Vampire Knight; Brave (COMPLETED)

Chapter 28

Unedited
Zero's POV

I landed on my back and I groaned in pain, a sharp stabbing pain could be felt. I managed to sit up slightly and saw her lips moving.

"I love you."

She stared at me for the last time before she was engulfed in smoke and flames, completely disappearing from my sight. Nonononono! She can't, she can't!

"EMIKO!" I yelled trying to reach out to her but I was too late.

This wasn't happening.. was it? She's not.. She's not gone, r-right? I felt my eyes prick with tears and I slammed my fists on the ground in anger. I continuously did that until I came back to my senses. She saved me. I wasn't able to tell her I love her.

I kneeled and dipped my head down, tears threatening to fall from my eyes. Maybe this was all just a dream and once I wake up, she'll be right next to me. I squeezed my eyes shut for a minute before opening them again. This wasn't a dream?

Was she.. Was she really gone? I balled my fists up and yelled in anger as I clutched my hair tightly, holding my head. This couldn't be happening. There is no way..

She was talking to me a few minutes ago! How can this be?!

"She can't be.. She can't be.." I chanted to myself, trying to stand up. When my feet balanced, I advanced forward and looked around.

"E-Emiko, you should stop hiding. I won't be able to find you, you know." I say, trying to laugh but all that came out was a choke.

I looked around, trying to find her. "Emiko? Emiko, this isn't funny. Just come out, you're starting to worry me." I broke out into a sweat and my chest felt like it was constricting me.

"C-Come on, just come out." I whisper, clutching my chest and leaning a tree for support.

"I lost the game okay? So please come out."

My eyes watered with tears and I slid down the tree and landed on my knees. No. No.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry that I believed her over you. I'm sorry for hurting you! I'm sorry for making you cry, I'm sorry for everything that I've done. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Droplets of my tears fell from my face as I gripped my hair.

From the corner of my eyes I could see a burnt red tie. I reached over and picked it up, my hands shaking. It was hers. I tightened my grip on it.

Loud footsteps were heard, I didn't bother to look at who it was.

"..Emiko." Kaname whispered, his tone seemed broken.

"Lady Emiko is.." Ruka trailed off.

"Sh-She's.." Aido had no words to say before he turned to me to see me holding her tie. "She can't be.."

My chest hurt and I felt like nothing. I felt empty. Images came flying through my mind. I felt empty like the time when I lost my family. When I almost lost hope in ever living with the burden of turning into a Level E. Another image came through and one after another they filled my whole mind completely.

My eyes widen at the memory of Emiko and I in the stables with Lily. Another when we first met. What about the time where we told each other that we loved each other. The time where I carried her on my back. The time I saved her from Kaname. The time where I pleaded for her to forgive when she found out I took Yuki's blood.

My heart shattered. I was nothing without her. I was just an empty shell. My mind is telling me that she was gone but my heart refuses to listen.

"Follow your heart, Zero." My mother always used to tell me this. I lost Emiko like I lost her.

I didn't know what was happening but all I could hear was muttering of voices in the background, one of them was calling my name. It seemed they were shaking me and I snapped back into reality.

I slowly looked up, hoping it was Emiko looking down at me and smiling. But it wasn't. It was Yuki. She lied to me, she was the one who almost hurt Emiko if it wasn't for me. How could she just stand there completely unaffected it by it all?

"Finally," she started, placing a hand on her chest and breathing out, "You weren't listening to me when I called you. You had me worried there."

This angered me. Hearing her voice angered me, everything about her angered me. "You are nothing but a liar.." I muttered.

"H-Huh?" She looked at me in shock.

I slowly stood up from my kneeling position and angered filled my eyes, "You are nothing but a liar!" I repeated, as I balled my fists.

"Wh-What are you talking about?" She thinks she could get away with all this but playing dumb.

"I lost my memories all because of you and used that to your advantage! You lied to me about everything! I've hurt Emiko so much and now she's gone and I didn't get to tell her how sorry I was or how much I loved her! I can't believe I was ever friends with you!" I yelled, taking out all of my anger.

"See? I told you Yuki was no angel but you didn't listen." I heard Ruka whisper to Aido.

I didn't realise that the Aristocrats along with Kaname were watching us. Yuki stared at me with tears in her eyes as she clutched her skirt tightly. Kaname came and took her several steps away from me, though his eyes showed disappointment. He turned her towards him, both of his hands on her shoulders as a serious expression plastered his face.

"Is that true, Yuki?" His tone was low, nothing like the gentle one he used when he talked to her in the past.

She didn't answer but look down, avoiding eyes with him. I heard Kaname sigh before he took his hands off of her. He ran is hand through his hair and walked away, looking like he needed to blow out some steam.

Yuki just stood there, ignoring the glares she was getting from the Aristocrats.

"Man.. I can't believe it.." Hanabusa mumbled. "What the hell happened?"

"A planned explosion." Senri said, joining the group with Rima, "I've inspected the area. The coordinates aren't big enough for an explosion on the school."

"Meaning that it was intentional. The explosion was a decoy. The real plan was to kidnap Lady Kuran." Rima announced.

"That explains why there were no remains of her left." Akatsuki said—or rather, he mumbled to himself.

We turned to look at Yuki and Ruka was the first one to ask, "What did you see when you were on duty last night?"

"I-I was guarding the area and decided to take a look around. I saw Zero around here but other than that, there was no one suspicious." She stuttered nervously.

"But I wasn't here last night." I said, out of confusion. They looked at me with confusion and Yuki wrinkled her nose.

"You were here, I saw you. I even said hello and you wished me a good night."

"Yuki, I didn't step out of my room last night. You were the one who told me to rest." I responded.

Then it hit me and my eyes widen. It couldn't be..

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