The Only Exception

It was his birthday today. Mino had done everything right or so she thought. As per usual, he did not complain or throw ignorant comments at her, but that was most likely what hurt her most... that he had no opinion over what she had tried so hard to do. He merely sat there and ate in silence without any actual or genuine expression upon his handsome visage. Instead of Yuki's noodles she made tomato soup and instead of a candle lit dinner Mino bunched it all together and lugged it to his bedroom.

He once told her he preferred to eat in his room. She assumed it was because it kept him away from the world. It hid him away and... – "Gah! Why does he have to spoil everything with his emo-ness?!" Mino loudly exclaimed, pouring the left over soup into the sink and turning the faucet on.

"Oh well," she sighed to herself, beginning to smile, "Tomorrow will be better," She stated, nodding her head and glancing out the kitchen window at the snow, "Tomorrow will be better..."

"It is so hard to get along with him sometimes. He doesn't smile. I always smile... maybe I should teach him to smile." Looking up, Mino caught sight of some fan girls running down to the night gates rather early. She shook her head and scrunched up her eyes, "I should warn Yuki and Zero."

Running down the corridor to the classroom, she burst through and searched for the pair. She pushed through a throng of giggling girls with many quiet 'excuse me's along the way.

"Yuki!" She shouted, "Yuki! Zero! There are some girls down at the nigh-" Imminently cutting off, Mino stared in confusion, her mouth hanging open and a deep blush covering her cheeks from her previous dash.

"Ze-Zero?" She asked quietly, blinking back the shock and watching the men glare at one another.

Zero grumbled a bit, but she was unable to understand and gasped as he fled the room.

Yagari turned to meet her gaze, "You better get ready," He said, motioning to her concealed weapon, "It's almost time."

Covering her mouth, choking on another gasp, Mino shook her head viciously, "No!" She glared, "I will not abandon him! If you want him dead so much, why don't you kill him Sensei?"

Clipping her around the ear, Yagari growled at the suspicious, yet shocked, human children in the classroom. All conversation came to a sudden stop, as they opened the specified pages and began to copy from the textbooks in silence.

He grabbed her arm and shoved her out of the room, "You will take care of this while I distract Yuki-san. Do you understand? Kaname wouldn't appreciate Yuki seeing Zero's execution now, would he?"

"This isn't fair." Mino mumbled, tearing up.

"Life's not fair!" Yagari snarled, slamming the door shut.

Heaving a loud sigh, Mino turned on her feet, "I guess... it's up to me then..." She whispered to herself, head bowed and eyes tearful. Gulping, Mino looked up, 'Zero will be my first kill'.

She began walking...

He growled, leaning his arm against the door, "It hurts." He choked out, as his lungs heaved and his heart clenched tightly. Zero's eyes widened, as his nose filled with Mino's scent. Blinking back the beast, he hit the door and shouted for her to disappear.

"Zero, I'm... I'm here to... to help you." She sounded uncertain, almost upset and at this he frowned. He never liked it when someone upset her... he sighed, Contemplating the situation.

Eventually Zero huffed loudly and stepped away from the door, allowing Mino to cross over the threshold and delve deeply into his quilt that laid a complete mess upon his bed. His eyes widened at the sight of her crystallised tears, "Oh, Zero! Please, tell me you're okay!" She begged him with the palms of her hands forcibly pushing the quilt to her face in order to shroud the sight of him.

He stayed silent for far too long, so she took a quick glance at him from behind the cotton fabric. As she swiftly released a gasp, startled at being caught, she trusted the quilt back in place. Zero let out a chuckle.

"You're going to mess your hair up, acting like that." He told her, gently moving to sit beside her on the bed, sorting out her silver locks.

Mino slowly lowered the quilt with a slight pout, "So... You're okay? It's just that Yagari-Sensei-"

"Yagari has no idea what he's saying!" Zero hastily cut in, hugging her close. Mino sniffled, letting out a hic-op as she leaned her head against him. Breathing deeply, the pair closed their eyes in a moment of peace.

...

Zero lovingly rubbed his cheek against Mino's hair. Against her best efforts to hide it, a blush sprang up due to the tender, delicious ecstasy of excitement that the animalistic behaviour caused. She took a quick shallow breath and gasped when she felt him lick the tip of her ear. Eyes widening in shock and her mouth dropping just slightly, Mino stuttered and pushed him away only for Zero to fall from the bed with an 'Oof!'.

"I'm sorry!" They both shouted to one another.

Staring for a minute, Mino laughed at him, "Zero you're a mess!" She exclaimed, pointing to his dishevelled uniform and hair. Despite his stricken expression, her laughter continued until his demure gaze settled on her reddened visage.

Mino twitched, as he grabbed at her shoulders, "Mino-Chan," He said, "I think... I think I've come to..."

He sighed, bowing his head and closing his eyes in disappointment, "Never mind." He whispered sadly, getting up and closing the door behind him.

"Zero...?"