Disclaimer: I own nothing from Vampire Knight.

A/N: I didn't keep my promise, and for that I am sorry. Things just got really hectic with school and work so things continued to be put on the back burner. Sadly, writing was one of those things. I tried to make this chapter a little longer and I hope you enjoy it. .

In case you didn't notice, the distortion between reality and dreams is a main focal point in the story. In my one class we read a poem titled "The Eve of St. Agnes" by John Keats and it had a lot to do with contrasts and how hard it is to tell the difference between dream and reality. I wanted to emulate that in this story. I hope it is working. This chapter has a lot to do with dreams. Again, please enjoy.

Anger, Pain, Hate

It was so dark… He couldn't even see the hand he thought he was holding in front of his face. The darkness was so cold, it seeped into his every pour, into his very bones. He had to escape… No matter how he accomplished it.

So he began to run.

He had no clue as to where he was going, what he would find where he got there... His foot steps echoed in the silence, matching his heartbeat. It was maddening, his futility pounding into his ears. He couldn't see where he was going, couldn't tell if he was moving at all. All he could do was run…

So he ran, and continued to run. Never stopping, even as his lungs demanded more air. He didn't stop even as his legs burned. He didn't stop, even though his mind was screaming at him that what he was headed toward was something he didn't want to see…

But he couldn't stop… He had to look.. He had to know… He had to realize.

Suddenly, a light breached the darkness, washing over him in its intensity. His eyes burned at the sudden change. But he continued toward it even as everything was begging for him to stop… his mind… his heart… his soul.

He reached the light and vaulted past it, running full speed. It was too bright, he couldn't see. All he could do was hear. And what he heard was screaming… a scream that resounded within him. It sounded so familiar.

All of a sudden, he could see people… All were in white uniforms, crowded around something. His eyes were drawn toward them even as something told him he shouldn't look…

They looked like puppets, not even seeming to dare to blink without permission. There was a submissive air about them. But it wasn't the puppets that demanded his attention… It was what they were looking at. Everyone surrounded a tree. The tree itself was just a tree, it wasn't spectacular in appearance… It was what was ON the tree that had everyone's attention. It was a man. He was stuck to the tree, slim wines winding around him, thorns tearing through his delicate skin. And there was ice, in his shoulder and his stomach. And there was blood… So much blood, it pooled around the man's feet in a wide puddle. But none of these caught his attention like the man's scream.

The man continued to scream, red-hued eyes silently pleading for mercy… Begging for the pain to end, even if it meant death. The man didn't seem like a quitter, even as those pale eyes screamed for relief, they held a defiant edge, he wouldn't beg verbally. All he could do was scream, and even that seemed too much of a weakness for the man.

There was a man pinned to the tree… And suddenly he realized… "That man is me."

Zero's eyes shot open, hand rising to clutch his chest as his heart raced. Sitting up slowly, he shook his head slightly, confusion and sleep clouding his brain. Pieces of his dream flashed before his mind's eye.

He had been bound to a tree by vines and ice with the Night class surrounding him in a clearing he vaguely recognized as being on campus. His screams reverberated in his skull, seemingly bouncing off the sides and echoing back to him. Clutching his head, Zero clenched his eyes in pain.

What did the dream mean? Was it an ode to what was to come? Would the Night Class and Kuran turn on him, try to kill him? Was that his fate, to die by the hands of those he hated, in the throws of pain? What did it mean!

A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts, "Zero-kun?"

Sighing softly, Zero pushed his tangled web of thoughts from him mind, "Yes Yuuki?"

"It's almost time for class. You better not be late!" Yuuki commanded.

Groaning, Zero pushed himself from the bed and spoke, irritated, "I'll be there Yuuki. Now scram."

"Gee, grumpy," Yuuki complained, Zero could practically see the pout on her face.

"Yuuki!" Zero snapped.

"Hai hai! See you in class!"

Sighing once again, Zero began to dress for class, enjoying the silence while it lasted. Soon his day would be filled with Yuuki mooning over Kuran, Yuuki chastising him for his disobedient behavior, Cross being an annoying pain in the ass, teachers intent on making his life hell, fan girls swooning over the Night class, and patrols of the grounds. Though he constantly complained about his duties at Cross Academy, he honestly wouldn't trust them to anyone else. It was his job as a hunter to protect the innocent humans from the monsters. He would shoot down anyone who threatened the peace at the academy. It was HIS job and he was PROUD of doing it well.

Shaking his head once more, Zero realized he had let him thoughts wonder in the middle of dressing. Resuming the action, he didn't make much of an attempt to make himself decent. He tucked the white button-up shirt into his pants but left the collar open, fully displaying his tattoo to the world, even though it was a sign of his condition to anyone who knew its purpose. Throwing the vest on over the shirt, he quickly buttoned and sloppily knotted his tie around his neck. He grabbed his jacket and stack of books, looked at the clock and noticed he was going to be late, and slowly meandered from the room. Yuuki would yell at him… But he couldn't bring himself to care.. he would get there when he got there, and nothing in this world or the next would make him hurry.

XxXxXx

Class was over, of course he was ten minutes late, walking in right as the first teacher was introducing the lesson. If looks could kill, the glares he had received from Yuuki and the teacher were enough to put him in the ground. He ignored them of course, and had taken his usual seat the back on the classroom. He barely paid attention, like he always did, but that day his thoughts were occupied with thoughts of his dream that night. His head was throbbing from scrutinizing it. He didn't even hear the teacher asking him to answer a question until she had screamed in his ear. But that was all over now… Now he had to stand outside the walls that secluded the Night class from the rest of the grounds and listen to girls scream for Hanabusa, Kuran, and all the other 'beautiful' vampires.

All the screaming was making his headache worse. Turning to the girls on his side of the gate, he glared menacingly until the screams died down to mere whispers. He wasn't so lucky with the girls on Yuuki's side. They continued to scream, even as he turned his glare to them, thinking they were safe on the other side of the gate. The girls continued to push against Yuuki's back, trying desperately to get into an ideal position to see their crushes. Zero growled and stepped into the pathway to aide her when the gates suddenly opened. The screaming intensified as the Night class appeared with Kaname at its head. Cursing, Zero stepped back to keep his side in line.

"Kuran-sempai! Idol-sempai!" The girls went nuts, screaming and trying to flock to them.

"Damn it, quiet, all of you!" Zero yelled, but his words went unheeded.

The girls continued to scream and push against him and Yuuki. It was making his head throb more and more. The pressure was building up, making his head feel like it was going to split. It hurt, more than any pain he had felt… more than being bitten by Shizuka… more than shooting himself in the leg with Bloody Rose… It even hurt more than the pain he constantly felt in his heart.

"SHUT UP!" Zero screamed, eyes clenched in pain and his hands clutched in pale lavender locks.

Everyone suddenly went silent. Everyone stared at him in shock as he tried to push the pain in his skull to the background. Zero was always rude, telling the girls to be quite and glaring at them. But this latest outburst was going to extremes.

"All the time, screaming. Kuran-sempai! Idol-sempai! You all make me sick! How could you feel one shred of adoration for these monsters!" Zero yelled, lavender eyes hard with hatred, yet filled with pain.

Gasps were heard all around, as well as quiet growls. The Day class students were shocked at Zero's behavior, too rude even for him. The Night class students were shocked as well as insulted. No one called them monsters a lived.

"Zero-kun…" Yuuki murmured sadly.

"That's quite enough Kiryu," a cold voice sounded.

All eyes turned toward the Night class. Their eyes widened in shock at who they found. There stood Kaname, glaring at Zero with a hatred they had never seen before.

"Kuran," Zero growled.

"I do not appreciate being called a monster Kiryu, after all… You are just like us," Kaname smirked darkly.

Zero's eyes lit of with the fire's of rage as Yuuki's eyes widened. Zero had never been civil with Kaname but Kaname had always strived toward politeness or an apathetic countenance. This new side of him was shocking as well as disturbing. Yuuki had never been scared of Kaname before, but in that moment, she was terrified… Of both of them.

Another growl tore itself from Zero's lips as his eyes hardened to ice. Everyone watched with bated breath, never before having witnessed this kind of spat between the two. Yuuki knew this could get ugly, the hatred and anger in Zero's eyes had been heightened to an all new level. Even Kaname's eyes were different with a harsh, deadly gleam to them. She went to rush across the pathway, but she knew it was too late.

Zero's hand reached into his jacket as he snarled, "Fuck you Kuran! Go to hell!"

A glint of silver was seen as Zero and Kaname's eyes were trained to each other, locked in a silent duel of newfound heights of hatred. Suddenly, blonde appeared within their vision, blocking their views of each other. There stood Takuma Ichijo, a hand on Zero's arm and a stern look shooting in Kaname's direction.

"I believe that is enough for today. Kiryu-kun. Kaname-sama," Takuma said softly with a slight air of obedience.

Zero grunted and jerked his arm out from under Takuma's hand, feeling tainted by the touch. He stared at Takuma, still feeling angry at Kaname but also realizing the mistake he just made, almost drawing his anti-vampire weapon in front of innocent humans. He was disgusted with himself for his lack of control.

Kaname glared at Takuma for his interruption but his eyes soon fell back to their disinterested state. His hatred of Zero had heightened to a new level. Not only had he called him a monster, he had betrayed the sacred trust the pureblood had placed upon him… a lowly level D. It was preposterous. However, Kaname cursed himself for his behavior, having once again displayed weakness to Zero.

Stepping around Takuma, Kaname faced Zero once more, looking into his eyes. A dull spark of hatred and pain flashed in his eyes before he slightly inclined his head, "Forgive me Kiryu, I was out of line."

Grunting, Zero turned from the pureblood, "Get to class."

He then stalked from the area, offering no apology for what he said and what he almost did. His anger had no yet dissipated, burning deeply within him as his head still ached. His long stride quickly lead him from the group as he disappeared into the trees as everyone watched him, the Day class in shock and the Night class in anger.

Yuuki bowed to Kaname and quickly ran after Zero, intent on finding out the reason for him uncharacteristic behavior. Kaname and Takuma watched them go silently as the Day class dispersed back to their dorms, the excitement over for the day.

Bowing to Kaname, Takuma offered his own apology, "Forgive my rudeness Kaname-sama. I was out of line."

Kaname stared down at the blonde, eyes slightly curious, yet filled with anger, "I will deal with this later, we need to get to the classroom."

Everyone bowed slightly, "Yes, Kaname-sama."

They all began to walk to the classroom, most silently following behind their prince. All but Hanabusa walked quietly as he offered whispered protests and insults against Zero to his cousin for how he had treated the pureblood. Only Takuma remained, watching Kaname and the rest of the Night class walk away from him.

Things had escalated since the previous day. Zero seemingly remembered nothing of the night's encounter with Kaname and the rest of the Night class. However, it could all be an act as Kaname had suggested once Zero had fled the room. Either way, it was talking its toll on the pureblood. He had retreated into himself, not even allowing Takuma, his childhood friend, to breach the walls of his heart and mind. Kaname was cold and distant, becoming harsh with the rest of the vampires.

Sighing softly, Takuma looked up to the twilight sky, silently begging for a solution to this new development. Zero and Kaname's 'relationship' has taken a turn for the worse. Instead of mere disdain and cold indifference… It was now filled with anger… with hatred… and with pain.

END

A/N: This actually took less time to write than I thought it would. I feel like I was on a roll with this chapter. It is longer but I feel as though I expanded on areas that really didn't need expanded upon. However, I am pleased with the chapter. I hope you, my readers, are as well. Any comments are appreciated. It's nice to know how well I am doing. Again, thank you to all who reviewed on the last chapter and to those who added me to either their favorite or alert lists. Thank you for all the support, it is greatly appreciated :D