A/N: I feel so happy despite the poor quality of these chapters! The reviews you guys left were so amazing! 3333333 *beaming with joy*
Disclaimer: I do not own VK…I mean really…if I did, why would I be writing FF about it? I'd just make it HAPPEN! :P
--o--[Chapter Start]--o--
"Merry Christmas!" the cheer rose up with exuberance, reverberating throughout the festively decorated room.
Yuuki lifted the glass to her lips, fixed in a permanent smile, and took a small sip from the sparkling cider it held. The others had tried to persuade her to drink the wine instead, but she had declined as gracefully as possible. Her large brown eyes, reflecting the sparkling lights and warm fire, traversed the room in a silent path, subtly observing the scene before her.
There were few people present: Akatsuki and Luca, Aidou's father, Seiren, as expected, and two or three other loyal noble men. Despite the small company, the foyer had been grandly adorned with all assortment of holiday décor. There was a towering tree, decked with charming and symmetrical ornaments, a modest pile of presents, and a long buffet table laden with a wide array of food and beverages. Yet, something was missing.
Underneath the general pleasantry of the event, Yuuki sensed a layer of tension. At any moment, she half expected someone to suddenly lose their outward smiling mask. That, however, did not occur, and the act, as she saw it, continued smoothly.
It was at least interesting to watch the guests interact. The noble men all vied for Kaname's attention, sharing with him tidbits of what they deemed to be especially potent information. Luca sent continuous, furtive glances towards Kaname while Akatsuki desperately attempted to keep her attention. And Seiren stood off to the side, as impassive and stolid as always, giving not even the slightest smile.
Yuuki found herself missing Cross Academy more and more as the night passed. She could hear her adoptive father's cries of glee, see Yori's subdued but luminous smiles, smell the scent of the familiar apple crumb cake they'd eaten each year. Most of all, with a sharp pain, she could recall Zero, always placing himself just beyond the circle of attention, his serious violet eyes always watching, always hiding the ghost of a smile within their depths. She swallowed, fingers tightening around her goblet of cider, and forced another smile at some trivial thing one of the nobles had said.
Even casting aside those childhood memories, it felt out of place that the rest of the night class crowd was not present. Where were Takuma Ichijou's infectious smile, or Rima Tooya and Shiki Senri's constant quiet presence? Had they been so casually forgotten? Not that she missed them for themselves, as she had never known them well, but there was definitely an essential element lacking without them.
A soft touch on her arm interrupted her train of thought, and she glanced up into Kaname's troubled eyes. She gave a reassuring smile, taking another sip of her cider to placate him, and he turned back to his conversations after giving her a mysterious smile.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Yuuki-sama?" Aidou's father asked respectfully.
"Yes, thank you," she replied automatically.
"It's a pity my son didn't stick around. He's been working so hard teaching you lately, after all."
"Yes, he has," she agreed genially, though an annoyed thought swept through her mind, thinking of his antics.
"Akatsuki, you didn't!"
The loud exclamation cut through the rest of the conversation, and all eyes turned to the pair. Luca was holding something small and sparkly in her hand, and Akatsuki was looking properly pleased. Her eyes were lit with delight as she slid the glittering object over her wrist, admiring it as the lights picked out and threw rainbows across the room.
"I told you it was far too expensive!" she reproved him, though her glowing expression contradicted the tone of her words.
He shrugged modestly, "Expense has no meaning to me, Luca."
The elegant girl stared at the bracelet for a moment, then smiled radiantly, "Thank you so much!" And with that said, she rushed up to him and kissed his cheek, shocking the entire room. She stepped away quickly, eyes fixed to the jewelry, and completely oblivious to the effect her action had on the room, especially to Akatsuki, who was generally flustered and happy all at once.
One of the nobles turned back to Kaname with a chuckle, "Maybe we should call their families later to advise them to arrange an engagement."
Kaname gave him a thin, tolerant smile, "Perhaps." Then he turned to Yuuki, "On that note, I'd like to excuse myself and Yuuki. Feel free to continue enjoying the party. You all are welcome to stay as long as you'd like."
There was a murmuring of thank you's and goodbyes, and then Kaname took her by the arm and led her out gracefully. He said little as he walked her through the endless passages, but she sensed there was something he was anticipating. She tried to still the nervousness that had crept up, and failed.
In too short a time, he had taken her to her room and shut the door softly behind him. She stood in the middle of the floor, arms around herself, suddenly chilled to the bone. She shut her eyes briefly before turning back to face him.
He crossed the space between them easily, taking her hands in his, and spoke in his low, velvet voice, "I'm so glad I was finally able to see you."
"Me too, Kaname-sama," she replied quietly, though a twinge penetrated her heart.
"I'm glad," there was a pause before he continued, "I brought you here tonight for a particular reason." A brief breath, then, "Yuuki, we've been here together for almost an entire year. You know that you've had my heart for much longer than that. I regret every day that we must spend apart, but it is a necessity so that we can soon be together for eternity."
His words sent frost rippling through her. Silver outlined the edges of her vision, but she shook it away forcefully.
"Yuuki. I know that it's always been assumed, but I feel that I need to do this formally. So, Yuuki Kuran," as he spoke, he knelt before her, removing one hand from hers to take a miniature box from his jacket. She started to shake, knowing exactly what was coming and thinking of no way to avoid it. "Will you be my wife?"
With the question, he took his other hand from hers and opened the box, revealing a small golden ring, holding a single ruby shaped like a rose. Like the rose he had given her not long ago. Like their eternal promise. It was so fitting, and yet, so terrible that she could feel the horror clawing its way up her throat.
Her hand rose to her mouth, her throat silently scrabbling to grasp some fragment of speech. There was no way out, no escape. Just everlasting crimson and soundlessly closing doors.
But then, what did she have to gain with her freedom? A certain death? And Yori had told her, without words, of the hopelessness of it all. Her futile attempts to contact Zero had proven just that: futile. What did she have to lose by accepting Kaname? What did she stand to gain by it? His protection, his love, the bars of a prison without door or key…
With a deep breath, she fell to her knees, clasping his hands in hers, and spoke the damning word that would forever haunt her, "Yes."
Kaname expression lifted, and slowly, deliberately, he removed the ring from its velvet cradle and placed it on her finger. A binding circle. He stood, pulling her up with him and placing the box aside onto a small table all in one fluid motion.
"Thank you," he said simply, his eyes smoldering and intense on hers.
A large part of her wanted to cringe away from his gaze, to flee to some secret refuge, but it was impossible. He kept her fixed in place as effectively as if he had nailed her to the floor. She was living a lie. Couldn't he see that? But no, his touch was like poison as he came closer, drawing her body to his and pressing his lips demandingly against hers.
A sense of wrongness flooded through her, but that smaller part of her, the part that had always loved and idolized him, would not allow her to break away. His embrace was possessive, claiming her entirely. He gave her no space to refuse him, and she felt her arms moving around him almost against her will.
Forgive me, she thought hopelessly to the screaming part of herself.
Forgive me…
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Dear Zero
They were just words. Only words. Yet they seemed to burn into his heart, etch through it and claim all of his being.
Dear Zero
Dear Zero
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
The door shut with a click that seemed to reverberate through her soul. The room was suddenly devoid of any warmth. Frost crept over her skin, invaded her senses. Shaking, she fell to her knees in the middle of the floor, hands white against her face, eyes wide.
It felt as if her soul were being torn in two.
A silver phantom flashed out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned to look, it dissolved in the air, a memory, an unobtainable dream. Something scarlet glinted in the light. Removing her left hand from her face, she stared in unrestrained horror at the ring.
But it was too late to go back, too late for regrets. She had chosen, and this time, there were no take-backs.
--o--[Chapter End]--o--
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
A/N:
Me: Ahh..wait, wait!!! *glancing nervously at the weapons everyone is holding* Don't kill meeeee!!!!
Everyone of my awesome readers: WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO YOUR PLEAS FOR MERCY???
Me: B-Because! If you kill me, I can't end the story with Zeki!!!!! It'll NEVER HAPPEN!!!
Everyone: Hmm…good point...
Me: So…if you want Zeki…REVIEWWWWWWWWW *flees while everyone is distracted*