Chapter Eleven
Finals and a Ball

The next few days were filled with preparation for finals and for the upcoming ball. Yuuki, Kagome, and Zero were walking to class, when they heard a commotion across the yard. Following the screams of the girls, they found Takuma trying to catch Maria Kurenai, the new transfer student. Apparently Maria was bored, and wanted to see the open cafeteria. Noticing that the Night Class was over here during the day time, Yuuki began going after Takuma and Maria. She was stopped by a hand on her wrist. Looking behind her, she found Zero holding her back. He warned her that she should stay away from Maria, and Kagome voiced her agreement with him as well.

Yuuki was confused, but she listened to them. Looking over to Aidou as he came towards them, he walked up to Yuuki and hugged her from behind. She protested, but he just smirked at her and said, "You shall be ill-treated by the girls who have gone made with jealousy, Yuuki Cross."

She scowled at him as he was pulled away from her by Kagome. Hanabusa looked behind him to see who was holding onto his shirt collar, only to find Kagome on the other end.

"I suggest, Aidou-san, that if you wish to live. You should leave Yuuki alone, understood?"

He nodded back quickly. She could be as scary as Kaname if she wanted to be. He was brought out of his thoughts as Zero called him away to talk to him. Hanabusa followed because he had something to talk to Zero about as well. They left Yuuki and Kagome to deal with the raging girls. Yuuki handed her books off to Yori as she took off in the opposite direction of class. Kagome following behind her, but at a more leisurely pace. After all, the girls were too afraid to touch her, but they had no problems chasing after Yuuki. Of course if they did hurt her, they would be sorry.

Yuuki found refuge by launching herself onto the upstairs railing. The girls below passed by her without noticing. Once she had climbed over the top, she was met with a hiding Ichijou. They talked for a bit about him having to chase after Maria, instead of another vampire. They then moved on to Kaname and his role as a pure-blood. Their conversation was interrupted with the appearance of Kagome sitting casually on the rail.

"Not that it isn't fun sitting here.... But weren't you in the middle of capturing a missing vampire?"

With that the three of them took off looking for Maria. Kagome knew where she was, but she was also in no hurry to find her. She couldn't stand being around the annoying twit for very long anyway.


The exams were tomorrow and Yuuki was studying hard. Zero was helping her and she was starting to understand it. He left after a bit saying that he was returning to his dorm. But he never planned to, as he left he placed his hand over the Bloody Rose. No, he had someone he had to erase from his life.


Kagome was sitting outside watching the red crescent moon. It was beautiful, but it only ever brought bad circumstances. She turned her head to the side when she felt the pull of Maria's aura calling to Zero's. No! Standing up, she ran to where she could feel them. If he did something to cause him to revert back, she was going to be in big trouble. And she might possibly kill him. Kinda of takes away the point of saving him, but whatever.

Kagome arrived a moment too late. Zero was gone and she could not feel him anywhere. Yuuki had been here as well, but so had Kaname. Looking to the blood on the floor, Kagome knew that she was in trouble. The pills would not be enough for him now. It was too late. She would have to try something else. But later, she had to at least try to pass the exams tomorrow. She would ask Yuuki about Zero tomorrow. Kagome knew that Zero would not be killed, the Shizuka that she had heard about, wanted something from him. What? She didn't know, but Kagome was not going to let her get it. No matter what.


It was the day of exams, and Kagome was confused. Why was Yuuki acting like that? She was spacing out, and she had been glancing at Zero's seat confusedly. Shouldn't she be worried? Unless... she doesn't remember. Kagome's pencil almost snapped in half from the pressure she put on it.

Kaname. It had to have been him, he must have erased her memories. But why? To keep her away? Kaname could have helped Zero last night but he didn't. What is he up to? Kagome's thoughts were interrupted by the test being placed in front of her face.

Focusing on the task at hand, she decided to confront Kaname tomorrow tonight at the party. Which she still had yet to find her dress for. It was rather annoying really. She would have gone in her school uniform, but everyone else said it was "uncool" to do so. Yeah, well, all the boys were wearing their school uniforms, and all the girls thought the boys were "cool." Sigh, she really didn't care. Besides, it gave her an excuse to wear the dress her mom bought for her. Even if she didn't like dressing up. She was still going to be wearing her armband as well, because she was also guarding them. Not like they knew what she was guarding them from, but it was supposed to be that way.

Looking out the window, Kagome couldn't help but feel uneasy about tomorrow tonight. It would not turn out like she wanted it to. She just knew it. Because, it never did. Kagome felt like pouting and stomping her foot in frustration, but she didn't think that would go over very well with the teacher.


Kagome's class was so close to having to help set up for the ball, because Yuuki kept spacing out and didn't write anything down. But Kagome's high score helped them just barely make it. They were just a few points away from having to set up. It also helped that the Chairman gave Zero another chance to take it, because he had missed class. He took it and brought their class above the one other one that was a bit ahead of them.

Kagome could feel Zero around, but she didn't have time to look for him. If he was there, then that meant he at least wasn't hurt. But she could feel the vampire blood growing inside of him. Kagome was really beginning to dislike that Shizuka Hiou for making Zero a vampire. As well as destroying all the work she had put in to making Zero a human again.

Standing in her room, Kagome was getting prepared for the dance tonight. Her dress was a simple, but elegant, white dress. The top hugged her torso enough to accentuate her figure, but not enough to give anyone the wrong idea. The sleeves were off the shoulder, and were short. The skirt flowed from her waist and ruffled a bit where it ended at mid-calf. Around her neck hung a simple silver heart, in the middle of the heart hung a tear-drop shaped sapphire. A pair of silver earrings also added to her ensemble. Her make-up was light, only a bit of lip gloss, some mascara, eyeliner, and silver and light blue eye shadow, to bring out her eyes.

Sitting on her bed, Kagome slide on her white flats, and pulled her armband onto her left arm. Looking into the mirror, she double checked to make sure that her hair was still in place. It was set in a somewhat messy bun, with a few strands hanging out. Her bangs came around to frame her face as usual. Shrugging into the mirror, Kagome stood up and made sure that her dagger was in place under her dress. She really didn't need it, because she always used her powers, but it was just a precaution.

Walking out of her room, Kagome looked out the window and realized that she would be a bit late. She really didn't care too much. After all, Zero and Yuuki were there to keep the environment safe for the moment.

She arrived to find many of the Night Class and Day Class students dancing together and having a good time. The moment she saw Zero, she ran to his side and gave him a hug. If he had not seen her coming, he would have fallen over from the collision.

"Zero! I am so glad you are safe! I had tried to find you earlier, but you had gone missing." Stepping back from him, Kagome glanced over him worriedly. "Are you hurt at all?" she asked softly.

He knew that she knew what had happened, he also knew that his vampire blood was coming back. But he wasn't what to tell her about that.

"I am fine Kagome."

She smiled and began to look around the room. It was set up nicely and the vampires were not causing any problems. Kagome was so busy taking in the scenery, that she missed all the looks she was getting. It confused her though. She was sure that she could feel people's eyes on her, but a moment later they would be gone. Kagome had no clue that every man that looked at her, was scared off by Zero's glare.

The night continued on fairly nicely, until Kagome saw Yuuki run out of the room. Wanting to go after her, but not wanting to leave Zero, she followed him onto the terrace, where Kaname was located.

As soon as Zero stepped out, he asked Kaname, "What happened to Yuuki?"

Kagome was standing behind him and staring at Kaname as he turned around to face them.

Kaname answered, "I thought I told you your duty. You're Yuuki's shield, it'll be hard on me if you forget."

Zero looked down, before he tore off his armband and jumped over the railing. Kagome glared at Kaname. As she followed suit. Before she jumped she said, "He is not her shield. He is her friend. And so am I."

Kaname's eyes followed her retreat as her skirt fluttered in the wind caused by her jump. He turned back around when Takuma came out on the terrace. They talked for a bit and Takuma left back to the party. While Kaname kept looking in the direction Kagome had gone. She kept changing his plans. He was unsure of what to do with her. She had not done anything so far that he could not change, but it was bothersome. He did not know what she was planning to do this night, but he was sure it was something that would change outcome of his already carefully laid plans. He would just have to wait and see the outcome, be it good or bad.


I'll also show you a sweet dream...
...next night....