The next day, Yuki groggily stepped out of her dorm in her Day Class uniform, her armlet in her hand instead of on her arm, where it should have been. She yawned and walked to the Head Master's private bathroom. Once in, she locked the door and began brushing her teeth. About five minutes went by and Yuki unlocked the door, stepping out and starting to make her way to class. She put on her armlet as she walked and yawned. Again. Gosh she wished she didn't have to go to school today… Ugh… She was dead tired and there wasn't a thing that she could do about it! 'Why me?' Yuki asked herself. 'Why, why, why?' She reached her class and quickly sat down. She plopped her head down on the connected wooden table and groaned.

Yori chuckled beside her. "Late night again, Yuki?" Yuki nodded and yawned. "All these nightly patrols must be catching up to me. "Yori blinked down at her. "I don't know how you do it, Yuki. If it were me, I wouldn't survive two days without the proper amount of sleep." Yuki didn't answer. "Yuki, are you listening?" Silence. "Yuki?" Nothing. Yori poked her gently. No response. She was asleep. Yori sighed. "Oh Yuki… What am I going to do with you?"

(Meanwhile)

Zero sat under a tree with his eyes closed. He had skipped class, yet again, and what was strange was Yuki hadn't come to look for him yet. Usually she'd be here, chiding and scolding him about skipping class all the time. It's not that he skipped class for no apparent reason. It was because of Yuki. He could never focus on the lesson for more than five minutes because he always found himself thinking on Yuki.

Her silky chocolate locks, her creamy supple skin, the way she smelled… She was like a walking treat for any vampire. Everything about her was enticing. It made him sick to the point of him flat-out not really going to class for thinking of her that way. His best friend and, he wouldn't admit it, first love. He realized he loved her when he first met her, 4 years ago. He could never thank her enough for bringing him out of his misery and depression.

There was never a time when he wanted to be away from her. Then when he found out he was a vampire, he tried pushing her away. He didn't want to hurt, or possibly even kill the one he truly loved. He knew this hurt her as much as it hurt him. He was so jealous when he saw Kaname for the first time, showing such affection to Yuki. He had felt the bloodlust and rage flowing and pulsing through his veins, and had stabbed him with a butter knife. He knew that Yuki was hurt and confused by his actions, and as punishment, he sulked in his room, the image of Yuki's hurt expression replaying in his head like a broken record. How could he have been so stupid? He buried his face in his arms, legs pulled up to his chest. 'I hurt her…'

he thought to himself. 'I hurt… the girl I love.' Then, when Yuki had walked in, he felt so angry and despaired at himself that he took it out on her. When she had reached for him, he had slapped her hand away, spitting, "Don't TOUCH me! With those hands that touched him!" Yuki stared at him in shock, cradling her hand gingerly. Zero mentally kicked himself. Why was he always hurting her? He grit his teeth and turned away from her. He felt the mattress sink with Yuki's weight and felt her arms envelop him. He didn't try to shake her off… he didn't have the heart.

He felt her whisper in his ear, "I'm sorry Zero… I should have told you about him sooner. I didn't mean to hurt you." Zero wrapped his arms around her waist slowly and buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent, chocolate and lilacs… Zero murmured softly, "It's me who's hurting you, Yuki… that stunt I pulled tonight was reckless… I know it hurt you, and I'm so sorry, Yuki… I just hate vampires so much…" 'Even if I am one' he added in his mind bitterly. Yuki said nothing, just hugged him tighter. "Yuki…. That is… the man you like, isn't it?" Yuki gasped against his ear and he fought back a shiver. He thought back to their uncomfortable conversation one day.

(Flashback)

Zero and Yuki sat in the living room, mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table and books in their laps. Yuki was reading Abelard and Heloise, the most tragic love story ever. Zero meanwhile, was reading Vampires: Beasts in Human Form. Yuki suddenly sighed dreamily. "I wonder what it would be like to fall in love…"

Zero jolted and looked at her from the corner of his eye. He knew… he knew what it was like to fall in love… he was in love, with the girl sitting right beside him. He covered his surprise with a snarky remark, "Why? Love is stupid, overrated, Yuki." The words sent a pang of pain straight through his heart. "Oh, Zero, you don't really believe that! I'm sure you've been in love yourself before." Zero didn't have time to cover up the wince that escaped him. "Oh yeah?" Yuki nodded confidently. Oh how right she was… he was head-over-heels in love… "Have you ever been in love? Are you in love, Yuki?"

Yuki looked down and blushed. He could have kissed her right then and there. Her chocolate eyes and creamy skin glowed in the firelight as she blushed, looking down at her book. She was so beautiful. And chances are, he would never have her. The thought made him want her more. You always want what you can't have… "Well… N-No… At least I don't think so..." Zero looked at her with interest. "Uh oh. Who's the lucky boy?" he chided, smirking. Yuki glared at him and shoved him.

He smirked and laughed. "N-No one! I just… I'm not sure…I might've liked someone before though…" Zero's smirk disappeared. "Really…?" Zero said quietly. "Yes…But… Maybe I won't ever find anyone who I deserve…" Zero made her look at him and said softly but firmly. "There is a man out there who deserves every ounce of your love, Yuki… Your love… Is the kind people die for… You have a love… that is beautiful, rare, and valuable." Yuki's eyes widened at him and he met her gaze evenly.

"There is someone out there for you, Yuki. But save yourself for him, so it's sweet and innocent." Yuki nodded and tears appeared in her eyes. One tear started cascading down her cheek, but as soon as it fell on her skin, he wiped it away. "No tears, Yuki. I hate it when you cry. I swear if anybody makes you cry, even the one you like, I will kill them. You are too beautiful for tears." He said the words before he could even stop them. Yuki looked at him, shell-shocked. "Zero… You make me feel so special…" Zero's lips twitched slightly. "That's because you are, Yuki." Yuki blushed.

"Thank you, Zero…You know, when I first met you, I thought you were so mysterious… for some reason, it drew me to you like a magnet. I wanted so badly to know more about you, know your personality. And now it seems as if I have known you forever. It's only been a year since we met. It was as if I touched you, you would break to pieces…"

Zero looked at her and cupped her cheek in his warm hand, taking her other hand and holding it to his own cheek. "I'm not going to break, Yuki. I didn't, remember? I never said a word to you, but I was drawn to you too, like a magnet. Your touch seemed to soothe the pain and anger I felt. I know I never said anything, but I wanted to. I wanted to thank you for saving me, Yuki." Yuki pressed into his hand, and he smirked slightly, resting his forehead against hers. "I feel alive again, Yuki, because of you, I was brought out of my darkness." They were closer than ever after that…

(Present)

He never wanted to admit it, but during that talk, he felt he poured his heart out to her that time. As he stared at his floor, Yuki still in his arms, he spoke. "I knew it. I felt the emotion rolling off you in waves… that guy makes me sick… you could do so much better than him, Yuki." Yuki clenched his shirt in both her hands. "I… I don't like him like that, Zero. He saved my life. I should be grateful to him. I don't love him though." Zero nearly laughed in relief, but then he thought. Her feelings for him could change. "You're sure?" He asked. Silence met his answer. "Y-Yes…" He didn't like the sound of that…

Soooo… I finally posted! Sorry peoples! My comp crashed. Bad. I waz pisseded! Because that meant that I had to leave you all! TT-TT Wahhhhh! But anyways, it might take me a while to upload again until possibly after Christmas.(Kurismasu lol) So yeah, sorry ya'll. I'll do my best to upload when I can, I promise! Bye and Merry Christmas!