Author's note: Bloody Rose is cool. Zero is cool. Vampires can be cool. Heck, all of VK is!

Chapter 2

Zero could only sit staggered for a minute to process that Yuuki Cross was not sitting at this table anymore. That he was staring at an empty spot instead of his friend. What just happened? Why did the joking turn into him being by himself at a table meant for two?

Across the table, the top of a bag caught his attention and he leaned forward. The bag must've been Yuuki's. He sighed. He was going to need to bring it to her.

He rose and plunked down payment for a pretty good ice cream and a half eaten creamy parfait. He snagged the leftover bag and hurried outside. Catching up with the girl always tended to be a lot of work but he looked at it as honing his tracking skills. He scanned around and saw a flash of fast movement and the brunette rounding a corner.

No way she was escaping that way! Zero jogged slowly, knowing his long legs could keep up with her short strides. Easing around the corner, he inwardly cursed. Passerbys were also crowded in this area, making searching for Yuuki an arduous task.

Okay, so she probably would get out this direction. He rubbed his eyes. Man, what was he going to tell her when they met up which wasn't going to explode in his face?

Understanding the fruitlessness of doing it, Zero felt better when he called out her name. Twice, four times, five. Yuuki either was giving him the silent treatment or she was not in here anymore. He reached a large hub which branched out in three directions. Situated in this wide space were patrons huddled around seller stands. He planted his feet right in the middle of the interconnecting paths. Great, picking a path was a crapshoot? He gritted his teeth.

Then he remembered his interpersonal skills. Zero checked around and noted the four or so vendors scattered around in this hub. He questioned them if they saw Yuuki and if they did, which path did she head. All but one seller was no luck, but the helpful seller was dubious at best since there were so many visitors.

Well, Zero had to take what carrot was held out for him and he darted down the recommended path. His irritation at her justifying her mistake in the bathroom began to morph to anxiety. Losing sight of her did worry him more than he liked.

He spotted her. Yuuki was struggling against a vampire who snapped teeth at her. Her Artemis rod was used as a shield. Both her arms and the vampire's were locked. Artemis was the sole thing keeping those creature's sharp teeth from diving in her flesh.

Damn if Zero was going to allow this freak to hurt her! His Bloody Rose pistol was drawn before he realized it. "Yuuki!" he shouted to warn her to step aside.

The vampire snarled at being interrupted. This one was female, and strong from the power struggle Artemis was being put through. Zero raised his gun.

Yuuki, seeing this but unable to retrieve her metal rod, released her grip on it. Letting go surprised the vampire and a bullet lodged in her arm. The rod clanged to the ground.

The vampire whirled around and rushed at Zero. He fired again, dodging a vicious swipe to his stomach. She leaped into the air and Zero followed her arc with a hail of gunfire.

Yuuki cried out. Zero saw her clutch her side and drop to her knees.

Confused, he wanted to ask if she was able to move but the furious vampire slashed at him. Wiry arms and long nails were her weapons. She swung again and again. Zero dodged her strikes. She was a fast one.

She feigned right and swiped violently with her left hand. Zero felt the rush of air and a harsh sting in his shoulder as her nails raked it. He yelled out in surprise.

The vampire licked the droplets of blood from her fingertips. Her delighted face then contorted at the taste. She hesitated and Zero was suddenly looking at the business end of the Artemis jutting out of her chest.

The vampire screamed. Zero silenced the wail with a shot point-blank. The disintegration of the vampire was swift.

In front of him, Yuuki had gotten up. She retracted her rod with one hand. The other was clutching a bleeding wound at her side.

Zero holstered Bloody Rose and rushed over. Yuuki shook her head at his concern. "It's no big deal."

"I- I hit you?" His revelation was sobering.

"Just a scratch. You're a good shot. You hit her." Her tight smile tried to hide a grimace, but Zero wasn't fooled. He felt awful injuring her. Some aim he was.

He covered his face with a hand. If only he watched closely where he was pointing. If he took an extra second to aim at a different spot...

Yuuki hovered her hand over the claw marks on his shoulder. "You need fixing up, too. Hey, you brought my stuff." She caught sight of the discarded bag behind him and limped over to it. Her hand reached out to pick it up but Zero scurried it up for her.

"Let's go." He murmured this. The sharp metallic smell of Yuuki's blood wreaked havoc with his senses and he sharply looked away.

Chairman Cross stopped slouching at his desk when Zero popped his head through the small slat of his office door and told him Yuuki was hurt. Kaien rushed over to his daughter. As soon as Zero released his support on her, Kaien looked in concern at him. "You need to go to the infirmary."

"I just need the bathroom." The hard expression on Zero's face left no argument. He abruptly walked away.

Yuuki called his name to his retreating back. Sadness penetrated her normally chipper visage. Kaien softly said her name and guided her to the infirmary. Perhaps she would willingly admit what had given her pain.

As he tended to her scrape, he gently asked for details about their sighting. Yuuki outlined running into he vampire at the edge of market.

"And the vampire injured you?"

Yuuki, looking out the open doorway, seemed gloomy at hearing him say that.

The headmaster followed her gaze thoughtfully, and the truth clicked. "Was it Zero-kun?"

Her silence confirmed his guess. He smiled encouragingly. "Tell him."

"Hmm?"

"Tell him you know he didn't shoot you on purpose." He finished wrapping up her wound.

She carefully slid her shirt and jacket on. "What if he doesn't believe me?"

Kaien's encouraging grin didn't cease. "You'll get through to him."