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Bloody nurse

Chapter 9

Zero watched her sleep. He noted how restless she was that night. She kept on tossing around the bed, mumbling incoherent things into her pillow, her eyes moved rapidly behind her eyelids, her fingers twitching. He watched as beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, dampening her side swept fringe, as her brow furrowed in response to what seemed like a bad dream.

He thought long and deep that night. Watching her sleep, without her even realizing his presence, he was almost overwhelmed by her vulnerability. Yet she managed to prove how strong she actually was on many occasions, this night being no exception.

As soon as they entered Kaname's chambers, he smelt her sweet blood. It hit him so sharply in the nose that his knees became weak for a second and all of the worst possible scenarios of what might have happened to her flashed across his mind. He tore through the study, shouting her name in rage and barged through the door to Kaname's bed chamber, where the scent led him. The scene he found there brought him up short though. She sat there on the floor, her big startled eyes peering up at him. Kaname was sitting up against a wall, so very close to her, his face a calm mask as always, watching him with challenging eyes. The scent of her blood was all around them. Zero had to swallow thickly as he felt the familiar tightening in his throat. All it took was Kaname's miniature smirk and Zero snapped. However, the lunge for Kaname's throat was quickly thwarted by Ichijou's strong restraining arms, keeping him in place, while he watched as the Chairman appeared before him, kneeling down next to Yuuki…

He hated himself. He despised them all for what they were but he wasn't any different. He hated himself even more because his greatest enemy was better at suppressing his thirst than he was. He detested himself because he was the only one causing Yuuki such pain for his own gain. Kuran resisted. He never did. Who exactly should he be trying to keep her safe from?

Zero sighed as he yet again bent down to retrieve her comforter that was mercilessly kicked to the floor.

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When Yuuki opened her eyes, her sleep fogged brain slowly registered the beautifully ornamented ceiling. She frowned at the discovery. Her dormitory bedroom didn't have such a ceiling... Only when sleep finally left her completely did she realize that this was the ceiling of her old bedroom.

Before she could question herself on the reason behind her being there, the events of the previous night came rushing back in snaps, mixed with the most intriguing yet terrifying dreams she had that night: the door leading to the Moon dormitory, Ichijou's bloodied shirt, the darkness of Kaname's chambers, the dark stains on the carpet, blood running down her hand, Kaname's crimson eyes, Zero's crimson eyes, her crimson eyes, thirst… such thirst…

Yuuki's hand flew to her eyes and she rubbed at them vehemently. The dream was gone and that was enough. She will have to face the reality of another school day very soon so she might as well start getting ready by pushing everything she didn't understand to the very back of her mind.

It's slowly getting jam-packed in there, huh…

She turned on her side lazily, in order to slowly lower her feet to the floor, only to bolt upright into a sitting position, hurriedly scramble to the other side of the bed, pulling the comforter up to her chin and stare ahead of her.

"Good morning to you, too."

"What the heck are you doing here, Zero?"

"Sitting."

"I see that!" snapped Yuuki. "But why?"

"Cause it's more comfortable than standing."

"Urg," said Yuuki exasperatedly, dropping her forehead on her comforter covered knees. "It's too early in the morning for this, Zero," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the bedding.

"Actually," said Zero, getting up from the chair he was sitting on, "it's not that early. I was about to wake you up." He lifted his arms over his head and stretched his back. Bringing one arm back down, he checked his watch. "School starts in an hour, so go and get ready," he said in a bored voice and started for the door.

Yuuki followed him with her eyes, watching as he was trying to loosen up one shoulder. She frowned.

"Zero," she called him softly.

"Hm?" he hummed as he turned around at the door.

"How long exactly were you… sitting here, while I was asleep?" she asked him earnestly.

Zero's face was an impassive mask as he answered: "Not long, I came in a moment ago. Get moving, you'll be late," he said and promptly exited the room.

Yuuki's frown deepened and she looked back at the chair not far from her bed that was previously occupied by Zero. She sat there, chewing her lip, until her eyes travelled to the desk behind the chair and her gaze landed on a book that someone left behind.

Yuuki sighed and proceeded to untangle herself from the bedding.

"What a watchdog."

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Yuuki yawned.

"Another difficult night?" asked Yori while putting her pen back into her pencil case and zipping it closed.

Yuuki nodded tiredly. "You could say that…"

"Did you have to chase Aidou-sempai around again?"

Yuuki folded her arms on the top of the desk and laid her head against them. "No, not Aidou-sempai," she answered absentmindedly with eyes closed, "it was Kaname-sempai I had to chase down…"

"…Really? Kaname-sempai?"

"Huh?" answered Yuuki smartly and cracked one eye open.

"Kaname-sempai was causing you problems?" Yori asked, looking very surprised.

"What? No! Not at all!" exclaimed Yuuki hurriedly, waving her hands before her face, finally realizing what she said. "No problems what so ever! He just…wanted to…discuss several things. Um, prefect job related…things…" she trailed of nervously.

"Is that so? Well, I think it's really inconsiderate of him, keeping you up so late," said Yori earnestly, worried for her friend. "You didn't even come back to the dorm."

"Yeah, I didn't want to wake you up, so I just slept in my old bedroom…"

Yori smiled. "That's just so you, Yuuki. You put others before you."

Yuuki blushed and looked down.

"And that blush too!" laughed Yori, Yuuki nervously joining her.

When their laughter died down, Yori looked at her watch and said: "Oh, I need to go to the library, I have a book that's due today. Are you coming?"

"No, go on without me," smiled Yuuki, both of the girls knowing how she, unlike Yori, didn't really enjoy the peace and quiet within the library walls.

"Ok, I'll see you later," waved Yori and headed for the door.

Yuuki watched her go and as the door closed behind her friend, she laid her head on her arms again. She did feel tired. Maybe she should have gone to the library and catch several minutes of sleep among the rows and rows of dusty old books, in that section that rarely gets visited by students, where it always smells funny of dust, mould and something else, that smells oddly like rust, or metal. Something that she smelt yesterday…in Kaname's chambers…a metallic scent that evokes memories…dark memories…and thirst…thirst so powerful…so red…crimson…crimson eyes…

Yuuki suddenly felt a thud next to her head and she quickly sat up with an audible gasp. Zero was sitting on her desk, his jacket undone, hands in pockets, looking down at her with an intense gaze.

"Zero," sighed Yuuki, closing her eyes, "don't scare me like that…"

"So," said Zero, his gaze never leaving her, "I hear that Kuran didn't cause you any problems last night."

Yuuki groaned.

"So noble of you, cutting your hand open, letting him sip your blood so elegantly."

"Zero!" hissed Yuuki, looking around the classroom frantically to make sure that all of the other students have already left.

"Usually the guy invites the girl out for a drink, not the other way around."

"Stop it," she said, smacking him over the knee closest to her.

"In any case, he should always," he leaned closer to her, "always," even closer, "pay."

Yuuki stared right back into his grey eyes, already feeling fed up with his patronizing behaviour. "In that case, I believe you owe me big time, Zero," she said, feeling her heart tighten at her own cruel words.

Zero didn't move, only his eyes roamed over her pinked face and dropping lower to the base of her throat. "I know," he said in an even tone, as if he was totally unfazed by her retort. "That's why I'm trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection, Zero."

"That's what you think."

"No, that's what I know," she insisted. "I went to Kaname-sempai even though you've warned me. I did what I had to do, and I was right to do so. Even if you hadn't come for me in the end, I still would have come back alright."

Zero slowly straightened his back.

"He didn't need to pay, Zero, I did. I caused the problem so I had to help."

Zero frowned deeply. "But you didn't cause my problem, so what obligations do you have to me?"

By then, Yuuki was thoroughly annoyed with his stubbornness. She stood up, becoming level with his face. "You don't understand at all, do you?" she asked him hotly. "I don't need to have obligations in order to help you. I care for you, that's why I want to do whatever I can. I don't care what it takes, I don't care who's next in line. If I can, I will help," she finished resolutely. Giving him one last sharp look, she grabbed her bag, turned on her heel and walked quickly down the stairs of the aisle. When she was almost at the door, she was jerked back around by a strong hand gripping her upper arm.

Startled, she stared up at Zero's face which was slowly becoming the mask of the beast within him that she now knew so well. The rims of his irises were becoming red and he was breathing heavily through his nose. Realization dawned on her and she quickly looked behind her at the door. She didn't fear him in this form anymore but anyone could enter the classroom at any moment. She tried to tug her arm away but he held fast.

He drew himself closer to her. "What are you thinking, Yuuki?" he said in a pleading voice. "You can't nurse everyone with your own blood."

Yuuki remained silent. She watched as he clearly fought his instincts. By now, his eyes were fully red. She couldn't help but compare them to Kaname's crimson eyes, mad with thirst. They were the same, yet different, and for a moment Yuuki wasn't sure which pair she was looking into.

Mad with thirst…what does it feel like?

She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his middle, hugging him close, as she leaned one side of her face against his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat. She felt his hands tremble as he drew her even closer by her upper arms, bending his head next to hers. He was much easier to coax than Kaname, so much further gone so quickly…

Not letting herself feel any pain, she listened to his short quiet satisfied moans between gulps of blood and felt his arms snaking towards her back, hugging her much the same way as she was hugging him.

Drinking what you desire so much…what does it feel like?

Her mind suddenly conjured up the image of her own two eyes, crimson with want, and her throat went suddenly dry as she began to feel…thirsty…

Zero grunted and drew her, if possible, even closer.

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A/N: My dear readers, if you've read this far, seriously consider the possibility of having unnatural power of patience.

Again, if you spot any mistakes, please let me know.

Take care,

Matylda