As Rei exited his office, Kaname returned to his desk and sat quietly in the large executive chair. He didn't bother to look up as the door opened and Yuki entered. She crossed the floor and came to sit in the chair across the desk from him.
" I saw Rei leaving…" Her voice was soft, almost sad. "Do you want to talk about it"
Kaname still didn't look up. "No, I don't think that would be appropriate"
Yuki bit her lip, not sure how much she should push the matter.
"Kaname, you don't have to say anything, but even still… I know you're hurting. This situation with Rei and Zero…"
Kaname raised his eyes to meet Yuki's, his expression serious and unmoving.
"Yuki. I said it's not something that I wish to talk about. I most definitely don't want to hear his name from your lips."
Sighing, Yuki continued anyways. "You can try to avoid it or act like the last 8 years and past several weeks didn't happen, but that's not going to change anything. You know that. I do too." She shifted in the chair so that she could lean forward and reach across the desk for his hands.
"Do you think that I'll be angry about you having feelings for her? I'm not. I'm sad about it sure. The same way that I'm sad about Zero's, but there's nothing that I can do about that, and it wouldn't be fair for me to judge, especially considering the way that I feel about both of the two of you."
Kaname sat up straight, looking first at Yuki's hands held out towards him on the table and then to her. "You say the way that you feel about us both, and yet you still won't move forward with me, because of your love for him?"
Yuki frowned "You make it sound so simple. Kaname, I've been with Zero for the past 8 years. Yes, I've never stopped loving you, but I love him too and I made a decision and committed myself to him. Even if he's chosen Rei, I'm not so fickle that it means that I would just change my mind."
"Even it it means that you would be unhappy? I don't understand."
Yuki dropped her eyes. "Maybe you just can't". She knew Kaname was hurting but so was she. Her last conversation with Zero had been difficult. She didn't know Rei's intention, but Zero had finally made his choice and it wasn't Yuki. They would always love each other but -as he'd so sheepishly told her- Rei was someone that he'd realized he absolutely couldn't live without. It was painful, but he'd been upfront and honest and she appreciated and loved him for that. Besides, Zero and Yuki's relationship spanned far longer than the past 8 years. He'd been in her life for so long that even if they weren't together, she'd never be able to cut him out completely.
Kaname reached out and grabbed Yuki's hands in his. "I understand that we love each other. I may have lost my memories, but they're back and I remember those feelings. I loved you before and I love you just as strongly now. There is no reason for you to sit and pine for a man that you can no longer have. I am here now and I do want you. I'll give you the love that you deserve and I'll keep you happy. Why would you deny yourself if you love me too?"
Yuki looked back up at him. "You want me and only me?"
Kaname was silent. He said nothing for a while as Yuki waited patiently for him to process her question. "I can't undo or unravel my feelings, but I can move past them. I fully understand that there is no future for me with Rei. That's my reality. But that's not the case for you and I. I truly believe that our future together is destined. In that way, you are the only one for me. If you could accept that, we can live the life we were meant to. We could be happy together". His eyes were pleading.
Since his memories had returned, Kaname had worked to overcome his internal struggle and find a way to establish his life with Yuki. Realizing today that Rei did truly love him had made been both a blessing and a curse. He had to admit that it brought him joy to know that in her heart she returned his affection, but at the same time he'd also seen her feelings for Zero and compared against each other, it had been very clear that their love would have never stood a chance. It didn't change a thing for him, he'd continue to love her. He couldn't stop, and really didn't want to, even if she belonged to someone else. He would hope for her happiness. But his love for Yuki was as strong if not stronger, and he saw no reason to stop his own happiness in the process.
He'd done his duty for Rei and given her all that he could. Going into this he'd expected that Yuki could be the direction for him once his memories returned and now that Zero wasn't in her picture anymore, he intended to pursue that direction.
"Marry me." He said it seriously as he stared deeply into Yuki's eyes. He was a vampire again and they had eternity to spend together. "I love you, and now that I have my immortal life back I want to spend it with you by my side as my wife."
Kaname walked around the desk, bending on one knee before Yuki in the chair and taking her hand in two of his "Forget your promises to Zero and whatever other obligations you think you have. You don't owe him anything. If you love me like I love you – marry me Yuki"
Eyes filled with love, he raised his face to her expectantly and waited to see if she would agree to be his bride.
