Yuuki raised her head from the pillow when she heard the migraine worthy knock at the hotel door. Her gaze was blurry at first but then cleared so she could see the alarm clock on the nightstand that repeatedly blinked six thirdly.

Groaning she sat up, only to receive sharp pains with the sudden movement.

Why would she be in so much-

Last night's events rushed back to her and a mad blush spread across her face.

For a moment she wondered if it was a dream and, in spite of herself, she turned around to see the silver haired male fast asleep on the next to her. She yelped in surprise and shot to her feet -still the Kuruizaki prince was in deep sleep, snoring softly.

With her eyes still on him, Yuuki walked to the corner of the room and grabbed her bathrobe to cover herself with.

Her thoughts were panicked worried over a million details on the night before.

How much did she remember?

What would her family say?

What would his family say?

What if she was pregnant?

Her blood ran cold at the last one and her eyes started to fill with tears.

Kaname… The dimming memory of her handsome, older brother only made her want to cry harder. His soft smile, his long hair, his red eyes, his understanding to everything….

Suddenly she wondered what it would be like if she'd never gone after Yori alone that night.

Zero wouldn't have captured her, that was for sure, and she wouldn't be in this situation.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Exiting the room quickly Yuuki reached the hotel door in record time. And without looking through the peephole she instead unlatched the locks and opened the door to two weary looking aristocrat vampires.

She remembered these two.

Akatsuki Kain and Ruka Souen, they were allies of her brother.

Ruka face heated up when she saw Yuuki and the princess watched the emotion's lay in the aristocrat's hazelnut eyes: relief…realization…fury…denial…jealously…more fury.

"Yuuki-sama, under order of your brother we have been instructed to bring you back to your family." Kain spoke in a nonchalant voice that proved he didn't care or wanted to know. "Is Zero-sama still here?"

Yuuki's throat became dry and she stared up at the tall vampire confused on why –or how- he could be this blunt.

"He's sleeping." Ruka's face became a normal shade and her voice became business-like.

"Alright then…Grab your things and we'll sneak you out."

"Um…" Yuuki's face became red upon remembering exactly where Zero was sleeping. There was no way she could get her things without waking him up.

"Akatsuki, go wait in the in the hall I'll handle things up here." Ruka turned to her partner and he nodded. Ruka stepped further into the foyer and closed the door behind her. She stared at the princess in front of her and her eyes softened.

God she's so young.

"Yuuki-sama, where is he?"

"My room." She whispered. Before either of them knew what was happening Ruka wrapped her arms around Yuuki in an embrace. And like that the princess broke and Ruka soothed her, not caring that she was seeing a Pureblood cry or comforting her ex-boyfriend's lover for that matter.

In that moment they were equal and Yuuki needed comforting.

After a few moments Ruka pulled away and handed Yuuki a handkerchief from her pocket. "You get something to eat from the kitchen and I'll grab your things." Yuuki looked ready to oppose, but Ruka stopped her. "Don't worry, he doesn't scare me."

Kuruizaki

The sound of the door opening and closing again woke Zero up for the second time this morning. At first he was a little smug, knowing Yuuki was back and then concerned.

Something heavy landed on the foot of the bed and Zero bolted upward to see it wasn't Yuuki who'd entered, but Ruka. Looking as beautiful and as pissed as ever.

"Good morning, sunshine." She hissed nastily at the same time she opened the blinds and sunlight poured in through the window and illuminated the room.

Zero growled and blocked the light with his hand.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ruka?" The blonds' face stayed passive and she turned from him to the closest and started to take down and fold Yuuki's clothes then packing them into the suitcase she'd thrown on the bed. "What are you doing?"

"The usual, serving my Lord and Master, but a different one." Looking at the dress in her hands she turned back to the bureau and grabbed undergarments to go along with them. Without looking at Zero she exited the room and stalked off into the hall.

"Here's a suitable outfit for today." Ruka's voice changed to something softer, almost motherly.

"Thank you, Ruka." Yuuki answered her voice rough like she'd been crying. Zero's attention turned to that but before he could get out of the bed Ruka was back and slammed the door again. Seeming even more pissed than she was before.

"She is sixteen-years-old!" Ruka growled lowly, her eyes flashing crimson. "And you deprive her of her most precious gift." She returned to the task of putting Yuuki's clothes into the suitcase but rougher. "You are something, Zero Kuruizaki. You are just…a piece of work."

"I don't recall her stopping me." It came out before he could stop it.

Ruka's head inclined to him and shoved a silk dress a little too harshly into the suitcase. "You…oh dear God I can think of a million things to call you right now. So many nasty things, but they're all too good for you!"

There was a tense silence and Ruka turned to check that the closest was empty and zipped up the suitcase. Looking back at Zero she sighed and hung her head.

"I came here and I found her near tears, Zero. What does that tell you? She's broken…" Ruka sighed heavily. "And torn between Kaname and you. She loves you and you…are not the right choice." Sliding the luggage off the bed Ruka walked out to the room in silence. "See you around."

Kuran

Yuuki couldn't remember ever show any emotion in front of a Noble.

She always stayed calm and collected and impassive around them. It seemed so unnatural now to be letting the daughter of Souen comfort her.

"You can tell me whatever it is you need to say, Yuuki-sama. I will not hold it against you and you need to let these sorts of things out." Ruka rubbed Yuuki's shoulder and moved hair away from her face. Kain sat up front with the limo driver, giving the girls privacy.

"I kept comparing him to Kaname and…" Yuuki's head fell forward and she hid her face with her hands. "I thought I loved him."

Ruka nodded. "I thought I did too…" Yuuki looked up at Ruka, shocked. "He broke it off with me…a few days before he kidnapped you."

And with that the proud Kuran princess: cried.

Yes, this is an angst chapter but it is very important to the rest of the story! Thank you for all of you who entered a chapter outtake for chapter 11: Lust and as you wanted you will get no spoilers. And another thank you too ApocalypticDisaster for reminding me about this chapter.

Furthermore my new laptop is fixed and I shall return to my cave to write.

~QueenVamp