A Sacrifice, or so it May Seem

Chapter 7. A Sixth Sense

Authors' Note: We're on a ROLL, people! We've got four out, all at the same time! Wait, let's make sure, here, uh, one, two, three, four! Yep! WOOT!

O.o

"Sh, Kaori, everything's going to be all right."

Yuuki stared down at her newborn daughter with her rosy cheeks, her eyes closed as she whimpered in her soft tones. A smile came to Yuuki's lips; it had been such an effort, getting the baby out, but now that she was there, Yuuki just couldn't get enough of her.

Kaori. She thought it was the perfect name for such a perfect little girl. And it hadn't taken her long to figure out, either. She remembered taking Yori and Kaname's names, thinking of a way to put the two together. Kaname had agreed that it was a nice combination, although the two hadn't come on an agreement for the middle name yet. Kaname thought up very complicated, proper names, while Yuuki was more on the side of cute, and simple.

She looked over to her left, where everyone stood, Kaname, who held her hand with one and played with Kaori with the other, the small child now giggling, Elle and the Chairman, their hands intertwined, sincere expressions of happiness on their faces, and on Yori's as well, though she stood off to the side. To herself. Everyone she loved was there, and that would've made her completely happy. It wasn't as if she wasn't very happy, Kaori was a little gift, but Zero…he wasn't there.

And she knew he wouldn't be. She couldn't believe she'd tricked herself into thinking that he would return when Elle did. She'd felt so much despair when Elle came back alone, although she'd tried her hardest not to show it.

"What's the matter, Yuuki?" Yori asked.

Yuuki started, she hadn't noticed Yori as she came over. She'd been thinking kind of deeply.

"Um…nothing, Yori. I'm just…still in a little pain, is all."

"Is that so?" Kaname asked, his fingers suddenly still. "Do you need to rest?"

"No-,"

"I'm sure she'll be fine," the Chairman interrupted, dabbing at his eyes with a tissue. Elle rolled her eyes. He could be so dramatic sometimes, honestly.

"Why don't we just clear out of here, let you three do your thing?" Elle suggested, tugging on the Chairman's sleeve. She sent a look to Yori as well and she understood, giving Kaori one last wave before she left.

"Are you sure that you're all right?" Kaname asked honestly. "I don't mind taking care of Kaori."

"No," Yuuki answered, giving him a small smile. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"If you're sure…"

She nodded.

"What is it that you want from me, Zero?" Ichiru asked. He motioned for him to sit, might as well get comfortable, seeing as he didn't seem as if he would be taking his leave anytime soon.

"I need to talk to you," Zero answered, removing his jacket and placing it onto the couch before sitting down.

"No shit. This couldn't wait until that girl," he spat the word out as if he couldn't stand the taste of it on his lips as he spoke it. Honestly, Zero could do better. And so could Kuran. But then again, he wasn't related to Kuran. So it wasn't as if it mattered. "Had her kid?"

"How did you know-?"

"I know a lot of things. Things about her, about you….about you and Kuran. Speaking of which…"

"That's not what I came here to discuss with you," Zero interrupted.

Ichiru smiled. "Of course not." Why would he want to talk about the fun stuff? Honestly, Zero could be so boring, sometimes.

"Well then, what is it?"

Zero settled into a more comfortable position. Ichiru was already in one of his playful, avoiding moods. He hated when he was like that. It made it harder to get answers.

"Why'd you shoot me, earlier? Is there something going on that I need to know about?" he asked. It can't have all been about Shizuka. He was sure that Ichiru knew the truth by now.

Ichiru shrugged, Zero rolling his silver eyes at the same time. He knew he was going to be difficult. And it was cold in the room, too, so Ichiru was less focused, as well.

"What? You can't believe that I'd just want you dead?" he asked in a playful tone, that same mocking smile coming to his face.

"Somehow, I figure you had a motive," Zero retorted sarcastically. "Besides, if you wanted me dead so badly, you'd have tried something by now."

He'd been staying at Ichiru's place for the last few days, although this was the first time the two had spoken together since his arrival. Ichiru had apparently just returned from some long trip. Up to no good, no doubt.

"Ah, you make a good point, indeed you do," Ichiru repled. "But, how do you know-,"

He appeared behind Zero, the sharp end of a blade to his throat. "If I hadn't already had something planned?"

"Damn you."

"I hope Zero's okay," Yuuki said. She wasn't exactly talking to anybody in particular, Kaname had gone out for the evening, said he had something to take care of, although Kaori seemed to be listening intently. Her auburn eyes burned at Yuuki with curiosity, although Yuuki knew that so early in her little daughter's life, those eyes only saw shadows. She probably couldn't hear much either. If she could, she probably couldn't process it properly.

Kaori gurgled in reply, her stubby hands squeezing one of Yuuki's fingers.

She smiled and then returned her gaze to the window, her eyes on the moon. It was full for the night, and beautiful, although she couldn't be as taken in by its beauty as she usually was. Her mind was just too preoccupied.

"You'd better be okay, Zero," she muttered, her hands sliding gently, yet mindlessly through Kaori's soft dark hair. She felt the sharp chill of the evening and shivered, tucking Kaori deeper into her soft blanket.

Authors' Note: Well, this is an interesting turn of events now then, isn't it? Mwahahaha!