Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight or any characters

"You wash, I'll dry…okay Yuki?" Zero said as breakfast came to a conclusion, with all the conversation exhausted and a not a crumb left. His tone was blissful and his entire demeanor had suddenly become carefree. It had been obvious to the Headmaster what had happened since the moment the two had come in the door from their walk, awkward and shamed faced, all in an attempt to keep it hidden. And while Zero had shed his shame and was currently floating on air, Yuki still remained awkward and nervous.

"Sure," Yuki replied to Zero's request and followed him into the kitchen with an armful of dishes. When they reached the sink, the each carefully placed the dishes inside the two basins. As turned the water on and squired some soap onto the sponge, Yuki went to collect a clean towel from one of the drawers. She naturally went to the right drawer immediately

This prompted Zero to comment, "You sure do know your way around here already. I'm impressed."

"Oh, I just wanted to be sure that I was earning my keep," Yuki replied as she stepped over to the sink, where Zero was holding up the first dish to have been scrubbed and rinsed and waiting to be dried. When Yuki made her way back over to the sink and grabbed the opposite of the plate that Zero held, Zero leaned over to kiss her. Yuki kissed him back, feeling like in was the most natural thing in the world. And she hated herself for it.

Oh, come on, Zero, don't be so naïve…

Zero pulled the dish away from Yuk and set it on the counter and the moved in to kiss her again.

Please, not now, Ichiru. I know what the circumstances are. You don't need to point them out to me.

Then you know she's going to go running back to Kaname Kuran the moment he shows up at the Headmaster's door, right?

….

What? Did you honestly think you'd get to keep this girl…all because you let that purple haired aristocrat escape from spying on you all in the Moon Dorm?

"What is it, Zero?" Yuki wondered. She had her hand on the back of Zero's neck. He had his hands on her hips. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"

"I—

Oh, don't go confessing and blubbering like an idiot when she's clearly lying to you too!

What do you mean, Ichiru? What has Yuki lied about?

"Zero, are you okay?" Yuki questioned. "Your face is all twisted and bunched up…"

Well, I wasn't going to say anything before since I thought you were better off without this silly girl, but…you've noticed it, haven't you? The gaping holes in your memories…the white canvas, so to speak? Don't you have even the slightest inkling of what this girl did to you, Zero?

What are you getting at, Ichiru?

How lucky you are, Big Brother. Even though you continue to make yourself vulnerable to this girl, she can't actually touch me…

Stop it, Ichiru! If you really had anything on Yuki, you'd stop beating around the bush and just spill it already!

"Zero…Zero, snap out of it!" Yuki cried. "Do…do you need to drink my blood?"

The Headmaster burst through the kitchen doors, cheerily announcing that he'd brought the last of the dishes. Zero and Yuki promptly moved away from each other while the Headmaster made his way over to the already full sink.

"Oh my," he murmured. "Looks like you two could use a little help!"

Zero stormed out the door then. The Headmaster just shook his head and questioned, "Yuki, what's going on?"

"I don't know," Yuki insisted. "One second he was fine and the next he was staring off into space."

The Headmaster sighed, "Well, then, you'd better go talk to him. It's alright; I'll clean up in here…"

Yuki started toward the door then, but before she could leave, the Headmaster pleaded, "Please be careful, Yuki. I know you're young and are experiencing the excitement of love for the first time, but…if you don't figure out what it is you truly want, you're just going to wind up hurting yourself and everyone one else involved."

"I know what I truly want, Headmaster," Yuki insisted. "All of this is simply a means to ensure that I get it."

"Please don't hurt him, Yuki. He's already suffered enough," The Headmaster stated.

"Don't worry, Headmaster. I have every intention of relieving his suffering," Yuki said and then coolly walked out the kitchen door. She made her way to Zero's room then. His door was shut, but she decided to just let herself in.

Yuki leaned against the door once it was closed again, as she eyed Zero, who was sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Please to talk to me," Yuki pleaded. "Why did you suddenly just freak out like that in the kitchen?"

Zero said nothing. He just stared at Yuki.

"It's because I'm a Pureblood, isn't it?" Yuki questioned. "Or is it because I belong to someone else?"

"No, it's not!" Zero blurted. "I knew about those things before I ever dreamed of getting involved with you."

"Then what is it?" Yuki wondered. She walked towards him then and placed her hands on his shoulders. He laid his forehead on her stomach.

"Do you know about the curse of the Hunter twins?" Zero asked.

"I know it's extremely rare for vampire hunters to have twins," Yuki stated. "Sure, I know about all of that. And I know that you have a twin…or, at least you did."

"Yes, I did," Zero replied. "He died because I devoured his life one year ago because he begged me to make us whole again…and when I did, his conscience didn't die, but instead attached to mine…"

Ichiru's mind…attached to Zero's? The realization made Yuki's chest grow heavy, as she knew Ichiru would do anything in his power to severe her relationship with Zero and thus ruin her plans to make him human again.

Zero pulled his head away from Yuki and turned it upright so he could look at her. His eyes were sad.

"I know it sounds crazy." he murmured.

"I believe you," Yuki said. "But what does your brother have to do with what was happening in the kitchen?" She asked, despite already having an inkling and fearing the worst.

"He was taunting me," Zero stated. "He kept calling you a liar, but he didn't say much else."

So…Ichiru does realize what's happened. Even though I wiped Zero's memories, Ichiru's remained unaffected. Yuki confirmed.

"I don't know what he thinks he knows, but I know that he was involved with the Senate, so I can see how he could know something," Zero explained, turning his head down once again. "And I don't know if there's any future for us, Yuki, or what we're even doing. Even still, if there's you've been hiding from me, then, please, just tell me."

Yuki jerked her hands away. Her mind raced between coming up with a good lie and just telling the truth. All she knew was that she didn't want to hurt Zero anymore. And she knew that either scenario would play out just like that.

"I can't," Yuki whispered. "I'm so sorry, but I just can't."

Seeing the tears in her eyes Zero reached out his arms and pulled Yuki close to him. He whispered back, "It's okay, Yuki. Just please don't cry anymore."

Yuki choked, "I just want you to know that every deceitful thing I do is to help you."

"You don't have to protect me," Zero insisted. "You don't to worry about me falling to a Level E or even feel sad about it."

"But I do have!" Yuki exclaimed, jerking herself out of Zero's arms. She looked him in the eye and then and then cried, "I have to because I love you!"

"Yuki…" Zero murmured. "I…I…"

Zero could barely process the happiness swelling up inside of him. He just couldn't comprehend how he'd fallen in love with some in just a few days' time. He just couldn't comprehend how he'd fallen in love with a Pureblood vampire.

"Okay, so what do we do?" Zero wondered. "Do you intend to just run away together?"

Maybe they could have done that in another life. Maybe if they'd both been human, being together would have been the most natural and simple thing in the world.

But, if they hadn't been vampires, then they would never have even met…And Yuki would never have been born because her parents would not have given into the desires of beasts…

But…all that aside…what would it have been really like…?

"Juri, I'm so happy you've decided to enroll your sweet, little Yuki into Cross Academy," Kaien exclaimed as he severed tea to his old friend. They'd lost touch in the past few years, but had finally reconnected when Yuki became old enough to start high school.

"Yes, well, Kaname's been so happy here that it only seemed natural," Juri replied.

"Yes, I have been quite content," Kaname chimed in. He sat between Yuki and Juri on the Headmaster's sofa. He gave his little sister a soft nudge then and said, "Yuki, why don't you say hello?"

Yuki nodded and said softly, "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Cross."

"Yes, likewise," Kaien replied. "It's so wonderful to see you're growing into such a fine young woman."

Juri spoke, "I'm sure we'll be fine with filling out all her enrollment paperwork, assuming nothing much has changed since Kaname applied."

"It's the same as it's always been," Kaien stated.

"So, Kaien what have you been up to?" Juri wondered. "Kaname tells me you took in a foster child some time ago."

"Yes, Zero's his name," Kaien said. "His parents were both part of a special police and were killed in the line of duty. His only other family member, a twin brother, died a few months before his parents. He was very sickly, you see."

"Oh, that's so awful!" Juri exclaimed.

"Yes. And the poor thing has crawled into a shell and won't come out." Kaien sighed. "You know what? I should bring him out here to meet you all. I'll just go and get him from his room…"

Kaien stood up and made his way down the hall…

"What are you thinking about, Yuki?" Zero asked.

"I guess…I guess I was just thinking about what things would have been like if you and I had been humans in a world where vampires didn't even exist." Yuki said. "Do you think we would have ever even met?"

"I don't know," Zero said. "It's doubtful."

"You don't think the universe created vampires just to ensure that you and I would meet, do you?" Yuki wondered, half joking, but still half serious.

"Are you searching for some sort of sign from the cosmos to tell you what path to choose?" Zero questioned. He often found her questions silly and irritating, yet somehow it was okay if Yuki was the one to ask them.

"I've already chosen my path," Yuki stated firmly. "Even if the universe is against me, I still intend to resist it with all I am."

Maybe the universe did bring us together. But even if it did, it made a mistake. Zero, you really are better off without me.

You see, Zero? I told you she'd just go running back to Kaname…

"I only want what you want," Zero insisted. "I only want what you want because…I love you too, Yuki."

He placed his hands on face and kissed her.

Don't ignore me, Zero!

Please, Ichiru. Just let me be happy…even if it is only just for a few moments.

…..

Fine, Zero, but just know this: The clock is ticking on your wake-up call!