Chapter 2
The next evening change-over is slightly different since its Valentine Day, a time the day students get to gift their favorite night student chocolate and Zero isn't looking forward to the excessive screeches (his poor sensitive ears).
He observes in boredom as the gates open and Yuki starts blowing a whistle causing him to wince.
She then prattles on explaining the rules of the event.
'Maybe you should have made Kaname something' Kai tease.
'Shut up' he flusters inwards, his cheeks turn a barely noticeable pink.
Seeing the female brunette get trample by the girls cause his lips to curve slightly.
'Such a useless child, what's the point of training her if she doesn't use it, ridiculous' Kai huffs.
He hums in agreement then blinks seeing she'd dropped a small box, he walks over then picks it up, "Kuran, he calls tossing it to the pureblood when he stopped and half turned to him, you dropped that."
The male brunette stare at him with a glint in burgundy eyes then glance at the fallen female prefect, "thank you, Yuki" he turns and continue on to class.
'You should've thrown it in the trash.'
"Zero" Yuki growls once on her feet then moves to hit him, he easily evades with an icy glare.
Shock, a hurt expression paints her face.
He scoffs, "Don't forget your place Miss Cross, have you forgotten what I said already, we are not close" he turns to leave when her question made him pause.
"Why, what did I ever do for you to hate me so much Zero?" she asks softly timid, 'Why won't you let me in and love me Zero!?'
"I don't hate you Miss Cross, she perks with hope but it died at his continued words, hate is a strong emotion, you aren't important enough to evoke such, I'm going on patrol, do whatever you want" he walks away.
'Why, why do you keep pushing me away Zero?' she watches him go with a frown, 'I just don't want you to be lonely, to suffer alone, I thought…' she glances in the direction of the moon dorm then went to patrol the opposite area from Zero.
The next day, at noon, Zero stand leaning on the stable door lost in thoughts, skipping remaining classes. He sighs sensing a human girl hiding in the bushes, watching him.
"Come out, I know you're there" he crosses his arms. She reveals herself at his words.
"Oh…um, it's the girl he'd caught from falling the other day, it's just, I wanted to thank you for saving me, she walks closer, so I made you this, I wanted to give it yesterday but…" she stops speaking flustered then hold out a decorated box to him in a bow.
Zero takes it with a small smile to her delight, "there's no need for thanks but I accept your gift, his expression softens, now go back to class."
With a blush and a daze expression she complies.
'That's very sweet of you Zero-chan, Kai chimes, if only you would act the same with Kaname.'
A blush stain pale cheek, 'Why are you bringing him up now, he has nothing to do with this!'
'Why are you blushing Ro-chan, does the mere mention of his name excite you~' she purrs.
'Wha-shut up!' he huffs turning his gaze inside the stable to see white Lily staring at him, "What, his blush darkens, don't give me that look" he finishes weakly.
Hours later Zero finds himself standing before the lake, gazing at the moon's reflection then suddenly Kaname's inner-circle of followers appears surrounding him to his and Kai's amusement.
'I see your little challenge ruffed a few feathers' Kai muse.
'That was the goal but they sure took their time to confront me' "lovely night isn't it, he sticks a hand in his pocket, not even bothering to face them or draw the half of Bloody Rose he allowed to remain in gun form for various reasons, shouldn't you all be in class?"
The night students are puzzled by the prefect's nonchalant towards their clearly hostile intent, sure he isn't hostile like most hunters and act civil with (some of) them they know he does so for the chairman's sake, but given current situation they at least expected anger.
"You're far too cocky, Zero Kiryu" Aido spat with contempt.
'Cocky' Kai snickers.
Zero cough to disguise his laugh, 'Seriously not the time K' he chides half-heartedly.
The blond vampire took the silverette's cough wrongly and grew red with rage.
"You're just a lowly human, Ruka voice next gaining his attention, and the way you treat Lord Kaname is unforgivable."
'Like lovers behind close door' Kai supplies innocently.
Zero's brow twitch at her words, his cheeks a faint pink, he's relived the vampires couldn't see his face, 'can you like not right now!'
"We really doing this?" Rima inquires uncertain.
"Takuma did say we should leave it alone" Shiki reminds.
'They should've listened to Taku-chan' Kai sing-song.
"He's right, Kain interjects before his cousin escalate things, Hanabusa, Ruka if Lord Kaname finds out about this, he'll tear us apart, 'so true', Kiryu can you just forget this?" the orange hair vampire scratches the back of his neck unease, awaiting the prefect's response.
"Sure, no harm done, he waves his free hand in a laze manner, so kindly return to your class, senpais" he glances over at them, a small devilishly amuse smirk adorn his beautiful face while the moon's light illuminates long silver hair.
"I'm gonna wipe that look off your face" Aido, flustered slightly by the display lash out.
Thin ice forms under the blond's feet then races towards Zero who finally turns to face them, amuse at the blond short fuse tilts his head cutely, highly entertain.
"Enough Hanabusa" Kain interfere, melting the ice before it reaches the silverette.
"Hold it right there, Yuki drops in (literally) souring Zero's and Kai's mood, fighting is forbidden didn't- "
"They were just leaving, Miss Cross" Zero cuts in coldly, not in the mood to hear her grating voice prattle on having disrupted his fun.
The vampires are surprised by his harsh attitude towards the female prefect, never expecting it, believing her the only person he liked and holds dear.
"I'm heading back, you can finish up here" Zero walks away not caring he'd shown his dislike of Yuki in front others.
'Zero, why is your heart so impenetrable, it's always been like this, she stares at his retreating form, I thought eventually we would get closer but I was wrong, did you really meant what you said back then' she thought frustrated.
Flashback
It's been four months since Young Zero started living with Young Yuki and Kaien Cross.
Little Zero was quiet and stayed in his room most time and only comes out at breakfast, sometimes lunch, to use the bathroom and late evening meals.
She'd tried on multiply occasions to get closer to Zero but he shut her down ever time though she'd soon realized he wasn't cold to her when her adopted father was around and took advantage to cling to Zero when possible.
Yuki was confused at his blatant yet subtle dislike of her especially after Kaname's visits.
One evening when Kaien had to leave them alone on an errand, she'd been in her room playing when the sweet aroma of someone cooking distracted her.
Thinking the older man had returned early the young brunette went to greet him only to find Zero at the kitchen counter chopping ingredients, a pot boiling on the stove behind him.
The young silverette ignored her staring at him from the doorway, listening to Kai's instructions diligently.
Yuki, curious, walked in to get a closer look at what he was making.
"I didn't know you could cook Zero" she states intrigued.
He ignored her pouring the chopped items into the bubbling pot.
"What are you making, it smells good."
Silent meets her inquiry.
"Zero-"
"Would you shut up and leave me alone, can't you tell when someone doesn't like you, he stabbed the knife in his hand into the cutting board beyond annoyed, well let me spell it out for you more clearly, I will NEVER like you or be your 'friend' or anything you're delusional about, I'm only tolerant with you because of Kaien Cross so enough of your useless attempts" he went back to his task ignoring her shocked state.
End flashback
'No, I can't give up now' with renew (pointless) resolve she continue patrolling.
'Did something happen between those two?' Kain wonders as he and the other noble vampires head back to class, running long fingers through his hair.
Minutes later inside the night student's classroom.
"Everyone seems truly repentance, Ichijo informs Kaname with a sigh, but it was a surprise to hear about his reaction, not drawing his weapon and the sudden cold shoulder towards Miss Cross, something about him seems different lately" he muses thoughtful 'maybe they had a falling out?'
A sad expression crosses the pureblood's face briefly that the nobles missed, "We can't help him, not now, that incident four years ago changed his life, forever."
If only he knew how right he is.
'Zero, what are you thinking?' he stares longingly out the window at the moon.
To be continue…
