"Lady Yuuki, please. You must know where she is; surely your husband would not make such a decision without consulting you?"

Yuuki wrung her hands nervously in front of her, her troubled eyes raised to Kain's amber gaze. "I cannot believe…that my husband had anything to do with Taka's disappearance, Kain; he is a good man!"

Akatsuki sensed the hesitation in Yuuki's voice; even she had suspicions as to her husband's affairs and could not speak with full confidence as to his lack of involvement. "I understand your distress and the loyalty you have to your husband, it is admirable. But I must speak for myself as well as for the others I represent that Kaname's judgment is clouded…he doesn't understand the dangers this has caused…the doom it could bring down on us all and our families; those we love! Since Taka's disappearance…." At this, he advanced closer to Yuuki, his voice lowering. "Zero has descended into Level E."

Yuuki gasped, clamping a hand over her mouth; her eyes wide with terror and regret. "No…it is not possible."

"Lady Kuran, Zero and Taka are bound together…a stronger bond than even you and Kaname…it was there from the first moment she was brought into the care of Chairman Cross…she and Zero are destined to be lovers…perhaps have even partaken of the sacred bond."

Yuuki's face paled.

"You know and understand what that means…any kind of separation between them…it is impossible and even if achieved…the two lovers suffer greatly for it is as if they are fighting against the forces of nature itself…they cannot long sustain such agony…one will eventually break if not both…they must be forever united, side by side for eternity…nothing can stand between them or tear them apart…unless it be the threat from someone else that he is doomed unless she leaves his side…that alone can pull her from him; for fear of losing him altogether. But even then there is a great price to be paid…and Zero is paying it with his very life! Who knows what sufferings Taka endures even now…but you and you alone have the power to stop this and if not for Zero's sake…do it for Taka's…for you of all people should know the great pain and suffering endured having been parted from the one you love for a decade."

Yuuki's resolve was broken. Whether she believed her husband had a hand in this or not, she knew she must do what she could in the aid of Akatsuki's mission of mercy. "I do not yet believe that Kaname could have anything to do with this…but if Taka was looking for safety as well as seclusion…a place where she was certain she could never be discovered, it would be in the mountains…there is a small village, mainly occupied by spirit monks who have devoted their lives to isolation as a means of clarity and peace…they also take in refugees of a certain…kind." Akatsuki nodded, catching the meaning in her words. "If they feel Taka is of this persuasion or perhaps if she has suffered in some form from the encounter of such, they will take her in and protect her. They would perhaps give her a place among the house women…she would be employed as one of them to take care of the children, their education, feeding and clothing them…and even perhaps they would enlist her aid in the medical aspect if they felt she had skills as such that could be useful. Once again, I am not certain but I can assure you that if I was in her place…that is where I would go."

Akatsuki bowed reverently. As he raised his amber eyes to her, she thought she detected traces of unshed tears of relief residing there. "Thank you, Lady Kuran…we are in your debt." Then bowing once more, he turned and left as quietly as he'd come.

# # # #

Yuuki awoke with a scream. Her small frame was racked with convulsions and sweat. The blood red eyes still held themselves very vividly in her memory as the remnants of her nightmare faded… but it wasn't the eyes that had terrified her so, it was the owner of them. The silvery hair that hung carelessly in those eyes, the curve of the jaw line…the strong muscles of the ivory neck as it strained with the blood-curdling snarls that expelled from its depths…

"….Zero!"

Something was terribly wrong. This nightmare plagued Taka consistently for the past three nights and it had come out of nowhere…as if it was a messenger bearing witness to the doom of things to come. Taka brushed the long black locks of ebony hair away from her face…sweat drops slid down her neck and back as she swung her trembling legs over the edge of the bed and stood. The floor was hard and solid as she tiptoed to the window and looked out. The stars weren't out tonight; strange for the sky was clear…and even the moon seemed to hide behind an unseen cloak of darkness…as if nature itself was bearing witness to some impending doom.

Suddenly, a sound from behind pulled Taka from her dazed state; she was in full alert. She swung around, only to be greeted with the dark still shadows of her small room which she shared with two of the other house mothers.

She stilled for a moment, listening to the sounds of night…perhaps it was just her nerves. Yet again, as she turned towards her bed, a creaking floor board from outside, jolted her. "Hello?" her feeble voice sounded so small in the dead of night. Nothing. She waited, her breath quickening as her chest rose and fell.

Suddenly, a shadow cast itself beneath the door in the form of a tall figure. Taka gasped but something in the shape of it seemed oddly familiar. Going against her better judgment, she advanced towards the door with the small candle gripped in her hand. "Who is it?"

For a moment, stillness.

Then… "Taka."

She gasped. The candle fell out of her hand, snuffed out when it hit the floor; she knew that voice. "Akatsuki!" She whispered pressing her hands to the door. She prepared to throw aside the bolt but as if reading her thoughts, Akatsuki stilled her actions. "Do not unlatch the door, Taka. We cannot afford for anyone to be alerted to my presence…just listen to me. You must come back to Cross Academy, Taka…you are needed."

Taka's heart twisted; it had been six months yet no space of time could erase the memories of her home and the people she loved. "I cannot, Akatsuki, you must not ask me…there are…people who's lives depend upon me never returning."

"Taka, I have visited Lady Kuran…she is the one who told me of your whereabouts….and the chairman…he knows; we all know of Kaname's words to you. His intentions were perhaps well-meaning but he misunderstood…we also know of you being his sister…Taka, there is nothing to fear, Zero's fate will not be sealed in doom for you being by his side…you must return with me for…if you do not…his fate will be sealed….in death."

Taka gasped. Her frame shook as a violent sob threatened. She clamped a fist to her mouth as large tear drops pressed from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

"Zero is very sick, Taka…since you left, he has gone mad. He's completely lost his sanity and…he has descended into Level E…I know that perhaps, you may have some suspicions as to what he is but you may not fully know th-"

"Vampire. A Level E vampire is one that has lost all reason and is merely driven by…the violence of its thirst for blood….Yes. I understand. My…my adopted family was murdered by one…you remember it was nearly three years ago now."

"Then you understand the peril Zero is in."

"Yes…I…before you came tonight I…I awoke from a nightmare and…it was him. I saw him as he is now…it's visited me for the last three nights…"

"That is because you and Zero are bound together in a way that no one could ever fully comprehend…this separation or any separation of any kind will only bring about endless pain and suffering for you both."

The tears flowed freely now, cascading down her cheeks. "I'm sorry…If I had known that being apart from him….yet, I believe I've always known. Yes, I knew deep down in my heart but…the threat of his fate being doomed should I have stayed; it was the only thing strong enough and for a moment, I had to flee for the desire to save him…but I would've never been torn away from his side had not my …my brother…"

"It is alright now, Taka. But we must hurry, gather your things and meet me by the well at the far corner of the village…it is close to the gate."

"Yes, I know the place…I will be there as soon as I can."

Once she'd collected a few things, Taka slipped out into the night and without a sound, made her way towards the gate. She was careful to not disturb any of the sentinels who were posted at intervals along the village's perimeter. For once, she was thankful for her small stature for it enabled her to slip in and out quickly, without being noticed. Once to the well, she waited quietly for Akatsuki. Suddenly, he appeared by her side, startling her.

"I'm sorry, but it's too risky for us to travel by car…" He nodded to the two horses tethered nearby.

She nodded.

It was then, Akatsuki noticed the small sleeping child in Taka's arms.

"Your son?"

"His mother was killed three months ago; they're village was raided. I adopted him for he has no one now."

"What is his name?"

"…I named him Zero…"

Akatsuki looked into her eyes sympathetically. Their burgundy depths shown with tears as a sorrowful smile graced her lips. "Come Taka, we must hurry. It will be dawn soon and we must be as far away from this place as we can before light."

She nodded, taking Akatsuki's hand as he helped her up onto the black mare. Once she and the child were secured, he hoisted himself onto his white stallion and the two turned south toward the valleys and home.

# # # #

"Do you think he's found her?" Ruka's small voice sounded in the mostly vacant office.

The chairman sat at his desk, head in his hands, praying. "I do not know, Ruka…but I have been praying…I must…we must keep faith, keep hope for it is all we have."

"But even so…will it be in time?"

"We can only pray, Ruka…and hope for the best."

Just then, the two were interrupted by a loud rapping at the door. "Pardon my intrusion, Chairman…but Akatsuki has just returned…and Taka is with him."

"Thank God!" Ruka breathed, tears shining in her eyes.

"Very well, Demarco…please show them in."

Demarco nodded and stepped out. A few minutes passed and Demarco re-entered, nodding and then stepped to the side as Akatsuki entered. He bowed to the chairman and turning, ushered Taka into the room.

"Taka!" Ruka lunged forward, clutching the younger woman into her arms. We've missed you so much! Oh my dear girl, how could you have left the way you did; without a word?"

"I'm so sorry Ruka but… I thought I was protecting Zero…and all of you."

"Shh, it's alright now, Dear but come. We must attend to what's at hand."

She turned towards the chairman and Akatsuki.

For a long moment, the room was silent as Taka's burgundy eyes scanned the faces in the room. She'd missed all of them so much; her heart plummeted into her stomach when she thought of how long it had been…six months. She'd been parted from the ones she loved, her only family…and all because she'd been maliciously tricked. Granted, it was perhaps out of good intentions but no matter; it had left a damage path behind and there were hurts and wrongs that though mended, could never be erased…

"How…how is he?" Her voice was small, timid and almost fearful of what the answer would be.

A shadow fell across the faces of the small group.

She took a deep shaky breath. "I want to see him; take me to him, Akatsuki?"

"Sister, he is…very sick. His sanity is all but faded; there is no reason left in his mind…only darkness, confusion and violent desperation."

"I am the one who caused this! if it hadn't been for my leaving, Zero would never have fallen so far into madness…please!"

Her stance was poised but her hands were stretched forth in supplication.

"Akatsuki." Ruka's appealing voice sounded at his side and he turned towards her.

"If it was you in Zero's place…and I in Taka's… I cannot help but fully believe that I would make just as much of an ardent plea…I think it is the best thing, to take her to him."

"The young woman is right." The Doctor's voice spoke up grave and serious. "Zero Kirryu Kun does not have much time…and if it is indeed the separation from her that has been causing this, then only their reunion can stop this terrible sentence. We must not refute her request; take her to him, at once."