Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight.

When she opened her eyes, she noticed tears were falling freely from them. She was shaking. Kaname put his arm around her.

"It's over now. I will never let him hurt you again. I will call the headmaster, you're staying here tonight."

Yuuki barely heard him. She was shaking very violently. It was impossible. How did Zero become a vampire? How could she not have noticed? Why did he attack her specifically?

Where was he, right now?

Kaname returned from giving the call the Cross Kaien.

"He says it's alright. He wants to talk to you tomorrow when you leave the Moon dormitories. I told him you know Zero is the one who attacked you. He wishes he could have explained it himself. Yuuki, I'm sorry I brought so much pain to your world. It seems you could be happier without us vampires."

"The headmaster knew?"

"Yes, he did. But Cross Kaien had his own reasons for keeping it secret. I'm sure he deeply regrets what happened to you."

Yuuki didn't respond. She felt a sudden cold pierce through the fabric of her uniform and chill her bones.

"Dearest, I've arranged for you to take a bath in the big bathroom down the hall. Maids are filling the tub with hot water as we speak. Why don't I walk you there? There's a lock on the door and I'm sure no one will dare to bother you. They know you are here under my protection. I'm sure a bath will do you a lot of good," said the pureblood gently.

"Ok" replied Yuuki weakly

Kaname left her at the bathroom door. He wished he could have come in with her to take a bath though. But this wasn't the right time. She was weak and shaken. He wanted her to feel a bit better before he seduced her for the second time.

He strolled back to his room. Ruka was waiting for him.

"Is it true, Kaname-sama?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you are referring to, Ruka."

"Cross-san is staying the night here."

"Yes, as you see I'm not wearing my uniform tonight. You will have to go to class without me," said the vampire lightly.

"May I ask Kaname-sama a question?"

He looked her up and down with inquisitive eyes. Ruka's expression was most peculiar.

"Why do you treat her so specially? She's only a little human"

"Yuuki is a very special girl. I will do with her as I please. Now go to class, you are in charge for this time."

Ruka bowed reluctantly and left.

Kaname went into his room and sat on the bed. Maybe tonight would be another very good night. He wanted to make love to his princess again. He was getting hard just thinking of her in the bath. She was naked a few yards from him. She was slowly and sensually running the wet sponge all over her body…

He wanted to go over there right now, break the lock, and run his hands all over her curves.

Far from imagining what Kaname was thinking about, Yuuki was indeed cleaning herself in the hot bath. She wasn't crying anymore but she felt awfully numb. She set the soapy sponge aside and let her body soak in the hot water. Steam was rising up and strands of her dark hair stuck to her forehead. She usually loved hot baths but she couldn't even enjoy it right now. All she could think about was Zero.

At that very moment Zero was being summoned to the headmaster's private study. He had been looking for Yuuki and couldn't find her. But maybe she was already with Cross. As usual he came in without knocking. She wasn't there. It was just the headmaster, cooking a kind of smelly fish. The young man wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"What do you want?"

"Gosh, Zero-kun, I thought I taught you how to knock!" said the headmaster in a failed attempt to be cute.

Zero rolled his eyes. What was the nut wearing? Wasn't that an apron? A very frilly, pink apron…

He pointed to it.

"Men should not wear this kind of clothing"

"No way! You don't like it? But it's so cute."

He didn't even bother responding to that.

"Why did you call me here? I was patrolling and I was alone too. I can't seem to find Yuuki tonight."

"That's what I want to talk to you about. Yuuki will be staying at the Moon dormitories tonight. She'll be under Kaname's protection."

"Are you nuts? She can't stay over there alone!"

"Why? Because they are vampires? But, Zero-kun, you are one as well."

Zero froze. Why was Cross Kaien telling him that?

"Yuuki knows, Zero. Kaname told her you are the one who attacked her and almost killed her."

Zero's world collapsed on him. She knew. She knew he was a vampire, a monster, a bloodsucker, a liar, a hypocrite, and a coward. She must hate him now.

But he loved her. He needed to tell her that.

Acting on impulse, Zero left the study and ran to the Moon dormitories. The gates were closed so he climbed over the wall and silently made his way to the wing where Kaname had his room. There was no light anywhere except in a room at the end of the wing. A tree came up to it. He could climb it to see who was there.

Yuuki was dehydrated from all the crying. She had just gotten out the bath. She was now wearing a fluffy bathrobe. She went to the sink. There was no glass so she drank straight from it.

Zero saw her through the window. She was alone and she had visibly just taken a bath. Her eyes were red from crying. Was he the reason for her tears?

He didn't want to cause her more pain and sorrow. He should just disappear like the monster he was. He should give her a chance to forget about her. But, he couldn't bear the thought of not saying goodbye. He would ask the headmaster to be transferred to another school the following year. There were only 2 months until then.

He went back to patrolling without letting his presence known to Yuuki.

The young woman put her uniform back one before returning to Kaname's room. She would feel indecent in that robe if she were to stand in front of him like that. If she had known Kaname was already well acquainted with her body she would have fainted from the shock.

He was sitting on the bed, waiting for her. She turned the light on. Vampire didn't seem to mind darkness but she was just a mere human. Her eyes couldn't see as well.

"Did you enjoy your bath? You seem like you've calmed down a bit."

"Yes"

"Well, don't just stand there. Come sit next to me." He patted the space next to him.

She obediently did as he asked. He put his arm around her.

"He will not hurt you again, sweet Yuuki, I will protect you from now on."

"Do you think Zero really meant to hurt me?"

"It's the nature of those turned by pureblood. They crave blood so badly they forget all their human compassion. They will kill anyone. Anyone, Yuuki, as long as it allows them to indulge in the sweet human blood. Yours smells very sweet. It must have been hard for him to resist."

As he said those words, Kaname leaned in to smell her. He wanted to bite her. Zero had no right to her blood. That bastard had taken something that belonged to Kaname and Kaname alone. He felt rage rise inside him. However, Yuuki's gaze on him calmed him down instantly. She looked so vulnerable. He leaned into her lips and gave her a very gently kiss.

"Kaname, what are you doing?"

"Yuuki, I love you"

She stayed wordless.

"I hate Kiryu for taking your blood like that. I want you to let me take care of you. Be mine."

He looked into her eyes. She seemed very confused.

"Yuuki?"

"I have…had feelings for Zero"

"I'm only assuming those feelings have now passed. After all, he almost killed you."

"Right now, everything confuses me. Does Kaname-sempai really love me?"

"Yes, I love you"

She blushed.

"But why me? I'm only a human."

"Does it matter? I can choose to be with whomever I desire."

He took her hand and kissed it.

"Allow me to be your knight"

She didn't know what to answer.

So he kissed her again on the lips, more deeply this time. She stayed frozen.

"Relax, Yuuki. I'm not going to do anything else tonight. You seem so lost and fragile. I just want to you to sleep in my arms. I want you to feel safe with me. Tomorrow you can go see the headmaster. From now on you also need to stay away from Zero, he's not stable."

A maid brought a nightgown for Yuuki. The vampire got into his pajamas. She had never seen Kaname wear this kind of clothing. It was weird; as if that was a part of his existence she wasn't supposed to witness. He got into bed and she joined him, feeling more awkward than ever. He spooned her from behind and kissed the back of her neck. The young woman wondered if she would be able to sleep in this position. Nevertheless, she soon fell asleep, completely exhausted by the events of the day.