No talk.
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"Yuuki…" The three men stare at her, shocked by her decision.
"No! Don't interrupt, I'm not done. I want to. I want to so bad. But not now. Now, I can't. I'm not ready. Zero just died a month ago and he spent all this time with me preventing this from happening. It wouldn't be right to honor him, if I just went and did it the moment he died. I can't do it! I want to! Please, believe me! I want to! But, I can't! Not now." She clutched at her skirt and closed her eyes tightly. Silence. Yuuki relaxed slightly, eyes still shut. Silence. She opened them, tears streaming. Kaname smiled, though it was cold.
"It's alright." He rose and left without another word. Ichijou smiled as well.
"Yuuki, it's your decision, I apologize if we pushed you too much." Then he left as well. Yuuki and the headmaster were all alone. He held her and they sat in silence.
Kaname walked briskly back to the Moon dorm. Ichijou caught up from behind,
"You didn't have to be so cold. She was crying." Kaname ignored him and continued walking. They strode in silence for the rest of the way. They separated and the dorm, each to his own room. Kaname stormed up to his and collapsed on the bed.
'Damn that Zero! Even in death he is preventing my Yuuki from becoming truly mine. Damn him!' Kaname was not mad at Yuuki. He was mad at Zero. Since he was dead, he couldn't take his anger out on him. And he was mad at himself. Kaname fell asleep, imagining how much better life would be if Zero had never existed…
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The next day, during class change, Yuuki did her best to avoid the vampires. But, being a guardian, she couldn't. The bell rang and she focused entirely on the Day class, ignoring the Night class filing out behind her.
"Yuuki…are you mad at me?" She turned and blushed. It was Kaname.
"No! I'm sorry…I thought you were mad at me!" She looked down. He cupped her chin and lifted her face.
"Never. How could I be mad at you?" He smiled "I was angry, yes, but with myself, not you. I pushed you too far in making your decision so soon. I ask you Yuuki, to forgive me." They stared into each other's eyes a little longer. Yuuki smiled
"There's nothing to forgive!" He beamed at her and walked away. Ichijou waved, she waved back. Yuuki felt a lot better. She turned to find Yukio panting again.
"You are making it a habit! Aren't you?" She laughed and he walked her back to the dorm.
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A month had passed with complete normality much to Yuuki's happiness. This was a special time of year, she didn't want it spoiled with craziness. Though, she thought to herself, craziness is normal for me. It was December and the winter carnival had come to town. It was also Christmas season and shopping had to be done. Christmas break had begun the day before and half the school returned to their families. Some stayed, however, unwanted for some reason or another. She and the headmaster had organized a decorating committee and mistletoe and wreaths could be found round every corner. The Chairman had also ordered a large tree to be brought to Cross Academy and placed in the center of the grounds. The rest of the school was invited to decorate it. Both the Night and Day classes. Maybe that was why some stayed rather than leave, a chance to work with the Night class seemed promising to the high school female on the prowl. Either way, the school jointly helped to decorate the enormous tree with popcorn and tinsel and baubles of any kind. It was looking beautiful by the end of the day. The students then migrated to their dorms where the cafeteria had organized a surprise of hot chocolate in bed.
Yuuki and Yukio, however, being very relied upon members of the school, were required to pack the rest of the unused stuff and throw out the broken baubles and ornaments into the trash. So both Yuuki and Yukio crawled around on their hands and knees trying to find the pieces of glass from a smashed glass ball. Yuuki's shoulder bumped into someone. It was none other than Kaname.
"Eh? What are you doing here? Don't you want hot chocolate? You won't get any if you stay out here!"
"Nonsense! Why should I get hot cocoa, when my dear girl is outside crawling on her hands and knees?" She blushed and continued to look for shattered glass. Yuuki cries out as her hand sliced across a piece she had missed. A gash across her left palm gleamed in contrast to the greys that surrounded them
"Oh! Ow…" She reaches for the glass that cut her, but Kaname get there before her and promptly throws it in the trash.
"Let me see your hand," She holds out hesitantly.
"It's deep. A kiss and band aid won't help it heal I'm afraid. Come on." He helps her up, still holding the bloody hand.
"I'm fine! I'll just go wash it! I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble!" Kaname stopped and kissed her lightly on her forehead
"It'll get worse if we don't do anything. I'm taking you to the nurse." And he did, leaving poor Yukio to do the rest himself, again. Kaname waited patiently while the nurse disinfected the gash and wrapped it up.
"That's all I can do! It should be better in no time. It'll continue to hurt for a couple days, though." The nurse waved them out, claiming to be busy. Kaname began to walk her down the hallways back to the tree,
"Thank you."
"Whatever for? I did what had to be done. It wasn't a question of politeness. I can't bear to see my Ms. Disciplinary Committee hurt in any way." Yuuki blushed when he said 'my'. Yuuki smiled, then found herself sprawled on the floor. Kaname laughed
"Don't tell me you loved the nurse enough to go back a second time in one day!" He helped her up. Yuuki thanked him again and smiled. That's when she noticed the mistletoe above them. Kaname turned to see what she was looking at. He smiled again and kissed her swiftly and softly on her lips. He walked away.
"Are you coming Yuuki? There's still work to be done! Don't tell me you're leaving Yukio alone again!" Yuuki ran off to follow him, her heart beating ten times as fast.