Zero made his way around Tsami Place.

The uninhabited, broken down buildings smelt of rust, sodden and moulding wood and decaying earth. The park nearby with its once swings and slides was waning; the grass left to grow hideously long, almost high enough to kiss the weakening monkey bars of the playground.

In the background the eerie creaking of the tarnishing swings could be heard. There was not a soul in sight. He had never liked the area; other than the fact that it was deserted and smelt like dying bodies, he'd constantly get the uncanny feeling that someone was watching him.

With every step he took, he felt more and more like he was walking straight into a trap. Back at the Academy he had been too overwhelmed by the emotive letter to even consider what he might be getting himself into. It was too late to turn around now; whoever it was that wanted him here wouldn't let him get away easily.

He was almost near the clearly abandoned Waterloo Quadrant when he heard someone speak in the distance.

"The letter sure was convincing, was it not? I almost believed it myself."

Before Zero stood a familiar figure, identical to his own; the mere difference being the length of their hair.

"Hello dear brother, long time no see." Zero's twin brother felt a sick sort of pleasure course through him at witnessing the horror-struck look on the hunter's face. His own face was dark, cold and unfriendly. His lips were hardened into a thin line; eyes dead and emotionless.

Ichiru…? Zero's eyes were surely deceiving him.

He couldn't possibly be looking at his long lost, and at one stage presumed dead, twin brother? It must have been a trick, an illusion or a figment of his imagination.

Zero must have been having a dream? Looking in the mirror? A tinted glass? Anything but that. That was surreal. That was impossible. The hunter must have gone insane. That was the only logical explanation. He must have finally descended to level E – only he knew he hadn't. Something was seriously wrong.

Zero struggled to find the right words. "Ho- how…. How is this possible?"

"Surprised to see me alive?" Kiryuu Ichiru responded, his tone flat. "Or is the right word upset?"

"What? What are you talking about?" Zero managed to strangle out in an incredulous whisper. He couldn't think clearly. "Ichiru, how is this possible?"

"Hmph. You always were so naïve. And they thought you were the strong one."

"I don't understand."

"Of course you don't. When have you understood anything about me?"

Zero stood horror struck, his pulse quickening and breaths coming out much faster than would be expected.

Taking advantage of his brother's shock at seeing him alive, Ichiru proceeded, "We've got the girl."

Girl? What girl? What is he talking about? Who's we? Zero's eyes widened as he realised there was only one girl in his life worth considering. Oh God! Please no. Not Yuuki.

"What? What girl?" the hunter asked, alarmed, his breathing uneven.

"Your dearly beloved," Ichiru replied, a wicked smile stretching across his face.

Zero didn't know what his brother would want with Yuuki but his heart had suddenly stopped. He was still trying to get his head around what he was seeing let alone hearing. He certainly didn't like where this bizarre confrontation was heading.

"Ichiru what have you done to her?"

"Oh I haven't done anything… can't say the same about Shizuka-sama though," Ichiru taunted.

Shizuka..? A sudden chill ran down Zero's spine and his body stiffened in response.

Why? Why was this happening? Despite what he had been through – what he was going through – he didn't think he would be unfortunate enough to hear that name uttered out loud again, for as long as he lived.

"You see Zero, unlike you, I didn't want to waste my time with the Hunter clan… not that they had ever accepted me as a potential hunter," Ichiru continued, his voice full of bitter hatred.

"I was always the weak one. The waste of space. The one who should never have been born according to the 'Curse of the Twins.'

"Do you know what that feels like? Could you ever understand? Of course you couldn't. You were the prodigy. Naturally wanted and favoured by everyone. Our parents' favourite son, their prized possession. Sensei's favourite student. Whilst I was the sick, disappointing, unwanted, pathetic excuse for an existence."

"No Ichiru that's not…" Zero couldn't digest what he was hearing. Surely he had misheard, misinterpreted, something. "I…How could you think that?"

"Shizuka-sama was the only one who saw the real me, saw my potential. She took me in when no-one else wanted me. Even though she didn't turn me she still gave me her blood. Made me stronger," Ichiru elaborated with barely masked resentment.

Zero felt like he was going to be sick.

Part of his life had been a complete lie. How could his other half have felt that way? Sure Ichiru had been a sickly child but that hadn't meant that he was a burden on anyone. His brother had been his everything. Zero would have done anything for him.

He had loved his twin and he was sure his love had been requited. Ichiru had needed him not just for physical support but he was emotionally tied to him; he was figuratively a part of Zero. The hunter couldn't let himself believe that none of it was true.

"Shizuka?... I should have known. The smile, the awe, it all makes sense now." Zero recalled the night his entire family was slaughtered at the hands of that sadistic pureblood, or so he had believed.

Ichiru had stood behind her wearing an unusual smile when she had completed her massacre. Zero had been too weak then to make any form of links. He had just wanted his brother to run away, save himself from the outcome that had befallen his parents, from the fate that Zero himself was left to suffer.

What Zero hadn't realised was that Ichiru had saved himself (in his own mind) by running straight to his family's murderer.

"How could you do this Ichiru? Did you hate your family that much?" the hunter questioned his mirror image. His eyes were stinging as he tried to repress the hot prickling tears that were forcibly trying to escape.

"Wrong. I hate you. I didn't want mother and father to die but when had they bent over backwards for me? I wasn't as important to them, merely a deadweight that was getting in the way."

Kiryuu Ichiru couldn't keep up his poker face allowing searing anger to flash through, his tone brusque, his words without remorse. "I won't lie and say I cared. Shizuka-sama deserved to take her vengeance after what our parents had done. It was only fair... I don't blame her. She had to do what she had to do."

"Was it worth it? Becoming her puppet?" Zero managed to choke out; face twisted with agony and revulsion. Part of him didn't want an answer, fearing what he was hearing more and more.

"Of course. She can use me any way she wants. I would never turn my back on her. Not even on my deathbed," Ichiru replied, his features once again impassive, eyes betraying a hint of delight as he spoke of his queen.

She can use him any way she wants…? Zero couldn't suppress his disgust at those words.

What had that witch done to him?

The Devil who went by the name of Hiou Shizuka had utterly and irrevocably destroyed Zero's life. The shattered remains of that existence could barely be put together to form a decent one.

She was the monster who had turned Zero into the very thing he was designed to eliminate. That was his life's cruel irony: ultimately he would end up destroying himself.

Death would have been a fairer, less painful outcome but Shizuka had wanted him to suffer; wanted him to suffer a fate worse than death.

Despite that, Ichiru had worshipped this woman and did so to the day, to that very moment. The woman who had ruined Zero to the point of no return was his very own flesh and blood's God, his saviour.

For twins, their views could not be further apart, on opposite ends of the morality spectrum. Surely the man before him was an imposter – one who had stolen Ichiru's face and painted it with spite.

"But I almost pity you now. Your fate is worse than what mine would have been…I guess I got the better deal in the end. Ironic, isn't it?" Ichiru smirked, apparently pleased with his snide remarks.

Zero couldn't speak. He was still shaken and highly disturbed at what he was hearing.

Abruptly, his mind trailed back to what his now very much alive, and well, twin had said a moment ago. "Wait… where's Yuuki…? What have you done to her?!" Zero once again felt that nauseating feeling stirring in the pit of his stomach.

"Well you'll only find out if you follow," Ichiru replied with a sudden edge to his voice.

With what Zero had heard so far, he had a gut wrenching feeling that he would be walking into another trap. He didn't care. He couldn't afford to care about himself, not when Yuuki was concerned. "Take me to her Ichiru."

"I'm sure you'll know the way quite well. Our captive is at the Academy."

The Academy?

Okay, now – if it was possible – the hunter was even more confused. How could Yuuki be captured at the Academy and remain there without detection…? Unless… that's if she was captured.

Noticing the confusion on his twin's face, Ichiru elaborated on the situation. "You'll understand when we arrive there."

-0o0o00o0o0-

Shortly after, the twins arrived at the Academy. Everything seemed to be in order, no signs of mayhem. It was quiet. Eerily quiet.

"I'm confused… How could you have Yuuki without anyone noticing?"

Ichiru ignored his twin. "There behind the trees…" He waved in the direction of a bench near the gardens which was currently occupying two people.

As they approached the two figures, Zero saw with absolute shock, Maria sitting on the isolated bench absent-mindedly cradling Yuuki's head in her lap while she slept…?

He felt a sudden chill creep over him. "Maria?"

What on earth was she doing here….? No wait… it couldn't be. How- how is this even possible?

"Shizuka-sama," Zero's servant of a brother bowed to his master in acknowledgement of her.

"You finally made it… Zero." Maria broke away from her reverie to look at the hunter. Her eyes seemed to be dead, lacking the spark that always accompanied them.

"Shizuka…" Zero uttered; his voice sounding half-shocked, half-disgusted as he acknowledged the pureblood, who was quite clearly possessing the body of another, even if the hunter didn't understand how. The face of the being before him did not belong to the monster who had destroyed his life.

"Ah I'm glad you still remember me. How are you after our little encounter the other day? Well, I hope," Maria teased.

"Let her go Shizuka." Zero nodded toward Yuuki's unconscious body in a warning tone, ignoring the pureblood's taunting.

It was odd seeing Yuuki sprawled out across little Maria's lap. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully, could have been dreaming the most beautiful dreams with Maria's hand caressing her head ever so gently. She reminded Zero of a sleeping angel.

"Oh Zero, don't be so rude. I'm trying to have a civil conversation," the pureblood continued with her taunting.

"Don't mess with me Shizuka!" the hunter screeched, unable to hide his unease and vulnerability.

He knew the murderous pureblood vampire was toying with him. He knew just as well as she did that she had uncanny control over Zero's body, since she was the one who had turned him.

They were quite responsive to each other's moods and emotions. He hated that, hated being so closely connected to the one being who had sucked his life dry, the one he despised more than any other.

"Now, now Zero. No need to get haughty." Shizuka stroked Yuuki's cheek gently while she watched Zero's body stiffen as she exerted her power over him. She waited a moment to let the hunter know who was in charge before continuing to speak.

"She went out looking for you when she had received a very distressing letter informing her of your capture. We made sure to include that punishment would be served to our captive if she did not comply."

Yuuki had been tricked too. Zero felt sick. It was all his fault. Yuuki had been put in harm's way because of him. He hadn't been around to protect her because he was stupid enough to let the made up letter get to him.

"She really is very naïve and rather sweet, don't you think Zero? Her blood tasted just as sweet." A wry smile was pulling at the sides of the pureblood's lips as she waited for Zero's reaction.

The hunter's body tensed as he let Shizuka's words sink in. No, no… Maria was a pureblood, if she would've bitten Yuuki then…. no! The witch wouldn't have. She couldn't have. NO!

"You bit her," the ex-human gasped. "I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill you Shizuka!"

Zero felt his body moving on its own accord as he launched himself at the silver-haired pureblood, but before he could get to her, Ichiru had pulled out his dagger and managed to pierce the side of the hunter's stomach, causing him to yelp out in pain.

Thick, warm, heavily flowing blood leaked out from the area of the gash, soaking red the side of Zero's shirt. The wound wasn't too severe but it had succeeded in stopping the murderous intent of the ex-human. He tried to steady himself as he fumbled away while clutching onto the side he had been injured, trying to calm the bleeding and numb the excruciating pain.

Shizuka took in a whiff of Zero's blood before wrinkling her nose. "I see your impulsive behaviour hasn't changed anymore than your scent has. You need to be more rational about things Zero. Or hasn't basic common sense taught you to think before you act? Hmm… I guess you need to have an operational brain for that to be possible."

Zero heard Ichiru snickering.

"No need to worry, I didn't bite her; just slit her throat very lightly. Poor thing. Didn't even see it coming. She was too worried about you." Shizuka stroked the area of Yuuki's neck that had been assaulted; dried blood clotting the gash.

Guilt possessed Zero and he wanted to lurch at Shizuka again for doing that to Yuuki, but found that his body was unresponsive. Spots were now dancing in front of his eyes as he blinked rapidly to try and clear his vision. Crap.

What was happening? His injury was supposed to be mild but then why was he feeling so faint? Had the dagger been poisoned? Crap.

"You're going to help me Zero," Shizuka explained. "You're going to help me return to my body."

"Like hell I a-" The hunter couldn't continue, which seemed to have pleased the girl before him very much.

Zero's knees buckled and he could no longer support his weight. That was bad. Very bad. Everything around him was darkening as he felt his mind enter a trance. The last thing he saw after collapsing, was what could have been Ichiru's legs moving towards him, before everything went black.

"Is it time, Shizuka-sama?" Ichiru asked the female pureblood before picking up Zero's body and thrusting it over his shoulder.

There was no real need for Zero to have been sedated. Shizuka knew she had enough ability to make the ex-human follow her command but the pureblood understood that the hunter had a short fuse and had proved he was unpredictable. She would not take the risk. "Yes. We shall make our way there now Ichiru."

-0o0o00o0o0-

"Yuuki… wake up… Yuuki…" Yuuki's eyes fluttered open in response to that beautiful, familiar voice she had longed to hear. For some reason she had wanted his company now more than ever. As she regained consciousness, she began to realise exactly why.

"Kaname-sempai!" Yuuki got up too fast; her breathing quickened and she felt dizzy again, swaying dangerously into Kaname's arms.

"Yuuki, love, calm down. Shh... It's okay."

Before Yuuki had realised it, she was crying; heavy, salty tears were trailing down her pallid face, stinging her injured neck. She flinched from the pain.

"Yuuki, who did this to you?" Kaname gestured toward her blood stained neck before brushing his fingers lightly across the marred area. She whimpered at his touch.

Yuuki realised she was no longer being held hostage and had instead returned to the Academy with Kaname's protective arms around her. She wasn't indoors but sitting on a bench that was present in what looked like the gardens.

Yuuki couldn't be sure though, her head was still spinning. With a sudden jolt she realised someone very important may still be missing or worse. "They've got him Kaname-sempai! They've got Zero!"

"Who Yuuki, who's got him?" Kaname asked the girl, noticing the very clear alarm and urgency in Yuuki's fragile voice.

"Ma-Maria…" Yuuki managed to stutter out.

Maria. Kaname didn't like where the conversation was going.

So it was true. He had suspected the girl from the start but he had never been sure. "Did she do this to you Yuuki?"

"Ye- Yes."

Kaname's hands were shaking, fury building inside of him, threatening to take over his senses.

"Did she bite you?" He struggled to remain calm, failing hopelessly. He was almost seeing red; a trace of his power oozing through and cracking the glass panels of the nearby hallway within the Academy building.

If Maria had gone that far, he would see her to her grave, if not worse.

"No," the girl whispered. "She just cut me with a blade. I don't know what happened to me after that."

A surge of calm washed over the vampire but he didn't relax. "The blade may have been poisoned Yuuki. We need to get you to the nurse-"

"NO!" Yuuki shrieked. "I'm not going anywhere without Zero. They told me in the letter that they would kill him! I've got to save him!"

Kaname took a moment to register that, feeling a sense of déjà-vu. He had also received a letter informing him of Yuuki's capture, threatening to hurt her if he didn't meet the terms.

"What letter Yuuki?"

Yuuki's shaking hands managed to retrieve a crumpled piece of paper that was hidden in her uniform's jacket.

Kaname pulled her closer towards him, cradling her into his chest before reading the parchment in half a second.

They had all been set up. This was obviously a trap to get to Kiryuu somehow but at least Yuuki for all intents and purposes was alright. For now.

"Yuuki, I still urge you to go see the nurse please. The poison- "

"NO!" The girl wouldn't have a bar of it. "Not until Zero is safe, here in front of me, telling me I worry too much."

Yuuki pulled away from Kaname, standing too quickly. Pure determination and stubbornness had a price to pay and Yuuki stumbled forward, almost hitting the pavement before Kaname caught her.

"Yuuki! You need to take it easy." The vampire picked the girl up into his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest.

Yes, this girl is certainly amiable, he thought to himself.

"Please Kaname-sempai… I have to save Zero. If something happened to him… if… if… I would die!" the hysterical girl managed to choke out.

Those words struck a chord in Kaname's heart. The pureblood had never realised that Yuuki had felt so deeply about the other. If he had then he may have been nicer to the boy. Possibly even grateful.

Zero must have done something worthwhile in his life for her to react this way. Kaname would save him, he had no choice. He needed Kiryuu alive for Yuuki, more so now than ever.

"It's okay Yuuki. I'll find him. It'll be okay."

"What about you Kaname-sempai? What if you get hurt? I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Why was it that every single word this beautiful girl said made the pureblood's heart ache for her? He wondered whether he'd be able to love anyone else nearly as much. No, that was out of the question.

"It's okay love, I'll be alright."

With those comforting words Yuuki felt her consciousness slipping. She knew she could sleep because Kaname-sempai was going to make everything okay.

"It's okay dear one. Just sleep now," he whispered to her softly, gently lulling the exhausted and drained girl to sleep.