Chapter Thirteen
Awakening

The day for the ball was getting closer, and with it came the day for the final exams. Yuuki was not too worried about if she got a high score or not, but when the Class President warned her that if her score brought their class' average down, and made them help with the background preparations, he was going to curse her forever.

Now she had to worry about getting a good grade or forever be cursed. And she really didn't want that. Yori and Kagome told her not to worry so much, and Zero said that he could help her study. She thanked them and they continued on their way to their next class.

Their quiet walk was interrupted by a commotion up ahead, they followed the sounds and discovered that a few of the Night Class students were out during the day. When it finally registered in Yuuki's brain that the Night Class was over when they weren't supposed to be, she immediately began to go after them to send them back. Her trip was halted when a strong, slender hand gently gripped her arm.

She turned surprised eyes to Zero when she saw that the hand belonged to him. Before she could ask why he stopped her, he answered saying that she should not go near the transfer student. Though she was surprised, Yuuki knew that Zero had a reason. Before she could promise that she would stay away, she was hugged tightly from the front. Startled, Yuuki looked down to see Kagome holding her tightly in a hug. She came up to just below her shoulders, and Kagome's head rested over Yuuki's heart as she, too, requested that Yuuki stay away from the transfer student. She used the excuse that she gave her a bad feeling. Yuuki gazed at Kagome with soft eyes, she truly was such a sweet child, and nodded her head in agreement. Yuuki would try to stay away from Maria, right after she helped get all the Night Class students back to the Moon Dorm.

Kagome stepped away when she felt a vampire come closer, before Aidou got a chance to hug Yuuki, she was pulled away and he gripped thin air. He looked around in puzzlement before seeing an equally shocked Yuuki standing in-between Zero and Kagome. He tried to make a grab for her again, but was intercepted by Zero. They talked for a bit, and walked off to discuss something. Kagome watched them go with a worried look in her eyes. She could tell something was wrong with Zero, but he hadn't told her what it was. But she would bet that it had something to do with Maria Kurenai, and that was the reason she got the funny feeling from her. Kagome just didn't understand why she felt it.

So into her thoughts, Kagome missed when Yuuki took off, leaving her books and Kagome with Yori. Yori looked to where Yuuki ran off and back to the thoughtful looking Kagome, before sighing and began to pull Kagome along with her to their next class, brining Yuuki's books with her. Kagome followed numbly until they reached class and Yori explained what happened. She nodded absently as she brought out her book to read, it was one she found in her father's office. She didn't understand it all, but for some reason she couldn't put it down. So engrossed in her book, Kagome didn't pay any attention as the class filled in, nor did she notice as the teacher began his lecture, but she did notice when Zero came in a few minutes after class started and sat in the seat beside her. He seemed deep in thought, and Kagome didn't want to interrupt him, but she was worried and wanted to help him. She decided she would try to talk to him later. Yes, later, when they were alone and didn't have any interruptions. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen.

The exams were tomorrow so Yuuki and Zero both had to study. Yuuki more so than Zero. Kagome sat at the kitchen table, her back facing the window, as she watched the Chairman leave to take over Zero and Yuuki's patrol, so that Zero could help Yuuki with her math. She watched carefully at the way Zero was acting. She couldn't quite place what she was feeling from him, but it felt like he was up to something. So when she saw him leave the room, and both heard and felt him leave the building and head over toward the old Moon Dorm, where Maria Kurenai was staying, Kagome said a quick excuse for being tired and going to bed, leaving Yuuki confused and alone to finish studying.

Kagome made her way quickly toward where Zero was, hoping to stop anything bad from happening. She came across the bridge that was over the creek, but it was broken. Using her powers, Kagome backed away and jumped over the water. As soon as she touched ground, Kagome took off toward the building where she felt both Maria and Zero's auras in the same room. She could also feel Kaname and Yuuki heading the same direction, however, Yuuki would not get there in time to stop anything. And Kagome didn't have time to be afraid of Kaname at the moment.

She made it to the door to find it stuck shut. Pulling frantically, Kagome used a small amount of her powers and almost pulled the door off its hinges. Ignoring the slightly ruined door, Kagome ran through the halls to where she could feel Zero. She made it to the ballroom and watched and listened from the outside the room as Zero and Maria talked. She was so intent on making sure that Zero remained safe, that she failed to notice as Kaname came up behind her. It was when someone dropped a sword down to Maria, and she was about to pull it out of its sheath, that Kagome noticed his presence. Not because she could sense him, but because as soon as he saw her take a step closer he stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.

The effect was not what he wanted. The moment his hand came into contact with her shoulder, Kagome let out an ear piercing scream and clutched her head in her hands. The scream caught the attention of the occupants inside the room, as well as Yuuki who finally made it. As soon as she heard the scream Yuuki picked up her speed.

As soon as Zero heard Kagome's scream, he forgot about Shizuka and avenging his parent's death, he forgot about the whole reason he had come there tonight, he forgot everything, save for the possibility that Kagome was hurt.

Turning from Shizuka, Zero ran from the room to find Kagome with her head in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks, her face scrunched up in pain, and Kaname standing a little bit away from her.

Immediately turning his enraged eyes on Kaname, Zero asked coldly, "What did you do Kuran?"

For once in his life, Kaname did not know. All he had done was touch the girl, he had done nothing else. He stared blankly at Zero and back at Kagome, not giving an answer, because he did not have any to give.

Sneering at Kaname for a moment, Zero ignored him when another scream tore through Kagome's throat. Forgetting anyone else was even there, Zero knelt down beside Kagome and drew her into his arms. Yuuki arrived a minute later to find Kagome crying into Zero's arms, she was no longer holding her head, but gripping tightly to Zero's shirt. Yuuki saw Kaname standing off to the side watching the scene silently, Shizuka no where in sight. She had to admit, she had never seen Zero act so caring and tender toward someone else before. Not even when they were younger did he ever treat her with as much care. She smiled as she realized that he must truly love Kagome for him to act in such a way in front of Kaname.

If only she knew that the love he felt was not the love a brother should feel for his younger adopted sister. And if only she knew that Kagome didn't exactly love him the way a sister should love their elder adopted brother. Yes, if only she knew, she would be having a different reaction at the moment. Instead she just smiled, a bit worriedly because the tears were still coming, but still smiling at the cute scene they made.

Any thoughts on the exams tomorrow were wiped out, and the dark feelings rushing through Zero a few minutes ago were gone, replaced with concern for Kagome. He looked down to the, now, sleeping face of Kagome. She was gripping his shirt tightly in her hands, and her tears were still coming slowly down her face. The tears of pain were gone now, replaced with bitter tears of sorrow. He picked her up, and without sparing a glance at Kaname or even Yuuki, left to return to their room. They would sleep tonight, and tomorrow he would ask her what happened. Hopefully she could give him an answer.