"Excuse me, miss?"

I was woken up by someone shaking me awake. I opened my eye blearily to look up at the train attendant who was hovering over me anxiously.

"Oh, sorry if I disturbed you, miss," he said as he pulled away quickly, as if he'd been shocked "It's just that we're coming up to our next stop and you've been asleep for a long time…"

I glanced out of the window and sat up, cracking my neck.

"Is it the town that's near Cross Academy?" I asked tiredly.

"Y-Yes?"

"Thank you. You woke me up on time."

His eyes lit up happily before he bowed his head and scurried out of the room. I stretched my limbs out, adjusting my eyepatch and got up. I yawned as the train began slowing down and headed out to get off.

I got quite a few curious stares as I walked down the streets, heading towards Cross Academy. Was it my hair? I didn't exactly bring a brush with me to take care of the knots. I snorted to myself as I chose the more shadowy side of the street. The sun was so damn bright, I don't want to be completely blind.

"Look, mommy! A pirate!"

I nearly laughed out loud as the woman hurriedly ushered her child out of my path. I just tucked my hands into my pockets and continued making my way to the school. The sun was finally setting as I reached school grounds and took in the scene. Nostalgia hit me, it felt like it had been years since I was last year. Heck, I'm not sure how old I am, time just came and went when I was with Rido then travelling with Zero and staying with Kaname. It felt like I was in limbo, unorganised and just floating, not sure where I was going to next. I smiled to myself and stepped into the grounds, walking down the familiar paths. I even found the tree I enjoyed climbing up and down since I was very young.

I reached the top and took in a deep breath, letting the breeze blow into me and it woke me up even more. I saw the main building, remembering the classes we had together. I remember how comfortable the desks were as I slept through the morning classes because I had stayed up all night patrolling with Yuki and Zero. I winced as I heard a chorus of screams, rolling my eye when I realised it was crossover time. I smirked before climbing back down and heading towards the cheering.

"It's past curfew, get back to your dorms!"

"Get back!"

"Eh, you're so mean!"

"Ladies!" I raised my voice.

They all turned to me and I smirked, folding my arms.

"Why are you still here when the Night Class are long gone?" I purred, ignoring the stares "Hm, maybe if you stay out here, I can look through your rooms for your picture collections and burn them."

That had them running. Apart from Yori and some tall guy who was not in uniform.

"Mana?" she said uncertainly as she approached me.

"Yori," I nodded with a soft smile "I'm not staying long, just checking in with Headmaster and getting a few personal effects."

"It's been so long," she looked on the verge of tears "You suddenly disappeared…"

"I know," I sighed as I ducked my head.

"It's been over a year."

I winced.

"Ah," I grimaced "Sorry, a lot of stuff happened."

"So what's a princess like you doing here?" the young man approached us and I bristled.

"Just visiting home," I glared up at him "Is the Chairman in his office?"

"Yes," Yori nodded and smiled "Welcome back."

There was paperwork everywhere when I stepped into the office. I looked down at the mess on the floor and sighed, smiling softly.

"Chairman?"

I could hear light breathing from the pile on the desk and I chuckled, shaking my head. I made my way over to the desk and brushed the papers off, prodding Kaien's head.

"Oi."

He snorted, swatting at my hand. I huffed.

"Daddy!"

He shot up and stared at me blearily, glasses askew.

"You called me Daddy!"

"No I didn't," I chuckled as he yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Mana?" he murmured as he adjusted his glasses to look up at me "…MANA?!"

I jumped as he got to his feet and pointed at my face.

"Your eye!" he wailed and I placed a hand over my eyepatch "Why is my baby girl wearing an eyepatch?!"

"Ah…"

I shook my head.

"Listen, that can wait for dinner," I proposed and gave an anxious smile "Uh, I'll cook! My treat! You've clearly got quite a lot of work to do."

"Dinner sounds nice," he was quick to come around and lead me off.

"Chairman, you have work," I sighed.

"Nonsense, I can always have time for my baby girls," he doted on me with that goofy face "Is Yuki here too?"

"No," I said slowly "That's kind of what I want to talk to you about."

He looked at me without the goofiness for once and I hunched my shoulders.

"How does stir-fry sound for you?"

It was quiet in the kitchen as I picked at the roasted vegetable on my plate. Kaien was looking at me with concern and I sat still for a while until I found the right words.

"Before Rido took control of me and I was whisked off to wherever," I started and he straightened up "Kaname asked for my hand in marriage with the intention to break the engagement off with Yuki."

He raised his eyebrows, nodding slowly to urge me to continue.

"After the whole fiasco with being with Rido then being taken to a safe house and…"

I gestured to my eyepatch and Kaien frowned.

"How did that happen?" he asked.

"Um, I'll tell you later but the point is when I went back to where Yuki was staying, she was under the assumption that she was still engaged to Kaname. When I mentioned it, he said that it had slipped his mind to mention to Yuki that their engagement was off and that was when I said that I didn't want to marry him…"

I grimaced at the memory.

"He ushered for us to get married even more, talking about setting a date for next month!" I shook my head, hunching over the table "I couldn't bear being around him so I left rather abruptly."

I looked Kaien in the eye.

"So I guess I'm here seeking asylum," I murmured "I understand if you say no but I'll be staying for a couple of days before finding somewhere else."

"Mana," he leaned over to pet my hand "You're always welcome here."

I felt tears welling up in my eye. He squeezed my hand tightly.

"This is your home and I understand if you want to take some time to adjust to…"

He gestured to my eye and I sighed with a smile.

"I guess I should tell you," I mumbled as I pushed myself away "This was the only way to get rid of Rido in my head."

"Why's that?" Kaien frowned.

Oh boy.

"So I had a run in with Rido that night," I said slowly "The reason I was covered in blood was because he ripped my eye out."

Kaien's eyes widened and I winced.

"Then he put his own eye into me and was controlling me through it I suppose? I dunno how it worked but the moment I plucked it out, I couldn't hear him anymore."

"My poor baby Mana!"

I grunted as Kaien went flying across the table to hug me tightly.

"That fiend! He's lucky he's dead now else I'd make sure he'll regret ever being born!"

"Zero killed him, didn't he?" I prompted as I struggled to push him off "Uh, is he around?"

Kaien pulled away and shook his head.

"He's staying at the Vampire Hunter's Association, apparently there's a lot of work to do."

My heart dropped and I ducked my head.

"Oh."

"All your stuff is here and your art room is still your art room," he continued speaking.

"Thanks, I'm not sure what to do with my life at the moment to be honest," I muttered.

"Well take a break, you must have gone through a lot," Kaien reassured me whilst patting my back.

"I told Yori that I'd only be staying for a couple of days so I'd rather be incognito so if Kaname or Yuki or anyone else looking for me comes along…"

"You are not here," he winked at me.

I hugged him tightly.

"Thank you."

I laid out the bed roll out in my art room and sat down on it, stretching my limbs out. I looked around, staring at the paint stains on the walls, smiling wistfully at my easel and grimacing at my stash of paintings that I had hidden in the corner. No-one had ever seen them, especially since they're not really that good. I only painted as a hobby. It was what got rid of my stress and I had a lot of stress to get rid of. As I lay down on the bed roll, pulling the blanket over me, I found that I couldn't sleep. My body ached from travelling and my hair was sopping wet from the long hot bath I took earlier. Screw it, I had so many ideas on what to paint, sleep can wait. I sprung up from the bed roll and began looking for a blank canvas.

Kaname was here. I had glimpsed him from my art room window and had immediately ducked out of view, not wanting to risk another look. I was certain it was him, I could sense him. I ran downstairs hastily, double checking I had locked and bolted the door. No-one ever came here under my rule else they'd suffer my wrath. I didn't want anyone to see my scrappy paintings. I backed off and began putting away the paints, paintbrushes and bedroll. I hesitated on my work in progress, it was still wet. I dismissed it and squeezed into the cupboards to hide. I covered my head and waited.

I ended up falling asleep in this position and when I woke up it was night time. I was too afraid to come out. But I knew I couldn't stay in here forever. I flinched as my body began to feel cramped. I should definitely get out to stretch my body out. So I gently nudged the doors open and peered out. There was no-one and I crept out slowly.

"Mana."

I froze on the spot as I spied Kaname in the corner, looking disappointed and hurt. I couldn't move as he stood up from leaning against the wall.

"Why did you leave me?" he whispered as he began coming towards me "Why are you hiding from me? I love you."

I couldn't bring myself to speak as he stood in front of me and gripped my shoulders tightly.

"And you love me back. You just don't know it yet."

I couldn't open my mouth to protest against him. I couldn't push him away, I felt paralysed.

"Come home, Mana. The wedding preparations have been taken care of. All you need to do is put your dress on."

"No," I finally said and his eyes lit up red.

"No?"

The room grew darker and I felt scared, more scared than I ever had been before.

"If I can't convince you, then maybe Zero's death will."

My mind went blank.

"NO!"

My fingers moved and blood whips pierced the vampire in front of me.

"Ma…na…"

I froze as I saw a bruised and bloody Zero in front of me, weak and dying. He stared at me with that venomous glare he normally gave to Kaname or any other vampire.

"Zero…"

"You're just like them," he spat "Destroying lives one after the other with no remorse."

"No…"

"You're selfish and disgusting."

"Zero, I…"

My heart broke as he turned to dust and in front of me next was Yuki.

"You abandoned us," she muttered sullenly "We're supposed to be sisters. Yet you always push me away."

"Yuki…"

"And for what? For petty jealousy? You can't have everything you want, Mana."

"I don't…no, I just want to live a normal life."

"You always ask for the impossible, that's why you're never happy."

"I don't!"

"You attacked me! Your own sister!"

"I didn't mean to!"

"Just go away and never come back!"

"Yuki!"

A hand covered my eye and someone was breathing down my neck.

"Guess who?"

I screamed as Rido laughed and held me close to his body.

"I found you, my little Mana!" he sung loudly "Come with me, Mana, I'll give you a new eye! Then you'll be perfect!"

"I don't want to be perfect! Let me go!"

His laughs echoed in the room as he spun me around. Once he stopped, he pushed my head to the side so he could get at my neck.

"No, no, no!"

"Mana!"

I woke up violently on my bed roll and knocked Kaien's chin with my head. He stumbled back, spilling the tea and biscuits on the tray and I stared at him with wide eyes.

"You can't be in here!" I practically shrieked.

"You weren't answering the door," my adopted father said as he lay on the floor twitching.

"Still, you can't be in here!"

"Mana, you were shouting in your sleep, I was worried."

He adjusted his glasses whilst rubbing his chin tenderly.

"And I've never seen your paintings before. The one you've just finished is beautiful."

I jumped to hide the painting on the easel and blush.

"No, it's scrappy and messy!" I shouted "Get out!"

"Mana…"

I felt so embarrassed. This painting was just a typical scenery painting, with a field, a little stream with a bridge over it and some woods. The sun was setting in the background but the colours weren't right at all. I had used too much pink.

"Mana, it's beautiful."

"It's not. It's pathetic."

"I think it's beautiful."

I glared at him.

"What did you want me for?" I asked.

"I had made tea."

I glanced at the mess which Kaien was trying to clean up.

"…"

"Um, give me a moment."

He dashed downstairs and I stared at my painting. It's probably dry enough. I picked it up and put it away with the other paintings. I eyed the growing pile in the cupboard and realise that I was running out of room.

"Mana?"

I turned to Kaien as he approached me with a flyer. It was for some painting contest. I shook my head furiously and he shot me a reprimanding look.

"Mana, give it a go."

"No way, not going to happen."

"Mana…"

"It won't even be glanced at."

"Mana, you don't have to be as good as Da Vinci or Picasso. Just give it a go, you'll see what you're capable of and if not, you'll probably get some criticism which will help you improve if that is what you want."

"It's just a hobby!"

I shook my head.

"No, I just did this to get rid of some stress and to think of what I could do with my life."

"Well you could see where the art world could get you."

"That business is brutal, it's hard enough to get noticed."

"Well why don't you start now?"

He tilted his head.

"It won't do you any harm."

I took the flyer and sighed.

"If it'll shut you up."

I took my eyepatch off and put the sunglasses on. It would attract too much attention if I turned up at the viewing with an eyepatch, especially since I was supposed to be incognito. I brushed my hair back and platted it. I missed Zero putting my hair into a bun. It made me feel more focused. I took one of my blood pills and stared at myself in the mirror as I swallowed it. I felt like that the girl looking back at me was a complete stranger. I didn't like it, I never enjoyed change. I shook my head; I was going to be late. I stood up rather hastily smoothing down my clothes. The dress code was causal but smart, I think I got the right clothes. After checking myself again in the mirror, I hide away the eyepatch in my cupboard and wandered to Kaien's office.

"I'm off, I don't know when I'll be back."

"Good luck! I know you'll win, my baby Mana!"

"Not a baby. See ya."

There are too many people here. I made sure to keep a distance from people, making sure my sunglasses wouldn't slip down to show the empty eye socket. There were so many paintings and I found myself admiring them. I probably looked very suspicious, like I was from some mafia. All I needed was a fedora and some gloves. I was approached when I was admiring something that resembled a bowl of fruit.

"Hi there," the older man greeted me and I glanced up at him "Mr Miyagi at your service."

I just nodded to him and he smiled down at me.

"Are you perchance Miss Sakurai?"

The fake name I put forward, Sachiko Sakurai. I nodded slowly and he beamed happily.

"Excellent, I've been looking for you for a while," he chuckled "I've been admiring the painting you submitted."

He pulled a business card and handed it to me.

"We should get together for a chat," he said as I looked down at it "You're quite something."

He walked off and I tucked the card into my jacket pocket. I turned back to admire the abstract looking bowl of fruit.

"Miss Sakurai?"

I turned to a younger looking girl, she was probably a student, who came up to me with shy eyes directed to the floor.

"I was wondering, what inspired you to paint that scene?"

I took a moment to think of an answer.

"I probably dreamt of it," I replied honestly "It's nothing much, my father encouraged me to submit it to this contest."

"I think it's beautiful!" the girl said with flushed cheeks "I submitted a painting too. Would you like to see it?"

I shrugged and followed her to someone's portrait. …More specifically Senri's portrait and I had to hold back a choke.

"Do you by any chance go to Cross Academy?"

"Uh, yeah, why?"

I held back my smirk and snigger.

"Well, the technique is wonderful," I began speaking whilst looking up at the portrait "The subject however…"

"I know, I never really got to keep a picture of him," the girl looked annoyed "The prefects always confiscate our photo albums of the Night Class, it's not fair."

I nearly grinned.

"Well, I think you have the potential, might want to work on the eyes."

"Do you think?"

"Yes and perhaps try asking for models instead? That way you know what you're painting better."

I remembered all the sketches I had of Zero somewhere in my room and blushed lightly. If anyone ever found those, I'd be dubbed a stalker for sure. It's just that Zero fell asleep so easily and often and they were only rough sketches. I found myself glancing around the gallery, frowning lightly.

"There don't seem to be a lot of people around," I murmured.

"Oh, didn't you know?"

I jumped out of my skin and nearly screamed. I whirled around to see a wealthy looking young man standing on my right, looking startled at my violent reaction.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he apologized quickly whilst I found myself trying to calm my heart down, placing a hand over it.

"I…I guess I was in my own world there," I chuckled softly.

I was still getting used to the idea with only having one eye. I regained my composure, adjusting my glasses better and hoping that no-one had seen the missing eye.

"I'm an art collector," the young man smiled "and I am interested in purchasing your work."

Come again? I looked at him incredulously.

"I beg your pardon?" I managed to say.

"Is it not for sale?"

"Oh, no, no, I mean," I floundered slightly "I wasn't expecting anyone to want to have it."

"Modest, I like that in a woman," he grinned.

I shuddered.

"I don't have a price."

"Well, let's start low, you are an amateur for now, aren't you? Let's say fifty thousand yen?"

Is this guy serious? I must have looked unsure because he pressed on.

"I can go higher."

"Can I consider your offer?" I quickly asked before he could throw any more prices at me.

He graced me with that creepy smile and nodded.

"I'll be seeing you when you're announced as the winner."

And he left. I let out an exasperated sigh.

"Is something wrong?" the student girl asked.

"I just hate people who go around to flaunt the fact that they have a lot of money," I shrugged whilst adjusting my glasses.

"Um…"

She looked really nervous again.

"Can we go and see your painting? It is very beautiful."

"Sure?" I glanced at her "Is something wrong?"

"Well, I don't really like crowds…"

Crowds? I let her lead me to the next corridor which had a cluster of people around one of the paintings. That artist must be popular.

"They should move onto other works soon, I hope," the student muttered softly.

"Hm?"

She pointed to the crowd.

"That's where your painting is being displayed."

…She's pulling my leg, right? I stared at the crowd and tried to swallow the lump in my throat.

"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to take a closer look."

The girl nodded and I began moving to the crowd. Surely this was a mistake, maybe there was someone else named Sachiko Sakurai? Maybe the labels got mixed up. I carefully pushed my way to the front of the crowd and looked up. The first thing I saw was the pink sky and I felt annoyed about how the shades didn't seem to fit in the overall scene. Then I looked across the field, the stream and the woods. This was indeed my work.

"I just want to run across that field."

"Wouldn't it be lovely to have that hanging in the lobby?"

"The sky just looks stunning."

The people around me were talking about my work. They liked my work. This scrappy piece of art, they liked it?

"It has my vote," the person on my left side muttered as he scribbled something down onto a clipboard then shuffled out of the crowd.

It took a while for the crowd to disperse but I just continued to stand there, looking up at the scenery and at the sun that was halfway down the horizon. The student approached me, from my right because I could hear her footsteps but I couldn't see her.

"You look surprised," she said.

"I never expected such praise," I murmured.

I heard her giggle.

"Don't we all?"

I left that evening with two cheques tucked into my purse.

"My baby Mana won!"

I grunted as my adopted father flung his arms around me whilst I scrambled eggs.

"Careful," I muttered.

"It's a lot of money you got," he began pestering me more "What are you going to do with it?"

I hesitated and turned to him.

"If it isn't too much to worry about, I'd like save up to rent somewhere in town to stay."

He hesitated and I choked as he squeezed me tighter.

"No!" he wailed "My baby Mana is leaving me!"

"I won't be too far away and I'll visit!" I coughed as I struggled with the arm around my neck "Eggs! I'm cooking eggs! Get off!"

After the eggs were narrowly saved, I ended up staring at the business card that Miyagi guy gave to me. I ended up arranging to meet up with him.

A few months later I was in my studio, eating my dinner when Mr Dubois, a regular that bought my works, called and proposed for me to visit France and sell some works there. It sounded like a huge deal and Mr Miyagi thoroughly encouraged for me to at least go for a few weeks. France, I wasn't exactly a linguist and it sounded daunting to travel over there. I told them I would consider and went to my window to paint there. I always enjoyed being by the window, just looking out into the world and watching the people go up and down the street. I pulled my hair up into a sloppy bun and began painting.

It took a couple of days to move my things into this tiny little studio. It wasn't much but it was home and the rent was decent. Well, if I kept up with selling my paintings. The cost to go to France seemed steep, considering how I manage my finances, but Mr Dubois assured me that he would pay for the flight himself. Still, going to France, going to Paris! Where the Louvre is! Oh, I would love to go there! Just seeing all those paintings and the chance to see the Mona Lisa! I let my brush drop a little, staring at the blue sky that was on the canvas. I should go. It would be wonderful to go, I don't even know what I'm afraid of. I might need to learn some basic French, that's all.

"Mana?"

I jumped out of my skin, my blind eye was towards the door, and I turned my head sharply to see… My heart stopped.

"Zero?"

He…looked like he matured so much. He stood at the doorway, looking at me with slightly wide eyes. I guess he hadn't gotten the memo of the fact that I only had one eye now. I swallowed shakily.

"How did you get in?"

"Chairman gave me his spare key."

"Why are you here?"

He hesitated, leaning on the doorframe and just looking at me. I felt tears welling up in my eye.

"Zero, where have you been?" I whimpered.

The feelings were bubbling up in me again and I tried my best to suppress them.

"You weren't at Cross Academy anymore; you didn't even come to see me after Rido died…"

"I…I needed to think."

"About what?" I spat.

He leaned his head on the doorframe.

"You."

I stared at him in disbelief as he pushed himself off from the doorframe and began crossing the room.

"No you haven't," I muttered.

"I have."

"Why?"

"You confessed to me," he said "Before I prepared to shoot you, you told me that you loved me, didn't you?"

My heart dropped and I bowed my head.

"You came here to reject me?"

"Quite the opposite."

I looked up at him sharply and he offered me a small smile.

"But Yuki…"

"Puppy love," he shrugged "I guess…Yuki mentioned how much time we spent together when I was around her. And I began thinking about you. Surely not, you didn't show any interest in me…"

"I showed plenty of interest, I don't think I could have been more obvious," I snarled and turned my blind eye on him.

"Yeah," he snorted.

Silence fell between us and I placed my paint and brush down. I glanced at him and pawed at his hand and he grabbed hold of my hand to squeeze it.

"What happened with your eye?"

"I ripped it out so Rido would shut up," I muttered.

"Sure, makes sense."

I giggled and sniffed back the tears. I then began bawling my eye out and Zero tensed up.

"Hey, what's wrong?!" he exclaimed.

"All this time, I thought you hated me," I cried as I rubbed the tears away "I was about to accept the fact that you'll always love Yuki and I nearly married Kaname damn it! This is all your fault!"

"Huh?!"

"Stupid Zero!"

"Tch."

He brought me into a hug and glanced at the half done painting.

"You're really making a living out of painting," he muttered.

"Did Kaien exaggerate?"

"Most likely."

I leaned on his shoulder.

"Actually, I need some help on a decision."

Zero stared down at me as I took a deep breath.

"I might be visiting France soon for a few weeks but I'm not sure if I should go or not."

"France?" Zero raised an eyebrow "Why?"

"Well, I'd probably be selling some works there, apparently there are some clients that are interested."

"You should go."

I looked up at him.

"Will you come with me?"

Zero stared at me and sighed.

"How can I say no?"

I pounced and hugged him tightly, making him stagger back and hug his arms around my hips to support me.

"I'd be too scared to go on my own," I confessed shyly, plucking at his shirt.

"You've fought vampires and pulled your own eye out but you're scared of a measly little trip?"

"Zero!"

I slapped his shoulders and he smirked. He lowered me down to my feet and cupped my face.

"I missed you," he said.

"I missed you too," I said back without much thought "I honestly didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Well, I'm here now."

Zero leaned down and kissed me. It was…awkward. Like very, very awkward because frankly, we didn't know how to kiss. But it was alright. Because it was Zero. I was happy to see him after so long. I hugged him tighter as he separated because our kissing techniques were bad. I leaned my head against his chest to listen to his heartbeat. He began to pull my hair out of my bun and proceeded to make a proper bun. I smiled wider, feeling those caring hands handle my hair. This was heaven. Nothing could have ruined that perfect moment.