A/N- *Crawls out of the hole I must have been living in to have avoided updating this for FIVE months.* I'm so sorry…it's been a really difficult few months, and I really must thank ANYONE who is still following this story at this point, it really means a lot to me. First I was having RL issues, and then after chapter 89 of the manga I lost a LOT of faith when it came to writing this…then I kind of wondered why I was even writing a story in the POV of a character most of the fandom loathes right now…but despite everything I love Yuki's character, and I'll continue writing this none the less. As well as Zero's pov as well. ANYWAY. Also, I have a Tumblr now, and have pages on there dedicated to keeping you informed when it comes to all of my VK fanfics, so if you ever have any questions, or if you're just wondering if I'm still working on the, check here- .
This is a rather slow chapter, I apologize, but I'm going to try and work on a new style of writing in which I won't ramble so much on the boring parts, so please, if you're still out there reading this, hang in there with me, I'm working on it! A Zero, or Kaname chapter will follow this one, I'm just trying to decide which I want to work on first. Thanks again for you patience, I really can't stress how much I appreciate your loyalty and dedication as readers.
I opened my mouth to speak, silently willing the words to form themselves on my lips, and express the deepest gratitude and regrets that flooded my mind. However, no words were uttered. No sound escaped my lips, and before the words began to take shape, I found myself collapsing into a deep bow. If words could not be constructed, then, at least on this occasion, the act of bowing would have to speak for me. I was aware that it was socially frowned upon for a pureblood vampire to bow to anyone, yet it was the only way I was able to conceal the tears pooling at the corners of my vision. Besides. This man had been my father for ten years. This was but a small gesture to convey my gratitude to him, not just for today, but for ten years of kindness.
As it was, the dark aura clinging to the man who had come to collect me was a reminder that I was already in trouble for running away…any further punishment wouldn't really matter. When I eventually arose, I was enveloped in a tight embrace as the Headmaster flung his arms around me. On this rare occasion I didn't squirm, wrapping my own arms around my 'father's' body, I whispered a simple 'thank you' in his ear. I breathed in his familiar scent, able to appreciate it after being apart from him for so long. I stored the memory in some deep recess of my heart, together with the touch and smell of Zero. I reluctantly withdrew from the parental comfort of his arms, and glided slowly across the Headmaster's familiar office to stare up at the man who had spoken only a few moments before. I stared up remorsefully into ice blue eyes, at my tutor, Aido-senpai. I was unable to hold his cold gaze for long, and quickly looked away.
"I'll walk you to your car." The ex-hunter's voice cut through the tense silence. He could surely see that I was in a great deal of trouble. The pace at which he spoke was slow, as if attempting to prolong our departure for as long as he possibly could. His tone held an unnerving seriousness…perhaps laced with something like...sadness. Staring at his solemn amber eyes, I secretly longed to witness the happy-go-lucky man I had seen only a little while ago…Without a vocal response, Aido merely nodded, taking the holdall from my grasp in one swift, yet rather rough, movement.
The Headmaster chattered aimlessly to Aido as we travelled the length of the familiar corridors of Cross Academy. Each hallway…every wall seemed eerily nostalgic somehow…as if I expected to witness Zero walking down the corridor with Yuki Cross, running to keep up beside him. It was as if…the bricks and the stone that made up the building held a precious secret memory of the time I had spent here as a human. The familiar scent of school supplies…of old pages of worn textbooks…ink drying on paper, the chalky scent of clapped erasers…all of these subtle little wonders had passed over Yuki Cross's head…her senses had not been able to detect the everyday sounds and smells that had surrounded her all along. Still…everything seemed all too familiar, and it was a reminder that the miracle my mother and father had given me hadn't been a blissful dream. My time at the Kuran mansion had almost fooled me into believing that the past ten years had been a fragment of my imagination.
I froze. The sight of a small, brown haired student caused the hairs on my neck to stand on end. Aido and the Headmaster continued to walk as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, as the small Disciplinary Committee member sprinted down the hallway, silver whistle in hand, not slowing as she ran towards me. So transfixed I shut my eyes as if to brace myself for the impact….however…it never came….As my eyelids fluttered open, I came face to face with my past self, her translucent form disappearing into my own body. The sensation caused my entire being to shiver, electric pulses spreading across my skin. She was gone as quickly as she had appeared, and I stand, frozen in confusion, searching around for any trace of the ghost-like Yuki Cross…but it's as if she had never been there at all…Unnerved, I sprinted after Aido and the Headmaster, who were still walking without even realizing I was no longer trailing behind them. What just happened? I wondered to myself, as the Headmaster continued to chatter, and Aido continued to add an occasional polite response every now and then…as if the scene had never taken place.
My heart was racing as the huge oak-wood doors were pushed open, the hinges squeaking audibly. The chill of the morning air rushed through to greet us, causing my skin to prickle at the sudden drop in temperature. It reminded me of last night….being outside alone…I shivered. The icy wind was a sobering reminder of what I was yet to face. I pulled my soft pink coat more tightly around my body as we descended the stone steps, and strode silently down the gravelled path. We were walking towards a familiar, sleek black car, the one Kaname and I had travelled in on our way to the soiree at Aido-senpai's home. The tinted windows meant that I couldn't peer into the interior of the vehicle, causing a shiver to travel down my spine…was it possible…that my onii-sama was already waiting for me in the back seat of the care….was it possible that…even now…he was surveying me through the protection of the tinted windows? I gulped, pulling the fluffy coat collar closer to my cheeks, as if to conceal my guilty expression from his view, if he really was watching right now. The outlook seemed bleak.
We came to a halt beside the car, the harsh morning sunlight reflecting off the highly polished bonnet of the car, was not forgiving on my weary eyes. The gentle hum of the already running engine put me on edge. As we turned to bid farewell to the Headmaster, I couldn't help but stare searchingly at the vast Academy building, my eyes flickered over every window in search of the silver haired hunter I longed to glimpse one last time. Of course, there was no sign of him, and I returned my attention to my adoptive father once again.
"Thank you for contacting us Headmaster, Kaname-sama apologizes for not being able to collect Yuki-sama himself…and hopes that she hasn't been a bother." Aido spoke formally to the Headmaster, his polite tone restraining the anger that bubbled beneath his exterior…I had seen him behave this way at the soiree…My stomach knotted anxiously as I felt the blond Aristocrat's eyes flicker towards me momentarily as he spoke.
"Of course! My adorable daughter has been no trouble at all! You tell Kaname-kun to make sure he visits me soon though, and that he's welcome to bring Yuki-chan!" The Headmaster chided in a jovial manner. However, despite his upbeat tone, I could tell his cheerful pretence was slightly forced. I flashed the man a smile as I bid him farewell once more, feeling only mild relief at the fact Aido had informed me that Kaname was not waiting in the car for me.
"Goodbye, Headmaster." I told him with a fake smile as the driver stepped out of the vehicle to open the rear door for me. He smiled sadly in return, waving slowly with one hand, as he used the other to wrap his woolly green shawl more tightly over his shoulders. A heavy feeling made its way into my chest as I climbed into the cool leather seat in the back of the car, and as the driver slowly closed the door behind me. The car was empty. Kaname wasn't here. I waved at the straw haired man through the tinted window, even though I knew he could no longer see me. A doll back in its glass case. I watched teary eyed as the driver took my bag from Aido, disappearing from view momentarily. The ex-hunter exchanged a few muffled words with the blond as my eyes clouded over, the sound of the trunk being opened, the car gently rocking in response as the driver placed my bag in the trunk before forcing it shut once more with a dull thud.
The Headmaster waved. Aido moved out of view, walking around to the other side of the car. I quickly flicked a few tears away from my eyes before the Aristocrat could open the car door and see me crying. Clenching my fists in my lap, I reminded myself that I was returning to Kaname's world now. The vampire society in which I would have to learn to carefully conceal my emotions behind a mask of porcelain. The car shuddered gently as Aido lowered himself into his seat, and his door was closed. My mind seemed to become clearer and calmer as the driver returned to the wheel, and the car engine seemed to purr as it came to life, and the vehicle pulled away. As I stared out of the window at the Headmaster's familiar form disappearing into the distance, a small frown graced my face as I considered my situation. I couldn't help but feel as if this had been the reason my mother had longed for me to live a normal human life.
The car journey home was silent and awkward. I was reminded of how weary I was as the car rolled gently along the winding roads, occasionally jolting slightly as the tyres rolled over stones and pebbles that littered the road. I stared listlessly out of the window as the greenery of the countryside rushed by. I kept my mouth closed, expecting Aido to explode into a fit of anger at any given moment. Having travelled in silence for half an hour, I averted my gaze from the world outside at last. It was drawing closer towards noon, and the sky was being painted gold by the harsh glare of the Sun. My sensitive eyes seemed to sting even more due to my exhaustion.
I turned to stare at the black privacy screen separating us from the driver, only the silhouette of the back of his head visible through the screen. I shifted uncomfortably in the black leather seat; the silence around us seemed almost suffocating. I had to wind the window down just a little to allow the cool, fresh air to permeate through the tension. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the blond vampire leaning on his hand, an unreadable expression on his face as he stared out of his window. My stomach knotted with guilt, and my heart sank as I considered what I'd put the young Aristocrat through. Aido had been my only form of contact with the outside world during my months in isolation. He'd been patient with me even when I'd been slow to learn, and watched out for me in Kaname's absence. I bowed my head in shame, feeling that I truly owed Aido an apology more than anyone else right now. I inhaled deeply to build up the courage to speak.
"Aido-senpai…" I uttered softly, cautiously, as if testing the icy waters before plunging in. He didn't make any attempt to look at me, however, his sapphire eyes darted in my direction to inform me that he was listening. I balled my hands into fists in my lap before turning to face him. I wanted him to see my sincerity when I spoke.
"I'm so sorry Aido-senpai…you've done so much for me…and I repay you by-"My voice trembled as I spoke, despite my silent pledge to become the calm and cool princess of vampires that I was supposed to be. The words seemed unable to form, and before I was able to finish my feeble attempt at an apology, he interjected.
"It isn't me you should be apologizing to, Yuki Cross." He replied indignantly, turning his head to face me now. His sapphire eyes glimmered with words unspoken, and I realized that Aido's silence had been a thin veil, masking his worry and anger. I bowed my head once more before continuing.
"I'll face whatever punishment Kaname-onii-sama has waiting for me when we return, and I'll apologize to him then, but…I owe you an apology too! Not just for this…for everything!" I declared, abandoning any sense of diplomacy and allowing my tone to become less restrained. Aido was unable to control his emotions, and stared at me with renewed determination burning in his eyes.
"A Pureblood shouldn't apologize for her actions so desperately…I don't care what happens to me. I just want Kaname-sama to be happy." He replied in a cool and steady tone, turning to stare wistfully out of the window.
"I understand that…but what kind of a Pureblood would I be…if I didn't know how to admit when I'm wrong…and at least try to atone for my acts…I don't know if I can atone for the things I've done to you, but…I intend to apologize at the very least." I confessed, wanting this man to realize that I meant every word. He turned away, continuing to stare out of the window, a steely look in his eyes. I sighed, a deep melancholy sigh, not sure what more could be said at the present moment. Minutes passed in steely silence as I waited for a response from the Aristocrat. However, none came, and the remainder of the car journey continued in a silence that fell like a heavy blanket of snow, suffocating the grass and plants it smothers.
Alone in my bedroom. My running away bag sits slumped beside me on the immaculately made bed, its presence almost redundant now. Aido had instructed me to unpack it before Kaname returned from his trip, however, I find myself unable to execute even this simplest of commands. I suppose it's because that makes my return final…and part of me simply isn't ready to resign to my fate just yet. My fatigue seems overwhelming right now, and so the bag remains packed. I consider flinging it aside, simply so that it won't draw attention when Aido returns to check on me. I heavy sigh. I stand. The springs in the mattress practically flinging me from the bed's soft surface. I lift the bag slowly, kneeling to push it under my bed. The long draping covers conceal it from sight…If only my guilt were so easily concealed.
Slam
The sound of the mansion doors closing downstairs causes me to jump with a start, and I swivel around to face my bedroom door. A guilty conscience of course, no one is there. However, they will be, soon. I glide slowly to the door, as if under a spell, rest my hands gently against the door's smooth texture, straining to listen. My stomach drops as I detect familiar male voices, Aido…and my older brother. Kaname is home.
A/N-Thank you again for your continued support and encouragement! Just so you have an idea what to expect in future chapters…
Kaname confronting Yuki about her night with Zero!
Zero's thoughts on the events in recent chapters.
Another soiree, will Yuki and Zero cross paths again?
Sara Shirabuki scheming.
An awkward meeting between Aido, Yuuki & Zero.
Injuries! *le gasp*.