Left Behind

a/n: I know you all were waiting for new chapters. I know I'm not really good at updating, but with my schoolwork piling up and finals drawing near, I kind of had to put my fanfics on hold. But I do try to write and tweak them out when I have the time, and though I still have plenty of things on my shoulder to worry about over Thanksgiving break, I figured it'd be nice to give you guys a few new chapters in the meantime. I'll try to update more regularly once finals end. Regardless, thank you for the constant support and the reviews, and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend. :]

Vampire Knight © Matsuri Hino


"Blood tablets are different from the real thing, you know."

"I-I know that."

"Then… Do you want to try it?"

"What?"

Zero pulled me by the arm to his bed and I felt my legs flimsily following behind. I had little time to think, littler time to struggle. We sat down next to each other, but I refused to look at him. How could I? My mind was already racing with questions that I didn't dare to ask. I finally stole a glance at Zero to find him rolling up his sleeve. He moved his arm to his face. I gulped, realizing his intentions only too late. "Zero-kun… What are you—"

"—I'm not encouraging your strange delusion. I'm only letting you have a taste if that's what it takes for you to realize how disgusting this is and put an end to this selfish and scary thought of yours," Zero told me. I flinched as I watched Zero sink his teeth into his wrist. Blood surfaced from the two punctured holes, red and oozing and rolling down his wrist. Zero extended his arm out to me and I could only stare in disbelief. This was nothow I was picturing how our little sleepover was going to go. No, not in the slightest. Now that I saw the blood in front of me, I felt embarrassed and repulsed for even considering such a horrible thing.

"I… I changed my mind… I can't…," I whispered, looking away.

"Drink it," Zero said. "I thought you wanted to know what blood tasted like to a vampire."

"I didn't mean it."

"Yes, you did."

"Zero-kun…"

"Or are you just going to let me bleed here?"

Zero always had a way with words. I regretted this entire thing. At most, I thought he'd merely be disgusted by it and by me. I could have handled that. But I didn't expect him to downright let me experience my little thought. The thing was that whether I drank it or not, I wouldn't know how blood would taste to a vampire because I wasn't a vampire myself. That was all there really was to it. But I guess drinking blood in general was close to the real thing anyway. I slowly took Zero's arm into my hands and I stared at the blood. I gulped. This is what Zero drinks… and what Yuuki drinks too. Blood. I stole one more glance at Zero, and when I found his heavy gaze piercing me, I realized there was no way I getting out this one. I slowly lowered my head pressed my lips against Zero's wrist. After one gulp, I turned away and covered my mouth to stop the blood from coming back up. It curdled in my mouth and I began to cough. The taste was thick and awful, bitter and rusted like metal. The blood tasted different from the blood a human would taste if they accidentally bit their tongue or the inside of the cheek a little too hard. This blood was a vampire's blood—Zero's blood, and whoever else he drank from. Yuuki's blood was in this, and so was mine; I didn't know who else Zero had drank blood from.

"Was my blood… really that horrible?" Zero asked. I turned to see that he was drinking whatever that was left over on his wrist.

I wanted to tell him otherwise, but I was too tired to lie. "A little," I confessed.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have made you do that."

"No… No, I'm glad you did. If I didn't taste your blood, I probably would have tried that blood tablet of yours."

Zero chuckled under his breath. "You wouldn't like it anyway," he assured me.

I smiled and shrugged. "Guess not."

Zero met my gaze, and his staring lingered until he finally stood up. "It's getting late. You should get some sleep. You can tell me otherwise, but we both know you need plenty of rest after what you've been through," he said thoughtfully. Zero paused slightly uncomfortably and added for my benefit, "You don't have to worry. The bed's all yours."

I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow. "Then, where will you sleep?"

"That chair over there," he said, gesturing to the one beside the bed. "It's not much, but it's good enough."

"Zero-kun, I don't mind sharing a bed with you."

"You say that, but I can tell you're bothered."

He was right. I was bothered. But this was Zero's apartment and I really didn't want him to sleep sitting on that small and uncomfortable chair the entire night. He needed sleep as much as I did, and he went through a lot today too. "I used to share a bed with Yuuki sometimes. It'll be like that," I attempted to reassure him, but he wasn't convinced. I sighed. "Please, Zero-kun."

Zero turned off the lights. "Go to sleep, Wakaba," he told me.

I lingered sitting there before I slid into the sheets. I was surrounded by Zero's scent. I wasn't sure how to feel about that, but it's not like he smelled bad. Zero smelled… nice. Blinking, I felt the sheet lift to the side farthest from me. I turned to see the vague image of Zero slipping into bed. He folded his coat to substitute as a pillow. I could feel Zero's gaze meeting mine before he turned and rested on his side, his back facing me.

"Why aren't you angry, Wakaba?" Zero finally asked. "You should be."

I thought we were over this. I shrugged. "What's done is done," I replied. "There's no point in holding a grudge, is there?"

Zero chuckled quietly, bitterness in his tone. "You don't get angry easily, do you?"

I tried to suppress a smile. "Not really."

I nestled into a more comfortable position. Silence fell. I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but I was nearly asleep when Zero spoke again. "Wakaba… There's something you should know," he said.

I frowned and looked over my shoulder. "What is it?" I asked him.

Even in the darkness, I knew that Zero's eyes held mine. "The Night Class… is getting reinstated to Cross Academy."

My eyes widened. The Night Class? "But… But how?"

"It was decided upon a few days ago. Thanks to…"

"… Yuuki," I realized.

Then it hit me. Yuuki would be returning. Yuuki would be here. Yuuki. The empty desk would no longer be empty. My feelings flooded inside me and overwhelmed me. I would finally see Yuuki and hear her voice. I would see her smile. The mere thought of it made me smile. I lifted up my head to see Zero. Yuuki would be mine again, but she would also be Zero's. I wondered how Zero felt. Surely, he was as happy as I was, wasn't he? Now, things would be back to the way they used to be. But what would that mean for us?

Before I could find an answer, this moment was broken when pounding was heard on the door. Zero sat up immediately, got out of bed, and walked across the room. He hesitated for a moment at the door. I peered over from the bed, raising an eyebrow. Who could it be at this hour? Surely, it must be evening time right now or even midnight at the latest. Who…?

Zero unlocked and opened the door, and I was stunned to find who was at the door. Takamiya… -sensei?

There were so many emotions expressed on his face that I didn't know where to start. There was a mixture of annoyance, frustration, and weariness. Takamiya-sensei pushed Zero to the wall, holding him by the collars of his coat. I flinched. "Just where in that thick skull of yours do you think you can just waltz around and do whatever you want, Zero? Were you always this arrogant, or is this the newfound narcissism from the future Association president?" he demanded furiously. "I told you to take Wakaba Sayori-kun back to the dormitory… I found out from the gatekeeper an hour ago that she didn't return. The only reason I let you fetch her instead of me was because I thought even you could follow something as unbelievably easy as that!"

"It was getting late," Zero insisted quietly, unfazed by Takamiya-sensei's anger. "I had no choice but to bring her here."

"Really? I'm convinced," Takamiya-sensei sneered sarcastically as he released Zero and flipped the light switch on. The light blinded me. I rubbed my eyes to find Takamiya-sensei staring straight at me. Realizing the implications, I sheepishly avoided his gaze. "There you are. Sorry to ruin your little sleepover, but I need you to get your things and come with me, Wakaba-kun," he said, sounding a little more reasonable. "I'm taking you back to the dormitories."

I lifted my head up. "What?"

"Get up and get your things. Or do you really want to spend the night with the vampire who almost killed you?"

Zero glared. My heart pounded. I honestly didn't know what to say or do. Takamiya-sensei was right. This—staying in Zero's apartment—probably wasn't one of Zero's best ideas in the world. After all, I did end up drinking blood. But leaving would hurt Zero's feelings; I'd offend him, and the last thing that I wanted was to hurt him. And I didn't like the way Takamiya-sensei looked right now—or the way he looked at Zero. I didn't like his cold, piercing eyes. The same eyes Zero had when he hunted down that vampire. These eyes scared me. The bruise on Zero's cheekbone was still visible, and I could already feel the tension gradually escalating in the room.

I already knew my decision.

I did as I was told. I stood up and picked up my schoolbag. My movements were mechanical. Without looking at either one of them, I walked across the room to the bathroom and stuffed my school uniform inside. As I stepped out, Zero grabbed my arm, forcing me to stare at him. He said nothing, but his eyes told me everything.

Zero looked over his shoulder at Takamiya-sensei. "She doesn't have to go. … Not if she doesn't want to."

"Well, I don't really care what she wants right now. I just need her safe," Takamiya-sensei replied coolly. "Besides, I don't think Councilor Wakaba would like it if he found out that she was sleeping in a boy's room. Isn't that right, Wakaba-kun? After all, that would be quite inappropriate for a young woman who's already—"

"—That has nothing to do with this…," I hissed, realizing that I answered a little too angrily than I had intended. I could feel Zero's gaze on me. A sigh escaped my breath. "I… And I really should be getting back," I insisted softly. "So, please. Zero-kun."

But Zero didn't budge. He glanced at Takamiya-sensei and then at me before narrowing his gaze. "What are you two talking about? What, is this a secret I can't know about?" he sneered, betrayal seething from his voice. I frowned, guilt rising to my face.

Takamiya-sensei raised an eyebrow curiously. "Ah." He smiled. I didn't like this smile and I didn't like where this was going. I knew what was coming. I knew it, and yet there was nothing I could do to stop it. "How cruel. You haven't told him yet, Wakaba-kun? That you're engaged?"

For a split-second, I could have sworn that my heart stopped beating.

Engaged. The word sank into my skin. I knew this word was a part of me, but I suppose it was childish of me to assume that the less it was spoken aloud, the less true it would ring. But the mere mention of it sealed it into stone. Heat warmed my cheeks, though it shouldn't have. It wasn't fair, I thought. Why should I feel guilty? This was my personal business and private information; this had nothing to do with Zero. Zero didn't have to know. Zero… I suddenly remembered his presence beside me. I felt Zero's hand grip slightly only to loosen at my touch. I wrapped my arms around myself and turned from him. I was afraid to look at Zero, to see what kind of expression he had on his face. I wouldn't be able to stand it. I bit my lip. This wasn't fair. I wasn't in the wrong here to keep it from him. I wasn't.

So, why do I feel like the bad guy here?

Takamiya-sensei extended his hand out towards me. "Come, Wakaba-kun. We should get going," he said.

I glared, panged with a mixture of annoyance and shame. I refused his gesture and walked right past him to the doorway, and he followed after me. I left the apartment without looking at Zero. I didn't dare to.

If I did, I would have surely let my world crash and I was afraid to let it fall.


[rxr]