A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 4 - Blossom

The next day, Yuko sat down at breakfast to a bowl of warm porridge. Akane sat next to her, "Good morning, Yuko, are you feeling any better?" she asked as she sat beside her.

Yuko looked at her with a small smile of her pale pink lips, "Sure, I think I needed to cry. I hadn't really mourned their deaths. A small part of me…really wants to know… if my sister survived… but I doubt it."

Akane gave her a doubtful look, "Maybe… but… would you really want to go back and find out? What if she is living at your village? If you get caught and find her it could put you both in jeopardy."

"I know…I'm not seriously considering it," Yuko grumbled, "I…am just wondering is all. She was such an innocent in all of this."

"Be that as it may, Yuko, you put her in danger if you went back," Akane replied, "Just pray that she is safe."

Yuko nodded silently as she ate some porridge. A part of her wanted to go against Akane and go to find her sister. She decided not to in that moment but maybe in the future.

After breakfast, Yuko was left feeling bored. She decided to walk step out of the old and medieval castle and take in the bleak morning air. The sky was white with the thick cloud cover and there was a warm breeze that indicated that there might be rain. She took in a deep breath and took in the scents of the air. Blood seemed to permeate the air and it sent shivers down her spine. Looking down, Yuko gazed at the dull green ground. It had no flowers and the grass seemed to be waterlogged and dying.

One of Yuko's powers was to create flowers and to help them grow. She knelt on the ground and gently placed her small hand in front of her. Her blue eyes flashed red for a moment before small and delicate white flowers began to grow. She smiled softly, marvelling at their fragile beauty.

As she was doing this, Renji was walking back from a night scouting mission. He saw the young woman and she piqued his interest. He found it amusing that Yuko had not even registered his presence. He smirked a bit and tapped her shoulder, "Hey, you know it's going to rain any time soon."

Yuko jumped and looked up at him, "R-Renji! You scared me!"

"Sorry," Renji laughed a bit and looked down. He saw the little white flowers which Yuko had helped to grow, "Did you… do that?"

Yuko looked down and gazed at those little flowers, "Yes I did," Yuko replied, "I can make flowers grow."

Renji gazed at her and the flowers, "They're beautiful," he whispered. Yuko saw some tenderness in his steely grey eyes and it shocked her.

"Do you like nature, Renji," Yuko asked softly and this question startled him.

"W-well… well… in some respects I do," Renji replied as he tried to cover his reddening cheeks with the high collar of his trench coat. He wasn't easily flustered but this girl seemed to do it with ease. He ran a hand through his long blond hair.

"That's good," Yuko said as she stood. A soft breeze ran through her long white hair, causing her to gasp a bit and for Renji to blush even deeper. Yuko smiled, "We should go back inside…" she whispered. Renji pulled himself together and internally shook himself.

"Yeah… yeah we should," he said as the hardened look in his eyes returned. Yuko felt a chill go down her spine, leaving her very cold. Yuko turned quickly and walked away and back into the castle. Renji raised an eyebrow and looked away and the sky as a single, cold drop of rain dripped down onto his face. He didn't understand why he was so flustered by her and why that one moment between them had let his façade waver. He gritted his teeth and strode back inside.

"Woah! Did you see that?!" Akane cried to Naomi. She had witnessed what had gone on between Yuko and Renji. Naomi looked up.

"No, what happened?" She asked curiously.

"There was a moment of sexual tension between Yuko and Renji!" she cried, "You could see Renji's glowing cheeks from even up here!"

Naomi looked up at her, "What? That can't be right! Renji has never looked at another woman since his last lover…who was human," Naomi said as she stood, "Is Yuko really the one to crack that tough nut?"

Akane shrugged, "Maybe. That woman was pretty special to him…but maybe he is ready to move on."

"Perhaps," Naomi said with a small smile. Akane smirked.

"How is it going between you and Kaname?" Akane asked with a smirk and Naomi gave her an affronted look, "What? Am I mistaken?"

Naomi looked away, "Well…no….Kaname and I…we're not…" she played with her sandy coloured hair, "I don't feel that way about him…"

"What way?" Akane asked, "You mean…romantically?"

Naomi gave her a glare, "No."

"No? I've seen you two kiss… and quite passionately I must add," Akane said with a roll of her emerald green eyes. Naomi's posture visibly slumped.

"Well…I guess I cannot hide it… even from you, Akane," Naomi said, "Yes… We are lovers to some degree…"

Akane's eyes lit up, "Ha! I knew it!" she cried, "You really are lovers. So…do you have any details for me?" She grinned.

Naomi sighed, "He is…more passionate than what he makes out to be… he is the type of man who loves and adores his woman…the type who would protect you at all costs…although…don't let him know that I like that. You know me…I can look after myself."

"It is not a bad thing to want to be protected, Naomi," Akane said with a small smile, "I wouldn't mind being protected by him."

Naomi giggled a bit, "Well…I really…really think it's endearing that he does like to protect me," she said with a long and drawn out sigh, "But…I stand by what I said."

Akane chuckled a bit, "How amusing…you're not one to settle for being a quaint little housewife, are you?"

"Oh, goodness me, no, I could never be that, Akane!" Naomi cried, "But…I can never truly be Kaname's until…this is all over…"

"What if it is never over?" Akane asked, "You'll just keep him hanging? What if he dies? What if you die? You need to seriously consider this relationship. You can't leave room for any regrets."

Naomi looked at her and felt that she couldn't answer. She began to question everything she had previously thought about, "I don't want to have regrets…"

"Well… maybe you should grab what you want now… before it is too late," Naomi said softly to herself.

"Yeah, maybe you should," Akane said, "Well, I'm going to make lunch. Meanwhile, you should mull over those thoughts of yours," she said before walking out of the room. Naomi sighed as she rested her chin on the palm of her hand, getting lost in thought.

A/N I know this is a little shorter than usual but I am unwell but wanted to write something anyway.