As both Zero and Yuuki sat at the table, eating their miso soup, they avoided eye contact. Yuuki finished first, unsurprisingly enough, moving to the stove for a second helping. Zero fought back his chuckle of amusement as he sipped another spoonful from his first half-empty bowl of soup. "If you keep eating like that, you'll get fat." At Zero's comment, Yuuki paused mid-way in her task of spooning in more soup to her bowl. "W-Whaaaat?! How could you say something so mean?!"
Yuuki spooned the soup into her bowl, a pout on her face as she stalked back over to the table, setting the steaming bowl back in its previous place before sitting back down. Zero forced himself to look at the rest of her face instead of her lips, which looked so cute right at this moment, the way she jutted the lower one out. "I'm just saying, it could happen." Yuuki glared at him from across the table, shoving a spoonful of miso soup into her mouth. After she swallowed, she retorted, "Well you didn't have to put it like that!" Zero sniffed. "You really expected me to sugar coat it? Sorry, but I'd much rather say it the way it's supposed to be said and get right to the point."
Yuuki stirred her spoon in the liquid in the bowl in front of her. "Well it was still mean... I guess I can't expect you to be exactly nice about it either, though... But I maintain my weight just fine!" Zero just spooned another bite of miso soup into his mouth and rolled his eyes. "You keep telling yourself that." Yuuki growled in frustration and 'hmph'ed, continuing to eat her bowl of soup. Zero let a small smirk grace his face, unbeknownst to her. He was only teasing her. She should know that by now. He had been doing it for so long.
He bit back a chuckle as he finished his bowl and brought it to the sink, washing it and putting it in the dishwasher. He then returned to his seat at the table, and watched her. He was doomed if she caught him staring, but he was going to risk it. He watched, barely able to contain the desire to leap across the table and take the offending silverware from her as her pink tongue reached out, grazing the spoon as it caught the little drops hanging off the back of its metal surface, and disappeared back into her mouth along with the spoon, eager to taste the liquid.
As soon as she was finished with the last spoonful of soup in her bowl, she stood, walked to the sink, washed the bowl, and put it in the dishwasher. She returned to the table, Zero's gaze off her and on the table instead.
"Aido saw me today while I was walking with Yori back to the dorms... I don't know why but he seemed unusually on edge about something... Have you heard anything from the Moon Dorms?" Zero looked at her and snorted. "Why would I care about anything that happens at that vampire-infested place? Hanabusa is always weird." Yuuki sighed in exasperation. "Zero, why can't you just accept that they won't be leaving Cross Academy? You live with them whether you like it or not!"
Zero's teeth clenched. "That doesn't mean that my nose has to be in their business all the time and I have to care about what they're doing. As long as no one at Cross Academy gets hurt, I don't have to worry about them." Yuuki went silent for a while. "But Zero... Kaname is-" "Don't even mention that sick vampire's name!" Zero snarled. "He is the least of my problems, and I could care less about him. Almost everything you say involves Kuran in some way or another. Why can't you just forget about him?" Yuuki was speechless. "Z-Zero!"
Zero glared wordlessly at her. "Ever since we were kids, I've had to put up with your love-sick bout over him. He makes me sick. He's the same creature that took away the people most important to me. I thought you would understand that." Yuuki's crimson-brown eyes widened, and the guilt that swarmed their depths made Zero almost regret saying those words. "Zero, I'm... I'm so sorry... For once I wish things had turned out differently... For once I find myself wishing my and Kaname's meeting had never happened... I was only a young girl, Zero... I thought it was love. I was so naive... I just wanted to repay him for saving my life, I didn't know what I was really trying to get myself into. Kaname deserves more than me. I see that now." Yuuki looked down at the table. Zero only stared at her, eyes widening slightly. Did... Did he hear her right? She realized it was only a crush!
"... Yuuki. I understand what you thought you were doing. A girl like you would do something like that, but giving yourself to him was dangerous and stupid. He is a monster on the inside, Yuuki, I don't care what you say. He is a beast in human form, just as all vampires are. He isn't any different than the rest of them." Yuuki nodded slowly. "I don't want to believe it, but... I know you're right, Zero. I thought Kaname was different because he showed me such kindness and affection. I brain-washed myself into thinking he wasn't like the others." Yuuki said, her voice tinged with sadness. She bit her lip. "Remember that night, when you and I were walking around the campus? You told me to stay away from their dorms. I talked about Kaname, but all the while, my hand was trembling in yours... Remember? I disobeyed you, Zero... I didn't believe what you'd told me. I just had to see Kaname..."
Zero pursed his lips. "I know, Yuuki. I remember. That's what confirmed my suspicions that you were afraid of him. I never forgot that night." Yuuki looked up at him. "Zero, now I know that you know me better than Kaname does... I underestimated it, I didn't think you ever paid that much attention to me, or looked after me that much..." Zero narrowed his eyes at her as she spoke, and inside, his mind was in shock and turmoil. What?! She actually didn't think he looked after or paid much attention to her?! She couldn't be serious! She was the only one he devoted his utmost attention to, and that hadn't changed one bit!
"I guess I was too caught up in trying to be someone important to Kaname... I apologize for that, Zero. It was you who had been there for me the most. I was too occupied by Kaname to appreciate it that much... I was too smitten by him to realize the hole I'd dug for myself. You woke me up to the realization of how deep I was in it..." Zero only stared at her as she finished her speech. "Yuuki... You shouldn't be apologizing for anything. I was just hoping that you'd realize by the time he had you nearly in his clutches."
He got up and walked around the table, ruffling her hair. After he left to take a walk around the campus, Yuuki sighed and banged her head on the table. She was glad she got that off her chest. He didn't even seem the least bit angry. She sat there until Headmaster pranced in and pestered her about what he should make for lunch, to which she groaned and told him she didn't care. Most anything he prepared was nearly tasteless or inedible anyway. She left the kitchen after Headmaster settled on some sandwiches with a side of rice balls. Hopefully he wouldn't screw that up.
Yuuki roamed the corridors of the Sun Dorms for a while, even stopping by Yori's dorm to say hi and talk for a bit. She then walked to her own dorm, collapsing on her bed to relax for a while. Everything was quiet for at least a half-hour... That is, until a small rock hitting her window knocked her out of her relaxed stupor.
Hey guys! Long time no update, I know.. I've had a bit of writer's block, so please forgive me. I hope you all are satisfied with this chapter! It took all the brain power I had left! Aww my tea is cold now! *sigh* Anywho, leave Reviews! They make me update faster! Bye, my lovely little minions!