Chapter Four

Apologies for the belated update. Been unbelievably busy. I'll do my best to update more frequently in the future. In the mean time, enjoys this latest chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Vampire Knight characters. I only own my original characters.

His Lordship threw open the large wooden doors with a vigor that nearly ripped them clean off their hinges. Giving his actions no thought, he strode into the dimly lit chamber and proceeded towards his throne. Fingers brushed repeatedly over the front of his once immaculate white suit, now stained with the blood of his last meal. He stopped.

A livid fire in his dark eyes betrayed his blank expression, and in a fit of fury, he lunged around the chamber. Everything within his reach went crashing to the floor, from priceless ceramics to equally priceless painting. Several hours elapsed before the sounds of angry shouts and breaking clay finally dissipated.

He straightened, adopting a blank expression as he readjusted his suit. If it were not for the overwhelming evidence that littered the floor, one would be hard-pressed to recognized his sudden outburst. With a volatile personality to be feared, his servants had recognized the need for caution when in his presence. It was possible for any little thing to set him off.

From the doorway, a petite girl watched the scene unfold. She was relatively new to the fold, who worshiped this man beyond any god, and as a result had only seen his Lordship on every odd occasion he chose to convene the order. He had always been calm and composed when addressing his people, but she had heard rumors. His Lordship was a man to be feared and respected.

She trembled at the prospect of being forced to face him alone. Since his return, he had been in a foul mood. That was the reason for her visit. She had been sent to offer herself to him, to ease his temper and return him to his proper disposition as quickly as possible. But the very thought of it frightened her. He was a menacing man. No. Not a man. A god.

A squeak escaped her lips when she sudden found herself face to face with said god. She felt small under his cold, dark gaze that scrutinized every inch of her. And she felt the sudden need to cover herself, to protect herself from his judgmental gaze, but his Lordship had anticipated her movement and caught hold of her wrists.

Her breath hitched in her throat and her body immediately stiffened. She hadn't been prepared for the sudden physical contact. It caught her off guard and she found her body reacting to him in ways she couldn't have imagined. She felt hot and flushed, and she trembled in such a way that her breath left her lips in shallow pants.

He observed her with cruel amusement, delighting in the way she writhed against him. She bit down on her bottom lip and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, all too conscious of the circles his Lordship drew gently on her pulse. She was displeased with herself. He was his Lordship. And it was common knowledge that he enjoyed to chase his women. Yet here she was, rubbing her legs together and whimpering under her breath at the mere touch of his hand.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she forced her eyes open and met his gaze. "M-M-My L-Lord. I-I was –"

"I am well aware as to why you are here."

She yelped as her back violently hit the wall. She heard the wooden doors creak shut and bolts lock, and she knew that now, even if she wanted to, there was no escape. It honestly terrified her. Despite her growing love for the order and his Lordship, she didn't want to be used in this manner. She wanted to love him and, in return, be loved by him.

But his Lordship could not love, not in the way she desired to be loved. The elders had made that fact quite clear on more than one occasion. Most recently whilst she had been preparing to meet with him. His lips attached themselves to the base of her neck and she groaned. She hated that it was so easy for him to trigger a response in her. She wanted to give him the chase he desired. To fill his mind entirely with thoughts of her.

"N-No." He drew back slightly. "No."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "No?"

"No." She reaffirmed, growing that smallest bit more confident in her words.

His Lordship pulled back to study her face. "And who are you to deny me what is rightfully mine?"

"I-I –" She swallowed hard in an attempt to collect herself. "R-Rena."

"I did not ask for your name."

Rena whimpered as his Lordship tightened his grip on her wrists. "I-I– I'm a n-novice. I-I was initiated t-two months ago."

He glared. "And you believe it your right to deny me?"

"I-It is my b-body. I –" She winced as his merciless vice constricted further. "I-It is my r-right t-to-to give it to w-whom I-I wish."

A feral, animalistic growl escaped him as his lips curled back to reveal descended fangs. Rena squeaked at the sight. She was frightened of the repercussions of her words, but her body was undeniably aroused by his response. His Lordship, of course, had full knowledge of what he was doing to her and smirked.

His fingers brushed against her flushed cheek. "It seems your body has made its choice, girl. I suggest you listen to it."

"M-My Lord, I–" She gasped as he nipped under her jaw, but managed to regain control long enough to speak once more. "I wonder...w-what was troubling you e-earlier?"

He immediately stilled his movements. "That is none of your concern. You are here for one reason, and one reason only."

"B-But I had hop–"

"That is enough." In an effortless move he threw her to the ground. Rena cried out as she slammed against the stone and looked up at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. But he gave no indication that he cared in the slightest. "I have had enough. Leave me, before I feel so inclined to kill you."

She had crossed a line she wasn't aware existed. "P-Please!" Rena weeped. "I-I did not seek t-to pry!" He watched Rena with an unforgiving expression as she pushed herself to her knees and pressed her forehead to the stone. "I-I beg your forgiveness!"

A silence settled, during which time she neither moved nor made any sound. Rena waited for his reaction. It was believed to be a disgrace of the highest calibre to leave his Lordship's chambers without being claimed by him. She had only spoken up in the hopes of persuading him that she would be worthwhile as a long-term lover. She had never intended for their meeting to end like this.

He appraised her trembling form. It was clear that her intention had not been to offend, but whether it was intentional or otherwise mattered little to him. Something about her had caught his attention. His Lordship crouched down before her and roughly pulled her up. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as he took hold of her chin and proceeded to position her head at multiple angles.

Rena was unsure of what he was doing, even as he tiled her head back and plastered her hair against her scalp in order to provide a better view of her features. Once he was done, he roughly released her and returned to his feet.

"You are not her. You are not worthy to stand at my side." He turned his back on her and ascended the stairs to his throne, where he promptly settled before addressing her again. "You will sit at my feet. You are henceforth my pet."

A monstrous snarl echoed across the vast expanse of forest, shaking the very ground and causing animals to flee in terror. Flocks of birds shot from the canopies to seek refuge in the night sky, whilst those creatures unlucky enough to be born without wings, fled into the surrounding areas of dense vegetation that larger animals were incapable of traversing.

A young child, exhausted and injured, stumbled along the solitary path hidden amongst lines of trees and unruly undergrowth. Greasy blonde hair fell in clumps around her blotched and swollen face, and her clothes, tattered and bloody, draped upon her slender frame by few threads. She stumbled again, her leg threatening to give way. The deep laceration on her thigh sought to make her escape impossible.

Despite the hopelessness of it all, she refused to concede defeat so easily. She was determined to escape. And this time...this time she would succeed.

Gritting her teeth against the pain and fear, she pushed on. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks, but she payed them no mind. They did her no good, so she had no use for them. Run, faster! Blood trickled between her fingers as she pressed them harder against the wound. She was losing too much blood, and her body was beginning to react. She began to slow.

It was sufficient time to lose.

A figure leapt onto the path in front of her. She reeled back, stumbling over her own feet and hitting the ground with such force that it split the skin above her left temple. Maniacal laughter caused her body to give a violent shudder. Delighted by her reaction, he flashed sharp fangs in a deranged smirk. Silence encompassed them, filled only by the muted sounds of rainfall and her own heavy breathing. She knew she shouldn't have looked. her brain told her to avert her gaze and run, but she couldn't stop herself.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She took in his appearance, from the immaculate white suit that clothed his lithe figure, to the dark unkempt hair that further accentuated his already psychotic appearance. He effortlessly towered over her small, shivering form. He was threatening in every sense of the word. Fear welled in her chest as she finally met his gaze. Those dark eyes would not be so easily forgotten. Empty and soulless, they began to glow a terrifying crimson as he approached.

"A beast in human form."

Mako awoke with a start, her skin slick with sweat and her chest heaving as she struggled to calm her racing heart. She trembled uncontrollably. Every single cell in her body told her that she was frightened, the only problem was, she couldn't remember why. She wracked her memory for any inkling of reason to explain her fear, but promptly gave up when she realized her efforts amounted to nothing.

"I have no fear." She leant back into the mattress and frowned as a pair of cold crimson eyes abruptly filled her thoughts. Her gaze darkened. "Especially not of vampires."

She shifted uncomfortably in her bed. The mattress was hard and lumpy unlike the one in her room, which led her to suspect that she, in fact, wasn't in her room. She sat up and allowed her gaze to wonder. Hospital beds surrounded her, lining the fringes of the large room, and separated from each other by thin white curtains that hardly supplied adequate privacy. The centre of the room was free of clutter, no doubt to allow for easy movement of patients and their visitors.

At the far end of the large room she spotted two doors. One she naturally assumed led to the bathroom, and the other most likely led to the doctor's office. Mako cringed. If there was one thing she hated nearly as much as vampires, it was paying a visit to the doctor. She avoided hospitals like the plague and would do anything to steer clear of an appointment, even going as far as to attempt faking her own death. A tad overdramatic, perhaps, but she'd had enough bad experiences to justify the act.

Throwing aside the rough blankets, Mako swung her legs over the side of the bed and gripped onto the bedside table to steady herself. Her body cried out in protest and her limbs suddenly grew heavy. She hissed, ceasing her movements at once to prevent further pain. When had she become so weak, she mused. She didn't even recall being thrown around all that much yesterday.

"Yesterday?" Mako frowned and shook her head, which resulted in pain shooting up the side of her neck. Her fingers caressed the thick gauze that covered her skin. She sighed. "I don't even know what day it is."

"Wednesday." Her gaze snapped up to the figure leaning casually against the doorframe. Zero gave her a small smile. "You've been asleep for two days."

She said nothing and did nothing, but stare at him. His smile fell. No doubt Mako was mad at him. She had every right to be. After all, he had abandoned her. Zero averted his eyes to his feet as the guilt of his own uselessness crashed down on him. He couldn't even bare to meet her gaze.

His body tensed as a gentle breeze from an open window caused the scent of her blood to drift over to him. He could feel his fangs descend, but forced them back. He disgusted himself. To think, he desired nothing more than to drink from his injured friend.

A shuffling sound caught his attention and he looked up to see Mako smirking at him. "You're not the first sight I want to see in the morning. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?" She took a quickly glance out the window and shrugged. "At least, I think it's class time. Could be lunch. I'm starving."

"I'm sure you would've preferred Kuran or that aggravating Aristocrat to come visit you." He shoved his hands in his pockets, thanking Mako for starting a conversation to distract him from his shameful thoughts. "Right?"

Her nose wrinkled at the suggestion. "On second thought," She smiled cheerfully at him, "Good morning Zero!"

"I thought as much." A hint of a smile graced his lips, but swiftly disappeared to be replaced by remorse. His gaze returned once more to his feet. "Mako. I'm sorry."

The female hunter tilted her head slightly. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I just– I abandoned you. I–" Zero squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced as he recalled his betrayal. "I'm nothing but a disgusting beast fueled by a desire for blood. That vampire nearly killed you because I wasn't able to control that desire. I'm a monster."

"Perhaps. But it was a good thing that you stayed away. If you had interfered, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill you. And I couldn't live with that." His head shot up and he made eye contact with her. She stared intently at him. "I don't blame you for anything, Zero."

Zero found himself struck speechless by her confession. There was no hesitation in her voice, no inkling that told him she spoke anything but the truth. He felt his chest tighten just that little bit. She cared that much for him. So much in fact, that she would have readily given her own life to that vampire for the sake of his. Mako couldn't bare losing him.

A smile threatened to tug at his lips, but he kept it at bay. This was certainly not the time to be happy. Not that he deserved to be. Mako had nearly died and he had been absolutely powerless to do anything about it. And what made the situation worse was that Mako didn't feel even the smallest inclination to condemn him for it.

"You should." He clenched his jaw. "Blame me."

"It's not your decision to make." Mako scrutinized him. His hands were clenched by his sides, the muscles of his neck were tense, he avoided all eye contact, and he had made certain to keep his distance during the entirety of their conversation. "Is it that unbearable?" Zero said nothing. She sighed. "It would be easier if you just bit m–"

"No."

She could hear the subtle tinge of anger in his voice. "Zero–"

"I said no!" He snapped, but lowered his voice immediately after. "Don't mention it again."

"Alright."

Whether or not others had noticed it, Zero's struggle was painfully obvious to Mako. But she cared for him too much to subject him to any further discomfort and dropped the subject. She turned her attention out the window once more. Day Class students were filing out of the main building and roaming the grounds in search of a suitable place to have lunch.

To some extent, Mako envied them. Being able to have a normal life surrounded by friends and family, and completely oblivious to the darkness that surrounded them. But if she were given the choice now, knowing everything she did, she wouldn't choose to live her life in blissful ignorance. She couldn't. It was a part of who she was, a part of her being. She would know the darkness regardless of the danger.

"They came to visit you."

She blinked. "Huh? Who?"

"Who do you think?" She didn't reply, but he felt her body tense. Zero dared to take a step closer. "Kuran made it a point to stay by your side after he brought you in. He wouldn't leave, not even for a moment. It took the Headmaster to convince him otherwise, after all, the scent of your blood caused the Night Class to become restless."

She ignored him, far too focused on the many obento she was watching her fellow classmate consume. "Seeing them eating lunch is making me hungry. Where's the nurse?"

"I owe him something." That got her attention. Mako faced him with a curious expression. "He saved your life. The Pureblood."

"You don't owe anyone, anything." She turned back to the window. "And it was the Aristocrat who saved my life, not Kuran. He just did the heavy lifting afterwards. Which reminds me, as soon as I get out of here, I have to thoroughly scrub myself clean."

Zero stared at her as she continued her monologue on vampiric germs. There were times when he found her to be anything but normal. She had moments that could only be described as utterly random. And those moments, they were only ever shared with him. It made him feel glad. Glad that he was someone she trusted enough to behave normally around. Which was why he had to protect her at all costs. She trusted him.

"Mako."

"Hmm?"

"Stay away from them."

The female hunter turned to look at his earnest expression. "Yeah."

Compulsion. That's what he felt. An urge that could only be his libido crying out to claim her before anyone else had the chance. Emotions were completely unnecessary. Attachment was completely unnecessary. Sex and blood, however, were entirely relevant.

Daisuke shook his head.

His many attempts at justifying the strange pull he felt towards Mako were not only lame, but entirely unconvincing. There were signs. Annoyingly obvious signs that even he was incapable of dismissing. His actions went above and beyond a simple physical attraction. If it was only her body he was after, or her blood, he could take her by force. Instead, he chose to chase her and risk his life for her. That alone proved contradictory. Was he developing sentiments towards the hunter?

He scoffed.

It was a ridiculous thought at best. One charitable action didn't signify the evolution of any feelings, other then the hope of receiving a reward for his troubles. He saved her life, which was an action that had resulted in an immediate and thorough punishment courtesy of Kaname Kuran. It was only fair that she provide him with some form of compensation.

He leant back against the headboard.

That Mako would even acknowledge his deed was doubtful. She certainly hadn't bothered to express her gratitude for his troubles. Instead, she went straight to insulting him. At the very least she remained consistent. Even when he had attempted to be mindful of the situation by being polite and expressing appropriate concern, Mako called him out. She refused to accept him either way.

He ran a hand through his hair.

But...Mako had vouched for him. Against the Pureblood she loathed with an undying passion, the last man she would ever willingly speak to, she had confirmed his blamelessness in a manner that made her almost seem grateful. Almost. It hadn't done him much good in the long-run, but the meaning wasn't lost on him. Though Mako wasn't willing to accept it just yet, there was a part of her that did have affection towards him. Even if it was only the smallest part, it was more than Kaname could claim.

The corner of his lips curled smugly at the realization. "Maybe there's hope yet."

For the past few days, Yuuki had been consumed by worry for her new friend and stopped by to check on her whenever she had a moment of free time to spare. On one occasion, she had even gone as far as to deny herself sleep just to spend a few extra moments by her bedside. Yuuki felt guilty and useless for being unable to do anything else. And it hurt beyond belief to see Mako, who was always so strong and unyielding, laying unresponsive in sick bay.

She couldn't even begin to imagine how Zero felt. Whenever she went to visit the hunter, Zero sat loyally by her side, always grasping her hand and staring blankly at her face as though he expected her to sit up at any moment. And there he remained night and day, guarding her and refusing to allow anyone, not counting herself and the Headmaster, to see her.

Kaname and Daisuke especially. Both vampires had made several attempts to visit Mako, to see how she was doing and spend some time at her bedside. But Zero prevented them from even catching a glimpse of Mako. Yuuki understood, to some extent. She knew that Mako hated vampires and no doubt the idea of having them sit by her bedside would have made her sick to her stomach. Zero was only enforcing the rules he knew Mako would set.

Even now, with the news that Mako was finally awake, Zero refused to budge. And Mako was nothing if not supportive of his actions to keep the vampires at bay. Yuuki wished they would be more lenient. Kaname had gone out of his way to escort Mako safely back to the Academy, and Yuuki figured it must have been difficult. Mako had been bleeding profusely and Kaname was a vampire. As much as she disliked the idea, Kaname must have been tempted.

The guardian shook her head. Temptation or not, he was a proper gentleman and certainly not reckless enough to bite a hunter who had a reputation built upon an itchy trigger finger. Yuuki failed to understand Mako's intense hatred towards the Night Class, and towards Kaname in particular. Most probably because she knew next to nothing about the hunter, save for the few moments in her childhood that included Zero.

Mako Osaragi was an enigma. A puzzle that lured others with false promises of a solution. The guardian supposed the mystery was one of the many reasons people seemed to gravitate towards her, whether she wanted them to or not. It was difficult to pull away once caught up in her wake. And being a private person, she doubted that Mako was all too thrilled with her ability.

There were times she wished to be more like Mako. In possession of an indomitable character, clear perception and an attractiveness that rivaled a vampire noble's. Yuuki sighed. She knew what Mako would say if the hunter ever found out. She would be scolded for putting Mako on a pedestal. But she couldn't help it, not when Mako had many a trait she wished she had herself.

Traits that made Kaname notice her. And Daisuke. And Zero. Yuuki shook her head violently to clear her mind. It shouldn't have mattered, but it did hurt. She felt something for Kaname, something more than appreciation. That much she could admit to herself. Her feelings towards Zero confused her. She loved him as a friend. Loved him dearly, but...

"Are you all set?" The guardian gave a start at the sudden interruption, but shrugged it off when she realized that the question hadn't been directed at her.

"Of course. They're homemade."

"Who are you giving it to?"

The girl leant forward and whispered. "Kaname-senpai."

Yuuki stiffened at mention of the Moon Dorm President and turned her attention to the giggling girls who sat in the first row of desks. Things had been so hectic lately that she'd entirely forgotten it was nearly that time of year again. St. Xocolat's Day.

"Everybody is so excited."

She turned to Sayori who was her closest and only female friend, at least, until Mako made an appearance. Though she doubted Mako saw her in the same light. "That's because they're all getting ready for St. Xocolat's Day tomorrow."

Before Sayori could reply, the class representative appeared on the stairs behind them. "All the girls go around giving chocolates to the boys they have crushes on to proclaim their love for them." He shrugged. "I don't get it. It's completely absurd! Has everyone forgotten that this is a school of higher learning!" With a quick shake of his head, the class representative pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. "I'm against it in every way, shape and form."

A group of boys situated further up lowered their heads, looking incredibly depressed by the whole idea of spending another St. Xocolat's Day without receiving so much as a single chocolate. The Day Class girls were so obsessed with the Night Class, that the boys knew there was no hope for them.

Yuuki sighed and turned her attention back to Sayori. "Hey Yori, are you giving chocolates to anyone this year?"

"Hmm, no. Not interested." Sayori leant closer. "What about you?"

Yuuki shook her head. "No. I–I don't think so."

"Hmm, so then..." Her stoic friend pointed to the book on her desk. "What's that?"

She paused and stared at the cover. It was obviously a recipe book. A how-to manual on creating lovely chocolate treats. Sayori leant closer to get a better look, but Yuuki was adamant about keeping the book hidden. She stared at the guardian, wondering who she planned on giving chocolate to. Possibly Zero, or that boy from the Night Class. Kaname Kuran.

The guardian forced a smile and giggled nervously. "This doesn't mean anything."

Sayori tilted her head slightly. "Then what's it for?" Before Yuuki could come up with a viable excuse, she stiffened. A menacing presence surrounded them and she gulped. Even Sayori seemed a bit uncomfortable. Or maybe she was irritated. "I might be wrong, but I believe someone behind us is glaring at you."

The male hunter sat in the row behind them, burning a glaring hole in their backs. "You're a member of the disciplinary committee, yet you're giving him that."

A flustered Yuuki turned to face him, arms waving. "Uh, no! This would just be a token of my appreciation to someone I'm indebted to!" She blushed and averted her gaze. "I haven't even decided if I'm going to give it to him yet, so let it go."

Zero narrowed his eyes. As much as she tried to deny it, Zero knew that she had already made her decision. Yuuki would be presenting him with chocolates. That damned Pureblood vampire who was not only fond of the naive guardian, but had recently begun to show an interest in Mako as well.

That was something that didn't sit well with him. The Pureblood's endless attempts to strike up a friendship with Mako irritated Zero more than he cared at admit. Seeing them together, even knowing that she rebuffed the vampire's every attempt, rubbed him the wrong way. He felt a simultaneous bombardment of rage and disgust, coupled with a protectiveness and jealousy he never knew he possessed.

And adding that grating Aristocrat to the mix only helped to make matters worse. Daisuke was increasingly more insistent than his Pureblood rival, not that his efforts made much difference towards the final outcome. Zero's only conciliation was knowing that the only vampire Mako would ever willingly accept was him.

"I'm out for a few days and this is what happens." Caught off-guard, Zero snapped his attention to the girl beside him. Mako pulled a face. "Tomorrow's St. Xocolat's Day."

"Mako." His gaze trailed to the gauze on her neck and a wave of guilt enveloped him. "I thought the doctor told you to rest."

She scoffed. "I believe two days unconscious is enough. Besides, I trust doctors about as much as I trust vampires." Leaning over her desk, Mako caught a glimpse of the recipe book on Yuuki's desk. "Cross-san. You're making chocolates?"

The guardian jumped and whirled around to find Mako's face in close proximity. She felt her cheeks instantly flush under the scrutinizing gaze of the hunter. "M-Mako." Her voice rose to an unusually high note that made Mako smirk in amusement. Clearing her throat, Yuuki made a second attempt to engage her. "How are you feeling, Mako?"

"Fine. I heard you visited me whilst I was unconscious."

"I– Yes."

Mako smiled. "I appreciate that very much, Cross-san."

"Y-You don't need to thank me. I did it because I wanted to." Yuuki's confession immediately prompted the further reddening of her cheeks and contributed to Mako's own amusement. She certainly enjoyed teasing the guardian, who was so easily flustered. "T-The Headmaster told me you wouldn't be attending classes today."

The hunter sighed and settled back against her seat. "I'm fine. I don't need any more rest and I certainly don't need a mad scientist with a stethoscope watching my every move."

"But the doctor–"

At that point, Mako decided it was a good time to change the topic. "So who are you making chocolates for, Cross-san?"

"I-I'm not making chocolates for anyone!"

Zero scowled. "She's making them for Kuran."

Mako raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're making chocolates for Kuran-san?"

The blush spread like wildfire down the guardian's neck and to her ears. "M-Maybe. I don't know if I'm going to give them to him."

"Why not?" Mako ignored Zero's menacing glare as she continued. "Girl meets boy. Girl loves boy. Girl gives boy chocolate. What's so difficult?"

She stammered over her words, barely able to form a coherent sentence. "L-Love? I-I don't know what you're talking about." She began to giggle uncontrollably. "It would just be to show my gratitude. Nothing else."

"Relax, Cross-san. I was only teasing." Mako smirked at the ridiculous spectacle Yuuki made of herself. "You're so easily flustered. I find it very amusing."

Zero observed their exchange with some suspicion. It was uncommon to see Mako so talkative and actively engaging in a conversation that she'd started of her own accord. Red flags waved vehemently in his mind. Something was wrong and he was certain it had something to do with the attack in town.

He was concerned that she wasn't reacting properly. In Mako's case, the normal thing to do would be to brush off the incident and hunt the vampire down. She spoke cheerfully with Yuuki and Sayori, with no indication that she intended to exact revenge. It might have been a lagged response. A prolonged period of shock that she would eventually overcome. Or, as seemed to be the situation, Mako was putting on a front in an attempt to forget what had happened.

A pang of guilt struck his chest. Zero regretted everything that happened. He regretted allowing her hunt the vampire alone, because he was too caught up in his selfish desire to spend some time alone with Yuuki. He regretted not having acted immediately when unease had begun to set in. And he especially regretted that she'd been forced to endure it alone.