A/N: I've been wanting to do this for a while, but haven't had time, so's now..! This chapter is a bit similar to VK Chapter 50—in fact a great deal of the dialogue is taken directly from the manga. But that is where the similarities are mostly going to end. And as you can see, for those of you who read the manga, Yuuki's answer to Aidou's offer is quite different.

Also, I know that Yuuki is generally more cheerful, but I think that as a vampire she seems a bit more troubled. And anywayz, this story would never work if I didn't alter her character a bit. For instance, the fact that this is going to be Zeki and Aidori, not Kanayuu =PPP. So it's much easier if she's not head-over-heels in love with her 'onii-sama.'

Disclaimer:

Me: 'Kay, who wants to do this?

…

Me: Um…ano…guys?

…

Me: Fine! Losers. *mutter mutter* I don't own VK!!! Wish I did, but I don't.

--o--[Chapter Start]--o--

What are you thinking about…?

The words played through her mind like a broken melody, haunting her with bittersweet notes that she could almost taste. Almost…but then they drifted away, just out of reach. It left her feeling strangely cold and empty, and she hugged her arms tighter around her fragile body, trying to contain her sudden sorrow.

Picking up the pen, she stared down at the blank sheet of paper before her, drowning in the never ending white. White…like snow…not like blood… She shivered, and shut her eyes tightly, the pen falling from her hand, hitting the paper with a muffled sound an eternity later.

"It's so quiet…," she murmured, opening her eyes again. "Soon it will be…one year…"

A loud knocking broke through the silence, causing Yuuki to jolt into shocked attention, frozen in the chair with pen and paper sitting in plain view before her. The door swung open and her tutor, Hanabusa Aidou, sauntered in, immediately turning the full force of his icy blue eyes to glare at her.

"Hey, Yuuki Cross! What are you lazing around for?!" he demanded. "Were you even studying for your next lesson?! …What's that?! Were you drawing there?!" he had spotted the paper, and began to advance towards the desk, clearly intent upon taking it.

"Ah! Huh! This is…please don't look!" she exclaimed, snatching up the paper and clutching it to her protectively. "It's a letter!"

He regarded her blandly for a moment before responding, "Hey, whatever…let's just start the lesson." He sighed, running a hand over his blond curls, "I work hard as your private teacher, so come on. Just sit down and open your textbook. Page one hundred sixty-seven."

That was right…she had nearly forgotten. How could she possibly hope to gather the fragments of that piercing melody when she was caged here…? Six months…she had been locked away for six months without sunlight or much company. There was only her brother, Aidou, and the occasional visitor. It was like a prison, and she was desperate to escape for even a mere instant. She felt stifled, suffocated, and very much alone.

Her legs gave out from under her and she half fell back down into her chair. Her heart ached for something that she could never obtain. Yet, she hoped for it anyway, clung to it fiercely in her dreams. Kaname-onii-sama could never understand that untouchable part of her soul. She had told him often enough that there were fragments of her that were reserved. He seemed to understand…but there was always a darker undercurrent hidden there, something she was not sure she could fully fathom.

She sighed, and her breath blew out across the room, shifting the flowers her brother had placed in a vase on the desk for her. A tiny reminder that the outside world still existed.

"Stop fretting," Aidou scowled, leaning back in his chair. "It's not like I'll tell Kaname-sama anyway… If he knew you were still writing letters we can't risk sending out, that would make him even more worried for you. He's already worrying himself sick, feeling bad about you having to stay hiding indoors for your safety…" He paused, then, "Hey, by the way, who were you writing to?"

"…Yori-chan…," she turned her face away, hiding her eyes from his sight to conceal the partial lie there.

"Uhm….," his brow creased as he attempted to remember, then, "Oh, her."

It was amazing, Yuuki thought, that he could remember a single face from the mass of students, especially after all the time that had passed. Then again, Aidou was a genius, and as such, his memory was no doubt better than most. Not only that, but he had saved Yori's life, and Yori had insisted on retaining her memories of the day. So perhaps it was no big mystery.

"Maybe I could get the letter delivered discreetly," he mused, breaking through her thoughts. "If you get a grade of at least 75/100 on the next test I give you, of course," he added with a smug smile.

"Ugh!" she cried, glancing with horror at her textbook.

Still, the possibility of having contact with that world so far beyond her grasp… It was something she could not afford to let slip through her fingers, like so much else. Even the breeze had been reduced to nothing more than a memory.

"Just one thing, though," Aidou grew serious. "No talking about where you live, or about anything vampire related. I left the academy without erasing Sayori Wakaba's memories…but I don't know what might have happened after we left."

"Aidou-senpai…," she trailed off, a small smile nudging the corners of her mouth up for the first time in days. A touch of warmth spread through her heart as she said, "Thank you. I'll try my best so that this letter can be delivered safely. And I won't say anything that might endanger this treasured place where Kaname-senpai and I can live together now."

Treasured…the word echoed hollowly in her mouth. Treasured meant cherished, loved…not something like barred, restricted… Despite that, with the new resolve that had formed within her, she could pretend it was a treasured place for a while longer. If it meant talking with the people she held most dear, then it was worth it. She could afford to delude herself into happiness. Maybe, possibly, she could even allow that happiness to become real.

"Alright, then this next test will be on chapter eleven of your math textbook," he grinned wickedly.

"Noo!" she wailed, pounding her fist against the desk uselessly. "Aidou-senpai, that's so mean!"

"I don't remember saying that it was going to be easy."

"But do you have to make it so hard??" she complained. "Math gives me a headache."

"Being your teacher gives me a headache," he muttered.

"Hey! I heard that!" she folded her arms and squinted at him.

"Your point being…? Whatever, just open your book to page one hundred sixty-seven."

"Alright…," she acquiesced with a sigh, flipping to the appropriate page.

I won't fail, she thought, concentrating even harder on what Aidou was saying. I won't. I'll make sure this letter gets to Yori-chan. The derivative of the square root of x to the fifth plus eleven x plus seventeen y…

Because, with this, she could at last find some happiness from within her cage. It would be so much better with someone to talk to. And hopefully…

What are you thinking about…?

777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

A hand falls across thin linen sheets, pale and limp. A body curls up, convulsing as if in pain, breathing ragged and shallow. And littered about the room are empty boxes, filled with shadows, labeled in thick block writing.

'Blood Tablets.'

--o--[Chapter End]--o--

A/N: Review, review, review! It makes me happy!