Sorry guys! Was recuperating and almost forgot to update. Thanks, everyone! :D

To Molly: Unless stated so other wise (as in "a couple of days later" and such) every chapter is a new day, though there are some exceptions later on in the story, which I'll warn everyone about. :) Thanks for reviewing, made my day!

Tenth Night: Empathy

Students rose from their seats, grabbing their notebooks, binders, books and bags as the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Students elegantly strode through the classroom doors, careful of each other's presence. Once they've left the school gates, they would surely stalk in the direction of the Moon Dorm, and proceed to do their activities, with less... boundaries.

Three did not follow.

Yuuki sat still in her desk area, staring at nothing in particular.

"Aidou, Yori, please leave me be," she ordered in a soft voice.

They didn't move at all, save for the hand that creeped its way to Yuuki's, grasping it in gentle concern. "I am fine, Yori-chan. I will meet up with you soon, but for now I wish to be alone."

One glance at Aidou, a nod, and the warmth of Yori's fingers slipped away as they both left the premise.

Yuuki sat, patient, unmoving.

After a moment she jerked from her seat, walking briskly towards the largest window. She opened it – the gust of wind blew strong – and just like that, she jumped through.

The Pureblood rolled on the ground before she stood, quickly wiping the lint and dirt from her uniform. She marched to the nearest, driest tree, barely reaching it before dropping painfully to the ground.

Her insides scorched. But she refused to hurt them anymore.

Yori. Yuuki's last direct feeding from her Guardian – it was only yesterday, she reminded herself – ended in disaster, as she could barely stop from consuming Yori whole.

Aidou was not an option, either, seeing as to balance out Yori's blood level, he had let her feed from him.

Pills did not work.

She did not want to burden Ruka and the others.

Kaname was not here...

"What are you doing, Kuran?"

Her head rose so she could make contact with his eyes, and surprise was evident on the hunter's face.

Huh. She could only guess her eyes were glowing red with hunger.

"I had forgotten." Now it was her turn to be surprised, even confused at his statement.

"Mmm?"

He fell to his knees and leaned in closer. "You hide your hunger better than the rest."

Ah. So she appeared the most humane, even when she felt the least like it.

"I need Kaname." Her lips trembled as she spoke those words, and if possible, her eyes lightened red even further.

Zero almost scoffed at her. "Well here's a newsflash: Kuran's not here. Where is Wakaba?"

Yuuki's pained expression spoke the words she could not say.

How could Zero not empathize with the monster, when he felt like a monster himself? "Drink from me then."

Yuuki sneered at the stupidity of it all. "Your blood won't sedate the hunger." She was about to add something about Yori, but was cut away from her thoughts as the blood dripped from his wrist like a silent waterfall.

Sanity was so close to ripping from her arms...

"This isn't for you, Kuran. I don't want another insane bastard running around and threatening the human student body – so drink." And with that, he forced his bloody wrist upon her lips.

Sanity was truly lost then.

"Thank you, Zero-kun... but... I knew it would not satisfy..."

Just when Zero thought her breathing would stabilize, and they'd be off in different directions, Yuuki gasped suddenly, then fell into oblivion.

"God dammit." Now he would have to carry the girl.

Picking up her limp body, he slung her over his shoulder. Then, thinking better on the situation, he placed her carefully in both arms, her head resting against his toned chest.

If he had to go all the way to the Moon Dorm, might as well break the door down.

The walk was brisk, only seven or so minutes. The vampire in his arms remained unconscious throughout it all – even when Zero put his foot to the expensive wood, applying enough pressure that it flew in several feet before finally falling dead in the middle of the lobby.

She even slept through Aidou's stomps, and proceeding those, his yells.

Ah. Angry vampires were so comical.

"What the hell are you doing here, Hunter?" His face was scrunched in fury, brow together in a temperamental frown.

The temperature of the room dropped ten degrees.

Zero rolled his eyes as he saw three more vampires make way to the indoor balcony. "If you have the time to make a scene, maybe you can grab your little princess from my arms and see to it that she'll be alright."

Hanabusa's eyes widened in alarm, either at having finally noticed the person in Kiryuu's arms, or at hearing the hunter speak more than five words.

Somehow, Zero doubted it was the latter.

The blond rushed to the other man, grabbed Yuuki gently, and then turned, stalking back to place the princess into the comfort of her chambers.

Zero thought he heard a 'thank you'.

When Aidou reached the darkness of the hallway he withdrew from, one of the three descended.

He recognized her as Wakaba Sayori – the other Guardian.

Ruka called his name out politely, making sure she had his attention before she thanked him for his deed.

Kain, too, thanked the violet eyed eighteen year old, though his surprise at the situation was unmasked, unlike Ruka's.

"Be careful, Kiryuu-kun." He whirled in the direction of the voice, having forgotten the last of the vampires that remained in his presence.

He eyed the petite Noble, urging her to go on with his silence.

Zero took a sudden look at the vampire's features – they reminded him much of the Kuran's, with the thick hair, large eyes, long lashes, small frame, bangs, and delicately structured bones. The elegance in the air surrounding them, the refined appearance, the dignified stances they made, the neck... – as Yori cleared her throat, evidently ending the rest of Kiryuu's observations.

"I understand your blinding hate for Purebloods, but perhaps being unbiased would serve you better in the long run."

Zero snorted in disdain. "What would you understand?"

"What makes you think that just because we are born vampires and you were born human that we are nothing alike? You think, because we are born vampires, we get special liberty? Never suffer, always live in luxury? Those are blasphemous, dangerous thoughts, Kiryuu."

She let the hunter dwell on her words, before she continued, granted quieter. "My brother was fond of a human... Their love was quite scandalous by vampire standards, but accepted by my family." She breathed deep, recalling those moments. "Yuuki-sama had promised, after their wedding, that she would change the girl into one of us. Stable. Happy, so they could live a long, fulfilling life together." Her voice cracked at the start of the next sentence, before she went back to detachment from her tale. "Another Pureblood beat her to it, grabbing the girl right after the ceremony." Yori's eyes darkened at the thought. "She ran away in shame. I was the one who killed her three months later. My brother was never the same."

She turned away from his questioning eyes, speaking the last of her words. "Your biased mind makes you weak. Vulnerable. Rash. Do not forget that. You are lucky to have that mark upon your neck, Hunter."

He began to leave the premise. Just as he was about to step outside, she called out one last time. "I was eleven. It was either me or her. I suppose that is a decision we all have to make, at one point or another."

And with that, she was gone, too.

'Cause Zero's got style.

And so does Yori.

Next Update: 9-4-12

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