Second Night

Yes, that's right. That berserk insane "rampaging" vampire that murdered the Kiryuu family (except for Zero), and had bitten Zero himself with it's bloodthirsty fangs, was a rare pureblood. Pureblood vampires have the incredible ability of being able to turn mere humans into their own malicious kind. That is, vampires themselves; by just simple sinking their fangs into their skin, and devouring their blood like a beast. Zero resisted back the vampire instincts that lay harbored deeply inside of him for four whole years. But now…

"Kiryuu-kun will be attending the Night Class after tonight." The Headmaster said again. Those distasteful, unwanted words, which shook Yuuki with disdain. "Tomorrow will be his last day in the Day Class."

"H-Headmaster!" Yuuki now exclaimed with such a strong force conviction of efficiency. "Zero…Zero…" Her firm voice wavered into a quivering one. She looked at Zero with eyes full of lost and fear. Zero returned her gaze with eyes that seemed to speak in a way of asking for forgiveness.

"Z-Zero! It's not true, right?!" Her gaze was now fixated on him intently.

"Yuuki…" Zero replied slowly, as if saying her very name was cherishable. "Yes. It's true. Headmaster…" he darted his steady glance away from the stricken Yuuki. "The Headmaster and I talked about it a week ago. And…agreed this."

"A…week? W-why didn't you say anything? Why do you want to go to the Night Class? Why—"

"I don't want to go." Zero interrupted Yuuki's list of constant questions, but seemingly in a gentle manner and tone of voice.

"But what about being a prefect?!"

"I've already arranged that." The Headmaster suddenly broke in; disputing the conversation of the two. "My nephew will be attending the Day Class starting next week. Yuuki, he will replace Zero as the second prefect of Cross Academy."

"Replace…Zero…?" Yuuki stuttered quietly like one who was just treacherously betrayed.

"I'm sorry, Yuu—"

"Father! How could you do this?! No one can replace Zero just like that!" She shouted in an angry tone of such fierceness as she clenched her fists, her face flourishing hotly red.

"Kiryuu-kun also agreed." The matter-of-fact voice that the Headmaster addressed that sentence in added all the more rage to Yuuki's anger; a hidden streak of secret grief dwelled within her also. Yuuki looked at the two of them, Zero and the Headmaster, with such a melancholic expression as she swiftly turned her back repulsively. Aiming with the full intention to leave this room that was horrendously filled with deceitful lies. But in that split second, as she just turned the door knob to leave, she suddenly felt a strong hand grasp her own as she knew it almost instantly that it was Zero. Without even looking back, she quietly said, trying to sound calm,
"Let go, Zero."

Zero did not say anything in reply to Yuuki's unsettling behavior as she jerked her hand away this time sharply and unhesitantly, and left the room with a bam from the door's shutting.

"Oh! Yuuki is really upset!" The Headmaster said with a sigh of contempt. "But…it couldn't be helped. She needed to know."

The room was silent, as Zero still only started at the door with an empty face, as if filled with regret.

"Kiryuu-kun?"

"Just make sure…that Yuuki is still safe when I'm gone." Zero finally spoke in a resentful tone, as he, too, turned the knob of the door and left resoundely; leaving the Headmaster pretty awe-strucken from the unexpected turn of events that this news brought between to the two of them. Especially for Yuuki.

"Why? Why would Zero agree to go to the Night Class?" Yuuki thought to herself still with slightly enraged emotions as she ran across the Day Class campus to the far side of the main academy building. She slumped down back to back against a tree as if weak and wrought with an illness.

"I don't understand." She pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her chin upon her crossed arms. The only thing present and existent in the black tainted sky was the illuminating moon. No glistening stars to accompany it with radiance. It was lonely, as Yuuki looked up at it's silent calmness, feeling that same cold placid emotion. Unexpectedly to herself, she felt two single tears well up in her weary dark eyes, slowly, as if reluctantly, sliding down her pale cheeks. Zero…for him to suddenly disappear from her side, just like that, leaving a scarred Yuuki behind to torment in a pool of solitude…

"Zero...!" Yuuki cried to herself, holding her hand over her mouth to quiet the sobbing. In that moment, that trembling moment, as her fingers touched her lips somberly, she suddenly vividly remembered that time…that time when Zero had gently took her face between his two hands softy; an unspoken kiss almost elapsing from his lips to hers. The image of that unknown Zero marred Yuuki's mind everyday with confusion and slight tint of embarrassed nervousness. Her emotions and feelings towards Zero changed drastically since that night, as she felt her heart grow stronger and stronger with loving affection. Until, she knew that those feelings were no longer shallow and barely visible. She painstakingly realized, almost with doubt, that she…unquestionably did love the friend of hers with a compassionate enthrallment. Yes…Yuuki could no longer deny these harbored feelings of loving Zero.

"Yuuki." A sudden voice of word calling her name in the dark broke Yuuki's train of thought, throwing her back into the world. Yuuki, of course, knew who it was judging by their voice. Like a stubborn child who's resenting a scolding, she heedlessly ignored Zero's presence as he stood next to her now, under the pitch sky. Together.

"You're mad at me, aren't you?" He said quietly, with no hint of anger himself in his settle tone. This surprised Yuuki, as she realized the kindness that conveyed his words and actions. "It's for the best."

"How?" The shaken, now more calm, Yuuki said in a single demanding syllable.

"Yuu—"

"Z-Zero! You think that you can just leave me like this?" She moved her hand in a slow motion, grabbing Zero's own that hung at his side lifelessly. Zero looked down at her—as she still sat against the tree—with a face of seeking repentance. Anxiety welled up in his eyes. Yuuki looked back at the vampire with a seemingly desperate face, and, Zero also noted the wetness upon her cheeks that glistened ever so slightly in the faint moonlight. Tears…the thought and realization of knowing that Yuuki was, had, been crying bewildered him inside.

"Yuuki. I once asked you what am I to you." He suddenly bent down on his knees, gripping her hand in a tighter grip, face to face with her now. Yuuki felt her face flush yet again, reverting to a crimson color, as she also felt idiotic because she knew that Zero would most certainly notice. She also hoped with intent exasperation that he would not notice or hear the beating of her timid heart.

"And what is your answer?" Zero lightly, so very lightly, rubbed his forehead against Yuuki's as she felt his silky hair sweep over her red cheek.

"I-I…" Yuuki stammered, her throat becoming hoarse with dryness, as she could say nothing more. Zero's sudden action flustered her so very nervously.

"It doesn't matter." He whispered softly, then pulled away from Yuuki silently, and smiled with a small smile upon his face. He stood up, releasing Yuuki's hand in the process.

"Let's get back on patrol. I'll head over to the Moon Dormitory on the Night Class's grounds. You patrol the Sun Dorm." He left abruptly, without saying any more as Yuuki still sat against the same tree, very, very dazed and confused with what had just occurred. She moved her hand up to her now hot forehead, in a quick movement, and sighed with perplexity. "Z-Zero…"

She stood up now herself, stiffly sore from sitting back to back with the rough tree for so long.

"You ask me that…and I think…I know the answer now." She put her hand on her chest, as the thumping in it began to slowly decrease. She sighed once more, and then proceeded with her bountiful duties of a prefect of Cross Academy. Knowing, that, in the deep vast recesses of her mind, that this would be the last night with Zero as her despitefully, jokingly nicknamed, "partner."