Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or any of its characters


author's notes: I don't think that this chapter is that interesting. I've been resting for quite a while now so my writing isn't that good right now. still i hope you will like this chapter


Budding Sentiments

"Please don't hate me... Ichiru." I read from her sad eyes. I watched as she sank her teeth deep inside Zero's neck. My stomach began to churn not from disgust but from a feeling I could not understand. My hands began to shake as I tried to comprehend whatever this feeling might be.

"I-Ichi-ru..." my brother stuttered. He reached out a hand warning me to get away. "Go! Run, Ichiru!"

I could not take my eyes off Zero. My churning stomach gave me a feeling which made me lose my sympathy for Zero. The truth of this feeling was still cloudy. "Zero... " I mumbled.

"Get away from her, Ichiru! She's a vampire!" he desperately said. My twin pathetically crawled to me. But I did not want his sympathy. I looked at Lady Shizuka as she smiled blissfully, a sign that she was contented with Zero's blood. I looked back at Zero and glared at him. My stomach churned for the worst. I did not feel like heaving, but it seemed I wanted to pour something out.

Lady Shizuka was silent for just a moment. She gazed at Zero's hateful eyes. "Don't ever forget about me, Zero." she giggled. "You and I... we are the same. You and I now have... a very special bond." she crowed and a melody began to play in my head. I clenched my fists. Her last sentence made me want to hate Zero even more. She turned around and walked pass me. "Let's go, Ichiru." she softly said. I turned around and took my first step.

"No! Don't, Ichiru!" My brother begged once more. I blocked my ears and ran to Lady Shizuka.

I walked slowly behind her and watched Lady Shizuka's back very carefully. Lady Shizuka glanced over her shoulder and smiled at me. "What are you doing there?" She stopped and reached for my hand. "Come. Walk beside me, Ichiru." I felt her cold hand around my small hand. She reached for my cheek and gave me an expression I saw when she drank Zero's blood. "You are very warm." she crowed. I turned my gaze somewhere else for her expression pained me.

We walked side-by-side, feeling each others' presence. But the feeling that I developed bothered me. I wondered what it really was. "Lady Shizuka," I remembered her blissful smile, "why won't you... drink my blood?" I felt myself fluster for asking her such a ludicrous question.

"Ichiru..." she whispered. "All we have now is each other." I could not understand her.

She walked quietly and hastily. I did not try to walk beside her again. Lady Shizuka answered my question with a riddle, but that riddle did not appease me. The feeling from my stomach continued to grow. I watched her back again. She suddenly stopped and gazed at me with a very pained face. I watched her with great amazement. "Is something wrong?" my voice trembled.

Her pained expression haunted me. "Please don't..." she paused for a brief moment before continuing. "Please don't make that sad face... Ichiru." She reached for my crown and patted me softly. "Zero has nothing that I would want." her riddles puzzled me again. She turned around again and continued with her walk.

My stomach began to ease as I let her words ring in my head. "Zero has nothing that I would want." over and over again it played. I caught my own breath and shook my head. I looked up and saw Lady Shizuka smile an illuminating smile. There was warmth radiating from that smile. I could not help myself, but smile at her as a reply. I ran back beside her and absorbed that smile of hers. I did not hesitate to think about what I was really feeling. It did not bother me to know that I actually felt it. That feeling made me feel more human.

"Ichiru, back then," Lady Shizuka trailed off again before continuing. "I know what you felt earlier." she smiled merrily. "It's what you call... jealousy."

It really did not bother me. I was reluctant. I calmly smiled and said, "Oh! Jealousy is an interesting... emotion."


End of Chapter Two