Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or Vampire Knight Guilty or the characters or story line affiliated with either the anime or the manga. All rights are reserved for its creator Matsuri Hino.

oOo

Chapter Five: Snow Covered Feelings

For her the snow is no longer bleeding red…

For him the snow is a symbol of renewed hope…

For them the snow brings a new beginning…

Zero opened his eyes and glanced around and saw that Ichiru was no longer there and for a moment he felt a pang of loss for his twin, a loneliness that he never thought he would feel was left behind by Ichiru's last departure from this world. Shaking his head he lifted his face towards the sky and watched as the snow began to fall and tap coldly against his skin with a gentle touch. Soft footfalls drew his attention from sky and he turned to see a glimpse of red moving towards him through the veil of falling snow.

He knew it was Yuuki. He would be able to feel her presence anywhere. She was as much a part of who he was as he was a part of her. They were meant to be together and he knew that now. He wasn't going to run any longer, wasn't going to allow his hatred for Purebloods pave his path because that path led away from Yuuki. Whatever path he chose to take now would be that path that would keep Yuuki at his side.

Yuuki emerged from the curtain of snow and stepped beneath the tree he had originally been under when Ichiru appeared. She stood before him now and Zero gazed at her in silence. She was still as beautiful as she had always been, but for some reason, maybe because of the ordeal he just went through, or maybe the thought of forever losing her, he found her to be even more beautiful than ever before. She stood there in her crimson and white ball gown, the sleeves coming to just below her elbows and the skirt flaring out to cover her dainty little feet. Her neckline was bare and he could see her pulse fluttering beneath the satin smooth surface of her skin. He turned his eyes away from that temptation to move up to her face. Her warm whiskey eyes sparkled with a light of their own showing the purity that he had been too blinded to see. Her cheeks had a slight blush to them, whether from the cold or from the blood tablets she had consumed at the ball he wasn't sure, but nonetheless it gave her the appearance of blushing innocence. Her wild mass of hair was pulled high on the back of her head in a ponytail that trailed down her back with a single braid wrapping around the bulk of it to give it an air of elegance while her bangs were artfully arranged to fall over one side of her face with a curling lock of hair framing each side of her face in another show of elegance. Snow glistened in the rich chocolate strands and altogether, with the now gently falling around her and the moon shining down to wrap her in a halo of light, she was stunning.

She said nothing as he studied her and when he finally offered her the first true smile since her return to Cross Academy the instant happiness in her eyes made his heart flutter. He held out a hand towards her holding his breath as he waited for her to accept his offering or not. When she slipped her tiny hand in his he let out his breath on a happy little sigh as he grasped her hand tighter and pulled her towards him. She melded against his body as if she were made for him and him alone. His arms went around her to hold her close as he buried his face in her hair and inhaled the scent that was wholly Yuuki.

He couldn't find the words to tell her how sorry his was for his actions of the past nor did he know how to tell her how she made him feel because he didn't think there were words to describe that nor did he think there were words to tell her how much he loved her, how much he needed her and how he never wanted to ever let her go again. Even after seeing the future and how happy he had been with her and their children he still feared her rejection. He didn't deserve her forgiveness or her love. She deserved so much better than what he had ever given her, she deserved better than him.

After an eternity he finally pulled away although he kept his arms held loosely around her. His heart warmed as she smiled up at him her eyes full of happiness. He also saw forgiveness in those depths and he felt himself grow lighter as if her forgiveness had lifted a heavy burden from his shoulders. However it was the absolute love that shone in her eyes that made him feel strong enough to tell her what he should have told her long ago.

"Yuuki…"

"It's okay Zero. You don't have to say anything. I know. I've always known just as I always knew that I would have to wait for you to come to realize it on your own."

"You deserve better than me. You deserve so much more than what I have given you."

Yuuki smiled again. "And yet it was always you I've wanted even when I didn't know it. My heart has always been yours and will always be yours for as long as you want me."

Zero pulled her close again burying his face in her hair once again. "Forever Yuuki…forever."

Standing beneath the falling snow, wrapped tightly in each other's arms, their hearts beat together pounding a gentle rhythm between them of love, devotion and promises of forever.

oOo

Author's Note: To see the design of Yuuki's dress go to this website. Just insert the right things in the parenthesis and remove the spaces. Instead of the dress being black and white like in the picture imagine it being crimson and white for Christmas.

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