Within Temptation

By Lady Massacre

Chapter 4: Bittersweet

Enjoy:)

A/n: Okay... so.... Dangit... forgot what I was going to say.... No lyrics this time. Couldn't find a song from Within Temptation to fit a friendship sort of thing. But, if you know of one, could you please tell me? I'll look it up and maybe add it in if I like it.

-

Yuuki stared at Zero. Sitting against the tree trunk, Yuuki watched him carefully. He was Zero Kiryuu. The servant of Shizuka Hiou. Fiance of Rido. She sighed, threading her fingers through her hair. Zero still had his gun pointed at her. He was ready to shoot at her. Of course, she sincerely hoped he decided not to shoot at her, considering she was pregnant. He had no idea though, so she understood. Yuuki then stood up, brushing off the dirt from her skirt.

"My name is Yuuki Kuran. I already know who you are. You are Kiryuu Zero." she said, watching him. He nodded slowly, gun still pointing at her. "Your master killed your family, did she not?" Zero. Silver hair. Grey eyes. His eyes and soul were clouded with anger, hatred, and sorrow. Along with this, an overwhelming sense of madness slipped through, portrayed in his eyes, betraying his calm and collected stature.

Zero tightened his grip on the Bloody Rose as he glared at her. "How do you know of this?" he asked.

"My uncle was her fiance. I was not unaware of my uncle's doings, Zero. He is the reason that your master killed your family in the first place. He was the one who called the Hunter's Association, and told them of her lover. My uncle was very jealous person, you see. He was disgusted, and angry, she had taken a liking to a human, over him."

"Your uncle?" he asked. Yuuki nodded.

"Aa. Rido Kuran. He was also my lover." Yuuki said, sighing. Thunder roared. It was then the two noticed the grey clouds towering above them. It began to pour down raining, but neither of them moved. Yuuki kept her gaze, proudly standing before Zero. Yes, Zero was fairly taller than herself, but she was far more powerful, even with Zero's anti-vampire weapon.

A look of horror and disgust dominated Zero's features. Yuuki sighed softly. Of course he was disgusted. Any human would be.

"My uncle, Rido, had kidnapped me when I was but a child, Zero. He raised me, and by the time I was fifteen, I fell in love, and we became lovers. Even so, my uncle had mistaken me for my mother most of the time. Zero, you must understand. To keep the power, and to keep the blood line pure, incest is the only option, and it is not uncommon in a pureblood family. Usually, one would marry another pureblood, or their own brother and sister. Please understand Zero, we are beasts any way. So what does it matter?"

"Why are you telling me this?" Zero demanded. He wanted to throw up.

Yuuki looked up at him, pleading.

"Because I wish for a friend."

-

Zero could not trust her. He refused to. She was just like all the others. Filthy. Disgusting. Incapable of caring for anyone or anything but themselves. Yuuki stared at him, waiting for his decision. She had what he needed. Her blood. In Yuuki's blood ran the blood of Rido Kuran, and in that, remnants of Shizuka Hiou's. She had the answer to his problems. The key for him to survive.

What she had, was leverage. True, Zero had no idea she had the blood of his master in her own, but that did not matter.

Zero wavered, his gun still ready. He could shoot her at any moment. He should just kill her just so he could get it all over with. But she wasn't near any humans. However, she could be planning on killing civilians in a nearby town.

Damn it Zero! Just kill her already!

He couldn't. Why not? She was a vampire! A blood sucker! She could kill him or anyone, and he had the perfect opportunity to kill her, right now, and stop her!

Was it because they shared the same pain? Of losing someone important to them because of someone else? And what's worse, losing someone you love to a stranger, or to your own brother?

He lost his parents to his brother, because of the stranger he had led to them. She lost her lover to her brother, because of Kaname's jealousy.

They were one in the same. They both lost someone they loved dearly because of someone they believed they could trust.

"Why me? Why not someone else, a vampire, who would follow you around like a dog?" he asked angrily. "Some one who would willingly follow you, wherever you went!"

"I don't want to be betrayed by someone again, Zero. They could easily betray me for my brother. But you hate him. You would never betray me. Not to him." Yuuki replied calmly. "Please Zero."

Zero pulled on the trigger ever-so-slightly. He did not shoot.

She looked at him with pleading eyes, full of heart-ache and sorrow.

He found that he couldn't refuse.

-

Rain poured down on them like the tears of broken and defeated angels. Yuuki watched the rain drops disturb the sleeping lake, waking it and ruining it's calm and serene glory. Zero sat beside her, staring up at the clouded

It has been a couple of weeks since their first encounter.

The two would always meet here, at the same time, after her classes, and his rounds. The both of them had gotten to know each other better, but it did not mean Zero trusted her completely, and Yuuki did not trust him completely, either. They both expectd for the other to betray them. They never did.

The night class was aware of her frequent trips, as was the Chairman. No one tried to stop either of them, however. Kaname seemed rather upset about her visiting Zero on a daily basis, but he did not vocalize it. He seemed to think that she would return his love if he gave her space. It would never work, though.

"Are you going to kill him?" Zero asked suddenly.

Yuuki did not reply. Was she? She didn't know. She did know, however, that her brother had done the same to her, as Rido had done to Shizuka. It seemed only fair that her brother be punished.

But how? Her parents would be terribly upset if she killed him. They loved him. But Yuuki, despite this, felt not a drop of remorse over it. No. Thinking of the pleasure, the blood, the joy, of killing her brother.. it sent chills down her spine, but in a good way. But it depended on what you dfined as 'good'. It made her happy. Yuuki smiled.

"Yes."

Yuuki knew she should give Zero some of her blood. It was neccessary for her newly formed plan to work. It would make him incredibly powerful. And with that prospect, she knew there would be terrible consequences. Terrible, unforeseen consequences. But, she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

With one simple movement, Yuuki cut her wrist with a sharpened nail. She held her wrist out to him, looked him dead in the eyes, and said,

"Drink."

He obeyed.

-

By now, Yuuki had already been showing her pregnancy. Kaname said nothing of it, knowing who the father was. He was upset, to be sure. Yuuki did not care. She wanted this baby of hers. It was the last thing she had of Rido.

Her cousin, Senri, seemed surprised to be having a half-brother or sister. He doted on her, making sure she was alright and healthy, although not as nearly as much as he doted on Rima. Yuuki adored the two together, and they were perhaps the only two in the Moon dorms she had truly gotten close with. The need to talk was not something either one of them had, and it was for that fact that the trio felt pulled them together.

And for the love of all things pocky.

Although, sometimes Aido's bubbly personality had gotten to Yuuki too.

In fact, most of the night class seemed overjoyed about a little baby running amongst them. It has all been arranged. Should she have this baby during this time at Cross Academy, because the year had just begun when she joined, she was eight months pregnant, and she still had at least three more months of school left, the Chairman would look after him or her. He seemed thrilled at the thought of it.

Her mother and father were, of course, both thrilled and slightly disturbed. Thrilled at the thought of being grandparents, but slightly disturbed on what had to happen to even become grandparents. And of the thought on who it was with, well, the two weren't actually happy that their daughter had partaken in such activities.

When Yuuki had said she loved Rido, they knew she truly meant it.

Yuuki rubbed her swollen belly. She was happy about the upcoming month ahead of her. She would finally be able to meet the little babe that had been growing inside of her, but sad that the father would never be able to meet her.

Leisurely laying down on the love seat in the main hall, reading a book, Yuuki lifted her head as someone entered the room. Chairman Cross entered, with a small petite girl behind him. Long silver hair, and slightly glazed silver eyes, Yuuki knew who this was.

Shizuka Hiou. It did not take a genius to figure it out she was in disguise. The aura, and the air in which she walked in, it was so similar to Shizuka it had given her away. Of course, she only knew of who it was because she has met Shizuka when she was a little girl.

Kaname came down the stairs, almost immediately, walking slowly, ready to greet the new guest. Chairman Cross greeted Yuuki jubilantly, waving with adoration in his eyes.

"Yuuki-chan! How are you? Are you alright? Have you been resting properly? Remember not to strain yourself!!" He said, beginning his father-mother lecture. He liked to combine both roles into his daily chat with her, seeing as her own mother and father was not there. And, she had to admit, she adored the chairman. He was really kind to her, and understanding.

"I'm fine, Cross-chan, but whom may I ask is this?" Yuuki asked, directing her attention to the young female beside him.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Yuuki-chan, this is Maria Kurenai, a new student. She just arrived. I'm sure the both of you will become the best of friends!" he told her gleefully. Yuuki had to supress a chuckle.

Yuuki watched Maria curiously, who shied away from her behind Chairman Cross. Yuuki tilted her head to the side. She could see a small, child-like smirk gracing Maria's lips.

"I'm sure we will." she replied softly. Kaname soon joined them, nodding once to the Chairman.

"Welcome to Cross Academy. Allow me to show you to your room, Maria-san." Kaname said, directing her attention to himself. Maria nodded. A tall boy, who Yuuki had not noticed before, followed Maria with her bags. He looked exactly like Zero. Could this be his brother, Ichiru?

"I asked Chairman Cross if my friend, Ichiru-chan, could help me with my bags. They are to heavy for me to carry." Maria told Kaname, giggling. She was feigning a friendly girl, Yuuki noticed. Still... this could work to her advantage.

-

Later that night, Yuuki and the other Night Class students, including Maria, walked to class. None of the screaming fan-girls and fan-boys were there, because Chairman Cross had forbidden anyone from going within a hundred yards of the Moon dorm, or the class rooms, because of Yuuki's delicate condition. None of the Day Class students knew of her condition either, save for Zero.

Speaking of Zero, he was close by, watching them all warily. He walked over to Yuuki and greeted her, as nice as he possibly could.

"Kiryuu-kun, despite my sister's condition, we have no need of you here. We are perfectly capable of taking care of her on our own." Kaname said politely. Aido was about to say something in agreement, if not for Ruka's glare.

Yuuki sighed. "Nii-sama, he was just being friendly. Something you really should learn how to do." Yuuki said. She did not even spare him a glance as she said this. Aido sputtered in shock.

"Yuuki-sama! Kaname-sama was only looking out for your well being, Zero is a-"

"Friend, Aido. Please, just for once, remember that." Yuuki asked him. Aido nodded reluctantly. Soon they were in the class room, and Zero had already departed. Yuuki, despite her condition, insisted on climbing the stairs and sat in her usual desk. Maria looked over her with curiosity, and before she knew it, Maria was sitting next to her. Rima and Shiki looked over Yuuki with a questioning glance, because she usually sat with them, but Yuuki dismissed it with a smile.

Soon class began, and Yuuki and Maria began to have a chat. At first, it was about trivial things, where she has been, how she has been, and what she did during the years that they did not see each other. The talked as if they were best friends, but they really weren't.

"So, you are pregnant?" Maria asked, her mouth barely moving.

"Yes." Yuuki answered proudly.

"Kaname-sama's child?" Yuuki smiled slightly.

"Come now, Shizuka-chan. You should know better."

Maria, also known as Shizuka, smiled softly. "Ah, Yuuki-chan. So you have indeed fallen in love with my fiance. A shame I never could." She said. Yuuki nodded. She, personally, was glad her uncle was not loved by Shizuka, and that Rido never loved her. She was a slightly jealous person, Yuuki had to admit it.

"It has been too long, Shizuka-chan. Last time I saw you was when I was a little girl." Yuuki noted.

"Just before I killed Kiryuu's family." Shizuka murmured. Yuuki nodded.

"Do you wish to talk later, privately?" Yuuki asked.

Shizuka nodded, and their conversation was over.

After class, Shizuka led Yuuki to her own room. It was much farther from Kaname, and everyone else, where they could talk in privacy, without the fear of being disturbed. Sitting down in a comfortable chair, Yuuki watched Shizuka carefully. Shizuka did the same. The two, in the past, did not like each other very well. Shizuka was never great with children, although it seemed as if she had managed well with Ichiru.

"You had taken him with you?" Yuuki asked, referring to Zero's twin brother. Shizuka nodded.

"I am sorry about my Uncle's actions. He... well.."

"I am aware, Yuuki-chan. But tell me, why is it that you are here, instead of with him?"

"Onii-san saw fit to kill Rido, unaware of my condition, and my parents sent me here, with him."

If Shizuka was surprised, she did not show it. Instead, she sat there, silent. Yuuki sighed, recalling the memory. It seemed so long ago that it had happened, even when it was really only a few months. Still, the memory was fresh in her mind, still managing to kill her inside, and bring tears to her eyes.

"So he has chosen a grave path ahead of him..." Shizuka spoke quietly. Killing another pureblood vampire was taboo for many reasons. It brought to them a pain filled life, one without happiness and joy. To Yuuki, it seemed very fitting, adding onto the already dark life of a pureblood vampire.

"Indeed." Yuuki gazed at the moon with little interest. She used to cherish the moon, with all of it's glory. But now, she thought nothing of it. It had once reminded her of the night Rido had kidnapped her, of the sad nights that followed, but then, it became a beacon of joy, a reminder of what all Rido had done for her since then. Now, it was only something that brought back unhappy memories.

"How is Zero?" Shizuka asked suddenly, interrupting the comfortable silence that had embraced them.

"Ah, he is better. I allow him to drink from me, whenever he is thirsty. He is a valuable friend." Yuuki explained. Yuuki, in all honesty, was curious as to how Shizuka would react, once she knew the truth about Zero. Although he would always remain Shizuka's slave, he would no longer need her blood in order to survive.

"He is slowly descending to Level E, I'm sure." Yuuki sent a small smile her way, and shook her head. Confusion clouded Shizuka's eyes. What did she mean no? Zero would have to drink her own blood in order to remain sane, and he has yet to even come close to her.

"Rido-san has drank your blood, has he not?" Yuuki asked.

Shizuka nodded. And that's when it clicked. Rido has drank her blood. Yuuki drank Rido's. And Zero drank Yuuki's. Therein lies the problem. Shizuka's own blood ran through Yuuki's veins, even if it is only a little. Shizuka let out a cry of anger, glaring at Yuuki.

"How dare you! You insolent little child, how dare you!"

Yuuki smiled. "Good bye, Shizuka-chan." she said, leaving the Madly Blooming Princess behind with her anger.

A/n: La la la!!! Okay, so what did you think??? You have to tell me, or I swear I'll...

Oh shoot. Wait. Didn't I say Yuuki will try to kill Kaname? FUCK.

*Runs away from adoring Kaname fan girls, VampireMaddy (of course!) leading them with a damn pitchfork*

NOOO!!!!

*Tomatoes thrown*

AH COME ON! THOSE COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR TACOS DAMN IT!

WE ALL KNOW IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!! GEEZE!!!

So uh, while I hide from them, you mind reviewing? Makes me feel better.

*Maddy throws a pitchfork*

OW THAT HIT MY ARM!!!

(You aren't mad at me, are you, Maddy??)