A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it.

Chapter 21 - Falling for You

Elizabeth returned to her room that night, completely exhausted. Both she and Kuro sat on the padded bay window in her room, gazing up at the full moon. Kuro was snuggled against her, enjoying the soft caresses in his fur. Elizabeth hadn't changed out of her uniform. To Kuro's embarrassment and, he was ashamed to it, pleasure, Elizabeth's skirt had risen up her slim, milky thighs. He couldn't take his eyes off them and was glad that he was covered in fur because he was blushing heavily. He wished to be in his human form again. He placed his paw "innocently" on her thigh. Elizabeth didn't bat an eyelid. He sighed. Seducing her in this form was near on impossible.

He heard Elizabeth yawn. It was apparent that Elizabeth still wasn't used to staying up at night. Elizabeth rested her head against the window, gazing up at the moon. It was such comforting sight to see her looking so…innocent. She was innocent to some degree and to see her face look calm and serene was a beautiful sight in deed. But most of that had been ripped away from her the moment she became a vampire. Elizabeth wasn't a striking beauty, unlike her fellow Night Class students, but her beauty was more understated and if you took the time to look, she was indeed unique in this aspect. Kaname obviously saw it and was obviously intrigued by her.

After an hour had passed, Elizabeth was still awake despite her body's protests and want for sleep. Kuro had fallen asleep and she suddenly felt very alone. Then, as she was about to answer her body's call for sleep, there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth looked up, slightly startled, and gently moved Kuro so that she could stand up. She stood up and walked over to the door, earing just his half open school shirt, slacks and shoes. She opened the door and saw Kaname leaning on the doorpost. Elizabeth's breath hitched in her throat.

"Kaname," Elizabeth whispered, "Why are you here?"

Kaname walked inside, causing Elizabeth to back away, "I thought I'd find you here…" He whispered. Elizabeth gulped and continued to back away until she hit the wall. Kaname caged her in, "Do you think, that after all this time of waiting for you to come back that I would let you go? I will not lose you again, not ever."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. She turned her head away, "I sacrificed myself to stop something disastrous happening."

"It should have been me to have taken on that responsibility…it should have been me…" Kaname whispered, "Your life is worth more than mine."

"Don't say such things, Kaname," Elizabeth whispered, "I died knowing that our world would be safer. I did it because I loved you."

"Your actions led me to despair."

"I didn't realise at the time that it would wound you so deep…I'm sorry…"

Kaname gently cupped Elizabeth's now tear stained face, "Don't apologise anymore, Riji…" He gazed into her teary eyes. He realised that they were the same shape as Yuuki's eyes with the exception of the colour. He leaned closer, but as he did so he felt Elizabeth's hands on his chest and pushing him away, "Stop pushing me away," he whispered. Elizabeth struggled to pull herself away from him, knowing that allowing herself to fall would be a catastrophe.

"No…stop…stop making me fall for you!"

"Fall for me? That means that your feelings are real and that you want me…" Kaname whispered, "Even though you may not verbally admit it, your body betrays you."

Elizabeth shook her head, "N-no…" but he was right, she was responding to him. Her back was arching into his body even though she was pushing him away.

"Yes…" with that, their lips met feverishly. Hands were everywhere, roaming each other's bodies. Kaname pulled her to his body, his hands relentlessly searching her curves. Elizabeth tugged at his thick mahogany hair. Kaname groaned at the sensation. This was what he wanted. Yuuki may not have been his sister biologically but she was a sister nonetheless and his feelings for her were as such. Elizabeth was his woman and his woman alone.

"Erisabesu…be mine," he whispered hoarsely. Elizabeth could only moan, the ability to speak had long forsaken her. Kaname closed his eyes.

"I love you…" she whispered. She felt him kiss her again, but this time it was gentle and full of care. His hands cupped her cheeks and positioned her head for more access to her mouth. Elizabeth placed her hands on his hips. Kaname then gently broke the tender kiss and then he simply held her, just held her. There was nothing more to say or do. Keeping each other close was the only comfort they could offer one another. Kisses and caresses seemed a little out of place as they stood in each other's arms, basking in the moon light. They weren't sure how long they stood there for, but dawn was quickly approaching. The couple eventually sat down on the bay window, "I need to get some sleep," Elizabeth whispered. Her head was resting on his chest and she was dropping off into dream land. Kaname stood up with her in his arms. He walked over to the bed and gently placed the girl down.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered. As he was about to walk out, Kuro jumped down from the bay window. Kaname turned around and saw him sitting there.

"You know who I am…don't you?" Kuro asked. Kaname raised an eyebrow.

"Do I now? I'm not sure that I do…I think that you might have to clarify," Kaname said. Kuro glared up at him.

"Do you really love Riji-sama?"

Kaname silent stared at him, "Yes," was his only answer, "And I will not lose her. She is the one of only two people who I truly care about."

"I see…what if I told you that I had feelings for the girl in question? As you probably well know, I am not really a cat."

"I can see that very clearly, you are no cat, but I will not allow you to have Erisabesu. She is my lover," Kaname stated coolly, "She will see you as nothing more than a cat."

Kuro dug his nails into the carpeting, "If you loved her you wouldn't be stringing her along like this because we both know that you'll choose Yuuki in the end."

"You are making assumptions, cat," Kaname said, "Yuuki is my sister and my sister she will remain. Erisabesu makes me feel alive whenever I am near her and the fact that a cat is laying claim to her is pretty…absurd…don't you think?"

"But I'm a vampire nonetheless, Kaname," Kuro hissed.

"That makes no difference to that girl's feelings. She loves me and I love her. The notion that you could ever return to your…'original' form is quite impossible because you need her love to break you free. It's quite pitiful really…."

With that, Kaname exited the room. Kuro retracted his claws from the carpet. He wanted to attack Kaname, but something in him said that Elizabeth wouldn't forgive him. Although, he also knew that he'd never stand a proper chance in his current form. He kicked the door shut with his hind leg and jumped up onto the bed. He nuzzled her face.

"Oh, Riji-sama…" he whispered, gazing at her, his wine coloured eyes full of want. He's seen the way Kaname had kissed, caressed and held her. He longed to do that and it made him ever more impatient. He could only hope.

The next day, the Night Class had received word that there was a ball being held on that evening. Elizabeth wasn't excited. She had no dress as the dress Kisetsu had given her was ruined.

"Riji-chan, I can give you a new dress," Kisetsu offered. Elizabeth gave a tired sigh.

"I'm not sure if I truly want to go tonight…" Elizabeth sighed again. Kisetsu smacked her around the head without warning and it knocked Elizabeth out of her chair.

"Ow, Kise-chan, that hurt!"

"Good! Hopefully it will have knocked some sense into you!"

"What sense?"

"That you cannot miss this soiree and that it's mandatory!"

"But I don't have a dress! The one that you gave me is ruined from my confrontation with Shizuka Hiou!"

"I have plenty of dresses! You can just ask!"

Kisetsu frowned before helping Elizabeth up, "I know, but I didn't want you to think that I was taking advantage."

"Taking advantage? Nonsense! You wouldn't be taking advantage. I'm your friend and I would do anything for you, you know that!"

Elizabeth smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Kisetsu, you're the best."

Kisetsu giggled, "I aim to please," she said, looking quite pleased with herself.

Elizabeth sighed softly, "Well, I'd better get some sleep before the ball. If this is an all-night job then I want to be able to stay awake during the ball."

"All right, Riji-chan, sleep well." Kisetsu said. Elizabeth smiled before exiting Kisetsu's room. As she walked towards her own room, she yawned loudly. Lately, she hadn't been getting much sleep. Her little rendezvous with Kaname the night before meant that she had even less sleep. She only hoped that this lack of sleep wasn't going to affect her too much in the long run.

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