Vampire Knight © Matsuri Hino

Okay, so I decided to continue this. I made this as long as the last chapter(which I am extremely proud of since my limit is usually 2,000words, max). I hope you enjoy this. I think I know where this is headed . . . but still unsure about somethings.

And, out of the kindness of my soul . . . I think I should give you a heads up.

WARNING: ZERO IS KILLED IN THIS CHAPTER. DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ.

Oh yes, and my mistakes are my own. Enjoy~ :)

I woke up the next morning—er, evening—with Kaname sleeping beside me. It was so odd, seeing him there. His face was oddly peaceful. I think he was actually smiling a little. I wondered what he could be dreaming about—if he was actually dreaming and he wasn't just pretending to sleep. It was hard to tell with him anymore.

Last night repeated in my head like a backwards movie, and I again began to wonder about Cyrus and what he had been trying to tell me. Now that I remember . . . I do think it had something to do with the Hunters Society. My stomach dropped, realizing, that yes, it seemed they had only killed him because he seemed to have a hold of something that might be able to harm the name of them . . .

Kaname stirred, and his hand slipped around my waist, dragging my body into his. I froze, holding still, watching his face as his wine eyes blinked open to look over at me. His grip only tightened.

His smile was brief, as he used the back of his free hand to caress my warm cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," I said, narrowing my eyes—suspicious of the innocence in his expression. "Did you?"

"I did," he sighed, and leaned in to rest his head on my shoulder. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

I melted—God, help me—and wrapped my arms around him, trying to physically hold him there forever. I felt him smile, and his hand on my waist slyly slipped up under my t-shirt to rub small, teasing circles on my bare lower back.

Shivering, one of my hands reached up to touch his face. I expected him to pull back, or sit up and say we needed to get ready for class. Instead, he let me glide my fingertips lightly from his temple to his jawline. I took advantage of the moment, and shifted to

use both of my hands to trace the features of his face—his nose; his forehead; his eyes; his cheeks; chin—I saved his lips for last.

Even just touching them, I could feel they were soft and smooth—although I pictured him kissing with rough force.

I blushed, pulling my hands back, and bit my lower lip.

He smiled, and then used both of his hands, too, to touch each inch of my face lightly. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling. He touched my lips last, also. Very lightly, from corner to corner—top lip first, bottom lip second.

When I re-opened my eyes, his were only a movement away. I almost forgot how to breathe. He grinned, and when I went to close the short distance between us, he sat up. I fell face first into the pillows. Typical. I shouldn't have expected more.

I heard him chuckle, and I sat up, my usual scowl already etched into my features. He got up from the bed, and leaned back over to kiss my forehead and my temple, his lips trailing like they had before to my jawline, nipping the skin there. I groaned when he pulled away, frustrated. I could see it now—he was still doing this teasing bit on purpose. He was testing me, to see how long I would put up with it until I finally broke down and took matters into my own hands.

"Not long," I muttered, getting up from the bed angrily. "Not long at all."

"What was that?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

I shot a look at him before I escaped to my room to get dressed in my school uniform. I wore my socks up to my thigh, and sepia coloured tie-up boots.

When I came back into the bedroom, he was changing his shirt. I was lucky he just hadn't been in the middle of changing his pants—or more as he was lucky; I can't trust my self control with him any longer.

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and brush out my hair. I kept it down—which was rare for me, since it was so long. It was to the length of my navel now, and it was a pain to take care of.

Kaname was waiting for me by the exit of his room, holding his books in one hand and balancing mine in the other.

"Thank you," I said dryly, still glaring up at him as I took my things from him.

He smiled, always pleased when I was upset with him. I grumbled under my breath as we went down the staircase and met the group of others. Aidou greeted Kaname first, then me. He always did this. He favoured Kaname. Ruka was glaring back at me with full force when she gave me my good-evening. Seiren stayed silent but bowed to the both of us. Kain mumbled. Takuma was exuberant. Shiki and Rima greeted us simultaneously.

This was just routine—something that happened every evening before we exited the Night Dorms. And—ah, of course—the fan girls that waited out side the gate, screeching like banshees. This, needless to say, did not help improve my sour mood at all.

The school Guardians, Yuuki and Zero, were surprisingly able to keep them under control. Today, it seemed there was more girls waiting for us, screaming louder and flailing their limbs with more effort.

The others circled around Kaname and I, tightly packing us in just in case one of those stupid girls would try to grab Kaname or harm me. This also, was routine. Stupid, boring, routine.

Finally we made it past them, and were disappearing around the corner when their screaming and wailing turned to cries of disappointment. I pinched the skin above my nose and sighed tiredly as we made it into our one class for tonight—we always almost had one to two classes. We weren't graded, and half of the time the teacher didn't show up.

This happened to be one of those times.

Kaname leaned against the window, and I perched to his side. He opened a book and began reading, like he usually did. I swung my legs like a child and stared out of the window as the moon began to slowly heighten in the sky.

Cyrus was on my mind again. I sighed. What was he trying to say? It was so frustrating! Five more seconds, I guarantee you he would have gotten out the rest of that sentence. But then again, five more seconds with the truth revealed and I would have been silenced, too. The hair on my arms bristled as I realized this.

All I know was that he had only been able to say this, "Listen, Ember—I've discovered something about the Hunter's Society that can change everything! They have papers—" and that was it before he was killed. I had been too shocked to try to talk with the hunters. I don't think they would have listened anyways. They disappeared just as they had came.

"Ember-sama? Ember?" Takuma waved his hand in front of me.

I focused in on his face.

His lower lips pouted out, and he set his hands on his hips, holding a book in one hand. "A lot on your mind?"

Kaname smiled in my peripheral vision, obviously thinking I was still mad at him from earlier—which I still was.

"Sorry. Yes. What is it?" I asked, sweeping my hair to rest on one shoulder.

He held up the book between to fingers in front of my face. "You asked for this?"

"Ah, yes." I took it, looking at the cover. "Thank you Takuma."

Pleased, Ichijou skipped off to go bug Aidou and Ruka, who were pouting in the corner together and having mumbled conversation about Kaname and I's odd relationship.

I opened the book, started to read, but my eyes were still seeing Cyrus' face. The urgency in his eyes, his mouth twisting on the last word he spoke. In the background, I heard a gunshot.

At first I thought it was just me remembering the other day. But then I physically felt the thickness of quiet that suddenly hovered in the classroom. My eyes came back into focus, and like everyone else, my eyes went to the window.

"Blood." Someone murmured.

My head snapped to my right, to look at Kaname.

"I'm sure it is nothing." he murmured. "Another rouge hunter maybe?" His eyes lingered on my face longer than necessary. Finally he sighed, set his book down, and stood back up straight. "Takuma . . . Kain, Aidou, come with me."

He started exiting the room when Ruka and I both stepped forward. I was closer, and grabbed Kaname's arm. I ignored the look Ruka shot me. "Let me come, too, Kaname."

He turned partway, and looked down at me. "You should stay in here with the others."

"No." I said firmly, my eyebrows furrowing. "I don't want to be left behind."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair like he always did. "If I didn't think it was a hunter, you would be able to come."

"But I'm a pure-blood, too, Kaname." I protested in a low voice. "I'm strong."

He looked down at me, skepticism in his eyes.

I scoffed. "Fine." I said, dropping my arms. "Go."

I turned away from him, glaring out the window, ignoring the shocked murmurs coming from the other night class students gathered randomly around the room.

I heard him sigh, and then the click as the door closed behind them. Tears stung behind my lids, but I refused to cry. Pure-bloods weren't allowed to show emotion in front of others. Emotion made you seem weak.

My toe tapped impatiently. What if it was really rouge hunters out there? Would they be able to hurt Kaname? I trusted Kain, Aidou, and Takuma to take care of him . . . But still. They had killed Cyrus so easily . . .

And then my mind was made up for me. I jumped up on the windows ledge, and kicked it open with my foot. We were on the third floor of the building, but it wouldn't hurt to jump from here. I felt someone grab my ankle. It was Ruka.

"Are you mad?" she hissed up at me. "Kaname told you to stay behind."

"Unlike you, I have freewill." I said, shaking off her hand.

She didn't seem to have a comeback for that one, so with a quick sweeping of my eyes over the classroom, I leaped to the ground.

The rebound was easy. I bent my knees to help the impact, and as soon as I knew I was sturdy, I started in a slow jog, following the scent of blood that was thick in the air. I took a path through the trees and brush that were to the sides of the walkway, so that I wouldn't be seen right away. Despite all of the debris under my feet, I was more quiet then the wind.

The rusty, bittersweet scent made my throat burn, but I had learned self control a long time ago. I couldn't remember the last time I had taken any blood tablets, but I quickly shook the thought off of me and continued forward. It was drawing closer. I could also smell Kaname's scent closer by, too. They must have already found the source.

I stopped when the scent was almost overbearing, and turned slightly to my right, facing the middle section of the walkway that led to both dorm houses and the school. I held my breath, eyes scanning the surface, and found the source quickly.

I felt my stomach roll, which was an odd reaction for a vampire, but there were at least seven to eight bodies piled together, bloody, but still in tact. They had no more blood in their systems though. So who was the one who lost-

"It seems you have finally lost yourself, Kiryuu." Kaname's voice came from behind the large fountain that sat in the middle of the crosswalk.

I noticed a slight bob of movement, a flash of silver, and then the manic laughter sliced through the air. The figure sprang upwards, hands no longer hands, but long claws, and perched on the top of the fountain.

Kaname's face became more viewable as he walked around to stand with the pile of bodies at his feet. Ichijou, Kain, and Aidou flanked his sides, tensed for battle.

I finally recognized the face that was twisted in a Cheshire-cat worthy smile. Zero Kiryuu, one of the school prefects. I almost gasped, but kept silent.

"How sad. It appears I'll have to kill you now," Kaname sighed in a tired way.

Zero cackled, and was about to leap down when a high pitched, girly voice sliced through the air. "Kaname?"

I froze, as everyone else did. My eyes saw the other school prefect running up behind Kaname. Yuuki Cross. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she was panting. Then, she looked up, and gasped when she saw Zero. "Z-Zero?" she screeched, falling a slight step back.

"Yuuki, get back." Kaname said firmly, placing an arm in front of her.

"Zero!" she yelled, flinging herself forward, tears in her eyes.

Zero, or more as the now Level: E version of Zero, leaped down, fast and swift, aiming for Yuuki.

My heart raced, and I took one step forward as Kaname shouted, "No!" and pushed Yuuki back, into Aidou's arms, as he launched up at Zero to meet him mid-air.

It was over. Zero's eyes widened, and then a human part of him flashed in his face, showing horror. Then he burst into crystallized dust.

Yuuki fell to her knees, sliding out of Aidou's grip, her expression frozen in shock.

Kaname was in front of her then, touching the sides of her face, telling her to look at him, to say something. He picked her up, and took her a few feet down the path, away from the scene of the crime. She seemed to calm down some from that.

What really got me, was the look of anguish and worry that etched themselves into Kaname's features. He looked down at her as he set her down, his eyebrows furrowing.

She finally came back to her senses, and buried her face into his shoulder, sobbing. He wrapped his long arms around her and held her to him tightly.

I had the strangest urge to rip her from him and bare my teeth at the little shit. Kaname was mine. Mine, mine, mine.

My heart squeezed painfully as I felt the tears leak onto my cheeks. But that wasn't true. He wasn't mine. But what about last night? Was what he said really true, or was he just fucking with me, like usual?

I didn't want to think of it; to face it. I wanted to say I was only imagining the fact that he was holding her more tenderly, and more lovingly then had had ever held me. I wanted to pretend I didn't see the worry in his eyes, the hallow love there, that didn't belong for anyone but me.

Forget the fact that there were dead bodies rotting to my left, or the fact that Zero Kiryuu had been killed. It wasn't like I hadn't experienced that before.

Fuck this. Chanting an old spell Cyrus had taught me, I slowly backed up, eyes still locked on Kaname's face, and then turned and ran at full force. I said the words over and over until I got back to the school building. It was used to cover scents and trails. And right now, I didn't want Kaname to know I had seen that. Not yet.

Ruka and the others looked up simultaneously when I jumped back into the window, closing it behind me. I thanked the good Lord that my eyes were dry now from the run.

I perched back on the edge, and the looked to everyone, who were staring expectantly.

"I never left. Understood?" I said, the authority I had been born to ringing through the room.

A few people bowed and returned to what they were doing. Some hesitantly nodded. Ruka's teeth bared, her eyes torn in rage. I knew she wanted to tell on me. But she couldn't disobey a pure-bloods orders.

I picked up the book Takuma had gave me and pretended to read it. During the fifteen minutes that we waited, I made myself push the hurtful thoughts into a different drawer in my mind and lock it up, trying to save it for another time. I let my face fall blank, and hoped I would be able to keep up the facade in front of Kaname.

The door swung open and Aidou entered first, totally relaxed. He yawned and went back in his corner, but didn't pout this time. Kain walked to his side, while Kaname and Ichijou filed in.

Kaname stayed by the door. "It appears we had a problem with Kiryuu, but it is resolved now. We all should return to the dorms."

I hopped down in sync with the others who started to move about the room. I gathered my school books and the one Takuma had given me and cradled them to my chest as I walked past Kaname.

I was walking faster than the group, just a few feet ahead. I knew this would bring Kaname to suspicion, but my plan was to lock myself in my room and not come out for a long, long time.

He caught up to me easily with those long legs of his. "Is something the matter, Ember?"

I didn't look up at him. "No." I murmured, as we entered the gate. It squealed shut behind the rest of us.

Kaname paused at the bottom of the stairs to talk to Ichijou, while I just rocketed up the stairs and through the double doors of

Kaname's room. I threw my books onto the coffee table and debated on a shower. I felt like I needed one after what I had just saw, but I also wanted to avoid Kaname as much as possible.

With a long, exaggerated sigh, I gathered what I needed for a shower and locked both of the bathroom doors.

I heard when Kaname entered his room. I stood in front of the sink, brushing my hair in a hushed manner. His footsteps came into the bedroom and then paused by the bathroom door. I could hear his heart beating. I pictured him contemplating on knocking or not. Finally, his knuckles rapped against the door.

"Yes?" I asked, keeping my tone even.

"Can you open the door?" he sighed.

I set the brush down, calculated my expression in the mirror, and then opened the door. I blocked any entryway for him, and kept my eyes locked on a spot above his head. "What?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"What for?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow in my peripheral vision. "You tell me."

"No, I'm not mad at you."

"Then why aren't you looking at me?"

I bit my tongue, blood filling my mouth. I quietly swallowed, before tearing my eyes down to look at his face.

So perfect and beautiful. I wanted to rip it to shreds. A muscle in my jaw ticked. He noticed.

His hand wrapped around mine that was holding the door open. "Tell me what's wrong, Ember."

"Nothing is wrong, Kaname." I said, using a little more force then necessary. "I would like to take a shower now. Do you mind?"

He sighed. "I do, actually."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Listen . . . I don't think of you as weak or anything of the sorts, Ember. But I didn't want you to go because the idea of you getting

hurt . . . or worse . . . is hard to bear."

Blood filled my mouth again. Dammit. Damn fucking it. Why did he have to go and say shit like that now? I felt the tears well in my eyes as my gaze fell to the ground.

"I know." I whispered hoarsely, his words punching holes through my mask. "Just let me shower, please."

Finally his hand slid off of mine with a sigh.

I shut the door in his face, turning the lock.

I leaned against the door, and bit my lip to hold back the sobs that stuck in my throat.

Hurriedly, I jumped into the shower and washed off like I was a programmed robot. When I finished rinsing the conditioner out of my hair, the pain overtook me. Like I had just been hit in the stomach, I lost all of the air in my lungs and fell to my knees.

My heart throbbed painfully in my chest as I moaned, leaning into the cool tile of the wall. My empty stomach heaved, nothing coming up. My fist pounded against the floor of the tub in anguish. Why me?

And while I was still getting over Cyrus.

It was like I was covered in wounds that were still healing. And then suddenly out of nowhere, someone just decided to rip off all the scabs and bring the fresh blood to the surface.

Unfair. This was all fucking unfair. What did I ever do to deserve this? Why did I have to love Kaname so much? All that it had ever boughten me was pain. Pain, pain, and pain. Searing, white hot pain that burned through my veins with every breath I took.

All I wanted to do was die. Die and be rid of. Then he wouldn't have to bother with me anymore.

The water turned icy on my bare back, causing me to quiver.

After fifty deep breaths and more shaking, I turned the water off and got out of the shower. I wrapped myself in a towel, searching for warmth. I stayed cold even when I dried off. Reluctantly I dressed in my dark pajama pants and matching tank-top. I didn't wear a bra. I didn't have it in me to care anymore, and I was sure Kaname wouldn't mind anyways. Not like I was gonna sleep with him again, anyways.

I exited the bathroom, my hair still dripping wet, which probably was one more reason why I was still so freaking cold.

Kaname sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in his sleep-wear also. He stood when I entered the room. I didn't meet his gaze.

"Ember." he said as I started for the closet. His arms wrapped around my waist and I suddenly felt dirty all over again. Those were the same arms he had used to wrap around Yuuki.

I stayed still as his lips came to my temple. "Please, tell me what happened. Did Ruka say something to you?"

I laughed, a bitter sound. "No."

He sighed, his warm breath causing goosebumps to rise on my exposed skin.

"I'm tired." I whispered, and gently slithered out of his hold. "I'm going to bed." I started for the closet again, opening it, but his large hand caught mine.

"Won't you sleep with me again tonight?"

I resisted the urge to laugh. Instead, I pulled my hand back, and stepped into the closet. "Goodnight, Kaname."

I shut the doors and didn't waste a moment to disappear into my room and lock the door behind me. I heard when he re-opened the closet doors. He sighed.

I started piling my blankets together again and this time was thankfully uninterrupted. But I knew he was standing outside of my door, listening, holding his breath. I threw a couple of pillows and another blanket on before I laid down. It was uncomfortable and hurt my back, but it was better than nothing.

I laid staring at the ceiling, still feeling him out there.

After I counted that an hour had went by, I sighed and got to my feet. I went by the door but didn't open it.

"Are you going to stand there all night, Kaname?"

I heard his muffled chuckle. "I might as well." he sighed. "I won't be able to sleep with you mad at me."

"For the last time, I am not mad at you!" I groaned, exasperated.

"You sound mad now." he pointed out, sounding smug.

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Damn him.

"Whatever, Kaname. Stand there all you want. Goodnight."

He fell quiet again, and I heard him sit down.

I rolled my eyes. He was such a pain in the ass.

Instead of laying down, I sat on my bean bag instead. Looking around the room I let my mind wander.

And then my throat stung painfully again.

Oh right. When was the last time I had had the tablets? I stood, and found my backpack. I reached inside for my vial, and then pulled it out.

Oh right, again. I had meant to get another bottle and re-fill it. Since this bottle now had Cyrus' remains in it. And great. That means I would have to go out of the closet and ask Kaname for some.

I groaned out loud, putting the vial back in my bag carefully. I heard Kaname shift his weight outside.

I bit my lip gently, deliberating. Would I be able to wait until the morning, or the next night even? The ache in my throat said otherwise.

I taped my fingers to my forehead, and then ran my hands through my tangled hair.

Finally, with yet another sigh, I unlocked and opened the door.

Kaname sat on the ground and looked up at me expectantly.

I forced a dry swallow down my throat. "Would you be so kind as to provide me some sustenance?" I held up the new, empty vial in my hand.

He stood, and took the bottle from me. "Didn't I refill you just last week? I gave you enough for a month."

I flushed, my eyes down to the floor again. My appetite had been a little feverish lately. I shrugged it off and walked out of the closet back into his bedroom.

He watched me carefully, and walked ahead of me, heading for his bedside table, where he kept his stash of blood tablets. But then he suddenly turned on me, catching me as I ran into his chest, surprised. My breath caught in my throat. He wrapped one arm around my waist, holding me to him, and used his other hand to coax my chin up so I would look him in the eye. "Is there something you're not telling me, Ember?"

I forced yet another, painfully dry swallow. The heat coming from his skin only made it worse. "No, now, please, Kaname . . ." I squirmed in his hold, but he only tightened it. "I need some tablets."

His eyes narrowed down at me in suspicion, but he let go of me and turned to fill my bottle.

I waited a little impatiently. He recapped the vial and handed it to me. It was filled to the top with the white pills.

"Thank you," I murmured, before turning and heading back to my room to take a dose. Or five.

"Hold it." he said, grabbing my wrist.

I groaned, the pain in my throat increasing. "What, Kaname?"

"Why did you go through your tablets so fast?" he asked, turning me to face him.

I shrugged. "I guess I just waited longer to take them, that's all."

His eyebrows furrowed. "How are you feeling now?"

"Tired." And then pulling my hand free from his, I added, "And really freaking annoyed."

His jaw clenched.

"Goodnight, Kaname." I said, and quickly dashed into my room, locking the door behind me again.

He took his spot by the outside again.

Ignoring him, I quickly opened the bottle and dumped about half of the pills into my mouth. I groaned with the subtle relief it granted me as the pills dissolved like butter in my mouth. But it still wasn't enough to quench the burning, like it had before. What was wrong with me? I quickly poured the rest into my mouth, and dropped the vial with a grunt when I still realized I was dissatisfied.

I tapped my toe, trying to figure out what to do. The burning and dryness was back like it hadn't left in the first place. Quickly, I opened the door. This time Kaname was standing.

He opened his mouth to question me, but I swiftly barreled into him, sending him back into the bedroom. When the back of his legs hit the bed, I knocked him back onto it.

I think I lost all rationalization to the thirst, because I was suddenly drunk on the scent coming from just below the thin layer of his skin. My tongue, hot and wet, dashed out to sweep over his jugular vein. Then, as my fangs elongated, my jaw closed around his neck. I moaned as the bittersweet liquid slid down my throat in mouthfuls with my hasty swallows. So good, so sweet. So soothing, so hot. I heard his shocked intake of breath. My mind was way past thinking. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste, the feeling of it as it was sucked into my mouth.

My hands slithered over the exposed section of his chest, over his collarbones, then to the opposite side of his neck and went to tangle in his dark brown hair.

I gulped his blood greedily. Mine, mine, mine. Those words echoed through my mind in a sick, but pleasurable way.

Finally, after my stomach felt full and my throat felt quenched, I relaxed my jaws and parted from his neck. My teeth marks on his pale flesh were deep and already swollen.

Finally, after my breathing slowed, I realized what I had just done. I felt my stomach roll in embarrassment, my face heating. Oh, good Lord.

I shot off of him like he had been lit on fire. My hand went up to cover the lower half of my face. "Kaname . . . I-"

He sat up slowly, using his hand to run it through his hair, away from his face. "Were you that thirsty, Ember?"

My mouth opened but I couldn't find my voice.

He sighed, and dropped his hand to his neck, where the puncture wounds were already healing. He brought his red fingers to his lips, and then licked off his blood. "Were you in pain, then?"

I nodded mutely, my hand dropping weakly to my side. He had such a good pokerface. I could only imagine what would happen next.

He stood and came to stand in front of me. "You should have just told me," he whispered, a broken sound. He leaned down and licked the corners of my mouth, where his blood lingered.

I closed my eyes, tears spilling over. I guess that's what he would blame my attitude on. Should I tell him that I had seen? Would he try to deny it? What were his feelings for her? So many questions, so little courage.

I broke back from him, and swiped at my tears. His hands replaced mine and wiped them away. "I'm not mad at you." he said, hoping that would calm me.

I shook my head and took another step back. "I need to be alone." I choked out, and ran back to the confinements of my little store room.

God, why did I love him so much? Why?

I curled into a ball on my make-shift bed and cried until I was dry. I never fell asleep.

How was it? What are your thoughts? Please review.

Not sure when I'll update again . . . But the more reviews I get, the better chance this'll be updated sooner. Ciao, lovelies! ;)