Hi everyone, I'm really sorry for not updating soon. I just completed my La Corda D'oro fic, sorry, I was also busy with school since I missed one week of it because I got sick. And, I did post this last chapter a while back, but I hated the ending and decided to revise it...

Thank you guys for your patience. I hope you guys would review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight, because if I do, Yuuki won't be staying with Kaname for long. :D

Athena - Yuuki

Zeus - Rido

Hera - Juuri

Perseus - Kaname

Artemis - Maria

Aphrodite - Shizuka

Apollo - Zero

Hades - Ichiru

Chapter 8

"It can't be…" Artemis gasped.

"We can reach that place in ten minutes if we run. But I don't think Zeus will let us pass that easily." Perseus said in monotone.

"Aphrodite!" Artemis shouted. The two gods turned around and saw Artemis shaking the beautiful Aphrodite, who already turned back into her mortal form, who fainted to the ground. "Aphrodite! Shizuka!"

Shizuka groaned in pain, "He's…he's near. I'm sorry," then she suddenly disappeared.

"What happened?" Apollo asked in alarm, but Perseus ignored him and his body stiffened.

Clap.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

"That's just like her to run away," came Zeus' deep voice, he chuckled as everyone turned to glare at him, "And so the remaining casts are here. And the prodigal son has returned." He looked at Perseus mockingly.

"You finally showed up." Perseus said in a dead voice.

"Of course, I was so eager to welcome you back, seeing as there are some miscalculations in what I've done." Zeus said, looking at Perseus with a wave a fascination.

"I'm not one of your test subjects. And too bad you didn't calculate properly, because that flaw will be the cause of your death."

Zeus laughed out loud, "Illusions. You are just dreaming boy. You can never match up to me."

"I can."

"With the three of us." Artemis said, standing beside Perseus.

"Ah, Leto's children." Zeus said, as if he just realized they were even there, "My children defies me yet again."

"You are not fit to be the God of gods. You are not a good father, nor a good husband. To end your wife's life with your own hands—"

"That is where you are wrong child." Zeus said, looking at her with amused eyes, "I must praise you for your stack of information, but I did not end Hera's life, she gave it up."

"Lies." Perseus growled.

Zeus shook his head, smiling evilly, "She gave it up to save your sister. Athena is a strong goddess, but when she's Yuuki…" he shook his head like remembering something memorable, "She's easy to break."

Apollo, who was momentarily frozen by anger, was about to lunge onto Zeus when there was suddenly a pool of water at their feet coming from out of nowhere. He looked at Perseus, who was beside him. Perseus has his hands beside him, his fingers were manipulating something invisible. "Go to her." he said under his breath. Apollo stared at Perseus. Perseus glared at Apollo swiftly then said again, "Go to her! Don't make me regret my choice!"

"But I can't enter that place."

"Are you that stupid? Athena's presence is already out in the open and she's getting weaker again by the minute!"

Apollo flinched at the venom in his voice. He didn't notice, but now that Perseus mentioned it, he could sense her presence, and he's right.

"Go Apollo." Artemis urged.

Immediately, Apollo ran to the direction he knew Athena was. He started running, but Zeus was about to block him. "Your battle's here." Perseus said, creating a wall of high pressured water between Zeus and Perseus.

Zeus sighed like he was tired, "Fine. You won't be seeing her alive anyway."

Athena gasped as she finally broke down the door. It took out most of her powers to break it down, there was a powerful barricade over it. She slowly changed into Yuuki again, trying to preserve her remaining powers. She took a deep breath. Somehow the air was calming despite the dark aura lingering, there was a gentle scent of lavender in the air. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Suddenly she began choking. Her eyes widen. She instantly send a gush of wind to push the air away from her.

"Poison." she realized too late as she crouch down to the floor, clutching her throat, it felt like her throat was on fire. She had to do something before it spread into her whole system, but her eyes were already blurry and the effect was affecting her already...the last image she saw was a running silhouette.

"Yuuki!" Apollo shouted in panic as he saw her on the ground. He caught a whiff of a something wonderful but it had a stale edge to it. "It can't be." he said, as he recognized what it was. "Yuuki!" he knelt beside her and turned her body so he could see her face.

Her eyes were closed and she had stopped breathing. He checked her heartbeat and couldn't hear even the faintest of it. "Oh shoot, the poison already got into her whole body." he immediately checked her uncovered skin for injuries, for places where the poison could've seeped in. He saw her fingers with deep cuts and he cursed under his breath.

Suddenly Yuuki began screaming. Her body coiled into a ball, her head between her hands.

Apollo clenched his hands, he didn't know what to do. The poison was capable of killing the victim in an instant or bring the victim eternal pain, and it seems Zeus made plans for her already. "Yuuki," he called her name, trying to reach her. He has to reach her. She needs to hear his voice.

But she couldn't. She was in eternal pain. She was on fire. Why can't death find her quickly? Why does she have to suffer? Yuuki trashed around, her eyes wide open but she couldn't see anything but white nothingness.

Apollo pounded his fists the ground beside her. Why can't he do anything for her? He could seep out the poison from her fingers, that could endanger him, but he doesn't care. The problem is that, he doesn't know how deep the poison has gone into her system. He also has to be fast about it.

"Apollo."

Apollo immediately turned around into an offensive position. He could see another god in front of him. Zeus' back-up? The person shook his head and pointed to Yuuki. "I can help."

"How sure are you I can trust you?" The person didn't respond but sat beside Yuuki. Surprisingly Apollo couldn't move. "What did you do to me?" he growled. Again, there was no response, but the person touched some vital points in Yuuki's body and she froze. "What did you do to her?"

"I froze her muscles. This way I can help her for a while, though the pain will be unbearable." he took her fingers and placed some sort of thin layer of light on them and he took a finger to his mouth and tried to sip out the poison.

Apollo watched speechlessly as the person he thought was his enemy was helping cure the one he loves. "Who are you?" he asked, still dumbfounded.

The man looked at Apollo for a while then smiled, "I have many names. But I'm mostly known as Haruka. Her father."

"You can't actually think you can kill me." Zeus laughed. "And I'm sure you know what your sister's fate is right now, and yet you're here." he said, gesturing to Perseus, who was already panting. He glanced at Maria who was already on the floor, "Such a shame she is. I guess Hades just have to find another wife." He tsk-ed.

"I know Yuuki's state, but I'm not the one she needs." Perseus said, trying to regain some strength by stalling Zeus with a conversation.

"We are both in the same situation. Sad isn't it? That the person you love doesn't love you back?"

"But I know what she needs, I can accept the truth. I love her so I don't want to hurt her."

"Don't you think you deserve her more? Your position, your glory."

"Then Haruka would've been better for her."

"He doesn't have any care about what's happening around him, all he cares about is his obsession for the mortal world, do you think Juuri would've been happy with a person who won't even look at her."

"Juuri loved him for that. He was honest with what he wanted. And Juuri admired him greatly."

"You will never understand." Zeus said and threw a thunder at Perseus out of nowhere. Perseus narrowly avoided it, but it still grazed his shoulder. Before he knew it, he was already Kaname. "Look at you, Kaname. You've been in the mortal world for a long time already, look how weak you are now. You used to be one of the best up here."

"I still have rights which you do not have." Perseus said, slowly and quietly, he started to manipulate the water again, mixing it with his spilling blood.

"That old tale, you still believe it?" he chuckled, "I never knew you'd be this 'believer'" he scoffed, "But a tale's a tale. I've entered the Holy Grounds without being the first kin."

"You don't know how it works." suddenly he raised his hand and the water turned ice raised itself and turned into a sharp pick and pierced Zeus straight to the heart from the back.

Zeus was surprised, he looked at Kaname, amused once again, "You know just stopping my heart isn't enough to kill me."

"I know." Kaname said in a low voice, "But who says I'll be ending your life alone."

Zeus' eyes widen and he turned around. He saw Hades standing at one side, his finger facing the ground as his blood trickled to the sand. Instantly the blood came to life and went underneath Zeus, and dark hole opened up, swallowing him whole. Before Zeus disappeared, he glared at Hades. "Brother." he said with venom.

"I told you never to lay your hands on Artemis." Hades said.

"Thanks." Kaname said, collapsing.

"You're lucky I came in at the right time," Hades said, walking towards Maria's beaten up form.

"Yeah. What did you do?" Kaname asked, though he probably knew the real answer.

"Sent him to death. Though we can't die, he's going to be in eternal agony. Much more painful than what Yuuki's going through." Hades grunted as he carried Maria in his arms.

"Yuuki!" Kaname shot up, suddenly remembering Yuuki, but he groaned as his ribs protested.

"Hey, take it easy. I praise you for being alive for this long and for at least injuring Zeus. But now, you can't die. You have a whole new responsibility. Olympus is in chaos. The other gods are already fighting amongst themselves, but that will die down soon now that Zeus won't be coming back."

"But Yuuki..."

"Enough Kaname. Yuuki will be fine. You entrusted her to Apollo already, don't go taking back your words, and anyway, Haruka is there with them already. So I just you to faint already from fatigue because when you open your eyes, you won't be an exile anymore. You'll have a burden on our shoulders."

"Don't be too sure. The others haven't chosen yet."

Hades rolled his eyes, "Stop that modesty of yours. You're a genius Kaname, and it doesn't take much for a genius to know what's going on and what's to happen. I'm sure you noticed that water was available everywhere, especially water vapor. Usually it takes time for you to gather those in the vapor, haven't you wondered why you were able to gather them easily? There's also Zeus' thunders, they weren't as deadly as they usually are. Don't say it's just coincidence. Almost all the gods up here is on your side, Kaname, they've helped you. Now block out already." Hades said impatiently.

"That's most of it," Haruka panted, pushing himself backward. He was so tired, and almost at his limit, he could take out some more poison in her system, but he would already lose his life at that point. Tasting the lavender won't send him to agony or immediate death, but it would take out his powers. If his powers are to be drained completely, then, he would surely die.

"What else, what should I do?" Apollo asked, Haruka had finally let him move. He now hovered over Yuuki. Haruka had also loosened Yuuki's muscles, though she wasn't screaming anymore, her face was in agony.

"Close up her wounds." Haruka said.

Apollo immediately did as he was told. He just can't believe that he can't heal her completely. That the poison was beyond his capabilities of healing. He watched as Yuuki's wounds slowly healed. "What now? How can I help? That's still not everything right?" Apollo watched, as Haruka fingered some veins on Yuuki's throat.

"She did well. She stopped her breathing before the poison would go deeper and into her heart. It's already clot here," Haruka pointed somewhere where the voice box is close, "I need you to take it out of her."

"You mean I have to slit her throat?" Apollo asked in surprise.

"No," Haruka said patiently, "I hope you're at least familiar with the human word CPR."

"Yes," Apollo said, then he looked at Yuuki, if that would save her...

"The poison will be a lot, it might take out most of your powers, but please, try not to swallow it."

"I know," Apollo said, slowly he leaned down to Yuuki.

Yuuki groaned in pain again, she'd been burning for a lot time, and she didn't know how long, it seems like days had already pass. Is this it? Her eternal torment? The payment for whatever sins she has committed? She had broken her pledge after all. When her father was exiled into the mortal world, she had vowed with her blood that she'll be rebellious, she will and grow up with the customs and traditions of the Mortals.

She had gotten used to that, feasting only once a week, unlike the gods. She learned how to heal her wounds painfully and slowly and didn't use her powers. She grew up with Mortal traditions, and then to meet a mortal and fall in love with one, only to know that he is her exiled brother. And with that, she has broken her vow. She has high hopes of being with her Mortal brother.

She had made up her mind to defy her father completely, but then she found herself being drawn to her cousin, Apollo, or should she say, a mortal stranger, Zero. It was wrong from the start, but the pull was different than how it was with Kaname. It was...stronger. She let herself become closer to him, only to find out that Zeus had wanted them to be engaged.

It was like fate toying around with her. Making her break everything. Every promise she will ever try to be committed to. Maybe this is what she deserved.

Out of nowhere, she could feel warmth beside her in the white emptiness. A person's warmth. She looked around but no one was there, and yet she could feel someone breathing into her ear. It was a ragged breathing, but somehow it still gave her comfort.

"Yuuki."

She heard her name being called and immediately recognized the voice. "A—" she shook her head, "Zero." she said softly. Yes, that voice belonged to Zero... Suddenly she felt something warm pressed on her lips and she instantly knew what Zero was trying to do.

She tried to move away, but she couldn't, she was frozen. The burning was starting all over again. No. she wanted to shout, Zero, don't do this! It could kill you. Stop it!

Zero pulled away from her for the third time, he spit out the poison which he was able to take out. Haruka touched her throat again and Zero sighed in relief when he nodded in approval. "She's going to be alright. We just have to wait for her to wake up by herself."

Zero breathed deeply and looked at his hands. When did he change? He changed when he leaned closer to her. Why did he change? Because, somehow, it felt right. And then he suddenly remembered the sensation he felt when he called her name. Her contorted face became blank for a while, it was like she responded to his voice. And when he kissed her, he knew that she was aware of it, and it was like she was pushing him away. From the danger. He could feel her worries.

Yuuki suddenly coughed.

"Yuuki," Haruka said, sitting her up slowly.

It took a while before she got used to the light again, but when she did, she was happy to see the person in front of her, "Father." she said.

Haruka smiled back, "You've heard the truth from Juuri then." At the mention of Juuri, Yuuki's face fell. She didn't know what to say. But Haruka laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and she knew there was nothing more to talk about.

"How..." Yuuki asked, "What happened? Zeus?"

"Everything's over, Yuuki. Its a battle between gods, you should know that it always end quickly." Haruka said.

"Onii-sama?" Yuuki shot up worriedly, "I felt his presence before I lost my thoughts."

"He's fine." Haruka smiled reassuringly. Yuuki sighed in relief. "Well then, you're lucky to be alive. The poison really got most of you."

"Thank you very much." Yuuki said.

Haruka gently shook his head, "He did the most critical action of all in saving your life. And I'll leave both of you to talk. I'll have to go see the situation now."

Yuuki nodded as her eyes met Zero's.

"Sorry," Yuuki spoke first.

Zero looked at her, and knew why she was apologizing. Shouldn't he be the one to apologize? For acting so out of order? He was surprised, yes, but to the point that it wasn't rational anymore... But then he suddenly fell to the ground, He brought the heel of his hand to his forehead, the other hand beside him for balance.

"Zero!" Yuuki said in alarm.

"I'm fine." he said, "Just...relieved that you're alright."

Yuuki stared at his obviously relief. She really felt guilty, she lied to him, deceived him with her identity...how will things be alright? She's sure that she'll only see Kaname as her brother now, and Kaname will understand why that is. Because Zero has been the one to truly capture her heart. Just then, she remembered something. She brought her fingers to her lips and blushed.

"Yuuki?" he looked at her when she was quiet. Then he was remembering the same thing she had remembered. "I just had to do it." So, she was really aware!

"I..." Yuuki began, "I know. Thank you for saving my life. I'm sorry it took a lot of your powers."

"NO!" he said a little to sudden, Yuuki flinched. "I mean, no, you don't have to apologize for it. I want to, I need you..." he said, his voice trailing off.

"Zero-"

"I'll be anything for you, Yuuki. I'm certain that the one you're in love with is really me," he gestured to himself, "Not the real me, Apollo."

"You're still one person." Yuuki said, looking away, feeling guilty. Did this mean she didn't accept the real him?

"It's okay Yuuki. I'm fine with it. I can live a mortal life as long as I can live it with you." he said gently.

Yuuki smiled softly, she knew what he was trying to say and she was glad, his feelings still haven't change even though what she did was almost equivalent to a betrayal. Yuuki shyly leaned in, she was hesitant at first when Zero stared at her, but when her lips touched his, she knew that she didn't make a wrong move.

When she pulled back, her face was all red. She couldn't believe that she just made a bold move, but she saw that someone else is more in a state of shock than she is.

"Zero," Yuuki said, embarrassed. "I love you."

Zero smiled and leaned in for another kiss, "I love you too."

A/N: Review please! Whoa. I'm done here! Yes, it wasn't much of an ending, but I was thinking of putting an epilogue for this. What do you guys think?

Of course, I'll be needing a lot of people putting a suggestion for that :P

I might not make any new Vampire Knight stories yet since I'm getting more and more obsessed watching SHINee's Hello Baby. (Laughs) And learning the steps of Super Junior's It's You.