki carefully set down all the shopping bags onto the ground to retrieve his wallet from his pocket.

"Really?" Ruka looked up at him with hope sparkling in her eyes. The smile she had on her face was alone enough for Akatsuki to justify his purchase. He hasn't seen that smile in a very long time.

"Sure," He shrugged casually as he put his wallet away and accepted the boxed figurines from the vendor. Acting as if it wasn't a big deal, he put the purchases into one of the numerous bags he had in his possession. "If your parents knew they were a gift, even they wouldn't object to you having them, right?"

Ruka stared up at him with an unreadable expression. She opened her mouth to say something before shaking her head. "Thanks," she murmured instead, flashing him another smile. Turning around, she looked up the street and pointed to a store up ahead. "

Hanabusa lagged behind and Akatsuki automatically slowed his pace down to match, knowing that his cousin wanted to have a word with him alone. Sure enough, as soon as Ruka was out of earshot, Hanabusa turned to him with full blast.

"What are you thinking?" Hanabusa was incredulous at Akatsuki's incredible wastefulness of money. While they were of the noble class and their families were fabulously wealthy, their monthly stipend certainly wasn't a bottomless well that can withstand constant raiding. Just yesterday, Ichijou-sama had complained that he had just spent the last of his monthly income on the latest manga magazine – and they were only one week into this month! "I know how much your parents give you each month and it certainly isn't enough to buy all that and survive the next three weeks."

Akatsuki shrugged again. "I'll get by. It's not like I have any major expenditures coming up soon." In truth, this was the first thing he's bought all year. Frugal by nature (perhaps it came naturally after seeing his fellow classmates regularly squander their own allowances), Akatsuki has been saving all his allowances since they've started coming to Cross Academy. However, he wasn't going to tell Hanabusa that. If the blonde knew, he would surely come to Akatsuki whenever he's short of funds.

"Still," Hanabusa grumbled. "I don't see why you have to spend all your money on her. What's she done lately for you?"

The redhead laughed. "You're only saying that because I haven't spent anything on you."

"Not true," Hanabusa argued, his ears twitched – a sure sign that he was lying. "I'm just looking out for you. She's annoying, bossy, refuses to accept when she's wrong. And she takes advantage of us all the time."

"She's family, Hanabusa."

"Still doesn't mean we have to love her." Hanabusa remained steadfast in his conviction.

"Akatsuki?" Ahead, Ruka turned around and looked back at them. "What's taking you guys so long?"

"Coming," he answered, lengthening his stride to catch up to her. No, Hanabusa was right. Just because she's family doesn't mean they had to love her. But he has had no say in that matter for a very long time now. Looking out for her had already become a second nature for him.

To love means loving the unlovable.

The trio entered the small ice-cream shop, welcoming the respite from the sunshine outside. Once their eyesight had adjusted to the dim interior lighting, Hanabusa immediately made a beeline to the front counter, muttering under his breath that if Akatsuki was going to splurge thousands of dollars for Ruka's stupid glass figuring collection, the least he could do was treat him to some ice-cream. Muffling his laughter, Akatsuki gestered to a booth tucked away in the back corner of the store.

"Let's sit there."

Nodding, Ruka quietly followed him.

"I'm not sure Hanabusa would remember to get anything for us," he remarked, keeping the conversation light. "What would you like?"

"I'm fine." Ruka slid into the booth seat and set about arranging her ruffled skirt neatly around her.

She wasn't. Akatsuki could tell. Underneath her carefully applied makeup, he knew her skin was pale and cool. It's been two days since the incident and still, she was pale, lethargic and out of breath even with a minimal dose of exercise. He also knew she hadn't been sleeping well at nights, as evident by the occasional yawns that slipped out before she could properly disguise them.

"Please."

Startled by his quiet request, Ruka's eyes flew up to meet his. Hers bewildered, his knowing. They stared at each other for a long telling moment. He knew she knew he was the one who returned her to her room that night.

"Aren't you going to preach?" She said.

"No."

Staring down at the table top, she played with the napkin dispenser. "You know what I've done. It bothers you, I know."

Akatsuki stayed quiet, staring down at her bowed head. He wanted to know what thoughts were on her mind at the moment. But they were no longer the kids they used to be. Ruka no longer confided in him. Instead, everything was hidden behind troubled eyes and averted gazes.

"I'm not sorry," she confessed, her voice small and quiet. "But please don't be mad at me."

When faced with Ruka and her vulnerability, Akatsuki found that there was no anger or resentment. He had never been logical when it came to Ruka and he didn't expect himself to start now. He reached down to cover her hands with one of his.

Stilling her nervous movements, he silently conveyed that everything was okay. And if it wasn't, he would make it so.

To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable.

"What are you guys talking about?" Hanabusa asked as he joined them at the table. He was loaded down with a family-sized banana split sundae and strawberry milkshake. His sweet tooth is one of the few vices for this blonde child prodigy.

Akatsuki held onto Ruka's hands for a moment longer before letting go and stepping back. "Nothing important. Ruka, what would you like?"

"Nothing," she muttered as she got up from the table. "I'm going to go get some fresh air."

With that, she walked out of the store without a backward glance.

"Geez," Hanabusa commented as he popped a big spoonful of sundae into his mouth. "What's up with her? It was her idea to come in here in the first place."

"Nothing," Akatsuki said, running a frustrated hand through his red locks. "She's going through a rough patch at the moment. Can we just let her have it her way today?"

"Don't we always?" Hanabusa glowered up at him over the rim of his milkshake.

Akatsuki sighed, wishing his cousin would grow up and be mature for just a moment.

"Yeah, yeah," Hanabusa waved him away. "I'll play nice for now. Go get her back and make sure she eats something. This truce only lasts until she gets better, alright?"

Akatsuki could only stare down at his cousin in amazement.

"Don't think I don't know," Hanabusa shot him a look. "You care for her. Have for a long time. Why else would you always side with her side of any argument?"

"Now pay up," Hanabusa gestured to his food before holding out a hand.

And the moment was gone. Akatsuki chuckled as he handed over a couple of notes.

"Here," Akatsuki dropped all the bags down onto the empty seat next to Hanabusa. "Look after these until we get back."

"What?" Hanabusa sat up straight and shot an incredulous look at his cousin. "No way. Take those stuff with you!"

"Why?" Akatsuki shot him an incredulous look. "You are going to be sitting here and eat your food. Food, I might add, that I bought."

"Akatsuki," Hanabusa grabbed his cousin's hand and dragged him down to eye-level with him. "Haven't you noticed none of the human girls have approached you today?"

"No," Akatsuki commented dryly. It really wasn't something he thought or cared about.

"It's because you are carrying Ruka's shopping." Hanabusa jabbed at the aforementioned bags. "When other girls see that, it's as loud and clear as any wedding band. They see commitment and relationship and another girl's claws all over you."

Bemused, Akatsuki did what he was told.

"Good luck." Akatsuki turned to see Hanabusa giving him a small smile of encouragement. "I have faith in you two."

Akatsuki shrugged, internally fighting to keep a small smile at bay, as he followed Ruka outside.

Faith means believing the unbelievable.

Stepping back outside, Akatsuki immediately spotted Ruka. The girl hadn't walked off too far. She was sitting down on one of the benches by the road. With the scenic backdrop of the quaint village behind her, Ruka looked as pretty as a picture. She always had but this picture… Akatsuki paused as he studied her from afar. This picture looked lonely and hopeless.

Wordlessly, Akatsuki dropped down onto the bench next to her and waited. He had learnt from a very young age that one had to be patient with Ruka. There was no point in prodding her with questions. Ruka would open up once she's ready.

The cool façade will eventually break down.

"He hates me," were the first thing Ruka said before she flung herself into Akatsuki's unprepared arms. Automatically, on their own accord, his arms enclosed around Ruka's small frame. "He hasn't spoken a single word to me since then, no matter how many times I've approached him. Is it me? I just –" She broke off, suddenly becoming quiet and stiff with only the slight dampening of Akatsuki's shirt being evidence for her tears.

Akatsuki remained silent as his heart broke for her. He wanted, above nothing else, for Ruka's happiness. And to see her reduced to this made him feel helpless inside. But at the same time, there was a deep sense of anger – strong enough that he almost felt compelled to go and hunt down whatever it was that hurt Ruka. He had already fired a warning off to Kanama-sama. While other Level B vampires, especially Hanabusa, would be aghast and incredulous at his audacity. He felt no remorse or fear over his actions and even now, especially now, he stood by them.

A short while later, the flow of her tears slowed and then stopped. "You probably think I'm pathetic," Ruka said as she pushed herself out of his arms. The cool façade was slowly being set back in place.

"Not at all."

"Really?" Her tone showed her scepticism.

Akatsuki smiled at her. "I wouldn't lie to you, Ruka." Never to you.

Not when, out of all the people, I'm probably the only one who understand you exactly as you are. Not when we share the same joy and sorrow. Of being able to be so close to the one we love yet for that love to always be unrequited.

Not when you are the single most important person to me.

Ruka nodded slowly before breaking out into a small smile. "Okay then, I believe you."

"Now, how about some ice-cream? I'm going to kill Hanabusa if he managed to finish that sundae without us."

Ruka's laughter rang through the air as she let herself be tugged back down the path to the ice-cream store.

Yes, Akatsuki thought, in a way, Hanabusa had been right. Just because Ruka was family doesn't necessarily mean Akatsuki had to love her. But as they sat there, sharing a quiet moment with each other. Akatsuki knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Although his feelings were unreturned, as long as Ruka was happy, he would also be happy. His joy depended on hers.

And for now, that was enough.

Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.

Prompt:

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.

~ Gilbert K. Chesterson

Author's Note: Inspired by the fanbook, which states Akatsubki's hobbies were taking care of Aidou and Ruka and on his day off, he enjoys spending time carrying the things that Ruka buys. :D

Also, in the manga, Ruka's hair was shorter back then. So that's how I depicted it.

Even now, just before submitting, I still have misgivings over this one. I don't know why. Is it because everything seems ambiguous and you would have had to read the manga to understand what on earth I'm implying about? Or is it because I feel it's too similar to Carpe Diem? *sigh* I really don't know. But it's down on paper and out of my mind. The story can stop bugging me now. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it.

Next up, Winterwing3000's prompt: "Can't say goodbye to what is mine" + fluff-themed.

Until next time,

Witless Fool