Two years have passed since Zero vowed to kill off every pureblood, including Yuuki, but when the chance comes he can not make himself pull the trigger. He leaves her alive, unable to fulfill his pledge. However, now that Kaname is dead and Yuuki, who is now a mother is hunted, she turns to the only other man she's ever loved. Is Zero willing to forget the past to save the woman who stole his heart?

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"Kaname!" Yuuki screamed as she hammered her fists into the window. He looked at her for the slightest moment, but it was the biggest mistake he could have made. Maria slashed again and the double blades raked over his chest.

"No!" She screamed in fear.

The baby woke from the noise, letting out a cry of alarm and confusion. Yuuki ran to her, gathering her in her arms and throwing a blanket over the both of them before running out onto the balcony. The scene below was horrible, she wanted nothing more than to help them but she had pushed herself just to make it to the doorway. It would be suicide to her and fatal to the baby if she left her unprotected.

The aristocrats were fending off the army of hunters while Kaname battled Maria. He had to win, he knew it, if he should die, if anyone should pass him Yuuki and the baby would be in horrible danger. With that thought in mind he appeared behind Maria, reaching for her throat only to grab nothing but air.

"You'll have to move faster than that, son of Kuran." Maria hissed from above, balancing on an outstretched tree branch.

Kaname looked up at her in surprise. She had gained so much skill, if he hadn't known any better, he would have sworn he was still looking at Shizuka Hio for there was such a look of utter rage and revenge in her eyes. He shook his head from the thought, it didn't matter if it was a hunter or a pureblood, he had to protect his mate and child.

He made the tree tremble furiously until Maria had no other choice but to jump back down to face him. He grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air as she gasped and flung her into the ground yards away.

'…Please be ok' Zero chanted in his head, hoping, praying that he would get there in time. He was running through the forest, moving so fast that the trees became nothing more than a blur in his peripheral vision.

He heard the shouting and fighting far off. He could see the dark, night light up with lightning and fire. Sparks shot up grudgingly into the air, battling against the raindrops. He knew he was close, the smell of blood and vampires was in the air but something wasn't quite right. The vampire blood, it was a purebloods… 'Yuuki'. The possibility made him pause for an instant. He couldn't be sure if it was her or not. He was still too far off and the rain was making everything so much harder.

If it was Yuuki that was injured, if she was the one dying, could he honestly go in and join the fighting without saving her? Could he possibly choose her over Maria? What if this was Maria's doing? Did he have any right to try and stop her?

The Kuran's had been his target for so long, if someone, anyone was killing them off, could he walk into the scene without helping the woman he both hated and loved? It was not something he was prepared to handle but he also knew that he couldn't hesitate any longer if he truly wanted to save Maria.

He took a deep breathe and hurried forward toward the mansion.

"Seiren, Yuuki's on the balcony!" Ruka yelled over the other voices, the sight of the female pureblood and the baby out in the open was not a welcoming sight. Kaname had worked so hard, had taken so many precautions to make sure that she would be safe. Standing outside in a lightning storm, in the midst of a battle between the vampire hunters was not going to help the matter.

Seiren looked toward the mansion and saw in dismay that Ruka was right. Unfortunately the hunters also seemed to notice for a few of them were slowly making their way to her.

"That dumb girl!" Seiren mumbled under her breathe. "Aido! Go to Yuuki! Get her inside!" She demanded and he hurried to obey as she slaughtered the threatening four.

Seiren looked back at Kaname he had lifted the female hunter from the floor and worry engulfed every part of her. Something was wrong and everyone seemed to sense it for the fighting paused for a long minute, all heads turning to the pureblood and girl.

Lightning crackled precariously over the heads of the two opposites. The huntress was starring in disgust at her enemy, her body vibrating with a hate that even the humans could feel. She was partly standing while Kaname drew her to his height. She was bleeding from her mouth, her face was much paler than he had ever seen on a human, ghostly in a way.

Kaname knew what was coming, they both did, he focoused all of his energy on her while she raised her left arm into the air...

Zero ran into the clearing, time seemed to have stopped. Everyone, human and vampires alike were rooted to the floor, every pair of eyes turned towards the gates of the mansion. He followed their gaze and froze as well. Kaname was holding Maria up by her throat, a dark aura vibrating around the pureblood while the girl turned her head in his direction, a small smile forming on her lips as she met the horrified, amethyst eyes.

"Maria!" Zero screamed. She bowed her head slightly, as much as she could in the position she was in.

"Good bye...Zero." Her voice was carried to him over the howling wind, nothing more than a soft, content whisper as she turned to face her enemy, and her death.

"No-!" Zero watched as the ball of dark matter coursed through her body at the same moment her arm streaked across Kaname's neck. There was a deafening crack of thunder, a flash of energy and lightning and then all at once, everything became dark and still.

"Maria!

"Kaname!" Zero's voice and Yuuki's joined together.

He began running to them as Kaname's body began materializing, turning to ash until he was completely disintegrated the remnants being carried off into the wind, leaving nothing left of Kaname Kuran. Maria fell limply the floor with nothing left to hold her erect. Zero kneeled down by her side, pulling her head into his lap and shaking her in a vain hope that she was just injured. "Maria! Maria!"

When she didn't respond he gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the floor at her side, shaking his head in denial as he cradled her still body.'No! Maria! Please!' She had been the only person he had to hold onto, the only one that had be able to and attempted to slightly understand him. The only friend he had had left in the world.

Her eyes were closed, her lips frozen in that small smile, looking very much at peace, and he knew that the last memory she had, had been of him and Ichiru. He didn't bother to stop the tears that began to flow from his eyes, mixing with the rain and falling down on her pale face. 'Maria...'

It took him a long minute before he became aware of the activity around him. Everyone was running around again, shouting... He shook his head again in order to be able to make out the words. "Kill her! Kill her!" He looked up at the crowd to where the hunters were pointing. Yuuki was standing up on the balcony, a bundle in her arms as she took a step back in fear.

The vampires had already regatherd, making a v shaped formation in front of the gates. Zero knew that they were in shock with the loss of their master but the hunters were angered with the loss of their comrade and now, even with their little experiance, they were not going to be held back, not matter what. Already, a large handful of hunters were advancing towards the aristoracts while a select ten had already jumped the gate and where headed toward the mansion.

Zero saw Yuuki dart back inside.

He looked down at Maria one last time, taking in every feature, boring her face into his memory. He stroked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and leaned down, kissing her tight lips. 'Good bye Maria...'He then took off his jacket, laying it over her cold body before standing up and turning away from the mansion his hands clenched as he hurried back into the trees. He had to get to Yuuki before the others did.

I know this chapter is shorter than the others but please review and tell me what you think? I know, poor Maria, poor Kaname! I had to make Maria play this large part because I truthfully didn't think that she was recognized as much as she should have been and I love her character. And I'm sorry Kaname lovers but in all fairness, I warned that Kaname would die in the story summary. Please, again, R&R!