AN: I. Am. So. Terribly. Terribly. Terribly. Sorry. ;_; I got sucked into the semester and then was traveling over break so so so… I haven't updated… OTL I'm so sorry guys. I'm the worst, I know. Please accept my apologies and this chapter T_T.

Disclaimer: I don't even want to own VK anymore. Not after all that happened there _. What a mess. But at least we know… AIDORI IS REAL! Though I feel totally gypped for not getting even a GLIMPSE of their romance. =_='' But we won't go there. Instead we'll go to VKland now:

"Yuuki, I need to talk to you."

"Yes, onii-sama?" She turned towards her brother.

The eyes that he looked at her with were far away, clouded with thoughts she could not begin to guess at. "Your blood… I could taste it more strongly than I have in a long time. Your hesitance with me… Your feelings for Kiryuu…"

She froze. Every fiber of her body felt paralyzed. She was aware that her heart was speeding rapidly, and that her brother could undoubtedly hear it, but there was nothing she could do. This was the reason for this distance lately, for the shadow in his gaze…

"Yuuki, I know that part of you is attached to him. I know that you have chosen to live with me, and to be my bride. It may not be easy for you, but… I think, perhaps, it is time you learned the entire truth."

"The truth?" Her brow furrowed now. What truth could he be referring to? What was untrue in her life right now, other than her own heart?

"I'm not actually your brother."

What? She was staring at him blankly. How could that be? Of course he was her brother. How could he be anything else? "I don't understand…"

His gaze was locked on something far beyond her for a moment as he murmured, "The world you see is different from the one I see…"

She shook her head, feeling further confused. He wasn't making sense. "Why would you say such a thing? Ever since we've grown up, onii-sama, I've felt that you're always hiding some part of yourself…" That was true. He always kept things from her. He was careful to conceal them from her, even when she took his blood. She wondered how much he had seen in hers. He had certainly gleaned her feelings for Zero. Did he also know about the letters to Yori, now? …Aidou? Her heart fluttered in fear. What would happen if he learned of the relationship between her friend and her teacher…?

"That's precisely why…" He stopped, seeming to gather his thoughts, before he continued, "I am your ancestor, Yuuki. I spent forever in slumber in an underground mausoleum, and all that long flow of time, I wished only to finally be reduced to dust, but never had that wish granted. Then, Rido sacrificed your true brother to bring me back into the world of the living…"

In the background, all else had faded. All she could hear now were his words, and all she could see was his mouth, forming them.

He went on, "I have lived many lifetimes, Yuuki. I have experienced many things, including love. There was also someone very important to me that perhaps part of me is still attached to… In this lifetime, I released Hio Shizuka from her prison so that she would hunt down a certain hunter couple, so that the seed of hatred towards purebloods would be planted in their twin children, and so that they would not be liberated from it until death. I wanted to make those twins into weapons that wouldn't stop until all purebloods were massacred, for my own purposes… I designed Kiryuu to be a knight that would protect you while you were still human. I never imagined, however, that the princess and her shield would fall in love…"

The world was static radiation, buzzing and contaminating every sense, melting to grey and slithering away beyond the boundaries of her vision. He was designing Zero as a shield? As nothing more than a tool, without any regard for his feelings, for his life, for his hopes and dreams or…anything. Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes like jagged fragments of glass. Kaname-sama had used him mercilessly, thoroughly, and then left him in pieces without even his humanity. By bringing her here he had taken away the last person Zero cared about, after forcing him to devote his entire life to her.

Her shoulders trembled. How could he be so heartless? How could she have let this happen? How could she not have seen the difference that seemed so clear now between the two of them? Worst of all was knowing that Zero knew he was being used. He was aware of it the whole time, yet made no protest. He didn't care, as long as she was safe. As long as she was happy… She choked down a shuddering breath, struggling to remain calm.

The image of Zero, drinking her blood. Herself, pushing him away. The desperation and self-hatred in his eyes as he spoke…

"Do you understand? You're the victim, Yuuki. That's why, for you, you have the right to be cruel to me. It doesn't matter how much you make me worry or how much danger you put me in. Do it as much as you like. Even then, it's still not enough compensation for everything…"

His eyes were burning into hers.

"Even if I have to sacrifice my leftover life for you, I won't utter a word of complaint."

She was shaking, inside and out. Breaking. Where was the air in the room? How could she not have seen any of this? Had she taped her eyes shut? Her ears? Her senses? Zero would do anything for her, anything, without a word of protest. And Kaname-sama…the man she had been willing to sacrifice all the remnants of her human life for, had only manipulated both her and Zero mercilessly in order to keep her chained to his side.

He was still speaking. "I know how you feel now, Yuuki. I have felt the same. But I have waited ten years for you to grow up, consumed by my thirst for you. Before you, perhaps you can imagine… I wandered in solitude for hundreds of years, with nothing other than loneliness. And now, you are finally here with me…" His eyes focused on hers then, compassionate and gentle as she had always known him to be.

Until now. She could feel the guilt rising in her, summoned by the expressive power of his gaze. But simultaneously, she also felt the dull roar of anger. He really had kept so many things from her. He had intended to marry her without ever divulging them to her. This was not her brother. This was her ancestor, a man who had lived and loved for thousands of years before she had been born. That in itself did not spark the outrage she felt now. No, it was only mixed with the other truth he had shown her…

Kaname-sama had used Zero. No, beyond that… He had plotted the murder of Zero and Ichiru's parents, condemned Zero to life as a creature he despised, and then used him as insurance to make sure she was kept safe at the academy. She felt dizzy with nausea. It was all calculated. All of it, from the very beginning. Perhaps before she had even been born. The knowledge slammed into the pit of her stomach with bitter force; a bitter pill that rather than be asked to swallow, was forcibly embedded there.

Bile rose in the back of her throat. How could she be so blind? How could she have seen none of this? She should have seen something. All these cold calculations… Guilt fizzled at the edges of her stomach now, adding to the wrenching sensation she felt there. She hadn't noticed any of it. What pain could she have spared Zero from if she had opened her eyes? All of the darkness, all of the hatred in Zero's life…it stemmed from this man. The man she had thought better than this. The man she intended to bind herself to. She wore his ring around her finger even now.

Her eyes caught something else gleaming around her wrist, now. The bracelet. Her heart was flying again. Unconsciously, every day she had continued to wear the bracelet given to her to control Zero. She felt tears stab against the backs of her eyes. Wasn't this a promise, too? A promise so dear to her that it had become ingrained in her flesh until she had simply ceased to notice it. It had become a part of her, and she had never taken it off. It was her link to Zero, the attachment she could never break off. To have that connection, even physically around her wrist, was as natural as breathing. It had never occurred to her to remove it, although every day she thought of removing the crimson one around her finger.

She traced the familiar links of the bracelet with her eyes. They were as silver as Zero's hair. The symbol emblazoned on the bracelet's charm was the same one that was tattooed on his neck. The same one that she had sunk her teeth into when she had drank his blood…

Her gaze snapped back to her brother, who was watching her now with hooded eyes. The indignation and anger rose up again. She could forgive him for keeping the truth of his identity from her, but to use Zero as a crutch that would be thrown away when he was no longer needed… To destroy his happiness and his family as though they were nothing…

She was suddenly unsure if she could ever look at him the same way again. What he had done… Perhaps, this time, it was unforgiveable.

"I can see you need some time alone to think about all of this. I'll leave you be for the time being." His fingers grazed her skin like razors. She could no longer feel his touch except as a weapon.

Fighting down her emotions, she managed to nod. Time had slowed to a trickle. There was nothing else, except that scorch of emotion churning inside her. She wasn't aware of how long she had been sitting there numbly, alone, before she jerked back to herself, standing and quickly exiting the room. She needed to be alone. She felt very close to breaking down.

A knock on the door interrupted Yori yet again from her reading. The fictional world provided a much needed distraction from the miserable, tissue-covered one she inhabited now. With a sigh, she blew out her nose once more and shuffled across the room. She really just wanted to rest in bed, but since her voice was still hoarse, she had no choice but to go to the door in person to send her visitor away.

Thinking only of the next few minutes in which she'd be safely returned to the warmth of her bed, Yori opened the door. She hoped this wasn't anything important. She had a book to finish, and then she was considering scheduling a nap…or two. However, when she opened the door, the only person in the world that she wanted to see at the moment was standing there.

"Hanabusa-kun!" she exclaimed, voice rasping in happiness and despair. She really didn't want him to see her when she was gross with this cold.

The blond vampire stepped through the door, closing it behind him and drawing her against his body in one smooth motion, his cheek against the top of her head. "Missed you."

Her heart fluttered despite her misery, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, whispering, "Missed you, too." She straightened then, pushing him away suddenly, "No, I'll get you sick."

His face flashed with concern. "Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"No, it's just a cold. I should be better in a few days."

"You're not going to get better if you don't rest." He ushered her back into bed, tucking the blankets down around her and pressing a cool hand to her forehead to check for a fever. "You don't seem to have a temperature."

"It's really okay. It's just a little cold."

"You sound like you're probably miserable though."

She shrugged. "It's better now."

"It doesn't look better." He sounded skeptical.

She flushed a little. "Well…it's just that…I feel better now that you're here."

He grinned, leaning forward to steal a kiss before she could protest.

"You'll get sick!" she insisted.

"I can't get sick."

"You can't? Ever?" Did he have some kind of power of immunity, like his power with ice? There was still a lot that she didn't know about vampires, despite their conversations together.

"Nope."

"Then…can Yuuki get sick?"

"Vampires don't get sick," he answered with a touch of pride.

"Zero, too? Even though he wasn't born one?"

"He can't get sick either."

"Huh… Must be nice," she muttered, sniffling hard to avoid needing yet another tissue. At the rate she was going, she was going to run the school store out of stock.

"I think it is. I don't think Kiryuu would agree with you, though."

"Next time he's in a bad mood I'll tell him he may be a vampire, but it could be worse. He could have the flu or something." She gave up her feeble resistance and took another tissue from the bedside table. "He hates being a vampire, but clearly it isn't as bad as he makes it seem."

Aidou opened his mouth to say something, but instead took a breath, seeming to think better of it. He grew quiet for a moment, and then scowled, face transforming to its adorable pouting expression as he mentally changed the subject before saying, "Yuuki got an 83 on her test."

"In English? That's incredible."

"I guess," he sulked.

Realization kicked in. She had told him she'd call him by his name if Yuuki managed to get a test. She bit back a smile. He was really too cute. He didn't bother trying to hide how much he'd wanted her to call him by his name. She decided to take his mind off of the bet for the time being.

"I have something for you," she said, reaching into the desk drawer and pulling out a flier.

"What is it?" he asked curiously, taking it from her. His eyes scanned the words there, and then his eyebrows raised fractionally, lips pulling up into a smile. "Perfect."

"Right?"

"We'll definitely be there. Me and Yuuki both."

Yori smiled broadly, feeling the symptoms of her cold recede a little as excitement flowed through her.

"Heck, maybe we can even get Kiryuu to dance with her," he mused. "That idiot doesn't know a chance when it slaps him in the face…"

"Honestly I think they're both idiots," Yori giggled.

"Shit, Kaname-sama will kill me." He pressed a hand to his forehead.

Yori looked at him in concern.

"I'm conspiring with the enemy. It's your fault, just so you know. I used to be smarter than this."

"You don't sound too upset," she teased.

"How could I be upset? I have you now. " He touched her cheek.

She snuggled her cheek against his hand, meeting his eyes as she said, "You do have me…Hanabusa."

The air in the room went completely still.

And then was sent whirling into frenetic motion with the brilliance of his smile. The light from that smile was blinding. She could feel its energy even through the blackness as she closed her eyes to return his kiss.

Yuuki wasn't sure how long she'd been lying awake. The ceiling seemed to be spinning slowly away into some distant cosmos, far from her. Each particle of air danced before her eyes like tiny specks of stars, or maybe black holes, sucking in her vision and her thoughts. Her eyes seemed to be fastened open, lost within that black void, her mind heavy with thoughts and desires she didn't dare focus on, for fear of what they meant now, after the truths her brother had shared with her.

All she felt now was the weight of her body, anchoring her to the bed, and the undeniable, irrefutable thirst that had defied every attempt to subdue it. She clutched at her throat as a wave of thirst overwhelmed her, lips parting in a dry gasp. Already, in such a short span of time, the need was rising up in her again, tugging insistently at every vein. It was as though every drop of Zero's blood had already been drained from her. Her throat constricted painfully. The fog of silver was descending on her again, clouding her vision.

Zero, I'm thirsty…

She struggled to push down the bloodlust. Kaname-sama had taken so much blood from her that her body certainly needed to regain its strength. She half hoped he would offer her his blood soon, just so that she could understand what he was thinking, even though she feared the taste of it might make her physically ill.

On the other hand, the taste of Zero's blood… She shivered with the memory, the sensation tingling through her and spiking through her throat painfully. His blood had been deliciously sweet, like home and tender affection, even if it was tinged with despairing darkness. It was the taste of all that she had lost, and all she yearned to regain. It was the taste of simple love, without the complication of thousands of layers of carefully constructed half-truths and manipulations.

In her life right now, there was something missing. A hole in her heart that she couldn't cover up. There was an emptiness beside her that she couldn't shake, that followed her wherever she went. In the wake of that emptiness was only a parched landscape of solitude and crumbled dreams. Zero's presence had always been enough to keep her going. Now, without that gentle warmth at her side, she felt as though she couldn't breathe.

Was it the same with her brother? She already knew the answer. She didn't feel the same desolation, the same visceral grinding of her heart against her bones. Her mind didn't descend into darkness without him. The sadness was only a twinge that she could easily turn away from. A twinge that, while never completely forgotten, could at the very least be ignored.

If Zero were not a hunter, nor she a vampire, and if they had met as totally normal human beings, how would things have turned out? How would things have turned out if they were both students, and if Kaname-sama was her actual brother? Would she have thought honestly that Zero was "so cool?" He wouldn't have had to stay a year back, so he would have been her senpai, but he definitely wouldn't have gotten along well with Kaname-onii-sama.

On the day before the dance festival, she would coincidentally find "Zero-senpai," who had gotten himself all bloody because of a fight. She was sure that she would pass him a band-aid and say, "It's no good to fight," and become angry. Even though she'd be mad, she'd still take care of his wounds, and "Zero-senpai" would get taken care of obediently, and then…

And then, slowly they would grow closer to each other. They would begin talking, little by little. Yuuki would take care of him and yell at him after each fight, after each time that he got himself hurt. "Zero-senpai" would grumble at her and seem irritated by her company, but underneath of that cold exterior, surely, the ice would begin to melt, bit by bit, until…

Until there was love.

She sat up abruptly to shake away the image. Something wet splashed onto her hand. Glancing down in surprise, she watched as more droplets crashed onto the surface of her skin, slipping downwards to stain the sheet. It felt as though the fragile eggshell that had held her heart together had cracked apart to expose the raw, aching yolk that could not hide the sorrow it encased. She could feel her heart splattering against her lungs, breaking apart to trickle freezing sorrow through her veins.

Before she had even realized it, she was sobbing, face buried in her pillow to contain the sound, but feeling as though her very bones were breaking apart like glass. Her breath came in painful gasps, spiking pain through her entire body.

If only she had been born a human. If only Zero had never been changed into a vampire. Maybe then they could have been free from this cycle of tragedy, continuously torn from one another. Perhaps they could have simply loved each other, without complication, without interference. She could have loved him the way he deserved to be loved.

If only Kaname-sama had been born her true brother. She could have held onto both of them, had them both in her life without consequence. There would be no decision between the two of them. She would only need to love them both, albeit in different ways. There would be no scarlet promise strangling her finger even now…

She was shaking. She pressed herself hopelessly into the pillow. Why had everything become so needlessly complicated? How could Kaname-sama continue lying to her like this, continue using her feelings against her the way he was? Wasn't it bad enough that he had kept all this knowledge from her? That he actually was her ancestor, that he had lived and loved before, who knew how many times, that he was still in love with a woman from the distant past… Wasn't that enough? Why did he have to hurt and lie to Zero, as well? Wasn't Zero in enough pain?

Her brother had brought her here in ignorance. He had known everything, all along. Even that Zero still loved her. He kept her here, chained by her childhood fantasies and blissfully oblivious to everything. He had planned to bind her to him forever like that. And yes, he was suffering, and yes, he loved her, but… But, to lie to her, to keep her from knowing the truth, to use Zero like he was nothing more than a toy…

The world she had known was splintering apart.

Why do you do this, Kaname-onii-sama?

A cracking sound shot through the room. She sat up abruptly, wincing at how stiff her eyes felt after crying so much. She searched the room once, half afraid that someone had broken into the manor, but after a moment her eyes settled on the mirror above her dresser. In the depths of her sorrow and hurt, she had shattered the glass of the mirror. It still clung feebly to the frame, but here and there a few fragments had fallen away. Her lips twisted into a painful smile. The broken mirror now reflected the state of her heart.

Yuuki put a hand over her mouth, attempting to control her breathing and keep her tears under control. She could not help but feel the pain dispersing through every nerve, or the blossom of anger. If Kaname-sama had told her everything at the beginning, how would she have chosen? How was it fair that he was allowed to have a secret, other love, but she was not allowed to love Zero in at least a small corner of her heart despite choosing her brother? And how was it fair that Kaname-sama had lived thousands of years, with many lovers, while Zero was condemned to have none… Why was it always Zero who was sentenced to suffer alone in the darkness..?

She shook her head back and forth, knuckles white against the edge of the bed. If she continued thinking like this… If she thought only about Kaname-sama's deceit and Zero's suffering… …If she thought like that, how could she find it within herself to stay here? Didn't she love her brother? Did the past really matter so much?

Her stomach was churning. Her throat was paper-dry and closing up with thirst. How had it become like this, that her brother's blood sickened her and the only thirst that seemed to matter anymore was the one she had for Zero? If that was the truth, why was she still here..? Why did she continue holding on desperately to the promise she had made with Kaname-sama? Why did she fight to stay here by his side?

Why did she keep betraying everyone around her, when her heart and her instincts were clearly telling her what they wanted more than anything?

She closed her eyes, attempting to calm herself down. The words slipped out into the emptiness of the air. "The person I love most of all… The person I am truly in love with… Who is it?"

AN: Would you like to be featured in this (-cough- crappy –cough-) FF? Well, the chance is yours folks. (Shush yes I'm advertising here.) For a limited time only (until I finish the next chapter, which will hopefully be MUY PRONTO y'all) you can submit ideas for the Chairman's costume/mask at the masquerade :D :D :D. The quirkier, the better XD. Feel free to message me your ideas or add them into a review.

Also a HUGE shout out to one of my best friends of all time, Sophie, for her inspiring princess and shield line. She gave me permission to use it, and I just had to, because it's so perfect. Check her out on youtube as xChocolateLilac or at her VK blog ImaginaryLights.