Chapter 2

Zero's P.O.V

"Yuuki?" Kaname and I both said at the same time.

Oh, there she is! So many questions went through my mind: where was she, what was she doing, who was she with, was she alone, was she attacked, why was she gone, how did she get back, and what happened?

Immediately, as if it was instinct, I ran towards Yuuki. Well, since Kaname wasn't one to do much physical activity, someone had to greet her. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to my chest.

"I was so worried, Yuuki…" I whispered. Kaname walked casually up behind me. "Yuuki, where were y-"

"Let me go." Yuuki interrupted. There was something wrong with her voice. It wasn't cheerful, like when she was happy, and it wasn't low, like when she was sad. It was just plain. Normal. Unemotional. I was so confused, receiving such an unexpected response like this.

"Wh-… what?" I stuttered. I pushed her gently away from my body, held her shoulders, bent over to her eye level, and looked at her. There was definitely something wrong. Her eyes… they weren't shining like usual. In fact, they seemed so very lifeless. It was a plain, reddish color. No shadows in it, no shine.

"Please, let me go." She said again in the same manner. Kaname stepped in and nudged me out of the way. He touched the tip of Yuuki's hair. He leaned in really close to her face. There was no reaction and no change of state. He smiled lightly at her. I noticed his eyes were on her neck, checking to make sure no one bit her. There were no recent bite marks.

"Why did you want Zero to let you go, Yuuki?" He asked sweetly with a smile.

"I must return to my master right away." Her response. Both Kaname and I took steps back, and our eyes widened.

"Master?" I thought. I don't know about Kaname, but I was ready to flip out and force Yuuki to tell me what she was talking about. She turned away from us and started walking away, towards the gate where the Night Class comes out every evening.

"Don't stop her," Kaname whispered, "follow her." I nodded in agreement and we both followed, making sure to stay far behind her. When she got to the gate, she stopped. We hid behind some trees. A tall man seemed to teleport next to her. He had long, orange hair. He wore a suit, with the coat unbuttoned and no tie. We were too far away to see any more detail, but our vampire senses allowed us to hear his every move, breath, and word.

He got closer to Yuuki and put his arms around her. "My flower…" he whispered into her ear, "why did you leave? Did you come to check on your friends?" He smiled at her.

"Yes. I'm sorry master," was her response. She didn't move to great him back and continued to talk in that zombie-like manner.

"Did you see Kaname and Zero?" He asked, his smile widening.

"Yes, master."

"Did they talk to you? Touch you at all?" His smile changed into a concerned expression.

"Yes, master, but I got away from them."

"That's my girl." His smile returned.

What the hell is going on? Who's that man touching Yuuki, and what does he want? I stole a glance at Kaname; I could hear him breathing heavy. Looks like he was thinking the same thing as me.

"Master Akinori-sama," Yuuki said, turning to him, "may we please go home?" I saw her smile as she lifted her hands to his face and cupped his cheeks. "I don't want to see Zero and Kaname anymore."

"Why?" He asked, with a pleased smile.

"I only love you, master Akinori-sama."

Both Kaname and I were taken back by this response. At the same time we reached and put our hands over our hearts. Our gaze didn't leave Yuuki.

"Are you eager to let me drink your delicious blood?" The man smiled at Yuuki, bending over and kissing her cheek lightly.

"If it's what master wants." She said, returning to her zombie-like self.

"No!" Kaname breathed. Yuuki and Akinori didn't hear him, to my relief. I turned to Kaname with a "What the hell is it?" face. He looked into my eyes, then looked down. He silently walked up to my tree and whispered in my ear. "I can tell that man's a pureblood…"

That was all I needed to know. I stepped forward and tried to run at them, but Kaname caught my arm. I looked back at him in anger. "What?" I growled as quietly as possible.

"Don't."

I returned back to my spot hidden by the tree, and Kaname returned to his tree. "What will we do, then?" I asked in a whisper. He didn't want to say anything so he shrugged. I almost laughed, because that seemed like something Kaname would never do, but… laughing was something I never do. Besides, things were serious. I returned my attention to Yuuki and the man.

He released Yuuki, and took a step back. He glared at her with a smile. It made my stomach churn, and my blood pressure rise. I wanted to strangle him… but as Kaname said, that man most likely is a pureblood, and I'd be dead in an instant. What use to Yuuki was I dead?

"Yuuki, my rose," the man started as he took a piece of her hair and played with it, "do you feel a change in the wind? My dear, I think we're being watched."

Kaname and I were taken aback. Now what? Suddenly Kaname ran up behind me and grabbed my arm. Everything went black for a moment, and next thing I know we're inside the Night Class dorm. I hit Kaname's hand to get him off my arm.

"What the hell was that?" I yelled at him angrily.

"We teleported, like that man did."

Ugh. I hated how he said that like it was so obvious that is what he had done. "Whatever," I said, "what about Yuuki?"

"We're no help to her now."

"So what do we do?" I was growing impatient.

"I must ask the Council about who this man is. We will both research and study him. Then we'll worry about Yuuki."

This made me mad. We had no time to waste. Who knows what will happen if we wait? He's already talking about biting her. I wanted to slap Kaname and shake him. I turned away from him and stared off into space, thinking about what to do. Kaname went up to his room.

Kaname's P.O.V

Kiryuu made me mad. He's so impatient. What else are we going to do, run up to him and demand Yuuki back? No, that's a really stupid idea. Even if I'm a pureblood, I know nothing about this man and what his abilities are. I had to do research.

Finally in my room, I went over to my couch. I sat down and thought for awhile. I recognized that man, I know I did. But from where? Ah, but there is no time to waste. I got up and put my coat on and went downstairs. Zero was still standing there.

"Please, Kiryuu, feel free to sit down if you're going to stay." I offered as kindly as I could to the man I hated. He ignored me. "Suit yourself." I walked past him and opened the doors. I calmly walked down the walkway to the gate. It opened for me. The man and Yuuki were gone. I continued on my way.

Zero's P.O.V

Though I hate to admit it, Kaname was right. This man was a total stranger to us as far as I knew. But the look in Kaname's eyes said "I know that man." What is he keeping from me, and why?

I paced back and forth in front of the Night Class dorm's door. Sitting down sounded good to me, but I was too worried about Yuuki to care about my own personal comfort.

Suddenly I heard footsteps. I half jumped and looked around. They were coming from upstairs. I froze.

A blonde figure came out from the hallway. He was scratching his head and stopped when he noticed me. He blinked twice. I finally recognized him. It was Aido.

"Hm? Kiryuu Zero?" He looked at me with his pathetic innocent look. Bleh. "Why're you here?"

We stared at each other in silence.