"You're sure you're okay?! Nothing's hurting?" Juri frantically held Yuki's face and examined it as if looking for injuries.

"Okasan," Yuki groaned, pulling out of her mother's hold. "I'm fine. I healed like 2 seconds after he bit me." She was well aware of a radiating anger coming from a certain pureblood on her right.

"Kaname," Yuki glanced at him, "I'm fine. Stop being angry."

Kaname stood up, fuming. "Angry! How can I not be?! Level Es attacked you, while you were in a forest alone-" He turned to glare at Zero, who met his furious gaze calmly.

"That was my fault! I acted like a child and ran away from Zero! You can't blame him! And Kaname, you forget sometimes that even though I'm young, I am a pureblood that can handle herself." Yuki interrupted, pleading but firm in her argument.

Kaname's jaw clenched, "You forget sometimes that there's only one of you in this world Yuki. And I can't handle it if anything-" Kaname took a deep breath and stopped, his jaw so tight, it looked like it would crack. Everyone including Sara and Haruka, as Kaname was painfully aware, was watching as this scene unfolded. He couldn't seem to help himself though because as long as Yuki was involved: he had no reserve on his emotions. He especially resented the fact though, that Zero Kiryu was witnessing this, when it was his fault in the first place that such a predicament occurred. Kaname suddenly wished he could take back the vulnerable words that had just left his lips and swallow them right back.

Yuki ignored the attention placed on them and moved up close to her brother. She placed her hand on his cheek which he leaned into automatically. "You're overreacting. They were just Level Es, Onii-sama. Don't be worried." She said softly and she saw how he visibly relaxed under her touch. "I'm fine. Zero will get the Association to investigate this. Uncle Kaien will make sure it doesn't happen again. Please don't be angry anymore."

As Kaname looked into Yuki's sincere eyes, his anger melted. He sighed deeply and nodded.

"Thank you." Yuki rose up on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.

This is sickening, Zero thought, annoyed by the disgustingly sweet scene in front of him.

"AHEM." Haruka coughed, "My little lovebirds, we can reserve these moments for later can we not?"

Yuki blushed while Kaname smirked a little. "Yes Otosan, let's all eat."


Sara soon swooped in and once again, grabbed Kaname's attention. They sat next to each other at the table and excitedly discussed with Haruka and Juri the success of their project. Zero couldn't give a crap about the conversation if he tried. Their blood tablets were a success - they tasted much more satisfying than their predecessors and filled a vampire's appetite after just a few pills swallowed. The Kuran parents couldn't have been more proud of Kaname and fond of Sara.

Yuki chewed her food quietly, her consumption needs seemingly not as intense as per usual.

"Kaname was fantastic in his research. If it wasn't for all his hard work after school, we'd only be halfway done by now." Sara ranted, her eyes shining as she looked at Kaname, who could only seem to look back at her with gentle fondness.

Yuki looked away and soon excused herself to the kitchen. Zero's eyes followed her 'till she disappeared behind the door. Something about her expression alarmed him even if he couldn't admit it to himself. What caused her to look like her dog died just now? He looked at the scene in front of him; of Kuran and Shirabuki - and after a few seconds of uncertainty, finally understood. After a moment, he excused himself to the kitchen too, making up some excuse about washing his hands.

Yuki leaned against the kitchen counter, and closed her eyes while she swallowed hard. "The way he looks at her.." She felt a lump form in her throat,".. is the way he looks at me."

The kitchen door swung open and she quickly turned around, facing the electric stove.

It was Zero. He quickly poured some water into a cup and gulped it down. Yuki pretended to be stirring the warm mushroom soup her mom had made. As if it wasn't already cooked and there was absolutely no point in stirring it now. She kept her back to him and swallowed her volatile emotions for the moment.

She expected him to leave soon but instead, his presence lingered just a small distance away from her.

A period of silence took place and Yuki felt like her emotions were ready to burst in frustration of being held back.

Why hasn't he left already?! she thought desperately.

The silence was unbearable.

"He loves you." He murmured quietly; unmistakably. "Even I can see that."

Yuki's heart skipped a beat. She turned around to face him in confusion and shock, "What are you on ab-"

His violently violet eyes gazed into hers unblinkingly. "Have a little faith Shortie."

With that, he pushed the door open and left, leaving a stunned Yuki staring after him.


That night, as Yuki lay under a pile of thick lush blankets under her canopy king-sized bed, her thoughts remained on the silver haired pureblood.

How did he even know exactly what was bothering me? Maybe his pureblood power is reading thoughts? Is that even possible? I'm getting more dimwitted by the second aren't I? Yuki groaned and shook her head, silently reprimanding herself for her continuously stupid thoughts.

A quiet knock broke her out of her thoughts. She peeked her head out from under her blankets, blinking her eyes at the moonlight sifting in through the transparent white curtains.

"Come in," she called.

A tall figure clad in a loose lazily unbuttoned shirt entered her room, silently shutting it. Yuki sensed it was him before he ever opened the door.

"Kaname,"she smiled sleepily. He approached her and soon, the moonlight illuminated his relaxed yet endlessly dignified presence. The dark shadows contrasted strongly with the light that had fallen on his face and his deep burgundy eyes shone with gentility as he looked at her. He ran his hand through his dark mahogany longish hair and he smiled at her. Yuki felt her breath catch in her throat. He truly was a breath taking creature of the night. And as he climbed into bed next to her enveloping her in his embrace, she was filled with pride that this boy was hers and a warmth of pure adoration ran through her veins for him. In moments like these, moments even Sara couldn't touch - her Onii-sama was hers and hers only.

"Yuki," Kaname breathed softly against her neck, his hands running smoothly over her silk dress. "What's troubling you?"

Yuki felt goose bumps arise on her arms from the feeling his hands evoked as he touched her body. "Nothing," she lied.

Kaname paused for a moment. "Yuki... tell me."

She sighed, pulling away from him but he tightened his hold on her so she couldn't break free completely. She made an annoyed noise and turned over, her back against his chest. "I'm fine, Kaname, there's nothing to tell."

"Tell me." He repeated simply and brushed away a stray lock of hair on her face and kissed her cheek.

After long moments of silence of him waiting patiently, she sighed in defeat.

".. It's Zero."

His soothing hand movements on her back froze, "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing! Nothing. It's just a conversation we had earlier and.. it's bothering me. That's all."

He brushed his lips against her neck as he teased, "Was he professing his love?" But the tenseness in his hands around her confessed he was serious about the question.

"Nothing of the sort. Please forget about it." Yuki sighed, turning around in his arms again. She clutched his shirt and pulled herself tight against his chest and she sighed as he kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and swallowed, a question in her head she wanted so desperately to ask him. With a quick deep breath, she decided to get it over with and find out the answer she'd been dying to know for such a time now.

"Kaname.. Do you like Sara?" Yuki asked hesitantly. Her heart was fluttering in her chest, as if it were as nervous as she.

His moment of hesitation was all it took to confirm it.

"I.. No. I don't."

Yuki pulled away as much as she could, her voice broke as she spoke. "I-It's fine if you do. You still have the choice of who you want to marry and you don't have to do what everyone expects you to do and marry me, because it's still your decis-"

Kaname pressed his lips against hers and kissed her, breaking her rant. Yuki struggled against him, her hands against his chest. She broke away from his kiss angrily, "Stop treating me like a baby Kaname. I'm not your responsibility that you can keep appeasing with affection whenever it suits you-"

"Yuki." Kaname's eyes blazed furiously as the moonlight shone on them. "I love you more than life itself. Don't ever doubt that."

Her breath caught in her throat at the ferocity in which he said that. She believed him - absolutely, with all her heart... But after a few quick painful flashbacks of all those fond looks he had given Sara, that same warmth in his voice when he talked to her, and the happiness he had around her.. Yuki had seen it all. it was still undeniable despite what his fierce declaration said otherwise. Actions spoke louder than words. Even if Kaname himself didn't realize it yet, it was there blazing like a flame, bright and unmistakeable. But how long would it be before he realized it himself?

"I know you love me... But there is always the possibility, that your heart loves more than one girl Kaname." Yuki murmured, stroking his neck.

"I don't." Kaname insisted but as Yuki gently held his face and kissed him, his anger gave way.

"It's fine if you don't have the answer right away Onii-sama. Just know I'll always be here, right next to you, regardless." With that, Yuki relaxed in his embrace and closed her eyes. Kaname didn't have the heart to keep arguing when she was fatigued and curled up like this in his arms. As he looked as his little sister cuddled against him, the will to protect her blazed through him like a wild fire spreading fast in the forest.

Soon, her breathing regulated and her heart thumped in steady beats.

"My precious girl." Kaname murmured, holding her tight. "Sleep well."

But as he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think of the feelings Yuki accused him of having for Sara.

Was it possible? Did he also love the one and only Shirabuki daughter?

Of course not... Kaname thought, vaguely picturing ash blond hair before falling into a deep slumber with his treasure in his arms.


"You can do this, come on, you're so close."

"No I can't, oh it's too hard!" Yuki wailed.

"Just a little bit more and we'll be done."

"I can't Zero, I can't!"

"Almost there-"

"No!"

"So close-"

"Arghh!"

"You did it!" Zero slumped back down on his chair, exhausted with the effort of watching Yuki pore over an algebra question for about 45 minutes now. The girl had an extraordinary ability to somehow be bad at this particular subject on a level he'd never seen before.

Yuki glared at him, "What the hell are you tired for? I'm the one who's been working on that question for almost an hour now!"

"Yeah well watching do it wrong about 23 times is exhausting for me too,"Zero snapped.

Yuki rolled her eyes, "Exaggerate much?"

For a moment, they said nothing, lost in their own thoughts.

"So you're ready for the test tomorrow?" He asked suddenly, studying her face for traces of lying.

"Sure." Yuki laughed nervously, her hands fiddling slightly with the pen she was previously using, "I'm completely prepared now, I swear."

Zero sighed, straightening up and proceeded to flick back a few pages to the the start of the chapter in her maths textbook. "Let's try this again."

Yuki's eyes widened in horror, "No Zero, I promise I'll be fine for the test tomorrow! We don't need to go over it again." She groaned, "Please don't say that we're going through that again."

Zero couldn't help but disguise his laughter in a few subtle coughs at her horrified face. "We still have a lot of time left. So yes we are. I want you to do well in this," He said seriously as he glanced at her before focusing his attention back to the book. Yuki noticed then that he really was concentrating on doing his job properly. The way his lips moved slightly as he quietly went over a formula for a sum in his head, working it out before teaching her; showed her that he really was trying to make this as easy for her as possible. He really did want to help her.

And that, was enough to light the fire of determination to Yuki's blood. She pulled her chair closer to the table and listened intently to what he was explaining.

I am going to do my best, she thought determinedly, I'm going to give this my all.


"Yuki, get in!" Ichiru said as he struggled to push her into the classroom a few feet away.

"I will in 2 minutes, leave me be Ichiru!" Yuki pushed right back at him, trying to get away, "I just need to look over one more thing for the test!"In truth, she was nervous and Ichiru, knowing this, wanted to get her into the classrom as soon as possible to make sure she wouldn't bail.

"The teacher's waiting for us! You said you studied, you'll be fine!" Ichiru huffed with the effort of pushing, only managing to get the feisty brunette inches towards the door. She's small but damn she's strong!

"I-chi-ru!"

"Yuki," a familiar voice said, just a few metres to her right. Yuki's head whipped to the sound of that familiar voice in horror. Upon seeing him, Yuki straightened up and smiled nervously.

Ichiru frowned, dropping the hands that were on Yuki's shoulders, "Zero, why are you here? You should be in class right now."

Ichiru's laziness for his academic studies caused him to be held back a grade. He should have been in the same year as Zero but instead he was left behind, sharing the same timetable as Yuki. The teachers for fear of the purebloods, only barely mentioned to Kaien that his son's grades weren't nearly good enough to get through to the year above him. But their father, disregarding all the shame in his son being held back a year, demanded himself that Ichiru be held back. To which, no surprise, Ichiru had no protests.

"So should you," Zero replied as he advanced towards them. He stopped and looked down at Yuki with an eyebrow raised.

"Planning to go in and do your test? Or are you going to bail, rendering all that effort you put in last night useless?"

Yuki gulped, "No I'm going in, I just need to look ov-"

"No. You don't." Zero said firmly. He knew how nervous she was; he could tell by the way she bit her bottom lip and the way she twisted her hands together over and over. To both Yuki and Ichiru's surprise, he gently laid his hand on her shoulder in reassurance. He looked into her eyes meaningfully, his eyes filled with encouragement. "Remember what I taught you. You can do this. I know you can."

Yuki took a deep breath, her worried face now smoothing out into an expressionless albeit calm one. Somehow, those few words from Zero were enough to fuel her courage. With a quick smile of appreciation to him, she turned and headed for the large mahogany door leading to her maths class.

"Let's go Ichiru."

Ichiru looked back and forth between the two of them agitatedly, his face displaying shock and annoyance, "I was trying to push her into that classroom for like 10 minutes! And she goes in once you show up and spout out a few words?!"

"Ichiru!" Yuki called, entering the classroom and holding the door open for him. Their fellow classmates looked towards them; they were already seated and waiting. The teacher looked less than pleased but kept her mouth shut.

Ichiru cursed under his breath and hurried into his maths class, shutting the heavy door behind him.

Zero walked off to his own class after watching the scene amusedly. He didn't have a single doubt that Yuki would do fine in the test.


"Kiryu-sama, with all due respect, you are twenty minutes late into the lesson." The teacher frowned a little at him, yet Zero's pureblood status dictated that the teacher couldn't reprimand him much more than he already had.

Zero plopped down into a chair, ignoring the attention the class was now giving him. His classmates consisted of aristocrats such as Senri Shiki, Takuma Ichijou, Rima Toya, Ruka Souen, Hanabusa Aidou, Akatsuki Kain and of course, the other pureblood apart from him, Kaname Kuran. Several other aristocrats were there along with a few Level C vampires and right now, they were all staring at Zero.

"Sorry Sensei." He replied, not bothering to give an explanation.

The teacher shook his head and went back to teaching the boring formulas of chemistry.

As Zero silently listened to the boring lecture, a strange knowing sensation that he was being watched overtook him. He turned his bored gaze over to the direction of it, his head resting in his right hand propped up on the table. He soon found the source of the unpleasant stare. Kaname Kuran's powerful burgundy eyes were resting on him, from where he was sitting on his throne-like chair on the left side of the classroom. Zero had wanted no such fuss though that same courtesy was offered to him - he was a pureblood, not a king. Zero cocked an eyebrow at him before smiling condescendingly. Kaname's eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, a flare of brilliant crimson flashing and disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared. The power exuded from the staring challenge between the two caused the vampires around them who noticed it, to shiver. Testosterone was erupting from their gazes like volcanoes coming alive.

Challenge was brewing in the air between these two.

But for what exactly?


The next day, Yuki sprinted around the school, her maths test paper in one hand and her face lit with a bright excited smile. The last class of the day was done. Most vampire students had exited the building so her lack of "pureblood manners" by running around carelessly could be forgiven by those few who witnessed it. Then again, Yuki had never been known exclusively for exuding the charm and charisma that most pureblood females do. Nor did she make much effort to change that. She was more of a clumsy, endearing character who was always filled with life - something many, many vampires found fascinating and very rare. They were creatures of night, but the Kuran princess - many felt - was a creature of light deep down at the core of her being. And that light, shone through to many people, regardless if they were vampires or humans.

After rounding a corner, she ran straight into a solid torso.

"Oomph!"

She was about to fall from the impact of the collision but strong arms steadied her immediately.

"Why are you running around like that in the first place?" an irritated voice asked, as he pulled his hands away from her.

Yuki rubbed her shoulder, which had taken most of the hit and looked up at the person she ran into. Her eyes widened.

"Speak of the devil!" She grinned. "I was looking for you that's why."

"Why?" Zero yawned, running a hand through his hair.

Yuki held up her test paper in both hands just centimetres from his face.

"I got a C! I got a C, can you believe it?!" She cried happily.

Zero plucked the paper from her hands and studied it, his eyes running through the questions and her answers to them. His eyes flicked through it quickly and soon, a slow grin crept along his face. He looked at her excited face and chuckled.

"You're this excited over a C huh?"

"Yes! I've been getting Ds and Es consistently for what seems like ages! But now my head is the smallest bit above the water and ah I'm so happy and it's all because of your help and…" She ranted on and on but for a single moment, Zero spaced out as he stared at her bright shining eyes and her brilliant smile.. He didn't hear anything of what she said - he just saw her aura almost glowing with happiness. And for a split second - a second he would never admit, even to himself - he was mesmerised by how beautiful the Kuran princess was when she smiled like that.

He snapped out of it as soon as he noticed that she was expecting a reply in return.

"Yeah," he cleared his throat, rubbing the nape of his neck. Did she notice me gawking at her? Hopefully not. He looked down at her maths paper again to cover up his embarrassment before proceeding to look up at her to give his response. He was genuinely proud of what her efforts accumulated to and he wanted her to know as much.

"I told you you could do it." He smiled at her, his eyes looking at her with a warmth that hadn't been there before.

Yuki was brimming with happiness as she said, "Thank you Zero. I mean it." Her eyes widened as she remembered something before laughing. "Okasan and Otosan said that if these tutoring sessions show good results, you'll be tutoring me for the whole year." She paused, "Um. Sorry, I mean, only if you want to I guess. It's okay if you want to stop at any point."

Zero chuckled, before whacking her lightly on the head with her maths paper.

"Hey!" She swatted him away.

"I don't intend on leaving my job till this C turns into an A, Shortie."

Yuki grinned back at him, her heart full of appreciation and delight as she looked at her tutor with new found respect. His annoying nickname for her didn't even bother her this time.

"Sounds good to me Grumpy."


A/N: Hey guys, I spent a while writing and editing this chapter so I really hope you enjoyed it! Please leave your thoughts of your opinions in a review if you can! I'd love to hear what you think of the story so far or what you think of the characters, or just anything really. Reviews help speed up updates! (*wink wink, nudge nudge*) I'd love to know if people are actually enjoying reading my story. Thank you for reading and see you guys next time!