Chapter 23: A secret that can change her life forever

A/N: Sorry for the late update again, and thanks for the wonderful reviews! I hope they increase further... I would really love to hear suggestions from the readers! Please continue to support me, thanks~!

Chapter start…….

Yuuki woke with a start; she stumbled back onto her bed once more as nausea hit her. Her fever hasn't subsided yet and it appears that it was growing worse. Kaname had been nursing her through the night and fell asleep with his head propped on one hand as he took his rest on her study table soundly. She laughed at the sight.

Zero, whom was the man of the house, also nursed her last night but woke up early to prepare her breakfast. He settled beside her last night, with his head buried on her bed's mattress and his body achingly supported by a nearby chair.

Yuuki touched the spot where the silver haired boy had slept on; it still felt warm, meaning he had just woken up a few minutes ago. She tried to stand now, but the chances are crucial, she stumbled back onto her bed and woke Kaname up. She held a hand on her mouth and started to feel nauseous all over again.

"Yuuki… you can't stand just yet, you're sick" he calmed her down as she kept her balance.

"But I…. I'm…" Yuuki gave him a pleading look, which made him pity her even more. Kaname brushed off the stray strands of hair blocking her sight. Both of his hands cupped her small face, making her face him.

"Are you hungry, my dear girl?" he asked her with a concerned look. Yuuki shook her head sideways. Kaname still held her face to him and sat gently beside her.

He placed both his hands atop hers and caught her attention. Yuuki blushed furiously by his actions.

"Then what is the problem? Shall I get you anything?" yuuki shook her head once more. She hid her face in attempt to block his view on her scarlet colored face. Kaname noticed this and lifted her chin gently.

"You wanted to see Zero, right?" yuuki nodded suddenly. Kaname let go of her chin and patted her head. Yuuki blushed madly. She really didn't want Kaname to know that she's "that" worried about Zero since they were rivals for her heart.

"I was w-worried actually s-since I didn't see him this morning. P-please don't feel bad about this, I'm worrying about him since he's a brother to me it's not t-the other way a-around" she hated stuttering, but in moments like these, it cannot be helped.

Kaname grinned. Yuuki really didn't see the pride of men when it came to rivalry. In his case, he would feel more encouraged to win her heart after hearing such words, since those would just trigger his ego and his will to fight for the woman he loves. He concluded that maybe yuuki really hasn't grown up that maturely since she has a hard time dealing with matter such as this.

"Don't worry, I'm not jealous Yuuki. I understand that you care for Kiryuu-kun since he's your adoptive brother and friend" Yuuki glanced up to him and gave him a cheerful smile. Kaname lightly brushed one of his fingers on her flushed cheek that made it even redder.

"Kiryuu-kun is probably cooking breakfast right now, I'm sure he'll send your breakfast up here in any moment" Yuuki nodded in agreement. He shifted closer to her as his hands found her body and pulled it closer to her. Yuuki let out a small sound of confusion as she was pulled closer to him.

He nestled her head onto his chest and provided her warmth as her pale fingers clutched the front of his shirt, cuddling more to the newly found warmth. Kaname leaned his back onto the wall nearby and pulled Yuuki with her as they shared their warmth with each other on an early winter morning.

The door to her room squeaked a little as a soft breeze of air drifted by. Zero, on the other hand was fixing breakfast for everyone and was about to bring it up to her room when a knock sounded on the front door. He set down the tray of food and walked towards the front door. A mailman was standing outside with an envelope held tightly in one hand as he shivered. The snow outside had rose above knee but work was never delayed even in those times since business knows neither weather nor calamity.

The mailman shakily handed it to him and asked him to sign something before proceeding back to his vehicle which was having a hard time moving since the snow was deep and the road was nowhere near fine.

Zero shivered slightly as he stared at the letter curiously. It had been sent to him by the Hunter's Association and he had no doubt that this was another assignment given to him. He really didn't like assignments such as these since it took a lot of his time and it would cause jeopardy to his life.

Moreover, Yuuki would worry a lot and maybe sleep purposely on his room as she waited for him to arrive safely home. He didn't want her to worry of all people he knew. She was worrisome and it affected her health, she would likely be awake for 2 days waiting patiently for him to arrive just like last year. The weather had affected his schedule to go home and it had been on for two days after his hunter mission. When he went back, he found Yuuki in his room; dark marks under her eyes were evident and they proved that she had been in a lot of stress. He found out from the chairman that Yuuki refused neither to eat nor to speak until Zero was home, what a sacrifice it was.

She practically ran towards him and soaked the front of his shirt with countless tears he never dared to count. He had wanted to call home about the disturbance but there was a problem with the telephones in town, making it impossible for him to make a call. Yuuki would ask him if he wasn't hurt or anything and he would smile gently at her and say he's alright. Being separated from her was the number one thing he hated, all he wanted in his life was to be near her and watch her, but chances are cruel and he can't just turn down a mission, he had to save people whom will be victimized by these rogue vampires and he couldn't let that happen. Zero wouldn't want the event from 4 years ago happen again, and it was a matter of pride, the pride that his parents held as hunters. And being the son of two mighty hunters, it would be a shame if he turned down even one easy task of exterminating these troublesome vampires.

Heaving a sigh, Zero sat heavily on a chair and tore the envelope open. He read the letter and was shocked once he read all of it. He placed his head onto his palm and cursed out silently. Zero placed the letter on one of his back pockets and took the tray upstairs to Yuuki's room.

He nudged the door to her room and felt a pang of jealousy when he saw Yuuki clinging onto Kaname as she was half-awake. He noticed a slight blush creep up to her face when she found him setting a tray of food on her study table. Yuuki quickly pulled away from Kaname as she regained a sitting position. Kaname kept his cool and stared lovingly at her as she caressed her forehead slightly.

Zero cleaned her desk off anything that could bother her while eating. Notebooks, pens, mangas, and tiny cartoon figures were quickly set aside as he cleared the table. Yuuki stared at him with a dazed expression which made him chuckle to himself. She looked like a 6 year-old with that dazed expression.

When he noticed Yuuki stare back at him, he stepped back and bumped on the study table, making a pen drop to the floor. He quickly picked it up, a piece of paper falling off his pocket as he stood up and returned the pen to its original position.

Yuuki wanted to remind him about the paper that had fallen from his pocket, but it was too late, he was gone before she could say anything. She stared longingly at the paper settled on the ground. Kaname noticed her and stood up suddenly.

"Would you like me to pick it up for you?" he asked. Yuuki nodded in agreement. Kaname bent down and opened the piece of paper which was the letter Zero had received earlier. He read it carefully and was about to give it back to her when he noticed that she had stumbled back onto the bed and was once more asleep, the fever still controlling her. Kaname frowned, realizing that this piece of information in the letter might make her very sad and distressed. She would worry a lot and he didn't want anything like that. So he saved it for later, the letter was placed firmly onto her study table and was left forgotten there.

"You have to know better than to hurt her, I know you don't want this but I guess I have to take charge and take her in for a while. You're making it hard for yourself, Kiryuu" he thought randomly as he positioned yuuki comfortably onto her bed before sitting down beside her. He caressed her face before taking into a deep slumber from his exhaustion from last night. Well, even vampires need to rest.

Chapter end….

A/N: What did you think? Reviews please! Oh! And if anyone is still confused of why Kaname had slept at night, it's just because he wanted to be awake while Yuuki is up so as to enjoy the winter break with her. He actually forced himself into that for the sake of seeing her. The contents of the letter will be discussed onto the next chapter so please wait until I finish it. You can guess what the content of the letter is just by reading the flashbacks of Zero! That was a hint people! But with an exciting twist that can change the pairings eventually for a while. And I've actually noticed some of my chapters... they always end up to sleeping or getting sick…. Maybe I'm such a sadist that it also affects my work. Haha. I know you notice it too just as much as I do! I'm a YUME fan actually so tell me if you want to change it to YUME eventually or if you want the story to still be ZEKI!

CHAPTER 50 SPOILER (VK MANGA SERIES):

I've read this in Shojo Beat website, something will happen to Yuuki and Kaname will meet an old enemy, and I'm guessing that that this might be Sara Shirabuki since she was discussed in Chapter 49!

The cause of what's happening to Yuuki will be discussed in Chapter 51~! There you have it! The spoilers! Oh! And tell me what you think too~!

Bye bye!

I'LL FLY YOU TO THE MOON~!

Love,

SOrAyA maYU~!