Zero reported what he had learnt from Akari back to Cross and Toga. Both men were furious, Toga however, was also being smug, uttering the phrase 'I told you so'. They immediately questioned Zero's decision to allow her to leave. Zero explained that she posed no threat now that both Kaname and Rido were dead. She would simply become another pureblood that stayed in the background, only appearing when the occasion called for it. He also stated that if she ever did pose a risk, there would be a reason and that they would more than likely already know why and be able to prepare for her. Both the older hunters didn't like it, Akari should have been dealt with then and there. But now they could just hope that Zero's assessment of her was correct. The two didn't fail to notice the disappointment and sadness from Zero. They knew it was because he felt betrayed. Both knew how it felt but it was best to let him come to terms with it without pointing things out. It would only make him feel worse. At least now he could learn from his mistake and it didn't cost anyone their lives.

As soon as Akari arrived home, she took a deep breath, taking in the air. She missed being free. But something was peculiar. A strong scent of someone who was long gone. She shook her head and pit her bags down by the front door. Maybe she was focusing on his scent more than she would because she missed him. Maybe she was wishing so hard for him to be with her, she was convincing herself that he was.

She stepped into her home, the scent grew stronger. She held back the flutter of hope inside her, reminding herself that he was gone, ashes. She sighed to herself. She would look into his room one last time and then seal it off. She just wanted to feel close to him one last time before she had to carry on.

She opened the door to his room.

She froze.

She wasn't sure if she was dreaming or hallucinating. Before her, a very badly injured, Rido lay in his bed. Her staff had clearly been looking after him, keeping him comfortable and fed. She wondered why they had not contacted her about his arrival or condition. But then again, she was in enemy territory so to speak.

She creeped over to his side, scared that anything she did would make him disappear. She reached out to touch his hand, she wanted to make sure he was real. He was cold but alive. She smiled to herself before carefully laying down next to him. As her eyes closed, she hoped that he would still be there when she woke up.

It took any months for Rido to recover enough to move in his slumber with a small whimper of pain. He had still to awaken. The vampire world was falling apart around them and Akari didn't care. He was her main priority, in fact her only priority. Like she did, every morning, she lay down next to him and hoped he'd wake up soon.

Movement gently awoke her from her sleep, she refused to open her eyes. She could just as easily fall back to sleep. She assumed it was Rido, moving in his own sleep. But when weight lifted from the bed. Her eyes shot open and she sat up. Her eyes fell on a sleepy but smirking Rido. He had managed to ease himself up to sit up in the bed.

"I didn't mean to wake you." He whispered, his voice was a little rough. Akari smiled and sat up next to him.

"It's alright." She told him with a smile. "Do you need a drink?" She then asked, moving her hair away from her neck. Rido nodded and gently pulled her into his lap, kissing her neck before his fangs pieced her skin. He drank with urgency and greed but pulled away before he would be a danger to her. "What happened?" She asked once he had finished licking up the blood from her neck. He paused and leaned back, pulling her with him.

"After Kaname threw you through a building, I lost it. I'm not entirely sure how I won myself. But after I pulled his heart from before his very eyes, I devoured it. He will never be coming back into our lives." He reassured her before kissing the top of her head. "I went searching for you, though the rubble. I was so scared I had lost you. But those vampire hunters started to interfere, I was already losing a lot of blood. I had to disappear. I didn't make it far, just before the gates, my followers had to carry me away. I guess they brought me here." He then explained to her. She felt a little hurt that he did stay to find her, but she understood. "What happened to you?" He then asked, curious.

"I don't remember much after going through the wall. Zero found me, all I knew at the time was something heavy was on top of me. I almost killed Cross and Toga when them came to help him move the rubble off me. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in the Moon Dormitory and Zero told me you were dead." She paused as she held back tears. She never wanted to go through that ever again. She would not be able to live without Rido. He was her life force. Rido held her tight, reassuring her that everything was alright. "Once I was well enough I left. Zero confronted me at the gates. I ended up setting things straight with him."

"You told him you were using him?" He asked confused. Akari had always been a little more tack full than that. But he guessed that she had been told that he was dead, she had no reason to keep secrets anymore.

"Yes. I just lost my temper and told him. I may have also insulted you a little." She explained and Rido raised an eyebrow.

"How so?"

"I used a lot of sarcasm when I called you a genus and said you were wise." She smiled a little and Rido rolled his eyes.

The two stayed up, cuddling and talking. They had missed each other greatly.