Okay, first of all, I am so sorry its been so long on updating this... I still get lots of visitors and stuff to this story so I feel kind of bad... Meh, well, here it is, hope you enjoy it... Don't forget to Review and tell me what you think! Critiques/comments are greatly appreciated!

Vampire Knight is (C) to Matsuri Hino

Rika stared in the mirror. Her appearance was appalling. She was naked, for one thing, and had been so in front of Kaname. Her hands, arms, legs, and shoulder were covered in tattered bandages soaked with blood. Blood was dried in her hair, forming revolting clots, and she could feel the disgusting liquid drying under her fingernails. She could see the many new scratches all over her body between the torn bandages. She was a mess. And her eyes. They were still red with the lust, but were also puffy from crying and bruised from being shut too tight.

Rika decided that she needed a shower. She shed her bandages, walked into the bathroom, turned the water hot and stepped in, feeling the blood washing away, along with her fears and doubts. She was Rika. She was living right now. Rika concentrated on the water droplets soaking into her hair, and hitting her skin. It almost hurt, but not so much that it was uncomfortable. She would live like nothing had happened. But as she had that thought, she recalled the moment. Out of the corner of her eye she saw red. She stiffened and warily watched a red liquid make its way down her neck. It flowed in between her breasts and down her leg, merging with the water. By the time Rika came to her senses, the water below her was no longer a pure clear color, but an angry crimson.

Fear hit her, weakening her knees and making her tremble. She tried closing her eyes but all she could see was those damn eyes, staring at her, lusting for her suffering, her blood. The droplets of water felt like his hands, running down her body, finding her weaknesses and shattering her. He had shattered her. What was she now? Who was there to look out for her?

"No one." She whispered hoarsely, answering her own inner turmoil. She was alone. It finally entered her mind that the reason that the water had been dyed red was because of the dried blood in her hair. She sighed. She had gotten all worked up because of some color?

Rika got out of the shower and wrapped her favorite towel on her, a worn old towel with blue and white stripes. It had belonged to her family before they had been killed. She lay back on her bed, not bothering to dry her hair or get any cloths on, and drifted off to sleep.

"Rika." Rika was awoken with a start. That familiar voice. How dare he come into her room! She sat up with a start and winced as her cold, wet hair slapped into her back and her towel fell dangerously low. She had only been asleep for about half an hour, then, if it was still wet. Her unfocused eyes locked onto Kaname.

"What are you doing in here?" Rika asked hoarsely, her voice strained and tired. She seemed to automatically remember what had happened just a few hours ago. Kaname frowned, as if it was obvious.

"I came to make sure you weren't doing anything foolish." He replied harshly, his eyes taking in her appearance. Rika stared at him stupid before she suddenly realized the meaning behind the snide remark.

"You thought I was going to hurt myself!" she shouted, shocked. She was not going to commit suicide! She hated her life, but she was still going to look out for herself! But… If I hate it so much than why didn't I think about it before? It would make sense… And it's not like I'd be missed or anything. The poisonous thoughts clouded her mind, confusing her even more.

"No need to raise your voice." Kaname smiled cryptically and plucked a rose from a vase on her dresser that hadn't been there when she had fallen asleep. He smelled it and closed his eyes, like he was actually enjoying the scent. Anger welled up inside of her. How could he just come in her room and act like nothing had happened!

"Why?" she asked suddenly. It was all so confusing. Why was all of this happening to her? Why had she been allowed to drink the blood of a pureblood? Why had he been so submissive, and then gotten mad at her?

"Please be more specific, Rika-chan." Kaname opened his eyes and looked at her, but it was more like he was looking through her. She glared at him furiously and pulled her towel around her tighter. She shivered at the use of such a familiar term.

"Why are you going out of your way to talk to me, Kaname-sama." She stressed the honorific venomously, leering at him. He casually brushed a stray hair out of his face and in doing so exposed his neck. Rika stiffened.

"You know, you're quite pretty when you don't have a sad expression on your face." Kaname said, stepping closer to her and reaching out a hand. His cool fingers touched her chin and gently lifted her face. Her wide, innocent eyes stared back at him, unsure of what to do. She was speechless. He leaned in even closer to her.

"Kaname-sa-"

"Don't let yourself be tainted." He whispered, and then he left suddenly, just like that. Rika stared blankly at the door for a few minutes after his retreat, her brain completely devoid of thought. She closed her eyes tightly and sighed.

Rika muttered a vile expletive and got herself dressed. She put on the Night Class uniform and pinned her long hair up, and then she was ready. She looked at herself in the mirror to make sure she had no visible bruises or bite marks before leaving. She didn't want it to be so obvious that she had attacked.

Rika sat down in class as far away from the little girl that had been hanging off of Kaname as possible. She wanted nothing to do with the little horror at the moment. She buried her head in her arms as the instructor began his lecture about how superior the vampires were, and how they would pave the way for future generations. It was the same thing in different words every night.

"Wake up." Rika jumped and stood up at the harsh voice. She winced as the sharp clattering of the chair resounded in her ears. She looked down and realized she had stood up too fast. The chair had toppled over on its side and was lying on the floor.

"Y-yes?" she asked sheepishly, avoiding the instructor's gaze.

"Don't sleep in class, Miss Kusajishi. And please, join me for supplementary lessons in the morning." He was obviously displeased. Rika frowned and glanced over at Kaname. He wasn't even paying attention. He was the only person in the entire room who wasn't watching the exchange. "Well?" the impatient inquiry brought her back from her thoughts.

"Yes, sir." Rika breathed out, and she heard the nearly inaudible giggles of the vampires around the room. They thought it was funny to see her struggling like this. She clenched her fists to stop herself from doing anything stupid, and the pain of her fingernails digging into her skin kept her in check.

The instructor walked away and resumed his lesson. Rika sighed and slid down in her seat. She was so bored. But she grudgingly paid some attention to the lesson, which was now preaching on the history of their race. Her eyes wandered around the room. Pretty much everyone was only half-watching the instructor. Her eyes focused on Kaname. He was staring soulfully out the window, seemingly deep in thought. She noticed Alice, asleep on Kaname's lap. It was somewhat uncomfortable watching the girl be so casual with Kaname.

Rika stood up and walked out of the classroom silently. She had no destination this time, she just wanted out. Wandering through the trees, she kept and even and steady pace. A sudden snapping caught her attention and she froze. She flinched as she heard it again. Someone was following her. Shaking in fear, Rika leapt up a tree and swung herself up to a high branch so she wouldn't be seen.

"Come out, Bloodsucker, I know you're here." The masculine voice called, contempt lacing his every word. Rika breathed out a sigh of relief as she recognized Zero. She slowly dropped out of the tree and looked up at Zero.

"Zero." She said simply, noting the hunger in his eyes. He was so obviously denying himself blood, it was almost sad. But it was his choice; she had no right to interfere.

"Who are you?" he asked threatening, drawing his gun and pushing it into her forehead with obvious malice. Her temples started pounding as the horrible weapon came in contact with her.

"Rika." She answered sadly, for it was the truth. That was all she had going for her now. She was Kaname's little plaything, Rika, who wasn't even part of the family who had raised her.

"Who are you really?" he snarled back at her, pushing the gun further and making Rika stagger back. He growled and stepped towards her, pushing the gun into her chest this time. Her heart ached and her skin crawled. The weapon was hurting her!

"I don't know." Rika insisted, holding her ground despite her instincts to run and not look back.

"Why are you here?" he questioned, leering at her from darkening eyes.

"I don't know." Rika's sadness was evident in her voice.

"Why?" he hissed threateningly. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to her, shoving the bloody rose gun up under her neck and pressing it into her jugular.

"Don't touch me!" Rika yelled and slapped him away, backing up. A large crack resounded and a fiery pain bloomed in her shoulder. Zero glared down the barrel of his smoking gun. Rika shook in fear and pain. His merciless expression, his cold eyes, they reminded her so much of Kaname. Kaname and that mysterious man who had tortured her. She shivered at the memory the pain in her shoulder brought her. Her whole body seemed to be on fire now, as her brain recalled the memory. Her breathing came in short gasps as she struggled to control herself.

"Tell me!"

"That's enough." Rika clenched her teeth at that hateful, childish voice. The childish silhouette of Alice appeared. Her face was cloaked in darkness, but the red gleaming of her eyes stared piercingly at the two of them. Her long blonde hair flowed out behind her as she walked closer to them.

"Stay away from Kaname's pet."