Aw, man. I'm so sorry, you guys. I meant to have this done by the end of May. I'm so sorry. One thing led to another and I (as usual) had some serious writer's block. This was the first year I had AP tests as well. EW. I thought I could write this during some downtime near the end of the year, but I was TOTALLY wrong. Yeah. Those things are exhausting. Then there were my driver's ed classes. Yuck. Plus, I may have been sucked into the world of Naruto. I spent a good week reading all the way from chapter 1 to chapter 593. My eyes are still bloodshot. That is totally my fault and you guys don't deserve that, although I'm glad to know that Itachi isn't all that bad now. I don't even think I replied to reviews for the last chapter. I think from now on, I'll just put all my replies in the chapter. That way I'm not running back and forth. Do you guys mind? Give me your thoughts on that.
Green Rider Girl – I gotta say. I love your username. It's pretty cool. Thanks for reviewing!
sweetwithobsessions – Glad you like the fluff! I'm pretty new at writing fluff, so I'm glad you thought it was cute!
BookWormMissy – Thanks so much for your sweet review! I had a great time at the anime convention! It kind of revived my love for all things anime, which is a good thing.
TsukiyoTenshi – I'll be sure to put some Maria and Ichiru fluff for you somewhere in the future!
Dzdoll11 – I'm sorry. I know you said to try to write the next chapter ASAP. I failed. But thanks for reviewing! It means a lot to me!
AnimeLover261 – Oh, you're so sweet! Honestly! Thanks so much for your very cheerful review. It brought a smile to my face!
Ren Dubrinsky – Well, the wait is over. The next chapter is here, two months after I planned it to upload it. But whatever. Thanks for reviewing!
angelcheonsa - Aw, thanks! I wish for more chapters too. I'm glad you like the all human aspect of this story. I kind of got tired of all the vampire angst in the manga.
KuranPrincess – You're such a great reviewer. They're always super long and sweet. There's not much Yume in here. Sorry! But I did take some of your suggestions; see if you can spot them! Please give me some of your ideas! I'm dying for inspiration! I've already got an idea on that time-skip thing, but it's a long way in coming. But wait for it. It'll come.
Namine1993 – Thanks for reviewing! I guess you get to wait the least for this next chapter, huh? Lucky you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight.
So, without further ado, here is the long-awaited next chapter!
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As Kaname walked into class, he noticed the math homework he had helped Yuuki with sitting on her desk with a bright red one hundred marked on it. His gaze caught Yuuki's, and they both shared a knowing grin. The brown-haired boy couldn't help himself, and he leaned down to murmur into Yuuki's ear, "Good job on the math homework. Did you do it all by yourself, or did you get some help? If you got some help, whoever helped you must have been exceptionally talented. However did he keep your attention? Perhaps he had a pretty face."
Yuuki grinned, "He was a brilliant tutor. He's probably the one of the smartest guys I've ever met. He wasn't that bad looking either." The brown-haired girl's cheeks immediately turned pink after this admission.
"But of course," Kaname easily replied, "otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to keep your attention. After all, pretty girls like you aren't satisfied with having a good time with mediocre boys. You deserve the best after all."
Yuuki's face turned even redder. Kaname, seeing her now very pink face, chuckled and moved on to sit down on the seat next to his girlfriend.
"What were you two talking about?" asked Sara.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to know how she got such a good score on her math homework," replied Kaname truthfully.
Sara sneaked a look at her boyfriend, "You helped her, didn't you," she accused.
Kaname just shrugged. Sara sighed, "You're too good a person. You were helping her with her homework when you cancelled on our date, weren't you?"
Kaname said nothing, but his face said it all.
Sara smiled and put her head on Kaname's shoulder and his arm immediately went around her.
Spotting the happy couple, Yuuki sighed. It had been too optimistic to believe that Kaname would suddenly break up with Sara. Sara, after all, was too beautiful to be broken up with. Anybody who broke up with her would have to have been blind.
Yuuki groaned as planted her head in her arms, "Morning, you guys," she mumbled, as she noticed her roommate and adopted brothers walking in.
"Morning, twerp," greeted Zero. He sat in his chair and copied Yuuki's pose. Clearly, he was in no mood for talking either.
Yori looked at the two siblings, "Perhaps, you two would benefit from some tea?" she asked.
Yuuki, whose head had previously been resting in her arms, looked up blearily, "Tea?" she repeated, her eyes showing the signs of life that Yori had been looking for.
"Tea," confirmed Yori, pulling a thermos out of her tote bag. Ichiru managed to pull himself out of his stupor to grab some Styrofoam cups from the front of the classroom.
"I was going to save this for lunch, but it's fine. We'll just buy some juice instead," commented Yori, now pouring tea into the cups.
"Yori, have I ever told you I love you?" questioned Yuuki, as she received her cup of tea.
"Multiple times," Yori assured her best friend.
The four friends were a little bit more awake after drinking the tea. Unfortunately, the weather outside was not helping them stay awake. Storm clouds had gathered in the sky, and it looked like it would rain soon.
"I think we're eating inside today, you guys," said Rima, walking up.
"Rima!" exclaimed Yuuki, "I thought you were at a photo shoot today," she said, puzzled.
"It got cancelled since it was supposed to be an outdoor shoot," replied Rima, "Shiki should be here soon," she replied to Yori's questioning face.
"I see." commented Yori, nodding her head, "Does anybody know where Ruka is?"
"She's with Kain," informed Rima in a disgusted tone, "The two of them are sitting on a bench doing that couple thing. You know when there's a couple talking, and they ignore the rest of the world around them, and you're kind of scared to walk in their personal bubble but you really, really want to just so you can break their little perfect moment? Yeah. They're doing that."
Yuuki looked at Rima with an expression of fake shock on her face, "It's not like you and Shiki don't do that 'couple thing,'" she accused, using her finger to make air quotes.
"But that's different. We're, you know, us, and they're, you know, them," Rima weakly fought back.
"What my dearest girlfriend means to say," Shiki interrupted, wrapping his arm, around Rima's waist and handing her a coffee, "is that she and I are a much more normal couple who don't send out any weird vibes. People aren't afraid of interrupting us and they certainly do not stare at us like we're a weird anomaly in the universe."
"Shiki, I love you," declared Rima, as she leaned against her boyfriend, sipping her steaming hot coffee.
"Love you too."
"You guys are disgusting," commented Zero, looking at the loving scene between the two models.
"Well, excuse me, Mr. I-have-no-life-because-I-scare-away-girls-with -my-butt-ugly-face-and-scary-as-shit-glare," Rima quickly shot back.
"Hey!" protested Zero, "I can't help how I look!"
"So you admit your glare is as scary as shit?" Yuuki dryly commented, looking at Zero out of the corner of her eye.
"Hell no!" growled Zero, "I am a premium specimen of the human male!"
The group of friends was silent at his comment and looked at the silver-haired teenager with his wrinkled shirt and unbrushed hair. Then they all burst into laughter.
"What was it that he said?" chortled Yuuki, "I am a 'premium specimen' or something like that?"
"Who the hell speaks like that?" demanded Rima to no one in particular.
"Well, I guess Zero is kind of handsome, if you think about it," remarked Yuuki, scrutinizing Zero, "Some girls like that bad boy thing."
"Yeah," agreed Rima, "if you turn your head sideways and squint."
Both girls fell back into fits of laughter.
Kaname lifted up his head, hearing the infectious noise of laughter. He looked around the classroom and spotted Yuuki, laughing along with Rima, with a big smile on her face. She had a beautiful smile, thought Kaname. She should smile like that more often. Kaname quickly brushed away the thought as he saw Yuuki lean against Zero, who was making a point of not looking at the brown-haired girl. Yuuki said something to her fellow guardian, making him smile and pull her in a gruff sideways hug. Kaname unconsciously clenched his fist.
"Why so tense, Kaname?" asked an annoyingly happy voice. The brown-haired boy looked up to see his best friend, Takuma Ichijou, with a bright smile on his face.
"Who says I'm tense?" demanded Kaname.
"Woah, chill, man," appeased Ichijou, "Look at your hands. You're fisting them so tightly I wouldn't be surprised if you've got nail marks in your skin."
Kaname looked down at his hands and was surprised to his clenched hands. He opened them and saw that Ichijou had been right in his guess. Imprints resembling a crescent moon had been left in his palm from his nails digging into his soft skin.
"So, I'll ask you again. What's got you so antsy?"
Kaname glared at Ichijou, clearly communicating that he did not want to talk about whatever was making him angry.
"Okay, okay. Fine," Ichijou raised his hands up in defeat, "I'm just going to leave you alone now since you clearly don't want to talk right now."
"You do that. Sara's off talking with her friends right now, anyway. I'll be fine. I don't need a babysitter."
"Okay, then. I'll see you later, Kaname," said Ichijou as he walked down to where Yuuki was with sitting.
"Hey, Yuuki," he greeted.
"Hey, Takuma," responded Yuuki with a smile on her face.
More greetings were quickly made, and the group of friends quickly became drawn in an animated conversation.
"Now that the ball's over, are you guys ready for the Fall Festival?" asked Ichijou.
The fall festival was a school festival held every year to raise money and show prospective students what Cross Academy was like. Each class managed at least one booth or more. Whichever class raised the most money was given a weekend pass to go explore the town.
"Do you know what we're going to do this year? I remember we did a café or something last year. Are we doing the same thing this year, Mr. Class President?" asked Rima.
Ichijou laughed, "No. We're definitely not going to do that again. It was such a pain cleaning up last year. It took forever to clean up those dirty dishes and messy tablecloths. So far the plan is a talent show, but I'm not sure yet."
"A talent show? That sounds cool. Would the class be preforming in it, or would we allow other classes to participate?" asked Yuuki, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Ichijou laughed nervously, "That's one of the problems we've had. It's one of the reasons that we're thinking of not doing the talent show."
Zero looked at the blond class president as if he was an idiot, "It's simple, you idiot. Just let the class do most of the work, but if anybody from another class wants to enter, they can pay to be a part of it."
Ichijou looked at Zero in shock, "That's actually a pretty good idea. But why would other classes want to be a part of the talent show?"
"There can be a cash prize or something for first place. Half the idiots in this school would do anything for money," Zero easily replied.
"That's a good idea, Kiryu. I'll bring it up with the student board and see what they think," mused Ichijou, "You know, what they say about you is right. You really are smart, despite how you act."
"Are you telling me people think that I act stupid?" angrily growled Zero.
Ichijou raised his hands in protest, "No, no! I'm not saying that at all! It's just that a lot of people think that you're a delinquent with your tattoo and all."
"Yeah, Zero!" piped up Yuuki, "I keep telling you, if you would stop glaring at people and actually dress properly for once, people would actually want to be your friend."
Zero's head suddenly snapped to face his foster sister, "You," he growled, "You're the reason why people think I'm stupid. You're stupid, and you're my sister. Therefore, I must be stupid. Why must you be associated with me, you stupid idiot?"
"You do realize 'stupid idiot' is redundant, right?" Rima nonchalantly commented, "Are you sure you're as smart as you think you are?"
The silver-haired guardian glared at her, "If you say one more thing, I swear punch you in the face, girl or no."
"You do realize that making threats like that will only keep you from having any girlfriend whatsoever, right?" said Ruka, walking up, her waist encircled by Kain's arm.
Rima raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. The group of friend continued talking, as if having Ichijou and Kain as a part of the conversation was not uncommon.
They continued talking, and when it was time for class to start, Ichijou took a seat next to Yuuki, while Ruka and Kain sat next to each other. If Ichijou noticed Zero's and Kaname's glares, he gave no mention of it. When the bell for lunch finally rang, the whole group, minus the twins who were meeting Yagari about some training or the other, journeyed over to the Chairman's house where they could eat lunch without being drenched by the rain.
"This is so good," exclaimed Ichijou, digging into his lunch of noodles.
Rima stared at his as if was crazy, "I'd forgotten how much you love your food, Takuma."
"Well, it's not one of his more appealing features, is it?" commented Kain, "Back when you three were inseparable, I remember you two would just sit there while the class president just chomped down on his food."
"Well, that's because I eat properly, unlike some people I know," retorted the blond-haired class president, casting a meaningful glance at the Shiki and Rima, "I mean, pocky is wonderful and all, but you can't live off it."
"Nonsense," retorted Rima, "Pocky is so good for you it should be considered its own food group."
"Right," drawled Ichijou unbelievingly, "and I'm Kaname's girlfriend."
Seeing that if she didn't intervene, a fight would break out, Yuuki hurriedly tried to calm the trio, "No one said that pocky isn't good, Rima and Shiki, and I happen to think that enjoying your food is a great trait for someone to have, Takuma. So, if you three would please stop fighting?" she begged.
The green-eyed boy smiled charmingly at Yuuki, causing her to blush slightly, "If you insist, I'll drop the issue Yuuki. But only because you asked me to," he informed her, his green eyes dancing with amusement.
"Whatever," said Rima, rolling her eyes.
That afternoon, Yuuki found herself in the library sweating over her math homework again. She looked at her empty table and sighed internally. Having friends in love really sucked sometimes. It wasn't that Yuuki wasn't happy for her friends, she really was, but she missed having friends around when she studied. Usually she would have Ruka, the twins, or Yori to keep her company, but now Ruka was dating Kain, and Ichiru was hanging out with Maria, although those two hadn't started dating yet, Yuuki suspected it was only a matter of time. Zero had some kind of Guardian business to do, and while Yuuki desperately needed his help with mathematics, it seemed she would have to wait. Usually that wouldn't matter to Yuuki since Zero rarely stepped into the library if he would help it, but Yori was missing to. Yuuki didn't know where Yori was but she suspected it had something to do with the letter from Yori's father Yuuki had noticed lying unopened in their room.
"Did you see Kaname and Sara dancing at the ball? They looked so cute!" squealed another student at a different table.
"I know!" replied the friend sitting next to her, "They're definitely the most beautiful couple in the school! They're like one of those celebrity couples, you know? Gorgeous, and just so meant to be," she sighed wistfully, "I wish I had a boyfriend who was like Kaname."
"No, duh!" replied the friend, "doesn't everyone?"
Yuuki wanted to hit her head on the table. Not only was she sitting by herself like a loser, but she was going to be forced to listen to how 'gorgeous' a couple Kaname and Sara made. It was times like these that Yuuki wished she was more popular. It was at times like these Yuuki honestly didn't feel like part of her class. Yes, at her graduation ceremony there would most certainly be a speech that would say something along like the lines "We have become a family in these past few years and that will never stop," or something to that effect, but Yuuki knew it in her heart that was wrong. She wasn't part of that family. Yes, she had made herself a family here at the school. There was Ruka, Rima, Yori, Shiki, and a few others, but Yuuki desperately yearned to be accepted by her other classmates. Yuuki had friends, her sunny personality naturally helped with that, but every time she was caught talking to a boy who was not among her small group of friends, every single other student in the school immediately decided she was flirting with the said boy. It was like there was an unspoken rule that she, Yuuki Cross, could not have a guy friend because she was a loser and therefore unable to have a guy willingly talk to her. Yuuki internally rolled her eyes. Haters.
Meanwhile, Ichijou was having a very heated conversation with Kaname.
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Thank you all so much! You guys are the best readers an author could have! I know I'm not the best writer, and I've considered leaving fanfiction a couple of times, but you guys make it all worth it! Thank you! Please review and leave your ideas and comments! I'll use them to make this story better!