Final Chapter of Change of Heart, for Disclaimer see first Chapter.

Hearts, torn apart

I suppose we were faster back than I ever expected us to be, because it had felt like such a long time on our first flight. Of course, it hadn't been in reality. Maybe it was because we had such a lot of fun on our flight back that it felt short or maybe it was because I hadn't felt so good on the first flight.

I really don't know, but from that point on things looked somewhat more cheery, brighter for me even I didn't really know why at that point, but maybe it was because I caught Zero smile at me when he thought I wasn't looking at him.

And then there was Aido-senpai, joining us on the plane this time instead of hiding his presence. He was really nice company if he wanted to be, pretty much like when we had been out with Rogue and her friends, joking around, smiling and having a good time.

Yes, the flight home was kind of fun, because neither Aido nor Zero were starting a fight this time; kind of eerie but nice to have a little bit of peace for once. Aido had brought some apple-pie along, surprising us by offering it to us during the flight.

It tasted really good, but it certainly wasn't anything I'd expected him to come up with since he's hardly the kind of guy to do such things like baking a cake.

"She's a friend," he said then, reacting to our questioning gazes. "Really, I like her." He sounded serious as well, with none of his usual mischief in his eyes, although I thought he sounded a little wistful at those words.

"Hey, it's not like there's any real chance for us there, you know?" Aido exclaimed with wide gesture of his arms, then turned to give Zero a serious look. "Unlike you and Kaname-sama this isn't easy for me … " He sounded bitter at that, which made take a closer look at him. I couldn't make out any reason why he should feel that way if what he said was true. I didn't doubt his words, but I couldn't help feeling like there was more to it than just that.

"Aido, it's not like that," Zero said, shaking his head, but still mostly calm without any hints of the intense anger I knew he would usually show if someone dared to speak about something he deemed private. "This is anything but easy, for both of us."

Zero's eyes were dark with emotion, but that was all that showed how troubled he must've been about this. He seemed almost too calm at that, a calm I supposed meant that he had accepted whatever happened was out of his control and couldn't be changed in any way. Although, it seemed that this calm, which almost bothered on being cold, made Aido uncomfortable enough to realize that he had done something wrong right now.

"I know; I'm sorry." Aido nodded, but not meeting Zero's gaze. "I shouldn't have said that."

A nod was all that showed that Zero had acknowledged the noble's apology – and afterwards followed a rather uneasy silence for several minutes. It was broken by Aido again. He looked at us then smiling broadly, but there was nothing mean about this smile. No, he suddenly looked very happy.

"What?" I thought, feeling confused about it and it must have shown on my face, cause the noble nodded in return and his smile turned into a happy grin.

"You know, Kaname-sama's going to be very happy to have you both back." He said softly.

"Is he?" I asked, feeling unable to hide the uneasiness I felt ever since I knew about him and Zero's bond.

"Oh, of course!" The noble exclaimed then laughed. "You're silly to think otherwise, you know." He nodded to himself then frowned. "I really don't understand you two," he added, looking from me to Zero and back. "You're the two most precious people to him. You should be happy and not moping around."

I just stared back and so did Zero as it seemed that neither of us could really deny what Aido had just said, but it didn't make the doubts go away either. I suppose that's why we couldn't say anything –

It was no surprising that the remaining flight went pretty much silent, with none of us speaking much.

Yes, it was silent, but it wasn't a bad thing altogether, because it made reconsider things, which in turn made me think that there might be still hope yet. Really, it was almost cute with the way Zero was trying to avoid looking my way but blushed a little when our eyes met by accident.

So, yes, I guess there was indeed hope for us to solve this mess. Maybe it was not impossible to love two people at once – and that I was okay with sharing them, simply because of that. I think it had been kind of stupid thinking that I had to chose one of them. My only problem now was that I didn't knew how to approach them about this, telling them that they didn't have to act like they did then. If Aido was right, we've been all very stupid about the whole thing after all while things could've been so much easier for all of us.

I wished I could simply tell them that I loved them both and that I was okay, no more than okay, that they loved each other as well. Too bad that I became nervous whenever I thought about this and in turn I hesitated acting on what I knew had to be done somehow. It was so unlike my usual self, but I couldn't help it, couldn't help worrying.

What if things were not as I thought and they didn't feel like I thought they did?

That was not very logical, but it didn't matter. Not like a normal girl like me could have any future with pureblood vampire like Kaname Kuran, but neither could've Zero, a Level D vampire and vampire hunter as well.

Well, I guess love doesn't have to make sense and there was nothing either of us could do.

Just right now, while both Zero and I were back at our functions as Guardians during class changeover, I tried not to show how frustrated I felt about the whole situation.

Ever since we were back they were exchanging secret glimpses during class changeover and whenever they were in the same room but that's all they ever did, ignoring each other otherwise. I could easily see that they longed for each other, but choose to do nothing about it, and I couldn't help wondering if I was the reason for this.

Things went on and on just like that, with Zero and Kaname trying to ignore each other and me on top of that. It didn't work very well, though, for I think almost everyone could feel the tension between the two of them. I think even some of those Day Class girls noticed it, which spoke a lot how bad things really were. No, nobody dared to say anything about it, seeing as how short-tempered both were nor was in the nature of any of the nobles to ask Kaname questions of any kind that were personal matters to the pureblood.

Really, after a while, it was just too much, enough that I wished I could just take them and toss their heads together so frustrating it was to deal with all of this. Didn't they realize that I cared for both of them deeply? If any, I wanted them both to be happy, but it was just no use, for they just didn't talk to me any more. Worse, any-time I wanted to talk to either of them they found some excuse to avoid talking to me.

I guess I wasn't the only one, who became frustrated with the whole situation, but they didn't do anything against it. Well, that was what I thought, until Takuma-senpai stopped me to speak with me on one one of those days, right after class changeover was finished.

His eyed me seriously for a moment with some emotion that was far too serious, who used to be always so cheerful like no one else from Night Class.

"Yuki-san," he said slowly,"you have to do something. This can't continue as it is." He sounded very worried at that as well.

"I did try," I said than shook my head in defeat, which was so not like me at all, but I really didn't know what to do anymore. "Believe me, I really did, but they try everything they can to avoid me."

"They're both very stubborn." He nodded, then sighed in what could be only frustration. "There has to be something we could do." It sounded strange to see him like this, so out of character, for it wasn't like him, not being in control of the situation, like usual.

I nodded then looked down, not knowing what to do for once. "I know." I admitted, not meeting his eyes, for fearing he'd see how weak I'd became. Really, I didn't recognize me anymore. Cursing inwardly at that, at what a fool I was, I then decided it had to stop.

"I will talk with them." I said finally, almost inaudible, because I still had no clue on how to work the magic needed to make them see reason, cause I don't think I've ever seen two people more stubborn than Zero and Kaname. Well, maybe Father was worse sometimes, but that didn't count … not really.

I looked up and smiled, because he looked like his usual self again – which made me think that this would be all it would take to set things right: just a few words … which wasn't difficult at all, was it?

So, I was so dead-set on get them to talk – and see that everything was all right with us three – and followed them after class changeover the other night. Only, to freeze in mid-step, wondering what I stumbled into here. I had been so sure that this was a good moment to get them to talk about it, but now, I wasn't so sure about that.

No, worse, I couldn't stop staring at them, watching them like some kind of peeping tom, which was so very wrong, but I couldn't help myself. Each one of them alone was very more than handsome, but this … was hot. There wasn't any other word for what I saw, Zero and Kaname all over each other … caught up into an heated make-out session.

I blushed furiously at that and trouble breathing normally, because of what I saw then. Were they about to do that with each other? I shivered while watching them losing one clothing after another. I really felt felt embarrassed about watching now, but I couldn't move, nor could I look away.

My heart felt like I was surely getting a stroke any moment, because of the sheer intensity I say.

I thought things would continue this way and all, but it didn't happen. Had they noticed me, I wondered, but if they had wouldn't they turn around to me?

Well, whatever, they stopped touching, even kissing to start talking in a hushed, almost pained way … like they thought that what they did was wrong, that they didn't deserve this what they so clearly wanted.

I gasped when I heard them voice my name … and then shivered when they said that they both loved me, but also couldn't deny what they felt for each other.

"Um," I muttered finally and both jerked around, finally noticing me. "I've heard you." I said, almost too quiet that I wasn't sure they heard me, even with their vampire-hearing.

"You have what?" They replied in unison, looking completely puzzled at that moment.

"I've heard you saying it, that you love me." There I had it out finally. I raised an eyebrow, daring them to deny it, which they did thankfully not.

"It's okay, cause," I whispered. "I love you, too – both of you." I said again and then, I did something that surprised even me: I slapped them, first Zero then Kaname.

"What's this for?" Kaname asked with a curious look, rubbing his cheek, where I had hit him before.

"Fore being such … idiots!" I said, "It's for making me go through all this, such fools..." I trailed off then pulled his face down for a kiss. "It's because I love you, both."

I guess I will never forget the look on their faces: surprise, shock - and finally happiness, which made me burst with warmth.

Next I knew they had pulled me between them, hugging me like there was no tomorrow. The hugs then were more or less replaced with kisses, warm and sloppy at first – a bit confusing but feeling way too good to think about it any further. I was too happy at that moment, happy that we would manage this somehow, we three together.

Of course, it ended sooner or later with them leading me back to my room, which was all right, because I now knew everything was right again – and stay that way.

Well, things had been wonderful since that night and I really thought they would continue to stay that way for once, but once again I was wrong about that, cause I hadn't thought that the Association would make further trouble back then. As far as father had said they had taken care of the problem that had caused the incident with Rogue but I guess not all of them agreed with that.

Only because she was was back in the US, they hadn't forgotten what happened, unlike Day Class had, which was good of course, but I think it was something that had them troubled as well. I guess it was because they knew that Night Class played along to make them forget to calm things down.

Not that there had been any other option, because Day Class students had seen more than they should have and I believe Kaname made an afford to make them forget the 'additionally' things about that evening.

So, yes, they didn't remember that incident, but I couldn't help notice that some Day Class students were starting to behave differently after a while since Zero and I were back. They were a lot shyer around class change and began to exchange strange looks with each other. I noticed that Aido wasn't happy about this at all. He seemed to miss his fan-girls dearly, oh, yes, of course, but that was just Aido being Aido-senpai.

Later then I noticed that some of the day class girls were also giving Zero stares, like he was something abnormal and were whispering to each other when Zero didn't look in their direction. They stopped of course, when he noticed it and gave them his usual glare. Then they stopped and moved quickly out of his range, if they could.

Yes, I really hoped that things would work out right, but I guess they didn't exactly because it ended all in blood but it stared out as a normal day in class, normal until it was almost over for that day.

That was until the teacher asked Zero and I come to the headmaster's office and all, which we then did, although I had a strange feeling of foreboding about this somehow. I mean there wasn't any reason for father to call us out of class under normal circumstances, right?

Guess I should be right, but I surely hadn't expected that of all things, cause when we arrived at father's office he wasn't alone. Master Yagari was standing behind him, leaning on the wall. He wore a very serious expression, too, which couldn't mean anything good.

"Headmaster?" I asked, because I was sure that this was something official, but not sure what it was about.

"Ah, Yuki-chan and Zero-kun, good that you're here." He nodded then motioned us to come closer and sit down on the chairs in front of his desk. We did so, well, that was I did, but Zero refused to sit down, like usual and just came closer to stand behind me. I'm sure he was frowning at the headmaster, too, but I knew he was uncomfortable even if he tried to hide it.

"What is this about?" I managed to get out next, looking curiously around, thinking that I might find anything out of the usual – which I did. There in the corner behind father's desk, was an school uniform, a Night Class uniform.

"Zero-kun," he said next," I'm afraid you've to leave Day Class soon." He then nodded towards Master Yagari in silent communication. "As you might know, we had some recent dispute with the Hunter's Association. I believed things had calmed down, but unfortunately they are not as calm as we would like them."

"Ehem." Yagari interrupted. "Fact is that the Association now knows about your changed status as an whole, and they're wondering if you did drink Shizuka Hio's blood after all, because that's the only reason they can come up with that would explain it."

"I don't understand." Zero said in a strangely calm voice. "How ... why is this necessary now?" Indeed, his question was quite valid, cause with the change the recent events brought to him it was practically impossible for him to fall to level E, so why now the change of heart? "Now, that there is no danger of me falling to Level E?"

"It's because they see you as a vampire now, a full vampire and want us to act accordingly." Master Yagari explained. "Zero, please note that we don't have a choice in this matter. It's either you changing classes or the existence of the whole Academy is in danger of getting closed, because we don't follow the rules in this."

"I see," Zero said, looking down at that, "but I don't have to like it, now?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Do-do I have to change now?" He asked slowly, eyes still set on the floor.

"No, I guess we still have a little time for you to prepare, besides the half-year is very close at it's end so I think we can wait until then." The master hunter said then turned around to the headmaster, giving him a questioning look. "We can wait until then, can we?"

"Oh, of course we can!" The headmaster replied with a smile, looking a bit relieved at that as well.

After this things went on pretty normal at first, but they were just a false sense of peace, unfortunately. It started pretty harmless with others changing in the way the treated Zero; ignoring him like he didn't exist for most of the time – and when they didn't do that they talked. It was gossip, I suppose.

The day it happened was like any other day too, a day of school life – and like so often Zero and I managed to snooze off in class again - and got detention from the same teacher, who liked to put chains around the doorknobs to keep us in.

Usually, they didn't stop us from getting out, as Zero was so much stronger than any human was but not today. The door didn't bulge and the chain didn't give in, so we had to leave the room through the window in the end. It took us marginally longer than using the door, but it was enough.

Well, after that incident I expected trouble at class changeover, but everything went smoothly until Night Class was almost over for today.

The next thing, I doubt I'm ever going to forget, no I can't forget it, that scene. There had been so much blood; Zero was covered by it but most of it had not been his.

"Lifelines," I realized, "one of them was Lily … and the others were me and Kaname?" Lifelines, we were his lifelines, and one had been severed then. I clearly remember that night.

I had been patrolling as usually when I heard suddenly gunshots.

Gunshots, they were coming from the stables. "Hunters, it had to be hunters," I thought and hurried further along, hoping to prevent the worst.

"Zero," I thought, knowing that he would be there like many a night before.

I starting running and my heart seemed to burst in my chest, so fast it was beating, and beat faster with every second it took me to reach the stables.

I shivered with fear, "Zero, please don't let me be too late…"

I couldn't breathe. I had to go to him, reach him in time.

"Oh, please let it not be too late." I prayed.

I froze, realizing that the noise had stopped, which meant that I was late. Was I already too late?

There was blood, a lot of blood and there were bodies too. I felt dread tearing at my insides, because it stunk of blood. No, there was more than that, I thought and shivered at the sudden dread crawling up my spine then. The darkness was ... overwhelming and seemingly coming from everywhere.

What had led into this? What happened that the stable looked like a battlefield, not that I knew how one of these really looked but it was the closest thing. There was a body, one of these hunters around Mori-sama I noticed, but I didn't knew what exactly caused his dead. His head looked like being hit with something hard and heavy – like being hit by a hoof.

And over there, not far away was White Lily, even in death she bared her teeth in defiance. I realized that the dead hunter might have fallen victim to her vicious hooves. She obviously died fighting, just as she lived.

I shivered. White Lily, she couldn't be dead, yet she was.

White Lily was dead – but what about Zero? He must be crazy with grief – and then I realized where the feeling of anger, of rage, came from.

It was nobody else but him, who stood there on the other side.

Zero, he was almost hovering above the third man, the only one still alive. I gasped; it was Mori-sama and there, next to him, were the other two hunters, who had followed him, dead, laying still on the stable floor.

There was a strange glint in Zero's eyes and his smile seemed far too soft, but it held too much teeth in it. His fangs were fully aroused and his eyes had taken an unholy hue of red that was, indeed, frightening. Zeros was watching the man in front of him intensely and I thought he looked like a true predator then. Just like a wolf, and it was looking out of his eyes. His gaze was just like that, a wolf gazing at its prey.

"Prey," I thought and felt even more terrified. There was nothing human in his gaze. Was it already too late, had he fallen to Level E? I thought that was now impossible yet, the expression in his gaze wasn't that kind of crazy, which I had seen in the few crazy vampires I'd seen before. It wasn't the madness, which came with the craving for blood.

No, that wasn't it, but it was not human, not human at all and it reminded me strangely of that woman, Shizuka Hio. For the first time since I knew about his true nature I was afraid, afraid of him or was I afraid for him? Yes, that was it. I had been so close to losing him, but didn't back then, so I didn't want to lose him now, not like this. I couldn't let this go on; he couldn't continue like this. Zero, he was going to kill that man. I felt it in my veins; I just knew.

I ushered towards then stopped, realizing that we were no longer alone here.

There was someone else, standing closer to Zero than I. Kaname, it was Kaname, I realized. What was he going to do? I still couldn't move. I felt like frozen in time, I wished not being able to see what was happening, but I couldn't, couldn't look away. I could only hope that he would be able to help Zero.

"Please, Kaname, help him!" I prayed, barely audible to my own ears.

"Zero," I heard him say. His voice sounded so soft, strangely soft - and sad. "You don't really want this, do you?"

Zero didn't answer his question, but he stopped his movements. He just stood there, just like a statue - an inanimate object.

"Do you want to become like her?" Kaname pushed further, his voice now a purr. "Do you, Zero? Do you want to be like her, like Shizuka Hio? She said you two were alike. I didn't believe her then, but now… Now I'm not so sure any more."

"I'm not Shizuka." Zero objected, but his voice was shaky as if he knew the truth but didn't want to see.

"Yet, you act like her. Vengeance, Zero, is it really worth it?" He sounded taunting, arrogant but I could tell there was a strong undercurrent of something I could only decipher as love mingled with desperation. The strength of the feeling made me shiver, because I hadn't realized how strongly Kaname had to feel about Zero to sound this … desperate, but then I had never thought the two of them would end up in a blood bond, being lovers. I felt an inappropriate heat at that thought and fought down, together with memories of them and moonlight, of happy times. I wished that time back, desperately, yet, I knew that was foolish to wish for.

"No," Zero whispered and finally nodded. I could tell he was giving in, yet his gaze clung to the man on the floor. His eyes were still cold, despite the blood red hue they were showing.

"Let go, let go of your hate," Kaname whispered intensely and Zero's body tightened with an inner fight, it had to be.

"I can't," Zero replied hoarsely. "I can't Kaname." Zero convulsed then and whispered. "cause … there's nothing… left.."

"Zero, look at me." It was a direct order and even I could feel his pureblood power behind that one – and more than even that, his heart.

At first I thought it wouldn't work but then Zero complied and turned slowly around to face Kaname, staring into his crimson eyes.

"What do you see?" The pureblood asked softly, holding Zero with his gaze.

"Kaname…" Zero began but trailed out, not knowing what to say.

Kaname stared at Zero for a long while then nodded and moved closer to Zero. He murmured something into Zero's ear, I couldn't quite understand but ''reason' and ''kill'.

I shivered. "What was Kaname suggesting to Zero?" I shivered once more as I saw Zero nodding to Kaname after this.

"Zero, come …" Kaname pulled Zero away from Mori-sama but gave an icy glance towards the old hunter. "I do this not for you." He said in a dangerous soft voice. "but I'll save you for now…" He trailed off, his hand reaching out for Zero and coming bloodied back. He shot a worried look to Zero.

"You've been shot." Kaname whispered, his body becoming frigid, his eyes glinting steely. "Many times." The pureblood shook with pain not his own, his hand clutching Zero's shoulders at that, almost like needing some proof that Zero was still there.

"They dared to do this to you." The pureblood visibly shook with anger now, enough that I thought the room had gotten darker at that and the shadows seemed to closing in. It was nought that I hugged myself, trying to fight off the sudden cold that seemed to haunt the stables.

Zero just grunted between gritted teeth, it was obvious he was still in pain. "It doesn't matter."

"It does to me." Kaname replied, pulling Zero along with him, closer to where Mori-sama was still cowering on the ground. "We've got to do something about this." He turned around, giving Mori-sama a soft smile.

"I'm sorry but we'll be needing something from you before you can leave." He said and I could see Mori-sama tremble with fright but he couldn't move for some reason; was Kaname holding him there? He was a pureblood after all and he could do things like this. Was he really doing this? I trembled at that and needed to reach for the closest wall for support.

"No," I thought and shook my head. This wasn't what it seemed, couldn't be ... yet what could it be else?

Kaname pulled Zero closer to him and moved to the still trembling Mori-sama.

"Here," Kaname said to Zero and offered him Mori-sama's wrist. "Drink"

At this I trembled enough, that fell to my knees. What was Kaname doing and Zero, he wasn't accepting this … this cruel gift, was he?

No, I muttered in panic, he shouldn't ... he couldn't do this. It was not right. Damn, I had to do something now. I couldn't let this go on like this, go this way. I tried to move but realized that I somehow couldn't move. I was frozen into place.

So all I could do was watch, watch as Zero stared from Kaname to the offered ... gift, yes, I suppose it was some kind of gift. There was a strange energy between them now, almost sexual I realized with another shock, but the most shocking fact was that this was romantic in a way, seen from a vampire's view – the offering of a meal to his mate. It was so sick to view them as just that, but vampires did prey upon humans, did they not?

It was something I had almost forgotten, after living with them day by day, knowing that they didn't do that, but used those blood tablets instead.

But it was what they were, and then there was the point, that the hunter has caused Zero pain, intense pain in both body and heart – and Kaname's intent would be to make this pain go away, to ease it, so Zero could heal, even when it seemed a very twisted idea to do it like this.

I knew Zero must be very thirsty, being shot like this – and I could see the trembles going through his body while he observed the offered wrist. Then I saw him reaching out with a trembling hand, pulling the wrist closer to him.

Damn, he was going to do it.

Yes, Zero was. He took the offered wrist ever so slowly, still fixing the hunter with a glare, and placed it finally in front of his lips, almost close enough to sink his fangs in. Yet, he hesitated, staring at the wrist in front of him before finally gave in; almost painfully slowly sinking in his fangs into the shivering hunter's flesh. I could see the sheer panic in the hunter eyes but was strangely drawn to this image, morbidly fascinated.

Next I knew I blanked out and everything turned black around me.

I awoke in Kaname's room, with them both facing me with worry etched into their faces. They smiled a little bit when they saw that I was awake, but they still looked worried – which had me thinking back of what I saw in the stables.

"Zero?" I asked. "Is everything all right? Mori-sama, is he ..."

Zero shook his head, then swallowed. "He's alive, Yuki. Don't worry."

"That's good, isn't it?" I eyed them carefully, unable to shake the feeling that not was well at all. Zero just looked at me with an strange look for a far too long time, until he shook his head then nodded with a deep sigh.

"Yeah, you could say that, Yuki." His voice sounded rough, shaken with defeat. "I was really happy with you both, you know?" He continued only to look down a moment later, almost like he thought the floor would give him answers on how to act that moment.

"We cannot see us anymore, neither me nor Kaname." He said next, sadness dripping from his voice, but his eyes were that steely hue, which said that he was serious in what he was saying.

"What!" I argued, feeling shaken by this explanation, which wasn't really anything of one either. It caused only more questions in return. Why couldn't I see anyone of them and all? It made no sense to me, not after all this time.

"It's too dangerous for you, Yuki – and I don't want anything to happen to you … or Kaname." He shook my shoulders, staring into my eyes with sheer worry.

"Please, Yuki, you have to understand, if anyone of the Association finds out about our connection and yours with Kaname, you'll be in real trouble."

"My connection … with Kaname?" I whispered and frowned, not knowing what he exactly meant with this. "There's no special connection, other that I love him, just like I do love you, Zero!"

"Kaname?" Zero asked in response, looking back to where Kaname was watching us from the other side of the room. "I think it's time you tell her the truth, you know?" He continued slowly.

Kaname nodded in response, walking up to us to finally sat down on the corner of the bed I was lying in.

"Kaname?" I asked. "What's going on?"

"Yuki, I'm sorry," he began, "but Zero is right, it's time for the truth, knowing it'd be the only thing for you to understand why things have to be as they are."

"The truth?"

"Yes, the truth, about your lost memories, Yuki." He said then took a deep breath as if preparing for something difficult to say. "I'm afraid things are not as they are seem to between us."

I just frowned at that, waiting for him to continue.

"Yuki, I'm your brother." He said next, which was probably the last thing I expected him to say then – because it didn't make any sense at all. I mean he was a pureblood vampire and I just a normal human – so how could I be his sister?

"This … this can't be r-right..." I was all I managed to say in response, stuttering very much at that, too. "

"I'm afraid it is. It is possible for a pureblood to become mostly human. It's rare and dangerous practise but in this way it's what happened to you." He said calmly, with an pretty innocent expression, that really didn't fit to the extend this thing was going to influence our lives. "You're my beloved sister and that's why you have to understand that I need you to be safe, Yuki. Please understand."

"But, Kaname, that means that … this is wrong..." I managed to force back tears that wanted to come out, cause I had to be strong and all. "Our love … Kaname, how could you? Make me believe into it … and now you're telling me you're my brother, my brother..." I couldn't help but hug myself, rocking back and for a little because I just needed something to hold on with this feeling like I was losing the ground beneath my feet.

I'm sure I would've fallen too, if it weren't for Zero, who interrupted my thoughts then. He leaned closer to me, taking my hand in an un-Zero-like fashion, too.

"Yuki," he said,"it's not like you think it is. Things are different for pureblood vampire's like Kaname. He didn't really think that you would react like this." He nodded at that, almost as if berating himself how to go about this issue.

"Different? How?" I eyed him curiously, wondering suddenly how much he really knew – which seemed to be a lot after all.

"Yuki, it's quite common for pureblood siblings to marry." He explained softly then sighed in resignation or something similar. "There's no such thing as incest for pureblood, you know, at least not with the same terrible consequences that it has for humans."

I think I must have stared off into space for quite a time cause both Zero and Kaname looked really worried when I finally managed to respond, which wasn't really much in truth but I really didn't know what to make of all of this.

"Okay, not that it matters anyway in the end," I said, thinking about what had this all started, of both Zero and Kaname keeping their distance from me. "You're going away..."

"For now, Yuki," Kaname said and shook his head, "but that doesn't mean that it is forever or finally. We're going to find a way to make this work, but right now … it's simply too dangerous for you to be close to us."

"You really think you're going to find something?"

"Yes, believe we will find a way to be together, we all tree together." Kaname said with a certainty in his voice I didn't quite felt but I wished he would be right and this would turn out well in the end.

What next came was again a bit blurry, because of the intensity of it – but I remember clearly hugging and getting hugged by both of them; holding on to them for a very long time, even the whole night I believe.

The day had to end, of course, like anything else, and end it did, far sooner than I liked it to, because it left me like this, mostly cut off from both Zero and Kaname. Worse, there was nothing I could do about it for now, but hope that things would turn out well in the end.

But there was hope, always hope.

Hope you like it.

.

Mia