Hi again...again. This is part two of the massive chapter that I wrote, and then realized that if I posted it, I would drive myself insane and lose all of the people that read this story due to the sheer length. :D Here is the next chapter in the fate of Asraella, presented to you! I couldn't justify leaving you on a cliffhanger, so I decided to post these at the same time. Now I'm rambling... Thank you to all the reviewers of my story, and I hope this chapter meets with your approval!

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight, or anything else, besides Asraella. I won that little battle! Evil laugh

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Zero was walking, not really to anywhere in particular, but always moving nonetheless. It wasn't often that he and Yuuki were allowed off campus, due to them being prefects, so Yuuki was determined to make him enjoy today. He sighed. Yuuki is too good for this world. That thought refocused his attention on the small brunette walking beside him, and her off-and-on conversation. Currently she was just following him silently, but he knew she would start up again soon. She had wanted to spend the day with Yori and Asraella, but instead followed him when he left. She had been giving him grief ever since. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't his fault for not going, that he didn't trust himself around the transfer student, but how could he explain that to her? She had some silly notion that he was avoiding apologizing for some reason related to his ego. Nothing was farther from the truth. He saw Yuuki take a deep breath. Here it comes.

"Want to get lunch, Zero?

He reeled for a second. He wasn't expecting that. His surprise must have shown, because Yuuki noticed.

"What's up Zero? What's that look for?"

"Nothing. Yeah, lunch sounds good." He tuned Yuuki out as she took the lead, and just followed to where ever she wanted to go. He was paying no heed to his surroundings until his sensitive hearing picked up a voice from around the corner.

"…you could come with me, I guess."

"Don't worry. I'll go on ahead and get us a table. You do what you have to do and meet me there, okay?"

"Sure. I shouldn't be too long. Don't get lost!"

He groaned. Not those two again. He grabbed Yuuki's sleeve and stopped her.

"Yuuki, Yori and Asraella are around the corner. You go on ahead."

She gave him a disapproving glare. "Zero—"

"I'm not negotiating."

With that ultimatum in place, she spluttered for a second before stomping off, mumbling something about getting a table and how he'd better be there. Zero smiled slightly. Yuuki was so predictable, and it made her a pleasure to be around. He didn't have to worry that she was manipulating him, or Cross Academy. She looked at things simply, a trait that Zero treasured. He turned and walked the other way.

When he reached the end of the block, he turned to see Asraella at the end of the next street. She was turning left, and didn't catch sight of him. As she reached the curb on the other side of the street, she hesitated, and looked back. Zero froze. Damn, she saw me. He had to reevaluate, however, when he observed that she didn't look at him at all, but was watching where she had just come from.

A flash of brown on the roof above her caught Zero's eye just as a strange scent hit him, carried on the breeze. He watched it disappear, faster than any normal person should have moved, and his breath left him in a hiss. Vampire! His instincts screamed at him to race over to where the thing was, but he held himself back. He had no proof that the person he just saw was a vampire. Something didn't feel right, however. Deciding for a non-confrontational approach, he ran to the end of the block in Asraella's direction, crossed the street, and then slowed to a fraction of his earlier pace, hiding in storefronts while keeping an eye out for more of the stalker. He wasn't disappointed. On the roof a few stores ahead, he saw what he now could determine was a man, staring down from his perch at something on the ground with his back to Zero, but Zero couldn't see what his focus was. A door slammed loudly somewhere behind him, and the man on the roof turned abnormally quickly, giving Zero a chance to see his whole face. Looking at this man, Zero stopped, his muscles locking into place and his mind working quickly. The brown-haired man's eyes were deep red, and his fangs were visible even from Zero's distance. A Level E. He shook himself out of his paralysis, and waited for the Level E to turn back around. Zero was looking forward to his hunt.

The Level E, satisfied that the sound was no threat, returned to staring at what Zero assumed to be his next victim. Suddenly, he jumped down from the rooftop, and Zero lost sight of him. Frustrated, he decided to take to the top of the buildings himself. He slipped down a small alley and hoisted himself up the wall to the roof, and went over to where he had last seen the Level E, taking his time to make sure that he wasn't seen by anyone on the street. He crouched down and peered over the side where the vampire had disappeared. The first thing he saw was her.

He wanted to jump down immediately, but part of him held back, and he watched for a few seconds, waiting for a better chance to strike, when the target didn't have his arms around Asraella.

She was being carried back farther into the alley Zero was overlooking, the Level E having grabbed her from behind. She was kicking and punching whatever she could reach, but against a vampire, she was having no luck at freeing herself. The scent of blood hit the air, and Zero tensed. He saw two rivulets of blood drip down Asraella's chin, but the scent told Zero that it wasn't hers. The Level E growled loudly and pulled his hand away, and then Zero understood. She had bit him. He readied himself to jump down when she started screaming, and panic was clear in her voice. The sound made Zero want to rip the Level E to shreds. His lips curled back slightly, and he tensed. He only had a second to register that the Level E was moving, and before Zero could do anything, the vampire had thrown Asraella into the wall Zero was crouching above. Zero saw red. How dare him! The Level E started to approach the prone girl, licking the blood from his hand. Zero faintly heard her try to speak, but couldn't make out what she might have said. Zero couldn't wait any longer. He jumped down in front of an unconscious Asraella, and stood tall, preparing for an attack on the vile creature before him. The Level E grimaced and then smiled. "Brother, why defend? She smells so good! I'll let you share."

As a response, Zero drew his Bloody Rose and aimed. The Level E quailed at the murderous intent in the now-red eyes that wished death to him. He fell into a defensive position as Zero spoke. "You bastard. Rot in hell."

The Level E rushed at Zero, but the Bloody Rose was quicker, and the vampire disintegrated at Zero's feet. Collecting himself, the victor turned to the student on the ground and just looked at her. The scent of the blood of the Level E pervaded the air, and blocked out any scent of her. With that in mind, he walked over and picked her up, noticing how light she was. He wanted to get her off the ground. Her head fell against his chest, and he examined her face. She was breathing normally, and didn't appear to have anything broken, so Zero wasn't very worried about her health. She's going to be very sore in the morning, though. She was wearing a light grey mock turtleneck sweater and flare jeans, both articles of clothing now dirty from contact with the ground. Her hair was partially out of the braid, probably from the fight with the Level E. Looking at her face, Zero questioned himself. What made me react like that? He knew he had made the right decision by waiting to attack, waiting until the Level E was most vulnerable, but the reality of her lying unconscious caused him a strange sort of pain, almost like he failed her. He turned his thoughts away from the contemplation of these questions, and started to evaluate how he was going to handle this. She needed to get back to campus and be checked out, but it would look very strange to anyone passing by if a strange teenage boy came walking out of an alley with a dirty, unconscious girl. He didn't have long to think, because in an instant, Zero knew he wasn't alone.

Turning to face the newcomer, Zero couldn't hide the disdain he felt. He knew who it was: Takuma Ichijou. The blond was in a long trench coat, and his eyes looked at Zero questioningly.

"Zero. What are you doing here, and what is wrong with Asraella?"

"How do you know her name?" The responding question even surprised Zero, who said it in the first place. Why did he say that? How was it his business if the disgusting vampire knew her name?

Ichijou just smiled. "That's irrelevant. I was searching for a Level E, one that the hunters asked us to take care of. As for the girl, what you do in back alleys is none of my concern."

The implications laden in his statement infuriated Zero. His voice turned icy. "I took care of the Level E. It attacked her, and I arrived just in time to stop it from killing her. I'm taking her back to campus now."

Ichijou's eyes flashed, and Zero hesitated for a moment. Was that…anger? It must be because I destroyed his target. "You should return to the school, too, Ichijou."

With a brisk nod, the vampire turned on his heel and left, leaving Zero staring after him, fuming. His attention turned to Asraella, who was coming to. He was still holding her, and as she started to open her eyes, he put her on her feet, while still keeping a hold on her shoulders. She was obviously still dazed. Zero wondered if she had a concussion. Looking at the wall next to them, he figured that a concussion might not be too far off the mark. He tried to get her to focus.

"Asraella. Can you hear me?"

"Hn." She was trying, at least. Zero decided that staying where they were wasn't a good option. The restaurant Yori should've arrived at was just a block away, and so Zero helped a stumbling Asraella out onto the street. He kept his eyes open for Yori, and figured that it was about time for her to make her entrance. They didn't have to go far before Zero heard a startled shriek behind him.

"Oh my god! Asraella, Zero, what happened?"

Zero turned and Asraella nearly toppled over, making him hold her up. Yori had been the one to yell, but Yuuki was also with her, both of them running to where the pair was standing. Yori reached them first. Going straight to Asraella, she shoved Zero off and steadied her herself. There was a note of panic in her voice. "What happened? You never showed up and then Yuuki saw me and she told me that she didn't know what had happened to you either, and I was so worried. Did Zero mess with you?"

Asraella shook her head, but didn't try to talk. Zero could tell she was trying to process what had happened, and was probably in some pain from hitting the wall. He decided to intervene.

"Yori, she was attacked by someone who wanted to rob her. She hit her head, so she is still out of it. Why don't you help her back to campus." It wasn't a question.

Yori stared at him. "Someone tried to rob her?" She turned back to Asraella, and her tone changed completely, to become softer, more comforting. "Okay then, we are going to help you get back to school. Try to keep up, alright?" Asraella nodded again.

The two girls started back toward the school slowly, Yori with her arm around Asraella's shoulders. Yuuki was about to follow but Zero grabbed her sleeve. She turned around to face him.

"What is it, Zero? Aren't you coming back with us?"

"Well, since you ask, no. But that isn't it. She wasn't robbed, Yuuki. She was attacked by a Level E, one the Night Class should have taken care of."

Yuuki gasped. "Did you kill it? Did she see you?"

"No. I…I didn't act in time. She was passed out when I entered the scene."

"How do you know the Night Class was supposed to take care of it?" Zero looked away. Of course she's worried about the night class. Even with this, his thoughts held no venom. She was just being Yuuki.

"Takuma Ichijou showed up after I destroyed it. He told me so."

"Oh. Well, at least it ended reasonably well. I'm going to help Asraella get back to school. Don't be out too long, alright?"

He rolled his eyes. Yuuki thought she had to take care of him, but sometimes she took it a little too far. "Fine."

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Asraella noticed that her head hurt. She moved only to discover that her back hurt, too, but less than her head. She focused on opening her eyes, but could only open them a little. Just the sliver of light that entered through her lids was very bright, though, and so she kept them that way to let her eyes adjust. Just thinking hurt. All of a sudden her world tilted, and she knew intuitively that she was standing. As a response, her eyes flew open, and she pitched forward. She tried to brace for the impact she was sure would come, but she couldn't, and the collision never came. There were hands holding her shoulders. She glanced around the bright area and caught a glimpse of silver hair. Zero? The thought stopped there. She wasn't able to focus currently. She was just happy that someone was holding her up. Something told her that she would barely be able to stand if left alone. A voice broke through to her and she knew that Zero, if it was Zero, was asking her something. She tried to answer, but knew it would be near unintelligible.

She and whoever was with her started moving and the light grew even brighter, making her half-close her eyes. They kept moving, Asraella stumbling every once in a while, but trying to stay up. Again, mid-step, her world pitched and turned, and the hands once more held her up. She tried to figure out why, and saw two girls rushing over to her. Yori and Yuuki. Yori was yelling something while she was running. In a flash, she reached her and the hands on her shoulders disappeared, only to be replaced by Yori's. Things were becoming much clearer to Asraella now. She fully understood when Yori asked her what happened, and asked if Zero did anything. She didn't trust her voice, and so just shook her head no. She didn't understand how Zero fit into any of the afternoon's events. She looked at Yuuki, who was looking not at Asraella, but beside her, and she followed Yuuki's gaze. Zero. He must have helped me. But what happened? I think I was attacked…but then how am I here? Her questions were answered when Zero explained. So, it was a robbery attempt? That makes sense. Man, my head hurts. Her attention was drawn back to Yori, and she was happy to discover that she was going to help her back to school to see a nurse. She knew she needed it.

As they walked back, neither girl talked. Asraella would have, but she didn't want to put the effort into speaking if she didn't know what she was going to say. She still didn't know the details of what happened, but knew that Yori didn't know, either. It wouldn't be worth it to bother her. After several minutes of walking, they passed the large gates to the school, and Asraella breathed a sigh of relief. After the first block, she couldn't ignore the injury to her back anymore, and so each step became more and more painful. Five minutes after that, Yori and Asraella arrived in the nurse's office, presenting themselves before a very startled woman who instantly kicked into action after hearing the word "attacked". She tried to ask Asraella questions, and Asraella tried to answer back, from what she could remember. She was more fully herself now, and answered clearly.

"Where did you get hurt?"

"Um, my head…and my back."

"How did that happen?"

"I hit a wall."

"Did he hurt you in any other way?"

Asraella was confused for a moment, but then quickly knew what the nurse was talking about. "No, nothing like that." She could almost see the nurse's relief. It made her think. She must have gotten off easy. Only a headache and a sore back? She didn't even lose anything, for it being a robbery—Wait. My dress! What happened to my dress?

"Yori, what happened to my dress?"

Yori looked stumped for a second but caught on quick, and a small smile played across her face. "Don't worry, Asraella! I had it with me the whole time!" She lifted an arm and showed a bag hanging from her elbow. Asraella breathed a sigh of relief. It may have been horribly superficial to be relieved about a dress, but after the events of the day, any little benefit was more than welcome.

It was decided that Asraella could go back to her own room, but she was supposed to keep icing her back and taking it easy, because the on-duty nurse was relatively certain that she had a minor concussion. Asraella didn't mind. She went back with Yori, who left her at her door, with a promise to come by tomorrow morning to check on her. Asraella was tired, and she collapsed onto her bed, letting the afternoon sun wash over her. She thought back to the attack. She had fought so hard, but nothing worked. It was as if the man were made of stone or something. She knew she had screamed, but after that she had no recollection of anything until she started to wake up, with Zero supporting her. Zero. Why was Zero there? Did he hear me? Did he have anything to do with me not being raped, robbed, and left in that alley? No matter what, he did help out. I guess I'm not that repulsive to him after all. The thought made her strangely content. She told herself that it was because it meant she had no enemies anymore.

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Zero was sitting on a bench, in one of the small parks scattered around town. Some families were also there, but they stayed on the other side of the lot, never crossing an unseen line, dividing his section from theirs. The children played in a small sandbox, while the parents sipped coffee on the benches around it. They all seemed happy, but once in a while a parent would glance over at him and give him a searching look, as if trying to determine if he's a threat or not. Yes, evaluate me all you want. I am a threat. As much as I hate to admit it, I could hurt you, monster that I am. Zero knew that the parents would continue to observe him, so he just kept his eyes trained on the ground. For a Saturday, the day had been crazy. He wasn't even on campus and he had to deal with vampires. Vampires not so far from himself. He considered why he was so willing to kill today, versus before. Last time he encountered a Level E, he hesitated and was questioned about it by Kaname Kuran. Why was this time different? He wanted to say that it was because there was an innocent involved, but Yuuki was part of the last encounter and he still hesitated. Was it because it was Asraella? At the thought of her, he shivered. If not for the blood of the Level E, and the anomaly that was today, he might have turned on her eventually himself. It's strange…I didn't smell blood around her this time, Level E or not. Why would that have happened? Too many questions. The almost constant wind whipped his hair around, and moved the sleeves of his shirt. Too many questions, and not enough answers.

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As he lay on his bed, watching the burning mass that was the sun fall lower on the horizon, Takuma Ichijou considered the events of that day. His plan had fallen through, due to that damn hybrid hunter's involvement. No matter. There would be more chances for him to get what he wanted.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter should be up in a week, but I can't make any promises. If you liked the twists and turns of the last two chapters, please review! TTFN, Slomiti Andeo