Chapter 3

Kaname had stubbornly refused to leave his room for the past days, not even to go to class. Of course, no one could object anything, especially since the sound of broken glass filled the building whenever he was upset. He only allowed Ichijou in to give him certain indications.

„Why isn't he coming out?" Aidou asked the blond-haired vampire for the milionth time. „Is dorm leader Kuran allright?"

„He's just fine, but he wants to rest." Ichijou answered. Seeing how Aidou wasn't buying it and was heading towards Kaname's room, he continued. „He asked not to be disturbed."

Aidou stopped in his tracks, knowing it wouldn't be a good idea to go against Kaname's wishes.

„Hanabusa, walk with me for a bit." Kain Akatsuki said, dragging the sulking vampire away.

„What?" Aidou snapped when they were away from the other vampires.

„You know very well dorm leader Kuran has moments like this...ever since Yuuki died."

Aidou nodded, lowering his eyes. „I thought he could get over it, it's been five years."

„What's five years to us?" Kain shrugged.

Aidou sighed, realizing he couldn't argue anymore.

ooooOOoooo

In the solitude of his room, Kaname rested his head in his palms. He couldn't help but feel guilty about what happened. He knew Zero blamed him and even if he didn't want to admit it, he was right...It was him that woke Yuuki from her peaceful human dream. She had demanded to have her memories back, but he should've refused. It was a selfish thing to do...he wanted her back so much.

And he'd lost her.

Now everything seemed pointless. Rido was gone, but so was Yuuki...because she refused to live as a vampire. He couldn't deny that her brightness had faded once she became a vampire, but he loved her all the same. In time, she smiled less and less often, until she didn't smile at all. It pained him to see her become like all the other female vampires, so...cold. Apparently, it pained her also.

It was her choice. The wound that Rido inflicted upon her before he was killed was terrible, but drinking his blood might have saved her.

She refused. She asked that he'd seal her vampire side, allowing her to die as a human. He dismissed her plead, horrified. But then she looked at him with eyes so sad, he couldn't bare to refuse.

Zero had something to do with her choice, he knew it. She cared deeply for Zero, even if he turned his back from her when she became a vampire. Yuuki was always by his side, but he knew her thoughts often trailed to Zero. It enraged him and the thought of killing the other vampire had crossed his mind more than once. But he knew she'd never forgive him if he did that, so he ignored the jealousy that was constantly clawing at his heart.

Zero didn't aknowledge her new existence and it hurt her. Also, even if she was promised to him as a vampire, she couldn't forget the part of her that loved...yes, loved, the thought itself tore him apart...Zero. He was just al guilty for her death, if not more. Yuuki's wish had prevented him from killing Zero, binding his hands like invisible hancuffs.

So there was nothing left...except Cross Academy and Yuuki's last request. He had to make her dream of peace between humans and vampires come true. He had devoted himself to it. He treated the Day Class girls that hovered over him with polite coldness and saw to it that all the other vampires behaved. Zero chose to stay in the Day Class, wanting nothing to do with his kind. Kaname allowed this, knowing he'd hate to see the sight of him over and over again in class.

But something had changed.

Inside of him, a spark of hope had started to shine. This new transfer student, Akai Snow...even her name reminded him of Yuuki. She looked similar in appearance, but when he had entered her dreams one night, he was sure of it. She had a sort of warmth and brightness...something kind that was always a part of Yuuki. There were many differences and this girl was human, unlike Yuuki. It was absurd, if he analyzed it in detail, but he felt alive again. If nothing else, she was a distraction from the monotone existence he'd been chained to since Yuuki died.

Vampires usually planned long-term, but Kaname decided he would let things unravel this time, one way or the other.

ooooOOoooo

„Tomorrow's Valentine's Day!" one of Snow's classmates shouted, gathering the other girls around her. „We have to get organized into groups. Who will you give chocolate to?"

Snow figured this girl must be the leader. She found it odd how on Valentine's Day the girls had to give the boys they liked chocolate (hand made too!).

„I'm giving chocolate to Idol-sempai!" one of the girls shrieked.

„Idol-sempai!" the others repeated in glistening admiration. To Snow the whole display seemed amusing.

I wonder who this Idol-sempai is, she thought, getting closer.

„I'm all for Wild-sempai!" a girl with pony tails said, blushing.

„Wild-sempai!" the chorus faithfully repeated.

Wild-sempai? Oh, this has got to be interesting.

„Kuran-sempai is the best choice! He's handsome and has that cold, misterous aura." All the girls started to giggle.

Snow listened closer when she heard the name. Kuran Kaname was the Night Class student she had met the other day. She couldn't deny he was drop dead gorgeous, but the aura of mistery seemed more like warning to her, for reasons she couldn't explain.

„Akai-san! Who are you giving chocolate to?" Snow was caught of guard by the unexpected question.

Uhm...Nobody? she planned on answering.

„Kiryuu-kun." her mouth formed the words almost by itself.

„What?" the other girl seemed astonished. „True, he is handsome, but...isn't he kind of scary?"
"Kind of…" Snow admitted with a nervous smile.

"Well good luck to you! You're gonna need it!" her classmate giggled, returning to her seat.

"Yeah…" Snow said, more to herself.

Now out of all the polite boys in this class, why would I want to give HIM chocolate? I could be a masochist…she thought. Well, he is kind of cute…his eyes are just…

STOP.

She shook her head, chasing the thoughts away.

Well, he's the only one I've talked to before anyway.

Figuring this was as good a reason as any other, she hurried to home economics class along with the crew of giggling girls.

She had never made chocolate before, but she watched the other girls closely and tried to repeat what they were doing.

After almost an hour of hard work, she stared at the brown amorphous pile in front of her.

It looks like poo…she thought, disappointed.

"It's alright, Akai-san, it's the thought that counts!" one of the girls laughed, looking at her creation.

"I guess…" she replied in a low voice, trying to give the unruly thing a shape.

Snow looked at all the wonderful looking chocolate her classmates had made, feeling a little down.

Oh well, it's my first try so…

"I can't wait 'till tomorrow!" she heard the girls yelling.

Tomorrow…

ooooOOoooo

The night had passed without incidents. It seemed that everyone was looking forward to Valentine's Day and would do nothing to prevent it from taking place.

Snow gathered her courage and confronted Zero in the courtyard. He kept away from all the excitement, as usual.

"Uhm…" she started, showing him the attempt at chocolate she had made.

Zero's eyes widened as he looked at her.

"I…made this for you."

Damn this stupid blush!

Zero looked at her with a strange intensity and she lowered her eyes, feeling her hands shaking.

He couldn't believe it. She had actually made…chocolate for him. And on top of that it looked terrible. She was no better than Yuuki at this sort of thing…

His eyes rose from her hands to her face.

Why on earth did she decide to tie her hair up today of all days? It gave him a very nice view of her neck…

Clenching his fist, Zero turned away from her.

"I don't want it."

His words were cold and cruel, but he had to make her go away. For her own good.

"It's not like…" he heard her voice, her tone trembling. "It's not that I like you or something, it's just…"

She stopped for a second and he wished he could just walk away. But he couldn't.

"You're the only one I know."

Zero realized how lonely she must have been. Suddenly sent away to a foreign country…in an Academy filled with vampires. He knew she could sense them. Even if she didn't know what it was, she could sense them. It was the faith of children born from vampire hunters to become hunters as well. And they possessed the same instincts.

A part of him wanted to accept her, but his other side warned against the danger. Both of them were in danger. He had yet to control his vampiric craves and her neck seemed so soft and…tasty.

"I'm sorry." he said, walking away from her. He realized he was abandoning his duties as a prefect: the Day class girls were still handing chocolates to Night class students. But he couldn't be here anymore. He felt ill again. He couldn't live off tablets after all and it's been months since he had…Kuran's blood.

"Get away from me!" he had yelled, stepping back as Kuran Kaname revealed his neck.

"I have Shizuka's blood in me. If you don't drink it, you'll turn into level E." he spoke calmly.

"I don't need your pity!" he spat, his eyes burning with anger.

Finally, Kaname had forsaken his collected mask and his eyes shined red as he spoke.

"You don't have my pity. If it were up to me, you'd be long dead. Now drink!"

His words resonated inside of Zero's brain, drawing him closer despite his will.

Kaname's hand grabbed his hair and pushed his head forward, until his fangs pierced the skin and he tasted blood.

He wanted to stop, he had to stop. He despised Kuran Kaname with all of his being, and now that Yuuki was gone, he had no reason to stay alive.

"Except your promise." Kaname spoke into his mind. Zero hated the blood-soaked bond they shared, but he couldn't stop. The blood was delicious and it gave him energy, power…Maybe he could empty Kuran's body of blood…maybe he'd die that way.

But with strength far greater than his own, Kaname pushed him back.

"That's enough for now."

Zero looked at him with eyes the color of blood, hating him and hating himself for feasting on his blood.

"Why don't you just kill me? I don't want to owe you anything."

Kaname's gaze locked with his and he sustained it. He wondered how many vampires could look at the "pure blooded-prince" without flinching.

"You don't owe me anything." Kaname spat. His eyes were also burning with anger, as blood trailed out of the wound on his neck. "You owe everything…including your pathetic life to Yuuki. For the sake of the promise I made to her, I'll keep you alive."

Zero's fingernails dug into his own skin, feeling the desire to rip the other vampire apart. But it was futile, his strength was nothing against Kaname's. Even the Noble Class vampires were terrified of him. He hated having to rely on his blood to live and thoughts of killing himself had often crossed his mind.

"Kiryuu-kun. Yuuki needs you alive." the chairman had said, as if he could read his mind. And he gave up all thoughts of suicide.

Zero knew he was hurting Snow with no apparent reason, but it was all for her sake. He fastened his pace, heading towards the stables, where no one would disturb him.

ooooOOoooo

Snow sighed, letting herself fall at the base of a tree. She still held the piece of so-called chocolate in her hand and she looked at it with teary eyes.

Why does he hate me so much? she wondered.

Screams echoed from all around the courtyard as all the other girls gave chocolates to the ones they liked. Mostly Night Class students.

Snow wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at her creation.

You're ugly…but that doesn't mean he should treat me like that!

"It's the thought that counts, right?" she said aloud, closing her fist around the tiny chocolate form.

"I believe you're right." she heard a voice and looked up. Kuran Kaname looked at her with a kind smile.

She sprang to her feet, blushing and trying to hide the chocolate.

"Kaname-sempai…"

"Who is that for?" he asked and Snow realized her attempt was futile.

"No one…really…" she said, smiling nervously. "It didn't turn out the way it was supposed to…"

Kaname took her hand and she felt shivers up her spine. His touch was so gentle it made her heartbeat accelerate. She opened her fist to reveal the small attempt at a chocolate candy.

His eyes rose to meet hers and she felt her knees weaken. He took the candy from her hand and tasted it.

"It's delicious." he spoke, his eyes never leaving hers.

Snow felt as if her legs could fail her at any moment, but she couldn't look away from him. He was so beautiful and his words so comforting…

"It's not much to look at…" she managed to speak.

"Usually things aren't what they appear to be." he replied, gently pulling her hand to draw her closer.

Red…red eyes…Snow remembered, looking at him. A strange, dark aura…danger.

Almost unconsciously, she tried to pull away.

His eyes widened, seeming almost sad.

"Kuran-sempai."

Snow looked up to see Zero staring down at them. His expression was anything but friendly.

"You've accepted the chocolate, I see. Further interaction is prohibited." he spoke, his eyes frozen.

Kaname rose to his feet. He was slightly taller than Zero, so he looked down at the prefect.

"Thank you for reminding me of my obligations, Mr. disciplinary committee." He had said the right words, but his tone was off.

Snow realized there must be some kind of grudge between these too, so she got up and placed herself between them.

Zero held his ground, ignoring her presence.

"I should return to the Moon dorm." Kaname said, turning away. Snow thought he seemed reluctant to start something while she was around. Her opinion of Kaname kept rising. He was so kind and polite…not to mention gorgeous.

"I'll see you around…Snow. Thank you for the chocolate." he said as he walked away.

Snow turned as red as a tomato, pinning her eyes on the ground.

I didn't really give it to you…

"You're a carefree girl, aren't you? If one refuses you, you just go straight ahead to the next guy." Zero said.

Snow turned to him with an angry expression.

"I didn't even…What do you care anyway?"

"I don't. came his reply.

"Fine!" she snapped, turning away from him.

Zero let himself fall at the base of the same tree Snow was leaning against.
What are you up to this time, Kuran?

A/N: Thanks for reviewing, everyone! Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!