Rina Tomonaga

by Rabbitfoot O'Eight

Has Rina Tomonaga ever regretted interfering with a world that maybe she should have left alone? Never. To those who are still there, to those who still care, I discontinue this with a sad heart. But did I leave you hanging? Absolutely not. Chapter 47: The Climax, The Aftermath, and The Lives Left for our Cross Academy Misfits.

25. Chapter 25: Arrival

A/N: I HAVE SURVIVED FRESHMAN FRIDAY! THREE CHEERS FOR MEH! (Two weeks ago xD)

And by the way, this chapter has beaten my record on the word count, so this month wait better make you happy. Cuz this chapter's reeeeaaalllyyy long.

The funny thing about this chapter (And story so far) is that there is a LOT of advertisement (Which I do NOT own by the way).

Oh, and do you guys prefer the names to be spelled:

Ichijo or Ichijou or should I just keep it Takuma?

Aido or Aidou or Hanabusa?

When Rina thinks of their names, and during the narrating.

Gate Seating Arrangement

(Wall/Plug) (Arm Rest)Yuuki, chair, Akuro, chair, (Arm Rest)

(Wall) (Arm Rest) Rina, Zero, chair, Yagari, (Arm Rest)

Plane seating arrangement (Front Sky POV)

(Window) Rina, Zero (Walk Lane) Yuuki, Akuro, Yagari (Walk Lane) Seat, Seat (Window)

Class seating arrangements (Pers.=Person)

(Pers.)(Pers.) Zero (Pers.)

Yori, Yuuki, Rina, Akuro

Question of the Chapter: Using one word, how would you describe your favorite character (Preferably crush) in Vampire Knight? (My Answer: Mysterious.)

Disclaimer: I only own my stuff.

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Rina Tomonaga

Chapter 25-Arrival

*~*Flashback*~*

The dark blue crayon against the paper sounded rough and scratchy as the child held nothing but the look of deep concentration on her four year old face. Her colorless black eyes darted back and forth, and due to the lack of attention, the black to grey and white wolf whined before blocking her view with his paw. She looked up at the animal, "Ne~?" she asked, never one to speak actual normal words. This fact was something her parents didn't like for various reasons—and it was exactly why she did it.

The wolf licked her nose before flashing his white fangs. His crystal blue eyes clouded with excitant as he tugged at the hem of the child's night gown before playfully pouncing on top of her.

"Heehee~ Zakari-kuuun," she giggled. The wolf known as Zakari, nuzzled his nose into the side of her stomach before he got off of her at last. He sat next to her tiny form as she straightened out herself, and then her picture, before letting his head rest on her lap. Scratching the canine behind his ear, the child sighed in relief that her picture wasn't ruined as she held it up in satisfaction. Zakari relaxed under the child's touch, and lazily opened one eyes to examine the four year olds picture.

The picture was a bit well drawn for a four year old; she just finished coloring in the wolf on the right, about half an inch taller than the little girl with blue hair next to him. And holding her hand was another girl with long brown hair who was the same height and was also wearing the same gown as the first. The girl giggled at her happy artwork containing rainbows and a clear blue sky, and green grass that was, well, no more than scribbles.

The noise the wolf made was one that the girl took as a compliment. While nuzzling her cheek into the wolf's silky dark fur, she sighed dreamily, imagining what the outside world must be like. The wolf's ear twitched at the sound, and slightly tilted his head up in her direction. But she just gave him her fang-showing grin and set the picture back onto the floor.

"Zakari-kun…" she whispered softly.

"You my best fwiend…"

*~*End of Flashback*~*

I remember when I first met Akuro. We were both in kindergarten and I found a penny on the ground. Suddenly, I'm attacked by this psycho child with a pocket knife. There were two things that came out of this.

One: I stole her lighter and happily skipped home. Well, at least I tried to skip home.

Two: The fire was so fascinating to look at that I didn't see the knife she left on the ground and tripped (More like slid backwards) on it and hit my head.

Really hard, thus putting me in a coma for a month. I shuddered. Doctors SUCK!

Well, we became best friends out of it, I guess that's a plus…I think.

I still have the lighter and pocket knife from that day. The first day I actually met a girl that—

No, no I can't say "That didn't want me dead." Cause she tried to kill me…so…yeah. But hey! It wasn't for my hair! And that my good friend, was a first. But she shocked me so much I lost control on the eye color thing, causing her entranced look I guess. I'm still not sure…

Yuuki and Akuro were fast asleep, unlike me who is reading Lina's Diary as I fiddled with Akuro's lighter I still had from way back then. Thinking about the past made me pull it out of my "Box of Memories" that I promised to never open again. Ehh…I broke that promise. Not a surprise, so oh well.

'The day has been normal as usual, but I keep having this feeling in the pit of my stomach that something terrible is gonna happen. Kuran, a friend of I's is supposed to be "Keeping watch on me" today. I won't tell me why I can never go out at certain times anymore. It seems as if he's trying to keep me in the dark about the world. I haven't seen Naomi in two months, and I keep wondering what she's been up to…'

Lina's entries made her sound like she was some glass china doll that Raidon's tried to hide from the world. I could tell that every so often he would just make sure Lina was stuck in a mental cage and not tell her anything. She was like his sex-toy or something since that's all he's been doing lately. I'm surprised Lina hasn't noticed it yet, but she's also been eve's dropping on his conversations in meetings. It wasn't until many years later that she was getting a clue that Raidon was keeping her like a trapped animal. That he changed.

Everything seemed so familiar as I read these entries. It was like I wrote it all myself, but now I'm like eighty years old and going through my diary holding the spirit of my teenage years.

Gah! This just makes me feel like an old lady. I wonder how long this thing is anyways.

Lina is also very paranoid, and very dependent on her brother like some lost puppy. She would sit by the fire place until he came home and pounce on him like she hadn't seen him in years. She wasn't exactly leachy though, she didn't smother him like a sick Fangirl (Enter shudder at the thought here) who would suffocate him. No, it was like she didn't know anything BUT I. And she believe everything he said, hell, even reading her thoughts and how she believed what he said, I could tell that he was a big fat liar after she turned eight-teen!

Vampire weapons had yet to be made, the "Chapter" that I'm on. But people are already starting to wonder why their rulers haven't aged, and stuff like that. I think I'm getting close to the manga or something.

It's so confusing, with what's written in here, and what's explained in the manga. Could this possible be how Purebloods were born or something? Cause so far it looks like it. Lina's met other Truebloods like herself and found that the Truebloods—human lover or not—are giving birth to Purebloods. 95 percent of the time they gave birth to just regular humans.

HA! Vampyres were the starters of Purebloods, nobles and all that good stuff. That's funny. I wonder what would happen is Kaname met one? Would they be all formal and dramatic like? If Truebloods are like that then I'm going to hate them just as much as Purebloods. All this formal politeness pisses me off to no end.

Seriously.

I have a headache.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

To say that the week flew by in a flash would kind of be an understatement no matter how many interesting things happened. Yuuki has become addicted to the Vampire Knight Manga, and this actually caused me to use that number that was on the pop-up screen on my computer in fear of getting in trouble of their services. The lady, Luna, told me that it was okay I could do whatever I want, blah, blah, blah, not her responsibility.

Bitch, YOU WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL!

Since then I've been working on that mind controlling thing that never seemed to want to work in daylight hours. It's a bummer if you ask me. I dunno why, but something tells me I need to learn how to use it quickly, and use it well. I also began working on the shield, and now instead of it looking like a see-through green matrix computer screen, it became a bit thicker and the lines move faster around the walls. I noted that this made it strong, and you can now stand right outside the shield and not smell a thing, (Akuro made dinner…yeah; I put the shield to use.).

I tried using my observation sight, and noted that it finally gave up on me and disappeared. Same thing for the aura change. I tried freaking Yagari out by changing the aura in the room to a heavy Level E's; it didn't go too well much to my disappointment. The only thing I'm worried about actually losing is my built-in lie detector, since I've had it for years.

But back to Yuuki, I had to warn her that things may or may not make her cry, while other things may completely shock her to the point of looking at people differently.

I had to constantly remind her of this whenever we see Zero. Yeah, that's right; she looks at Zero with new eyes now! Lovely ain't it? No, she doesn't look at him differently in a bad way, but she is more understanding about his past, and…well actually she avoids him when necessary because of the whole love/hate relationship thing and blushes at random moments when thinking about it.

(Yuuki: *Shakes head rapidly* "No! No! No! Zero belongs to YOU not me! That's just not right! NOT. RIGHT!" Me: *Raises eyebrow* "Excuse me?")

There are also moments during the week I seriously don't want to think about or stress-over because the actions make me question my sanity. I don't like questioning my sanity, it takes a lot of thinking and it hurts my brain.

Sooo…speaking of Zero…

Well… dare I say it?

Sigh…Yuuki's pissed off at Kaname.

Yes! I've actually said it! This situation ACTUALLY WENT THERE!

Now, how does speaking of Zero have anything to do with Yuuki being pissed at Kaname? That's an easy question: The fact that Kaname was using everyone as his pawns and seemed to use Zero the way he did for Yuuki's protection severely pissed her off! So much to the point that she was about to scream the big secret out to Zero and seriously transport herself to Japan and whack the poor Pureblood upside the head with Zero's Bloody Rose Gun thing-a-ma-jigger!

And other people say THEY have a stressful life…

Try keeping a big secret about the future from a powerful being named Kaname Kuran and try to avoid getting killed by said Pureblood along with about six others! THAT is STRESSFULL!

Now THIS is where I shall draw the line! The line I tell you…THE LINE!

No, I do not support Kaname and Yuuki, I was actually a big Zeki fan (Which for some odd reason I'm starting to detest now), I know that Yuuki could do better, and Kaname could jump off a cliff and repeat the process until he dies, for all I care.

HOWEVER, I do not plan on being the one punished by Kaname for making Yuuki hate him, yell at him, be even more severely pissed off at him, and I do not want to explain how exactly she found everything out. I may be filled with awesomeness, but I know for a fact that fighting against Kaname, I would be the one to lose. Unless I'm actually some sort of unknown creature like the Trueblood's in Lina's diary, then I can kick his ass. But I highly doubt that!

So after a very long lecture and talk to a twitching-extremely-pissed-off Yuuki about how Kaname could be…sweet (BLEHCK!)…in some kind of odd and…weird way, she got the message to let things go with the flow. And with this information, came a new form of our original plan.

But the fact that she continued reading ahead in the manga like there's no tomorrow ("Wow…Shiki's my cousin? That explains a few things…") she caught up to the "Yuuki drinking Kaname's blood to see his past" sort of thing.

*~*Flashback*~*

"Hey Rina…" Yuuki called as she clicked the mouse on my laptop.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"Do you think Kaname only likes, or loves, me in this future because…I look like his old lover…?" I blinked, thinking of the question before furrowing my brows in confusion.

"I…don't really know…Why?"

She twitched, "BECAUSE SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE ME!" Akuro and I carefully scooted away from the seething brunette.

"Dude…Yuuki…please-please don't break my-break my laptop…I-I have important s-stuff on th-there…"

*~*End of Flashback*~*

Yeah…Yuuki threw a fit. She also began complaining on how stupid and embarrassing she acted in the future—which also freaked me out even though I agree. But what actually creeped me out was the fact that…

She actually thinks Shizuka is pretty awesome.

Gah! WHAT HAVE I DONE?

But alas, the interesting week does not end there. Did I mention that she's been on several movie dates and such with that dude Derek we met at Hot Topic?

Yes, I'm still freaking out at this point! He spoke Japanese too! A BRITISH ACCENT SPEAKING JAPANESE! THAT IS CREEPY! Awesome, BUT CREEPY!

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT INFLUENCE I AM GIVING TO YUUKI!

THAT'S RIGHT! We all went to the mall again because we were bored, and the Hot Topic dude who I thought at first had an interest in me came to talk to me, and to my happiness, he was only asking me if I could introduce him to Yuuki. Yes, he ended up getting her new number (Akuro was nice enough to get Yuuki a cell) and they've been on a few dates in one week.

I really couldn't wait to see the look on Kaname's face once he hears about this. ("Well he doesn't expect me to just sit there and take his crap now does he? A girl like me needs attention! ATTENTION! And does he give me even the time of day? Yeah, 5 percent of the time maybe. But I'M NOT DOIN' IT! NOT. DOIN' IT!")

Holy shit Yuuki's becoming a woman and standing up for herself! You go girl!

What have I done…?

I think I created something…whether or not it's terrible has yet to be decided. Her new nickname is Otaku too, since Akuro and I have gotten her into anime BIG time! She's now a fan of Naruto (Favorite guy character(s)-Itachi, Kimimaro, Neji and Naruto. She hates Karin and doesn't care for Sasuke), Skip Beat, Shugo Chara (Her and Akuro got in a fight over Ikuto until the Samurai dude came in. she doesn't know who Nagehiko is though), Chibi Vampire ("Wow, that's a lot like you Rina…" was her response to Karen), and Fruits Basket (Favorite dude: The dude who's cursed as the cow).

I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names unless its Naruto, or Shugo Chara. Even Vampire Knight names I have trouble remembering, even Inuyasha and Shugo Chara!

Poor Kaname…he now has competition with non-existing people. Of course I thought that about my future boyfriend when it came to Vampire Knight, but that's beside the point.

Though I have to admit, I do not want to really screw things up with Kaname and Yuuki, the couple is cute—Lame—but cute. And since Yuuki seems to NOT be falling in love with Zero and vice versa like they're supposed to…I minus well give little Kaname a push along this plot's way for her protection. And I want Yuuki and Kaname to be happy. Well, Yuuki to be happy. Forget Kaname.

Ugh, so much to do…I have a headache. I've been saying/thinking that a lot lately haven't I?

Oh yeah, and Yuuki has become a full supporter of the couples Aido and Yori, Ichiru and Maria (Not so much Shizuka), and Akatsuki and Ruka. ("Aww! They're so cute together!"-Yuuki fangirling over Aido and Yori)

*shudders* Jashin help me. She also feels bad for Shizuka, and I know for the life of me that no matter how many lectures I give her, she's only going to look at Shizuka with nothing but pity.

Gee, I can't wait till we meet Rido Kuran! I can just imagine Yuuki going all, "Oh HELL YES! KICK-ASS REAPER WEAPON TIME! KICK-ASS REAPER WEAPON TIME~!" (Peanut butter Jelly song)

…I am never, EVER imagining that song and dance with Yuuki again.

*shudders again* It's scary.

Now, I can imagine myself doing that song and dance because, well that's just me. Except I doubt Lucifer would turn into one kick-ass grim reaper weapon because I seriously doubt (And hope not) that I'm going to become a vampire. It'd be awesome if I did, but then again It'd suck if I did because then I'd have to be a slave to someone. But I may be too stubborn to follow their orders…but then again that's my noobish thinking.

Maybe I can befriend Shizuka?

No…Zero would hate me. –Enter frowny face here-

But then again why do I care?

Uh…because Zero needs someone there for him after Yuuki leaves? Speaking of which, what AM I going to do when that point of the plot comes?

Will I be dead?

Will I become Kaname's slave because he's pissed off at me and I'm doomed to serve him and Yuuki forever?

Will I even be alive long enough to witness these events?

Will Rido find me?

What about the Elders, like Ichiou or that one dude who seriously looks like a chick?

Will I lose my memory?

Will I be sent home?

Am I going to stay with Zero and help him watch over the school during the time skip?

What the hell about Kaito?

Is Kaito's hair blue like the dude in Vocaloid?

Who?

What?

How?

When?

Where?

WHY JASHIN! WHY!

So many questions, so much thinking, this is all seriously giving me a headache.

Do you see what I mean about my life being STRESSFULL?

I banged my head on the book I was reading (Bree Tanner's POV on Eclipse), and earned some confused looks in return.

I should probably concentrate on the current scene right now before asking all these questions should I?

Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. Let's focus on the now shall we? Save us the confusion? Yeah…Yeah I like that better.

If you haven't gotten the message at the beginning of this long monologue of an explanation, the week is finally over, and we are now all waiting at the airport in Orlando.

And when I mean all, I mean ALL of us! This includes Akuro, who is going to become another prefect at the Academy. The Chairman "somehow" knew that Akuro knew about vampires, which surprised me and caused me to smack Akuro upside the head and demand what she said to the ex-hunter. She shrugged and said she had no clue.

Gee, Akuro. Thanks for being such a GREAT help!

NOT!

Jashin, the Chairman must be happy with all this extra help. Because first of all, Akuro and I aren't from that council/elder/hunter place and don't detest vampires and all that good stuff. We're not here to just keep an eye on Zero since that's Yagari's job, and Zero must be happy and can now stop complaining about the lack of help looking over these "Goddamn Bloodsuckers".

Okay, I'm getting off subject. We're in Orlando, Florida, at the airport, waiting for our 16-20 hour flight (Oh my Jashin kill me now), and right now we are sitting at our gate that will board in about half an hour.

Yay…

I sighed.

We all chose the seats that were next to the window showing an enormous airplane—the one that we were all going to be riding in. Due to the fact that this flight is about 16-20 hours long (Fact), I'm sure the seats were pretty big and comfy. It made me wonder what First Class was like…

Under the large window was the beam that it loomed over, containing two outlets to plug in any electronic you had. I had my iPod charging (So glad I bought the special plug that takes in computer cords) in one outlet while Akuro used the other one to play on her laptop and using *coughstealingcough* the internet from the Main Street Café. She was also sitting across from me and let her legs lay across the seat next to her. Yuuki sat in the seat next to THAT and had her knees bent up to her chest as she began texting with her eyes glued to the cell phone's screen.

I bet fifty bucks that she's texting Derek. Poor Kaname. But I don't honestly think that she's going to leave Kaname for Derek, oh heavens no, I'd die from the plot change and sudden change of heart, no matter how much I hate Kaname—I think she's only doing this as revenge. Revenge, haha, you've gotta love it.

Except you Sasuke Uchiha, go and find a better hobby!

Of course, there's me, sitting across from Akuro and leaning against the armrest with a book in my hand that I wasn't really reading. I think I've been on the same page for the past ten minutes; it really was quite boring, yet interesting at the same time. But that's not why I'm not reading, no, it's the questions, the plan we all made, and a whole ton of other stuff.

And…I just didn't want to read the sad ending. Yes, I read the ending before beginning the story, hoping that there was some happy ending on how Bree survived. But, to my dismay, there was no such thing.

I don't even get why I'm reading it now.

I think it's because Zero bought it for me while we were at the mall (Thank God they were out of Vampire Knight manga at the time) and I just didn't want to be rude. Now, why exactly Zero got it for me, I have no clue. It was nice of him though, even if it went something like this:

*~*Flashback*~*

I was sneaking over to the manga section near the front of the bookstore, just to check and make sure I didn't have to hide the manga from Zero (Who was wearing a kick-ass gangster hat I kindly *coughforcedcough* asked him to wear as not to attract attention for his hair). To my luck, there was none!

Yays!

I turned around and jumped with a loud but short squeak, surprised at the presence of Zero who decided it would be funny to stalk up slowly and quietly behind me.

"Uh…Hi Zero!" I greeted nervously. He rolled his eyes and handed me a small plastic bag while looking away, as if he were embarrassed by doing such an action.

"What's this?" Slowly taking the bag from his grasp, I peered inside and forced myself to believe that the embarrassed school crush look Zero had was just my imagination.

Taking out the book, a big smile spread across my face as I read the title: Short Story and Life of Bree Tanner. "Oh my Jashin…" I gasped.

"Did you buy this for me?" I took his silent look as a yes before jumping on Zero in excitement.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I yelled while earning a disapproving glare from the cashier worker person.

"Hn." Was Zero response before he walked away.

*~*End of Flashback*~*

Sigh…Did I mention I have a headache? Yeah…in case I didn't, I do.

Zero was in the seat next to me, but he was also laying his head down in my lap because he looks like he could pass out and hurt himself any second. I'm just nice like that. Plus I took this chance to run my fingers through his silky silver hair with my free hand. I don't know why, or if this is even true, but I think Zero's enjoying this.

A lot.

But really, who cares when you get to play with silky silver hair? I DON'T! Heh, heh…so soft…

I shook my head and flipped the page. Thank Jashin Yagari went off to the smoking area, otherwise I'd be receiving a funny look from him, or I'd have to be stuck here and listen to his complaining about "American Airlines" and how weird it is to be in America again.

Jeesh man it's not THAT bad…

No…no…I take that back. It's bad. You know what? I'm moving to Canada if I can't stay in Japan. Canada has Canadian bacon, and I heard they also have turkey bacon!

"Mmm…Bacon…" I accidently said out loud in a daze. Zero just gave me a questioning, "WTF are you thinking about?" look. I ignored him and went back to my book.

No wait…

I looked at Zero, debating whether or not to ask him to get me a cinnamon pretzel. Should I? Well, the worst that could happen is have him glare at me and tell me to get it myself since it's only like….20 feet away, but I don't want to get up. Plus I have pride, and pride has told me not to ask for Zero's help. Unless it involves pie.

I shall give up my pride for pie!

Okay, let's weigh the options, I can either ask Zero to go get me a cinnamon pretzel while at the same time risking my pride and I may or may not earn a glare from said Zero and he'll order me to get up and get it myself, or I can sit here and starve and wait till I have to eat the disgusting plane food—which is what the bunch of snacks in my bag are for.

So many decisions. I know Akuro will just tell me to get it myself, and Yuuki is busy texting Derek to even pay attention to me. I do not like repeating myself. And Yagari is gone and wouldn't have gotten it for me anyways.

Meh…I'll sit here and starve.

Zero removed his arm from over his eyes and gave me a stern look—I could only see this from my peripheral vision since I'm "Reading" the book in my hands.

After a few minutes of silence, I finally looked at him. "What?" I asked.

"You're hungry." It wasn't a question, hell; it was more like a command if you ask me! He's commanding for me to be hungry? That seriously doesn't sound right!

"No…" I lied as I stopped running my fingers through his hair. Pride, no asky Zero for anything….no matter how childish you want to be right now.

This actually confuses me, normally I would just command that someone get me a pretzel, or complain out loud that I'm hungry. So why the hell I'm I being quiet about it now? I blame stress, it can do some strange things to you…

"Hn." Was his response before he sat up, straightened his self out and began walking away. I frowned at the lack of warmth and was pretty disappointed at the fact that I no longer got to run my fingers through his silky hair anymore.

Brat!

You don't just sit up and walk away after doing that! RAWRS! I demand thy silky hair!

I shall get your hair someday Zero…just you wait!

"Heh, heh, heh, heh…" I began to laugh evilly out loud, but stopped when Yuuki gave me a "WTF?" look.

Hey look its Yagari! "I see someone finally came back from killing themselves." I teased. He rolled his eyes and sat down a seat away from me, as if Zero's spot said, "MY SPOT! DO NOT SIT OR I SHALL KILL CHU!" Enter quiet chuckle here.

Yuuki looked around the area, as if she just barely noticed something after finally taking the phone out of her line of vision.

"Hey, where's Zero?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Beats me, Mr. I-Shall-Become-the-New-Psychic-By-Knowing-You're-Hungry-Because-I'm-Just-Awesome-Like-That, got up and left, thus leaving a disappointed Not-Really-a-Phsychic-But-Says-She-is-to-Make-People-Stop-Asking-Questions Rina because she no longer gets to play with Zero silky hair."

"…" Yagari and Yuuki said nothing, they only gave me the usual, "WTF are you talking about?" look that I have grown accustomed to. They then looked at Akuro—who was starring at us like we were idiots— as if she would give them an explanation on my long run-along sentence.

"Don't ask…" she said while lightly shaking her head.

Yagari shrugged before leaning back in his chair. "Well that explains a few things…" he said.

"What?" I asked, not really caring, but just asking for the hell of it.

"On my way back here I thought I saw Zero standing in line at the Pretzel stand." He said. "I don't really know Zero to like those things, so I passed it off as someone else." He shrugged. "Whatever." I'm sorry, just a break here, but who the hell has silver hair besides Zero and Ichiru? I mean, psh, yeah Shizuka has long-ass hair that seems to be bleached like a motherfucker but she's in Japan, the ANIME world. Is colored hair a common thing in the anime world? I've noticed that lately, no one questions pink, green or purple hair in those worlds.

Lucky bitches. I get weird stares for having BLUE HAIR.

I glared at a speck of dust lingering in the air while crossing my arms to pout. "That fucker better get me a cinnamon pretzel while he's there…" I mumbled childishly.

Yuuki rolled her eyes before going back to her texting. Yagari blinked, as if he just noticed that Yuuki had a cell phone. "Who could you possibly be texting?" he asked.

"Derek." I said, giving Yuuki a smug look at her glare.

"Otaku's got a boyfriend—" I sang. But was interrupted by Yuuki.

"He's NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"IS NOT!"

"Okay! Jeesh, no need for the yelling!" Yagari scolded while rubbing his ear.

"You asked." I pointed out. He sighed, not bothering to respond.

"I smell cinnamon…"I said randomly, even though it was true. I suddenly felt a wave of heat next to my face, and turning to my right, I was met with a nicely wrapped in holding-paper cinnamon pretzel. Looking up, there was…

Dun, dun, dun….

Zero!

"Hey Zero!" I greeted.

"Hn." He, well not said…THAT ISN'T EVEN A WORD DAMN IT!

I looked down at the pretzel and cautiously took it in my hands, "Is this for me?" I asked. He nodded before walking around the row of chairs and taking back his seat next to me. My face suddenly broke out into a cheerful smile; I was willing to bet that if we were in the anime world, I would have a pink/yellow multicolored background with sparkles surrounding me as my face chibi-fied into an irresistible adorableness!

"Ah~!" I gasped, "Thank chu Zero!" Too happy to care if it was out of character of me or not, I kissed him on cheek before happily taking a bite on my pretzel.

YAYS! I GOT A CINNAMON PRETZEL! WHOOHOO!

Still in a mental chibi-fied mode, I closed my eyes while humming a random tune and set my book on top of my bag. Akuro looked up from her laptop, eyed my pretzel, and gave Zero her best puppy dog eyes she could muster up (I still have yet to overcome them myself but I wasn't paying attention).

"I want oooonnneee!" She complained. "Zeroooo…"

"No." He said sternly.

"But—"

"No."

"But you—"

"No."

"But I'm hun-"

"No."

"But you got Rina one—"

"You're point?" I couldn't help but giggle as Zero smirked at Akuro's glower.

"Rinnnaaa! Tell your boyfriend, Zero, to get me a pretzel!" She whined.

"He's not my boyfriend!" I snapped a bit too quickly, happy mood almost instantly turning into embarrassment.

"He is too!" She argued.

"Is not!

"Is too!"

"Is NOT!"

"IS TOO!"

"We are NOT having this argument again!" Yagari yelled, making us both shut up at once. Yuuki giggled.

"Shut up Otaku-Baka!" I childishly snapped. She stuck her tongue out at me.

God she acts so much like me. *Sniff* I feel so proud! They grow up so fast!

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Other POV-Because hearing Zero's thoughts on certain events are interesting, no?)

The sudden urge to buy Rina a pretzel was like a sudden jolt electrified through his skin, and the itchy feeling to get up and do it wouldn't go away until he actually did. Zero opened his eyes as he comfortably laid his head onto Rina's lap and looked at Rina who seemed to not be paying attention. He was glad she liked the gift he bought her, since he saw her reading the Twilight book in the beginning of the year, and it's been a week since the new Bree Tanner or whatever book came out, so he doubted that Rina had gotten it yet.

Well, it didn't look like Rina was reading at the moment anyways, her eyes were dazed into the far off distance, and she'd been on the same page for the past ten minutes. Zero knew for a fact that Rina was a fast reader, and could read the book in two hours tops. So she must have something on her mind, and Zero could just tell that it was serious, and was bothering her to no end.

This sudden ability to automatically feel what Rina felt, and what she wanted was irritating to Zero as well. It was like his ability to control thorn vines, he just had to get used to it. These abilities would have to be reported to the Chairman as soon as he got back to the Academy. Was this part of the bond? It probably was, since these things have never happened before meeting Rina again.

It couldn't be because…no, it couldn't be because of that. It couldn't be part of his change. The bloodlust had toned down by 75% since he stepped foot onto the Floridian soil! It had to be because of her.

He let out a deep breath and concentrated on Rina's fingers running through his hair. She seemed to be less cautious on the physical contact with him since the beach, and even allowed him to just hug her from behind at random moments when he just couldn't help himself. Rina didn't ask why he acted this way, she just merely smiled, patted (sometimes even petted as if he were a dog) his head, hug him back, have a small conversation on whether or not he was okay, and then the two would go on with the rest of the day with absolutely no awkwardness.

Rina was also always happy when he let her play with his hair, so he made a mental note to let her do that more often as well. Zero seemed to be making a lot of mental notes involving Rina's happiness lately, and to his surprise, he was actually proud of himself.

Why exactly that was, Zero didn't know. But he liked the feeling of accomplishment when finding a way to make Rina smile, so he tried to do whatever he could to achieve that goal every day.

"What?" she finally asked, seeming almost irritated at the fact that she was hungry.

"You're hungry." It was supposed to come out like a question, in fact, what Zero planned to do was sit up and ask, "Are you hungry?" but because he already knew somehow that she was debating whether or not to get something to eat, he guessed that it just automatically came out like a command.

Rina's left hand seemed to twitch as it ran through his hair again, but it looked like she didn't notice the tiny mess-up.

"No…" she lied before her hand removed themselves from his silky strands. Zero gave her a look that she ignored, and noticed that for some reason, even after the beach, Rina wasn't acting too much like her typical self lately. Did he do something wrong? Was Zero a bit too bold in this past week?

Rina didn't seem to mind. Sure, there was still a wall of distance between them but Zero planned on breaking it down. No, he wasn't going to merely climb over it only to have it slam down on his back again once his feet touched the other side. He was going to take the time to break it down. Brick, by brick.

Rina was also a bit stressed lately, and after Yuuki spent that one night over her house it looked like she too was carrying something on her shoulders that was just a bit too much.

"Hn." Was all Zero decided to (not) say, before forcing himself to sit up and simply walked away. Another shock of electricity coursed throughout his body, and with this, Zero couldn't help but smirk.

She was mad that he left.

He was making some progress.

Rina was hungry though, so that was his first priority. But wait, what would she like to even eat?

Crap, Zero was stupid! He didn't even ask before he left! He couldn't go back NOW, he would look like a complete idiot!

Zero let out an annoyed sigh before finding himself stop in front of a pretzel stand. He looked up at the three people in front of him and wondered, 'Now why exactly did I stop here?'

Another sigh escaped his lips before Zero shrugged to himself. Oh well, minus well just take this chance.

As he waited for the last person in front of him to get their order, Zero finally took this chance to just look at what they had.

Cinnamon pretzels, those bread wrapped around mini hot dog things, salt pretzels, other pretzels that he just knew Rina would gag at…

"Hello sir, what can I get you?" the cashier asked. Zero let out a deep breath and pretended that he was debating on two things.

'Cinnamon pretzel, with a medium sized lemonade…' a husky voice whispered inside his head. Zero turned around in confusion, only to find that no one was there besides the man talking to his daughter on what to get behind him.

"Sir?" the man asked again. Zero shook his head and looked back at the cashier.

"Two cinnamon pretzels…with medium lemonade…" he ordered, his heavy Japanese accent dripping off the English words. The man nodded, glanced up at Zero's silver hair and began picking up the things Zero ordered.

The worker—Kyle, his name-tag read—set the wrapped pretzels and drink on the glass shelf showing off the different types of sauces and gave Zero the price.

"Thank you…" Zero said as he gave Kyle the right amount of money before leaving with the food.

The airport was crowded, and he forced himself to ignore the stares he was receiving from random people, and by the way no one had colored hair around here, he guessed it was because of that. Silver hair didn't seem too natural to Americans, but then again, Zero really didn't care.

He knew he was almost there when he heard Yuuki and Rina argue over something that he didn't know about.

"Is too!"

"IS NOT!"

"Okay! Jeesh, no need for the yelling!" He heard Yagariscold Yuuki and Rina while rubbing his ear.

"You asked." Rina said while shrugging her shoulders. Yagari sighed, not bothering to respond.

Zero wasn't completely behind Rina yet before she took a deep breath.

"I smell cinnamon…" Zero rolled his eyes after finally standing behind Rina's chair, and held the pretzel down by Rina's face. Turning, he swore he saw Rina's mouth almost water.

She seemed surprised when she looked up to find Zero of all people hold out the pretzel for her, and to him, he almost felt insulted. But he didn't say anything.

"Hey Zero!" she greeted cheerfully.

"Hn."

She looked back down to the pretzel and cautiously took it in her hands while looking back and forth between Zero and the pretzel, as if she was making sure it was for her.

"Is this for me?" she asked. Of course it was for her? Who else would it be for? He asked himself, confused on why Rina would question it.

Zero nodded before walking around the row of chairs and taking back his seat next to Rina. He took a bite of his own pretzel while setting down the drink. Rina didn't seem to notice, and when her face broke out into a cheerful smile, Zero couldn't help but feel the corners of his mouth twitch upwards.

"Ah~!" She gasped, "Thank chu Zero!" She said before giving him a quick peck on the cheek and taking a bite out of her snack. The action was so quick and unexpected, Zero just suddenly froze from the bold to-happy-to-care action.

Did she just kiss him on the cheek?

He let his hand gently slide across the side of his face just to make sure he didn't imagine it.

She kissed him?

Him?

Really?

Now, Zero couldn't help but smile as his hand rested over his skin.

He should get her food more often…

Still in a mental chibi-fied mode, Rina closed her eyes while humming a random tune and swung her legs back and forth in her chair. Akuro looked up from her laptop, eyed Rina's pretzel, and gave Zero a pair of puppy dog eyes.

"I want oooonnneee!" She complained. "Zeroooo…"

"No." He said sternly while giving her a glare. Zero didn't like Akuro, he just didn't. There was something about her beside the stupidity that he just couldn't stand. Being around her just made him want to shoot her with a gun that didn't even work on humans!

Was that crazy?

"But—"

"No."

"But you—"

"No."

"But I'm hun-"

"No."

"But you got Rina one—"

"You're point?" Zero asked. Rina giggled at the glower Akuro gave him.

"Rinnnaaa! Tell your boyfriend, Zero, to get me a pretzel!" She whined. Zero choked on his pretzel, but Rina didn't notice.

"He's not my boyfriend!" She snapped a bit too quickly.

Oh…

Ouch…

That stung him a little.

Zero frowned, not happy at how that sounded coming out of Rina's lips.

"He is too!" Akuro argued.

"Is not!

"Is too!"

"Is NOT!"

"IS TOO!"

"We are NOT having this argument again!" Yagari yelled, making them both shut up at once.

"Shut up Otaku-Baka!" Rina childishly snapped. Zero rolled his eyes at the nick-name Rina gave Yuuki. She's been acting so weird since that night she slept over Rina's that other night.

What the hell did Rina and Akuro do to her?

But back to the boyfriend thing.

That hurt.

It was just a little sting that made Zero glare at the first thing/person he saw—which was Akuro—but it still hurt.

Well, Zero smirked…

He was just gonna have to change that.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Rina's POV)

Okay, to put bluntly, I absolutely hate airplanes.

We fly over seriously deep fucking water.

I.

HATE.

AIRPLANES.

You should have seen me when I CAME to Florida! HA! It took a whole lotta self-control to not punch Karen in the face when she wouldn't stop teasing me about it! Hell, it took a whole lotta self-control listening to Marie and Scott's pity lies about how sorry they were, and then watch as their eyes just enjoyed my misery.

I hate airplanes.

It's a fucking 16 hour flight.

I've lost…

16x3= uh…

Well, whatever the answer to that is, THAT'S HOW MANY HOURS I'VE LOST/GOING TO LOSE IN A YEAR.

A YEAR!

I not-so-quietly voiced my thoughts out loud as I carried my carry-on's through the tube hole thing that leads onto the plane. Jashin, the worst thing about my situation is that I'm so self conscious about the water below me, and I'm so freaking SCARED about the plane crashing into it, that I can't even SLEEP during the whole ride! NONE!

NADDA!

NOTHING!

ZIP!

NO SLEEP WHAT-SO-EVER!

GAH!

"Planes SUCK!" I complained as we finally made our way onto the plane. The thing was HUGE. It was the kind with the four seat arrangement in the middle and two seat lanes by the windows. There was only one good thing about this whole thing.

My seat was in the very back of the plane! WHOOHOO! MORE ROOM FOR MEH! (Stupid Akuro's parents not letting us get First class tickets)

But then I saw my ticket, looked at the arrangement, and saw that I didn't get the window seat.

Damn it.

Now, to a usual person with an irrational fear of deep water, they wouldn't want the window seat, but I hate being in the lane, and I like leaning my head on the side of the plane to make myself comfortable. So I keep the window down as soon as we take off.

The only thing I like about planes is the ride while it's still on the GROUND.

THAT'S when it's fun.

And then I want to just cling to my life the rest of the way.

Damn the fact that America's drinking limit is 21 years old. Everywhere else its SIXTEEN years old! SIXTEEN! At least in Europe it is…Lucky bitches. If I was able to drink on this airplane, I'd be drinking all the wine I fucking could so that I wouldn't have the clear mind to even THINK about what's going on.

Zero was the one who had the ticket to sit next to me, and the bastard got the window seat! NU!

But I must not complain, due to laziness and pride. And the fact that Zero may question why I would want the window seat because water would be an easier sight to see if I did have it.

I hate airplanes.

I have a headache.

SOMEONE SHOOT ME NOW!

Zero seemed to notice my frown as I looked between my ticket and the seating arrangement. "I want to sit in the lane." He said. I gave him a questioning look before he took my suitcase-bag thing and shoved it up in the bag holder cupboard WHATEVER THIS PLANE STUFF IS!

"You get the window seat. I want the lane." Okay…

"Um…Okay…" I said, mentally hugging the silver haired male in glee.

My frown turned into a smile as I sat down and shoved my laptop case under the seat in front of me. Zero tapped my shoulder, and when I looked over he was pointing at a sticker that was next to all the cool buttons and signal lights.

"We have free Wi-Fi! Password is: ********"

I almost screamed in happiness, but the squeal would have to do. Leaning over a smiling (Weirdo) Zero I quickly hollered to Akuro who was failing at putting her laptop under the seat.

"AKURO! They have free internet!" She squealed in glee.

"Seriously!"

"YES!"

"YAY!" She cheered.

"But not until we take off and you're desperately bored." I said with a suddenly serious tone. I couldn't keep the serious face for long looking at akuro's expression completely fall though.

It was just too funny.

Yays! This plane ride is gonna be SO much better now!

So…is being stuck with the emo a bad thing…or what? I dunno, but Zero has been in an awfully good mood lately.

Holy shit is he getting LAID!

…No…no I really don't need to think that.

Plus this is Zero so I seriously doubt that.

Perhaps he's happy that he's getting out of this disastrous place called America?

Yeah, let's stick with that.

I leaned back in my seat and gave a happy sigh as the flight attendants began the introductions.

"This is gonna be a looong nine hours…" I whispered, frowning from the thought.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Three hours.

It's been a mere three hours since we've taken off.

And I feel sick to my stomach.

"Dear Jashin…" I managed to bite out through my teeth.

My window may have been closed, but I knew that we were over water right at that moment.

I was bored out of my mind, and didn't want to waste the battery on my iPod yet. Sitting in this plane seat was very uncomfortable considering the fact that I was frozen stiff in my seat and refused to move at all.

Five different flight attendants have already asked if I was okay. All I did was give them a glare and ask through gritted teeth, "Does it LOOK like I'm OKAY TO YOU?"

They simply gave me a fake smile, nodded, offered me pills that I kindly refused through an irritated breath, and walked away.

Zero fell asleep two hours ago, and Akuro was already on her laptop no matter what I said. Yagari and Yuuki were asleep as well, so right now, I was completely on my own.

I closed my eyes, leaned my head back into my seat and groaned in annoyance.

"Oh Jashin please let the hell END!" I pleaded.

"A person would think that someone who's been on this 16 hour plane ride three times would have gotten used to it by now."

My eyes snapped open as my lips formed a thin line.

"Zero…I know you were kind enough to buy me a pretzel a few hours ago…" I paused for dramatic effect, and carefully turned my head towards Zero with a smile on face that couldn't come off due to nervousness (I can't help but smile when I'm really nervous).

"But if you dare to tease me or bother me about this...I will chop off your fucking dick and stable it to your fucking forehead!" Wow that was really mean to say…but at the moment I am scared out of my fucking mind and feel like I'm about to LOSE IT.

I HAVE AN EXCUSE AND GET OUT OF GUILT FREE CARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

He blinked, opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, and then shut it as he decided against it.

"Good boy." I fake praised before laying my head back onto my seat and shut my eyes.

"Damn it I forgot to write my will and testament before boarding this damn machine from hell…" I mumbled.

"Rina…" Zero sighed.

"Zero I really am about to smack you and I'm trying my best to keep myself from shaking like I've been caught in an earthquake so whatever you're gonna say…it better be good…" Again with the threats GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF YOU MORON!

My eyes snapped open as I felt his arm wrap around me and pull me towards him in an embrace.

Oh dear Jashin…

He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead before tucking my head under his chin.

"You need to relax…" He whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.

I let my head lay against his chest and closed my eyes.

Again, with the out-of-character affection. For once, just for ONCE can this boy make any sense?

It's Zero, I don't think he has to. It must be some sort of law or something.

"Just imagine that we're in a large open field…" he said again. "The light breeze passing through the trees…the sky is a dark blue with millions of stars spreading like a blanket of light over the sky…the full moon as our guide of sight to our surroundings…"

I shifted to laying my head on his lap and close my eyes again. The words came from his lips like a river of honey to my ears, and because of that I couldn't help but actually imagine the scene.

"You can smell the sweet scent of honeysuckle and cinnamon in the air…with a lingering spray of peppermint...I guess…even add a little of that vanilla or Koko butter stuff you girls were fawning over at the mall…" I couldn't help but giggle at the slightly bad combination of scents he described. I could just imagine Zero smirking, or even smiling in his words.

"What?" he laughed. "I'm not good at this stuff…" Haha, no kidding. I giggled and looked up at Zero's face.

"You actually paid attention to what we were saying at the mall?" I asked. How weird, any normal guy would have ignored everything we said or complain the whole time about all the girly stuff we do at the mall.

But this is Zero, he would mostly just ignore everything we did or said.

Zero shrugged, still smirking. "I had no choice, you guys are pretty loud." He chuckled. I rolled my eyes and playfully smack him in the arm.

"Haha…very funny." I said.

Zero shrugged, "Hey, I got you to smile." He said with a smug look. Again, I rolled my eyes and laid back onto my side. Zero began stroking my hair in comfort again, and I couldn't help but sigh in content.

"Zero…?" I paused, smiling before closing my eyes again. I grabbed his free hand and laced my fingers through his, but froze at the bold move.

"Hm?" he asked before lightly squeezing my hand back in assurance.

"Thanks…" I said sheepishly with a blush. I wanted to smack myself for it, but right now…too lazy.

I could hear the smile in his voice this time, "You're welcome."

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

The plane was completely dark when I woke up. The only light came from the mini TV's on the backs of everyone's seat, and the seatbelt/non-smoking signals from above. The flight attendant places were covered by curtains. Most people were watching the movie that was playing, while others were watching the Japanese horror movie Suicide Circle (Or is it Club?) which surprised me because I didn't know they allowed that, and others were watching the weather, news or for the kids, cartoon network. Some were even watching that movie Bandslam.

I looked over where the others were sitting and found Yuuki laying down on Akuro's lap and Akuro was laying her head on Yagari's shoulder now…and he was watching the Suicide Club. I yawned and lifted my head from Zero's lap before blushing. I was also laying on a pillow, and I felt a blanket slide off my shoulder as I sat up and turned towards my closed window. I felt very groggy and it took me a while to remember exactly where I was.

"See you're finally awake." Zero mused. I rolled my eyes and mentally smacked myself.

"Sorry…" I muttered, not sure if he could hear me over the planes loud engines.

"It's fine." He whispered. I looked around again, in attempt to stretch my neck a bit and found that more than half of the occupants' of the plane were asleep.

"How long was I out?" I asked. He shrugged.

"About two…three hours…" I nodded. Wow…I actually slept on an airplane for the first time…and time flew by so fast! It's been six hours, but it feels like it's been forever.

I sighed. Jashin I have a headache.

Zero then leaned his head back in his seat with his eyes closed before letting out a deep breath. I suddenly felt self-conscious when I thought about the last time he drank any blood. I asked Yuuki a few days ago—just out of curiosity, I swear—and she said that he's been pill poppin' those tablets like they're his life candies since I left.

The thought made me sigh again and take a chance to look out my window. I opened it and saw nothing but the nightly shadows. The wings of the plane swept through the clouds, and the sky didn't look like it was going to light up anytime soon—much to my delight.

"You talk a lot in your sleep." Zero muttered. My head snapped towards his direction in panic. Oh Jashin I didn't…

I always talk in my sleep, especially if something incredibly important-like is happening in my dream. And I hate it! I hope to Jashin I didn't say anything stupid…

"Really now…?" I asked, putting on an "I don't care" façade. But I think nervously biting my lip gave it away.

He smirked for some odd reason. "What did I say?"I asked. His eyes slowly opened, and I unconsciously looked around the plane as if someone was listening.

"You kept saying, "Don't leave…" and other things like that." I pursed my lips before turning away, the window suddenly more interesting to look at now.

"Hn…" Was my lame response. I feel like such a hypocrite now.

I could just imagine him lift up his head and give me a stern—but curious look now.

Out of the corner of my eye I checked, come to find out I was right. "Who left you?" he asked after a few minutes.

I stayed silent and let my chin rest on the palm of my hand. My gaze was kept on the window, but I wasn't even looking outside. I concentrated on the little cracks and prints on the plastic-glass. Wow it seems cold out there.

"Rina." Zero called in a demanding voice. He took a hold of my chin and forced me to look at him, but my eyes diverted to the side, much to his displeasure.

"Lookat me!" he whispered through his clenched teeth. I finally looked at him, but I was on the verge glaring and mouthing off to him.

He sighed and calmed his breathing, the annoyed expression he held softened as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"Who left you?" he asked slowly. The question made me wonder what exactly I had been saying in my sleep, and how often I was saying the same thing over and over like some dramatic anime scene.

Oh, I'm sorry, is this supposed to be one of them?

FUCK IT! I've already had one! And that was three hours ago! Give me a break already!

"Oh no, no, no, no…" I half heartedly laughed, as I turned my head out of his grip. "We are not going to have a big long sob story on how terrible my past was and why it affects me on how I act now.

"No thank you…almost been there…don't' need to do that…"

Block.

The distance between us is now returning. Lovely.

"Why?" he asked.

I took a deep breath; "Because…"

Zero sighed. "Can you at least…tell me? Please?"

Well since he asked so nicely and said the word please...

I gave him a fake but innocent smile and opened my mouth as if to say, "All right!"

"No." I said with narrowed eyes and the smile suddenly gone.

Wow, I act so grateful when Zero's makes me from sad to happy while I'm a thousand feet over ridiculously deep water. Yeah, I'm nice like that, I know.

Yes, I know sarcasm doesn't go well over text, bite me.

"Rina, please." He begged, taking my hand in his.

My hand twitched uncomfortably at the contact this time, but he either didn't notice or ignored it.

"Just…let me be your friend for once. I'd really like to." I sighed.

Man this boy is persistent. Since when the hell does Zero Kiryuu say these things, well…to ME of all people? Shouldn't he be saying this to Yuuki? I mean really, he's had a crush on her since they were little, I sure as hell wasn't there when she was.

Why the hell does he…

Turning towards him, I gave him a look."Why do you care exactly?" I asked. "Just out of curiosity."

"Forget it." Was what I imagined him saying next, and leaning on his hand on the arm rest away from me while saying it. 'After we just got along again too…' I thought as I kept my breathing even. I wanted to cry, but no…not again. I refuse to be vulnerable in front of him again!

I refuse to look vulnerable in anyone's presence!

Never!

AGAIN!

Alas, he again surprises me with his actions. He hesitated before doing so, but just a minute after I asked he pulled me towards him in an awkward embrace again.

The action made me so shocked that I didn't even do anything. He just wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me close.

"Because thinking about someone hurting you…making you upset…doing anything to you that could hurt you in anyway…no, I cannot allow that." he whispered.

. . .

"Do you trust me?" Zero asked suddenly. Rina opened her mouth to answer, but didn't know how to respond.

"Zero that's hardly—"

"Do. You. Trust. Me?" he whispered softly before holding his hand back out to her again. Rina hesitated for a moment, not knowing how she should answer. Arm slightly shaking, she carefully put her hand back in his, still biting her lip.

"…Y-Yes…" Zero gave her a reassuring smile.

"Then there's nothing you need to worry about." He said. He began to take a step backwards until his feet met the moving water, but sensing Rina's hesitation again, he gave her hand tight squeeze.

"I'm not going to let you go, I promise." He smiled.

. . .

"I promise, that when we are both older, or before anyone tries to kill you, I will find you, I will take you away from here, and marry you myself. I will stay single until that day. Okay?" He said as a confused but happy smile formed on her face. Her pinky wrapped around his and Zero smiled as well, knowing now that he won't regret this promise.

"Promise?" She asked as if this was some sort of trick.

"I Promise!"

. . .

And he was telling the truth.

"I still don't understand…" I whispered, giving him a sorrowful look after slightly backing away. "Why do you care…?"

He smiled and tugged me back into his embrace before kissing the top of my head. He lightly stroked my hair in a loving manner, deeply surprising me and making me mentally freak out again.

"Because I do."

"Why are you leaving?" She cried. "Is it because you don't care!"

The male caressed her cheek before kissing her forehead. His face was nothing but a blank stone, but his eyes held a pain that the she didn't see.

"No…" He said.

"It's because I do."

Gah! Zero chu give nothing but LIES!

Ohhh wait…That wasn't a lie.

Holy shmucks…

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Other POV)

Either this girl was trying to prove something, find any reason to argue with him, or was just plain testing him. Zero's swears to God that this woman is doing one of these things.

Or was it just him? Zero didn't know, but what irritated him about Rina's behavior was her ability to shut people out. Easily too. She could either change the subject quickly or she does something to make someone question even their own reasons.

'She just has that kind of gift…' he thought. There was something in Rina's brain that just, well blocked Zero out from being emotionally close to her. But what exactly was she keeping from anyone?

She wasn't the type to be dramatic about her past—that was something he figured out not to long ago. But she held a secret that was not only kept from others, but from herself. Rina was keeping something locked up so tightly that she didn't even want to remember what it was that she wanted to keep secret!

He looked down at Rina's sleeping form. It had been an hour since their mini argument and after saying "Because I do." Rina just…stared, as if she wasn't used to being cared for… but a shimmer of familiarity swept through her eyes, and afterwards she just shut her mouth and leaned away from him. She took a deep breath and laid her head on the corner where her seat met the side of the plane.

"Whatever…" was her response. But Zero gently pulled her so she could lie down on his lap again, and Rina didn't fight it. She just sat there and closed her eyes as her legs curled into a fetal position to make herself more comfortable. He took the answer, and gently stroked the scars he gave her months before. The skin was so fragile, and felt sensitive under his fingertips.

It was because of him that two more scars have been added to this girl's body. First the small cuts from scissor attempts from when she was little, then the giant burns from the fire he just barely saved her from, and now…well, even if they were created before the fire…

The two puncture holes in the side of her neck. The thought made him feel so guilty. Even the excuse of "Saving her life from a bloody death" didn't help Zero, since he bit her three times even after the incident.

Shaking his head, Zero decided to just gently run his fingers through Rina's hair, and not think about it.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

*~*Flashback*~*

(Two Nights Earlier)

The visions became more and more vivid and less dream-like as the nights passed. Every night, and every day that went by he would have at least one vision of himself attacking Rina. It was excruciating, and he'd get paranoid to the point of not knowing whether or not things that happened were real. Rina took no sign of this, Yagari just said to get it over and done with, and Yuuki has already asked what was wrong with him.

No, it was more than just sucking the life out of Rina. Yes, it was more. It wasn't just the sweet metallic scent filling his nose, and it wasn't just the taste of her blood flooding his mouth. The visions made his brain run wild; he couldn't stop the images of her in his arms from coming. He could feel his lips running against her skin, and the shuddering sigh of her gasping breath.

All of it, and it wouldn't stop! His body ached too much for her! The only way he could distract himself from the un-holy visions was concentrating on growing the vines out of the plants his hotel room held.

Even now Zero leaned his back against the side of his bed with one arm slung over a propped up knee and the other laying straight out in front of him. The small tree sitting in his bedroom corner sat in soil that had thorned vines seeping out over the pot. The vines crawled towards his leg and twisted around his ankle before rising into the air. Out bloomed a blood red rose from the tip and he gently stroked the cold petals with his fingers.

Breaking the stem off from the rest of the vine, Zero twirled the flower in his hand, but after a moment, the rose began to wilt; and soon enough he held nothing but ashes in his palm.

"I'll just have to get used to this new power…" he stated before commanding the vines to disappear.

*~*End of Flashback*~*

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Rina's POV)

Two more hours before we arrive to Tokyo, Japan—the airport there at least.

AT LAST!

I'mma just play on my laptop until then.

…

And ignore Zero being nosy and looking over to see what I'm doing.

I wanna write my Fanfictions T_T

But noooo, if Zero sees my Vampire Knight Fanfictions then he'll get suspicious.

Nosy son of a bi—

"Stop scowling I was only curious…" Zero mumbled as if he read my mind. I childishly stuck my tongue out at him.

"Yeah, real mature Rina." He said flatly. I smiled in satisfaction much to his confusion.

"Which is exactly why I said "I childishly stuck my tongue out at him." before doing so."

"You never said anything about being childish." I gave him an Obvious "Duh!" look.

"Ahh," I said finally, holding up a finger as if I were speaking logic like a professor. "But in my mind, I did." I grinned. He stared at me…for a looong time before shaking his head and rubbing his temple.

"You're weird…"

"Says the man with the silver hair…" I grumbled loudly enough for him to hear while playfully narrowing my eyes.

"It's natural!" He argued. I rolled my eyes.

"Suuurre it is…" he glared. I get lots of glares don't I?

"You're so immature." He decided to say again.

Giving him a smug look I said, "Yes, Zero, but the word 'Immature' is just a word boring people use to describe FUN people! Isn't that right?" I asked.

Ahh, and yet another glare.

(Two hours of silence—and arguing—later)

We had finally arrived at our destination, and after taking cab to the academy, it was about 3 o'clock in the morning. The Chairman welcomed me back with open arms, and gave me a girl-i-fied version of the boys uniform to.

"AWSOMENESS!" Was my response. Of course, I said it lazily and not as enthusiastic due to exhaustion but you get what I mean, right?

I think Zero was on the verge of throwing a fit; he didn't like Akuro that much.

Haha! Sucks for him.

Apparently when Yuuki and Akuro were called to talk to the Chairman at the hospital, he asked if Akuro would like to attend Cross Academy. He even asked me if Akuro knew about Vampires which I of course responded with a "Yes, sad I know."

Once we walked through the door, Yuuki and I were glomped as the Chairman exclaimed, "MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS—when they hell was I his daughter?—have come back!" I sweat-dropped (I miss you anime actions!)

"Things were so hectic with you gone I couldn't allow the Night Class to come out at all!" He cried with teary eyes. I laughed and awkwardly patted him on the back. Once he got off of me he reintroduced himself to Akuro who in return just blinked and asked when she could go to bed.

"Oh~ you must be tired yes, yes…" Enter long conversation here.

"Rinaa! Carry meh!" Akuro pleaded. I smacked her upside the head.

"Shut up Akuro and stop being a lazy ass." I then looked at Zero and clung to his arm.

"Zerrrrroooooo! Carry meee!" I hypocritically pleaded.

Yuuki sweat-dropped, "Wow you're a hypocrite Rina. Walk to your room yourself!" she scolded.

Akuro smirked, knowing that Zero wouldn't carry me, "Yeah Rina! Stop being such a lazy ass!" she mimicked. I glowered at her and gave Zero a pleading look.

"Don't even try it Rina we all know Zero's not gonna—"

I squeaked as Zero picked me up bridal style. Akuro and Yuuki glared.

"Brat!" Akuro yelled before kicking the wall.

"OWIE!" She yelled while jumping on one foot and holding the wounded one.

Zero smirked, and Yuuki tried to stifle her giggles while I pointed at Akuro and openly laughed.

"Haha!"

"SHUT UP!

"Shush! People are sleeping!" Yuuki scolded.

Zero dropped me off to me room, but not before stealing an unexpected kiss from my cheek—shock, once again—and whispering quiet hotly in my ear, "That's for the airport."

"Holy shit I must be more tired than I thought…" I said while blushing and rubbing the back of my head.

I yawned; we were given three days to get back on our sleeping schedule and didn't have to attend class. Oh, and this time, I got to be in the Day Class dorms (Enter Zero not-so-secretly smiling in glee here) with Akuro as my roommate. Lovely eh?

Right next door to Yuuki and Yori! YAYS!

"Jashin help me…" I whined as I set my suit case by the door. Again, the feeling of being extremely self conscious because I'm hiding a kick-ass diary in my bag, doesn't help the fact that I'm even here.

Akuro almost collapsed as soon as she reached the door and dropped everything she had to the ground.

She held herself onto the door frame. "I'M SO EFFING TIRED! YAGARI! RINA! YUUKI! GOD IF HE EXISTS! CARRY ME TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM!" Akuro yelled. I quickly covered my ears and kicked her in the leg.

"OWIE!"

"SHUDDUP AKURO! YOUR GONNA WAKE EVERYONE UP!"

"YOU'RE YELLING TOO!"

"THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT!"

There was loud pounding on our wall that made both of us jump. "BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE HELL UP RIGHT NOW BEFORE I COME IN THERE AND MAKE YOU!"

Akuro and I immediately shut up. "Damn that chick can be scary when she wants to be…" I whispered in caution because I didn't want Yuuki to hear me.

Akuro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no kidding…just imagine what she's gonna do when she finds out about that!"

We both shuddered. "We're such bad people." I whispered before we both giggled.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Three Days Later-Other POV)

A loud yawn escaped Rina's lips as she walked into the dorm room—hair only dry enough to where it didn't drip—and wore her school uniform. A badge stating the clear words in Kanji saying "Prefect" hung around her left arm.

"Jashin…three days are NOT en-OUGH!" she complained before grabbing a brush off of the dresser. Akuro who was lounging on the bed with her arm over her eyes made a grunting noise in agreement before jumping off and violently shutting the curtains.

"Stupid sun!" Akuro shouted. Rina looked at Akuro and noticed that Akuro managed to smuggle an odd mix of the day class uniform out of him. She was now wearing the boys uniform top, and the girls uniform skirt.

It actually looked pretty good.

"Isn't it ironic how the Night Class's uniforms are white and bright as the Day Class uniforms are dark and blue?" Rina asked now that she thought about it.

"Meh…" Akuro mumbled before falling face first on Rina's bed. Rina took her brush and poked Akuro in the side with it.

"Dude, Sis GET UP YOU MORON!"

"Mwy-hom-whamf-fuu!" (I dun want to!) Came Akuro's muffled response. Rina sighed as she finished rolling her hair into buns on the side of her head with rubber bands and bobby pins before completing it by pinning cloth over them. The cloth fabric was the uniform blue and the ends of the cloth wrapped around the bunned hair ruffled out by half an inch. Rina's bangs were also partially framed around her face, and parted just enough to where you could see through the strands.

Akuro looked at her weirdly. "You're actually putting it up?" she asked. Rina shrugged.

"Meh, my hair acts wildly when it comes to drastic climate changes, so I don't want to deal with it frizzing up during the day. Especially since I took three hours straightening it last night."

Akuro looked at her own fairly straight raven strands and shrugged before tossing it back behind her. "Heh, my hair doesn't do that." She bragged.

Rina glared, "Only because you're not Polynesian dummy. Haven't you ever seen The Legend of Johnny Lingo?" Akuro gave her a slow nod as if Rina was retarded.

"Yeah…You made me watch it so many times when we were kids." She said slowly like she was talking to a four year old.

"Not my fault."

"Brat."

"I know."

A knock came at the door, dropping the conversation for now.

"Well, answer it!" Akuro ordered even though she was closest to it. Rina rolled her eyes before setting the extra bobby pins and hair bands back into the drawer.

"Lazy." Rina mumbled.

"No you're lazy!" Akuro yelled.

"This is coming from the person who wanted three not-counting-the-God-if-he-exists-part different people to carry her to the other side of a 12 by 12 foot bedroom." Rina shot back.

"Says the person who had an Emo Ex-vampire Hunter carry her from the Chairman's office to her room!" Akuro argued.

"It is not 12 by 12 feet!" Rina pointed out.

"The hell do I look like, an anthologist?" Akuro asked stupidly.

"It's architect you dumb-ass." Rina said.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"I can hear you two arguing in there! If you're trying to pretend you two aren't there just to avoid school you're pretty bad at it! Now hurry up and open the door already!" Yuuki ordered from the other side of the door.

Rina gave Akuro a look while gesturing to the door. "Well?" She asked.

"Well what?" Akuro looked up from her iPod that she barley stuck into her ears.

"Answer it!" Rina said, pointing to the door.

"Why?"

"So you can let Yuuki in!"

"Can't she let herself in?"

"It's locked stupid!"

"Well why'd she lock herself out?"

"She didn't lock herself out!"

"Then how is she locked out?"

"Because I locked it when I came in here now open the door!"

"Why can't you?"

"Because you're right there?"

"So?"

"So then you're closest?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just open the door."

"You."

"You!"

"But I'm too lazy!"

"Akuro Hachirobei! Rina Tomonaga! If one of you doesn't open this door RIGHT NOW I WILL BREAK IT DOWN! ONE!"

"Open it Akuro." Rina ordered.

"TWO!"

Rina gave Akuro a panicked look who in return shook her head and waved her hand as if to pass it off. "She won't do it."

"THREE!"

"She wouldn't…" Rina mumbled.

"FOUR!"

"Oh shit she would!" Akuro and Rina yelled in unison.

Yuuki didn't even get the chance to say five before the door opened. She wasn't going to anyways. With a big smile on her face, she merleey stepped aside and out of the doors way before it burst open and out came to stumbling teenage idiots who attacked the ground as if they were trying to stop someone by knocking them to the ground.

"Ow…" Akuro groaned.

"That really hurt…" Rina said.

Yuuki clapped her hands together once with a big smile spreading across her face.

"Great! You're both finally out! Now let's go, Yori already left!" She said before picking the two girls up from the ground and pushing them towards the stairs that lead to the exit.

"Aww c'mon!" Rina and Akuro whined.

"Oh stop you're whining, you're not gonna die." Yuuki said as she rolled her eyes.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Lunch)

"I'm gonna DIIIIIEE!" Akuro yelled as she fell back into the blanket her, Rina and Yuuki were eating their lunch on. Zero said he had to go talk to the Chairman about something, but none of them seemed to care much.

"Oh shut up Baka-chan, you're not gonna die." Rina said, using Akuro's new nickname.

"Yes I aaaaaamm!" Akuro whined again.

Yuuki blinked, "You sure do whine a lot."

Rina rose her eyebrows at Yuuki, "Oh, you haven't seen the HALF of it, Otaku. She whines over the CRAZIEST things! She kept complaining that I was too motherly over when we were visiting some friends over in California, because I told her to put on pants." Yuuki gave Rina a "So?" look before grabbing her drink.

Rina shook her head, "No, don't give me that look, missy. All she wore to walk around our neighborhood when our internet was cut off for a few hours was walk around in a black shirt and underwear.

Yuuki choked on her drink and began coughing at that moment.

"Whoa, what? When you say just a black shirt and underwear, so you mean…just a black shirt and underwear?" She asked. Rina gave her a nod with a forced smiled directed at Akuro who lounged under the hot sun with her arm over her eyes.

Using her free arm, Akuro pointed to the sky as if trying to make a point, "DON'T judge me 'till you've tried it Sis." She said.

"Oh hell no." Rina mumbled. Yuuki picked up an Onigiri from the large bento box and took a bite. She then eyed some of the other ones that were just rolled into seaweed or fell apart completely. Only three or four of them were neatly shaped into triangles with the seaweed in a great holding place.

"Mmmm…This one has chicken in the middle!" Yuuki said before taking another bite.

Rina watched Yuuki eat as she nibbled on her cookie. "You know…It's amazing how my Onigiri ended up being the only one to come out like an actual triangle…" Rina said before taking a full bite out of the cookie.

"Shut up!" Yuuki yelled, going chibi style with a stress mark appearing on her forehead.

"Meh..."Akuro said as she ate another spoonful of strawberry Jell-O. "We all knew I sucked at cooking anyways. I have no skill at anything besides being...well me…" She said dully.

Rina gave Yuuki a look, "Well what's your excuse?" she asked. Yuuki huffed and crossed her arms while looking away.

"Don't give me that look; you knew I sucked at cooking!" She complained.

Rina laughed. "Wow 'Yuke," Yet another nickname, "And you're the full Japanese one here!"

"Oh be quiet Koko, I don't see you becoming the next Rachel Ray!" Yuuki said, now bringing Rina's nickname into the game.

"You do know she's an American cooking TV show right?"

"That's exactly why I said it!"

"Oh…"

"What the hell is the point of these conversations again?" Akuro asked.

Rina looked down sadly, "My life's been lonely…"

Yuuki stared at Rina, and blinked twice. "Aww…Poor you… anyways when do you think we are?" She asked Akuro, ignoring Rina's fake hurtful look at Yuuki.

Akuro didn't answer, and for some reason, Yuuki just knew she was asleep."

"You're mean Yuuki…" Rina sniffed. Yuuki gave Rina a thoughtful "Aww, I'm sorry" look.

"Aww, I'm sorry Koko-chan…But you'll get over it now let's get down to business." Yuuki set down her food and clapped her hands together.

Rina gave Yuuki a pleading look, "Please don't act like that around anyone that's not us, because most likely, Mr. Chess King (Kaname's not-so-secret codename) will hurt me for making you completely independent and out of character, and it will creep everyone out and I may be forbidden to ever speak to you again for, quote-unquote," She held up her fingers for air quotes, "Bad influence."

Akuro raised her hand, "Too late!"

"Shut up Baka-chan no one's talking to you." Rina said.

"Love you to Koko-chan." She replied back sarcastically.

Rina turned back to Yuuki, "Thus, ending our wonderful thought out plan of awsomenesssssss!" Yuuki blinked.

"The plan was us deciding to go with the flow of the plot except taking out the Zero-manipulation part and that we were going to add Evil-Chibi (Maria codename-Yuuki's Idea) slash Dramatic-Fairy-Queen (Shizuka codename-Rina's idea) into our little group that has yet to have a name." Yuuki pointed out.

Rina groaned in annoyance. "Yeah, but that's only IF Evil-Chibi even comes when she's supposed to with…Pedo-Stalker," Yuuki and Rina have yet to know why they agreed with Akuro's codename for Ichiru, "And that's also IF she even agrees to join. There's a ton of loop holes in the plan I made, I seriously don't get why you whispered, "Yuuki Kuran/Cross…" With your eyes glowing in excitement and held out your hand with Akuro's and dramatically said, "Welcome to the Club Sis." As if you were ending some chapter into a story and created a failed cliff-hanger!"

Rina shrugged while nodding, pretending to listen to what Yuuki just said, "Well, ya never know Otaku…Ya never know…"

Yuuki rubbed her forehead, "Please tell me how I manage to put up with the Insane Duo's stupidity and weirdness."

Rina playfully pushed Yuuki on the arm, "Because you loooove us!" Rina then grabbed another cookie and took a big bite.

"Nice name for us though, I'mm use that!" Yuuki took a napkin and shoved it over Rina's mouth while giving her a glare.

"Can you please not eat with your mouth full?" Yuuki yelled. Rina shoved Yuuki's hand away from her and opened her mouth to show her chewed food just to irritate Yuuki.

"Yeah that is so lady-like of you Koko-chan. Very lady-like of you." Yuuki's words were just laced in sarcasm. Rina swallowed before laughing and taking a sip of her water.

"Oh please, Akuro has done way worse. Once, she was invited over to her parents friend's house so she could "Meet" their son who was the next heir to a really large company that was like, really big and put in a lot of money to the family, and she had to spend the night, the next morning, she went to breakfast in nothing but her bra and underwear."

Yuuki's eyes widened as her jaw dropped, "Seriously?" Rina shrugged.

"Well, that's just what she told me. I still believe she twisted it to underwear from towel after getting out of the shower."

Yuuki just stared at Akuro's sleep—maybe even snoring—form.

"Wow…" Was all she managed to say.

Rina nodded and held out her cup as if toasting the air, "Yup."

"Where's Yori, we should clue her in on this too since she kind of shows up in the future thanks to Sir Emo's (Zero) friend Drama-King (Kaito)." Yuuki nodded, but then shrugged.

"She said she had homework to finish, although I don't know her to be one to wait last minute to do so. And I'm not sure, you think she'd be okay with Yori joining in?" Yuuki asked. Rina nodded.

"Duh! She was you're friend first Yuuki, plus she finds out eventually remember?" Yuuki nodded.

"Yeah I guess you're right."

Rina looked at her cup again before adding more water in it from the water bottle and watched as the ice floated near the top of the cup.

Instead of taking a sip like Yuuki thought Rina was gonna do, Rina casually lifted the cup over Akuro's face, and tilted it to where streams of water poured down the girls face.

The sleeping girl had no reaction. "Okay, why did you just pour water on Akuro's face?" Yuuki asked. "She didn't even wake up!" Rina shrugged.

"I dunno, I was bored." Rina poured the rest of her drink over Akuro's face, carefully holding back the ice, before setting the cup down and dusting her hands off.

"Yuuki, if there's a few things you should learn about Akuro, it's that," Rina began counting on her fingers.

"One: Never wake her up without my next paragraph of words, two: She has an irrational fear of pennies, three: She really hates Mr. Chess-King with a passion, four: she has an unexplainable obsession with Jell-O and Purple, and four: She despises odd numbers. That is exactly why I pointed out number one; I needed a filler because the important things to point out about her only stop at three. There's also the fact that she's really stupid and oblivious to even the big neon sign stating the obvious, but that's beside the point."

Yuuki nodded, even though she had absolutely no idea what Rina just said or why she even said it, "Oh…kay…"

"Now, when it comes to Akuro sleeping, even being in the twin towers during the 9/11 wouldn't wake her up. Only four things will wake her up." Again, Rina held up a finger for each option.

"One: A bribe with Jell-O. Two: A bribe with any cool looking thing that's purple. Three: Ikuto Tsukiyomi from Shugo Chara! And Four…" This time, Rina leaned down to whisper in Yuuki's ear as to not let Akuro hear her.

"Pennies." She whispered.

"WHAT! WHERE!" Akuro screamed after lashing her arms and legs around her and sitting up as if someone just tried to rape her.

"WHERE? IT CAME BACK TO HAUNT ME DIDN'T IT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO DROWN IT! I SWEAR!"

"GO BACK TO SLEEP AKURO!"

"Okay…" She fell back onto the blanket.

Yuuki blinked. "…Wow…"

Rina nodded, "Again I say, 'Yup!'"

"Can we go back to my question now?"

Rina looked at her watch before she began packing up all of their lunches.

"What, the one about when we are?"

"Yeah."

Rina shrugged. "I really have no idea. Grandpa-V (Ichiou) hasn't shown up in the two months I've been gone as you have told me like he was supposed to, and he may have visited during the time you and Zero came to Florida. He may even come tonight or tomorrow, hell, he may not come at all!" Rin began to panic, so Yuuki just smacked her upside the head.

"KOKO-CHAN! CALM THE EFF DOWN!" She yelled.

Rina rubbed her head, "Sorry…" She muttered.

"Zero alert…" Akuro mumbled before sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"'Sup Zero?" Rina greeted as she gathered the remainings lunches.

"Hn. The Chairman needs to speak to us after class. We don't have to keep the annoying fan girls from the Night Class since they're not going to class tonight again."

This perked Rina's interest, as well as Yuuki's. Akuro just stared at Zero's tattoo and wondered if it hurt when he got it put on.

"But we finally got back, did something important come up?" Rina asked. Zero shrugged.

"Something about that perky blond's grandfather coming to visit tonight. I don't know the details yet." He said before helping Rina stand up. Holding the blanket tied around all of their bento boxes, Rina used her free hand to dust herself off and help Akuro and Yuuki up.

"C'mon you two." Rina grunted as she pulled them off the ground.

"We have a loooong night ahead of us…" Yuuki said with an amused grin. Rina groaned and let her forehead fall onto the side of Zero's shoulder.

"Zero, you are the closet noun near me, prepare to be the shoulder I am going to cry out of annoyance on." She mumbled. Zero didn't say anything besides awkwardly patting Rina's shoulder, aware that Yuuki and Akuro were staring at him as if he were going to do something interesting.

"What?" he snapped. The two girls held up their hands defensively and gave him an innocent look.

"Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing…"

"I didn't say anything, nope, not me…"

His eyes narrowed at them.

"Oh stop teasing him guys." Rina said as if she wasn't having a headache seconds before. She lightly patted Zero's shoulder.

"Zero is just being a good friend—enter Zero flinching here—who happens to have a shoulder I can complain on. Just like a bunny." She cooed while pinching Zero's cheek and giving him an innocent smile.

After letting him go she gestured towards the school with her head and began walking towards it. "See you guys in class I have to go put this stuff away, we have seven minutes!"

Yuuki and Akuro's jaws just dropped as big smiled spread across their faces. Zero just took a deep, agonizing breath and rubbed the cheek Rina pinched.

After a few seconds of silence, Akuro finally had to laugh. "AHAHAHAHAHA! Oooohhhhh! BURRRRRNNNN!"

Zero's face turned into an annoyed stone-faced image.

Yuuki failed at trying to stifle her giggles. "...pfft…if it makes you feel any better…heh, heh…Rina has mentioned that she loves bunnies…pfft AHAHAHAA!" She laughed while clutching her stomach.

"Zero, I can tell just by the way you look and act around Rina, you seriously like her." Yuuki told him. He looked like he was about to protest, but Yuuki beat him to it.

"Don't try and deny it Zero, I've known you long enough to be able to see this."

"How would you know?" Zero asked, his emotionless mask tightly on.

Yuuki shrugged, "It's a girl thing, you wouldn't understand." She teased.

Damn this new confident Yuuki! "See you in class…" he said through gritted teeth before turning around and practically stomping away, leaving behind the two laughing girls that were trying not to roll on the ground.

"Girls…" he grumbled.

"I just noticed something…" Akuro said as if she wasn't laughing like a maniac two seconds ago.

"What?" Yuuki asked.

"Why the helk is my hair, face, and shirt all wet?"

"You JUST noticed this didn't you?"

"…No…"

"Akuro…"

"Yeah…"

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Class)

"Dude…what the hell did you guys do to Zero?" Rina whispered as she felt the creepy pissed-off aura just grow behind her. Again, Zero took the seat behind Rina as Yori was introduced to Akuro.

Yuuki and Akuro stifled a laugh. "Oh, nothing…" she said. Rina narrowed her eyes at Yuuki.

'Zero was seriously pissed because I called him a good friend and compared him to a bunny? Seriously?' She rubbed her ear to check if she was hearing correctly before looking behind her at a stone-faced Zero.

"Oh…" Rina mouthed. Yuuki and Akuro nodded, and then proceeded to explain to Yori what happened since she was out of the loop.

Yori then became part of the giggling group.

"Normally I would laugh at this but I for some reason do not find it funny…" Rina mumbled, but Zero seemed to be the only one who heard her. This fact made his mood lighten.

"Anyways," Rina started, changing the subject, "Any idea what this teacher is saying?"

Yuuki looked at the board the teacher was writing on as he lectured about the math equations and how to solve them.

"I…have no clue…"

"Damn..." Rina muttered.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

(Earlier-Morning)

"BAD NEWS! GRANDPA'S COMING TONIGHT!"

Aidou groaned as he laid in his bed, and eventually ignored Takuma's sobbing as he stuffed the pillow over his face.

"Ichijou…are you really a vampire? So energetic in the morning…" he complained. He turned over in his pillow and buried his face into the soft cushion, and out of a nowhere a manga sat open over the back of his head.

"Just like the vampires in the mangas, you forcibly remind me you'll probably turn into ashes in the sunlight." Takuma heard Aidou muffle. Snapping the curtains open he pressed his body against the glass window as river tears flew down his cheeks. The warm sun downed onto his pale skin, and the bright light hit Aidou's face, pissing him off.

"DAMN IT!"

"I'd be very willing to turn into ashes if I could!" Takuma cried.

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE! IT'S TOO DAMN BRIGHT!"

Akatsuki sat up and leaned his head on his hand. "It's that person…the person the vice dorm president is so afraid of. It could only be that person…" he stated dully.

With a gloom cloud hanging over his head, Takuma turned around and casually leaned against the window while crossing his arms and closing his eyes. "Yes…A business so experienced in handling the outside world…to the point where there's no imaginable aspect of commerce that's not involved in…the Ichijou enterprise. In the Night World, even among vampires, he's a force to be reckoned with. Ichijou Asato or "Ichiou" as he's called

He sighed and opened his eyes, "In the Council of Ancients, he continues to be one of the most senior vampires."

The vampire nobles were still in their pajamas when they stopped outside open door of the dorm room. Leaning against the door frame, Ruka sighed and rolled her eyes while crossing her arms. "I'm afraid that's not all," she said. "The Council of Ancients is the highest body in command of our world. However, it's not our sovereign. No…forget it, in any case. Just leave it at that. I don't want to disturb our dorm's little bit of peace. Even if it's for Kaname's sake.

(With Kaname)

He could just feel the sudden change in the girl as soon as she stepped into the Academy grounds.

Yuuki.

She was different, in some way that Kaname couldn't explain. But why? Has Rina done something to her? Did she tell her something? Yuuki didn't even notice, or care, that Kaname wasn't there to greet her back three days ago.

It's been days since the male had left his room. He continued to mope around and lay on his couch in depression, never coming out. All because he knew something was different, because he knew that Yuuki was looking at the world now with new eyes.

Now, how exactly this was, Kaname didn't know. Rina couldn't have told her anything. Why tell her now of all times? Because she was thousands of miles away from him? Or did Yuuki know about this all along?

His actions have worried the residents of the Moon Dorms, especially since they haven't left the dorms except deep into the Night just to walk around, because the prefects weren't there to keep an eye on things. So much stress has been on the dorm president just so things didn't get out of hand.

And now there are four prefects. Not only has Rina returned, but she brought a friend.

"Akuro Hachirobei…" he muttered.

Now where exactly has he heard that name before?

(Back with Takuma)

Akatsuki sighed before looking out the window.

"Oh, we're going to class tomorrow then," he said. Everyone looked at him in question.

"How do you know?" Ruka asked.

Takuma snapped his fingers, "That's right! The prefects are back!" Aidou snorted.

"Psh, took those two long enough. Thought we'd never get out of here…" he mumbled.

"Four." Akatsuki corrected.

"Four?" Aidou gasped.

"Tomonaga-san, and a girl name Akuro Hachirobei have enrolled, becoming the two new prefects alongside with Kiryuu and Yuuki."

Aidou's face went stone white.

"SHE'S BACK!"

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"ACHOO!" Yuuki sneezed and rubbed her nose. Not long after did Rina and Akuro end up sneezing as well.

"Oh Jashin, either someone's thinking about us, or something's going around!" Rina yelled while rubbing her nose. Yuuki nodded, took a deep breath as if she were about to sneeze, and then let out the breath in relief.

"Bah! I'm bored. How much longer till we get there?" Akuro complained. Rina smacked her upside the head.

"Shut up and quit complaining! Jeesh."

"You're so mean to me Rina!"

"I know."

Zero sighed. So this was what he was going to have to deal with for a very long time?

Great.

Just flipping great.

"Jashin help me…" Yuuki muttered, picking up Rina's God replacement name. She rubbed her forehead as Rina held her hand over Akuro's mouth who in return tried to bite it.

"Mhhfa fmhmm mhffoo!" (I'mma bite you!) Akuro shouted through the hand.

"I rubbed my hands in a jar of pennies, don't even try LICKING it." Rina lied.

Yuuki blinked, "That is so gross in so many ways…you don't even know where those pennies have been!" Rina shook her head with a playful smiled and mouthed "I'm lying,"

Yuuki rolled her eyes. "Wow."

"I know right?"

Zero sighed as he walked up ahead of the girls, wondering how the Gods have cursed him with such luck to be stuck in this group. He almost missed his old teacher, Yagari hanging around, just because he was another guy.

Just like Yuuki said, God help me…he thought.

The four prefects walked into the Chairman's office, with Akuro yawning the whole way there and complaining about how tired she was. Zero was on the verge of strangling the poor woman.

"Ahh! You finally arrived!" The Chairman cheered before glomping Yuuki.

"Eh…Hi…Daddy…?" The greeting sounded like a question, but Yuuki tried. After reading about her "Father's" past she finally got around to wanting to call him "Daddy" like he wants her to. But the Chairman passed off the question and practically died with happiness since he didn't even ask her to call him daddy.

"My wonderful daughter!" He cheered again. Rina sweat dropped.

"My Jashin…" she said while folding her arms, yet her eyes held amusement at the scene.

"Okay," The Chairman started after standing back behind his desk all of a sudden, "I need you guys to—"

"Night Class visitor, very important elder person, don't be a bitch to him Rina." Rina finish in a dull tone. "You need to see him?" she asked.

The Chairman gave Rina an annoyed look at her language but passed it off a second later and gave the prefects a goofy grin. "Yes! That's one thing! And you forgot one other thing Rina?"

"What?"

"We also have another visitor here who is going to join the night class." He said in a cheerful tone. Zero gave an annoyed scowl, so Rina just pat his head while secretly giving Yuuki a knowing but surprised look. Yuuki just gave her a look of panic in return and mouth, "Why is she early?"

Rina shrugged, but kept a sarcastic smile on her face. After patting Zero's head, she quickly turned around and pointed to the sky, "TO THE MOON DORMS!"

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Different conversations were being passed around as the Night Class waited for this visitor to arrive and soon quieted down when Kaname started coming down the stairs.

"Kaname!" Takuma yelled as the Pureblood made his way down the staircase.

"You don't have to come out personally since he's here to only have a few words with me…" He tried to explain. He really didn't want Kaname to be meeting with his grandfather after such a long time. Things were a bit…difficult.

"I haven't seen Ichiou for a long time. I just want to come greet him. Is that alright?" Kaname asked, daring Ichijo to say no.

With a nervous look, Ichijo got a little worried and a bead of sweat made its way down his cheek. "It's not that you can't…"

The door slammed open by a strong gust of wind, creating a dramatic entrance for the Senior Vampire. But not only that, walking behind him, was a man all too familiar from past events, but has now decided to make his official appearance.

(Rina's POV)

We arrived early much to the dismay of Yuuki who was still a bit uncomfortable holding this secret. I actually feel sorry for her now. Stupid Akuro, showing her those manga books…

The early arrival of Maria didn't really put a downer on Yuuki's plan though, so that was a plus. But I think this may cause a few problems in the future, now that she's here and things may go a bit faster than planned. Ugh, I hope it'll wait until the Social Ball! This SUCKS!

"I have a headache." I mumbled to low for anyone to hear while rubbing my temple. I don't know how I can keep this cheery, exciting, sarcastic act up! I'm actually starting to MISS the OLD ME!

GAH!

I sighed, not knowing exactly what to expect now that I'm actually encountering my death, now that I think about the status of Ichiou and where he stands. Ugh! I can't WAIT till he dies at last!

Zero unexpectedly wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and at this moment I only froze for a second, now being used to him doing random affectionate things.

I still wonder if he pitys me or something.

I DO NOT WANT HIS PITY!

Thank Jashin me and Zero are behind Akuro and Yuuki otherwise they'd be teasing me like hell after this.

Especially since I can't ever get rid of that random blush that keeps popping up and just WON'T GO AWAY!

RAWRS!

"Do you know that drawing blood from a Pureblood is a vampire's greatest taboo?" I heard Aidou say just a while before we arrived at the doors to the Moon Dorms. But not only did I hear that, but a familiar…sweet scent, hit my nose the instant I was able to lay eyes on the door ahead of me.

Eyes furrowing in confusion, I had a sudden sense of familiarization hit me, and mentally, I tried to search my brain for where I've smelt that scent before. But nothing but a numbing memory that seemed to be engulfed into the depths of my mind came up. The search led me to the old wooden chest that I refused to ever open—unless to put something in. Not to take something out.

Why? Where? How could this be?

I shook my head and reluctantly leaned into Zero as the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach seemed to get worse.

He didn't say anything, and I was grateful for that, but he did rub his hand on my arm in comfort, as if he didn't actually know what to do in this not-so-obvious situation. Yuuki and Akuro were in a deep conversation that ended as soon as the door opened with a dramatic gust of wind. Out of habit I opened my mouth to say something snotty or sarcastic, just for a GREAT first impression to the Vampire Elder man!

But something stopped me.

The feeling in the pit of my stomach seemed to drop at the sight before me. Time slowed and seemed to stop for mere seconds, but that was just too long. Standing in the midst of the Night Class wasn't just the elderly visitor and new student.

No, this wasn't the new student whom I've thought made an early appearance at all.

It wasn't Maria, it was…

Breath hitched, and memories atop memories flooding into my brain while partially clouding my vision with a fire-burning rage, my eyes deepened into a deep blood red before distorting into multiple shades of different colors.

"Zephyr. . .?"

---

Zephyr=Zeh-fer

A/N: HAHA! Another cliffy! Don't you just love me? Yes, the ending was a bit rushed, and I didn't really read over this chapter because I got sick of reading it and editing it and adding parts here and there so...yeah. This chapter kind of sucked. But it's long! Be happy! Now that I've got all the fluff events out of the way, we can finally head back to the story line! But, yeah, one problem with the next chapter.

I WILL NOT UPDATE THE NEXT CHAPTER UNTIL MORE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED ON MY POLE! NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE HAVE VOTED, SO HURRY UP!

I thank those who voted though! ^w^

And Due to school issues (I get a thousand bucks if I get straight A's) I will not have time to reply to all reviews, only give credits at last minute and stuff. Any questions I will answer though. I thank you all for reviewing!

Thanks to my lovely reviewers!

HoneybeeAnt

Saiyan Danika

Mag77 (Yes that was Servant of Evil, from Vocaloid I love Vocaloid xD) Daisuke (Now known as Damien due to over-use issues and complaints from others) has only been shown in a flashback so far, and I think its chapter 18, Office in Oblivion.)

Chaos Dragon-Fox

CoruptionToday

Alexanimelvr

KooleyAid

Jestie Kiryuu

I love creepy things

xDreamInTechnicolourx (Haha thanks –now feels smart-, yeah the beginning irritated me a bit too, but I am making a rewrite with new stuff and hopefully much. I first started this story out on a whim, not really thinking I was going to do much with it and I just wrote randomly the first few chapters, so I'm glad you stuck with it! Lol)

Crimson Solitude of the Moon

xvampirexTiaxmewxmewx

YeY