A/N: Woot woot, let's get this story finished (eventually :P)! MO-TI-VATION! It's the new sensation ;). 2-3 Chapters up in a row, depending on when you last read, so be careful again to make sure you don't skip ahead!

Disclaimer: Don't own VK.

Zero.

He was standing there, across the room that had become drenched in violet and silver. Time had not changed him much. He looked a little older, a little taller, but otherwise untouched by the passage of the months. Those eyes were as liquid and beautiful as they had been before, staring at her now with dark turbulence.

For the breadth of a single heartbeat, she forgot her brother. She forgot the ball. She forgot herself. She was taken back to the days at the academy, and she longed to run to him and throw her arms around him. To breathe him in. To touch him. To give in to the part of her that was harder to contain with every passing day.

She already knew the truth though. Those broad shoulders would shrug her away with force. Something remained of their bonds. He had read the letters. He had written those three words back to her. It had been more than she had dared to hope for. Yet… Those violet eyes were impenetrable. They had built up an unbreakable wall between them.

The beat passed. Her lessons kicked in, along with cold heartbreak, and she nodded to him in greeting. And that was it. Kaname was steering her away.

She stopped. Somewhere in the crowd, there was a different scent. Human. She took a deeper breath. Mingled with all the other smells here, it was difficult to pick out. Yet, it seemed oddly familiar to her.

"The scent of a human…" she murmured, eyes scanning the crowd. "Are there any in the Grand Hall, other than the hunters?"

"There are," Kaname answered. "Though they are few. What's wrong?"

Was that…autumn and lavender..? It couldn't be. "No," she shook her head. "It was nothing."

Yori pushed her way through the tangle of people. She still hadn't seen Yuuki yet, and with every passing moment she felt the press of more vampire eyes against her. As she passed, each set glinted red. It was a different environment here, a different sort of vampire. Aidou's eyes had been red, but it hadn't been like this. There had been no threat in them.

"Hey, wait," the voices called her.

"Hey, miss."

"Did you come here alone?"

"Young lady, do you have any idea what type of gathering this is?"

"To invite a human girl so young to this ball… Kaname-sama has done quite a dangerous thing!"

"Or is she perhaps an offering he intends to give to his young sister?"

"Certainly not at an official ball under hunter surveillance?"

"What is he expecting us to do with this young girl, I wonder..?"

She was getting frustrated. They kept coming closer and closer, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to push through them. She knew she should be worried, or even frightened, by their words, but she instead she felt strangely calm. With the hunters here, along with Yuuki herself and even Kaname, she didn't think they would actually harm her.

"Excuse me," she spoke up now. "Could you please kindly let me through?"

"What should we do?"

"I think that for the safety of the young lady here, we shouldn't risk leaving her by herself, but…"

"I'm fine, really." Yori gave an inward sigh. Were they ever going to let her through? "I just need you to let me go through."

"Everyone," an authoritative voice broke through the circle of guests. "There is no need to be concerned. After all, we are ladies and gentleman here tonight, and we are all trustworthy guests invited by our host Kaname-sama, are we not?" The blond vampire that came towards them gave a patient smile.

The other vampires dispersed at her appearance, and she looked at Yori now. "You weren't scared? What a brave young person. And so cute, as well!" She smiled again, more genuinely this time. "Were you trying to greet the hosts of the party, by any chance? If you'd like, I'd be glad to offer to take you to them." She took Yori's hand gently.

Yori felt immensely grateful for the stranger's interference. If it weren't for her, who knew how long she would have been stuck in the crowd. Before she could accept the invitation, however, a rough hand jerked the two of them apart.

Zero's voice boomed a quiet threat, "Don't go touching a human so easily, pureblood."

The frustration returned. She would be lucky if she didn't have a headache by the end of the night. She just wanted to see Yuuki. "You are mistaken, Zero-kun," she told him firmly. "This person was just going to-"

A sudden murmuring, followed by a, "Please, let me through!" interrupted her. In another moment, Yuuki herself appeared from behind the wall of people.

"Yuuki!" she exclaimed happily. She could hardly believe that Yuuki was here, in front of her, after so many long months. Happiness bubbled inside her. Yuuki looked wonderful; like some princess plucked straight from a fairy tale. Meeting Yuuki's eyes, she saw that they were a mix of delight and worry.

"So it really was you, Yori-chan!" she cried. "Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine, really," she waved aside her concerns. "This person was just going to help me see you, and…" She trailed off. And then Kiryuu had to attack…

Yuuki turned her attention to Zero.

Inside, she was shaking. She was so close, so close to him. She had just wanted to know that he was okay, that he was healthy and doing well. But now that she could actually see him and stand so near, she wanted much, much more…

Carefully, she laid a gloved hand on his wrist. She tried to keep the tremor from her fingers. "Would you please let go of her?" She managed to keep her voice level. "She is one of our precious guests." She turned her eyes to him in appeal, but when they crashed against the jagged purple she almost lost her outward appearance of calm.

His eyes seemed to turn black, "Don't touch me." The tone was sunken into a near growl.

Pain shot through her. Her heart was flopping uselessly in her chest. Zero, please, don't speak that way… Don't look at me like that… He was hurting her physically. Her throat felt sore now, holding back the sadness that she fought to keep in check, along with everything else.

She averted her gaze. It was too painful, like this. The spears of his eyes seemed to cut right through her. "I'll stop touching you if you let go of her."

And then he was whirling around, grabbing hold of Yori and propelling them both away through the crowd.

"Move along, Wakaba," she heard him say tersely. "You already saw her so that's enough."

"Yuuki," Yori called back. "I'm glad to know you're well!"

Yuuki smiled, now, a touch of happiness slipping through the sorrow. "Same here, Yori-chan."

"My, my, what a delicious looking human," the blond vampire commented. "Isn't she?"

"Please stop," Yuuki entreated her, for once feeling like she was Kaname's sister. She wasn't about to let anyone look at Yori as if she were a meal. "She's a friend."

"Of course," the vampire gave a slight nod. "I'm sorry." She turned to the rest of the guests immediately around her. "Everyone, you heard it. The human is apparently a precious friend, so you mustn't touch her."

A cold chill passed over Yuuki. For once, she was afraid. It was almost a challenge.

"By the way, I'm sorry I have to leave so soon, but I must go greet Kaname-sama as well," With that, she left Yuuki standing alone.

Who had brought Yori here? The thought was unsettling. She was glad to see her, but at the same time felt the incredible danger pressing down on her. This vampire, just now, had announced to the entire party that Yori was under Kuran protection… For Yori, the danger had just increased tenfold.

She sensed Aidou beside her. His voice was low in her ear. "Kaname-sama asked me to tell you something. He asked me to arrange for you to be able to go and spend an hour with your friend, in a moment. So go ahead and wait for her in the back of the drawing room." In case lingering ears happened to listen in, he spoke of Yori distantly. "Just give whatever excuse you like to the others for your momentary departure."

Yuuki turned to look at him. His face was closed, but beneath that, she thought she saw tension and worry running so thickly that they mirrored her own. They both knew just how dangerous this situation was for Yori. She wanted to say something to him, but instead merely hurried off to the drawing room. The sooner she was by Yori's side again, the better.

"Zero-kun..?" Yori tried to free her hand from that iron grip, but was unable to do so. "Is it really so wrong for me to want to talk to Yuuki for a moment in peace?"

"That woman who offered to help you smelled slightly of freshly spilled blood," he snarled.

"Zero-kun!" she jerked her hand again. He was being too rough. Her wrist felt like it would be crushed. "I don't get it! Sure, they do seem scary, but I don't think we need to be that guarded or wary of these people."

Some of the vampires here certainly seemed like they might attack her, but most of them at least acted the part of refined ladies and gentleman. At least under Kaname's eyes she was fairly certain that they would not move to hurt her.

"Wakaba, stay near Kaito," he deposited her by the other hunter roughly. "Don't wander off!"

Yes, she was definitely feeling a headache coming on. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck the rest of the night beside the smirking hunter who had packed her into a large box to bring her here.

"Good that you didn't take my bait, despite how you are practically dripping with the urge to kill them," Kaito's expression was blank and impossible to decipher, as usual.

"I'm used to having my patience put to the test," Zero grumbled.

"Hey Kiryuu, Wakaba!" someone interrupted, coming closer. As soon as she heard the words, she felt her heart swell. She knew before she looked exactly who was approaching, despite the sudden distance he used to call her name. That, she knew, was a necessity.

"It's been a while, huh?" Aidou aimed the words at Zero, who glared at him in response. "Would the two of you give us an hour of your time?" His eyes flashed to Yori briefly, and she noticed the twitch in his lips as his eyes passed over the necklace. She held back a smile herself. "We wish for you to meet Yuuki-sama. It's a request from the host of the party, Kaname-sama."

An hour to meet Yuuki? Her heart was soaring. Once the initial joy had receded, however, she had to wonder if it would be polite for one of the hosts of the party to disappear for so long.

"Aidou-senpai, is that really okay?" she made sure to address him with equal distance.

"Yeah," he shrugged as Kaito added, "Why don't you just go? Your friend's that little Kuran princess, am I right? I get the feeling she's a good girl. Nothing but a lion cub for now. It's fine, go! And hey, Zero will be with you there anyway." He gave her a push.

"Ah, yes," she stumbled a little in her heels. Were all hunters this rough?

Aidou was frowning at the hunter, but only said, "Follow me."

Yori started after him, and a moment later she heard the echo of Zero's footsteps, as well. They skirted the edge of the Grand Hall and made their way up a massive staircase. At the top, the click of footsteps behind her ceased.

"Kiryuu, we're almost there," Aidou called back. "It's the room over here."

The silver haired hunter's face was stony, bleak. "I have no use going there. I just came to escort Wakaba until here."

Aidou sighed audibly, then turned away, muttering to Yori, "I thought he might say something like that. Let's go…"

Yori could have sighed herself. Why did Zero have to be so difficult all the time? It was obvious that he and Yuuki still cared for each other, so why..? She determined not to think of it for now. Perhaps she and Yuuki and Aidou could come up with some sort of a plan later.

Instead, she glanced sideways at Aidou. He was dressed sharply today in black, with a cool blue undershirt that matched his eyes. He looked the part of high society today. Every inch of him was polished…and very handsome… She smiled to herself, but said nothing. Who knew if anyone could hear her, even at a whisper.

Still, when they turned the small corner to where the door was, he paused for a moment, smiling at her openly this time. She returned it happily. Then, glancing quickly around to make sure no one was in the immediate area, he touched his forehead lightly to hers for a moment, as he had done on the same night that he had taken her blood.

If only they weren't in such a public place, where everyone had senses that could detect the slightest movement, sound, or smell… She held herself still. She couldn't touch him, not now. If Zero could always tell when they'd been in the same room together, the entire assembly would certainly know if she so much as hugged him.

Aidou opened the door. The light shone in her eyes briefly, and then she felt slender arms tight around her, pulling her against a familiar form. Yuuki! She wrapped her arms around her friend, feeling so happy that she might burst.

"Yuuki, I missed you!" She was smiling wider than she had thought her mouth capable of.

"I missed you too!" Yuuki drew back, and they looked at each other blissfully. "So many months without seeing you… And you sneak in taking so many risks just to come see me, even though I should have been the one to take the initiative to meet you instead…"

Yori shook her head. From Yuuki's letters, she knew the situation. Yuuki hadn't been allowed to go outside for months. How would she have come to visit at the academy, if she wasn't even allowed to take a walk?

"It wasn't possible. You and I both know that."

"I'll be right outside if you need anything," Aidou said, leaving them both alone in the room.

Yuuki's eyes narrowed on her then, though she was grinning. "Good. Now that we're alone, I want to know every detail! How can you like him?! He's so…so…so Aidou!"

Yori laughed then, finally relaxing after the frustration she'd felt below in the crowd. This was what she had been hoping for. The chance to see and talk to Yuuki normally again, like old times.

"Hmm, well, let's see…" she began.

Outside in the hall, Aidou spotted Kiryuu still standing by the staircase, lost in thought. For a long moment, the blond vampire stared at him, assessing. He just didn't get it. He didn't understand Zero Kiryuu, and he probably never would. Ever since he had blurted out that he and Yori weren't that different from Yuuki and Kiryuu, he'd been thinking. Was it really that different? Didn't the pain that both of them felt come from the fact that they felt for each other so strongly? It didn't make sense, why they were acting this way. Or why Yuuki was betraying Kaname-sama in her heart, because the reality was, or at least he was pretty sure it was, that she was still in love with Kiryuu.

Actually, come to think of it, had she ever really been in love with Kaname-sama? Even back at the academy, she'd seemed more like a girl with a huge crush. But love was different. Love was something much deeper. Well, he was pretty sure, anyway.

The violet eyes flashed up to his, dark and angry. "Senpai." The tone was mocking. "If you're going to keep staring at me making that face like you want to say something, just go ahead and say it."

He took a step forward, suddenly determined. Considering how bad his own thirst had been, he knew that Kiryuu was suffering. Yuuki, too. And why the hell would anyone want to suffer when they didn't have to?

"I'll say it clearly," he declared, "If I were in your place, I'd face my adversary openly, no matter how many times it might take, and take what I want from him." Even if the adversary was Kaname-sama, the leader and most powerful pureblood vampire.

The expression on the hunter's face became so hostile that for a moment Aidou actually felt a twinge of fear. What if Kiryuu pulled his gun out right now? He didn't want to fight. He especially didn't want to draw attention to the hall where Yuuki and Yori were conversing.

In a single stride, the hunter crossed over to where he stood and grabbed him fiercely by the shirt collar.

"Hey!" Aidou snapped, affronted.

"Stop getting me involved with her matters," he threatened, eyes seething. "She didn't ask for this just now, did she?"

"Tch." Why was he bothering with this, anyway? It was clear no one could hope to talk to Kiryuu. He was like a black hole. Still, for some reason he felt strangely motivated to talk some sense into him. "Oh, yeah," he replied sarcastically. "Yuuki Cross is now trying her best to walk the same path as Kaname-sama."

Kiryuu seemed to ignore the sarcasm there. "That's a good thing." He released the noble vampire.

"In the end, you keep insisting that you and Yuuki Cross are enemies…" He really didn't understand it.

"Good night, senpai," he used the title again derisively, brushing past him down the hall.

Aidou scowled at the hunter's back, smoothing down his collar. Kiryuu was a hopeless cause. For him, Yuuki would always be the enemy. But, if that was completely true…then why did he seem so anguished whenever he looked at her?

With a sigh, he leaned against the wall, waiting. There was nothing for him to do until the girls had finished visiting. He didn't really want to rejoin the guests in the hall, and he was supposed to be Yuuki's guard anyway, so for now he would simply wait. And think.

The hour had passed by far too quickly for Yuuki. It seemed as though they'd just sat down to chat when Aidou had knocked on the door, announcing that the hour had passed. Yuuki rose, for a moment unsure of what she wanted to do. It was dangerous for Yori to continue staying here, and this Takamiya-sensei who had brought her here, as Yori had explained, wouldn't be leaving until the party ended. She didn't want to send Yori home by herself, either.

She didn't really like her plan, but she didn't know a better way to go about it. Yori had to be kept safe.

That's right… I want to protect her, she thought. I have to return Yori-chan safely to the human world.

"Aidou-senpai," she turned her attention towards him. "I want you to protect Yori-chan tonight. See to it that she gets home safely. And…" She glanced at Yori. She wasn't sure how her friend was going to react to this, and she didn't really want to voice all of her fears or reasons as to why it was necessary but… She forced herself to continue. "I want you to stay there until morning, when Zero and the other hunters return."

Because, I've seen the way the guests were looking at her tonight…

She hoped he didn't ask. She hoped Yori didn't ask. She didn't want to have to say in front of her friend that she was desperately worried that any enemies of the Kurans might take advantage of the situation to hurt them or to gain leverage through Yori. With Zero and the other hunters at the academy, she was fairly certain Yori would be well protected. But, without them… She didn't want to think of that.

"Oh?" Aidou smirked, eyes glinting mischievously. "Are you really sure you want to lock Yori in a room all night with such a handsome vampire?"

Yori snorted at this, and Yuuki couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Please."

"So you actually do trust me," he grinned.

"You won't do anything, Aidou-senpai," she replied innocently. "Because if you do, I'll purposely fail every test from now on."

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "That's not fair! You can't use my punishment against me. Besides, how would you…" He faltered. The door was closed and the guests were downstairs, but she knew what he was thinking. If someone passed by and heard him mention the letters…

"I can do whatever I want," she told him smugly. "I'm Yuuki Kuran."

"Don't let it go to your head," he muttered.

"Thank you, Yuuki," Yori hugged her again. "And don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Aidou hesitated for a moment, "Kaname-sama…he expressly asked me to not leave your side, no matter what happened…"

Yuuki grinned, "Come on, senpai, you know you want the chance to be alone with Yori." Yori flushed a little at her words, but Yuuki noticed that she didn't protest. As weird as it was, it seemed Yori really did like Aidou.

She continued, "You can take the car there. I'll come home with Kaname-sama later tonight. If I explain the situation, I think he'll understand and support my decision. He doesn't have to know the details. Anyway, if you're really worried, I can ask your cousin to be my escort for the evening."

He nodded, "Yes, do that."

"I will." She turned to Yori. "I'm so glad I got to see you. Thank you… I know this was a huge risk to you, but…I'm really happy. It'll be my turn to sneak out to see you, next!" She hugged the girl tightly.

"I'm glad I came! Even if it was crammed into a suitcase," Yori giggled.

"Wait, what?!" Aidou's expression suddenly turned furious. "Are you serious? Who stuffed you in a suitcase?!"

Yori shrugged. "It wasn't so bad. Takamiya-sensei offered to bring me here and I didn't really see another way, so…" When she saw that the name didn't ring any bells, she added, "The other hunter who's working with Zero tonight."

"He brought you here. In a suitcase."

"Well…yes…"

Seeing the hint of red anger in Aidou's eyes, Yuuki quickly intervened, saying, "I'll see you as soon as I can, Yori-chan."

"Bye Yuuki," Yori smiled.

"Drive safe," the pureblood warned Aidou.

"I will, I will. You forget I'm both a genius and a vampire." His previous anger seemed momentarily abated. Both girls rolled their eyes at him.

"You won't let me forget," she shot back at him, ushering them out the door.

Yori waved at her as Aidou took her arm and guided her down the hall. Yuuki waved back, thinking that it was strange to see the two of them walking side by side like that. But then, she supposed she had better get used to it. As unlikely a pairing as it might be, both of them seemed to be serious. She smiled. As long as Yori was happy, that was all that mattered.

"Oh, hey Yuuki!"

She started. Could that be..? She whirled around, and suddenly saw her adopted father, along with Yagari-sensei. A smile washed over her face as she rushed to hug her father.

"Hey, Chairman," she addressed him formally.

"Don't call me that! Call me daddy!" came his expected response. Then, a moment later, he couldn't contain himself. "Yuuki! My baby girl is so adorable! You must take good care of yourself, okay?!"

"I am, don't worry."

"Kaien, we can't stay long," Yagari reminded the Chairman.

Her father's face lengthened sadly. "Yuuki, you be good now, okay? Don't forget your daddy!"

"How could I? I'll try to come visit you sometime, alright?" she squeezed his hands.

"That would be wonderful!" he beamed. "Have fun at the party!"

As they moved off, Yagari-sensei whispered to her, "Zero is back in there." He jerked a thumb to a room down the adjacent hall. "If you wanted to hash anything out… I'll stay in the area."

Hope and fear rushed through her all at once. She wanted to go to him. She wanted to see him, face-to-face, after so long, with no one around to interfere. At the same time, she was afraid. Afraid of Zero's response, afraid of Kaname-sama's, but most of all, afraid of her own.

Without realizing it, her legs had brought her to the doorway. For a long moment, she stood in front of the closed doors, head bowed and clutching her hands together. She could still feel his arm beneath her fingers and the slow pulse that beat under his skin. She had felt how close he'd been, but instead of the warmth she'd hoped for, all she'd felt was the sting of cold.

After so long, she'd finally been able to see him again. And yet… Yet…there had been nothing but anger in his eyes. No scrap of affection. What could she really have expected? The note he'd sent her had built up her hopes, but had it only been a method to try and get her to stop writing letters to him?

Her hands trembled. If she opened these doors, she may be opening herself up to even greater hurt. But if she kept them closed…she would never know if their bonds really had dissolved. Her fingers twitched, remembering the line of his arm.

Steeling herself, she pushed open the door.

A/N: And then everyone murders me for a cliffhanger. But, hopefully you'll review before coming at me with a knife? :D Right?