"Here." Willow said, thrusting a bottle of some type of glittering red liquid into Zero's hand before falling onto the bed in the room they just got. It look like there was some type of glitter in the red liquid, making it sparkle like starlight.

"What's this?" He asked in confusion sitting down on the bed next to hers. Though inwardly he was hoping that she would invite him to share the same bed as her.

"When I nicked that disgusting wretch, I took some of her blood and essence." She told him simply snapping him back to the present.

They were in a hotel in town not that far from the school. Though she would prefer to be way further away than this, she had said that they would be back in time for the dance. A dance that is the night after tomorrow, so they didn't really have time to travel too far.

If there is one thing she is not, is a liar. So if she said she will be there for the dance, then she will be there for the dance. Regardless of how much she wishes she could just forget the whole thing and just leave.

"How in the hell did you get her blood? I didn't even see you gather it." He asked with a dumbfounded look on his face. "What do you mean by essence? Isn't it the same thing as her blood?"

"No. Blood is blood. Essence is essence." She answered not really paying attention.

She was laying on the bed in their room trying not to dwell on the emptiness she felt from her fight with the Headmaster. Don't get her wrong, she's not sorry that it happened, just that the father figure that she hoped would have finally came through for her, didn't. After years of finally having someone put her first before anyone else then have him turn around and put another first in his heart was a hard pill to swallow.

She knows she didn't handle the situation very maturely, but she didn't really know how to react to such a situation. While she can't remember much of her first life very well, she will always remember that no one ever put her first in her life. So to have a taste of that feeling and then have it cruelly taken away from her, left her reeling without knowing how to handle the bereft feeling it left her.

"So...what's the difference?" Zero asked with a confused look on his face.

Hearing his question, Willow snapped out of her spiraling thoughts to focus on him

"What?" She asked not really knowing what he was talking about since she hadn't really paid attention. Also, not really remembering having already given him the vial.

"What's the difference between her blood and her essence?" Zero repeated softly, knowing she was thinking about the Headmaster, what with the heartbroken and resigned look on her face.

It was like she was used to being let down. It broke his heart at the thought that she was so resigned to being let down. He hated seeing her eyes darken to such a dull green from sadness and heartache. It was a look she would have every time she came back from visiting the headmaster before Ichi-chan and him were able to distract her.

"Blood is different from her essence while at the same time somewhat similar. You see, blood - definitely true for Purebloods - have trace amounts of essence running through their blood. Which the vampires can use for some of their magic. Like spells and barriers they use to protect their home and such. Not very powerful since they are limited on how powerful their essence exists in their bloodstream. However, if they are particularly powerful, they can use their essence directly without having to resort to using their blood. Which Purebloods are. And some of the Aristocats and their use of the elements. Anyways, it's one of the reasons Purebloods are able to create vampires without birthing them unlike any other type of vampire. Even then, they still need a medium to help access their essence which they use through their "fangs" while the Aristocats actually use contracts with the elements that have been passed down through their families to be able to use them. The contract is the Aristocrats medium in order to access that power. They offer up their essence in exchange for power. Kind of like magic really and their wands." She pauses thinking about her magic.

She has broken through about half way through the barrier around her magic. She knows that if she dies again, it's very likely that she can break the barrier completely. Unfortunately, she's not suicidal in any way, so never truly considers killing herself to achieve that. She got this far without dying after that wretch killed her all those years ago. So she had no interest in putting Zero through seeing her dead body just to break the barrier. Is it slower: yes. Less traumatizing for all around: definitely.

"So...essence is magic?" Zero ask in confusion, not really understanding at all.

"Hmm?" She hummed with a blink, coming back to the present. "Kind of. Essence is part of their soul. So, really, it's soul magic that they use. Have you ever wondered how newly turned vampires are bound to their "Maker" and are called their "Childe"?"

"Not really." He answered bluntly. He didn't care how it was done, just that it was done and he hated it.

Sigh.

"You see, when a Pureblood vampire injects their fangs into a person, they are injecting a trace amount of their Soul into them. It's instinctive for them to do so. I doubt they even know they do it and how to control it. Anyways, it's one of the reasons human minds become disorganized from the bite. Their own Soul is fighting against an intruder that shouldn't be there. Unfortunately, for them, their Soul power is weaker than the Vampire's so they enter the "Change". I guess it doesn't help when the Vampire's Soul is subtle until it's already attached to the Soul before it starts trying to merge. Unfortunately, while the body can change relatively easily to accommodate the increased power, their Soul cannot. If not stabilized soon enough, the Soul starts to disintegrate which causes them to end up falling into what is known as the Level E.

"The only thing that they can think about is stabilizing themselves. Which they instinctively seek in blood. The natural food source for them now. Downside is that they go after humans - their natural food source obviously - to seek that relief. While their hunger is satiated somewhat, their Soul is still breaking apart. So they take that relief as confirmation that human blood is the cure that they need.

"It's not. Do you know why a Level D needs their Maker's blood Zero?" She asked not really expecting him to give a positive answer.

"No." He answered like she thought he would.

She knew that Zero only ever cared about how to kill vampires instead of how they ticked.

"It has to do with the Bond."

"Bond?"

"Yes, the Bond. You see, a Level D is like a newborn in that they are in a really fragile state. The "parent" -aka, the Maker - is bonded to the one they had bitten. A Soul bond at that. It's the reason that Level D and Level E's can't disobey or harm the Marker. Their very Souls reject it. It knows that it needs the Marker to stabilize. A Pureblood's blood is like...how do I put this?"

She paused thinking on how best to explain such a complicated process. This World's power always confused her. She didn't understand how this World's magic ran off the Soul instead of from the Earth itself like in her old World.

In her World, ones with magic had cores - like an extra organ in the body - that drew magic from the Earth into the body. After adjusting the magic for the body to handle, it would send it out through the channels connected to it - like blood vessels to the heart - to run through the body in a continuous loop until it's used. Though because magic isn't something solid, excess magic seeps through the "veins" to saturate the rest of the body, including binding with the blood.

Soul magic on the other hand, is power from the Soul and a little bit of magic from the body to help power up the little bit of soul power. After all, the more soul magic you use, the weaker your soul becomes. Soul power doesn't recover like the core in the body. When a person is born, their soul is already as big as it will ever get. At first it's compressed to fit into the tiny and weak form so it doesn't combust from the power when it first enters, then it slowly unwinds as the body grows to accommodate the Soul size.

So, to see a world that relies on soul magic without the Soul fading out after too much use, was quite a shocking experience for her. She couldn't understand how the souls of this world regenerates like the magic cores in her World did.

"...it's like a binding agent. Pureblood's blood has the essence to help stabilize their Childe's soul. However, it's useless if it doesn't have a target once consumed. It will just stay in the body itself, giving the body a boost in power until it runs out. It's not like when a Pureblood directly injects their Soul into the body. When a Pureblood bits, they instinctively send their essences to the Soul unlike when they offer their blood. It's just a feeding. It won't go to the Soul since there is already a portion of it already there. If too much soul power is combined with a fading soul, it would take over that soul and essentially become like a mini Maker. Not unlike a horcrux in a way.

"Anyways, this is where the Bond comes in handy. The Bond helps guide the Soul's power from the blood to the childe's soul to help fix the disabling soul. Thankfully, the essence in the blood is weaker than when it is directly injected. So, if the Soul is strong enough - or was stabilized from the beginning - the Childe's soul can assimilate their Maker's essence as their own. However, if their Soul is too weak or the Maker waits too long, the Soul becomes a second Maker or it will be destroyed completely."

She told him all this with an indifferent look on her face. It's not that she doesn't care that Zero's soul can disappear at anytime, but that her blood and magic has been stabilizing his soul since the beginning. The downside to it, is that her blood and magic can't stabilize his soul indefinitely. Which is why she took the trouble of stealing not only that bitch's blood, but also a sliver of her soul.

"Are you saying that my Soul is breaking apart!?" He asked with slight panic, tightening his hold on the vial and bringing it to his chest as if it is the most precious thing in the world.

"Not at the moment. However, it won't be long before it starts. You can already feel how you are feeding more and more, right?" She got a stiff nod. "That's because you soul is trying to finish the transformation. However, with my blood and magic, your soul has been in stasis. Neither changing fully nor breaking apart. The thing is, is that it's only a temporary solution. You need your Maker's blood and essence to finish the transformation. To stabilized completely without fear of Falling. The blood to nourish the body and the essence to nourish the soul."

"But you said that if the soul isn't strong enough, I will lose myself and become a Shizuka 2.0." Zero muttered. He was breathing heavier than normal with his eyes wide in horror at the thought of becoming anything like that beast!

"You actually think your Soul isn't strong enough? Oh come on Zero! You fought against your Maker and harmed her." Willow scoffed.

"How am I going to do this without that woman guiding her essence to my soul?" Zero asked a little bit more calmly. His eyes going back to normal.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" She sneered with a roll of her eyes. "Come on Zero. Do you think I will allow you to do this by yourself without any help from me? Do you not know me at all?"

She was actually starting to get upset with Zero's doubts. He should have already known that she would be there step by step. Making sure that his soul assimilates with Shizuka's soul without any problems. She sat up and glared at Zero in anger.

"Of course I know you would be there for me!" Zero hurried to say with a flinch. He knew that she was in a very volatile state what with the fight with the Headmaster and all. So to hear his doubt isn't helping her state of mind at the moment.

"No. I am sorry Zero. You have every right to react the way you did. I know it had nothing to do with me personally but the fear of the unknown." Willow conceded with a tired sigh, shoulder's slumping down slightly. "Do you want to do this now or do you want to wait?" She then ask to change the subject.

"I think we should wait until we deal with Hio." Zero said after a moment of consideration. He continued when he saw her raise an eyebrow at him. "I am sure she will be able to tell the difference in me the moment we next meet face to face. It would alert her that she isn't actually the one running the show, but we are. I also don't want that damn Kuran to start butting his nose in our business when he notices something as well."

"I am glad you think so too." Willow said with a slight smile on her tired looking face. "However, I wouldn't stop you if you did want to do it now. It must be so uncomfortable knowing you are still in her control somewhat."

"What happens when my soul stabilizes? Will I still be bound to her?"

"Yes. The only way that the Bond breaks is if the Maker breaks it on their end. Or if the Maker dies. Downside to the Maker dying is that if they die before they are stabilized, their deaths causes a faster disabling to their Childe's soul since they no longer have a base to feed off."

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"Ah. I guess I forgot to mention this part. Another way a Bond is important is that it slowly gives energy to the Childe. Not enough to really help, but enough that the soul doesn't disintegrate all at once. Downside to that, however, is that the Maker can draw energy from the Childe in return. They have complete control of the Bond. They can stop the energy transfer at any time, give more than normal or even take more than the Childe can give. Destroying that Childe without lifting a finger. Did you notice how some of your energy was draining from you while you were facing her?"

Now that she mentioned it, he remembered feeling weaker than normal. He just brushed it off as his body instinctively fighting against his commands to fight.

"Yes." He answered horrified.

"Don't be so scared. She will never destroy you in such a way. She wants you. The more spirited you are, the more she desires to have you in her control. Obeying her against your Will. At most, she will drain you to weaken you a little, but it's nothing you can't over come yourself. Not only that, I will always be there helping to protect you. Besides, she won't be alive for very much longer. Not only does she have us after her head, I am sure Kuran has plans to deal with her as well." She told him making him relax.

"You never answered my other question." Zero then said after a few moments of silence.

"What question?"

"How did you get her blood and essences? I didn't see you get it at all."

"Oh. That's easy. Magic." Was her simple answer. She rolled her eyes again when she saw Zero shoot her a deadpan look her way. "Fine. I had Death help me improve my sword to where it can draw not only blood but soul essence into it to store until I have need of it. So when I had my sword to the bitch's neck, not only was I taking her blood, I was forcefully taking some of her Soul's power. Right now she must be feeling like acid is consuming her from the inside out. She will be feeling that until her Soul heals from the rip. Best part is that she can't transfer to her true body to get away from the pain considering it's her soul that is damaged." She told him with a wickedly smug smile on her full lips.

"Oh." Was all Zero can come up with.

He didn't know what else he could say to that. He can already guess on why she had Death improve her sword like that. He couldn't be more grateful to have Willow in his life than right then. He just wish there was more he could do for her so it didn't seem like the only thing he does is take while not giving anything in return.

'I am too weak! I must get stronger!' He thought with a clench fist and teeth grinding down on each other slightly. He felt so useless.

"For now, we should get as much sleep as we can. I wouldn't be surprise if it will be a while before we get another chance to have a full nights sleep." She spoke after a moment snapping Zero out of his gloomy thoughts.

With that said, she laid back down while pulling the covers over herself. She wish she could invite Zero into her bed but she knew that she wouldn't keep her hands to herself if he was so close to her. Not only that, but she doesn't want to take that step just yet. They just got together in a relationship so she didn't feel comfortable moving so fast.

It didn't matter that they grew up together and that they knew each other pretty much inside out. Call her a romantic, but she wanted to experience all those couplely things others do before going for the home run. So she didn't invite him to share a bed with her even if she can feel Zero's disappointed and longing stare on her for a few minutes.

"Goodnight." Zero muttered sadly, getting up to turn the lights off after putting the vial in a safe place.

He laid back down facing Willow's silhouette. It didn't take her very long before her breaths deepen and even out indicating that she was in a deep sleep.

'She must have been more rung out than she gave off.' He thought with sadness. 'I just don't understand what the Headmaster is thinking. Why does he treat her the way he does. If he doesn't love her, then leave her alone. Don't pretend to care for her then show that you actually don't.'

Zero slowing drifted off while cursing the Headmaster with his carelessness. If it was up to him, he would take Willow, Lily and Sano and just leave all the hurtfulness behind. He knew that Willow wanted to explore this new world she came to. He wants to be beside her when she does.

Zero's dreams revolved around them doing just that. Just the four of them exploring the World, killing Level E's on the way and starting a family. One boy, one girl would be nice. Then them settling down when they got too old - well more him than her really - to continue exploring. They would live the rest of their lives out next to each other.

Willow's dream was pretty much the same, but the ending was different. The end of her dream consisted of her having to watch Zero becoming old and winkled while she stayed the same. Then having to watch the love of her life's life fade away leaving her all alone in the World once again. She then turned around to destroy the World that no longer had Zero in it in her grief.

Academy - Abandoned Moon Dorms

"AAAAHHHH!." Screamed a high-pitch feminine voice that echoed through the whole building. "Ichiru! Help, it hurts some much. Take me to my body. I need to transfer." Shizuka cried out to her servant.

She was going to go crazy if she doesn't find a way to relief this pain she was in. She never been in so much pain in her life. Not even when that bastard of a fiance tortured her to get his rocks off.

"I am sorry Milady. But you can't transfer right now." He told her with a sad voice.

Though inwardly, he was laughing at her plight. He hated her. She ruined his life. He was so stupid to trust this woman. When he first met her, he saw her crying all alone in a tree and felt his heart go out to the tragic looking figure. He would have gone to her in hope of comforting her except Zero pulled him away telling him that she was a vampire; that he should keep his distance. Willow at the time was still with Teacher for extra training with her wolf so she didn't know anything about the encounter.

The next time he saw her, it was the same view as the first time. He was alone at that time, so he gathered up the courage to ask her what was wrong. He was horrified for her when she told him. She lost her mate to Hunters looking to kill her for an ego trip. He didn't know how to cheer her up from such a devastating blow as that. The only thing he could think of is to take her mind off it. He started to talk about his bother and Willow. He then told her about how his parents were Hunters too and that he was training to be a Hunter as well.

However, he was quick to assure her that they only went after Level E's that were causing havoc on the Human World when he saw her eyes start to narrow. That they never went after anyone not on the List.

For the next few days he would sneak out to meet up with her. He really wanted to cheer her up. She was so pretty that he thought she shouldn't be so sad. Besides, it would be nice to have a friend that was justhis instead of sharing with his brother or Willow. On his last day of visiting her, he stupidly invited her to come to his house to talk to his parents in hope that they could do something for her. To help get justice against the ones who went against the code of the Hunters.

He didn't realize until it was too late that she was waiting for exactly that. You see, a vampire can't enter a Hunter's home unless invited. It was where the myth that vampire's can't enter a home unless invited came from. However, that only works for Hunter homes because of the Pack between their races and the spells on the Hunter's home.

She never told him that it was his family that killed her lover. She needed him to take her to his house so that she could kill them when their guard was down. She manipulated his desire to have a friend and his compassion for a hurt pretty woman to get what she wanted.

When he offered to take her to his parents in hope they could help her get justice, she was ecstatic that she didn't have to wait longer than she already did. So, they went to his house to where to his horror he had to watch his parents get slaughtered right in front of him.

He had turned around to get to Zero in hope that he could get him away safely. He was glad that Willow was at her father's so he didn't have to worry about her. Unfortunately, for him, Shizuka noticed what he was going to do and stop him with a back hand to his face that threw him into a chair; knocking him out.

The next thing he knows when he comes to is that Zero was in her arms with her staring at him possessively. His heart froze when he noticed the sluggishly bleeding bite wound on his neck. When he turned to observe the living room - couldn't stand the sight and thought that it was his fault that his brother was turning into a vampire - his heart froze once again at the sight of Willow's body laying on the ground with a fist size hole through her back.

'She must have come back earlier than planned.' Was the only thing he could have thought at the sight. Numb to the bones at the horror he went through.

He then tried to convince her to take him with her. After all, the closer he was to her, the easier it would be for him to have opportunities to kill her for what she has done. Something she knew but still agreed since she would get amusement out of his struggles. They left together that night with Zero slowly fading hateful glare to send them off. The whole time they were leaving he was praying to whatever God there was, that his precious brother would survive the night.

The first time he had the chance to kill her came a year later. He was so close to ending her that if she didn't tell him that if she dies, Zero will fall into Level E. That she never gave her blood to him in order for him to stay Level D. She would already be dead now.

She took advantage of his frozen form to throw him off her. She then punished him by throwing him into a cage in her room for days on end. Barely feeding him while teasing him that she is the only salvation Zero has from becoming a mindless beast only after blood. She didn't beat him, saying that it was beneath her to put her hand on another in such a way.

After that, he never tried to kill her again. He didn't know if she really didn't give her blood to his brother; it was something he couldn't bet on. His brother was the only one he had left. So, he waited. He waited until he could see his brother again to confirm if she was telling the truth or not. In the mean time, he did his best to find a way to get her blood so that he could give it to his brother.

Unfortunately, he didn't know that even if he got her blood, it wouldn't have worked unless he got some of her essence as well. Nor would it have worked unless Shizuka used the Bond to help to manipulate everything to help stabilize Zero. In other words, he would have failed no matter what he did and would have just caused himself undue pain in the end when she found out what he did.

Luckily, for him, she never gave any opportunities for him to get her blood. Though she did allow him to drink from her from time to time to strengthen his body. She always made sure he swallowed every drop she gave him.

"What do you mean I can't transfer back to my body!" She demanded with hatred when she heard him.

"You don't know what's causing this pain Milady. If you were to transfer into your body, the pain might increase or might even cause damage to it. Not only that, the moment you use your power to do the transfer, the Kuran will know immediately that you are here. With you in this condition; you won't be able to defend yourself." He explained logically.

She started to curse him while he just did his best to appease her.

Moon Dorm - Kuran's Room

Kaname was not in the best of moods which the whole dorm building can feel, making them tense and confuse on what caused their Leader to be in such a bad mood. Not even Takuma could get close to him at the moment.

At the moment the dorm leader was pacing back and forth in front of his windows that looked out to the forest surrounding the school. He was so furious at the fact that a little girl and a little Level D on the verge of fall into Level E dares to question him. Forgetting that Zero didn't contribute to the conversation at all until Willow started to let lose.

He has lived for hundreds of years. He knows exactly what he's doing. It ticks him off when she acts like she know best when she's nothing more than a brat. He didn't care that she wasn't fully human and that he doesn't know what she is; he does know that he is older than her. He can feel it deep inside.

He also didn't like how she just said her piece and left with that Level D without even sparing them a glance back. He will be having words with her about her disrespect when she gets back. He can no longer tolerate it. His followers were starting to become too relax around him. Soon they will start rebelling and no longer follow his orders to the T but start questioning the orders since Willow and Zero gets away with it. He will never allow himself to fall out of control.

He squashed the sliver of doubt that tried to worm it's way into his heart at the thought that he was damaging his precious girl's mind every time he took a part of her memories. He knew what he was doing was the best to prevent her from becoming unhappy. As long as she stays the pure and innocent human her; she will be safe. Besides, he loves the innocent way she looks at him. It helps heal a part of him when he knows that she doesn't look at him wearily but the lovingly look she gives him instead.

The thought made him nod to himself in satisfaction. He would keep her just the way she is.

After that, he turned his attention to the paperwork he still needs to do. His aura relaxed after confirming that he was right. The rest of the building breathe a sigh of relief together when they felt that their leader wasn't angry anymore.

Headmaster Office

The only one that wasn't really affected by the nights events; was the Headmaster himself. Don't get him wrong, he was sadden that his little Hummingbird scolded him and ran away. He just knows that she will come back and forgive him like always and they will go back to how they always are. He will just explain that he's not just using her as a shield for Yuki but that Yuki is just too innocent and pure to really take care of herself. So, as the older sister, it was her duty to help protect her.

"Willow will understand when her emotions aren't clouding her judgment and I explains myself." Kaien muttered to himself with a slight hum.

He finished up his paperwork and went to bed dreaming how Willow will stop being angry with him and they go back to how it always is.

He doesn't realize the irreparable damage his negligence has cause to his relationship with his first daughter. When he finally does, it would be too late to have a father and daughter relationship; if any at all.