-- Chapter 14 - Going too far part 1 --

The bell rang, signaling the end of the last lesson of the day, for the Day Class students at Cross Academy. It was now four o’clock and Yuuki’s head was already spinning from the Algebra session it had just been put through. She sighed at the thought of the homework that awaited her before the pending class changeover in a few hours’ time.

Zero was already packed up and waiting for her at the classroom door, so was Yori. Yuuki packed up her books and headed towards the door, her slender hand going up to rub at her temples. The two girls exited first, Zero trailing silently behind them.

“Yuuki, are you having a headache?” asked Yori. “Why, did I wake you up from your nap too early?” she teased next, making Yuuki smile somewhat sheepishly. Against her better judgment, she had sacrificed a precious two hours of sleep last night working on a sketch of Zero, and was rather proud of how it had turned out. She’d caught the amazed, rather disbelieving look in his eyes at the exact moment a few weeks ago when he’d realised he could still drink her blood. It was already filed in her folder of sketches of Zero. As a result, she’d nodded off to sleep after lunch but luckily, Yori’s pencil dug into her ribs had awakened her before the teacher noticed.

Zero strolled a few feet behind them, enjoying the breeze against his face as it carried Yuuki’s soft sweet scent back to him. He never approached her when she was talking or walking with Yori. Somehow, the short exchange that he and Yori had shared during the past dance always made Zero feel as though Yori knew exactly how he felt about his adopted sister…

After a minute, they reached the path leading off to the Sun Dorms and Yuuki smiled and waved as her friend called a goodbye and walked off. Only then did Zero lengthen his stride to reach Yuuki’s side.

“Hey, you really having a headache?” he asked quietly.

Yuuki started to shake her head, then nodded, still staring straight ahead.

“You have…?” Immediately, Zero started calculating the number of days that had passed since he last drank from her, wondering if her headache was brought on by blood loss…

“Yeah, and it’s called ‘Algebra’” muttered Yuuki darkly, before looking up in time to see Zero’s relieved look accompanied by the brief flash of his dimple. “Well, let’s finish it now, shall we?” he offered, shifting his books to one arm and loosening his red silk tie with his other hand.

Yuuki flashed him a grateful smile, she wasn’t sure if he minded playing tutor to her all the time. Zero would just have to ace all of his subjects, wouldn’t he, she thought ruefully.

A couple of hours later, the detested Algebra homework was duly completed and both Yuuki and Zero were quickly going through their other homework, sitting at the dining room table in a companionable silence.

Yuuki was bent over her book and absently scratching at her nose as a lock of hair teased it. Impatiently, she tucked the shiny auburn strands behind her ear, oblivious to a pair of amethyst eyes observing her covertly. Zero’s approving glance moved from her hair to her face, appreciating each feature that made Yuuki so enchanting to him. Even the small frown between the delicate strokes of her eyebrows was enchanting. His gaze slid past her small ear and down her slender white throat to the base of her neck and he noticed the scabs from the bite marks he’d made last week had fallen off. But it wouldn’t remain like that for long… he thought with a slight twinge of regret and guilt.

Yuuki glanced up suddenly and caught Zero’s gaze on her, half hidden by the longish silvery strands that fell over his eyes. “What?” she asked, lifted eyebrows pushing away her frown.

Zero immediately shook his head. “Nothing” he said, turning once more to the open book in front of him.

Yuuki frowned again. She’d noticed Zero staring at her a lot more than he’d ever done, particularly in the past few months and she wondered if he had something to say to her…

Zero could tell Yuuki was on the verge of asking him and he closed his book quickly. “Let’s get ready, it’s almost time for the changeover.” Startled, Yuuki glanced at the clock on the wall. Her forehead drooped onto her book for a moment before she straightened up again, back to her happy bubbly self. It was a tedious and thankless task all right but at least Kaname-sempai would be there…

“All right! Class changeover - let’s go, Zero!” Yuuki sang out as she stood up and slammed her book shut before placing it on her haphazardly piled up stack of books and notes and topping it off with her pencil case. She gathered the entire stack into her arms and took a few steps before the case dropped off the pile onto the floor. “Oops…!”

Without a word, Zero bent down to retrieve the fallen pencil case. “Go” he told Yuuki, placing it on top of his own books. She smiled her thanks and they walked down the corridor towards their rooms. Zero followed Yuuki into her room to deposit the case on her desk personally, telling himself it was because he didn’t want her to drop it again and NOT because he wanted another opportunity to surround himself in her enticing scent that was strongest in her room…

As expected, when they neared the Moon Dorm, Zero and Yuuki found the majority of the Day Class girls already lined up along the cemented path, eager eyes on the imposing gates in front o them. It creaked open a couple of minutes later and Yuuki reached for her whistle. School Prefect time…

A group of girls surged forward, squealing “Idol-sempai! Idol-sempai!! Over here!” as the tousle-haired blond aristocrat strolled out, hands in his pockets, before striking a pose even Senri Shiki could not fault. The part time professional model did notice it however and catching Rima’s eye, nodded his head at Aido. She smiled and shook her head, rolling her eyes.

Aido’s blue eyes lit up when he saw his fan base. Zero scowled darkly and strode over to the girls. “You’re over the line, get back!” he snapped at them. They backed down a step amidst muttered grumbles about how mean Kiriyu was, always throwing his weight around and spoiling all the fun with that glare and frown of his.

“Hey Kiriyu, don’t be so mean to my friends…” murmured Aido as he moved up to stand beside Zero, deliberately clapping a hand onto the brooding prefect’s tense shoulder and making him shrug it off distastefully. Aido turned to flash a blindingly white smile at the suitably smitten girls. “And looking so lovely tonight too…” he chirped. Zero’s jaw clenched hard. “Get to class, Aido” he growled at the vampire noble before swinging back to the girls. “And you lot, you’ve seen your ‘Idol’ – now get back to your dorms!” he barked at them.

“Now, now, Kiriyu” began Aido, getting annoyed. He’d taken special care to look his best tonight, even sacrificing a precious half an hour of sleep to fix his hair just right, and the presumptuous Kiriyu just had to go spoil his fun...

“Get. To. Class.” Zero bit out tersely. He locked gazes with the vampire noble, not caring what the Day Class girls thought. And after a while, Aido glanced away. He told himself he wasn’t scared of the hunter turned vampire, even though the steely look in those amethyst eyes had unnerved him a little. They’d made Kiriyu look like he really didn’t care what happened to him, that he had nothing left to lose… and for a startled moment, Aido realised that this same attitude was probably what made Kiriyu dare to stand up to Kaname-sama, when the rest of the vampire world obeyed him without question.

Zero had turned away from Aido now, belatedly realising that he himself was acting somewhat out of line. After all, he knew Aido was the playboy of the lot of them. Thankfully, Yuuki hadn’t noticed his behaviour, she wouldn’t have hesitated to chastise him on the spot. Wouldn’t ‘Idol-sempai’ have loved to see that… thought Zero grimly to himself before realising why Yuuki hadn’t noticed.

She was conversing animatedly with Kuran, glancing distractedly at the glowering girls around her from time to time. As expected. Zero’s frown deepened even though he knew it would happen. And it did. Every damn day. She acted like this was the highlight of her day, happily soaking up every look, every word and every gesture from the tall and charismatic Moon Dorm Leader.

Zero didn’t realise that Aido was now watching him, noting the way his hands had clenched into fists by his sides and how his stare had deepened as he looked at Yuuki, now laughing softly over a softly spoken comment by Kaname.

Well, well, well… Aido was aware that Zero was a Level D vampire. He also knew that Kaname was aware of this fact as well, but he thought the pureblood didn’t know that Kiriyu also drank Yuuki’s blood as he’d once witnessed in the Chairman’s kitchen. But only now did Aido realise from the sudden look of longing on Zero’s face that the ex-human was deeply in love with Cross Yuuki – the girl Kaname had picked as his own. Aido frowned, what was it about this human girl that made both Kaname and Zero fall for her? It must be her blood, there was no other reason - she was just too… ordinary.

A moment later, Kaname has touched Yuuki’s cheek in farewell and walked on ahead. An idea had popped into Aido’s head and a small sly smile played around his lips now as he gave a final wave to his fan girls before jogging ahead to where his cousin Akatsuki Kain, was now walking past Yuuki.

Deliberately, Aido raised his voice to make sure Yuuki heard every word. “Hey Kain, has Ichijo informed everyone of Kaname’s party yet?”

His cousin blinked at him. “Huh? Dunno… I guess so…”

“What party?” Yuuki had her head tilted to one side as she looked curiously at the two vampire nobles in front of her. Aido made a great show of looking surprised. “Oh, Cross Yuuki! Well, Kaname’s surprise par – oh dear!” he even placed a hand over his chest, looking suitably guilty. It was Kain’s turn to roll his eyes now over his cousin’s bad acting.

“Kaname-sempai’s having a party?” asked Yuuki eagerly. “When is it?” She suddenly remembered his birthday was very close by… just a few days from now actually… could it be…? Oh dear, and she’d almost forgotten about it. Well, she had marked it down on her calendar anyway…

“Oops, forget I mentioned it. It’s a secret, you see…” Aido’s blue eyes were completely guileless. As Yuuki opened her mouth to question him further, he quickly added “Why don’t you ask Ichijo Takuma, he’s the organiser…” He grabbed Kain’s arm and hurried off before Yuuki could ask him anymore questions.

Zero heard the exchange of course, being vampire himself, and he pressed his lips tightly as Yuuki immediately went over to Ichijo, who was just coming out from the Moon Dorm gates. The tall and handsome Assistant Dorm Leader usually walked beside Kuran but had turned back to get a forgotten book.

Zero frowned as he saw Yuuki engage in an animated conversation with the vampire noble, reading surprise, caution and finally happy agreement on that friendly handsome face. It was pretty obvious Yuuki had somehow wrangled an invitation for herself to the damned party and Zero didn’t like it one bit.

He couldn’t help noticing Yuuki’s excited smile as they walked back to the main building, after the vampires had gone safely to class and the Day Class students safely to their dorms.

“What’s up, Yuuki?” he asked.

“What? Oh, nothing much… really…” muttered Yuuki.

Zero’s eyebrow lifted. “Really?” Then, as Yuuki remained silent, he pressed her. “Would it have anything to do with your little talk with Ichijo?”

“Uh, yeah…” Yuuki looked down at the ground.

“Well?”

“Uh, the Night Class is planning a, uh, surprise birthday party for Kaname-sempai, and um…” mumbled Yuuki, already knowing Zero’s reaction.

He snorted loudly. “You’re not planning on going, are you?” he asked.

“Well, actually… we both are” Yuuki confirmed.

Zero inhaled sharply. “Who’s ‘we’?” he asked, even though he knew.

Yuuki smiled innocently up at him. “You and me, of course” she said sunnily and left Zero standing where he was, frowning ferociously. He should’ve known of course… And there was no way he’d be letting her go by herself even if he hadn’t been invited but still… Zero reached under his jacket to grasp the cool handle of his Bloody Rose gun.

When he next drank Yuuki’s blood, he’d hold her in such a way she would never care for Kuran’s arms again, Zero vowed to himself.

- o -

The following evening, Chairman Cross himself helped to watch the class changeover and informed Zero happily that Yuuki had gone shopping with Yori. Zero frowned, suspecting Yuuki had sneaked out to buy Kuran’s birthday present. He didn’t see her that night either, she’d snuck back and hid in her room, ostensibly to wrap her present. Zero’s frown turned to a dark scowl.

He needed to be next to Yuuki. He needed her blood. He needed her.

- o -

The surprise party was to be held the following day. Zero was getting increasingly testy and his mood was downright sullen.

Yuuki bit her lip. She had noticed Zero’s grumpiness of course, her eyes following him as he slouched in his seat in class. Perhaps he needed her blood? Mentally, she started to calculate how many days it had been since he’d last taken from her… it was during the Physical Education class last week, right? When he’d, well, um… tasted more than just her blood. He’d also tasted her ear, her neck and her - Yuuki hurriedly broke off her thoughts, knowing her blush had flared up again.

Yori leaned closer to Yuuki. “Hey, what’s up with Zero-kun, Yuuki? He looks even grumpier than usual… if such a thing were possible” she whispered, turning around to eye Zero suspiciously. He glanced at her as if he could feel her stare, then at Yuuki, then looked down at his book.

Yori glanced at her friend. “And why are you blushing, Yuuki?” A sudden thought struck her. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with why Kiriyu is looking so bad tempered now, would you?”

Yuuki changed the subject hurriedly but promised herself she would corner Zero tonight, before they left for the party.

- o -

That evening, Zero and Yuuki prepared to control the usual screaming fan girls stationed outside the Moon Dorm gates.

Aido’s eyes fell on the moody School Guardian as soon as he strolled outside the gates, two steps behind Kaname’s tall and elegant person. The ex-human looked rather like he could do with a blood tablet or two…

Deliberately, the tousle haired blond waited until Kaname had caught Yuuki’s attention, before flirting outrageously with his fan base, causing squeals and appreciative giggles all around. As he’d expected, Zero stormed up to him almost immediately. “No fraternising with the Day Class, Aido” he snapped.

Aido fixed innocent blue eyes on him. “Why, I’m just saying hello to these lovely ladies over here” he purred, before flashing another killer smile at the swooning Day Class girls. Zero barely suppressed a disgusted snarl.

Yuuki noticed that Kaname had lifted his head and was watching over her shoulder, a sudden alert look on his face. She whirled around to see Zero having a terse exchange with Aido and she felt a sudden surge of concern. Zero looked tense, pale and she realised with a start that he looked like he badly needed blood. And soon.

“Aido” Kaname’s voice was soft but Aido heard it as clearly as if he’d been standing right next to the Dorm Leader. “Let’s go to class now…” it sounded like a softly spoken suggestion but Aido knew better and he gave a last wave of his hand before obediently walking over to Kaname’s side.

Yuuki smiled a goodbye to Kaname before moving over to Zero’s side. “Hey, you OK?” she asked softly.

Zero ignored the Day Class girls still waving at their idol and inhaled deeply, trying to slow down his breathing. Yuuki’s soft scent calmed him down a little. “Yeah, let’s go back…” The smitten Day Class students had finally started to drift back to the Sun Dorms as the white-clad Night Class students made their way to the classrooms.

Yuuki nodded her agreement and they started moving back quickly towards the main building.

As they walked past the corridor leading to their rooms, Chairman Cross poked his head out of the kitchen door. “Yuuki? Could you help me get dinner ready, please? The hunter council has called for another meeting tonight. Again.” The older man sighed, looking rather tired.

Yuuki hesitated and turned back to Zero. He sighed soundlessly and nodded. “Go ahead, Yuuki” he murmured, giving her shoulder a small squeeze before walking off to his room, trying to hide his disappointment.

- o -

Preparations for dinner took rather longer than expected. Halfway through, the Chairman suddenly remembered he had to submit a report and left the cooking to Yuuki while he searched for the misplaced report. Zero wandered back to the kitchen and found Yuuki frantically slicing vegetables while cursing under her breath at a smoking pot on the stove. Zero came just in time to prevent a possible catastrophe.

Their Father excused himself and left as soon as he’d finished eating. By the time Yuuki had hurriedly cleared up the dishes and Zero had gone for a quick round of patrol, she’d forgotten about Zero’s need for blood and was busy making herself look good after a quick shower.

The party was only a short one and would be held during the break in lessons at the empty block of classrooms that was normally only used for the Day Class students.

Yuuki hummed to herself as she put on a new dress, spring green with short puffed sleeves and a wide skirt that fell just above her knees. It had delicate gold embroidery and her gold high heeled sandals went well with it.

Zero raced through his shower then spent a good fifteen minutes pacing up and down the corridor and wondering if Yuuki had forgotten about his bloodlust. When she finally opened her door however, he forgot about it himself.

The look on Zero’s face alone was worth the price of the dress, thought Yuuki, smiling happily. However, his look of open admiration soon turned sullen again. “It’s only a small gathering, Yuuki” he muttered, jealous of the trouble she’d taken over her appearance. And all for Kuran. He was on the verge of saying more but the sudden, slightly stricken look on Yuuki’s face stopped him. And reminded him of the time he’d completely wiped the happy smile off her face with a thoughtless remark during the night of the past dance.

Zero swallowed his next cutting remark. “You look beautiful, Yuuki…” he murmured, taking her hand and tucking it in the crook of his arm. Her radiant smile thanked him and Zero resigned himself to controlling his bloodlust until after the party.

Yuuki squeezed his arm briefly. “I’m sorry, Zero. But the part’s starting now. We’ll do it afterwards, OK?” she asked softly, making a mental note to change into the yellow satin pyjamas beforehand.

Zero nodded. Yuuki could be amazingly perceptive about some things… and completely in the dark about others… like how he felt about her, for example…

-- End --