Warnings: OCs, and Angst (somewhat).

Author's Note:

Just a small update on my personal life, I have started working since the last week of February and am currently settling into a weekly routine, so don't fret—I'll be able to work on updating Fragility and my other stories here regularly soon enough.

(I can only hope to, actually. Deadlines and me? We don't get along very well, ahaha…)

Please read on and enjoy :)

Vampire Knight © Matsuri Hino

Fan-Fiction Plot and Original Characters © Kuro Nightroad/ Me

Fragility

A Vampire Knight Fan-Fiction

Chapter Four:

"Fraught with Ups and Downs"

Kaien stood outside his office, almost afraid to open the doors to see the first child he had came to adore and love like a real daughter. He was certainly happy, elated in fact but he couldn't help feeling slightly guilty.

"Riel, I shouldn't be asking this of you but…" The honey-haired man hesitated, a hand resting on Zero's shoulders—mauve eyes never leaving the red-haired hunter's shadow at the top of the stairs.

"I didn't see anything," came her quiet voice. And Kaien couldn't be sure if that was a smile he was seeing through the darkness. "I'll be waiting in your office." She finished and turned away, her canine partner following after her heels into the shadows.

He had since send Zero back to the dormitories, and checked on Yuuki before sending her back as well. Both had an equally rough night, ironic as it sounded but hopefully a good rest would be enough to soothe their nerves—hopefully.

Kaien sighed again, wondering how he got to be such a worrying parent.

He shook his head. Now isn't the time to worry over his personal issues, he had more important and serious matters to attend to. Then again—the little voice in his head helpfully reminded—the very person waiting on the other side of those dark oak doors was actually yet another one of his unsolved personal issues.

The honey-blond mentally slapped himself. That was enough of stalling. Nothing would change if he continued standing there talking to himself in his little head. He quickly plucked up his courage and entered, but soon felt all his previous worries melt away at the sight of Riel fast asleep on the couch with her ever faithful companion.

Ruri had yet to revert to her miniaturized form, her oversized stature acting as a giant pillow for her snoozing master. Her crimson eyes were on Kaien, glimmering with recognition as her long tail swayed lazily.

"Hello Ruri," Kaien greeted.

He held out a hand to her, which she nuzzled in return—her tail wagging in delight at the touch. Kaien smiled at the gesture, then glanced over to the sleeping redhead.

She's all grown-up now, it's almost lonely. He quietly mused.

Much like him, Riel had only aged by a few years since they last met—before her transfer to another hunters branch overseas. And though she looked as if she were only eighteen now, he knew better. Riel had lived for almost as long as he did after all.

Kaien reached another hand out and touched her head fondly, seasoned callous fingers running through soft sanguine locks. "She grew her hair out," he commented to no one in particular, recalling nostalgic memories of the redhead as a child. A petite doll-like stature, sporting a short layered haircut and… well, all-around cute.

Actually, they were all cute at one point in their lives. Kaien thought, a sheepish smile on his face. It was a pity that there were no photos of Riel from way back then though—both Zero and Yuuki had plenty.

"Kaien…?" Amber eyes were suddenly staring back at him, wide awake.

Oh. Um.

"…Hi?"

He tried, apparently having little to no idea how he intended to approach the situation. Riel stared back at him blankly, unblinking for the longest time—or at least, long enough for Kaien to break out into cold sweat from the awkward silence.

"Pfft."

Riel giggled, her voice strangely comforting to the honey-blond. The corners of her lips then pulled into a genuine smile, something they both could see that she hadn't done in a long, long time.

She pushed herself off to sit at the edge of the couch, her cold hands cupping her face as she suppressed a yawn. Kaien found himself smiling fondly at the action, reminded of the distant past. Most of those memories he could do without, but the few he had of the people he held dear were the ones he treasured most—Riel was among the first few.

"What is it?" Riel asked, her smile replaced with an expression that mirrored her unexplained bemusement. The honey-haired man only managed to blink at the sudden question when she offered, "You're staring."

Oops. "Sorry," he laughed sheepishly. "It's just… " Kaien trailed off, but fumbled into a fluster when he tipped the half finished teacup on his desk. "Ah, oh no…!"

Riel stood, quick to swipe the box from the coffee table. "Here, tissues." She held it out as Kaien pulled out several sheets in a frenzy. A casual look at the surface and she quirked an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of the duck tape plastered crudely across the large cracks and splinters sticking out.

Ruri wandered over out of curiosity at the slight commotion, wrinkling her nose at the damage surveyed and looked up at her master questionably. The redhead shrugged, shaking her head —some things they were better off not knowing about.

"Now about your enrolment," Kaien spoke as he threw the mess into the bin and wiped his hands on the handkerchief he always kept in his pockets. "First, here is your student ID pass." He handed the small white card over, explaining as he flipped through the papers in the folder he had just pulled from the drawer. "Make sure to keep it with you always, alright? It's mandatory for all students studying here."

The redhead nodded, slipping the card into her pocket. "Do I have to wear the uniform too?" She couldn't help asking.

Fashion had never been her thing but taking her (questionable) age into consideration, Riel was not exactly comfortable with the thought of dressing up in a skirt. Those were meant for teenagers, and she vaguely thought back to the uniform she saw a certain petite brunette wore a while back.

Knee-high socks and a short skirt just waiting for a chance to cause a wardrobe malfunction.

…Yup. Definitely not her kind of fashion. There was no way she would go around wearing the uniform without some safety shorts on—assuming that there is no way around it.

"Of course you have to wear the uniform, silly!" Kaien exclaimed, apparently oblivious to her misgivings about the uniform.

How could anyone dislike what could only be the world's classiest (and cutest) uniform ever designed? Granted, he's probably the only one to think and proclaim that…

"We'll need your measurements for your uniform, but we can get Mari-chan to do that later in the morning." He continued on, chipper as he gave her a new student handbook. "Rules and regulations are all noted in there, and you can use it as either a planner or a notebook—however you like! Pretty neat, right?"

Riel raised another eyebrow, her expression clearly skeptical. "I'm pretty sure that is how all handbooks are…"

The honey-haired man could feel a bead of sweat forming, the awkwardness of their rather complicated situation returning tenfold. He had just been blabbering on, hoping to calm his own nerves but it was painfully obvious that it wasn't working. And the same could be said for Riel as well, who decidedly turned away to flip through the school's guidelines.

Suffice to say, both of them knew they were equally uncomfortable with the current arrangement despite the contradicting happiness they felt at meeting each other again. How many years had it already been? They couldn't remember.

It had been too long.

Too long for them to be constantly reminded that they were now standing on different sides.

Kaien made his way over to the counter, quietly brewing another pot of tea before pouring a new cup for the redhead. "Here," he offered her as she murmured a soft thanks in turn.

She took a careful sip before looking at the cup in surprise. "Chamomile?"

"You don't like it?" Kaien asked, worry crinkling his brows that he hadn't thought to ask if she actually liked to drink tea.

Riel gave a small laugh and shook her head. "No, that's not it." She backtracked and settled into an armchair, teacup still in hand. "You used to drink coffee like it was water." Hard to imagine that the honey-haired man's taste had changed when she practically watched him live off the bitter beverage over the years.

"Well, people change." Kaien replied, somewhat abashed as he shrugged minutely. "I guess I am not an exception even though I believed otherwise." He stared into the teacup, a small smile forming but it disappeared as soon as the notion ghosted across his lips. Bits and pieces of the bitter man he used to be decided to flash across his mind at that moment, and he grimaced. Not exactly something he liked to remember on occasion.

Fortunately for him, the redhead had her golden eyes glued to the map provided in the handbook—the layout of the campus was a lot bigger than she had originally expected. Kaien then cleared his throat, and she looked up in response.

"Riel, you should know that the Association had requested for your accommodations on campus to be in the Moon Dormitory with the Night Class students—"

"Wait, what!" The redhead exclaimed, almost on the verge of yelling and nearly dropping her now (thankfully) empty cup. She quickly set the fragile tableware on the coffee table before she could come close to another chance of breaking it. "Kaien, I am here for an observation, not a twenty-four-seven surveillance." There was a clear distinction between the two, and Riel wasn't about to invade the privacy of the Vampires' residence and watch them like a group of criminals just because the Association wanted her to.

"I know, Riel, I know." Kaien gestured with his hand slightly to placate her adamant disapproval and she blushed a light pink. "Let me finish." Kaien only smiled, his expression tender as though he had already expected her to react the way she just did. She is still the same, earnest as ever.

"Unfortunately, I can't permit your stay there without the dorm president's approval since he holds the other half of the residential authority, so you'll actually be staying with me until I can get an answer."

A sigh escaped Riel as she let the tension in her shoulders go, a hand to her chest as though a heavy weight had been lifted. And he chuckled. How cute, was the thought running through his head then. She frowned, the narrow look in her eyes bordering on a scowl that told the honey-haired man she didn't think the topic to be humorous in any way.

Kaien lifted his hands in surrender. "Just so it's out there, I feel the same as you do about this."

"…And did you really think that I would agree to this arrangement?" The redhead deadpanned, earning a wide grin from Kaien, positively beaming with sunshine and flowers. She sighed and swiftly held a hand up before he could reply.

"Please don't answer that. It was a rhetorical question."

Her fingers slipped through the loop she made, slowly pulling the other end of the red ribbon until it was a tight and perfect bow. Her chest was heavy, like chains shackling around her heart. She knew that it was dread, but it wasn't the kind of dread that she usually felt in the mornings.

"Yuuki," the door to her bathroom opened and the brunette turned to meet Sayori's worried gaze. "Are you sure you're feeling well enough to attend classes today?"

A tempting thought, but Yuuki reasoned it away before her dearest friend could offer to cover for her. "I'm okay, Yori—really. Don't worry!" She tried to force a bright smile that failed miserably, reflecting her dejection. Her lips pulled into a tight frown, pressed firmly shut to keep herself from whimpering at the horrible events that had happened the previous night.

Yuuki reached up to touch the large band-aid covering her wound. It didn't hurt as much anymore, but it still throbbed a dull ache like the sore muscles she occasionally get from overexerting during Physical Ed. classes. Sayori tilted her head, concern clear in wide honey eyes.

She didn't continue fussing over the brunette with her mothering tendencies despite being able to tell something bad had happened. The brunette had lacked her usual clumsiness that morning, waking without a single complaint and dark bags under her eyes. It was obvious she hadn't slept a wink since returning to their room last night, but even so, Sayori knew better than to press the issue.

Even with a friendship as close and near inseparable as theirs, they still had boundaries neither would cross for the same reason they wouldn't ask about the secrets they both knew they had kept from each other. And so, Sayori merely pulled the brunette into a hug, squeezing her tight and hoped the show of physical support would help.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

"Cross-san? Are you there?"

The pair looked to the door, baffled as they recognized the muffled voice to be their dormitory leader. "Do you want me to get that?" The light brunette asked, concerned that the older student may be at their door to give Yuuki yet another hard time about whatever she can find fault with. Yuuki shook her head and took Sayori's hand in a reassuring grasp.

"Cross-san?"

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Her expression turned abashed and hurried to the door, yanking it open. "I'm here, dorm leader!" The dormitory leader jumped in surprise but quickly recomposed herself. Yuuki laughed sheepishly, apologizing. "Sorry about that, uh… what's up?"

"The Chairman just called the Hall Office," the flaxen-haired girl replied with a brief gesture of her pen in hand. "He said to ask you to go home, something about needing you for something?" She trailed off, brows furrowing with what seemed like vexation. Yuuki couldn't be sure exactly, but…

The Chairman asking for her to go home? The brunette wondered, her curiosity piqued and she looked back to Sayori, whom only smiled at her in knowing. "I'll let the teachers know, so go on ahead."

"You're the best, Yori!" She grinned, and took off in a hurry—sprinting the whole way to the Chairman's private residence which was conveniently located some distance away from the Sun Dormitories.

Unfortunately, the brunette had begun to wheeze by the time she had reached the entrance. She had apparently forgotten her anemic condition, belatedly realizing that a mere night of rest was hardly enough to recover from her anemia. "In…" She breathed, lightheaded as she leaned on the oaken door for support. "Out…" And she repeated the pattern a few more times until the hammering in her chest slowed.

Okay… I'm okay. Yuuki straightened, opening the door a crack to peer into the quiet house. The smell of breakfast and fresh coffee was in the air, and her mouth watered. She hadn't a bite to eat since getting up and she'd been too preoccupied with worry to feel her need for food until now. Her boots were quickly removed for indoor slippers and she shuffled into the kitchen, timid as a mouse.

"P-Papa?"

"Yuuki! You're just in time," the Chairman beamed from where he stood at the stove. "Breakfast is almost ready!" Ham and bacon were sizzling in a large frypan while another held perfectly browned pancakes. It was a hearty, homey meal that Yuuki never knew her Papa could make. And understandably so, as she never could wake up early enough to have a proper meal during elementary school, and she had been living at the Sun Dormitory since Junior High.

The brunette eyed the plates on the counter, one already stacked high with buttered pancakes and another two more, each with a poached egg on top of toast. There were three plates laid out. Zero wasn't home, was he? She looked up when the Chairman chortled, unaware that her expression had given away the questions bubbling in her head.

"Papa…?" She repeated again, suddenly having trouble forming a proper response in kind.

The older man decidedly spared his daughter from having to play the guessing game with him further and elaborated as delicately as he could. "I'll be needing your help with a new student that arrived last night." Overwhelming her with anymore surprises following the events from the night before wasn't something he wanted to do. "She's going to need a guide to show her the ropes."

Yuuki tilted her head, baffled. "Ropes…?" Then she remembered, "Oh!" The new student councilor her Papa had mentioned at the beginning of the week.

…Wait, they were already here since last night? At the academy? In their home?

The brunette was suddenly dumbfounded, unsure of what she should be feeling at the news. She had been excited initially, yes, but it was quickly forgotten with the problems piling up one after another. In fact, (come to think of it, really) it didn't seem like there wasn't any time for her to take a proper breather at all this week…

Yuuki couldn't help the heavy sigh escaping her.

The Chairman smiled fondly as he moved on to set the dining table. "Why don't you go get our newcomer to come down for breakfast? She's using the guest room up on the second floor." He snuck a glance at the clock hanging on the far wall—8:20AM. The redhead would have woken up by now, he knew. Riel had always been an early riser even as a child. An ironic complete one-eighty different from his second (adoptive) daughter.

Not that he was intending to make any comparisons between them in all honesty.

Yuuki nodded sleepily, trudging up the stairs absentmindedly. Her mind had just drifted into the clouds when she heard soft murmurs and shuffling from behind a door that was left ajar.

Curious, auburn eyes peeked through the gap and caught a glimpse of long red tresses that reflected gold in the sunlight the streamed in through the windows. Long arms stretched to pull on a loose, woolen sweater over a form-fitting tank top.

That was when she was met with golden eyes. Strange, bright eyes such that Yuuki couldn't bring herself to blink, enchanted for a moment and soon burst into a near impossible shade of red.

OHMYGOD. What am I doing!? The brunette yelled at herself mentally as she quickly backed away, slamming the door close. She'd been caught peeping! And at another girl even!

Yuuki tried to gather her scattered wits, half panicking and flailing about for an excuse or solution or whatever-she-didn't-know-for-sure (she didn't even know what she was panicking for!), when the door opened again. The brunette promptly froze, the perfect imitation of a statue while the redhead stared at her blankly.

"…Um, good morning?"

Yuuki found herself being greeted unexpectedly, and she quickly straightened to bow with eyes averted towards the floorboards in embarrassment. "Y…yes! Good m-morning!"

"…"

There was the awkward silence again, and the seconds seemed to pass at an excruciating pace.

"…"

A minute had passed… and neither of the girls were able to speak. Or least, Yuuki was unable to. Her stomach had been twisting in uncomfortable knots, and she could hardly focus long enough to think of what she could possibly say next. Fortunately, it seemed like the redhead was going to break the silence when—

GROOWWL…

Surprise flashed pass amber orbs as they wandered down to the brunette's abdomen.

Yuuki felt her cheeks explode into a tomato red.

A chuckle. "Shall we head down for breakfast first?"

She nodded slowly, her large eyes glued to the floor and darting between pink bunny slippers and bare feet. Yuuki was much too mortified at the thought of how much she had already embarrassed herself in front of the new student, although the latter didn't seem too concerned.

"So, you must be Kaien's daughter." Riel surmised, gliding down the stairs casually. "Yuuki-chan, right?" She smiled, friendly with a hand outstretched. "I'm Riel, an old… a friend of Kaien's. I'll be in your care for a while."

Yuuki flailed between taking the offered hand and bowing, babbling a flustered reintroduction of herself. The redhead felt the corners of her lips pull up in a rare smile that went unnoticed. She couldn't explain it, but she found the petite brunette absolutely adorable—her natural innocence and shyness was charming, much like a young child who didn't know how else to conduct herself in front of a stranger.

…It was a feeling that Riel could find comfort in amidst her own inner conflicts. A feeling that helped her reaffirm that the world wasn't such a bleak place after all.

She shook her head, laughing at the melodramatic thoughts swimming through her head. When did I become such a drama queen? She couldn't help laughing quietly to herself as she sauntered into the kitchen with a bashful Yuuki at her heels.

Kaien only smiled wider (if possible) at the picture, imaginary flowers blooming in his vicinity when he greeted the pair.

"I can't remember," Marian quipped as she filled in the forms attached on her clipboard. "Were you always so inclined towards young girls?"

Riel eyed the burgundy-haired woman with mirth. "Not particularly, no. Besides," she straightened out her sweater and continued nonchalantly. " Age and gender has got nothing to do with it."

The school nurse gave a noncommittal hum in thought, her writing hand hardly deigning to slow her scribbling speed in favor of the dubious yet lighthearted conversation. She wasn't one to judge the sexual preferences of another, let alone the redhead's questionable-and-somewhat-nonexistent-orientation. Though her interest was undeniably provoked when Riel had entered her infirmary in an oddly charming demeanor together with the Chairman's rosy-cheeked daughter.

Where the little brunette could hardly contain the bright red that painted her cheeks and her shying two steps back whenever Riel spoke, Marian watched with a pinch of skepticism behind her gray eyes—unsure of what exactly to think of the redhead's chivalrous behavior.

Riel was endearing and courteous, but she would never be gallant or gentlemanly.

…or at least, Marian had always thought so.

"If I hadn't know you any better, I would have assumed that you've acquired a taste for cute little girls like Yuuki-chan during your time overseas." She stated matter-of-factly, rolling her eyes as she spun around in her chair to face Riel. "Kaien would probably get a heart attack if that were true." A pause. "Hm, that sounds like a pretty good joke to play on him now that I think about it."

Riel cracked a casual laugh, one chuckle short of a giggle as she leaned against the frame of the window. "You never change, Mari." Her expression twisted into a forlorn smile, "I'm glad."

The school nurse arched an eyebrow, poker-faced. "El, are you seriously getting sappy on me there?"

"Maybe." She replied almost immediately, her golden eyes squinting at the sunny morning outside. It was too bright, just like that summer day. Riel shook her head clear of the memory resurfacing again. No, she didn't want to think about it. Just the thought of her current predicament was depressing enough as it is already.

"You haven't changed either, still brooding over unnecessary things."

Riel perked, turning back to look at Marian watching her with an expression she couldn't read. The gray of her eyes shimmered as though the pigment itself were ignited by sparks of tiny flames, an indication that made Riel realize avoiding the topic was futile—because Marian had already read her like an open book.

"…y'know, I am honestly not fond of how you're able to read me so well." Riel couldn't help but remark back smoothly, her voice sheepish as the heavy feeling in her gut.

"You exaggerate." The burgundy-haired woman huffed, crossing her arms. "I can't always tell what you're thinking, Riel. You're like an airtight coffin nailed shut when you want to keep your secrets." And she knew, Riel had one too many kept buried deep inside of her—several of which Marian herself also shared in keeping bottled up as well.

Having said that… She gave a sullen grunt, not entirely willing to admit she was the pot calling the kettle black.

Riel didn't seem to take particular notice however, preoccupied with her own thoughts as she returned her golden gaze to the scenery outside the windows. It was a tough debate between the both of them as always, for their tightlipped secrets wasn't exactly an open topic for casual conversation.

The school bell rung at that moment, signaling the end of third period and the corridors outside the infirmary soon filled with students rushing for their next lessons.

Marian watched the clock on the wall, counting the minutes until the bustling voices and shuffling of shoes died down to murmurs and faint footsteps. She grumbled and headed for the door to her office, sliding it open as she hollered for students to stop loitering and hurry on to their classrooms. When she next turned back to the redhead, golden eyes were staring at her blankly.

"Shut it."

"I haven't said anything." Riel replied honestly.

Marian rolled her eyes again. "You didn't need to," came the flat retort. One could literally see the sarcasm dripping like a melting cube of ice from her tone. "Anyway, it's time for you to get going."

The redhead blinked, bemused as she raised an eyebrow. "I haven't seen you in what? Four years, and you're chasing me out of here already?" She feigned a puppy-eyed look, her bottom lip stuck out in a mock pout as she whined dramatically. "I'm hurt!"

"…Cute, very cute." Marian remarked with a poker face, stepping aside and held the door open. "But no, I have a bunch of papers to file in to student affairs and a uniform to order for you. Now, get out of here."

Riel's eyes glimmered with quiet laughter, knowing as a faint smile spread across the nurse's lips despite the perma-solemn and impassive tinge in her voice. She relented nonetheless, sauntering out of the infirmary with a small wave of her hand.

"Alright, alright. I'll get out of your hair for now."

Click.

Bloody Rose had never felt more heavy in his grasp, as though the weapon knew what his intentions were when he released her safety device. Mauve eyes narrowed at the thought.

No, the gun wouldn't possibly know. Not when even Zero himself didn't know what he truly wanted to do at that moment. He trembled slightly, fragments of the previous night flooding the dark recesses of his jumbled mind.

Four years. Zero had fought the change for four years and when it finally happened, the pain was unlike any of the attacks he had experienced previously. Now, the silver-haired councilor felt as if everything had been a lie. He felt no different than when he was still human, and it disgusted him.

That every fiber of his being was not repulsed by what he had become—it disgusted him. That very notion… it scared him.

His fingers tightened their hold around Bloody Rose, resolute as he raised it slowly to his head.

If he pulled the trigger now, would the fear go away? He wondered.

…No, it wouldn't.

He sighed, lowering the gun when his door cracked open and the familiar screaming of his name rung in his ears as he was subdued almost immediately.

"ZERO…!"

Bloody Rose was wrestled from his grasp as Yuuki continued to yell at him, the expression on her face a mix between anger and desperation. Something he couldn't understand why she would feel that way after what he had done to her.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

Zero watched her expression carefully, nonchalant and blank as he replied. "Nothing…" She didn't need to care about him anymore. He had done something unforgivable after all.

"Liar! You even disengaged the safety device on the gun!" The brunette chided in disbelief, her voice strained and choked as her grip on him shook uncontrollably. He could tell she had something more to say, but refrained from putting it into words in concern for what he could only interpret as sympathy.

He pinned her in place with a dark look, "What did you come here for?" And she froze, unable to answer as she pursed her lips at a loss for words.

In a heartbeat, Zero felt his temper flare up from the pits he was in a moment ago, and flipped their positions. Yuuki gasped in shock, her eyes wide in fear as she watched with a pale white stare.

He reached for the plaster that hid the wound, proof of his unforgivable deed, and pulled it back carefully until he could see the reddened fang marks. His fingers traced the bite gingerly, his voice barely a louder than a whisper. "You heard it too, right? The sound of your blood being drawn from your body."

A grim smile spread across his lips like an empty crescent at the horror welling up behind auburn eyes. "After such a hair-raising experience, how can you possibly pretend that everything is alright?"

The brunette couldn't find the words to refute his question, the frail and delicate strings that tied their unlikely bond together now torn and broken as she laid there—completely helpless to doing anything but watch as Zero leave.

The door closed, and Yuuki broke like a wave on the shore. Warm tears flowed like a broken tap as she stifled the sobs that had been threatening to escape her since uncovering the secret Zero had worked so hard to keep under wraps…

For she knew now, they can no longer go back to the way things were.

"Ze…!" Riel's voice trailed off in a gasp, cutting her outburst short before she could finish calling out.

She took a step back, her reflexes willing her to just run. But where? She couldn't collect her thoughts fast enough to decide, but at that very moment, anywhere else would be a better option than her current position—which was just a few short steps away from bumping nose first into one Zero Kiriyuu.

The redhead tensed, pressing her lips in a firm line as mauve eyes widened briefly before darkening to amethyst. There was an unspoken conviction behind those deep pools of raging emotions that was almost enough to petrify her but even then, she managed to force her voice out in a quiet murmur as she averted her eyes.

"Where… where are you going?"

Cold shivers ran down her spine, and Riel could feel her entire body shaking with obvious panic.

She knew, the only thing keeping her from possibly passing out or hightailing out of there was her intuition screaming at her to realize the silver-haired councilor's horrible conclusion to all his problems. And the whole feeling was déjà vu all over again, needlessly reminding her of the day they met.

That dreaded, hot summer she wanted to forget and stop wondering what might have been if everything had turned out differently between them four years ago.

It's no use. She chastised herself. What's done, had been done. I… I can't change the past. Her eyes closed in resignation. Even if I could, I will… She breathed, composed with a new resolution as clear amber clashed with amethyst again.

I will only do what I did once more, my decision back then will not change.

Zero continued to watch her, his gaze burning with an unfathomable intensity and looking as though he were about to snarl at the redhead. Instead, he tightened his grip on his duffel bag. "That's not any of your business." His tone was cold and harsh as he passed her without looking back, "Don't act like you care."

"You don't have to believe me, but I do care." Riel couldn't help refuting despite knowing it wouldn't be enough to convince the other. And sure enough, Zero kept walking on—dismissive of her words.

She felt a sharp pang, growing discouraged as her heart sank further into the pit that could only be despair… a dramatic interpretation, she knew but the redhead found no better alternative to describe the invisible weight crushing her spirits into the earth beneath her feet.

She casted her golden eyes to the ground just then, murmuring quietly in resignation to herself.

"Running away isn't going to solve anything."

The silver-haired male froze unexpectedly in his steps then. However, he didn't deign to turn around, stubbornly refusing to face the redhead as he countered her words. "What the hell could you possibly know, you did the same thing back then."

"I didn't run, I was…!" Riel gasped midway through her outburst, choking on the words that she knew better than to speak of. "I didn't have a choice in the matter." Her fingers curled into fists, lips trembling as her guilt ate away at her conscience—it sounded like an excuse no matter how she said it.

"Four fucking years and not a word from you, what am I supposed to think." He received no answer, barbs lining his spiteful tone as he finally turned to face the redhead. "Yeah, I figured."

Golden eyes flickered with a fiery spirit despite the tremors in her voice. "So you're already giving up, just like that?"

"Don't talk like you know everything," mauve eyes narrowed in contrast with ire. "You don't."

"I know your parents would've wanted you to become a full-fledged hunter, no matter what."

Slowly, Riel watched as the silver-haired male grew ever more hostile and scowled with an intensity that seemed to burn her raw. It didn't matter though, she'd get the her words across however needed—even at the expense of receiving his anger and resentment when she chose to mention his parents just then.

"What right," he growled brusquely through gritted teeth. "Do you have to talk about my parents." Ludicrous. She didn't have the right. Not after what she did. And Zero was in disbelief, feeling ridiculed at the gall she displayed—it was almost laughable. Pitifully laughable. Yet he couldn't help lamenting his sentimentality over his childhood spent with the redhead.

On the other hand, Riel managed to keep her wits together as she shrugged with much forced nonchalance. "I… probably don't." Her current composure was a complete farce, but she knew well enough she had to play her cards right. "Zero, nothing is going to change even if you leave."

She thought back to the conversation she held with Kaien the previous night, having caught up with the events that had happened thus far while she was out of the country.

Riel murmured gently, her voice melancholic as she tried to calm her turbulent emotions. "You are… You've never been alone." The silver-haired male didn't react as he remained where he stood, but Riel felt a sense of reassurance regardless.

In the distance, she heard the light pitter pattering of footsteps approaching quickly. "At the very least, please think about the people who'd been standing by you this entire time."

…Time to go, she thought as she turned to leave.

With the last puff of his cigarette, Touga crushed the dim ember tip harshly against the concrete. He couldn't fathom the reason for his irritable mood the entire day, unable to even take some solace in enjoying his rare break from work.

Though it would be a while before he would return to taking up assignments again, the raven-haired man entertained briefly the idea of cutting his vacation to the countryside short and pulled out his cellphone to cancel his trip.

The small display lit up, bright with a new notice on the home screen and he cocked an eyebrow, "The hell?"

Unknown Caller ID

1 Voicemail

Touga debated briefly for a moment if he should listen to it, but quickly concluded to himself that one little voicemail from a stranger wouldn't possibly be anything he couldn't handle. He pulled a new stick from the pack in his hand, lighting it between his lips as he dialed and waited for the recording to start.

"Hey Touga, it's me."

He paused, surprised at the voice that spoke and watched the sun dip below the horizon from the station platform. His expression gave nothing away as he listened intently to the quiet voice talking on and on through the handset.

When the voicemail had finally ended, Touga could only let out a curse with a click of his tongue. "Well, shit."

Looks like his vacation to the countryside would have to wait after all.

Author's Note:

Hum. I don't have much to say here except that the story's pace is going pretty slow for the sake of the plot and… well, drama really (lol).

Out of curiosity though, here's a question for all of you, my dear readers:

What do you think Riel had done in the past for Zero to be so angry with her?

I think I have dropped quite a lot of hints throughout the chapters thus far, so go ahead and feel free to drop me a review if you like it ;)

~Kuro-Chama