Stay

3 Yuki's POV

"Yuki?" Yori's voice seemed far away," Yuki?" I jumped as if she had just woke me up. "Huh. what?" I blinked a few times. "What happened to your neck?" She asked gently poking the bandage. What do I say? Oh, you know, turns out Zero is a vampire and he bit me, no big deal..."It's nothing." I squeaked, "I was on patrol last night and...scraped it...on a tree branch." I didn't think Yori would buy it, I sounded so flustered. "You should really be more careful." She laughed. I sighed internally. Thank god she believed that. 

I glanced up at Zero's spot towards the back of the class...still not there. 'Step aside, Yuki' Kaname's angry voice rang through my ears suddenly....he had wanted to kill Zero....Zero wasn't in class today. My blood ran cold and I jumped up from my seat, running from the class room, ignoring Yori's surprised voice. Kaname better not have hurt him! I ran to Zero's dorm, but it was empty, when I checked the stables where Zero usually slept when he skipped class he wasn't there either. 

Zero, where are you?! I was panicking when I barged into the head master's office, the door flying open and slamming into the wall. "Yuki?" My father exclaimed in complete shock. There was a woman I had never seen before seated across from him. "I..uh..sorry, but it's important!" I struggled to catch my breath. Kaien beamed at the woman. "Excuse my daughter." He said obviously embarrassed, "She's...very excitable, this will only take a moment."

He led me into the hall quickly. "Where's Zero?" I demanded as soon as the door was shut, "I've looked everywhere and I can't find him." Kaien glanced at his office door and then at his watch. "Yuki, maybe Zero is in class where you should be." He said firmly. I could feel myself getting closer and closer to crying. "No." I said in a shaky voice, "He wasn't in class, I can't find him anywhere!" With another glance at his watch father sighed. "I'll help you look for him when my meeting is-"

I shook my head and took off to head back outside, feeling defeated, frustrated, and extremely worried.  Zero was more important than some stupid meeting! I decided I would go to the moon dorms and confront Kaname about this, but as I rushed out the door I slammed into someone.

Strong arms kept me from falling. I looked up just as Zero released me and took a step back. I had been on the verge of tears and when I saw his stony expression and the bag slung over his shoulder I couldn't hold them back anymore. "Y-you're leaving." My voice cracked. Zero looked down. "Look, Yuki...I have to." He wouldn't meet my eyes. I grabbed his arm and tried pulling him back towards class. "No, you don't, Zero." He couldn't...he just couldn't, "Please, you don't have to."

Zero pulled free of my grasp gently and turned his back to me. "Yes, I do...I'm dangerous...a monster, Yuki." I stood there in shock as he walked away. How could he possibly think that about himself? "Zero, you aren't a monster." I called after him, but he ignored me and kept walking with his head down and his shoulders slumped. I didn't know what to do. Zero couldn't leave...I needed him here.

I ran after him and threw my arms around him pressing my face against his back. Zero stopped. "Please, Zero." I sobbed into his jacket, "Don't go." Don't leave me alone here. "I'm a vampire, Yuki." He sighed, "I attacked you...I could have killed you." I tightened my arms around him. It didn't matter that he was a vampire. It didn't matter that he had bit me...he hadn't killed me, I was fine. "I don't care." His jacket muffled my voice, "I'll help you, I'll protect you, I'll be on your side." He gasped and I felt him stiffen. "I'll be on your side, Zero." I cried, "Please, stay."

We stood like that for a while, my tears soaking into his jacket. "Fine." He said quietly as he relaxed, "Just stop crying." I held on to him, afraid that if I let go he would disappear. "Yuki, you have to let go." Zero's voice was strained, "I...can smell you." I let my arms fall to my sides and tried to stop my tears. Zero kept his eyes on his feet as he left to go back to his dorm leaving me alone on the walk way. I fell to my knees, my hands folded in my lap, I felt exhausted emotionally. How could I help Zero? How could I do anything for him?

"Yuki?" Kaname's voice made me jump once again, "Why are you on the ground?" Not really trusting my voice I just shrugged my shoulders. "Why are you crying?" He sounded genuinely concerned, "Are you hurt?" I shook my head. "Zero just-" "Whathas he done to you now?" Kaname cut me off, his anger frightening me, but also making me a little angry myself. "Zero didn't do anything to me." I said defiantly as I stood up completely ignoring the hand he offered me, "I'm upset with myself." Kaname seemed confused. "Why are you upset at yourself?" He asked, "You didn't do anything wrong." What did he know? He wouldn't understand even if I tried to explain it to him.

"Why are you even here, Kaname?" I asked more curtly than I had intended to. "The night class students aren't allowed here while day class is in session." Despite my curt tone, Kaname smiled. "I know the rules quite well, Yuki, I helped make them." He chuckled, "I'm going to speak with the head master about Zero Kiryu."

Why couldn't he just leave it alone? "Why?" I demanded rolling my eyes, "What happened wasn't Zero's fault." He gave me an incredulous look. "Not his fault?" His tone matched the look I was getting, "How was it not his fault?" None of your business! "Zero has been fighting this for so long." I said sadly, "He's been hiding this, suffering, alone." Why was I telling any of this to Kaname? Kaname gently tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear. "You have such a kind heart, Yuki." He said in a soft voice, "I came to talk to Kaien about transferring Zero to the night class, he is one of us after all."

I chewed my bottom lip. Zero couldn't take that, he hates vampires too much for that. A sudden, painful, and unwanted thought stormed into my mind. Zero hates vampires....does he hate himself? "You can't have him transferred, Kaname." I muttered rolling my eyes again, "You know how Zero would react to that..." He would be even more miserable than he is now, if he was transferred to the night class...he would leave for sure and I barely managed to stop him this time. Kaname ignored what I said. "You should be in class, Yuki." He said sternly, "And I have to go."

I wanted to slap him. I wasn't a child or one of his undead minions he could order around! So, I went to class....I told myself it was only because I really did need to go, not because Kaname had told me to. Normally I would have been really happy to talk to Kaname and to spend time with him alone, but for some reason today he just got on my nerves...I must be moody with everything that's happened.

Zero wasn't in class, but I tried not to worry, he said he would stay and I had to believe him. 'I'll help you, I'll protect you, I'll be on your side.' I just had to figure out a wiy I could keep that promise to him. There had to be something I could do to help...