Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight. Wish I owned Zero though...

AAHHH finally another chapter. FINALLY some action.

Chapter 2

Rima stared at her shadow, her back to the window. Behind her a gibbous moon was rising above the treetops, stark and white against the black winter sky. It bathed her room in a cold silvery light.

It was a Saturday, so there were no classes to go to, and no work since her manager had called in sick, home with the mumps of all things. Rima's brow creased. Thank god for a vampire's practically invincible immune system. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the horror of having her face swell up like that.

The minutes ticked by. It felt good to be alone for once— especially after what had been going on lately. A blank expression replaced her frown, masking any hint of her mind being troubled. She watched, morbidly still, as her shadow began to shrink, its outline sharpening with the climbing of the moon.

Somewhere a door was opened, and then the sound of soft footfalls as someone slowly ascended the marble staircase, quietly making their way down the carpeted hall. Rima's whole body tensed. His pace was unmistakable.

There was silence as the footsteps stopped in front of her door. The handle squeaked slightly as it turned and the door swung open.

She sighed.

"What do you want now, Shiki?"

Shiki's tall, familiar frame was silhouetted against the light spilling in from the hall. After the darkness of the room it seemed intolerably bright, and the boy's shadowed features were even more difficult to make out.

He didn't answer her.

Rima blinked, annoyed, then stood up. The gesture had an air of finality about it. Inside she wasn't sure what she was going to do exactly. But this ridiculous little soap opera was ending now.

"Shiki," she began, her tone unusually agitated ", this has to stop, you're being… obsessive. Just tell me what's going on with you. Since when have we started keeping—"

Her voice trailed off.

He had been striding towards her as she spoke, stony faced, and now he was standing so close to her that she could feel his hot breath tickling the crown of her head, stirring the short golden hair of her fringe. It was too strange to put into words. He loomed over her, his close proximity almost… intimidating.

She pressed her hands against the hard muscles of his chest, trying to step back and push him away at the same time. And all of a sudden Shiki's larger, stronger ones caught her small wrists in a tight grip. Rima's eyes flicked up to his face, too taken aback to feel indignant. He looked pale, even for his light complexion, and his eyes seemed darker than their usual colour. He was thirsty.

She tried to pull away again, still too shocked to say anything. Shiki— gentle Shiki— he was hurting her.

Something in his expression told her he wasn't messing around. A long arm wrapped itself around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Rima could only gasp. His breathing was ragged, and she could hear his blood flowing at a quickened pace through his veins, his arteries; his heartbeat as fast as her own.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Everything fell into place.

ONE HOUR EARLIER

Shiki ran his fingers through his hair in a vain attempt to keep his hands busy with something. Through the curtain of his bangs he could see an empty wine glass resting on the table before him, the familiar little black box containing his blood tablets lay beside it.

He was thirsty. So, so thirsty.

But after all these years of reluctantly swallowing that same tasteless brand of blood he could no longer bring himself to go near it. The very prospect of it disgusted him; the sensation of the liquid slipping down his dry throat, always cold, artificial; always leaving him with the same empty feeling. The void that only real blood could fill.

Real blood.

Shiki felt himself shudder with longing.

And he had to make a conscious effort to keep his body from convulsing, because at that moment Ichijou swung open the door and came bounding into their dorm, as fresh-faced as ever. He grinned at Shiki, throwing himself along with his books onto the bed across the room, greeting him with an energetic 'hello'.

He stretched out over the covers, allowing his legs to dangle over the side.

Shiki could practically hear the soft rushing sound of blood as it moved through the other vampire's body, through the tiny capillaries running over his smooth pale cheeks, forming delicate red webs over the whites of his eyes and the soft cartilage of his ears.

He could only stare wolfishly as the grin vanished from the blonde's face, replaced by an expression of concern at the sight of his drained complexion.

"When's the last time you fed, Shiki?"

Yes, Ichijou had seen the box and the empty glass lying untouched on the table. There was an undertone of caution in his voice. It seemed to jolt Shiki from his dazed state.

That question, that tone. It was the only thing he had been hearing these past few days. From the one person who had caused it all in the first place.

Shiki leaped to his feet suddenly (damn he's been doing that a lot), causing his friend to sit up in alarm.

"Er... Shiki?"

He was ignored.

The model had begun to pace the length of the room. Back and forth. Back and forth. A frown was etched on his usually calm face.

Shiki hated Rima. He just hated her. It was all her fault. All of this.

At first the changes were subtle. He'd look at her longer than he usually did. Try to sit closer to her. Sometimes purposely brush his skin against hers. Even he didn't notice he was doing it, though she might have.

He had been skipping out on his tablets, the blood sickening him for some reason. And then— then he found himself staring at Rima's neck for long periods of time, no longer trying to hide that he did.

Two nights ago in class was the first real wake up call. What seemed like just a quick glance at her nape had turned into an hour long staring session, and it took a couple 'ahems' and Rima pointing out that his face was three inches from her neck before he realized that class was over and he was acting like a lunatic.

Oh yeah— and that he wanted her so badly he was starving himself.

Then it just got worse.

Where Shiki went Rima followed, that was how it had always been. At least until he started following her around like a lost puppy.

More like some insane, obsessive lost puppy.

She woke up at twilight— he was there, ready and waiting.

She needed a glass of water— he'd go get it with her.

She sat down— he sat down as close as possible.

They walked to class amidst the screams of rabid fangirls— HE was the one walking next to her.

It had gotten so bad that he even started going with her to the bathroom, waiting outside of course. It took some very careful planning to explain why he needed to leave the classroom every time Rima did. Especially with that Toga Yagari. It didn't help that both he and Aidou would have shit-eating grins on their faces whenever the issue came up.

Shiki's behaviour did not go unnoticed by Rima. If anything she seemed disturbed by it. Especially by the fact that he hadn't been taking his tablets. She figured that part out herself. And now all she ever did anymore was nag, asking him questions about how he was feeling, how his day had been, whether he had fed or not (yeah to Shiki this seemed like nagging). There was a time he didn't need to tell her that stuff. She knew that he knew that she knew.

It was all ruined now.

The last straw must have been this morning, when Shiki tried sleeping in Rima's bed with her. It was high noon and he couldn't sleep. The curtains were drawn, the blinds were down and he could hear Ichijou sighing from across the room as he slept. Probably dreaming about Rima's blood... among other things. Not that he was one to talk. Thoughts like that were what had kept him awake these past few days.

After what seemed like hours he had finally given up. Gathering his covers in a bundle he had crept to Rima's dorm, to Rima's bed... and tried to snuggle up as soundlessly as possible with her. Only to have Ruka turn on the light and throw his ass out the door.

And now Rima was suddenly not nagging him anymore. She wasn't saying anything, actually. The silence between them could be cut with a knife.

He had freaked her out and now it was all weird and it was all his fau—

Shiki's pacing came to an abrupt stop as he whirled around suddenly to face a certain blonde, who had been watching him this whole time, clearly bewildered.

The sight of Ichijou made Shiki's hands clench up in frustration.

It was his fault.

Look at him— leaning against his headboard so casually, all innocent and blonde and Ichijou-ish. Pretending like he didn't know this was all his doing. Like he hadn't planned it all from the start. If it hadn't been for that frigging Elton John Incident NONE of this would have happened.

And before he knew it Shiki was lunging forward.

. . .

Ichijou had begun to stutter out a 'what's wrong Shiki' when said boy had whirled around.

But the words had gotten lost as soon as he realized that the darker vampire was now practically straddling him.

Shiki was leaning in towards him, his face dangerously close. And for some reason Ichijou was paralyzed, unable to move away.

And he had thought his friend was acting out of character before.

He could feel Shiki's long fingers gripping his shoulders, digging into his skin. He tried looking anywhere but at his face, shifting his legs around uncomfortably. Except then a hand shot up, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look into his eyes.

He gasped when he saw how red they were.

. . .

Shiki was fighting to stay in control, to keep himself from tearing at the throat of the boy in front of him. The constant shifting of his legs seemed strangely erotic. The way his breathing had quickened slightly, making his heart pump faster. He could feel the hard shape of his collar bone with the hand that was squeezing his shoulder. He glanced down at the smooth skin that covered his friend's pulse point, nearly groaning as he noticed the blush that had crept up his neck. His eyes travelled upwards, up to the cheeks that were now flushed, filled with blood. Clean, hot blood.

. . .

Ichijou's mind was racing.

I'm kinda liki— NO I'm not liking this, NOT liking this. I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell.

What?! NOW of all times he had to have a song playing in his head?

I know right now you can't tell.

He screamed.

Shiki fell off the bed.

Originally his plan had been to confront Rima and talk the whole thing through with her. At least that was what he had decided before he left a still shocked and hyperventilating Ichijou behind in the dorm.

But here he was now, his arm wrapped around Rima's waist— not exactly part of the plan.

Not that he minded either. The feeling of her body's length pressed up against his own made heat shoot through his entire being. He felt dizzy, like he was drunk. He was seeing everything through a strange reddish haze. Every sound and vibration that came from Rima's body only served to increase his bloodlust. The feeling of her struggling to pull away earlier was as pleasant as the sensation of her leaning into him now.

He stared feverishly down at her neck, at the thin film of skin over her jugular vein. Shiki leaned towards it, his knees bending slightly.

The void only real blood can fill.

"Shiki..." Rima's voice came out low and breathy.

He groaned loudly.

His lips were to her neck now, the vibrations causing her to shiver.

Then he collapsed.

This ridiculous little soap opera was just beginning.

OOOOHHHH YEEEAAAAHHH..... I heart Ichijou! . Review please. Tell me if I suck at this erotic stuff.