Yay! Here we go, the fourth installment. Sorry it took so long to get out! :I

Disclaimer applies here.

F O U R

The day had dragged on longer than the Cross children (and Zero) had premeditated.

The moment Rose got out of class and switched over the Noon class alone, to her immense irritation, all of her energy had been taken away by the setting sun. She had to walk back to the villa tired from a test, and what was worse? It was raining. You hate me, don't you? She looked up and broke into a run toward the villa.

She ran in through the front door and closed it, having a bit of trouble as the wind picked up, pushing the door in the opposite direction. "Damn winds!" she called out into the house, and she huffed in aggravation. "And, thanks to that hardcore test," she said, "I have no homework. And that means a full night sleep tonight!" the red-head sighed in contentment and marched through the house after dropping her book bag by the sofa. She stopped abruptly in the hallway and looked around…

"Uncle? Zero? Where are you guys!"

The sound of bare feet on the carpet floor behind her made her spin on her heel and she stared into the deep maroon eyes of Yuuki. "Oh, it's you," the young woman said, towel drying her hair. "Zero and the Headmaster went to the market to finish getting things for dinner. They told me to tell you to do your homework and then get ready for dinner in an hour."

"Right, got it!" she called, running into her bedroom which was right beside Yuuki's. The brunette shook her head and went back through the living room to sit on the couch. She sprawled, her long legs touching the other arm of the sofa as her head rested on the other side. She recognized this position; just five years earlier, Zero had embraced her and almost kissed her in this very room, mere inches away from the very spot. She dragged her forearm over her eyes and smiled, remembering this was the same position Zero was in before he woke up, frightened, and… She slid her arm out of her face and stretched it across the top cushion, staring at the ceiling, eyes distant.

A few quiet minutes went by, and the front door squeaked in protest to being opened. The guardian jumped and sat up, admittedly a little frightened, and found herself looking into her father's amber eyes. "Yuuki, would you help Zero bring in the groceries and get supper ready while I go call Rose to help set the table?" The young woman nodded and got up from the sofa to greet the other guardian at the gate.

The warmth of the steam and the smell of the broth below him made his senses dance. Zero didn't hate cooking, nor did he hate the feeling of Yuuki watching him so intently. The only thing he didn't particularly find enjoyable was that it wasn't just her, but also Rose.

"What're you making?" the younger girl asked, her fingers laced behind her back and her eyes wide with curiosity. Zero looked slightly over his shoulder, and gruffly exhaled through his nose.

"A new soup recipe I learned a few weeks ago out of Cross's collection of cookbooks. Go sit down with Headmaster Cross." The half-blood murmured, and Rose let out a quiet sigh before turning and sending a kind smile toward the brunette standing rigid by the door, and returned to the table, where the quiet voice of the Headmaster greeted her. Once their voices faded, Yuuki walked over to Zero to replace the emptiness that resided beside the half-blood. "Can you get me the thyme by the cutting board, Yuuki?"

The former vampire nodded and ran her fingers along the smooth, almost soft wood of the cutting board when she touched the herb and took it between her thumb and middle finger. He keeps… saying my name, like he's never seen me before. She shook her head and turned, grabbing the herb and walking back and standing beside her friend who was stirring the concoction. She let out a soft sigh before leaning against the counter. Like we weren't friends before then…

"Are you saying… you want me to die, Yuuki?"

"Hnng!" Yuuki shut her eyes tightly as the words burned through her skull and she found herself hunched over painfully. She brought her hands to her face, burying tightly-balled fists into her eyes to rub the sting of tears from her eyes. Her nails, long enough to pierce skin or hurt trying, buried into the skin above her brows as she tried to claw her skin, trying to bleed the memory out. She let out a troubled gasp, and suddenly felt two hands on her shoulders.

"Yuuki! What's wrong?" Zero's voice spoke sincerely worried and he pulled her head into his arms, holding her, causing her fingers to freeze and slowly fall down her face. Her breath was caught in her throat causing her to choke slightly and stare at his feet. She stared at her fingers; under her nails were traces of skin and blood and she felt the warmth of blood trickle on her eyelid, and she closed the eye as it dripped on the floor. It was almost music to Zero's ears and he picked her head up and bent down to lick the blood. Her other eye widened, then closed in an almost comfortable motion.

"Z-Zero, the… soup…" Yuuki's heart beat hard in her chest like a bass drum in an empty auditorium. The half-blood paid no heed to her words and licked his lips. Her blood… It still tastes so…

Headmaster Cross tapped his finger on the table as his head of long caramel-colored hair was sprawled over his shoulder in a tight ponytail. His eyes were empty and his stomach was yelling in protest to not yet being filled with the deliciousness that wasn't his cooking. "What on earth is taking those two? I certainly hope the soup will be ready soooooooon!"

Rose quirked an eyebrow at her uncle's childish whine. "I'm sure it's ready and they forgot about it. I'm going to help get the rest of the things for dinner," she pushed out of the chair and put a strand of her fine hair behind her ear. Before the Headmaster could protest, Rose headed toward the door leading to the hallway, then to the kitchen.

Whatever they're doing Rose thought, letting her face contort into a scowl and walking through the archway to turn around the wall and rest there for a moment. It shouldn't be making me and Uncle Kaien wait so long. Whatever it is can wait until when we're not waiting to eat supper. She kicked herself off of the wall and headed toward the seemingly long hallway toward the swinging kitchen door. She pressed her hand on the wood and pushed it slightly open.

What was in her immediate eyesight shocked and horrified her.

Yuuki was leaned up against the counter with her hands lightly clawing at the back of Zero's shirt, leaving tiny marks. Her head was tilted upwards and her lips were parted and her breath was hitching… she looked like she was having a good time. Zero's face was hidden in her neck and soft suckling sounds could be heard as his hands cradled her close, one hand behind her head and the other holding her waist. Rose stared for a long time before realizing that she was gradually blushing and she pushed the door closed. She stared, horrified, her eyes wide with fear and she stumbled through the hallway. Zero… Zero's a…

She couldn't find it in herself to make the admission and she soon found herself in the living room, leaning over the couch for stability. "It… it can't be… he's a…" her voice came out in puffs of air, and she looked up at the door and quickly ran for it, throwing the door practically from its hinges.

Vampire.

The way he made her feel was absolutely sensual and so delightful Yuuki couldn't even describe it. He didn't crave her blood like he used to, but… the way he bit her tonight, beside the boiling pot of broth and meat and vegetables, was almost wanting. He wasn't suckling like he used to, so eagerly, and was slowly working his fangs into her skin.

She almost considered it teasing. His tongue readied the skin for his fangs penetration, but after that he left a trail of hot kisses on the spot before sinking his teeth in. At first, he didn't drink anything and just held her close. She'd whispered in his ear that she wasn't going anywhere and had even wrapped her arms under his and had begun to claw at his shirt and bring him down. It was then he'd started to drink, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

She tilted her head back ever so slightly so the half-blood could have easier access. It was a short drink, because her blood held no true value to his sanity anymore, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy the taste anymore. He pulled back, licking the two marks again of the blood drizzling down her neck, and pulled away again to look at her in the eyes, their quiet greeting. She smiled at him and rested her hands on his back and he pulled her into his embrace until the smell of carrots and potatoes bounced off of the walls. "Oh, crap!"

Yuuki chuckled as Zero clumsily scrambled to the stove to reach for the stove, forgetting it was screaming-hot and yelping and hissing to himself after touching the scalding metal, and managed to get the soup off of the heat. From behind him, Yuuki pulled hair close to her neck so that the marks were obscured by the chocolate locks, and turned the heat off behind him. Together, they made it out of the kitchen and toward the dining room.

"It's about tiiiiiime~!" sang Headmaster Cross as he eyed the soup like it was its prey. Which, in a sense, it was. Zero rolled his eyes and placed the pot in the middle of the round table, watching the hungry gaze of the Headmaster follow his every move. Yuuki came in shortly after, taking a seat beside Zero and giving herself a ladleful of the delicious smelling concoction. Headmaster Cross looked up from his readied bowl and called out kindly "Rooooose! Time for dinner, my darling niece!"

For a the next few seconds, there was nothing. Not even a scream in protest of the stupid adjective before their relation. Darling, Zero shuddered, and Yuuki stared at the door waiting for her cousin to come to the table. A moment of silence went by before Yuuki looked back at the soup, a worried look in her eyes. "Maybe I should go get her, so she doesn't miss dinner." She started to get up, but her adopted father stopped her.

"That's not necessary, Yuuki. She occasionally uses this time to study, having stopped in town for dinner at the coffee shop. There's no need to worry, just get some food into your system." Yuuki looked at her adopted father with a look of concern, which soon melted into defeat just as her stomach let out a loud groan. She flushed and felt Zero nudge her arm with his elbow. She looked over and put on a thankful smile, and then dipped her spoon into the concoction, blowing on the hot soup and putting it in her mouth, running her tongue along the edges of the spoon as if the metal was the sweetest thing she'd ever tasted. Both Zero and Headmaster Cross watched as the spoonful's got fuller and fuller, and the men couldn't help but look sorrowfully down at their own dinner.

She's never eaten quite like… like a pig before… Zero noted, every so often glancing over from under his silver bangs and finding himself absorbed in her usual soft face, the curve of her jaw, the plumpness of her light pink lips, her tongue as it met the spoon eager to get another bite. He couldn't tear his eyes away, resulting in a spill all over his T-shirted chest. He hissed in anger. "Ah, damn! I'll be right back…"

Headmaster Cross watched and nodded at the young man who had exited the dining room. He's never… eaten quite so distractedly before the man noted as he took one last slurp of soup before giving himself seconds.

And there we go. The bite scene I'm sure you guys were looking for, and also Rose's realization. It's gets better from here.. I hope you liked it!

Please review! All concrit is acceptable! (Concrit = Constructive Criticism)

~Cookie