Author notes:
Thanks for reading chapter one of "Just Out of Reach!" I hope to be updating regularly to share this wonderful story with you. :)
Word Count: 1664
Chapter One
Zero lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure how many days had passed since Yuki left with Kaname. As far as he was concerned, it could very well be a week or months. All he knew was that all he felt was emptiness.
There was a rap at the door. Zero said nothing. After a moment the door swung open and a pair of thick boots stomped into the room. Yagari glowered down at Zero, not one shred of sympathy in his eyes.
"You're pathetic. It's almost bad as when you first started losing control of your vampire side. How long do you intend to sit around, moping and wallowing in self-pity?" Zero's eyes wandered to the floor. Strands of hair fell over his eyes, masking his expression. He stared at the floor in stubborn silence. "Tch. Your silence will change nothing. If you continue to sit in this room and cry then I really will have wasted this eye on you." Yagari was halfway out the door when Zero finally spoke.
"Shishou… everything I did was a part of that bastard's plan. He manipulated everything, including these feelings I've developed." He looked pleadingly up at his master. "Is nothing that I do of my own free will?" Frosty wind bit at the window. Again, Zero's gaze dropped to the floor.
"Purebloods think they can do whatever they want to people. Just because of some stupid bloodline, they can screw with people's emotions and mess up their whole lives? They make me sick." At Yagari's words, Zero started. "What that bastard did to you is unforgiveable. He deserves to pay. So what the hell are you just sitting her for? Succumbing to those pathetic feelings of inferiority—that's exactly what Kuran would have you do! You'd be playing right into his hands."
"Then what do you suggest I do? No matter what I do, he'll win!" Zero's hands tightened around his gun. "No… he already has."
Yagari glared down at Zero and with a grunt spun on his heel and headed for the door."No wonder he used you. You're so easy to play." Zero's head shot up and his eyes flashed. "With self-esteem like, that all he has to do is use you for everything you have to offer, and when your uses are through he can count on you to go quietly on your way and never bother him again. What a perfect pawn." A gunshot sounded in the stillness of the room. Yagari smirked. He turned to face Zero, who held the Bloody Rose stretched out in front of him. A stream of smoke floated up from the barrel.
"It's nice to see you have at least some of your former spirit left, you punk. Good thing I'm not a vampire or I'd be dead." Zero glowered at Yagari over the gun, the anger swirling in the deepest depths of his eyes. "What are you aiming that weapon at me for? You know it can't hurt me."
"You know I wouldn't hurt you, no matter how much you piss me off," Zero growled. Still he aimed the Bloody Rose at Yagari. Yagari closed his eyes and pulled a cigarette from his pack.
"I see," he said as he flicked his lighter on. "The Zero I know is inside there somewhere—the Zero that would never hurt any human but itches to destroy vampires. You're shooting at me because inside there, hidden by this depressed mask you've put on, is intense fury and hatred. You want to get out there and kill as many vampires as you can, not just because it's your job but because you want the satisfaction of destroying those monsters." Zero's glare only intensified, but as it did a smirk crept across his face.
"You think this is a mask, Yagari-sensei? You think I'm hiding my hatred?" Wind howled against the window pane. "You couldn't be more wrong. Inside of me, my hatred festers more and more every day. I'm well aware of the anger I carry towards that disgusting species. If I could, I'd annihilate them all. Every last one of them."
Yagari nodded."Yes, Zero. Let that hatred be the thing to guide you out of this wretched state you're in. At this point, anything's better than living out your days crying in this room." Zero dropped the gun to his side and turned to watch the snow falling outside the window. "To be honest, I wasn't sure what I'd find when I came to see you. But I think that what you need now, more than anything, is an assignment."
Zero leaned his forehead against the glass, watching as Day Class students scurried across the sidewalks to get to their next classes."An assignment? Will I get to kill something?"
Yagari took the cigarette from his mouth and exhaled smoke."I'll find the best job I can. Will you take it?"
Outside on the grass, Sayori Wakaba was scampering about, shoving people to and fro as she attempted to gain control as the new disciplinary committee. Before Zero's eyes flashed an image of Yuki, in one of her half-crazed states, as she tried with all her might to fulfill the duty entrusted to her. Zero clutched at his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut. While it was true that he had spent much of his time fostering his hatred for vampires, the truth was that he spent most of his time alone suffering through memories of Yuki. He had to get passed this.
He slowly removed his hand from his head and turned to face Yagari. Even in his weak state of mind, a fire burned in his lilac eyes. "As long as I get to shoot a vampire and watch as its wretched life leaves its eyes, I accept."
Yagari smirked and gave a short bow of the head."Good. Then I'll be expecting some good work from you, Zero." With a whirl of his coats he strolled from the room and slammed the door behind him. Almost as soon as he was gone, the strength that had begun to flow through Zero once more seemed to disappear. He collapsed against the wall and slid down it until he sat, defeated, on the floor. What use was any of this if he had no motivation, no reason, to live on?
Yuki.
Kaien Cross looked up as the door handle to his office jiggled. Most people had the manners to knock first. However, when the door swung open revealing a disheveled, depressed-looking boy with a piercing gaze, he understood completely. A smile spread across his face.
"Ah, it's good to see you again, Zero. This is the first time in, what, two weeks since you've responded to a summons from me? Why, this must be the first time you've been out since you shut yourself in that dark, depressing room. Schoolwork doesn't just do itself, you know!"
"Shut up, chariman. Who the hell cares about schoolwork anyway? Just say whatever it is you need to say so I can leave," Zero said. In front of him was the chairman's desk, still with a crack torn down the middle. Zero had done that himself at a time he was unable to hold back his frustration at Kaien's antics. Yes, it was a memory from back then, when he and Yuki were a team. A time when she was the innocent human and he was the terrible vampire.
"I worry about you, Zero," Kaien said, peering up at Zero through his oval lenses. "As I ordered, Yagari gave a distinct report of your conversation. Your responses upset me."
"Yagari?" Zero clenched his fists. "That bastard…"
"Now now, Zero, calm down. Don't be mad at Yagari. I made him talk."
Zero's turned his intense glower to Kaien. "I guess that makes you the bastard."
Kaien held his hands up in front of himself defensively. "Come now, Zero, don't be overdramatic. You don't come to me, I come to you. Understand?" Zero just rolled his eyes. Kaien cleared his throat. "Anyway, as I said, your comments disturbed me. Yagari told me that all you felt for vampires was hatred. That you wished that you could kill every single one of them."
"I do," Zero said.
Kaien sighed. "See, I just don't believe you when you talk like that! You can't forget that Yuki is a vampire." Zero tensed. "I can't imagine you would ever dream of hurting her."
"Don't talk about her," Zero said tersely.
"But if you had the chance to kill her, what would you do?"
"I said to not talk about her!"
Kaien frowned. "Still too sensitive of a topic, huh? Vampire hunter and pureblood, still at odds." He thought for a moment before a grin split across his face. "You know, the two of you remind me of myself and Juri-chan!" He threw his arms around himself in contentment.
Zero's furrowed his brow. "Juri-chan? You mean Juri Kuran, the pureblood?"
"Yep, that's the one! Yuki's very own mother."
Zero stared at Kaien impassively."Which one am I supposed to be? I'm not sure what would be more disgusting. Being compared to a female pureblood or being compared to you." Kaien's smile disappeared and in moments his face was planted on the desk in a despairing attitude.
"Kiryu… you wound me…" he whimpered. Zero pushed himself up from his chair.
"I can't take any more of this," he said as he headed for the door.
"Wait! Zero, I really did have something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not saying you and Yuki are like Juri and me personality-wise. All I'm thinking about is the situation."
Zero glanced over his shoulder."Situation?" he repeated. Once again, Kaien was sitting somberly in his chair, his glasses glinting from the candlelight.
"Yes. You see, before Juri married Haruka and bore their two children… well, she and I were practically in love."