Author's Note – Hehehe… (nervous laugh) I know it's been a while… please don't kill me. Pretty please??? Anyway, FINALLY I've managed to bring myself to finish off this chapter – and frankly I'm quite glad I can finally get it off my chest! Yay!

It amuses me in a strange way that although I have this fan fiction on my brain twentyfour-seven, and I MEAN twentyfour-seven, the time I can actually buckle myself down and actually write seems to be ridiculously scarce. I think I'm back on track though, so it's all okay! XD It's just that I'm a bit of a silly perfectionist when it comes to writing, I stress over it a little too much – and I came to a point where I wasn't sure this fan fiction was good enough for me to continue writing. BUT you guys have encouraged me to keep going, and so for that I'm really thankful! For all the people who reviewed, favourited or alerted this story – this chapter's all thanks to you!

About this chapter, I would like to make something clear before your minds start to wonder in a certain direction. This is NOT an AidoxYuuki fan fiction – so don't get any ideas. If you see any lurrrve, I assure you that in 'Awakening Absence' it is friendship lurrrrve, cappische? So if I see in reviews 'are you going to make this into an AidoxYuuki story?' I may shoot you. And if you say it as a joke I'll laugh THEN shoot you. No violence intended. ;D

Also, from the end of next chapter and onwards this story, I'm sure you'll be relieved to hear, is going to get happier and less depressing – so hold on people! See the light! Although it will never quite be fluffy bunny, candycanes, dancing elves kind of happy… as this IS Vampire Knight… and Zero's still off in a huff somewhere unfortunately.

Lastly, and after this I promise I'll shut up before the disclaimer, Shiki, Rima and Ichijou will turn up again soon so I assure you that I haven't forgotten them, despite their lack of action recently. Other pairings I'm not concentrating on too much in the present will get their chance. It's hard work developing four…. Possibly five later if I can do it… pairings at the same time. You've got to worship Matsuri Hino, how does she do it???

Disclaimer:

SFC(me): Okay, Chairman! It's your time to shine! Take it away!

Chairman: Ooh! Hello! I got this new feather-boa today, look - covered in sparkles in such a flattering light shade of pink – and all for half price!

SFC: Wait, what? Where did that come from?! I thought you were being all badass and vampirehuntery now! Don't tell me you've gone back to old frivolous ways!

Chairman: Well yes… I know… but someone has to keep the spirits up will all the blood and gore floating around! Just for fun!.. And to see Kiryu-kun's face! Kukuku

SFC: Point taken – let's get on with it!

Chairman: Indeed! Matsuri Hino owns Vampire Knight and all original characters from it, including myself! Have a nice day everyone!

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Chapter Nine- An Unexpected Friend

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Zero, you're what I reach for when I fall…

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Aido tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, the constant drumming filling the study as he continued to demonstrate his endless boredom. He could barely find room enough for his fingers - as the mahogany desk was smothered with papers, letters and textbooks – all of which could have been for nothing if all this time was going to be spent waiting, for someone who seemed as if she would never come. He glanced lazily at the grandfather clock shadowing him from the opposite side of the room and sighed, frowning. The gold hands shuddered forward in time as the seconds -stretching to minutes- wasted before his eyes.

How annoying.

Aido had been urging to do something with himself all day, maybe that was why he had been strangely looking forward to this lesson this afternoon. He had been tutoring Yuuki for quite some time now – everyday for four hours a day – and not one of those days had she been late. How ironic it was that Yuuki hadn't hesitated to be on time every lesson until now where he felt this was the last place he wished to be – yet, the one time when he was truly becoming eager she had choose this time not to show up to see him at all.

He found it slightly unnerving… something didn't quite seem right.

He exchanged a look with Kain, who leaned against the wall in his usual position, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes wearily watching Aido as he started to puzzle.

It was true that arrangements had been increasingly busy and frantic recently at the Kuran Manor, he reasoned. It was a fairly acceptable explanation for Yuuki's absence if she was being held up preparing tomorrow - perhaps Ruka had finally lost her nerve and was pounding the young pureblood this instant, still sour over the wedding.

Aido allowed himself a small smirk, before colliding with a dose of unwelcome guilt, which plummeted to the pit of his stomach with the taste of sour medicine. He grimaced, eyes glued to the table with effort as he tried to ignore it. Giving up and willing it away, he acknowledged somewhere in his brain that she was in a great deal of pain, and despite their differences, could admit that he felt a little sympathetic towards her.

Somehow, Aido couldn't get rid of the feeling that neither of those two possibilities he had considered was the answer to Yuuki's absence.

He considered… wondered… could something have had happened to the young pureblood?

He sighed again, exasperated. If so, Yuuki Cross was truly a nuisance. Whenever she was around, trouble followed her – whether she was a vampire or not. Looking after her was a full time job and it made him wonder how he managed to get any sleep at night.

Grumpily, he stood up from his chair with a jerk, the wooden frame consequentially toppling over into the cabinet behind with a great smash as he moved, cracking the framed glass. Aido winced, and moved the chair back to its original place. Kain slapped his forehead with a sigh.

"Um… I'm going to go look for her"

Kain nodded and followed him out the door.

As they walked, they stopped at every door, peering inside to see if they could spot a certain dark-haired vampire – but so far they could find none. The deadly silence of the mansion and their inability to find her was starting to make him anxious. If Kaname knew…

Aido's blonde brows furrowed as his genius brain considered all the probable places she could be. They checked the dining room, but the tables were bare; the chairs empty. The ballroom was also deserted; all they could see were the numerous aisles leading up to the altar. That left Yuuki's bedroom as the only last place she could really be, and therefore the two cousins made their way towards it, the sound of their shoes echoing across the floor.

Aido huffed, a couple of dangling blonde curls blowing up in the process. She had better not be in there.

If he found out she was sleeping, all snug in bed instead of studying he would definitely give that girl a piece of his mind. She should be thankful that he took the time to tutor her every day; after all, there was no one else better suited to the job.

His pale hand firmly grasped the door handle and pushed down, easing open the carved door.

Aido and Kain blinked. The darkness of the room flooded in, and if it weren't for their inhuman eyes, they wouldn't have been able to see anything at all.

"Cro – I mean Yuuki-sama?"

Crumpled bed sheets littered the floor, appearing more like ghosts of grey in the sparse light, which leaked out, from the hallway behind them. The room seemed in ruin, unkempt – the chamber reflecting that of someone sickly more than anything else.

Aido's eyes scanned the room, darting from the bed to the wardrobe, the anxiety increasing with every look. He finally spotting the curled up bundle camouflaged amongst the tumbled bed sheets on the floor.

Aido had never seen such a mess.

Her hair was spread out like a fan on the floor, hiding all signs of her face, which remained glued, entirely buried in the floor. Her dress twisted around her in shreds, and her feet were bare as she lay pathetically in a little ball. The visible skin dimmed a sickly white, veins glowing clearer than they should – dark streaks of lightning, marring her skin.

He searched for any possible humour, but it never came. This was no joke. He had never seen anyone… in so much pain for all of his life. Although maybe, not much could be said coming from a pampered, spoilt aristocrat boy raised in a wealthy living family.

He watched her back with wide eyes as it shuddered between intervals of her ragged, wheezed breathing – panic rising within him at every breath.

"Yuuki-sama!", he crouched down beside her head.

"Are you alright? Speak to me!"

Kain looked cautiously outside the room to see if there was anyone else around who could witness their situation, his arm barring the doorway.

Aido heard a weak whisper from under the messy curtains of her hair.

"Aido-senpai?"

Hanabusa had no idea what to say, god knew he was helpless in these situations. He looked away, feeling pathetic – a feeling he had never been accustomed to. He jumped as he felt a hand grab his arm – and looked back into a teary face, freezing as it begged him with dripping red-brown eyes.

"Help me…"

Kain jumped as he heard an approaching Ruka coming down the hall.

"I'll go, you take care of her".

It was their duty to prevent anyone else from seeing someone such as Yuuki Kuran, the youngest pureblood ever to be seen of the night clan, in such a state.

Aido nodded solemnly and watched as his cousin stepped out of the room to intercept the approaching Ruka, taking her by the hand and leading her steadily away. With a sigh he grabbed Yuuki's hands and helped her up, supporting her ragdoll form as she nearly slumped, crumpled back to the floor. The young girl stifled a sob, not daring to meet his eyes again.

"Let's go"

He guided her slowly out the room with wide, disbelieving eyes, as he lead her around gently as if she was a small child, likely to tumble over. Kain had successfully prevented anyone from wandering this way and Aido sighed with relief, knowing that he could freely lead Yuuki to his study. He watched as Yuuki took little steps inside the room and waited until he had successfully helped her through the door to close it behind them. He didn't dare let go of her hand, concerned by the consequences that could occur if he did.

Aido had never seen her looking so fragile, so broken. For the last month he had noted - had had no choice but to note, that Yuuki had not acted or…smiled the same as the Yuuki who had pestered him back at Cross Academy. She had become almost lifeless, false – but still…never like this.

He pulled out an armchair and carefully helped lower her onto it. Despite his efforts, she folded to its sinking cushions almost violently with another choked sob. Once that was completed, Aido drew a blank as to what he ought to do – it really was like dealing with a little child – something with which he had almost no experience, despite the fact that he had a little sister. So maybe this was what it was like to be a father! It looked as if he just wasn't cut out for the job…

Aido caught sight of the kettle settled on a tray situated in a corner of the room, his light at the end of the tunnel. Ah! He would make her some tea!

He approached the kettle, relieved that there was some way to occupy himself in this very testing situation. Satisfied that the kettle seemed to already be filled, he flicked the switch, trying to block out the stifled sobbing behind him with the rustling of water starting to heat.

A few minutes later he poured the water into a teacup and plopped in the teabag. His cheeks reddened, and he felt ridiculously foolish, half wanting to bang his head against the metal surface of the kettle a couple times over. This was something the servants would normally do – but desperate actions called for desperate measures, and calling such aids was only a flirting fantasy, floating in the depths of his head.

When the tea was ready, he turned around, the steaming china teacup in his outstretched in his hand. Aido groaned under his breath, grimacing, as he caught sight of Yuuki cradling her face in hands – her crying seemingly unstoppable. Was there any way to stop her crying? The urge to fly out the room twisted in his gut, yet he brought himself to slowly approach her again, holding out the cop and saucer towards her at arms length.

"Uhh…here you go"

Yuuki looked up with bloodshot, exhausted eyes and seeing the tea, took it with trembling hands. She found it difficult to still herself enough to drink, but when she finally managed to take a sip she found gratefully that it soothed her raw throat, and managed to ease her crying just a little bit.

Aido exhaled with relief, glad that he had done at least something right. He caught sight of a blanket lying on his desk chair and picked it up, a peculiar idea coming to mind. He carried it through feeling increasingly foolish as he carefully forced himself to drape the soft layer of fabric around Yuuki's shoulders, proceeding to embarrass himself even more when he found himself attempting to tuck her in.

After that, all he could do was watch - watch, as she struggled inwardly to keep herself together. He found he couldn't help but pity her, and felt surprised that he regarded Yuuki with some sort of affection before locking the notion under lock and key in that familiar chest of denial.

Aido looked away, biting down on the innards of his cheeks with annoyance as he felt them burn a bright red.

In some way, the young pureblood seemed to remind him of his little sister – the one he hadn't seen for so long.

"T-thank y-you Aido-senpai…"

He turned with a shock. Yuuki was looking at him with thankful eyes, and had managed to block all tears from spilling from their watery orbs.

"You're welcome". He felt awkward – maybe he really just couldn't handle this, maybe he should've fetch someone capable of dealing with the fragile teenager from the start. Ruka maybe… or wait, that probably wasn't a good idea – plus, the idea had been to keep her in the dark.

"You wait here, Yuuki-sama. I'll bring Kaname-sama"

He walked briskly to the door and planted his hand on the doorknob at a brisk speed – before he heard a large crash behind him and felt something clutch his ankle, causing him to yelp with surprise.

"Please don't!"

She started weeping again, splayed out on the floor by his feet once more, the teacup laying broken nearby.

He jumped with alarm.

What was wrong with this girl? What had happened to make her into such a wreak?

"Why-?"

"I-I can't face him! I-I d-don't think I can do this!"

Yuuki lowered her head in shame, unable to stop her tears.

The blonde stood frozen, eyes narrowed with confusion.

"What do you m-?"

"I don't know who I am anymore! Help me… Aido-senpai! I-I don't think… I can marry Onii-sama tomorrow…"

Aido's eyes widened, shock rippling throughout his body – the room suddenly taking on a darker shade in his eyes than he had seen before.

"But I have no choice! I don't want to hurt Kaname-sama again!"

Yuuki's hand around Aido's ankle pulled down and he was barely aware of himself lowering down to her level on the floor. She was begging for help through both her body and trembling voice.

"But every second I stay here, I lose a piece of me – I'll become emptier and mellower until I can no longer recognize myself, until every time I speak – if I ever do – I hear the voice of someone else! ….How can I get myself marry him when I've come to realise that my own heart… is a stranger to me?"

She choked on her tears, her nails, which had previously been perfectly manicured, scraping across the wood floor.

Aido could find no response other than to stare at her shaking form with an open mouth and a spinning mind.

Never had Aido Hanabusa seen this one coming.

"Yuuki-sama…"

She looked up with wide eyes, then turned quickly – standing up to hide her face with her back.

"… there's nothing I can do! Tomorrow I'll marry him without complaint… and stay here for the rest of the my life."

"I…"

Hands grabbed his shoulders as she whipped around.

"You can't tell anyone, Aido! You can't let anyone find out that this is how I truly feel!"

Aido felt shaken – even his genius mind could not comprehend all that he was hearing – and he struggled on whether she was right. He knew Yuuki could never be happy the way she was now, that in a strange way even he, missed the smiley petite human girl he had enjoyed pestering before.

Yuuki forced him to stare her in the eyes.

"Promise me, Aido!"

The ex-night class student sighed.

"I promise"

There you go! Chapter nine done! Look out for chapter ten which I'll try to send out as soon as I can. I've already written some of it so it's well on the way!

Your opinions are welcome as always, so please review if you can!