Author's note: I do not own Vampire Knight or any of its characters. I simply borrow them to use in my own sick, twisted fantasies. ^^ I do, however, follow very closely with the plot from the manga. That does not mean, however, that I'm claiming it as my own. –Nira

P.S. I could really use more votes on my poll, peeps. I can see a trend but out of 1,000 visitors to this story in the month of June alone, I've only gotten 6 votes, and I was one of them. Really, everybody? Really? Only 5 out of 1000? Come on. That's less than 1% of you. -_-

To those of you who have voted, thank you very much. If I could, I would send you all cookies. Also, thanks for Vivvy09 for reviewing EVERY chapter in a day (crazy, right?), Jade Starlight, Demonic Angel 7, Forever-Buckskin, DR34DNOISE and everyone else who has stayed up to date with the story and reviewed. I love you all. :)

There are only 2 more chapters after this one! AAAHHHH! XD Chapter 26 is really long, and then it's on to a much shorter final chapter! ... but that's not until later, so enjoy the story while it lasts! ;)

Chapter Twenty Five

"It's all a lie… I've been protecting a vampire… one of them for ten years!" I yelled, standing up in a huff.

I wanted to shoot something or do something violent, just to vent. Zero sighed and held me from behind, sensing how pissed off I was. He wasn't going to let me do anything reckless no matter how much I wanted to.

"Come on. This isn't the place to vent. You'll draw attention," he explained. "I'm just as shocked and mad about it as you are but we can't stay out here."

I knew he was right. I slumped my shoulders suddenly feeling deflated again as he led me away. He took me to his dorm and when he closed the door and sat me down on the bed, the anger, hatred, betrayal, and loneliness flooded out with tears and howls of rage and frustration as I buried my face into Zero's chest. He rubbed my back but there was no warmth in the gesture since he was lost to his own thoughts and emotions.

What seemed like an eternity later when I'd spent all my energy again and felt numb and heavy, Zero and I tensed up and glared at the door, sensing the presence of a pureblood on the other side. Zero raised Bloody Rose and readied to fire, but even knowing that it was Yuki on the other side, I didn't stop him.

"Coming here to talk… You think it will make any difference? Discussing things like transforming humans into vampires… You already know that I won't allow it… ever… but of course you transformed from a vampire into a human. On the other side of this door, I sense an arrogant pureblood who toys with people," Zero glared, holding me tighter.

"Yes, Zero… I'm glad you understand. The Yuki you knew is gone… because the vampire Yuki devoured her," Yuki replied and I could hear her running off.

Something in me snapped and it took every thread of my strength not to chase her down and kill her with my own two hands. The vampires had taken something important away from me again and I was never getting it back. They'd taken my parents and now they'd taken my little sister. She was one of them and when she'd said that the vampire Yuki had devoured my Yuki she said it with so much confidence, finality, and indifference that it rekindled my hatred of vampires.

When I saw Yuki again she wouldn't be my beloved little sister. She would be my enemy. I made a vow to myself that I would go through with Kaname's scheme since I didn't see any way around or out of it and so he and Yuki could leave. I also vowed that I would embrace my hunter blood and track them down one day. Vampires took lives without a second or remorseful thought, so I made a vow to myself that I would take theirs the same way. I would never again try to be a pacifist. I'd made up my mind.

I'd gotten up and stood next to the window, staring out at nothing. The sun had come up and Zero flinched at the light, closing the curtains.

"Sorry…" I mumbled.

"Hey, Zero. I come to see you after a long while and what do I find? You've leisurely shut yourself up in your room again? You stupid disciple," came Toga Yagari's voice from the doorway so I looked at him. "Ah. And the little girl is here, too. Shouldn't you be in your own dorm room?"

"I guess I got lost," I snapped.

"Whatever. It's a beautiful morning. It's hard to believe that it was snowing last night. At least open the curtains."

"It's nothing to do with you. The light affects me more now…" Zero replied.

"Yua and Kiryuu aren't in the mood to be teased. Many things have happened… Please understand…" Headmaster explained from behind Yagari.

"Headmaster, you knew everything?" Zero demanded and the headmaster paused, looking apologetic as he nodded.

Zero and I glared pointedly at him and he hid further behind Yagari.

"K-Kiryuu, Yua, don't get angry! You're scary! Seriously! There are some things you just can't talk about. Both of you should know that well," Headmaster defended.

"So, Zero… Whose blood did you drink? There's an awfully ominous presence mixed in with yours," Yagari inquired.

"What did you come here for, Master? To give me a lecture?" Zero asked his own question in reply.

"Two reasons, actually. Yua, you have another order from the president. He wants to see you soon. I hear he wants to officially train you in under Terada. "

"I'm not going," I scoffed. "I'm done with the Society. If I'm going to train under anyone, I'd rather it be you and not because the president wants or orders it."

"Yua, you can't turn down an order from the president," Headmaster fretted.

"Watch me."

"Secondly, just like Shizuka Hio, there's another pureblood who's gone missing. During my pursuit I planned to stop by here, but en route I received another order from the Society; 'Detain Zero, one of the Kiryuu family twins,' it read," Yagari continued.

I glared at him and slid between him and Zero. When Zero chuckled once and wrapped his arms around me, I blushed and looked up at him, confused.

"It's fine, Yua. You may be a rebel, but don't make Master be one, too," Zero said.

"But—"

He handed Bloody Rose to Yagari and went with him and the headmaster with me following slowly behind them. Zero sat against the wall in the cell that they'd brought him to with his head bent and Yagari closed and locked the gate while I watched from farther back.

"You could've resisted a little. You're too reasonable," Yagari said, but Zero didn't even acknowledge that he'd said something. "So now you're ignoring me. Well all right. I'll punish you for real later. Listen, sit still until we figure out what's going on. This is for your sake. I'll leave your gun here."

Yagari dropped the gun just inside the cell door and he and the headmaster left again. It was silent for a while as I stood, staring at Zero, unsure of what to say or do. I sighed and gripped onto the bars, closing my eyes and pressing my forehead to the cold metal.

"Zero, I'm begging you… if there's anything you can do about it—anything at all… please… please don't make me keep my promise… I'll never be able to live without you, no matter what you are," I attempted to smile, but it was faint and strained.

I left to go to the nurse to have my cast and stitches removed and when she'd finished, I went to my room to attempt to get some very much needed rest.