This chapter, I admit took the longest to write, and it is the longest chapter so far. No lemon in it, sorry. Lemon is yet to come later. I was really happy when I finished this, because it took sooooooo long to write. The thoughts just weren't coming to me like I wanted so I had to deeply think them through. Read and Review!!! Arigato!!!
Thank you for being patient, and thanks for all the reviews.
Note to GSandM (Kura)- I was or am, planning to be a manga artist/writer, and hopefully get my stories published someday. I have an original I am currently working on and it is turning out really good.
Chapter 8: Crimson Gathering
Yuki Cross is a very sweet girl but often lets her emotions get the best of her. She was sitting in Kaname's arms, the love of her life was making her feel so important and excited as well as drugged. Yuki's vision became blurry as her head swarmed with girlish fantasies of sexual contact. Kaname had always looked after her like a father but the word father never suited him. The pureblood Vampire was only one thing to her: the one and only. True, he is a Vampire, but that fact didn't bother her one bit.
As fragile as she is in the home of Vampires, she never falters. The thought of her blood being sucked out of her by a beautiful being never scared her. Of course, who sucked her blood was always a big issue. Aido and Shiki always had a lust for her blood but she never allowed them to take it. She was never on good terms with Kain, and Ichijo would never drink from her. Zero needed her to survive so she gave it willingly. Kaname was a different story… Every time she was with him she secretly begged him to make her one of his kind, a blood sucking beast.
Kaname instinctively heard a set of footsteps outside of his door. The pearly white fangs were once again tucked away back where they belonged as a knock sounded on the large oak doors. "Enter." Clearly annoyed, Yuki got up off of his desk before Ichijo entered.
"Zero is here to pick up Yuki, and you have guests downstairs to greet." Orange bangs covered his face and fell down the base of his neck like water rolling off smooth rocks.
"Very well." Kaname rose gracefully from his seat as he pulled on his jacket and ran his hands through his hair. Zero entered the room and the two locked eyes. Yuki walked out the door before Kaname. "Don't touch her again." The warning was as crisp as fresh morning air. The three descended the stairs with poise and ease. An elder Vampire that Yuki had never seen stood at the entryway with a beautiful girl at his side. The girl was a year older than Yuki, around seventeen.
The young Vampire bowed gracefully in Kaname's presence. "My Lord." Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders in loose curls when she bowed.
Kaname seemed to not pay her any mind at all. "Sir Sounen. It's good to see you again." Kaname nodded at the older man, ignoring the girl.
The elder bowed lightly to Kaname. "Likewise. Is Ruka here at the moment?" His eyes flashed to where Zero and Yuki stood. "Ah, Zero Kiryu. Doing well I presume?"
Zero didn't answer his question and instead guided Yuki past him and out of the Mansion. "Yes, Ruka is here." Kaname replied. "Kain, go get Ruka… Tell her, her father and sister is here."
Zero and Yuki walked back to the dorms to Cross Academy. "So you're going to dress up for the dance?" He tried to talk to Yuki.
"Well, yeah. I don't know what I'm going to be wearing though…" Yuki said as she went through her closet in her mind. "Yori and I will probably go shopping." She laughed at the thought that Yori would dress her up like a Barbie doll. "It kind of sucks that we have to be on guard, too."
"Somebody has to do it." Came Zero's reply. The two of them reached Yuki's dorm as she was about to enter. "Yuki…" Zero said, grabbing her hand before it touched the door knob. "Be careful around Kaname."
"He won't hurt me Zero, there's nothing to worry about." She told him.
Zero pulled her into a comforting embrace. "I don't want him to hurt you. I'd never forgive myself if he turned you into a Vampire. You have no idea how horrible it is to be a beast that lusts for blood. I don't want you to experience it."
Yuki closed her eyes and felt the heartbeat through Zero's chest. She didn't speak because deep down she wants to become a Vampire, but she knew the words that Zero said were true. "I'll see you at the dance, Zero. Save a dance for me! Okay?"
"I can't dance… Sorry." He turned his head away from being embarrassed.
"It's easy. I'll teach you." Yuki retreated inside waving a goodbye to Zero as he continued down the hall to either his dorm or the private quarters of the Chairman.
"Yuki!!! Look at the dress I got for the dance!" Yori bounced in front of her right when she entered the room. Her blonde hair was up in a bun on the right side of her face with a few curls dangling down. Silver clips in the shape of flowers sat nestled in her hair to hold it up. Her honey brown eyes were filled with such excitement that Yuki just laughed at how active she was. A deep violet dress laid on her figure. The style was off the shoulder and the dress was fit firmly up top and widened into a gown down at the bottom with a small train in the back.
"Oh wow! It's beautiful Yori!" Yuki inspected every inch of the dress approving of her choice and the hair style.
"I know! Come here, I got one for you, too. The chairman gave me money to get one for you since you have been busy lately." Yori drug her over to the closet and pointed to the dress that was hanging on the door hook. On the hanger hung a beautiful orchid (A/N: Orchid is a mix between magenta and purple.) tube top dress with white frills underneath the torso. The dress had a black and white strap that wrapped around your upper ribs. The bottom billowed out but not poofy, only two layers of cloth, orchid and white.
"Yori! I love it. Let's try it on!" Yuki got excited as well and stripped free of her clothes while Yori helped her pick out undergarments and help her into the dress. Afterwards she did Yuki's hair. On the left side shorter layers were left down while the rest of her hair was bunched up on the right side in a beautiful swirl. White heels were put on her feet.
Yori squealed when she was finished. "You look so good in dresses. Are you planning on going with anybody special? The whole night class and a few new members are going to be going."
"Umm… No, I haven't planned on going with anybody, just dancing with a few people. What about you?" Yuki explained and Yori's face said she understood.
"Well… Okay! Ichijo asked me so I'm going with him." Yori was so happy when she let it out.
"That's great, Yori." A smile spread across Yuki's face.
"You should go with Zero, Yuki. People say you two act like a couple. Or maybe you can get your courage up enough to ask Kaname?" Yori applied make-up to Yuki to finish off her look.
"I-I don't know…" Forty-five minutes passed and Yori and Yuki left together to the Academy Campus. The dance was to be held in the grand hallway where assemblies and such took place. The room was decorated with elaborate decorations. They stepped up the staircase and heard music playing. Girls were dressed in beautiful dresses and the boys were dressed in their best attire. The night class wore their white uniforms but they were somewhat different. Blood red lining crossed over it instead of the usual black. The normal boys were dressed in black of whatever they wanted as long as it was appropriate. At the top of the steps Ichijo was standing with Kain, Shiki and a girl from the night class.
"Ah, there you are, Yori." Ichijo turned his attention to the girl and smiled a bright smile. Yori blushed as Kain rolled his eyes and Shiki just shook his head. The girl giggled a little bit. Ichijo laid out his hand to Yori and she took hold of it as he kissed her knuckles gently. He guided her inside as everybody followed including Yuki.
"Umm… Kain… Where is Kaname?" Yuki asked in a low voice.
"He will be here in a minute. His date took a little longer to get ready than we all expected so we left ahead of him. Kuran should be here in a moment along with Aido, Ruka and her sister." The statement was blunt but well explained. Kain said it without even looking at her.
"He has a date?" It was more of a question to her but Kain heard it and nodded. "Oh." Yuki's face grew a little saddened.
"There he is." Kain's voice broke her thoughts as she looked up. Kaname was dressed in the same uniform. On his left arm hung a girl she had never seen before. White hair hung behind her and went down to her waist; her dress blood red with no back and a V-neck front with flowing layers on the bottom. Yuki was shocked by her beauty and wanted to ask who she was. "She is another pureblood. One of the only matches for Kaname." Kain informed her as if he read her thoughts.
"I see…" Yuki looked at the floor while Kaname approached them.
"Why couldn't you guys just wait?" Aido asked them from behind Kaname. Ruka and her sister were on his either side with a few more males and females behind them.
"We just didn't want to. Sorry for the disrespect, Hoshi." Shiki bowed his head at the female pureblood beside Kaname.
"None taken. I understand." Her ice blue eyes fixed upon Yori on Ichijo's arm and then to Yuki. Kaname didn't take a single look at Yuki and instead guided Hoshi to the refreshments table. Yuki's gaze went again strictly to the floor.
"Dance with me, Yuki." Aido placed his arm around the small of her back and followed Ichijo and Yori to the middle of the room. Yuki held his right hand with her left and put the other on his shoulder. The two waltzed around the room. "Don't pay her any mind."
"What?" She fumbled confused.
"You're upset that Kaname came with a date, right? Hoshi is just visiting for a few days. She is the first pureblood in line for him, yet they haven't spent much time together." Aido spoke to her as she focused on his features more than his words. His blue eyes held confidence and his blonde hair took a glow to the light above it. "Ruka's not too happy about it either." Aido laughed while looking to an arguing Ruka yelling at Kain.
"It doesn't bother me." Yuki tried her hardest to hide her emotions but her face was glum. "I'll be right back." She stepped away from Aido and grabbed a glass of punch before disappearing around the corner. She rested against a pillar outside and let the fruit juice rush over her starchy tongue. Her eyes were closed.
"Yuki…" A figure breathed her name. Yuki opened her eyes to find Zero looking at her stunned. He was dressed in black slacks with a white belt and a black button up shirt that was unbuttoned halfway with a long black dress coat. He looked absolutely stunning… and sexy. Yuki! Stop thinking like that! She couldn't help but admit it.
"Zero… You look great!" Yuki said as she walked over and greeted him.
"You look… gorgeous." He inhaled before the last word escaped his mouth. Zero blushed while he looked her up and down. "Here." Zero took out a red rose corsage from his jacket pocket and stretched the band so Yuki could slip her hand in. "I heard that you are supposed to get this for your date…" He slipped it over her wrist and kissed her knuckles like Ichijo did to Yori.
"Thank you." Yuki blushed at the action, not believing how sweet he was being.
"Umm… do you want to go inside?" Zero nodded as Yuki threaded her arm through his. He blushed and she did as well. The pair walked over to Yori and Ichijo who were now talking instead of dancing. The two girls smiled at each other, both winking in approval.
Yuki took a glance over to where Kaname was standing with Hoshi and met his gaze. It held no emotion and didn't tell her anything at all. She turned back to her group as her face saddened a little bit. "You alright?" Zero asked in concern and Yuki just nodded as a happy face covered up her previous one. He looked over to where she was looking and noticed Kaname with the pureblood. "How pathetic."
"Sorry?" Ichijo asked, hearing the statement.
"Oh, nothing." Zero caught himself and drew Yuki to the dance floor. "Teach me now?" Zero asked embarrassed.
"Sure." Yuki giggled at his cuteness. The beat to the music was up tempo. "Put this hand here." She grabbed his left hand and wrapped it around her waist as she stepped closer to him and was level to his collar bone. "And I get to hold this one." Yuki grabbed his other hand and held it out; making sure hers was on top. "Now, when I put my left foot back, you follow me with your right foot, okay?" He nodded. She stepped back and he stepped forward, and she stepped sideways and it confused him, causing him to step on her foot.
"Sorry!" Zero said trying to pull away from her. "I can't do this."
Yuki kept a hold on him. "Yes you can! Just try again." She replaced his hands. "Instead of me leading, you lead. Just take a step anywhere and I'll follow." Zero gave her a look. "Trust me." She giggled. Zero did as she said and figured out it was easier for him. The two waltzed in one area and continued around the group of people in a faster pace. Zero figured he'd do something new, so he spun Yuki around under his arm, and then gathered her in his arms again. The song ended as the two were nose to nose. "Where did you learn that?" Yuki asked curiously.
"Just now." Zero smiled knowing she was impressed. A slow song started up as Yuki let go of Zero to walk away. "Don't go." Zero kept hold of Yuki's hand as she turned slowly to him and smiled. "Slow dance with me." It was a statement instead of a question. Yuki didn't reject and stepped closer to Zero. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped one around his neck and rested the other on his chest. She rested her head on his collar bone as he drew his mouth closer to her ear. Zero looked up and noticed Kaname watching him closely. "You don't deserve the way he treats you, Yuki."
"He can't help it, Zero." Was her reply.
"That still doesn't defeat the purpose that it's wrong. If he cares for you, he should be with only you." There was silence for a moment. "I would never do that to you." Yuki shut her eyes closed as she snuggled to his chest. He brought one of his hands to rest on her bare back. Kaname saw what was happening and started walking to them.
Zero noticed and took his last and maybe final chance. "I love you, Yuki." She looked him in the eyes, stunned. "I always have." His lips grew closer to hers and then finally met in a wave of heat. Yuki didn't know what to do. She liked Kaname but he seemed to ignore her and her feelings tonight. If she kissed Zero back, the whole school would see it. Zero's tongue lightly brushed over her lips as her thoughts flew away only to be replaced with passion. Yuki closed her eyes as his tongue slid into the mouth and she accepted it.
Yeah, yeah… Another cliff hanger lol. Everybody likes them and so do I. I decided to give Zero a chance since I am taking a liking to him now with the dreamy purple eyes and sexy white hair.
Everybody dying to read the next chapter? Laughs It will be posted soon, I promise. It won't take as long as this one did hopefully. Maybe even today so check back often.