OK, I've got a bit of time after packing, so I wrote this – it's raw, but I didn't want to let the plot bunny rot before I next get to computer. Well, and now – off to India I fly…

Many thanks to Hino Matsuri for the brilliant manga and characters (which I do not own - go figure), and many thanks to BlackenedWing, YenGirl, Sagakure and many other brilliant fanfiction writers for the concepts of blood bond and other useful things to know about the Vampire Knight universe which have grown to be "almost canon" and as such form the basis on which I elaborate in this story.

Still she felt too apprehensive to approach him face to face and chose just to come, respectfully, somewhat closer, at first a little stuttering on his name…

"K…kuran-sempai? Why you here… uh… are you alright?"

Her voice seemed to startle him, though she was pretty sure he knew she was right behind his back, maybe it was the fact that she really dared address him?.. for the first time in all their years at the same school?.. and there was a slight pause before he slid a bit sideways, half-turning in her direction – his face as usually pale and unfathomable but for a soft amused smile that played at his lips.

"Why, Wakaba-san, I am perfectly fine… You needn't worry for me…"

He turned again to the lake, lowering the gaze to where his hands lay languidly on his lap, and there was again a pause before he continued.

"What are you doing so far from dormitories anyway, Wakaba-san? There could be all sorts of people around here considering circumstances. Do return at once, will you?"

Sayori felt a shameful blush rise upon her cheeks, not only was her worry about him completely unneeded, but she also got reprimanded for her own carelessness. Just one of them days…

"Yes, of course, I will", she managed lamely. "I was assured that right now it's safe"

She was assured of no such thing, of course. She deduced it that it would be comparatively safe in the day time – based on that same "crash course". What she was said was literally "get lost and don't stick in the way". But she should return, of course, now that the Moon Dorm president had asked her to do so, even if it meant getting stuck with squeaky fangirls, her former classmates for the rest of the day…

"Even so…" came whispered so softly she barely heard it, "…Wakaba-san, can I ask you for a favor?"

She turned around to look on the pureblood, noticing for the first time the light dusting of snow on his black trenchcoat and – somewhat – on his dark hair, as if he was sitting like this for some time already… it hasn't snowed since she was brought back to the Sun dormitory, and then it was barely dawn.

"Yes?" she prompted, as it seemed that Kaname had forgotten that he wanted to ask her something, turned away from her still, and a little slumped over, head resting on the heel of his hand as if he was tired or sleepy.

Or maybe he just had second thoughts on whether he wanted to ask a favor of such a careless person…

"Forgive me…" gently rasped in the cold air, defying her reasons, "Could you not tell the Night Class or… or Yuuki… that you have seen me here?.. I… I just need time to think. I… will come back later... when I'm finished, right?"

The request was easy, in fact reasonable, but as Sayori observed the pureblood… closer now, from this merely three-steps distance, a strange foreboding started to creep over her again.

Something was plain wrong with him, whether physically or emotionally she couldn't fathom, but it was as clear as crystal she was not a person who could force him into admitting that something was so much as amiss.

Which just meant she would have to find someone to whom he would listen… Yuuki was the obvious candidate but he specifically asked Sayori to not tell Yukki, and besides she was… otherwise preoccupied… as they tell in TV romance… Vice dorm president Ichijou came as a close second – but he was bedridden himself, and – naturally, was part of the Night Class… and for some reason – worried as she were – she still intended to respect Kaname's request… Chairman Cross?

"Wakaba-san?.. Sayori?.." came with a hint of anguish, and the fact that he was loosing at least as much of composure filled her with new sense of urgency. What was she thinking anyway, standing here like statue, never even telling that she will do as he asks.

"Uh… as you wish, Kuran-sempai… Good morning to you… Take care"

Her voice sounded way too bright and chirpy to her own ears… almost Yuuki-ish in one of her extremely… well, Yuuki-ish moments… and as she turned around and hurried away, she only hoped that Kaname would write the unnatural tone down to discomfiture on having to be "awoken"…

… where was she anyway?... oh yeah, Headmaster Cross seemed a perfect one to approach. Firstly, he wasn't in Kaname's "keep silent" list, secondly, he had known the pureblood since the latter's childhood, and thirdly, it was one of Yori's firmest beliefs that Yuuki's daddy could inspire, cajole or just downright irritate about anyone to do… whatever… All that she needed now – was find him as soon as po…

…turning around the bend of the path, Yori flew right into someone's rough, leather-clad chest… her head zinging sharply on the impact. And she almost fell backwards if not for a strong and steady hand, catching her none too gently by the shoulder before it actually happened.

"Hey, little girl! Are you running somewhere or from someone?" rumbled lazily somewhere above her head, and she looked up into one grey-blue eye that managed somehow to convey both amusement and concern simultaneously.

Well… she found… someone, that was for sure. The remaining question being - if she dared confide in him about Kaname.

Headmaster Cross was annoying, but mild and gentle, he cared about his students, and more perhaps about Kaname because of long-standing friendship between the two.

She wasn't all that sure about Yagari-sensei.

He didn't look like a teacher at all, with his eye patch and cowboy dressing. He looked dark, no-nonsense and dangerous – more so now, with a gun slung casually across one shoulder. And he looked like he knew how to use it this gun too.

And still he taught the Night Class, and got along good with the Headmaster, and from what Yori heard from Yuuki in bits and pieces – used to be Zero's teacher before he ever came to this school…

and most important of course, he was here, not a five-minutes walk from the lake…

"Has someone scared you?" the tall man crouched to be more on eye-level with the tiny girl. "Ah, Yuuki Cross' friend… Sayori-chan, are you?"

She nodded mutely.

Just how am I going to explain?.. It seemed to me that Kaname was hurt or unwell? Like it's so believable?

"Kuran…" she started. "Kaname-sempai…"

"Kuran has scared you, has he?"

There was something strangely sinister in the way that Yagari straightened up, his hand sliding softly closer to the belt of his gun.

Gosh, was I terribly wrong to tell the man?

"No, no…" now that she hurried to explain the words came all by themselves without hesitation. "He hasn't scared me… It's… He is sitting there by the lake… and it looks like something's wrong with him… but he won't tell me… please, Yagari-sensei, could you go and have a look".

"Kuran hurt?"

The older man seemed taken aback by her outpouring. More than that there was a glint of strange hesitation in his one good-eye – as if he couldn't quite see himself rushing to the aid of pureblood vampire.

"Oh well" he said finally, "guess it couldn't be helped – show the way!"

And still, as they followed the path through the sunlit forest, Yori, couldn't help but feel that the teacher is only following her reluctantly – to alley her worries. Deep down he didn't believe that what she said could be remotely true.