Hi, everyone! Here's another chapter! I know you expected How Could This Happen to Me Part 2. I gotta admit I'm having a few problems with bringing the chapters into logical order. I think I've done that now. So here is a short side-story that is to relate to the real chapter "How Could This Happen to Me". The reason I'm publishing it as a single is because the chapter would become even longer than it is already. Maybe you'll understand it all after reading Part 2 which will follow soon. Now, straight to the point, or better the story!

Consolation

Kaname had headed off to the council and Yuuki once again sneaked out to meet Zero. She secretly entered the Day Dorm, walked down the hallway to his room and knocked at the door. After a minute Zero opened the door.

"Hi, Zero!"

"Yuuki... Now's not really a good time," he said.

"Zero..." Yuuki looked up at him and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot as if he had cried. "You're eyes... Did you cry?" Zero was silent and stared at the floor. "Please let me inside."

Zero stepped back, let her enter and closed the door behind her. "Have a seat."

He offered her his bed. Yuuki thanked him but didn't sit down. Instead she walked up to Zero and took his hands into hers.

"What's wrong? Tell me."

"It's nothing. Really," Zero evaded.

"You're eyes are red and I can see that it's not because you need blood. Please, Zero, talk to me. Come here." She sat down on his bed and asked him to do the same. Zero did as he was told. Yuuki held his head in her arms. "Now tell me."

"I'm still a Level D vampire," Zero explained. "I thought after what happened I'd return to normal. When it didn't happen at once I thought it'd take some time. But now two months have passed."

"Do you need blood?"

"It's not that," Zero shook his head heavily. "I killed Ichiru and the worst is I killed him for nothing!"

Zero had begun to cry again. Yuuki was trying to give him comfort. "Shh... your brother wanted to help you, I'm sure. And it was not for nothing. It did made you stronger, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but that thing inside my body... it only retarded again. If I'd known it before I'd've taken another way to become stronger and spared Ichiru."

"But there was no other way," Yuuki reminded him. "Was there? Besides it was your destiny to become the strongest hunter. Your brother must have known that. Like I said he wanted to help you."

"And what if I never wanted to fulfill this destiny?" Zero said. "What if I never wanted to fight Rido all along?"

"Zero..." Yuuki sighed. "Back then you kinda saved me from Rido. Aren't you proud of that? I definitely am. I was glad you were there to protect me."

"You were?"

"Yeah. So don't cry or reproach yourself anymore, okay?" She patted Zero's head and gave him a weak smile.

Little by little Zero calmed down. He straightened up and looked at Yuuki. "Why did you come? You couldn't have known I was in bad mood."

"Oh that. I can't believe I came to you for asking for help with my own problems although you had some yourself."

"Problems?" Zero asked. "What problems?"

"With Kaname," Yuuki answered. "We had an argument because he can't accept me keeping up my human past."

"I understand. Of course he doesn't want to lose you to the humans... or to me," Zero added.

"But I just can't!" Yuuki said desperately. "I liked my life as a human. I just can't get used to the one of a vampire and leave everything behind."

"I see," was all Zero said. He couldn't help her with her problem either and they both knew that. It was something Yuuki had to figure out all by herself. "If you can't get used to it," he said a few minutes later. "Then come back. To Yori, she's missing you and... to me."

Yuuki looked at him and forced a smile. "I'm missing you, too."

"Yuuki, I can't force you to come back and I don't want that either. It's something you have to decide for yourself. But there's another thing."

"What would that be?" Yuuki asked.

"There must be something wrong with me. I can't do my hunter job anymore. I'm failing it. I'm totally screwing up. Everytime there's something else on my mind."

"And what?"

"You."

I'm looking forward to your reviews!