AN: GOMENASAIIIIIII! My computer broke and was out for a whole MONTH. Imagine my torture… So please please don't be mad at me! There was nothing I could do!!! So as repayment, here's a new chappie!

Disclaimer: NO I DON'T OWN VK

Yuuki brushed her fingers against the white slip of paper delicately. There was some pull to that tiny scrap, some force that called her to it. Lip catching between her teeth, she reached for the larger sheet. Yori would no doubt have said something about the little note.

As she unfolded the letter, she settled herself more comfortably on the couch. The delicious aroma from the boxes of Christmas treats beside her tantalized her mouth and stomach, but she resisted the temptation to eat one, intent on reading the letter. She had certainly waited long enough to read it, thanks to a certain senpai!

Her eyes scanned the words greedily, sucking in every detail. She avidly read about Yori's Christmas experience with the Chairman and Zero, feeling a slight sting in her heart at the thought of the overly decorated tree. She wondered if the spot she'd always sat in beneath it had been left open, or covered with gifts.

I must admit I was rather shocked at the news of your engagement. Please promise me that you'll think it over carefully first, okay? Marriage is not something to be taken lightly, though I'm sure you don't need to hear that from me. Are you really sure that you want to spend the rest of your life bound to Kaname when you love Zero? Please, please think about it for a long time before you decide.

Yuuki's mouth turned downwards, creasing into a frown. What was there to think about? Hadn't she already made that decision? Zero was…Zero was Zero. He would never respond to her. The thought sent a shudder through her, and she closed her eyes for a long moment before continuing to read. She had thought about it, and this was the only reasonable course of action.

Yuuki… what does it mean when you can't stop thinking about someone, no matter how hard you try? When you see their face every time you close your eyes and live simply for the next chance to see them?

Yuuki stared at the paper for a long moment, stunned.

She reread the lines, eyebrows shooting up so high that they might have flown off her brow. Words such as those were the last thing that she had expected to read in a letter from Yori. Had her friend finally started to notice someone? Yori had always been very shy and reserved, so much so that none of the boys in the day class would approach her. Not that they had seemed particularly interested in any girl who wasn't in the night class, but even so.

Those lines suggested more than just a crush, though. If that was the case, why hadn't Yori mentioned this person in her letters? Her letters were very limited in the people they spoke of: herself, the Chairman, Zero, and Aidou. It was very rare that another name snuck its way in there, and unless it was a sensei or a relation, it was always female. Or had Yori actually been keeping it a secret? She nibbled on her lip thoughtfully.

Yuuki would definitely question her in the return letter. It really was strange that Yori hadn't named a boy. She shrugged. After saying something like that, there was no way that Yori would evade her questions about his identity. Her eyes skimmed further down, then widened perceptibly.

This may seem like a strange question, but lately I've been wondering on the subject. Zero says that normal food doesn't do much for vampires. I was just thinking about that so I thought I'd ask. What did it feel like when Zero bit you? Did it hurt? I can't believe I was so oblivious to not notice the constant bandage on your neck.

As innocent a question as it seemed, Yuuki felt that there was something more to the words than the obvious meaning. She scowled, squinting hard at the paper as if the force of her stare could decipher those words. She really wasn't cut out for any detective work in the future.

Which reminded her…things were certainly turning strange around Aidou and Yori. Excessive tablets, late hours, mysterious behavior, and odd letters! She blew out a sigh. Maybe they were affecting each other during the letter exchanges. Maybe it was even some strange disease.

At the end of the letter, as expected, the issue of the paper scrap was addressed. Of it, Yori merely said:

P.S. There should be a scrap of paper in the envelope, too. It's for you, Yuuki. Please think everything over very carefully. Marriage is a decision that, once made, is not easily taken back.

Too curious to put it off any longer, Yuuki replaced the letter in the envelope and set it aside, already reaching for the note. Smoothing the crease slowly, she stifled a gasp of shock. The scrawl of messy letters, hastily scribbled down with a blotted ink pen, was from a hand she had never expected. There was no mistaking the handwriting. She could never forget the slight slant of the letters or the barely dotted I's. Only three words were written there, but they were three words more than she had ever dreamt of…three words that could twist her emotions around in a single second.

Idiot, stop worrying.

For some reason, the tears wouldn't stop falling.

The sharp clack of polished shoes against the floor caused the throng of hunters in the hall to glance up. Some of them shook their heads slightly, others merely watched with impassive eyes. A general murmur rose through the Hunter's Association as the tall, silver haired figure strode past, effectively ignoring his audience.

Within the designated meeting room, the sound of an angry voice drifted out into the hall, "See?! He doesn't even show up. I'm telling you, I really don't approve of him becoming the future pres-"

Zero burst into the meeting room without so much as a knock, mouth set in a firm line and eyes glinting in the florescent lighting. He cast a harsh stare at the offending party before shutting the door firmly.

"Hey Zero, you're late," Yagari drawled from his chair.

"Of course I am," Zero glared. "Do you have any idea how far apart the academy and the Hunter's Association Headquarters are?" There was a pause, then, "So, what the hell are you people thinking?" This statement was accentuated by the slam of his hands against the desk. "I hear the Hunter's Association and the vampires will be holding a 'ball' together the night after the negotiations?!"

"Tss," Yagari rolled his eyes. "Zero is as bull-headed as a certain somebody here…" He sent a pointed glance to the other hunter.

"Hey, no fair," the other replied. "I agreed the party is a necessity. As I was saying before his arrival, I'm just worried about the obvious dangers of this whole thing. Sure, everyone's saying how Kiryuu's powers and fighting ability make him an impressive ally and all but…we can't forget that he was owned by a pureblood. Do you really think we should make this guy our next president despite the fact that he was tamed by that little Kuran missy? Isn't that ridiculous?!"

Zero smirked, "What a coincidence. I think the exact same thing myself."

"Huh…we get along rather well, unexpectedly."

"Are you both morons, by any chance?!" Yagari demanded. "The hunter criteria for picking our presidents is pure strength, get it in your thick heads already. All that matters is whether the guy is powerful enough to control by fear the rest of the hunters or not. That's it! This discussion is over!"

After a breath, allowing this to sink in, he continued, "Okay Zero, you'll find there a list of the vampires who will be at the ball. Memorize it all and take care of surveillance." He gestured to a stack of papers, which Zero picked up a moment later. "Vampires who held a position of power in the previous society will be attending this gathering. The purpose is for both sides to "socialize," reinforcing the idea that we'll be continuing to work together for peace. Or at least, that's what it's officially supposed to be. That's pretty much all that can be done, aside from simply hoping that this brand-new peace won't be short-lived."

Flipping through the papers, he held his breath for a brief moment, eyes locked on a single line of letters, printed in callous black ink. He couldn't hear the words that Yagari was saying. All that he could concentrate on was that single, uniform, uninterested line.

Kuran, Yuuki.

The thought wouldn't stop circulating through her brain, over and over, an alarm of danger and urgency.

Kaname is coming home. Kaname is coming home. Kaname is coming home.

She couldn't race through the corridors fast enough, breathless as she swerved to a stop outside Aidou's door, sliding ungracefully across the carpet. Her ungainly entrance earned her a swift glower, as her teacher was bent over some official looking documents. Then, he promptly proceeded to ignore her.

"Aidou-senpai, I have something I want to ask you," Yuuki folded her hands before her primly.

"No, you can't get an automatic A on your next test," Aidou glared, turning back to the papers on his desk.

She rolled her eyes, then cleared her throat, "Um, is it possible for us to have a quick lesson this week? I know it's a lot to ask, but there's…well there's some really important things I need to discuss with Yori-chan, and I don't think I can wait another two weeks to do so… It's very important that I speak with her as soon as possible."

He looked up from his desk with obvious surprise, then scowled, "You know, some of us have better things to do than play mailman all the time."

"Please?" she asked, lower lip trembling in a puppy expression. "I'll work hard, I promise!"

"Don't look at me like that!" he shouted, purposely turning away from her. After a moment, he glanced back, "Stop it, really!"

"Pretty please with sugar on top? Kaname-sama is coming back soon, and if I don't write to Yori now, I might not have the chance to for a while!"

He started at her for a long time, eyes betraying nothing. Then, "Fine, but this time you have to get an A. No excuses."

She nodded eagerly, "Yes, okay. Thank you so much!"

"And as for the subject…"

She cringed, waiting.

"How does art sound?" he asked after a moment.

Yuuki practically squealed with delight, "Thank you, thank you Aidou-senpai!" She rushed forward to fling her arms around him.

"H-hey! Stop that! Get off me!" he struggled, jerking out of his chair. "Get off me this instant or I'll change it to history."

She immediately disengaged herself, dancing out the door with another, "Thank you!"

Aidou sat down again, eyes growing distant. Unconsciously, two fingers lightly brushed against his lips. He smiled faintly in the lamp light.

"The dorm…you won't go back to living there?" the Chairman asked gently.

The silver haired youth threw himself down on the bed, facing towards the wall. He really didn't want to discuss this right now. All he wanted was to be alone. That one line of text was haunting him.

His expression darkened, "By day, I go to school, and by night, I hunt vampires as the Association wishes. In exchange for that, I've earned the little freedom of living here." There was a lengthy pause, filled only with the quiet sound of breathing, and then, "I don't want to be in the dorm, because by night I hunger uncontrollably." His hand twisted in the sheets, eyes squeezing shut, "If I don't spend my nights hunting down vampires…I don't know what I might end up doing. …Why can't I just kill them as I please? There's not enough to satisfy me this way…"

Kaien Cross sighed, "The execution lists exist precisely so that we don't become a pack of murderers hunting down any vampire randomly. Uhm…you came home pretty late last night…did you go anywhere? Your coat is all covered in something dusty…"

Zero gave a mirthless laugh, eyes opening slowly, "There were a few of them…"

"Kiryuu-kun," came the sharp response, "please tell me that because there weren't enough killings to satisfy you, you didn't go and-"

"Don't worry, Chairman," he cut the older man off brusquely. "The ones I killed had been on the list already, since quite a long while before. I'm not going around making up reasons for killing just to suit my urges, don't worry."

"I'm sorry," Cross put a hand to his brow, rubbing his temple, "It's just that I haven't seen you in a while, and I couldn't help… It seems I worry far more than I should. From your point of view, my worries must certainly be annoying…aren't they?"

But Zero chose not to answer, allowing his mind to drift. The "ball" would be arriving soon… Would she be happy to see him, or would she be forced to remain pinned to Kuran's arm, unable to do more than glance his way? And how much had she changed since he had last seen her? Even in the months at school, the changes wrought in her had been so great. From human to vampire, every part of her had been altered in some way.

All the same…

Kuran, Yuuki.

His mouth pulled into a sneer. Kuran, Yuuki. Kuran. And that was the sum of it all. Kuran. She was Kuran and Kuran's, and there was no way that she could ever return to him, smiling with that oblivious, carefree purity. He had been such a fool to send that note to her. It wouldn't change anything. No, the changes had already been made.

The mere thought of her made his throat constrict, dry and painful. A thousand images sprung through his brain, and a thousand broken sentences, hidden beneath his mattress. Soon, he promised himself. Soon, even if it was Kuran, he would be able to breathe her in again, look at her perfect face. Would those wide brown eyes still hold the same warmth when they gazed at him?

He fumbled for the blood tablets.

AN: Forgive me and review?