Author Notes:

I'm not Matsuri Hino, I don't own VK. Sad, right?!

Please review!!! and submit possible other titles, 'cause I hate choosing titles....

Yes I will continue to spell Yuuki Yuki 'cause I'm used to it....gomen -.-'

Continuing w/ the story...

Through Other Eyes

Chapter I- Two Years Later

Two years after being adopted, and not much has changed since that very first night. I think more coherently, obviously. I have more of my memories, though not all, including that I am a vampire hunter. I found the ID in my coat pocket the next day, stating that my name is Mayori Anisei and I was, or rather, am, with the Vampire Hunter Association. Most of my memories are still fuzzy, and unclear. I know for a fact that I was abandoned, probably after my mother died. She vanishes from my memory about when I was abandoned, the only really clear memory I still have from then. It haunts me still.

Now, though, I try to focus on the present, and some on the future. In the present, I'm patrolling. It's night, and so the Night Class is out, and possibly some Day Class girls. Idiots... if they knew, they would never go out at night again.

"Ani-chan!!!" Yuki yells, shaking me. I snap back to reality.

"Yuki, I'm awake, quit shaking me like that!" I say crossly, taking a step away.

"You were phasing out again. You're supposed to be patrolling, remember?" Yuki says, shaking me again. I'm leaning against a wall, on one of the small platforms formed when the bottom story is a few feet wider than the top. Yuki's in front of me, holding my shoulders with a hard grip. Her fingernails bite into my shoulders through my regulation school uniform coat. "You were thinking about your past again. It's over, Ani, stop dwelling on it!" She's panicking now. Her blood pressure must be really high.

"Yuki, stop looking so worried," I say, brushing her off as I take a step forward. Out of my peripheral I can see that she looks hurt. Time for a subject change. "Kuran Kaname asked me where you were today. While you were in supplementary lessons this evening."

Works every time. Yuki instantly has her Kuran Kaname look, two parts ecstatic, one part dreamy, one part scared out of her mind. She's completely devoted to the pureblood prince who saved her life. Personally, I don't get it.

"I'm off, gotta patrol," I say, walking to the safety rail over the edge of the platform separating the safe side from the one-story drop. "He really likes you, Yuki," I call over my shoulder, putting a hand on the rail and swinging a leg onto it. She gasps, and I can practically see the pleased blush over her face as I grin and jump over the fence, down to the ground.

*-*-*

I hear the sound of crunching leaves, and touch the gun in my pocket, Silver Moon, just in case. "Zero, is that you?" No response. "Zero?" I ask, walking to the place where I heard the sound. As I get closer, I hear a sound like choking for air. "Zero!" I say, running now. I push through some undergrowth and see him on his knees, one arm clutching his throat while the other supports his weight.

"Another attack?" I ask softly, crouching beside him. Zero nods once, coughing still. I bite my lip, and sit down, my legs pulled up to my chest. Nothing to do now but wait for it to end. I rest my chin on my knees, watching silently, waiting for the attack to subside.

After about fifteen minutes, Zero sits up. His eyes are fading back to purple, but I can still see a brilliant red tint to it. I shudder inwardly as I see the color.

"Better?" I ask quietly. Zero nods, as inarticulate as that first night. "The attacks are getting closer and closer together..." I murmur. Another nod. "I wonder how long until..." I don't finish my sentence, feeling tears sting my eyes, and the pre-crying burn on my nose.

"I don't know," Zero says, turning away. I get up quietly, and clear the two steps between us, wrapping my arms around his neck from behind.

"Don't give up," I whisper into his ear, biting back tears. "Don't give up on yourself, you've got me and Yuki and Headmaster Cross all there for you. Well, mostly me and Yuki. We'll find I way," I say, "I promise." Zero is stiff, and I realize this may very well be the first time I've ever touched him. A moment passes, and I get up. "I won't tell Yuki what you've become yet, but if this continues, I'll have to," I say. Zero tenses visibly. "See you tomorrow," I call over my shoulder as I walk back to the dorm. He doesn't turn, and I blink back more tears without knowing exactly why they've come.