I don't own this series expect Nicodemus...
0000
Town was a wonderland of light and sound. Yuki didn't realize how many people came to visit here for the Christmas season, the crowds were dizzying….
For a moment Yuki was sure she had lost Tsuki, but spotted him giving directions to a bunch of lost students. He wasn't speaking Japanese… he was speaking English…
Where was he from again? Baton Rouge…. wasn't that the Deep South?
His voice was even more beautiful in English, its sultry tones making the hairs on her neck stand up. His accent was even more pronounced…
Yuki then realized that she knew nothing about Tsuki, and maybe even less about Kaname…
That made her suddenly fell very alone "What wrong with you?" Tsuki asked as he approached her.
Yuki looked up at him for long moment "Are you worrying about something again?" he cried looking faintly annoyed.
"It's nothing"
"You are a poor liar Yuki-san"
"I know, I was just thinking about how little I know about you and Kaname… It makes me feel a little sad."
Tsuki gazed at her for a moment "You shouldn't worry, the things I keep from you are…" he paused, seeing the sudden look of realization on her face.
"A-are you some sort of god?" Yuki suddenly blurted unable to keep it in anymore. Tsuki's face was suddenly cold
"Do you want me to answer that?"
Yuki suddenly felt very alone standing in the crowd of bustling people, something in his words…
"If I say yes, what will happen?"
Nicodemus smiled coolly "You will see me for what I am."
Yuki felt her vision blur for a moment, it was as if her eyes were filling with nonexistent tears. She went to clear them and a moment later she looked up and gasped.
A tall, svelte form stood before her with hair the color of pale periwinkle blue it fell in waves down to the ground were it pooled gracefully as if alive. A crown of pearls sat on his head and the bang that had covered his face had swept back …
His eyes were two different colors, and Yuki found herself gazing into the golden eye. She felt herself staring into an abyss, falling into a world were nothing was what it seemed.
"Don't look to deeply at me Yuki-san. We don't want that abyss looking back at you, as the saying goes."
Yuki gasped as if struck, the sound of his voice rattled through her body as if she were a tuning fork come alive. Her teeth chattered together, her knees shook
"T-tsuki?" she whimpered her eyes cast to her shoes, she could just glimpse his elaborate black robes, which fell in layer upon layers on his body. His fingers were long nailed and webbed, skin flawless and smooth. She looked again; his face was so handsome she wanted to weep.
Long lashes hid the color of his gold eye and for a moment Yuki felt like she could breathe again, Tsuki took a step forward though it seemed he did not walk but glide.
"Yuki have you considered my request yet about Kiryuu? In this form I can do anything for you."
Yuki felt her ears ringing, he was very close to her now "I, I want Zero to return to normal!" she exclaimed
"There will be a price." The rose scent suddenly caressed her overloaded senses and she calmed, her memories of the morning returned… She finally controlled her shaking knees.
She stole another glimpse at his hands, which he clasped patiently in front of him, an elaborate ring decorated each finger a few thick bracelets choked the visible part of his arm that was not covered by the kimono sleeve of his robe.
"What will the price be?"
"I will not take your eyes or mouth, that is a little too old fashioned of me but… What about your hand?"
"My hand?" Yuki went still
"Yes dear your hand, that is quite enough to remove the vampirism from your beloved friend and free you of the task of keeping him alive."
He tilted his head to one side searching her face and then raised his hand, a contract appeared in a flare of red flame and Yuki ventured a question
"What kind of god are you? And why were you sent to Cross Academy?" she finally asked
A bone like quill appeared in front of her "You don't need to know anything about that my dear." He said gesturing to the quill
"Sign it for me" he cooed
Yuki reached up for the quill as the tip suddenly became saturated with a thick red ink
"Will it hurt when you take my hand?" she asked suddenly filled with a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Tsuki's eyes narrowed in a benevolent smile "It will be painless compared to the wrath of the Destiny you will suffer if you do not sign."
Yuki felt a wave of dizziness sweep her like a strong wind and she plucked the quill from the air signing the contract with hurried kanji. The moment she picked the quill from the paper both disappeared in a puff of green smoke.
"It is done" he said with a little giggle
Yuki looked wide-eyed at him, she was able to suppress her strange mix of awe and fear to right beneath the surface of her emotions. Though her knees continued to shake she now could look at Tsuki almost fully in the face.
"Ah Yuki-san you are very beautiful when you are like this. I find mortals most pretty when they are either fearful or sorrowful. You are no exception…"
He cupped her cheeks with his hands his alabaster skin soft like silk, the perfume of roses lingered around the both of them.
"Yuki he will love you now more then ever. But I wonder if he is the right one for you?" Yuki was aware that Tsuki spoke of Zero.
"Zero doesn't love me like that. Him and I are only good friends." Yuki replied defensively looking down from his intense gaze. Tsuki chuckled
"You are wrong, you seem to be torn and Kaname knows that as well. Such is the folly of all females."
Yuki stepped from his tender grasp "I will not be belittled by you, even if you are some sort of god."
Tsuki straightened his lean form both graceful and terrifying at the same time. Yuki swallowed finding that her ease had slipped away and her throat had gone dry.
"Such fire for such a little body. But I suppose that is why I am attracted to you. In three days your Zero will return to a human once again. I shall not return for your hand for a long time, there are other things you need to experience… before I rip it very lovingly from you."
Yuki felt shock bubble up in her "Nani?"
Tsuki reached out and took her hand, kissing it tenderly his lips like the very fires of hell. Yuki gasped as the warmth spread through her body, her cheeks flushing instantly.
"Are you Akuma?" she asked her voice suddenly full of fear.
Tsuki laughed loudly "Kami, no. Heaven forbid I would be chained to a Destiny like his. I am a lesser god, a god that really has no business with humans. Here to only meddle here and there with mortal Fate, something is never suppost to change." He winked at her.
"Goodbye my dear Yuki, may you get your heart's desire."
Tsuki's body was turning into vapor mixed with small orange flames and a moment later the only thing that remained of the lesser god was the burning skin were his lips had been.
00000
When Yuki opened her eyes she was standing in the heavy crowd, the snow was falling lightly as the crowd jostled her around. Pushing her way out of it she bumped face first into a strong chest.
"By Kami!" Zero gasped grabbing her by the shoulders and steadying her before she fell. Zero looked into Yuki's eyes, they were glassy with tears.
"Z-zero?" she whispered looking up at him in disbelief. Zero tenderly wiped the tears away
"What's wrong did Tsuki leave you?" he asked darkly, Yuki nodded
"He's gone… He won't be coming back…"
She felt the hand on her shoulder tighten
"How come?" he asked suddenly regaining control of his emotions…
"I-I fulfilled a pact with him." She said bluntly, her hands were clutching something so hard it was beginning to hurt.
Looking down she saw it was a single blood red rose in her hand. Zero snatched it from her; in one quick moment he ripped the petals away and let them float to the ground now covered with a light layer of snow.
Yuki felt the tears fall down her cheeks… everything was so confusing now. Everything seemed to be spiraling.
"Zero I entered the pact to make you human again… in exchange for my hand."
She felt the tall body grow very still. "What did you say?" he inquired staring down at her with disbelief.
"In three days you will be human again." She answered listlessly staring at the red petals mixed with the white snow. She waited from him to react, to do something other then just stand there like a deer in headlights.
"Yuki?"
Yuki slowly looked up and stared into his iron gray eyes.
"Why?"
Yuki eyes widened, "I did because… I don't want to see you suffer anymore. I cannot bear seeing the pain in your face. I feel I am dying inside when you look at me with those eyes, the same eyes you have now."
Zero caught his hands in her hair "I didn't ask for you to do this for me."
"I HAD TO!" she cried and wrapped her arms around his neck. Zero embraced her, pressing her small cold body close to his. A very small flicker of hope welled up in him, and it spread through his body, till he felt himself smiling.
"Thank you" he whispered softly and brushed his lips against her ear. He stepped away and found that Yuki was smiling. She seemed to be staring at something near his feet, hastily Zero looked down and went red.
"You are not the only one who thought of shopping today." He growled his cheeks turning a darker color. Yuki giggled, the sound was lovely to hear after a month of being apart from her.
"So what did you get?" she asked mischievously trying to peek into the large shopping bag. Zero was amazed at her ability to recover, to push away the moment they had shared before… It seemed as if nothing had changed between the two of them…
But sometimes he wished it would, when would she realize that he… Zero pushed the thought away suddenly torn, helpless.
"I'm not telling you things still have to be…wrapped."
Yuki laughed "I cannot see you wrapping anything Zero."
Zero sighed exasperated "Who do you think wrapped all the presents when we were staying with Headmaster Cross all those years?!"
Yuki's mouth dropped open "Y-you, but I thought…"
"What that Headmaster Cross was a genius in all things?!" Zero snorted and he chuckled.
"You're such a dork" he cried ruffling her hair.
Yuki smiled "Keep talking like that and you won't get a Christmas present."
Zero laughed… He hoped that his present would trump even Kaname's because he had decided that he wouldn't be giving up Yuki without a fight…
Kaname already had the first kiss but… things had just begun…
0000