C H A P T E R - Two - Recollection

R A T I N G - T - Some mild violence/bad language

P A I R I N G S - Zero x Yuuki

N O T E - Don't own Vampire Knight

"Yuu-" His voice stopped, realizing the poisonous feeling that occurred in his throat. He refused to call her by her real name, "You."

Not exactly the best word choice to use for their first meeting but she let it slide considering both her shock and rejoice were overwhelming. "Y--You're still alive?"

He rolled his eyes, "Isn't it obvious?"

Yuuki made a sheepish grin, figuring that wasn't the best way to start things out. She leaned herself forward a bit to allow her diaphragm to expand and make it easier for conversation. "I thought I would never see you again, or anyone else for that matter." Her voice was softer yet more adult-like; her body had had its fair share of changes too. Her chest wasn't as so plain and flat as before. Caught inside a tight halter top it sprouted a hint of cleavage and when she leaned forward it appeared as if they were about to flash Zero (who had some sense to look away when she did so). Her waist and stomach were still thin and she might as well have had a natural slim figure because she still was able to eat like a horse. Of course her large eyes have not strayed from their innocent feature, and her childish face was still in proportion. Lastly her long brown hair that reached the lower part of her back hung down in front of each side of her profile.

Her stomach unexpectedly growled, well speak of the devil.

"Eat," he gestured towards the small table of food that lay next to the bed.

Yuuki was hesitant. Could he be trying to poison her? Zero was dark but even he'd want to kill her the old fashioned way. He seemed to be the same, his hair was definitely longer and he seemed to have more muscle mass. Must be all the exercise he's been getting from hunting down vampires this whole time. He still wore the same attire that he had naturally been wearing back at the academy, though his dress wear seemed slightly darker than before. His eyes were their normal electric moonlit color, nothing different there. Had he really changed?

"I thought you were going to kill me." Her voice ridged but relieved as she munched on a slice of bread.

His gun suddenly rose in front of him. Yuuki jumped.

"Zero, but…so this is the end I guess," she shut her eyes.

The door slammed. Zero was gone.

"Wait, what?" Yuuki blinked, confused at what had just occurred. For a moment she thought that Zero was actually going to go through with his promise. She sighed heavily, "And to think that I believed he was going to kill me, he decides to chicken out." Her mind went back to eating.

When her appetite was satisfied Yuuki plucked up enough courage to venture outside the claustrophobic cabin. The rays from the sun blinded her in its normal way of saying: "Good Morning." All she could do was blanket her eyes from it and adjust to her surroundings. There were many tall trees that cornered Yuuki at every turn; she must be in a forest of some sort. When her eyes were able to catch up to every other sense she was equipped with, Yuuki focused in on a stream nearby. Sitting on a large rock peering into the water with reason was Zero. His eyes were hard to notice under all that long hair his head conjured. By the way he hunched his shoulders and kept his knees close to him there was a feeling of deep depression, and he was possibly contemplating his resent actions that took place inside the cabin.

Yuuki approached ever guarded incase he decided to do something unexpectedly. She was able to stand by the stream a few yards away from the hunter without any such motion or feeling coming from him.

"Zero, why didn't you shoot me?"

Silence fell upon them for some time as the stream acted as a soothing musical soundtrack to the rather uncomfortable atmosphere between the former partners.

He finally broke the pause, "It's not worth it. I need more time."

"You mean, you've decided not to kill me anymore?" She assumed.

"No," he abruptly answered, "be sure of it, I will be the one to kill you, just not like that."

She didn't display any sign of regret, in fact she was ready to let out a huge sigh of relief after hearing he wasn't going to kill her, just yet. Maybe it was possible for her to see Kaname and the others again. That is if Zero is willing to comply with helping her get out of this dense forest. She approached him cautiously step-by-step.

"Zero, can you bring me back to Kaname-sama?"

"No."

Figures, why would he let her out of his sight again to get back with the one person he despised more than her right now. Guess she was stuck having to follow his rules for a while. Zero has always been and always will be the kind of person who enjoys making their own decisions instead of acting as someone else's personal lapdog. And even now, after the deaths of Shizuka and his brother Ichiru, Zero seems to retain an unappealing look of guilt but still flaunt that same unabashed behavior he's held onto forever. She understood he was hurting, inside and out, and maybe that same part of him that she used to connect with through interaction whether by studying, patrolling, or even a simple seated conversation, still lingered within his core. In some form of life that was tangled in a web of hate and disgust there was the scared little boy who she had met on that fateful night soaked in his own blood and drying tears. Was there still hope? Would Zero ever come to terms that he made a promise to kill her? Would he allow himself to give into the darkness once and for all? Did he still harbor feelings for--?

"Let's go." Zero was walking off down a slim passage through the shrouded brush. "Town is just this way."

Yuuki complied without any use for her voice.

Zero led her to a random bar that rested in the suburbs of the city. The same place he had previously visited the night before, only to be disrupted by two unnecessary gentlemen. The bartender greeted him in the same manner he had the other night only this time it was in a more apologetic tone. He remembered he owed the hunter a beer and took a short moment to look Yuuki up and down and ask if she would like a beverage before departing through another door.

"So…" Yuuki began shaken, "how has it been this past year for you? Anything interesting happened?"

"I've killed vampires."

She pouted, ashamed she didn't already assume that would be his first and only answer.

"What about a home? Do you have a house now?"

"I live with a cohort." His voice was hard, not used to having such a versatile conversation with someone. It must have been difficult for poor Isao to get anything out of him.

Yuuki continued without concern, "Is it the Chairman?"

"No a friend of his, his name is Isao. He's a mechanic."

"Oh, is that the only person you live with right now?" She cocked a brow up with meaning.

He glared daggers at her, "What exactly are you getting at?"

Yuuki shifted herself in her chair so she didn't have to crane her neck around to speak to Zero. He on the other hand stayed in a frozen position facing the counter, his eyes glued towards her movements. She seemed to be even closer than she was before as she rested her head in her hand. Her expression was subtle.

"You know, like…do you have a girlfriend yet?"

She noticed a change of look that he displayed, but it wasn't anything like she originally anticipated it to be. It was a foreign expression that Yuuki believed she would never witness in her lifetime ever again. It was something that made him appear alienated from the rest of the world, the strangest thing having come from Zero. He was smiling. A sound that began more like a cough escaped his throat. He was chuckling too.

"What's so funny?"

"Girls are just, too predictable," he muffled his growing laugh.

"What? If there is anyone who's too predictable it may as well be you Zero," she lied. Zero was a closed book, one who could only open if you found the correct key for. That key though, was something no one would ever be able to find. There's no telling what goes through his mind.

Zero's amused moment eventually wearied down after the bartender brought back a beer for him. Yuuki was still unconvinced, "Well do your or not?"

"Huh?"

"Have a girlfriend!" .

"No, I don't find time for the likes of that."

Yuuki rolled her eyes and released a long aggravated sigh, "That's all I needed to know." She watched him sip some of his beer and set it back on the counter. Absentmindedly her mouth opened again, "Mind if I have some?"

"Hell no, your too young to drink."

"So are you Zero," she moaned. "Just one sip nothing more."

"Why? Buy your own." He was acting as stubborn as always. Yup that's Zero for you.

Yuuki's patience was wearing thin. "Hmm I can think of two words why that's impossible…No, money."

His hand cupping the drink reluctantly moved closer to her as he held out the drink. She reached to grab it but it was taken away. "Before that, what about you? What have you and Prince of Asshole's done this past year?"

"We've moved to a new home that we stayed in for a few months before we received news that that place was discovered by vampire hunters. So we temporarily moved to the hotel that was burned down by some psychopath. By the way, take that back what you said about Kaname-sama, he's nothing like that!"

He gulped down some more liquor, "Make me."

Her hand made a fist and a crack of glass rang through the room, yet went unnoticed by any of the other distracted customers. The cabinet window on the opposite side of the counter broke but wasn't shattered, yet. Zero mumbled his apologies in a very uneventful manner.

"Whatever, now will you calm the hell down your going to break the poor guy's cabinet."

She did so but not before speaking her mind behind bared fangs, "Oh I can break more than that now Zero, believe me." She didn't care to explain further as he finished his last sip and headed straight for the door. She had no choice but to trail after him.

Dawn was already setting in, and it made Yuuki think that she may have overslept this morning. It baffled her that Zero could wait around for so long anticipating when she would wake up. That is unless he decided to take a snooze for himself after heroically rescuing her from the clutches of said psychopathic vampire. There has only been a hand full of times where Yuuki would be able to see Zero sleeping. Whenever he did, she felt like it was the only time where his appearance made him seem like he had found an inner peace. His long eyelashes that blanketed his eyes and hair that curtained most of his features when he snuggled closely to the bed sheets pressing his cheek into the pillow almost like it was his mother's warm embrace. It was as if nothing in the universe could ever hurt him, nothing could penetrate a shield of love, safety and security. Sometimes Yuuki wished that she would be able to see that same comforting expression reflect off him again.

When she returned to reality Yuuki realized they were traveling down a long alleyway. Her stomach turned as she noticed the incredibly dark daunting atmosphere that engulfed this particular part of the city. It was uncanny and a red flag sprung up inside her head.

"Zero, where are we going exactly?" Her hand instinctively fell upon his sleeve and clung to it.

He hushed her, "We're being hunted."

They both froze; Zero took out Bloody Rose ready for the attack that was sure to come. Something clambered to the ground and a hostile vampire perched himself atop a garbage can. His eyes were painted with the sense of vengeance and blood lust. His nostrils flared and his dark grin reached to both ears, fangs were present.

Zero's nonchalant behavior made Yuuki feel like there was nothing to worry about, when obviously there was. Then again, by now he was a pro at this kind of thing.

"What do you want vampire?" He hissed.

"I saw what you did to my brother you little shit," the enemy's voice was hoarse, "you took something from me and now I shall return the favor."

Even before Zero could react he witnessed the vampire grab Yuuki and sink his teeth into her jugular. A large sucking sound was apparent, striking a chilling feeling across the hunter's body. "No!" He fired two shots. One only grazed the vampire's shoulder as he released his victim and vanished into the shadows with a laugh. Zero was able to catch her before she plummeted to the ground face first.

"Yuuki! Yuuki, damn it wake up!" He pleaded as he shook her frantically. "You, you can't die, you just can't," his voice cracked. "People need you. That bastard needs you. The Chairman needs you. I…need you."

Her eyes opened.

"Yuuki?" He asked again with hope.

"Who…who are you?"

He was wishing it was a different answer, "Who else dummy?"

She blinked, allowing herself to see the person before her more clearly, "No seriously, who are you?"

Wait, what? He gawked. Suddenly his hands caught her shoulders, "Who else could it be you bimbo! It's me, Zero Kiryuu! Your childhood friend! Your old partner at the academy! The one who's going to kill you!"

She yelped and pushed him away backing herself against the wall, "S--Stay back!"

Zero was muted.

What the hell?

The vampire arrived into a dark abandoned house. It was filled with a musk and dirty odor that would make anyone who inhaled it deeply cough. He descended down the flight of stairs into the dark basement. He wasn't alone. A dozen set of eyes watched him with reason, one pair in particular seemed to stand out.

"Did you get it?" A sadistic voice asked.

"Yes My Lady, I have the sample." He held up a bottle containing a small quantity of blood.

"Excellent."

Author's Note:

Well I'm back baby, and I have again left you lot with yet another cliffhanger MUAHAHA! *Gets hit by flying object* Ouch! Well anyway I want to say sorry for the long wait and I hope you all are enjoying your summer. I also hope Zero and Yuuki aren't too out of character for you, it is kind of hard to visualize what their first meeting would be like. I would appreciate it if people who review will also answer some questions that I have below just so I can get some insight into what you guys are thinking.

Questions:

1. Do you guys like the writing style? Would you prefer I went less with the detail? Did I not have enough detail in this chapter? Do you want me to write with more detail and description? (plz say no XP)

2. Do you guys prefer me writing shorter chapters and updating sooner? Or, are you fine with waiting and being able to read nice long chapters?