I don't own Vampire Knight or any of the characters in the series.

A/N: Here it is: Chapter 9!

Thank you to all of you amazing reviewers! ^^ - Please keep them coming because I love reading your thoughts on my work! :D

I have another chapter of this which will hopefully be up soon and I will also try to get another update for Stuck on a Desert Island With Him done soon as well. I'm getting home late tomorrow so I may not have a chance to finish them then. So, my estimate is that they will be uploaded sometime Saturday or Sunday.

Notes:

Katana (刀):A sword made in feudal Japan frequently called a "samurai sword". It has a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a long grip to accommodate two hands.

Please read, fave, follow and review! But, most of all, enjoy! :D


Chapter 9: Ticket to Finding Proof

It was the next day and Yuki had been allowed entry into her brother's prison at her insistence. Upon entering she could tell that he wasn't coping well. He lay across the bed looking quite weak. His room was in disarray, the bed had not been made, his normally healthy brunette hair was lacking its lustre and clearly had not been brushed. He seemed devoid of any emotion other than pain, his eyes that were red with bloodlust were gazing blankly at the ceiling, unresting. He hadn't been receiving adequate nutrition nor sleeping.

As she inched closer to the bed his dulled senses became aware of her presence.

"Yuki?" He asked, sounding as if he were questioning his sanity.

"Yeah, it's me." She replied sitting on his bed beside him.

"What are you doing here? You should leave. You shouldn't have to see me like this." Kaname decided as he lifted the last intact pillow onto face to hide himself pathetically.

"I'm your sister and I'm here for you." Yuki reminded him.

"tch. Sure you are. Just like how mummy and daddy are doing what's best for me by locking me up in here." He rolled his eyes out of sight.

"I saw Zero." She said.

This prompted Kaname to peek out from behind the pillow.

"You…what?"

"I saw Zero." She repeated.

Before she knew it, her previously lifeless brother was sitting up and gripping her by the shoulders desperately.

"You-you've seen him? How is he? Is he okay!?" Kaname asked with worry.

"He's in the dungeons and isn't coping very well with the low-grade tablets. But, aside from that he told me to tell you that he is alive and kicking and he requests that you look after yourself. He also asked me to give you this." Yuki replied, handing over the earring.

Kaname stared at the small silver object he had been given. He could tell it belonged to his lover. He could smell Zero on it. And it was silver, like him… Kaname clutched the earring close to his chest and was determined not to let it go.

"While I saw him I asked him about his side of the story and I believe him. I believe that Zero has done nothing wrong and that Shizuka is most likely the one behind all of this." Yuki stated firmly.

Kaname looked upon his sister with pride that she was able to state her beliefs about the matter so clearly.

"And so I've decided to find proof and get you two released!" Yuki boldly claimed.

This made Kaname hesitant. He knew that Yuki on her own probably would not be enough to overcome this issue and so he decided to point her in the right direction.

"That's great Yuki! I am pleased to hear that you will help us. But, I think we may need more than just you if we're to get out of here before we turn grey." Kaname clarified.

Yuki pouted. She knew he was right but didn't want to admit it.

Kaname grabbed a pen and paper from his nearby table and jotted down an address for her.

"This is the house of one of my closest friends. On the outside he may seem like a typical family heir, yet he has also done work as a private investigator and is highly skilled at getting hold of valuable information. Please contact him on my behalf and ask him to help us. I am sure he will agree." Kaname entrusted his fate to his sister and that scrap of paper as he watched her turn and leave the room shortly afterwards.

Zero…

He curled up on the bed once again and placed a small kiss on the silver earring in his hands before drifting off to sleep for the first time in days with it held tight to his chest.

*Knock* *Knock*

Yuki knocked on the door of a small, brightly coloured villa not too far away from the palace where she lived. She had been instructed to go here and ask the occupant to help her in her quest to free her brother and his silver-haired lover.

"Hello!" A blonde man said announced with energy as he opened the door.

"I'm Takuma Ichijou, how may I help you Miss Yuki?" He introduced himself, smiling.

"Um, I was sent here by my brother, Kaname. He says that you can help him." Yuki began.

"As his best friend I would be more than happy to help him in any way possible. But, I think you should come in before we continue this conversation." Takuma held the door open and allowed her to enter.

They moved to a spacious sitting room. The walls were painted a rich blue which stood out against the white furniture decorating the room. On the wall was a collection of katanas, arranged to create a stunning display.

Yuki sat down onto the white sofa, opposite where Takuma allowed himself to settle in a chair. Yuki knew that the imprisonment of her brother and Zero was being kept out of the public eye for as long as possible and knew that she would have to fill him in on the details.

"I assume that you want me to help free your brother?" Takuma asked before she could say a word.

She was stunned to hear that he already knew this.

"Y-yes, that's right. But, how did you know?" Yuki asked in honest confusion.

"Kaname's my best friend so I like to keep an eye on him." Takuma shrugged, not revealing his sources.

"And you will help won't you?" Yuki clarified.

"Of course, I've even already decided on who I will use to acquire the information we need." Takuma announced.

"Who?" Yuki wanted to know.

"Ichiru Kiryuu."