A/N: Hey guys! I'm really sorry for taking so long, school's almost over and finals are coming up. I'll probably update tons during the summer, but it might be a while before I update again.

Zero might seriously be OOC, but I tried my best. Remember, he's warming up to Akane, so he's not as cold….That's my logic, anyway O.O, take it or leave it. I amused myself a lot with this chapter, it was really entertaining. ….Writing kinda sucks as usual, sorry DX, but it's about one thirty in the morning, haha.

Thank you for all the reviews, and please review this chapter too because I'm greedy and I'd love to hear what you think!

Story time!

When Zero left, I released my grip on the pillow and flopped back down in the sheets. I took a deep breath and tried to shut out any thoughts so I could get some sleep, but it didn't work. I needed to do something, I couldn't just lie here.

Zero had left my bag next to my bed and for the first time I realized I wasn't wearing my uniform. I was wearing a too big white shirt, and pants that were equally too long for me. Please tell me he did NOT change me… and that these aren't his clothes….

Setting aside the possibility that Zero was a secret pervert, I rifled through my bag for the notes I had taken on Psychics from Chairman Cross' books. I found them, covered in my cramped, messy scrawl, "Psychics—What I know—Immortal at age 21, have various powers (mind control, healing ability, seeing/knowing a person from their past, inhumanly strong, more?), blood makes drinker powerful.

Vampire controlling me—possible motives—wanted my family's blood, revenge, hates Psychics?—"

"Why aren't you resting?" Zero's voice said. He had reentered when I was absorbed in my notes.

"Because I'm not tired, I'm fine. And I can't do nothing while some psycho is putting everyone in danger. And did you change my clothes?"

"Yes." Whoa, wait a moment.

"You ba—"

"But I didn't look! I put mine on you first and then took yours off." I raised an eyebrow. "Then took yours off" would be very interesting out of context. "My clothes are big enough. Besides, I wouldn't want to look anyway."

I rolled my eyes and threw a pillow at him, missing. I guess it's okay… I am still wearing the tank top I had on, under my uniform…

Zero walked to his bed and snatched my notes.

"Hey!"

"Sleep."

"No!"

"Now."

"You have no right to tell me what to do, or be concerned about me." I felt my anger building up in my chest again. Why is he being so stubborn about this?

"I have every right."

"You do not. I am my own person and I can take care of myself."

"You almost died and you're telling me tha—"

"As if I can die that easily—"

"You could have!"

"Why are you so upset about this?" Zero threw my notes on the floor and for a moment, I thought he was going to hit me. But he didn't, he merely flopped on the bed.

"Because I—" Zero stopped and scowled.

And I had a brilliant idea.

"Your face is going to stick like that…" I mumbled, poking my tongue out at him. He shoved a pillow in my face.

"Mmmf!" I tried to say around the fluff. Zero pushed it more forcefully at me, and I fell backward on the bed.

"Go to sleep."

"No!" I said, removing the pillow from my mouth. "I'm not a child!"

"Believe me, I know you aren't."

"PERVERT!" I chucked the pillow at him.

"I didn't mean it li—If anyone's a pervert here, it's you!"

And as we got into a fifteen-minute long argument, I knew my plan would work. I'd gotten him so frustrated that not only was I still awake, I was sure he would storm out and not bug me anymore.

But when the argument ended and he didn't budge, I knew something wasn't right.

"Go to sleep." Zero said, hitting me with a pillow.

"Why didn't it work…?" I said to myself.

"What?"

"My plan."

"…What plan?"

"My plan was that I'd get you so pissed off you'd leave." No response from Zero. "Oh, you know what? I think I hear Kuran-senpai uh… being ripped apart. Go finish him off."

"Sleep, now."

"….YUKI-SAN'S IN THE BATHROOM WITHOUT ANY CLOTHES ON!"

"And I'm the perverted one…Wait, how would that make me leave?"

"Well, because…" I paused. Really? He doesn't know that I know? Or most of the school, for that matter?

…What a mango-head.

"Because…?"

"You know, I'm really tired. Yeah, um…. 'Night, Mango-Head!" I threw the covers over my head, which was more peach-shaped, I think, curled up into a ball, and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Oi!"

"Shut up, I'm sleeping."

"Wha—oh, fine." I felt Zero stand up, and as I fell asleep, I assumed he finally left.

"Ow…" I groaned. My legs were cramped and still asleep. Sunlight poured into the room, making it look like everything was submerged in gold water. I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

Zero was slumped over on the bed, sitting in his desk chair. His silver hair was a mess of spikes. His head was on top of my legs, which were bent at a strange angle. How did I sleep like that?

I refused to think that Zero stayed for any other reason than to make sure I stayed asleep. I supported his head with my hands and scooted my legs out from under him.

After covering him with a blanket, gathering my bloody uniform, and picking up my fallen notes, I found some paper and a pen. I wrote him a short note,

"Mango-Head,

Thank you. Get a good sleep for once and I'll return everything as soon as I can.

Quit scowling.

Not-A-Child"

By "I'll return everything" I meant his clothes, but I didn't want to write that and our names, in case someone read this note.

Because honestly, what would you think if a note said, "I'll return your clothes as soon as I can." along with "Thank you for everything."

Don't answer that.

Months passed uneventfully, and my first year at Cross Academy was almost completed. I washed and returned Zero's clothes (secretly, of course) that day and there didn't seem to be any awkwardness with us afterward. I couldn't find any new information about Psychics or the vampire tracking me.

The creepy thoughts had decreased around Mami-chan, but increased when I was around Zero. I was beginning to hold out longer though, ignoring the burning until it engulfed my whole body, and then I only needed to cut myself a little for it to go away. Each time I held out a little longer and was even able to push the thoughts out.

I needed to get stronger. To protect Mami-chan. And, whether he wanted me to or not, protect Zero.

Zero talked to me much more as the months passed. I assumed he must have been becoming more tolerant of me.

"Um… Akane-san?" Yuki-san said to me during Guardian duty.

"Yes?"

"You… you can see people's pasts, right?"

"Mmhmm."

"Well, it's just…You know how I don't remember anything from before I was five an—"

"Yuki-san, I'm really sorry. But if you don't remember, I won't be able to see it. I can only see what you remember experiencing, even if it's just partially." Disappointment pulled at her usual bright smile. "I really am sorry, I'd show you if I could."

"No, it's alright. Thank you though."

My encounter with Yuki made a whole other problem resurface. I needed to tell Zero that I looked at his past. Obviously I wouldn't tell him I fell in love with him, but I knew I couldn't stand lying to him any longer.

"Hi." I said when I arrived at the stables. I had promised myself the day after speaking with Yuki-san I would tell him.

"Ready for your lesson?" Zero said.

Today, Zero had promised to ride with me, so I'd learn better.

"Y—yeah." I said, mentally kicking myself for sounding so nervous.

Zero gave me one of his "looks."

"It's nothing, I'm fine. Let's go." I began to lead White Lily from the stable, expecting Zero to get his own horse.

But when we arrived further in the field, he didn't have one.

"Where's your horse?"

"…I'm riding with you. It's easier."

"Wow, I never pegged you for the cuddly type—"

"Just get on the horse."

"…Mango-Head…" Zero ignored me and gave me a boost on White Lily. He climbed behind me and I felt my cheeks burn. Zero put his hands over mine, which were holding White Lily's reins.

Zero instructed me for an hour on how to guide White Lily, and afterward we let her graze.

"Akane?" Zero said.

"Hmm?"

"I never told you how my parents died, did I?" Crap.

"Zero, wait a second. I need to tell you something. Well, uhm… You know how I'm a Psychic, right?" He's going to be so mad. I wrung my hands together, which I noticed had still been under Zero's. "You see, I—um… When I first met you, uh… I looked at your past."

"You what?" Quickly, I hopped off White Lily, to give Zero room. His jaw clenched and his purple eyes hardened.

"I'm really sorry! It was stupid and a complete invasion of your privacy!"

"You won't even tell me the truth about yours and you saw mine? And—" Rage and hurt tugged at his brow, crinkling it.

"Zero—I—" I didn't know what to say. "I'll just—go. I'm sorry." I turned and jogged to the front of the school, leaning against a pillar.

"Crap!" I screamed into my arms. Why did I do that?

"Akane-chan?" Mami-chan called. Her voice was coming from the side of the main building. I couldn't face her right now, not after how horribly I'd hurt Zero. I pushed myself up and sprinted into the forest, reaching the center in about five minutes. It felt strange to run at a non-human pace.

The forest was calm, and the closely spaced trees shielded me from any moonlight. I took a calming breath and leaned against a tree, letting my eyes shut.

"You've bloomed beautifully, my flower."