Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or its characters.

Summary: I just recently transferred to Cross Academy. I've never been to a boarding school before and I still haven't adjusted properly. I don't like following rules and could care less of what other people have to say. Listening just was never one of my strong points. Now that I'm at this academy, I can leave my past behind and start a new...sadly old habits die hard. I tried, but my curiosity got the best of me. Cross Academy was hiding something...that I knew for sure. I didn't know what, and I've tried to ignore my gut feeling, but it's not working. No one will answer me properly, so now it's up to me to get my own answers. There was one person who would be able to link everything, that stoic, unsociable, scary, emotionally dysfunctional person was going to be the key to unlocking the secrets of this academy. How would I get him to spill? By befriending him of course. I just never thought I'd end up caring about our relationship until the point of where he became special to me.

Chapter 7

Defuse Don't Add

Willow

Damn this wasn't good. I was completely cornered, literally. Zero had me backed up against the wall, his figure towering over me and a mean glare forming. I don't know which is worse; having had to sit in uncomfortable silence with the Night Class or this.

Taking in deep breaths, I ordered myself to stay calm, play it cool. I slowly looked him in the eyes and said "No."

I couldn't help flinching when his fist slammed down inches away from my head. I silently thanked him for not hitting me.

"You don't know what you're messing with." he snapped harshly.

No I didn't, that was for sure. I could feel the corners of the small box digging into my palm as I squeezed it. I was at loss for what to do. So far, as you can tell, things were definitely not going as planned. At this rate, I'd never gain Zero's trust. But I couldn't just hand over his 'medicine' -yeah I doubted that was what it was- my pride wouldn't allow me to sink that low. There had to be a way that could appease both of us. Think Willow! Now was not the time to act like a child.

"Your right, I don't know what I'm messing with, so why don't you enlighten me?" I said.

For a moment, Zero was caught off guard. Yay me! Not. If only the situation wasn't so tense.

"Don't involve yourself in things that don't concern you." he grunted, his gaze focused solely on my right fist. I wondered if he was planning on somehow magically ripping his packet out of my hand. Well good luck. I got an iron grip. He'd have to saw my hand off, if he wanted it back.

Okay I knew what I had to do to. I'd have to spew absolute bullshit if I wanted to get out unscathed.

"Friend." I said, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. Oh dear god, what the hell was I doing? This is not how my plan was supposed to go. But since when did things ever go the way someone expected it to?

Zero gave me an incredulous expression, "Don't screw with me." he ordered.

Yes Willow, let us not anger him. Defuse the situation. Don't add.

"Let's be friends." I sounded very stupid and I probably wasn't helping my situation. Oh well. There was really no point in stopping. It's not like it could get any worse.

Zero looked away "I don't need friends."

What is with this crappy attitude!? I thought, glowering at him "Yes you do." I said, "Everyone needs friends!"

He turned back to me, a fierce fire ablaze within his eyes, "I don't! Now return my medicine."

"Fine!" I spat out, holding up the black box "You want this? You get this back just as soon as you stop being an idiot and accept the fact that you need friends just like everyone else in the world...and...and also when you get that I want to be your friend." I said, forgetting for a moment that I had ulterior motives for being friends with him.

Way to play it cool, Will, I thought sarcastically.

I could see Zero thinking things over. What could he possibly be thinking over? It was either yes or no.

He narrowed his eyes "Why do you care so much?" Zero was suspicious.

'Oh because you know...I just want to use you in order to find out what the Academy is hiding...you are just a pawn in my plan. I don't actually want to be friends with you' Yeah, I definitely couldn't say that. EVER!

Think Willow! Use that thing you call a brain!

"Because, you have this lonely look in your eyes. It reminds me of this person..." I trailed off, casting my gaze to the dark floor. For god's sake Willow. It's called lying. You could LIE. And yet you decide to say something true!? Are you crazy!?, I yelled to myself. It was true, Zero had this lonely look haunting his eyes that reminded me of a certain person, but I didn't mean to bring that up. That was something I wanted to leave in the past.

"What?" he asked, obviously confused.

Yeah my bad, didn't mean to say something that sounded 'caring.'

I shook my head. "Here." I said guiltily, handing back the box. Damn, I hadn't even had the chance to look inside. But right now I didn't even want to. All the fun had disappeared and now I just felt bad. "Gomen, Kiryuu-san." I muttered softly, too embarrassed to look at him. I pressed the box into his hand as I passed him.

"Wait." he called out as I neared the corner.

I stopped and turned my head, my vision slightly obscured by my hair. Zero walked forward and stopped only a few feet away. He wasn't looking at me, but towards the floor and his facial expression was hidden beneath his bangs.

What was he going to say? Morning was approaching and I was suddenly feeling really tired. If he doesn't speak in the next minute, I'm going to fall asleep right here, I thought impatiently.

"We can be friends." he mumbled.

Did he just say what I think he just said!? I pinched myself, just to make sure I hadn't accidentally fallen asleep. Ouch. No I was awake.

"On the conditions that you don't annoy me and that you don't ever try to understand me."

What!? That defeated the whole point of the definition of 'being friends'. But really all I wanted were answers so maybe this way it'd be easier? I pinched myself one more time just to be on the safe side. Ow, I really felt that one.

I gave him a sad smile "Kiryuu-san, if this is making you uncomfortable, we don't have to be friends." The one thing worse than pretending to be someone's friend is forcing yourself out of guilt to be friends. Wait. No, I'm wrong. Pretending to be friends while having ulterior motives is worse. Crap. That meant I was in the wrong...wait, that's not supposed to happen.

I turned away and continued walking back towards the dorm. I was going to have to really think hard about what I was going to do next. Did I really want to go back to my old habits? When I came here, I made a resolution to 'turn over a new leaf'. The old Willow had been left back in her home town. I was a new person. I didn't want to hurt Zero, or anybody for that matter. But I wanted answers. I had already set my mind to it. Only betrayal and pain awaited Zero if we became friends. Because I know that I'd soon end up forgetting that I was pretending and then I'd somehow magically find a way to really hurt Zero. No I didn't want that.

I was forced to come halt in my tracks when someone's hand latched onto my arm. I was pulled around where I came face to face with Zero. He had averted his gaze once again. "It's okay to be friends."

I blinked stupidly at him before breaking out a mischievous smile "So you want to be friends that badly huh?"

He immediately let go as if I were some kind of poisonous thing and glared.

I chuckled "Kiryuu-san, I want to be your friend, but being your friend means I would annoy and try to understand you because that is the definition of being a friend." I said truthfully, emphasizing on certain words. To make up for not being able to help that person, I'd befriend Zero. For real. No pretending. Yes that was it. That was what I'd do. I wasn't the same old Willow. I know I wanted to discover what the academy was hiding...and I would, but now that I've said Zero reminded me of a certain person, it was hard not to ignore. Damn I wish I hadn't opened that door.

Zero gave me a cold look. He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked ahead, saying coolly over his shoulder "Do whatever you like."

Aww, was he embarrassed?

"Kiryuu-san," I said, running after him. He stopped and I held out my hand "Watashi wa Sakai Willow. Tomodachi ni naro u yo, ne?"

"Hn." he said.

I laughed. Looks like there was something worthwhile behind his cold persona. I skipped off back towards my dorm, feeling absolutely exhausted, but extremely happy. I'd find out Cross Academy's secret, but I'd do it the right way even if it meant slowing down a little. I had the next three years to pry into the darkness that seemed to surround the Academy, so it's not like I was in a big hurry.

When I finally returned to my room, I found Mira laying spread eagle across her bed, lightly snoring. I quietly laughed at the sight, while I undressed. I crawled into bed and just fell asleep. Overall I had had a very interesting day and I am very happy with the outcome.

Watashi wa Sakai Willow. Tomodachi ni naro u yo, ne? -My name is Willow Sakai. Let's be friends okay?

Okay well that's it for this chapter. I hoped you guys liked it. Did you think the way their situation was resolved was okay? Wasn't too fast or too cliched or something like that? I'm sorry if Willow seems too annoying. Did Zero seem ooc to you guys, I tried not to make him ooc, don't know if that worked though. Umm you know that thing that I mentioned in my previous a/n, about how I wanted to incorporate this idea? Well that totally backfired lol. This chapter completely ruined it. If you want to know what the first idea was, be the first to review ^^ and I'll reply asap, if that's what you want. I'll post the idea in the next chapter. But I have another idea that I wish to apply and it will be revealed in the next chapter...I think (sad the authoress doesn't know right?) Anyways I swear this time that the next chapter will definitely be about the dance. I added an opening and ending song, but it's in the first chapter. Opening- tsubomi by maria and ending- runaway by linkin park. Okay I'll shut up now ^^

Thanks:

Sayonara Yasashii Akumu- Yup you're definitely right. His words are foreshadowy and stuff lol

ShadowBlade7330- Glad you're giving this story a try. Yeah Willow can be annoying, but it's in a good way...I hope.

TESKATLIPOKA- Hmmm I'll try to make a little something something between Yori and Zero, but it probably won't happen for a while. Yeah, I'm going to work on Zero being nicer to her. About the background of the hunters, I'll write maybe their own chapter? Something a little short though.

Methodical Madness- Thanks. Yeah Willow's fierce lol. I'll try to update asap.

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ZTL