Fourteenth Chapter! Oh, joy! some violence at last!!

The night after Valentine's Day

Zero shuddered involuntarily as his heart clench with the hunger pangs again. Struggling to compose himself, his ears picked out the unmistakable sounds of footsteps approaching. The Night Class.

Rin walked at Kain's side as the group emerged from the shadows. Without even turning, Zero had his gun at Ruka's neck.

"What do you want?" he demanded menacingly. Ruka went straight to the point.

"Why is Kaname so interested in this human? I can't stand it." she said angrily, her frustration marring her delicate brow, moonlight outlining her fangs.

Rin threw a sidelong glance at Kain, as he moved forward with her following calmly behind. She smirked, her fangs glinting momentarily. Blood-letting indeed. This'll be entertaining, she thought, being reminded of what Ruka had said before leading them out to question Zero.

Kain moved abreast of Ruka, calm and composed. The other vampires moved around in a semi-circle, keeping Zero's back faced to the balcony.

"There's no point getting jealous, Ruka." he said in a slightly bored tone. "The same goes for the rest of you. If Kaname hears about this, he'll be furious." he added, seeing the restlessness in which the other vampires moved. He placed a tentative hand on Zero's arm, still holding the Bloody Rose to Ruka's neck.

"Okay?" Nervous anxiety marred his face, as Zero's other hand suddenly clasped around his upper-arm. In a flash, he was hurtling over Zero's shoulder, slamming his back hard against the floor. He heard several snickers, and later Rima, saying "That was so uncool."

"Shut up." he retorted, tilting his head backward to see Rima standing behind him. He realized Rin was kneeling beside him, as he got up to a sitting position.

"A little too complacent?" she said, patting his head and smirking smugly. He gave her his dead stare. "You shut up too." he said as she gave a deep chuckle. Noticing how she suddenly paled and stiffened as if in pain, he lowered his voice and quietly asked what was wrong. She simply shook her head and stood up again.

They turned their attention back to Zero, who was straightening his prefect badge with a slightly blank expression.

"So Kaname Kuran... is the reason why you've suddenly decided to all gang up and take me down?" he said. All of a sudden, a crazed expression lit on his face, as he began to crack his knuckles threateningly.

"I'd like to see you try, vampires. I've been waiting for a chance like this." he said menacingly, his words saturated in hate. Rin moved forward smiling grimly, her skin was paler than normal and it looked as if she was struggling to stay composed.

All of a sudden there was the sound of an Artemis rod unfolding and in a vaulted leap, Yuuki was kneeling behind Zero where she landed.

"Stop right there!" she yelled. "No fighting allowed. Didn't you read that in the student handbook?!" she demanded. Everyone paused at her entrance. "So regardless of whether it's Zero or a student from the Night Class who's trying to pick a fight, as a prefect I simply will not allow it!" she said, straightening up and showing her prefect's badge.

Kain moved forward again, looking down at Ruka with a bored face and talking to her with an equally bored tone.

"Look, can't we just drop this already?"

Ruka sighed resignedly. "Fine. It's not worth it anyway. Let's go back to class." she turned to leave, shooting another glance at Yuuki as the rest of the vampires moved ahead. Rin stayed behind, her expression blank, contrasting to the fact that she was pale and sweating, occasionally shuddering slightly. Seeing this Kain paused in his retreat giving her a glance askance. She shook her head.

"You go ahead. I'll be fine."

Kain nodded quietly, giving her a long, concerned look. Then he left. Rin stepped forward again a bit closer to the two prefects.

"Miss Kurosu, may I have a word with Kiriyuu?" she asked, holding her elbows in a tight grip. Yuuki hesitated, she looked up at Zero who was still looking slightly angry. "You'll be fine?" she asked quietly. Getting no answer she simply turned to Rin and nodded quietly.

Once Rin made sure that Yuuki was really going on patrol and out of earshot, she whispered quietly.

"I know what's happening to you, and I know what you are. So does Kaname."

Zero stiffened visibly, a low growl rising in the back of his throat. "Go away." he said sharply, as he broke out into another sweat, his heart clenching again. Rin didn't move still holding her elbows tightly.

"I feel it too." she said quietly. "Soon you wont be able to control it. Maybe neither of us will."

Zero stiffened again, shock lancing through his body. He glanced quickly up at Rin, a confusion between hope and anger flashing through his eyes.

"You're..." he said confusedly, struggling with the pain in his body.

"Yes. I'm ex-human." she said, her voice quiet and strained with the pangs that both of them felt. She turned to leave, melting back into the shadows. "Be careful." was the last thing she said.

Rin gasped as she stumbled along the corridors of the Moon Dorm, pain lancing through her heart, her ears roaring with the sound of her heart's thundering. She hadn't gone to back to class that night. Retching emptily, she gagged on soured pain and sweat. She shuddered involuntarily, her complexion going pale. She struggled to compose herself as she knocked on the door of the room Aidou and Kain shared. Thankfully, it was Kain who answered the door.

Rin used the dregs of her magic to slam the door of her room as she stumbled to lean on one of the posts of her bed, barely waiting for Kain to make it through the door. She shuddered with pain, her heart clenching and unclenching. Her ears rang with her mother's words, deafening her. Until the fire forms your heart's seal, Until the fire forms your heart's seal, over and over again. Kain was silent, watching her concernedly. Rin faced him, and he was shocked to see her eyes glowing blood red.

"Tell me," she rasped hoarsely, breathing hard. "What did you compare our love to?" When Kain didn't answer, she stumbled forward to smash her fist against the bedside table. Kain jumped at her sudden ferocity. And then it dawned on him. She was an ex-human. Shit, he thought.

"Why are you fighting it?" he demanded, fumbling through his coat pocket to look for his blood tablets. Rin growled.

"Shut up and answer me!"

Kain paused. "I... I compared it to a fire... a forest fire." Rin stiffened.

"Goddamn... Shit!" she said, swearing loudly. And then it dawned on Kain. His eyes widened.

"Until the fire forms your heart's seal! Rin, your mother's spell!" he said, running over to Rin. She growled at him.

"Finally, you slow thinker!"

Woohoo!! mwahahahaha!! Rin is gonna die!! mwahahahaha!! hehe, just kidding! XD

Thanks to YenGirl. As you can see, your past reviews inspired the dialogue for this chapter ;D