Rose ran down the dark hallway, looking behind her to check if he was following her. She didn't remember who or what it was that was chasing her but something inside told her to run as fast as possible
Her heart hammered in her chest until she felt something smack into her and carefully touch her shoulders. Half afraid to look up, she stood froze in place until she heard his voice. It was a cool calming sound that she swear she'd heard before. "I'm not going anywhere, not anymore. It's okay to depend on me."
Quickly looking up, Rose found Zero's soft grey eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. He was here for her.
Suddenly a shot rang out throughout the hallway and she watched as Zero's eyes went from his normal color to a dull white. Still trying to hold onto him he slowly collapsed onto the floor, blood leaking from his head.
Rose crumpled to the ground shaking and tried to shake him awake but it was no use. He was dead. She felt something warm on her fingers and found it was his blood.
A hard laughter erupted behind her and she turned to find Carson holding his gun out. He had shot Zero. "See what you did Rosebella? You should have just stayed away."
Her breathing started to come in sharp gasps as she continued to shake Zero in hopes that Carson was lying. He couldn't be dead. "Zero?! No No No no, please no."
After a few minutes she flung herself on top of his body and screamed in agony as the rain drenched her head. Turning her head to the side she looked into a nearby puddle and gasped at what she knew looking back at her.
Staring back was her face with Rido's eyes. On closer inspection she was wearing a dog collar with a chain attached to the man himself.
She screamed at his presence and jumped up trying desperately to get away. He seemed to be fast and held her small frame in place. Rose crawled and cried for him to get away but he wouldn't budge. Somehow he seemed gentler them she imagined.
Blinking a few times the room began to spin and turned out something familiar. Someone was still holding her and whispering in her ear. She decided to focus on those whispers. "Rose, calm down. I'm right here, please calm down."
His voice brought so many emotions to her as her screams turned into sobs. Clutching onto his for dear life she made sure he wasn't going to leave her, like so many had done before. "You're alive. Thank god."
Zero turned his head in confusion before burying it into her hair. He felt her shake under him in intense fear. This was exactly like what happened at the Headmaster's house but this time she wasn't breaking apart from him. "Of course I'm alive. What happened? You're shaking."
She waited a few moments until a bit of her shaking had stopped and gently touched his face, repeating what she had said before. "You're alive."
He nodded his head and didn't make any move to detach himself from her. Zero was afraid that if he let go then she would unravel before him. "Yes, I'm right here."
Rose aggressively pulled herself against his chest listening to his heart. Zero tried once more for her to open up. "Did you have a nightmare?"
She nodded her head feeling the warm of his body and focusing on it. "I saw you die, again."
Again? Zero wondered what she meant by those words and carefully ran his fingers through her hair. "Again? How often do you have that dream?"
Refusing to answer his question Zero lightly grabbed her shoulder and made her look at him. "Rose, how often?
Rose looked into eyes before speaking softly. "It used to be only at the estate but now it's every time I close my eyes. Told you I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't sleep."
He remembered her words at the fountain and realized this is what she was running from. Did that mean that even before she revealed herself as a pureblood she had these kind of dreams? The thought itself terrified him.
She bitterly looked down and turned her head away from him once she saw his expression. "I thought I had a bit of time before you saw how truly broken I am. Even a year ago I tried to warn you, I'm messed up."
Zero also remembered their conversation in her room a year back. He thought he understood back then what she was dealing with, when in actually he had no idea.
Taking her hand he lightly pulled Rose's eyes back to him before planting a light kiss on her forehead. "We will figure this out together."
She smiled to herself and looked at the sun shining through the curtains before letting out a heavy sigh. "I should get back, as much I would love to stay here forever people are likely to notice their president is gone."
Zero didn't want her to leave but he also knew that she couldn't keep her locked in his room forever.
Regretfully he stood up and nodded his head. "You're right. Come on."
He helped up and before heading back they stopped at a nearby clothing shop so Rose could put on something less obvious than a slightly dirty ball gown.
When she emerged in a knee length polka dot dress Zero smiled in approval before grabbing her hand and heading towards the academy.
Rose tried to photograph this feeling in her mind, wondering when it would end and started the face the facts.
She paused which caught the attention of Zero who sensed her uneasiness. "What's wrong?"
Regretfully letting go of his hand she sighed. "After we get back the academy we can't tell anybody about this. Whether I like it or not I'm still Kaname's fiance and I won't have anyone go after you because of me."
Not liking the words she was saying, everything did make sense in a strange way. If they did become public then it would only cause problems for her in the end. Maybe it was better if they didn't get together. "So you want to end our relationship?"
Rose took a step back and shook her head wildly before grabbing his arm. "What? No! This is the happiest I've ever been, I just don't want you to get hurt. Even if what we are doing maybe wrong I don't care, because I…"
She paused for a moment at Zero smirked slightly at what she was going to say. He then decided to tease her a bit "You what?"
Rose looked away from him and a heavy blush shown across her cheeks. Zero had to admit she was really cute when her childish side came out. "You idiot, don't make me say it."
He laughed a bit and waited for her to finish the sentence. "Say what?"
She grumbled a bit as the blush deepened and she muttered out the words like a little kid would. "Because I love you."
Zero smiled and leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on her lips before nodding his head. "I know."
Rose pouted her lips in annoyance but underneath there was a small smile. "Shut up."
He gave a soft chuckle and laced his fingers into hers before walking once again toward the academy.
Once they reached the gates Zero did as promised and let go of her head before moving forward. Immediately that warm fuzzy feeling disappeared and all that was left was reality.
She frowned when the moon dorms tall outline could be seen only a few feet in front of them. It was almost time to part ways.
Zero also seemed unhappy as Rose turned and waved before taking a couple steps away from him. "Well I guess I'll see you in a couple days."
Because it was Saturday that meant that they wouldn't see each other for another two days. The very thought of it grew a large pit of disappear in her stomach.
Rose took another step when Zero suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the densely wooded area next to them.
She gasped at the sudden action and questioned his motives. "Zero, what are you doing? I have to go back."
Suddenly Rose felt herself get slammed into the tree trunk behind her as Zero's scent engulfed her. Before she could question, his mouth was on hers.
The kiss was rough and lead with an aggressive passion she had never experienced before. Slightly worried for who might see the altercation but feeling an indescribable amount of bliss she gave in and started kissing him back.
Zero pushed her deeper into the trunk as Rose ran her hands across his back in a fiery blaze. Everything burned around her and she started to feel slightly lightheaded.
Then as soon as the kiss had happened, it stopped. They both broke away, breathing extremely heavily for the amount of the oxygen they lacked as Zero kissed the top of her head before pulling away. "See you in a couple days."
Rose blinked a few times trying to process the experience she had just encountered and sunk to the ground. She had no idea what had brought that on but she was happy it did. They were just lucky no one else was there to see it.
Reaching her hand up she lightly touched her top lip where Zero's scent had once been and slightly smiled.
Unknowing to Rose, Kaname gazed outside his spot by the window in utter frustration and sorrow. He then let go of the window sill he was clutching tightly, leaving deep claw marks and closed the drapes.
Once Rose returned to her room she found Hanabusa waiting for her which she didn't expect. She gasped for a moment before realizing who it was and sighed loudly. "Geez don't scare me like that, you are turning into Kaname with all your stalking."
Hanabusa leaped off the bed and ignored her comment, eager for a response. "What happened? How did everything go?"
She turned her head away from him and all the memories from last night poured into her mind causing her to blush. "Nothing really."
He blinked a few times before giving her a sly smile. "Oh come on, that look is not a 'nothing happened' look. Your face says it all."
Rose playfully slapped him on her arm and muttered quietly. "Shut up."
Hanabusa just laughed in response and pressed on. "Well then, what did happen? I've been waiting all night so you better spill."
Honestly Hanabusa wanted justification that showing Zero the journals was the right thing to do. He was betting on him expecting her and didn't want to think of the other option. He was relieved when she smiled and answered. "I told him everything."
He nodded his head and urged her on. "And?"
She smiled warmly and locked eyes with him before laughing. Hanabusa could see her eyes well up with tears and an overwhelming joy overcame him through the blood bond. "He accepts me. Not as a pureblood or as a hunter. Just as me."
Hanabusa smiled at her joy and brought his head up, patting her head like a child. "That's good then. Congratulations."
Rose looked up at his hand and saw the top of his rose tattoo and frowned. "About yesterday, I'm sorry about ordering you to let go of me. I broke my promise."
He removed his hand slightly at looked at her face that was filled with regret. She had indeed said that she would never order him to do anything when they first made the blood bond but he truly didn't mind.
Hanabusa shook his head and tried to ease her pain. "The truth is when you gave me that order, I was slightly happy."
She blinked a few times in disbelief and shouted. "How can that make you happy? I did something against your will."
He nodded his head in response and put his hand up. "Let me finish. I was happy because I've watched you since your days at the academy always put everyone above you. No matter how it may affect you, you always did the right thing. When you gave me that order it was like for once in your life, you were thinking of yourself."
Rose shook her head slightly and let Hanabusa continue. He carefully lifted his hand up to her cheek and smiled. "I don't mind you giving me an order if I can be of use to you. I see you suffer everyday and if I can ease that even slightly, I will. It's okay to be selfish sometimes and reply on others."
They looked at each other for what seemed like forever until Rose smiled slightly and carefully bumped foreheads with him before closing her eyes. ""What did I do to deserve someone as wonderful as you."
Hanabusa looked at her for a moment before also closing his eyes and answering cockily. "I don't know."
She smirked and lifted her head before turning away from him, grabbing her brush off the nightstand.
Hanabusa noticed the silence and coughed slightly before continuing. "Right so, Carson left early this morning with nothing but positive feedback."
Rose nodded her head and run the brush through her hair as Hanabusa continued. "And, later today my friends and I are getting together."
She continued her work and brushed off his comment. "Oh really? Have fun."
Not noticing that Hanabusa paused he coughed one more time before getting the main subject matter. "I thought maybe you could join us."
Rose stopped her motions at his words and looked at him like he was an idiot. "Are you serious? No I think I'm good."
Half expecting that answer, Hanabusa pushed on. "Come on Rose, you said it yourself that you had to get everyone on your side to beat Carson. This could help."
She slammed her brush onto the table in response and laughed sarcastically. "Yeah sure. Let's have lunch with the girl who's in love with Kaname and the boy who thinks I've brainwashed you into becoming my sevent. That's a great idea."
He shook his head in frustration and took a step closer. "That's because they don't know who you really are. I'm sure if you got to know each other then those rumors would disappear."
Rose wasn't believing what she was hearing every way she imagined this would go would surely be a disaster. She didn't know how to talk to people, let alone make friends with anyone. Especially people that wanted her to disappear. "This is the stupid idea."
Hanabusa knew he was losing her so he tried one last thing. "Rose, they are my friends. You mean a lot to me but so do them. I just want both of you to get along."
She was going to reject his offer again until she saw his face. He looked so desperate for her response and it saddened her. She really didn't want to do this but if it meant his happiness then she would try.
He lifted his head when he saw her walk towards him and place her hand on her hips before sighing loudly. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
Knowing that mean 'yes' in Rose langauge Hanabusa perked up and raced forward pulling her into a big hug. After a few seconds he remembered she was a pureblood and let go before turning away with a look of embarrassment.
Rose didn't seem to mind though as she laughed at the action but internally she was worried of what she had just agreed to.
A couple hours later Rose found out just exactly what she had to agreed to as she sat across from the people that absolutely hated her.
It seemed Hanabusa didn't tell his friends of her arrival which brought more than a couple less than thrilled faces. She really didn't want to be here.
Of course she also knew she had to try her damndest from Hanabusa so she did just that a plastered a smile onto her face. "It's been awhile since we've last seen each other, how have you all been?"
The group just looked at her with a blank expression until Ruka decided to speak up in a less than friendly manner. "What exactly are you up to Lady Adelaide?"
Not enjoying the use of her title she brushed it off and gave a nervous laugh. "I don't know what you mean Ruka."
Ruka then brought her tea cup down and slammed it on the table before speaking. "You know very well what I mean, that's what's so frustrating. You and your arrogance."
Starting to her hear her true words Hanabusa looked nervously toward the two of them and tried to defuse the situation. "Come on guys, take it easy."
Kain shook his head at those words and piped into the conversation. "We just want to know what happened between you two. What did you do to him?"
Rose carefully picked up her teacup showing no fear externally and sighed. "I haven't done what you are suggesting. I simply gave him an offer and he accepted. It's simple."
Her words were not putting Kain at ease in the slightest, in fact it made him even angrier. Rima and Senri half listened to the conversation as Kain continued. "Simple? He is my friend, and I won't allow you to do what you please."
Sure enough his friends weren't listening to her words. Never once had she suggested that Hanabusa was a slave but here they were implying it. Truly, it irritated her a small drop of sarcasm came out in her tone. "I don't believe I ever said he was my servant. Maybe you should stop twisting people's words Kain."
Ruka wasn't having her response so instead of keeping quiet she let out everything she felt for the pureblood. "Everything is a game to you, isn't it? You've manipulated Lord Kaname and now Hanabusa to do your dirty work. All just because you think you are a perfect, egotistical brat who can't do anything wrong. You are so fake it kills me to think someone as lowly as you deserves Lord Kaname. I don't think you've ever told the truth."
The room became deathly quiet after her words and everyone awaited Rose's response.
She just looked down at her cup before turning to Hanabusa and giving him an apologetic look. He felt her words sweep into his through the blood bond as she whispered. I'm sorry.
Then Rose looked up from her cup and faced the group, laughing sarcastically at their comments. The mask she was wearing had come completely off and now she was showing them her truth face. "The truth? Okay, fine. You really don't know anything about me, do you?"
The blood boiled around the room as Rose continued. She gripped the cup tightly as she decided to try a new approach, telling the truth. "Perfect, egotistical? Those are not words I would use to describe myself."
She took a deep breath as Ruka tried to process what was happening. "What are you.."
Rose put her hand up to silence her and she finished her sentence. "I would say disappointment, self loathing and regret fit that category more."
Kain blinked a few times and tried to come up with a come back. "What is this? Another game?"
She turned her head to the side and smirked before responding. "Game? No, of course not. And you don't need to tell me how I am unworthy of the great Kaname Kuran, because I already know."
Not knowing how to process this information all they could do was let Rose continue. "And perfect? Yeah right. Would someone who is perfect have panic attacks over the smallest things, or have recurring nightmares of the things you couldn't save, or undergo years of physical and mental abuse, or have PTSD every time someone tries to bite her? I think not."
Once she had finished the group wasn't sure if what she had said was the truth or not. It seemed very out of left field for someone like Rosabella Adelaide who always seemed so composed.
Kain chose not to believe it and shook his head. "You're lying."
Then he saw Rose's hand grasping her teacup, expect this time it was shaking. Almost like she was terrified of this conversation. Could what she said really be true?
Ruka's hand shook in anger as she raced forward, lifting her hand up to slap Rose. This couldn't have been true. "Are you kidding me? Stop lying."
Rose saw the incoming hit and awaited for the impact, flinching slightly and getting into position.
Ruka stopped when she saw Rose beneath her, flinching and slightly shaking from the blow she was about to give. She looked like a scared child.
Everyone around her connected the dots and realized that Rose's flinching meant she had been hit before, which also meant that her story could've been true.
After a few moments Rose realized the hit wasn't going to come and opened her eyes. "Believe me or not, it's your choice. Just don't assume you know everything about me."
Shocked from her words Ruka put her hand down and watched as Rose slowly stood up from the sofa and turned to Hanabusa. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you want you wanted. I guess I really am meant to be alone."
Then she turned on her heels and walked out of the room. She paused when Kaname emerged from the scene and took one look at her crying face,before glaring at Hanabusa's friends.
He moved forward to punish them when Rose placed a strong hand onto his chest and shook her head, silently telling him not to get involved.
Kaname seemed to understand her needed and nodded his head before watching her leave up the steps.
As soon as she was gone Hanabusa shot up out of his seat and angrily pointed at his friends. "What was that? I thought I asked you to be nice to her."
The group looked him kind of guilty but held Ruka and Kain held there ground. "It's her fault for spewing those lies."
Hanabusa was far from pissed at the fact they knew nothing. He balled his fists up in anger and muttered. "They weren't lies."
This got the attention of his friends as there eyes grew wide with shock. It couldn't be true. "What?"
He took a deep breath and locked eyes with them. "Look, I don't expect you to fully understand her but she is precious to me. It was my choice to make the blood bond and you need to accept that. You don't understand how much she's been through, how much she's lost and sacrificed. I want to remain by her side, and if you were really my friends you would respect that."
Then before he could get a response Hanabusa turned and walked out of the room with one goal in mind, to find Rose.
When Hanabusa reached her door he hesitated for a moment before knocking on the hardwood. After he didn't gain a response he decided to open it and found Rose leaning against the door frame, looking out the window with a blank expression.
Taking a couple steps into the room she didn't bother to acknowledge him and he knew why. He had done something stupid without thinking of her feelings. Of course Ruka and Kain wouldn't have accepted her right away but he blindly believed in hope. Some guardian he was.
Yet, even so she went along with it and even tried to open herself up a bit which surprised everyone in the room. He knew it took a huge amount of courage for her to say those words to outsiders, even if it didn't end well.
He took another step which finally caught her attention as Rose looked up and began to apologize for her actions. "I'm sorr-."
But before she could finish Hanabusa reached out and brought her small frame into a tight embrace.
Without words they stood there for what seemed like forever, just holding onto each other almost for dear life. He needed her and she needed him, and there wasn't anything anyone could say that would change that.
The hug didn't feel intimate enough to be perceived as anything romantic, it was more of a brother sister connection that Rose had longed for many years.
Hanabusa lifted his head up to speak without letting her go and muttered the words that she had wanted to hear since her time as a vampire. "I'm proud of you."
He really did mean those words. He could hardly believe that Rose would be so open to her suffering even if it came out in a harsh tone. Every opportunity she's had, she's just brushed them off or shut them out. This time was different, maybe Rose was growing as a person, if only a little.
After his words there overcame another silence as they held onto each other in the darkness.
The next couple days passed quickly enough and before they knew it, it was Monday once again.
The night class students stumbled down the stairs, most of them still yawning from the lack of sleep or staying out too early.
Kaname and Yuki descended into the lobby and greeted everyone before waiting in the corner for the doors to open.
Shortly after Rose and Hanabusa entered the scene which caused a couple wandering eyes from Ruka and Kain but they just ignored them. Now wasn't the time.
Rose walked up to Kaname and smiled slightly before bowing. "Good afternoon Kaname, Yuki."
Yuki waved back in response but Kaname remained where he was and just stated monotone. "Good afternoon."
She had to blink a few times to register his tone. He seemed oddly perturbed by something but Rose couldn't quite figure out what.
Before she could figure it out the doors to the outside opened up and the rest of the members began disappearing into the crowds.
Rose followed everyone's lead and was immediately met with the bright autumn sun. She shielded her eyes and continued walking when she saw a very familiar head of silver hair.
Noticing him push a couple girls back, he looked emotionally drained at the job. Another girl tried to dodge him but Zero was too fast and grabbed her just in time.
One of the girls pushed through the crowd and ended up twisting her ankle before slamming into his back.
Not realizing the impact he fell forward and landed face first in a pool of mud that had formed from the recent rainfall.
Everyone turned at the hunter who was now covered in mud and Rose couldn't help herself. She felt her mouth curve up into a smile before letting out a loud contagious laughter.
The sound carried across to the entire night class who looked at her in complete shock. They had never seen her face like it, it looked so happy. Rose had smiled a thousand times before but this was the first time they saw that kind of expression. It was like she was actually smiling and not something halfhearted like usual.
Rose slowed her laugh and realized that when Zero fell a small leaf had got caught in his hair.
Carefully she walked over to the crowd and reached her hand out, slowly grabbing it and throwing it away before whispering. "Somehow this feels like deja vu, doesn't it?"
Zero looked at her and smiled slightly at the memory she was talking about. It was surely the one where they first met and he tried to straighten a piece of her hair after Kaname embarassed her.
Rose smiled warmly and extended her hand all while ignoring the wandering eyes of the night class. There was nothing wrong with helping a classmate up.
He carefully grasped her hand as she pulled him up and they looked at each other, smiling goofily.
One of the night class students watched the scene and whispered to another in suspicion. "Isn't this atmosphere a little too good?"
Turning, he gasped when he found Kaname standing behind him and he immediately tried to backtrack. "Ahh that's not what I meant Lord Kaname."
Kaname just glanced at Rose and Zero before closing his eyes and moving forward, wrapping his hand around Rose's arm.
Then without warning he pulled her away from Zero and quickly muttered. "We need to get going." before leading her towards the classroom.
He locked eyes with Zero in intense hatred before turning his back to him while still leading Rose away.
Rose looked up at him in protest and harshly whispered. "What you are doing?" to which Kaname remained silent.
He knew what he had done was a childish move but seeing and hearing the two of them together brought a large empty feeling in his chest that he couldn't just ignore.
Even so a little voice in the back of his head whispered the words that he didn't want to comprehend. You lost.
This chapter is filled with so much fluff. It was so much fun to write! Hanabusa and Rose's relationship is so cute I love writing their interactions. Plus more of that Zero X Rose fluff! I've mapped out the rest of this story so I estimate that it will take another 3-5 chapters to resolve everything. S3 is going to be longer because its silly to make another season for just a couple chapters. :)