A/N: Daaaamn, Daniel! Back at it again with the lies! I'm not even going to apologize, because you guys already know I ain't shit, and I'm gonna do it again. I really have to stop making excuses and just do better. Sounds like an adult decision, right? Also, I want to give you all a heads up: after this story is completed, I'm taking a hiatus from FanFiction to focus on my account on Wattpad. I've already started to post some of my completed work there, and I have so many original story ideas I want to start executing. I know I said I had projects that I wanted to do here, but I'm not really feeling those anymore. Of course I'll come back when I have an idea for another story, but I honestly don't know when that will be. So if you have Wattpad, please reach out, share your work, and I'll share mine. Welcome to my new readers, and thank all of you for the endless support.

Yuki was greeted with overwhelming support when she retuned to class the next day.

"Are you okay, Yuki?"

"That was such a crazy thing that happened yesterday!"

"I can't believe Kiryu did that to you."

She took everything in stride, trying to convince everyone that Zero hadn't intentionally caused her harm. She completely blamed herself for what had taken place, especially knowing what Kaien warned her about and still being so careless. She had just been so excited by Zero's discovery. It made perfect sense that Kaname had left behind a way for them to communicate with him in his absence. Deep down, she had always known that he would never just abandon them.

But why was it that no one was allowed to touch the vial? She had been the one to give it to Zero in the first place. It didn't seem fair.

She gazed about the room as her peers continued to flood her with condolences. Sayori noticed her frown and gently stroked her cheek.

"What's the matter, my love?"

"Zero isn't here," she replied, looking to Sayori worriedly.

"He cuts classes sometimes, doesn't he?" she said with a nonchalant shrug. Yuki's frown only deepened.

"He hasn't done that in a long time," she said, noticing that Ichiru was also missing. "I wonder if everything is okay. I'll go check on him after class."

"Oh, Yuki~" Magdalene's sugar sweet voice called. She glanced over her shoulder at the bothersome blonde, who was sporting her best contrived look of concern. "How are you feeling? I heard about your nasty accident yesterday."

"I'm perfectly fine," she said, a sort of snap to her voice. "Thanks for asking."

"I heard you were trying to take a special trinket from Kiryu, and he flung you across the room," she sneered lowly, causing Yuki and Sayori to turn and glare at her wicked expression. "Just what was it you were trying to take from Zero?"

"I wasn't taking anything from him," Yuki hissed. "And even if I was, that's hardly any of your concern."

"Tsk tsk. So secretive," she said with a knowing smile. "And I thought we were fellow prefects, determined to keep this campus safe."

"You can't even keep yourself safe, ditzy," Sayori spat. Magdalene's face turned red.

"I hope you remember everything you've said to me up to this point when this academy comes crumbling down around your ears," she said in a dark voice, turning on her toes and storming away. Sayori and Yuki looked to each other, wondering in what sense she meant that threat.

Ichiru walked down the somewhat busy street in the nearby town, squeezing Maria's hand tightly in his own. The sky was overcast, so she wore her hair uncovered and styled in an elegant updo, exposing the milky nape of her neck. Ichiru couldn't stop staring at it, and she glanced at him knowingly, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes.

"I had no idea you were so daring, Ichiru," she giggled, swinging their arms. "I thought we would never make it through that maze without being carved alive."

"How could I say no to a date with my girlfriend?" he replied, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles. "I'll do whatever is necessary to be alone with you. Besides, I've cut plenty of classes in my life time. Why do you think Zero is the favorite?"

"Oh, love," she pouted, stopping their stride to run her hands up his chest and around his neck. "You're my favorite." She pulled him down and planted a slow, sensuous kiss on his lips. "No one could ever replace you in my eyes."

"Maria," he whispered breathlessly, encircling her waist and pulling her up against him. She squealed with delight as he twirled her in the street, the both of them ignoring the disapproving looks of their PDA. He soon set her down and they resumed their walk, nearing Maria's favorite bakery. "I know you're just buttering me up for the real reason you asked for this date."

The smile quickly vanished from her profile, but she said nothing before they entered the shop. She gave a small smile and wave to the proprietor before they went to occupy a booth in the back. A waiter came and poured them complimentary water.

"The usual, Miss Kurenai?"

"Please," she said, smiling as he departed before turning her solemn expression to Ichiru. "I'm disgusted at your perception, by the way."

He just smiled at her, causing her to feel even more awful for all she was about to say.

"You know I'm being put up to this, right?" she began, grabbing his hands and rubbing his knuckles. "With that being said, I should just get straight to the point and ask you for what I'm seeking, but I can't do that. You're my boyfriend, and I love you, and I know I can confide in you anything that enters my heart."

"Maria-"

"No. Seriously," she said, gentle but firm. "I mean every word I'm saying to you right now, and not just because I'm asking you a favor."

He smiled at her again, his dazzling teeth on display. She smiled back, starting to feel more calm about the task at hand. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she unburdened herself.

"The Night Class is after the vial of Kaname's blood that's in Zero's possession."

"What?" he replied, confusion entering his expression.

"Oh? You don't know about it?" she asked, scratching her cheek. "Ah, I guess the two of us haven't really been that involved in the events at the academy, huh?"

"I'm used to being left out," he shrugged. She laughed, although it was full of sadness.

"You and I both," she whispered. "But . . . one thing that we do know is that the maze of thorns that currently encircles the campus wasn't entirely Zero's doing."

"So, you're suggesting this vial of blood was the cause?"

"No, but a powerful contributor," she clarified, her nails tapping on the table. "The Night Class feels that if we obtain possession of that blood, we'll have a stronger edge against the Level Es."

"So, why don't you ask for it?"

Maria laughed. "I knew that would be your solution, but it's hardly that simple," she explained. "Zero doesn't trust the Night Class enough to simply relinquish it. And, before you suggest we take it, Kaien Cross already attempted that, and suffered some consequences." Her eyebrows raised in challenge. "If a mere human isn't able to take it, how much more luck you think a vampire has?"

Ichiru stared at her a long time before realization dawned on his features. "You guys want me to get it for you?"

Maria smiled with guilt. "Well . . . you are Zero's closest confidant."

"As if," he spat angrily. "Nevermind how insulted I feel by you asking me to betray my own twin, but for you to think that Zero would just hand me Kaname's blood for no reason at all is the dumbest presumption the Night Class has ever made."

"I'm sorry, Ichiru," she huffed in annoyance, "but we're kind of in dire straits right now. There has to be some way you can convince him-"

"And why the hell would I even try?"

"Because I'm asking you," she said, her expression dark. He stared at her in shock, disbelief and muted disgust. "I know this was a dirty trick. I know I could have - should have - asked you straight up, but we're all desperate. We just want to save the academy, Ichiru. That blood can do it."

They sat in uncomfortable silence, stubbornly gazing at each other before the waiter returned with a slab of decadent chocolate cake, glazed with fudge and topped with gooey raspberries.

"Thank you," Maria said. Ichiru knew it was directed at the waiter, but the way she hadn't taken her gaze off of him let him know that it was really for him. Because she knew he was going to do it, and he hated himself for it. Picking up a fork, he stabbed into a corner of the cake and ate it grudgingly, his eyes never leaving hers as well.

The spent the rest of their time in that bitter silence, devouring cake and communicating with vicious glares.

Zero sat on his bed, turning the vial back and forth in his hand. Why was he even keeping this thing? All it caused was harm to the people he loved. But at the same time, it had also protected them. But only them.

He couldn't stop thinking about what Yuki and Kaien said. He had already reserved himself to becoming the guardian of the academy, but the fact that he had to throw himself into harm's way to accomplish that was just too much to bear with. Why couldn't he tap into those powers without being hurt?

And more importantly, why was he keeping this thing?

"I didn't shed that blood for you to hoard it."

Zero's head snapped up, his eyes widening when he saw Kaname idling in the corner, just behind the billowing, see-through curtains of his window. He immediately stood to his feet, his heart racing as he stared at that faint but unmistakable smile on his face.

"What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Where the fuck have you been?" he said angrily, squeezing the vial in his fist. "How could you leave at a time like this?"

"Who said I left?" he replied, the amusement leaving his expression. "I've been here this entire time. I'll never leave you, Zero."

"You . . . you're not even here," he said, slowly sinking back to his bed. "I'm imagining things."

"Perhaps you think you see me," he replied. "Because deep in your heart, you miss me." Zero shook his head, and he merely chuckled. "You don't ever have to admit it, Zero. But everything you hear right now is real. I am communicating with you."

"H-how?" he said, a cold sweat gathering on his skin. "Why? Where are you, Kaname?"

"I had to take a step back to see the bigger picture," he explained. "There's too many distractions on campus. Most of all, you, Zero."

"Stop talking to me like that," Zero hissed, a blush creeping into his cheeks.

"I can't lie to you, Zero. I had to distance myself from you so that I could see whose operating in the shadows."

"Who?" he said, standing to his feet once more. "Who is it?"

"I can't reveal anything until I'm sure," he replied, a sad expression on his face. "But I'm very near, Zero. You'll see me again soon."

"When?" he whispered, unable to mask his feelings anymore. "It's too hard to be here without you, Kaname."

"You're scared to drink the blood, because you think you'll never see me again," he said with a small smile. "I'm flattered, Zero. I wish you would admit how you feel to my face."

"If you come back, I'll admit it!" he said, tears springing to his eyes as he clutched his twisting heart. "I . . . I won't lie to you, or myself, anymore. Just come home!"

"Zero . . . I need you to trust me. You trust me, don't you?"

"You know I do," Zero sniveled.

"Drink the blood. Quickly."

Without a word or second thought, he screwed off the cap and downed the blood. It's potency was unlike anything he'd ever tasted before, and it caused his tears to spill over, Kaname's absence feeling that much more unbearable.

"I'm near, Zero. I'll see you soon."

Before he could look back at the apparition, there was a knock on his door. He looked towards it, and then back to the corner where he thought he'd saw Kaname. As he expected, the vision was no longer there. Suddenly, he began to wonder if he'd imagined it all out of insanity. He looked down at the vial, hoping he hadn't made a grave mistake.

The knock on the door grew more urgent, and he glanced at the clock. Classes were over. It was probably Ichiru, wondering why he hadn't been in class.

When he opened the door to find Magdalene standing outside of it, he was unpleasantly surprised.

"Hello, Kiryu," she said with the fakest smile he'd ever witnessed. "You weren't in class today, and I was a bit worried that you wouldn't be up to perform your prefect duties." She was tugging at the sleeve as if to draw his attention away from the fact that she was peering about his room like the nosy worm she was. That's when she finally noticed the empty vial dangling from his hand, her eyes taking on an eerily sharp leer.

"How did you know where my room was?" he asked slowly.

"Is that . . . the vial that Yuki gave you? Of Kaname's blood? Right before he disappeared?" she asked in an unnervingly high pitched voice.

At first he thought to lie to her. He soon realized there was no point, being she had been there to see it.

"It is," he replied. "What's it to you?"

"You drank it," she said through clenched teeth, looking up at him with a deranged smile. "This is what Yuki tried to take from you yesterday."

Zero looked at her with fear snaking through his body, when Ichiru suddenly appeared in the hallway.

"Zero. Magdalene?" he asked, slowly approaching them. "Is everything okay?"

Magdelene's face became blank as she turned to him.

"If you're here for the blood, you're too late," she spat. Zero took note of the way Ichiru's face paled before he tried to play it off.

"What are you talking about?" he snarled. "What do I care about blood? You shouldn't even be here."

"So it seems," she said, taking one last look at the vial, then Zero, before taking her leave. The twins watched her disappear around the corner before releasing their breaths, the heavy aura lifting with her absence.

"You came for the vial, too?" Zero suddenly asked, causing Ichiru to whirl on him.

"What is going on?" he laughed nervously. "Can't I check on my big bro without all of these weird accusations?"

"Because i already drank it," he said, lifting it to Ichiru's eyes. The young twin couldn't mask the flash of disappointment on his features.

"S-so you did," he replied, giving him a weak smile. "Good for you. I'm glad you're eating again."

"Yeah," Zero said, staring at him doubtfully. Ichiru quickly grew annoyed at his expression and waved his hand.

"I see you're perfectly fine. Talk to you later," he scoffed, turning on his heel and storming to his room. Zero watched his departing back, feeling something sickening wrench his stomach.

First Kaien and Yuki had tried to take the vial from him. He had initially thought it for good reasons, but now he wasn't so sure. And then, Magdalene and Ichiru were vying for it, too? And Kaname had known somehow, and warned him to drink it. Was something more sinister coming into play here?

And if it was, who was on his side?

Who could he trust?