OK, I'm in India, and I found web-access (though you can't even begin to imagine what the place looks like and what kind of computers they have – and they do not have head-phones *bawls* meaning I will have to watch raws without sound – never mind that I do not understand Japaneze, lol – it hurts).

The chapters will be short – per force, can't spend all day typing them, and I promise to work some more on them once I return (or find a better place to work on them at least). I'm now basically just moving the plot forward, because it won't let me rest otherwise – so, bear with me.

Oh – and I promise I will answer the reviews in the nearest future, I appreciate them very much. Thank you, guys, you're too kind )))

Meanwhile…

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.

"So… what did you say was wrong with Kuran again?" Yagari asked when silence had become almost unbearable – and… hmm… if it was his way to show he was giving her the benefit of the doubt, he'd have to work better on it!

Yori's temper flared.

"Look," she announced, stopping dead in her tracks. "I know he's vampire pureblood or something… and I do not know what is wrong with him, or how it is possible for him to be hurt… so maybe, if you have such problems with even going to check if he is alright, maybe I should just go find someone else? Someone who'd care?"

Her sudden outburst probably shocked herself more than the teacher – at least she didn't dare lift her eyes for fear she had made herself utterly ridiculous… she wasn't used to let emotions rule her to quite this an extent.

"Well, well," a soft chuckle drifted her way, and she was finally unable to keep the eyes down – letting them slide slowly to where the handsome sensei's face looked highly amused indeed, but also… maybe… a little contrite too. "looks like you have acquired quite a bit of vampire-lore in the last few days… By the way – it's "pureblood vampire" not "vampire pureblood"… and you cannot even begin to imagine how strong they really are… Don't go mix in their doings, if you'd take my advice, Sayori-chan…"

She knew that it was basically meant as an apology on his part, but she still felt too raw about the whole matter, and his mention of how she had acquired all the knowledge in the course of one day… pricked that one little spot in her that was… yes… pretty achy… despite her decision to "not dwell on it" for a time.

"It's not like I've got a chance, Yagari-sensei," she answered, meeting him a glare for a glare, "seeing as my only best friend has recently turned to be one".

"That true…" the older man turned aside, as if there was something that bothered him in what she told now, something he didn't want her to guess, or even get an inkling of. "Let us go check on whether your instincts were right about Kaname-kun… eh?"

He nodded, prompting her to lead the way again, and as the snow crunched under their feet as they strolled among the silent trees – the silence between them seemed more amiable as both have ascertained exactly where they stood.

She hadn't noticed even that the teacher had stopped sharply as they entered the clearing – her feet carrying her a pair of steps forward before she knew that he lingered and turned around to ask what held him…

…only by that moment Yagari already moved – switching from total stillness into a break-neck run, covering – it seemed – half the distance to the dark-clad slumped figure by the lake, before she once again had time to somehow react…

That sudden rush – as if someone has just pushed an "action" button for the usually laid-back teacher was reason enough to feel dazed, was reason enough to just stare dumbly, uncomprehendingly on what happened before her eyes…

See… Yagari has knelt by the sitting vampire… is he telling him something?.. asking if something was wrong?.. no, it seems like he is imploring, ordering even… hell, why he shakes Kaname? And why doesn't the vampire resist?...

See… now what is he doing now?.. dropping the gun… shrugging his long-coat off… his jacket too… why?.. it is freezing… wait… is he wrapping both around Kaname's shoulders?.. hey, didn't he sound like he hated vampires before?... what is he doing?.. cradling him to his chest like this?.. he is going to carry him?..

See…

She was so dazed – she barely made but a few steps down-slope and the teacher was already coming upward, covering ground in long and quick strides, as if the body he cradled was no burden at all.

She never thought the teacher was so strong – wow. Kaname was almost as high as Yagari himself… somewhat leaner, but not by that much, and here – he carried the pureblood without effort, and at such an amazing speed… for a human… (she cringed at remembered horror of being carried like this but with a vampire speed… no, no time for that…)

It wasn't until the teacher drew closer that she noticed little drops of sweat sliding softly down his neck, his breathing – deliberately even, but clouding in the chill air more than her own did… so it wasn't that light a burden after all…

She couldn't see Kaname's face, from where she stood, but she was pretty sure that it was where all teacher's attention was centered – his own sharply hewn features showing nothing but dark and troubled concern…

For a moment she thought he was going to just pass her without noticing, but the gruff voice brought her out of her reverie easy enough.

"Will you snap already?.. Either you follow, though I'm not slowing down for you… or you go back to where everybody is… on your own…" the words interspersed by short silences of catching breath. "My priority now… is getting this kid somewhere… warmer… and soon…"

And – as if the happenings of the previous minutes were not enough, as if the body limply hanging around Yagari's arms (or was it all those clothes that hang so… she hoped) was not enough … it was that one tiny word that Yagari - with all his contempt for vampires, especially purebloods - had used for Kaname now – one tiny word - that proved to her beyond doubt that something was indeed extremely… terribly wrong.

AN: Yes, it is a cliffhanger – so – shoot me (and you won't know what comes next :D)