Vampire Knight; Brave (COMPLETED)

Chapter 26

Unedited
Emiko's POV

"That's a wrap." I hear the teacher say, before gathering his books. We stood up from our chairs and proceeded to chat with our friends or quickly get out of the class.

"Lady Kuran," I hear someone say. I turned my head around slightly to see Aido.

"What is it?" I question, ignoring the fact that he called me Lady Kuran. I still wasn't used the name. I hadn't called myself a Kuran for years.

He placed his hands together and bowed, "I'm very sorry for the rude encounters with you in the past. I had spoken to you as if you and I were equals, please forgive me."

I sighed, "Hanabusa, you didn't know. There is nothing to apologise for."

"Yes, but still I—"

"No. Like I said, you didn't know. You are still my friend." I said, smiling.

He looked at me with huge eyes glimmering with tears and snot coming out from his nose, attempting to sniff it up. His mouth trembled and he looked like a child. I chuckled quietly, getting out a handkerchief and placing it on his nose.

"Now blow." I said, helping him with his snot issues. He blew into the handkerchief and I made a face but nonetheless, continued to help him.

After that, I proceeded to gather up my books, not before a hand stopped me. I looked up to meet the eyes of Kaname. I gulped and tried to yank my hand away from his but he didn't let go.

"We need to talk." He stated.

"About what?" I question, still trying to get him off of me.

He tightened his fingers, "About us. About the past. Emiko, I need to settle things with you."

I looked away, not wanting to talk which made him sigh. I didn't want to go back to that painful past. I didn't want to feel that loneliness and that hurt of that betrayal. I didn't want to feel any of that or remember anything.

"That day," Kaname began, "I accepted the proposal because you. Emiko I wanted to protect you, that's why I did it. I didn't want to hurt you but I knew that if Juuri-sama and Haruka-sama knew I favoured you more than Yuki, they would result to beat you. I was going to tell you but had found out the hard way and it broke me to see you crying and telling me you hate me. I wanted to explain everything to you, to hush your cries but you.."

No stop. Don't make me remember it.

"I looked everywhere for you, Emiko. I truly tried my hardest. But when you were no where to be found, it was like I died inside. When I saw you at the academy, you didn't know how happy I was. I was hurt that you pushed me away but I knew that I deserved it after everything."

"You're looked down upon, you are pitied by everyone, you're an emotional charity case and a burden in people's lives."

"You just need to get used to the idea that you may never be able fall in love and get married or have a normal relationship."

"You would have been better off as an abortion."

"You misunderstood, Emiko. I just wanted to protect you."

I slowly removed my hand away and refused to look at him, "But that was all in this past. Telling me didn't change a thing. I thought I found my light, but it was taken from me. I'm still that lonely girl that is left in the dark."

I turn away like I always did and vanished into mid air. I reappeared outside of where the school gates are, surprised that it was empty. One thing caught my eyes, someone who I had been trying to avoid. He stood right in front of me, his hands in pockets. I gulped but straightened my posture, and walked right past him.

"Who are you to me?" That was one of the sentences I never wanted to come out of Zero's mouth. It wanted to make me cry then and there.

I stopped walking trying to calm myself.

"Were lying then? Was Yuki telling the truth all along?" He said.

I clench my fists together and my eyes watered. Please Zero, don't do this to me. Footsteps approached me and strong hands turned me around violently. Zero had a furious expression but when he saw my tear-filled eyes, his face slightly softened.

"Why are you crying?" He asked, looking down at me.

Something inside me just snapped and resulted me to spilling everything out, "Why?! I'm crying because you were taken from me! Seeing you with her made me want to die all over again. It hurt and yet I was forced to let you go so I wouldn't hurt you anymore but you know what? I won't! Because you were the one to push me out from my miserable state and that saved me from darkness. I'm crying because I loved you from the day I met you, Zero!" I yelled my heart out.

He looked at me with his eyes widened, "I—I don't know what to say."

My heart broke into pieces and I looked down, concealing my eyes behind my bangs.

"You're just a sad reflection of Yuki."

"You might as well give up now."

A laugh came from my lips, there was no joy in it though. It was a nervous laugh that distracted myself from crying. A laugh that I had been using for years. I closed my mouth when my throat constricted. Why did I always have to end up crying? Why couldn't I just be happy?

"Then don't say anything. Goodbye, Zero." I said, turning around and walking away.

When I was young, I always dreamed of getting out of that terrible manor and starting fresh. I would write down my plans for my future self— a bucket list might I say. I would grab a piece of paper and pencil I found under my bed and planned to draw myself holding someone's hand. Unfortunately, my pencil broke and there was no sharpener around the house.

So I stopped drawing and left that drawing incomplete. I didn't get to draw the other person and it was just me standing there by myself.

When Yuki found the drawing, she scrunched the paper up and threw it out of the window, laughing at me. I remember rushing down stairs and out into the cold world outside to find my drawing. I looked everywhere and everywhere, not stopping until my feet were full of blisters from the skin rubbing onto the material of my tight shoes and my hands wrecked and bleeding.

In the end, I was unable to find the paper and my dreams crushed and forever will be.

"Miko!" I hear Zero exclaim, before I was forced back by large arms around me and my back slamming against Zero's chest.

I widened my eyes.

What did he just call me?

_______________________________

Poor Emiko, having to put up with all the abuse.

I'll see you next time!