Cocoa: I'm so glad the sequel's out:) hope you'll enjoy reading this as much as i've enjoyed writing it.

PAIN

Ichiru waded through the snow, once again, he felt like a small boy. Shaking himself away from the painful memories, he continued his way, unable to feel his legs. Sighing, he stopped walking. Secretly, he loved the feeling of snow, and wished to stay longer. Reminding himself that he had things to accomplish before time's up, he enjoyed the last deep inhale he took and carried on his way.

"Ichiru…" He heard a whisper. Ignoring what he thought he heard, Ichiru did not turn back. "Ichiru…" His name was called again. It didn't sound like it was coming from behind, in front or from any direction. Just a whisper at his ear, so clear, he could feel the breath of the voice. He was starting to get angry, as he neglected his curiosity to look around. 'Everything around is a blanket of snow anyway.' The atmosphere seemed to get mistier. "Ichiru…"

"Shut up! You're dead so stop haunting me!" He shouted, trying to make the tremble in his tone sound like it's because of the cold and not hidden fear.

-

Yuki had been avoiding Kaname. She was still deciding if she was Shizumaru or Yuki when he suddenly proposed. She could never face a situation, so she hid.

When she was Yuki, she felt young and carefree, with two people looking out for her. Life seemed simple, day by day. When she was Shizumaru, she felt older and mature. The world in her view was corrupted, and everything is a lie. Being Yuki is easy, but Shizumaru is able to look after herself, what one 'guardian' gone and she avoiding another. And it's impossible to be both.

Thinking and deciding made her head hurt and her mind spin; so Yuki settled on the idea of giving herself a new identity.

-

He didn't want to show that he was afraid, but he couldn't help but run. And with knee-deep snow, it wasn't easy to run at all. He fell, and in embarrassment, got up slowly although he what he actually wanted to do was dissolve into the ground under the snow. He was still running as the voices grew louder.

Finally, he fell again. This time he felt too silly to get up and start running again, he lifted his head and shouted, "GO AWAY!" He felt warm under his eyelids. And moisture. He had been running, but was it in circles? Because he never seemed to get to his destination.

"Ichiru…" It lingered longer now, as if telling him where it was coming from. Up north. He stood up to walk, only that, he was following the voice and not running away from it.

It was getting louder. And he saw the unmistakable grey hair that he and his twin brother shared.

-

Yuki found herself walking in the rain. She knew something was wrong; it was winter so how could it be raining? It was more like a drizzle she was walking in, but it soon ascended to a heavy thunderstorm. So Yuki rain towards the nearest shelter she saw. Her sub-conscious mind told her she had never seen this building before, but she had a déjà vu feeling about it. Then she heard a voice she didn't recognize. "You are Yuki, so stay Yuki."

-

He had hated his brother. There was never an exact reason why, but the unexplainable hatred began when he lost his family. He felt like he was his enemy and not brother. He wanted him dead.

Ichiru carried his brother onto his shoulders. The weight was pressing, but he could manage walking. When he finally decided to agree with his conscience to bring his brother back, the fear experienced earlier on was suddenly replaced by a warm feeling. He was unconcious, but Ichiru knew Zero would come to later on. And anyway, if he could have called my name, he can't be that severely injured.

-

Yuki stared at the mirror. Since Shizuka came to Cross academy, Yuki never once glanced at a mirror to see herself. She looked different, more creepy. Dark circles appeared around her eyes, and her eyelashes seemed to have grown longer, her upper lip blood red, lower lip purplish black. Her features sharpened, and her skin was fairer, but there was a dark aura in her that made the mirror reflect a creepy appearance.

'That is Shizumaru.' She thought, picking up a brush to comb her hair.

-

Shizuka saw Ichiru come into the house. She was about to ask him why he was back only now when she saw a person on his back. After seeing Ichiru placing the person on the couch did she remember that she could talk. And she did more than just talk.

"Is he… him? He's alive right? Where did you find him? Did he lose his memory? Are his wounds severe?"

Ichiru stared at her. He had never seen her act like this before, like a small child, intently asking questions, not bothering if you have properly heard her. Shizuka sensed it and tried to regain herself, but she couldn't, the curiosity was killing her. When she found out about what had happened, Shizuka couldn't help but ask another question, "So… are you gonna keep him?" 'What with the brother-rival thing between you two.' She mentally added.

"Yes, and no matter how much you like him, please inform Kuran that Zero is alive. I'm sure your beloved sister would want to know." Ichiru drawled, feeling as sarcastic as Shizuka.

Shizuka said with a spiting tone, "What insolence! What makes you think that I won't tell him?"

"Whatever it is, just tell him." He instructed, suddenly feeling like he was the only true adult here.

"I'll send a messenger to him." She replied, walking away carelessly.

-

Yuki decided to stay Yuki, like what the voice in her dream advised. She dropped her comb. She stared at the mirror again, and whispered, "That voice… belonged to Zero!"

-

"Miss Shizuka Hio sent me here to inform you about Master Zero's revival. She also adds that if you invite Miss Yuki over to see him."

Kaname recalled every single word the messenger said. He was now in Yuki's room, watching her unconscious self. During his visit to her room, he knew something wrong when it took her more than 15 minutes to answer. He found her on the bathroom floor, he forehead abnormally warm. He gave her water and up till now, she wasn't awake.

Should he tell her or not?

That the guy she loved and the person he hated was alive?

She had already rejected you, so she has a right to know.

But if you tell her, you would lose your chance of winning her heart.

Being a naturally kind person, Kaname knew the best option for everyone was to come clean with Yuki. Just then, he saw her blink. He held her hand immediately, and asked, "Yuki?" She opened her eyes weakly while he got her some water.

"Kaname…" She managed with the little strength she had left.

"Yes? How are you feeling? Better?" He answered with genuine concern.

"I'm fine. I-I had a dream that Zero was alive…" She whispered before coughing. "Is… is he?"

'How can it be?' Kaname wondered and answered himself, 'her dreams are special; they're psychic.' Outwardly he said, "Yuki, I'm so sorry. But it was just a dream." He said it so quickly and smoothly that he didn't feel like he was lying.