Chapter Seven
AN: Hey Everyone! Thanks a ton for all your great reviews! I also feel bad for Zero but don't worry. I'm gonna make him happy! Real Happy :D . Anyway, Big Hugs to... DofD, jestie kiryuu, bluerose00, YamaChii, animeloverxxx, Ria, shinigami777, XxSakura-HimexX, teB360, yasnky, Aslickain Kiant, GrayCrystal, Starlight . BTW, I think I should mention that I made Ichiru come in to the Day Class earlier than in the regular manga. It fit better! Sorry if it's confusing! But Thanks everyone! And thanks, as always to my beta, This Iz Pointless. Keep reviewing and enjoy the chapter!
I Will Protect You!
I hurried across the classroom, clutching my books tightly in my hand. Climbing the few steps up to my seat, I sat down with a sigh of relief. I made it!
"Good Morning, Yuuki," I heard a voice from beside me. I shot a glance to the side and smiled at Yori.
"Good Morning," I stretched my hands above my head tiredly.
"I tried to wake you up this morning but you refused to get out of bed." Yori commented. "What were you doing last night?"
A frown made its way to my face as the memories of last night came back to me.
Her face remained emotionless. She didn't seem to hear his words. She started moving towards me. "You smell so good," she whispered...
"I don't want to ever see you near that vampire, Yuuki,"...
"I will not harm him for now, Yuuki, but only because you have requested it. However… You should know," he said softly yet dangerousy, glaring at Zero, "that if you harm Yuuki again… you will not be spared..."
"Uuuhhh... Zero..." I began hesitantly. He looked at me expectantly. "Well, I..." I made sure to choose my words carefully. "You don't need to pretend to be...you know..." I paused again. "You don't have to help me with my plan anymore..." I smiled in embarrassment and blushed. "I mean, you don't have to pretend to be my boyfriend anymore..."
As the memories flashed back in my mind, I felt a searing pain cut through my head. I covered my face with my palms, trying to relax myself.
"Yuuki," Yori said worriedly, placing her hand gently on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I looked up, trying my hardest to ignore the increasing agony rising from within me. These memories were torturing me to no end. "I'm fine," I smiled weakly. "I'm just tired." Looking around quickly, I reassured myself that no one was staring in my direction. Everyone was busy doing they're own thing
Yori raised her eyes skeptically but made no comment. Meanwhile, the questions were still badgering at me, bothering me to no end. Why did I still feel that I had not done the right thing? I had cancelled the plan after all! Then, suddenly, it clicked. I had not told Kaname-senpai! He still thought I was Zero's girlfriend. He was still being hurt by my actions. The only solution would be to head over to the Moon Dorm myself and tell Kaname-senpai.
I straightened my books against the table in self-satisfaction and smiled happily. Yes, that's exactly what I'll do! As soon as I told him that I was no longer Zero's girlfriend, this would be all over. Everything would be just fine!
"You seem to have cheered up quickly," Yori commented, gazing at me curiously.
I gave her a wide smile and prepared myself to answer. Before I could open my mouth, a voice rang out from the front of the classroom.
"Okay, everyone. Quiet down," I looked down to where Tamari-sensei was standing. Beside him was a tall, silver-haired boy, whose bangs hung messily over his elegant face. He was surveying the classroom curiously. As the noise died down, he drew his attention back the students.
My eyebrow shot up in surprise. Zero? Why on Earth was he standing at head of the classroom? What was going on?
"We have a new student," Tamari-sensei began, cutting into my thoughts. He gestured toward Zero - or whoever he was. Who was this guy? And why did he look exactly like Zero? "This is Kiryuu Ichiru. I'm sure you have all noticed that his looks are identical to that of Kiryuu Zero." He paused dramatically. "As you probably already guessed, they are brothers. Twins to be exact."
Tumult immediately erupted from all sides of the classroom. I inhaled sharply as my eyes grew wide. Zero's twin brother? Hadn't he died along with the others at the hand of the pureblood who killed Zero's family? How is it possible that he was alive and healthy and Zero had no idea? I quickly glanced upward toward Zero's seat. Empty.
Had Zero known that Ichiru was entering Cross Academy? If he did, shouldn't he be thrilled? Why was he avoiding his brother as if he was some incurable disease?
Ichiru nonchalantly made his way up the steps between the rows toward his assigned seat, a smirk plastered on his face. As he passed through, he began nearing the edge of the stairs and purposely bumped himself into the seats. He turned suddenly towards me, his lips still twisted in a smug smile, and looked at me, his hands still buried in his pockets.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Though it was clear between the two of us that he had not touched me in the slightest. "Oh! You must be Cross Yuuki-san," he smiled. "The chairman has told me about you." He bent down, leaning towards my face, his smile still twisted. "This is for you," he said in a dangerous voice. Every eye in the classroom was glaring in our direction, prying nosily as to what secrets Ichiru was divulging to me.
I froze as my shoulders tensed in fear. Something about him just gave me a bad feeling. He then slipped a small, folded note onto my notebook.
What was he doing? What could be written on that note? It couldn't be a love letter, could it? Give me a break! I never even met him before. He has no idea what I'm like!
"Why is it always the prefect?" I heard a whisper from above me
"She's already got Kuran-senpai and Kiryuu-kun. Even Idol likes her!" another, more feminine voice answered with clear, outright jealousy.
I sighed. Do they think I want it to be that way? It may seem pleasant to the others, but having to endure attacks by those Day Class girls every time a night class student opened his mouth to me was not so great. Sure, I love Kaname-senpai and all, but it was really difficult sometimes.
I glanced around the classroom only to notice every sole pair of eyes still glaring at me grudgingly. Ichiru threw back his head and rolled with laughter as he took his seat behind an infatuated girl.
With my hands still shaking, for reasons even I couldn't decipher, I unfolded the note. On it was written in neat, careful handwriting:
If you want to save Zero come to Kurenai Maria's room at 8:00 tonight.
My eyebrows arched in curiousity. If I wanted to save Zero? Well, of course I did! There was no doubt about that. He's grown up with me for almost four years. But where did Maria-san have a place in all this? Why couldn't Ichiru save Zero? Didn't he want to save Zero? Didn't he want to save his own twin brother?
I rested my head in my hands, my head spinning with questions. After a few moments, I shot a glance towards Ichiru-kun. He was staring at me, smirking complacently.
I sighed and refolded the letter, placing it carefully back in my jacket pocket. If I could save Zero, I would do whatever it took! Even if Zero forbade me from nearing Maria-san even again, I would save him. No matter what!
X X X X X
I pushed open the heavy brass doors of the Moon Dorm, glancing around outside quickly before I went in. The large trees' branches drifted with the wind as the orange sun timidly peeked out from beyond the horizon, marking the day's end. .
I carefully shut the door behind me and headed in the direction of the dorm stairs. Looking around, I realized that there was was not a vampire in sight. They must all be at Night Classes, I reasoned. Maria-san must have gotten out of it somehow. But where did Ichiru-san come into all this? Being a day class student, how would he know Maria-san at all?
I climbed the stairs, anxiously thinking about how she would save Zero. She wasn't even a pureblood so she didn't have the power to give him the blood needed to save him. Maybe she knew the woman who killed Zero's entire family and was able to contact her. Thus, she would be able to save Zero. That was definetely possible.
As I reached my destination, I nervously picked up my hand and rested it on the door, bringing it to a knock. After a few moments, quiet footsteps sounded from the other side. The door slowly opened to reveal a beautiful moonlight-haired girl peaking out.
"Yuuki-san," she smiled gently. "I'm so glad you came." She stepped away from the door, opening it fully and letting me inside.
I stepped into the room and smiled slightly. "Hello, Maria-san. I...uhhh..." Now how do I do this? I fished around in my mind for the right thing to say. "Ichiru-san told me to come here."
"Yes," she gestured me to step deeper into the large room. The curtains were drawn keeping out most of the light. A small lantern sat at the corner of a table in the center of the room, giving the room some dim light. Maria-san sat herself down on the oversized bed as she waited for me to follow her. As I sat down on the soft, cushioned chair opposite the vampire, she stared at me curiously, making me feel immensly uncomfortable. I stared at my lap, still unsure of how to continue.
"So you want to save Zero?" she asked suddenly, her expression, as usual, emotionless.
I looked up, startled and said, "Oh! Yes, I do! I'll do anything!" I leaned in. "Please can you help me? I want to save my friend!"
She continued to stare at me, as if contemplating what I had just said. Finally, she nodded. "I can help you," she paused. "But I'll need something from you in return."
I felt my body freeze like one block of ice. Something from me...? What could she possibly want from someone like me? I had no powers and I was not a vampire. Wait... No... She couldn't possibly want...
"Your blood..." she said, shattering my thoughts with the very words I was dreading. "I want your blood," she whispered. I felt my hands begin to shake, as my face broke out in a sweat.
"No!" I said, my voice trembling with fear and panic. "No! My blood is only for Zero. For Zero and...and Kaname-senpai..." I looked away, avoiding her prying gaze. "I'm sorry but I cannot give you my blood."
She leaned towards me dangerously. My mind went blank as she placed her ice cold hand onto my sweating palms. "But you are helping Zero. It would be the same as giving him your blood. If you help me, I help him." She stopped, allowing me time to think.
Give my blood... to someone else? I couldn't possibly do that. Kaname-senpai would be furious with me and besides, my blood wasn't just for the taking. It could only be drunk by certain people. And certainly not Maria-san, who Zero warned me to stay away from.
"You will be helping him..." Maria-san repeated. My mind was blank. What should I do?
Without warning, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in," Maria-san called. The door slowly opened, revealing Ichiru, staring deep into the room directly at Maria-san and I.
"Maria-sama, do you need anything from me?" he addressed her respectfully. Sama? Humans don't usually refer to vampires as sama. Something sounded fishy here.
Maria-san smiled gently at him. "Yes, you are just in time. Please take Yuuki-san back to her dorm." I stared at her in astonishment. I had not given her my answer yet! She nodded, as if understanding what I was saying. "You can give me your answer when you are ready, Yuuki-san. In the mean time, it's getting late." She spoke to me, pityingly, as if I was a child.
I stared for a few seconds, then finally got up. "Um... Okay... I will give you my answer. Goodbye, Maria-san."
Ichiru escorted me out the door, and led the way. As we strode down the hall, I stared at his casual way of walking, hands in his pocket, back slouched slightly. He just gave off an aura of indifference, so unlike that of his ever-cautious brother.
Suddenly, Ichiru stopped, his back still toward me and stared ahead. I peeked out from behind him, and felt my eyes grow wide as saucers.
"Z-Zero!" I stuttered. "What are you doing here?" I stepped up from behind Ichiru and gazed at Zero.
Zero's gaze was captured by that of Ichiru-kun's. The hunter's eyes were narrowed, his eyes cold and angry as he stared at his long lost twin brother. "Ichiru," he spat, not taking his eyes off his other half. "What have you done to Yuuki?" Okay, something was definetely wrong. Is that the way you greet someone you assumed to be dead?
Ichiru smirked. "Well, well. Is that how you greet your dear brother?" he said, seemingly reading my thoughts.
Zero's fists clentched as I could sense him beginning to get threatening. "What have you done to Yuuki?" he said again, through clentched teeth. Panic rose from within me. What have I done? What was going to happen?
"Nothing, nothing." Ichiru said, mocking him with his casual voice. "I was just escorting her back to the dorms. Is that so wrong?"
Suddenly, Zero grabbed my forearm and pulled me fiercely towards him, resting my head onto his hard chest. My heart hammered at his closeness. What was he doing? "I will protect this girl with my entire body. Don't you dare do anything to her!"
I felt my eyes widen. What on Earth was he saying? "But Zero, you don't have to-" I began. He cut me off, covering my mouth with palm, blocking all forms of speech.
He pressed me harder into his warm chest. "If you want to get to Yuuki, you have to get to me first."
As he uttered those last words, he gently moved my head away from his chest. Then, he turned on his feet, my arm still encased in his palms and dragged me after him.
My head was spinning. Zero was going to protect me? But he didn't have to pretend to be my boyfriend anymore! Why was he doing this? And why did I feel a strange sense of disappointment as soon as he pulled me away from his chest. It was as if we were real lovers. His words from the night of Ichijou-senpai's birthday party flashed in my mind.
"You said you were scared. So I'm holding your hand. That's what lovers do, right?"
Those were his exact words. But that was the time when we were pretending so he had to do that! And besides, I was in love with Kaname-senpai, wasn't I? That was the whole point of this plan; to get him to confess. That was the reason I asked him to be my pretend boyfriend.
I stared up at Zero. He face was scrunched, deep in thought. I wanted to ask him why he said those words, but the courage left me. As we walked back in silence, his words tormented me. I will protect this girl with my entire body. I tried my hardest to get his words out of my mind. After all, I'm in love with Kaname-senpai aren't I?
X X X X X
AN: Oooohhh! This was a dramatic chapter. She's starting to realize her feelings for Zero. But what will happen? Will Zero win her over? And I know, she didn't tell Kaname yet. But I'm saving that for next chapter. Look forward to the next chapter because it should be good! WHITE DAY! Review, please! I really love reviews so each one of you readers can help bring the next chapter closer! Please do so! Thanks a lot and hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Next Chapter: White Day.
