Chapter Nine
Leave or Stay?

Zero did not attend school the next day, still trying to get over last nights events. Yuuki went to class, but her attitude was dampened a bit by what had occurred. She already knew that she would forgive Zero for biting her, but she was saddened that he had not told her to begin with. It was at the end of math, and the students were putting away their books and supplies, when Yori decided to voice her question.

"Zero-kun hasn't arrived, right?" she asked Yuuki softly.

Yuuki paused before saying a bit nervously, "Yeah, he hasn't been well since yesterday."

"Really? Is Kagome with him?"

"Eh? Well, I guess so. I haven't seen her since yesterday either. I suppose she could be with Zero." But, would Zero let her near him? Does she know what happened? And if she isn't with Zero, than... where is she? Yuuki couldn't help the troubling thoughts that went through her head. As much as she loved and trusted Zero, she didn't want the same thing that happened to her to happen to Kagome. He would never forgive himself if he hurt Kagome. Of course, she didn't know that having Kagome near him helped calm the bloodlust.

"Did anything happen?" Yuuki turned back to Yori as she asked, and tried to alleviate any worries she may feel. She tried to turn Yori's attention away from herself, until their next teacher came into class for the next lesson.

The more Yuuki continued to think about Zero, and the conversation she overheard last night about Zero being transferred to the Night Class, the more she got the urge to leave and talk to Kaname about Zero staying. A moment later and Yuuki had left her seat and proceeded to run toward the Moon Dorm, hoping to change Kaname's mind.

Kagome sat on Zero's bed as she watched him toss clothes into his duffel bag. She had tried getting him to reconsider leaving, but he was adamant, saying that he could not live there any longer and be a danger to Yuuki and the others. He didn't say it out loud, but they both knew that he was also talking about hurting her. She knew it was a ridiculous thought, and tried to tell him so, but he would not budge. She wanted to go get the Chairman or Yuuki to help stop him, but she was afraid he would leave while she was gone. Kagome had already decided to go with him, with or without his permission. Her only regret was not being able to say goodbye to her new father and sister.

As Zero packed the last of the clothes he would be bringing into his bag, he turned toward Kagome, who was still sitting on his bed watching him pack. He felt awful for just leaving her here alone, but he could not take her with him. She was one of the reasons he was leaving. Grabbing his bag, he pulled it over his shoulder but stopped when he saw what was under it. Grabbing the Bloody Rose, he looked at it contemplatively, deciding if he should just shoot himself and rid the world of his disgusting existence.

As if reading his thoughts, Kagome reached over and put her hand over the one holding the gun. She gazed up into his lavender eyes, and tried to, once again, convince him to stay. He pulled his gun from her hand and put it inside his coat jacket. He could always shoot himself after he left the school grounds. There would be less of a mess to clean up that way.

Zero stood up and was about to leave when his door was thrown open and Yuuki ran in. As soon as she saw Zero and Kagome she relaxed. But when she saw the duffel bag on Zero's shoulder and his almost empty closet, she began to panic anew.

"Zero? Wha?" She didn't know what to say. She wanted to stop him. She didn't want Zero to leave, and she could tell that Kagome didn't either. He ignored her and began to walk around her so he could leave. He wanted to get out of there without anymore interruptions. He wasn't sure if he would want to leave if people kept trying to get him to stay. And he didn't want that! No, he didn't want to stay. He didn't want to hurt anyone else.

Before he could get around Yuuki, he was stopped by someone grabbing him from behind and holding him tightly. And because he could see Yuuki standing in front of him still, he was sure that the person holding him was Kagome.

"You can't go Zero-nii-chan! You can't!" Kagome had forgone her earlier promise to herself that she would not cry. Her tears flowed freely down her face and soaked the back of his blue jacket. He remained standing, seemingly unmoved, while on the inside, he was trying to resist. He didn't deserve to be here. He didn't deserve to have the kindness and love that was shown and so freely given to him. He didn't deserve it. But... he wanted it. Zero had not felt at home more than he had while with the Chairman and Yuuki, no matter how weird they got, they were still family. And recently, Kagome had come into their lives, his life, and he could see the changes in the students and the Chairman. He could almost see the changes going on inside of him. Which is why he had to leave. He could not harm them. Not now, not ever.

Preparing to gently push Kagome away and get out of there, he was stopped when Yuuki took a step forward and wrapped her own arms around him. As she began to speak to him about everything being all right, and how it always will be. And how they would always be there for him, he felt his resistance dissolve. Numbly letting his bag fall to the floor at his feet, he lightly placed one hand around Yuuki and the other over Kagome. Silently letting them know that he would stay. For now. But if it got too much and too dangerous, he would leave. And they would not be able to stop him.

Kagome later found out that Kaname tried to get Zero transferred to the Night Class. When she heard that, she immediately went to the Chairman to get him to reconsider. They couldn't take away Zero-nii-chan! They just couldn't!

The next day she found out that Kaname would allow Zero to stay, on the condition that Yuuki had a way to protect herself from his attacks. Thus, she was given a special bracelet that had the ability to render him motionless should the need arise. Kagome wasn't too happy that he was treated as such, but she was glad that he no longer had to transfer classes. She knew that he wouldn't last there very long there, because none of the Night Class students loved him. But she did! And she would keep him safe. Even from himself.