"Why did you dye your hair, Yuuki?"
Zero and I were sitting outside, in the soft grass under a large tree, enjoying the shade, the sun, the warmth, the fresh air, but most of all a day off from classes. We were waiting for class to be over for everyone else so we could go out patrolling-escort the Night Class from their dormitory to the school building, make sure the Day Class students were safe and not skipping curfew. Things were slowly returning to normal. At least, I was beginning to feel more normal, like Zero and I were finally going to have a normal relationship from now on. Like I've always wanted.
I was sliding an emery board across my fingernails-back and forth-rapidly, shaping them to perfection. But my movements ceased at the sound of Zero's voice, his out-of-the-blue question. I looked over at him. He was gazing up at the clouds-not looking at me at all, the shadows of leaves dancing across his face. He seemed far away. I wondered where his thoughts were.
"Was it because of him?" he asked, almost bitterly. I knew he was referring to Kaname. Zero hated Kaname. Now I was beginning to understand a little bit of the connection, the reason for his hate. With Kaname being a pureblood and a pureblood vampire being the one responsible for the murder of Zero's family, I could sort of understand. And Kaname didn't care too much for Zero, either, for that matter. But that was probably just because Zero didn't like him and was probably always trying to pick fights.
"No," I fingered the ends of my ebony hair, wondering what I could say to make Zero understand. What could I possibly tell him to make him understand that I just wanted to be different. I didn't want to be that girl that just sat back and quietly took what was given to her anymore. I wanted to stand out. I wanted the confidence to stand tall. "I...I just thought that it would be beautiful." I lied, though I did favor the change, part of me was convinced that if I changed how I looked on the outside I could change how I felt on the inside, leaving my feelings for Kaname behind with my dull, plain brown hair. "That maybe changing it would be good." But I could see it in Kaname's eyes, every time he looked at my black hair, it made him sad that I changed it. Even if he'd never did say it out loud. "Don't you like it, Zero?"
Zero was quiet for a few moments, contemplating my answer over in his head. "It looks nice." he said finally, sighing, accepting my answer for the truth. "If it's what you really wanted, then it's good. I also wanted to ask you about that fight you got into the other day. What was that all about?"
I couldn't help but laugh. Zero...concerned? "Oh you know, just girl stuff." I laughed harder when I remember Arisa crawling across the floor. I still felt like she deserved everything she got, and more. Though, I was a little embarrassed knowing that Zero was the one to pull me off of her, witnessing my outburst first hand, having to drag me off to the Headmaster's office.
"It's not like you. You've never done something like that before." Zero reached across me and touched the bandage on my neck. I met his eyes, wanting to reach up and brush his bangs out of them. I knew he felt really guilty for what he did, but he kept touching it, making me uncomfortable. "Are you sure you're alright, Yuuki?" Zero's eyes were overflowing with emotion; concern for me, and guilt for what he had done, but most of all, self-loathing. I couldn't stand it. I didn't want to see that look anymore. I didn't want Zero to hate himself for what he had done to me.
I nodded, pushing his hand away from my neck. "Haven't I already told you?" I stood, brushing the grass and leaves from my yoga shorts-dressing down in my pjs since I wasn't attending class today-seeing no point in wearing the uniform. "I'll always be on your side, Zero. Aren't we a family?"
He didn't answer me, just continued watching my movements, never taking his eyes off of me.
"I still remember the night you first came to live with us. The only thing that's changed about you since then is your height. Face it, you need me." I was just trying to tease him, to lighten the mood, but he didn't laugh. If anything, his face became more serious.
Zero stood and followed after me to the Moon dormitory. "You've changed recently, Yuuki." he commented, pressing me farther for more information. "Don't think I haven't noticed."
"Isn't change a good thing?" I felt like I had a similar conversation with Yori recently.
Zero sighed. "Though, you will forever chase after your beloved Kaname-senpai till the end of time." he said, finally teasing me back. He said beloved Kaname in a gross, high-pitched sing-song voice. It was gross. I punched his arm.
"Shut up." the gate's closing off the Moon Dormitory to the rest of the Academy creaked open and the vampires filed out looking regal and...beautiful. They were all so beautiful. I couldn't help but to scan the crowd of them until I located the one person in particular who made my heart race with nothing more than a single glance. When I located him he looked at me at the exact same time, and then looked away, walking straight past me without a word.
My jaw literally hit the floor.
Kaname had just ignored me.
"What was that about?" Zero asked, and from his tone I could tell he honestly didn't care, he was just being polite because it was me.
"I...I think he's made at me."