His Reaction
by: Scarlet's Mist
"Simplifying on the right side of the equation, x = 3 plus or minus the square root of 9 + 32 over 2, or x = 3 plus or minus the square root of 41 over 2, which will be your final answer." The class dutifully took the notes down from the board, copying the quadratic equation carefully into their notebooks, taking care to get the teacher's instructions down as perfectly as possible. Yuuki Cross, the headmaster's adopted daughter, knew she should probably be doing the same, she wasn't too great at math, but . . . She turned her head slightly for the hundredth time that morning, glancing back at the empty seat that Zero liked to occupy. He hadn't shown up for class.
Zero, she wondered, was he really okay? Why hasn't he shown up today? Yuuki sighed into her palm ignoring her elbow, which was beginning to scream uncomfortably in response to the hard desk in front of her that supported her arm as her mind continued going in circles, the same questions and answers twirling in her head. Despite wanting to see Zero last night, she hadn't gone to his room as she had wanted to. Not after Kaname-senpai had demanded she not go. Had he gone in her stead? Yuuki frowned, her brows knitting together in apprehension. Kaname-senpai had seemed angry, if he had gone to see Zero . . . Would he kill him?
Yuuki's eyes widened. Kaname hadn't hesitated in killing the vampire who'd attacked her ten years ago. Could he have done the same to Zero?
No, she decided, shaking her head vehemently. She was being foolish, jumping to conclusions like that. After all, last night, Kaname-senpai had told her that he was in love with Zero. . .
"Yuuki?" Yori murmured jabbing her distracted friend's arm with her mechanical pencil.
The oblivious girl besides her jumped out of her seat, turning to her friend with wide brown eyes as though she'd been shocked. "Yori-chan!"
"Are you alright, Yuuki?" Yori asked with a frown. "You haven't written any of the equations down."
Yuuki blinked and glanced down at her blank notebook. "Yeah . . ."
"Zero . . ."
The teenage boy stirred in his sleep at the sound of the warm voice near his ear. Everything was quiet, a peaceful silence that egged his complacent slumber further. He felt warm lips on his forehead, fingers skimming over his hair in an intimate gesture of affection. It felt so warm, a feeling he'd almost forgotten. The distant and near chirping sounds of the birds chasing themselves outside his window slid through the murky feeling of his mind, calling for his attention. He didn't feel like waking up yet. Not when his dream was so vivid, so real he could still smell the scent of rain mixed with the wonderful aura of another person's body, a warm weight evident besides him: Not when he could still feel the cool fingertips over his skin and the smooth feel of Kuran's lips . . .
His eyes widened.
Zero's mind snapped into focus, his eyes glancing around at the room that was covered in light shadows, a result of the curtains, which seemed to be glowing from the attack of the sunshine behind them, that had been drawn over his window. Zero's memory rushed through his head, replaying all that had happened. Memories of his unyielding thirst and Kuran's confrontation in the pouring rain to Yuuki's bleeding neck and to Zero reaching out for the pureblood. His body went tense, not because of all that had happened, but rather because he was aware that he had gave in, even if it was just an inch, he'd given Kuran something he couldn't take back. With a calming sigh, the tension that made his muscles tighten fled his body. He had said he wouldn't regret it.
Almost reluctantly, Zero turned his head on his pillow starring at the empty space besides him. For a moment- just a moment- Zero felt something sink in his heart: A slight sensation that could have meant anything . . .
Kuran was gone.
Zero stared up at his ceiling for a long moment before shutting his eyes. He didn't stay the night, not that it was a big deal. He was glad the pureblood had left. It would have been awkward otherwise. The teenage boy sighed and draped his arm over his eyes. It really was a good thing he wasn't here. Zero needed to be away from him for a while.
So the pureblood loved him? A dry smirk twisted his lips. Could Zero doubt the pureblood felt that way? He ran his thumb under his lower lip, recalling last night, irked by how vivid that memory was and how much he longed to rewind it. Of course Zero couldn't deny it, Kuran was telling the truth. How ironic was this? That a pureblood would fall in love with him of all people.
Not wanting to stay in bed and think, Zero glanced over at his clock, hoping to sneak into class unnoticed. It was eleven thirty, though his alarm had been set to go off at seven. Why hadn't he woken up? He had fell asleep very late last night, but even so, Zero would have woken at the sound of his alarm-
It was turned off, Zero realized, and his forehead, the skin those imaginary lips had kissed in his dream, tingled.
"Kaname-sama isn't attending class tonight?"Rima Toya asked as Ichijou came down stairs to lead the night class through the usual throngs of human fans that anticipated them each day. The Night class had been waiting patiently for their leader to come down stairs from his bedroom, but he had refused to come out. They stood gathered at the foot of the stairs with worried frowns on their inhumanely beautiful faces.
"Maybe Hanabusa upset him again," Shiki mumbled, absently glancing somewhere to the far right while everyone's accusing gaze turned to the blond vampire. Shiki's assumption was most likely right on the money.
Hanabusa's blue eyes widened in offense. "It wasn't me!"
"He's just feeling a little tired," Ichijou assured with a knowing smile. "There's nothing to worry about."
Ruka's eyes shifted from Ichijou's face to the floor. Was Kaname-sama still recovering from the effects of the vampire weapon? No, he'd only been grazed, though the process would have been slow, Kaname-sama would have healed long ago. Or was it . . . Her nails bit into her palms, her eyes narrowing in dismay.
Kain silently frowned at her.
Yuuki pulled her head back from under of the fountain's waterfall shaking her head to dry her wet hair. She glanced up at the moon. This morning Zero hadn't come to class. This evening, neither did Kaname-senpai. It was one thing for Zero not to show up, he ditched classes all the time, but for Kaname-senpai to be missing from class on the same day . . . Had he really gone to see Zero after all? Would he have hurt him? Did he get hurt himself?
Yuuki shook her head yet again. Kaname-senpai wouldn't hurt Zero. He was a kind vampire and he was in love with Zero. . . . How many times had she reminded herself of that today, Yuuki wondered, letting her gaze fall from the silver moon down to the floor that glowed in the moonlight. Kaname-senpai loved Zero. She felt tears sting in the back of her eyes, but bawled her fists for the strength to keep them from falling over. She'd always known that there was a gap between Kaname-senpai and herself, she had never dared to think they could ever bridge that, but she had still hoped that someday Kaname-senpai would . . . but now . . . Zero . . .
"Damn it!" Yuuki shouted, clutching at her head with both her hands. Her mind wouldn't stop thinking about it! How did Kaname-senpai fall in love with Zero? Did Zero love him back? If he did, could Yuuki live with this? Zero knew how she felt about Kaname, she had thought she knew how Zero felt about Kaname, too, but now everything was just jumbled up. Maybe she was dreaming . . .
"What are you shouting about?"
The school guardian gasped and whirled around, starring wide eyed at her partner who was giving her an odd look through his light purple eyes, his hands were casually hiding in the pockets of his black school uniform as he stood before her looking quite at ease, though a bit disgruntled but she disregarded that. Zero was always disgruntled.
"Zero . . .you're late," she pointed out with a frown. Then she smiled at him because he was okay and- "Hm?"
"What are you looking at?" Zero frowned warily at the look Yuuki was giving him as she slowly approached him.
"Zero, why . . ." Yuuki reached up and yanked his collar down to get a better view of the red mark she'd glimpsed on his neck. Had Kaname hurt him after all?
Zero urgently grabbed her hand, pulling back anxiously as her other hand came up to tug at his shirt. "Yuuki stop, what are you-"
"Let me see, Zero! Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" Yuuki persisted trying to get a better look at Zero, if only he'd stop fighting her and let her see . . . "Is it a rash again?"
"What are you talking about?" Zero demanded trying to move back, but Yuuki followed him, trying to free her hands and reach for his collar, flustering him. He knew what she was looking at, but it wasn't what she thought it was and he didn't feel like explaining to her that Kuran had left hickeys on his body. Again.
"This mark . . . it's-"
"Don't, Yuuki, it's not . . ." And then he lost his footing and Yuuki came toppling over him, immediately taking the opportunity to yank his collar away none too gracefully with a shameless smirk of victory on her face. A face that went bright red when she got the clear look she'd been hoping for.
It definitely wasn't a bruise.
Zero sat up and moved Yuuki off of him without a word, noticing the look of shocked realization that was slowly slipping from her face. For the longest time, the two just sat there starring in opposite directions, their faces flushed as they remained sitting on the floor underneath the moon and stars. They were too embarrassed to look at each other and so the silence marched onward, neither of them wanting to move or breathe. Both knew they should say something, but neither knew how to begin.
I want to ask him,Yuuki thought. But . . . I don't think Zero's ready to talk about it.Yuuki sighed. Am I? What will I say to him? I know that Kaname-senpai loves you- did Zero know? Why didn't you tell me that you had feelings for him? How could she ask Zero that when he was always glaring at Kaname with palpable hatred in his eyes? How was it possible that the two of them could become . . . Yuuki clenched her fists over her lap.
"Zero . . ."
Zero glanced at her, but Yuuki's gaze was drawn to the floor and all he saw was her solemn profile.
"You and Kaname-senpai are-"
"Come on, Yuuki," Zero interrupted standing up to his feet and walking away. "Don't space out and do your job properly."
Yuuki wasn't surprised that Zero was averting the subject. Zero never wanted to tell her anything . . .
Zero glanced back and saw Yuuki hadn't moved from the floor where she sat, her head bowed in a defeated pose that annoyed him somehow. He could see the gauze around her neck and guilt stabbed at his heart for more than one reason. "Yuuki . . ."
Yuuki jumped from her thoughts, surprised that Zero was still behind her. She didn't look back for fear that he'd see her heart shimmering in her eyes. "Hm?"
When he didn't say anything, she felt the urge to turn, wondering if he was still there or if he had left after all. Zero was still standing a few feet behind her, a tormented look on his face. For a second, she didn't understand why he was looking at her like that. Then she smiled and touched her fingers to her neck over the gauze that hid the marks Zero's fangs had made. "Oh, this? I'm fine. You just took me by surprise, Zero. I thought you were taking the tablets so I wasn't expecting you to be thirsty."
Zero looked away from her, stung by her kindness. He knew he had frightened and hurt her by attacking her as if seeing Kuran and Zero together that night hadn't been enough. Why was she smiling at him? "I'm sorry."
Yuuki's smile wavered. She had a feeling Zero was apologizing for more than taking her blood.
Kaname Kuran set aside the stainless steel envelope opener after he parted the top of the envelope with the blade, sliding the thin paper from it's sheath, dropping it's empty shell, and unfolding his latest letter from the Council. As he read through the uninteresting letter, he was quite aware of her presence: the girl who stood outside his door for the last twenty minutes. He had hoped the girl would leave when she realized he was ignoring her, but she was persistent and he knew she'd wait there all night if he went on as he was.
"Ruka."
He heard the soft gasp behind the door even from where he sat. The door to his study opened and the honey-haired vampire stepped inside with a quiet frown on her beautiful face. "Kaname-sama. Forgive me for intruding."
Kaname's dark eyes moved from the letter in his hand to Ruka's dusky-rose colored eyes. As a noble vampire, Ruka had always maintained a calm, haughty, and uninterested facade that she reflected to others. Now, however, her composure was slightly ruined by her deep frown and the beauty of her eyes were filled with a quiet sadness. He had been expecting her.
"Is something wrong?" Kaname asked, setting his letter down onto the pile of discarded letters that were accumulating at the corner of his desk. "Classes have yet to be dismissed."
"Kaname-sama ." Ruka took a calming, deep breath, but her eyes fell away from Kaname's. "You are aware that I was there last night."
Her statement sounded more like an uncertain question. One, Kaname decided, needed an answer. "Of course."
Ruka blinked, her eyes widening. "Then . . ." why hadn't he said anything to her earlier? Had he trusted her not to do or say anything rash? There was a knowing look in Kaname-sama's eyes, as though he knew what she was thinking and feeling. Knew that the thought of Kaname-sama being with that impertinent prefect infuriated her: the thought of Kaname being with anyone hurt her. Would she stand in his way? "I will accept my punishment for leaving the dormitory after curfew."
Kaname smiled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes and did nothing to warm his untouched features. "You want me to punish you?"
"I should have known better than to sneak out after hours." Her fists tightened at the memory of what she'd witnessed. Her apprehension was clear on her face, she was very much aware that Kaname-sama had picked up on it. She knew that he had heard her back there, sensed her even before she had saw him, and so he was conscious of the fact that she knew he and Kiryu were together last night.
"Such a strange girl," Kaname murmured with a small smile, returning to his paperwork. "The night is yet to be over. You should return to class now, Ruka."
Kaname stood at his large window, starring out into the night long after Ruka had gone back. How ridiculous was this. For a pureblood to miss the presence of a petulant vampire hunter like a besotted fool. There was a smile, undeniable, as it lingered over Kaname's lips at the memory of his reluctant farewell to Zero. After he kissed him good-bye, Zero had looked so peaceful sleeping. Kaname didn't want his slumber to be disturbed and so he'd turned his alarm off before he so reluctantly left his lover.
Even though Zero had warned Yuuki earlier, it hadn't been Yuuki, but him who was spacing off. Who knows how many people could have sneaked past Zero tonight, vampire or otherwise, and he wouldn't have known. He was acting real different. I mean, over the past few weeks, Yuuki had noticed that on some days Zero had seemed more agitated and then he'd suddenly be more relaxed before he'd jump back to his frustrating mood swings, but Zero had never acted so . . . spaced out. He hadn't been patrolling, it looked more like he was mindless wandering through the campus.
"Hey Zero," Yuuki said, turning to grin at him as they entered the chairman's home together. He walked at her side, following quietly into the warm home. "Do you remember that pudding the chairman bought from the cafe in town?"
"Hn."
"Well I was saving the last one," Yuuki said as she walked into the kitchen, Zero following right behind her. Maybe she could cheer Zero up by giving it to him. Chocolate pudding is comfort food at its best after all. "I've decided that you can have it, that way when . . ."
"Mmm! Simply delicious!" The headmaster declared as he swept his finger inside the pudding cup for the remnants of the chocolate pudding he had been so lucky to find hiding in the deepest cranny of the refrigerator. The incomparable taste of the semi sweet double chocolate and the vanilla extract with a sprig of lavender that just tickled the tongue's palate and made his taste buds all but melt as it warmed delightfully in his mouth! Oh how the mouth watered and brought a man to tears! That pudding cup could bring the dead back to life!
Yuuki stopped cold.
That was the last pudding cup.
"Chairman . . ."
"Ah, Yuuki!" The chairman beamed, blithely unaware of his predicament, as he turned with a blinding grin at his fuming daughter.
"That was the last pudding cup! I was going to give it to Zero so that he could stop worrying about Kaname-senpai!"
"What?" Zero blinked, a flush jumping instantly to his face and vanishing with his swift disapproval.
Yuuki stiffened and turned around with that nervous smile on her face that she always made when she realized she'd said something stupid. Or out loud. "Eh, nothing, never mind. Let's just forget the pudding . . ."
"Ah . . here Kiryu-kun, you can lick the spoon!"
"I don't want your scraps, I'm not a dog!"
"Then perhaps this is to your liking . . ." he murmured suggestively and tugged down his collar. "Is there a chance you could still be thirsty?"
Zero's eye twitched.
Yuuki sighed, ignoring the loud crashes as her attempt to cheer Zero up failed. As it always did. Maybe Zero would never allow himself lean on others. He would keep to himself, bottling everything up and hiding his emotions from everyone around him, trying to selfishly carry the load all by himself. There could be a time when those emotions would suddenly break him. Then again, it was Zero she was talking about. And if it did happen, Yuuki wondered what Kaname would do. Did he worry about Zero like Yuuki did? She still wasn't certain how it had happened, but Kaname-senpai had fallen in love with Zero and Zero was . . .
"I've had enough, I'm leaving," Zero announced with a mild scowl as he left the kitchen.
After biding the chairman a quick goodnight, Yuuki ran after Zero, catching up to him outside. The night air was cool and the stars above her were bright against the denim of the sky shinning over them. It didn't matter, if Kaname-sama and Zero were in love, Yuuki was fine with it. So long as they both smiled a little more. That's all that mattered to her.
"Zero . . ."
She waited for him to look over his shoulder. "I want to support the two of you."
Zero blinked, pulling back uncomfortably. Small hints of a flush stained his cheeks as he averted his gaze from Yuuki's. He said nothing in response, but anxiety raced in his eyes. That made Yuuki wonder just a bit. Kaname had said he loved Zero, but Zero hadn't said anything about him having a relationship with Kaname- Although he wasn't denying it, either. "Zero, does this mean that the two of you are lov-mph."
With impeccable speed, Zero slapped his hand over Yuuki's mouth, his brows knitted together in a frown over his forehead, a tinge of pink still lingering on his pale cheeks. Yuuki blinked up at his piercing silver like eyes that were glittering with annoyance. "Shut up, Yuuki."
Yuuki smiled beneath Zero's hand, the amusement shinning in her eyes, as she took Zero's reaction for an answer.
O_O Ahh! Don't be mad at me, I made you wait longer than normal for this? And Zero and Kaname weren't even together. Ha ha. Sorry, just needed Yuuki on our side cause she worries too much and she gives me a headache and I don't need any more stress on my hands. Dx
Anyway, I feel like I caught some momentum during the last few chapters then fell flat on my face. That's the best way to describe it. Lol
On a serious-er note, thank you guys for sticking to the story ( I'm surprised I managed to drag it this far, lol ) and thanks for the reviews-even those of you who have threatened me. (though few of you there are).