Yuki & Zero

Adopted by the Headmaster, was already at Kurosu Academy when Zero arrived. Having no where to go after the death of his family, Zero was taken in by the Headmaster, just as Yuki was. Zero was calm then, prone to bouts of anger, and at first he didn't like Yuki because of her close relationship with Kaname Kuran - a vampire. This is fairly understandable considering that his entire family had just died at the hands of a vampire.

It's evident that Yuki has with Zero a relationship far different from that of any other relationship Zero has allowed himself to have. Indeed, he generally treats others with indifference, anger, or violence, but for Yuki, Zero talks, displays weakness, and forgives her for her moments of ditzyness or for bothering him, no matter how reserved or cynical he can be. He also goes out of his way to protect her several times throughout the series.

It's hard to tell the nature of how the two of them feel for each other. Some moments, it seems like they are siblings, arguing, yelling at, and disagreeing with one another over many things. Yet, sometimes, the way that they blush or look at each other suggests more. As the series progresses, this becomes even more apparent, at least from Zero. Yuki remains torn between Zero and Kaname, her loyalties to both strong. Though at times, she does argue with Kaname over his treatment of Zero. When Kaname puts Zero up to be added to the 'list' of suspects who have been attacking humans, Yuki becomes defiant and exclaims that she is going to prove Zero innocent and refuses to speak with Kaname until she does.

The nature of their relationship definitely changed when the two of them first became bonded together by the charm that was to keep Zero's vampire nature at bay. It put a great deal of responsibility on Yuki for Zero, but she took to it eagerly. The intimacy of their relationship also increased, too, when they engaged together in the Forbidden Act.

However, nothing is more telling than when Yuki decided to give herself to Shizuka in exchange for the blood that would make Zero normal again. Though it would have turned her into a vampire, she was willing to sacrifice herself for Zero.

When asked by Zero what he means to her, Yuki is clearly confused. It seems to trouble her. She muses over it, trying to sort out and figure out her true feelings for Zero. All that she can garner so far is that she is scared for him and wants to keep him around as much as possible, and that she is wiling to do anything to assure that.

Zero is very clearly scared to lose Yuki, too. When he has a dream that he has killed Yuuki, he wakes in a state of panic and pulls Yuki into a hug, showing a weakness and fear that is very rare in him.

Anticlimactic much?

Oh yeah. Especially in Chapter 24, when Zero goes in for a kiss and stops at the last second. But, Yuki knew what he wanted... and so do we. Confusion abounds in the 'why' sort of way and because Yuki does have feelings for Kaname. By Chapter 32, Kaname has confessed to Yuki that he loves her, and Yuki is growing ever more expressive (internally) of her feelings for Kaname even as confused as she at times in regards to his role in her past. Zero's rival in love? In chapter 32, Yuki said outloud to Kaname and in front of Zero that Kaname is the one she has always liked the most. The panel on Zero's face is telling. Still, Yuki remains convinced that she and Kaname are too different. Still, that doesn't stop Kaname from claiming Yuuki as his lover in chapter 32, which entails a whole entourage of immortals to protect her. Yet, Zero had Yuki a promise that he'd never let her become a vampire, and it seems that he is very willing to keep it, as well as his promise to die for her. In chapter 34, Yuki tries to strangle Zero. After his initial shock, he submits to it without a struggle. Yet, in that moment, Yuki realizes and admits how selfish her motives for caring for Zero might be. Still, even Zero is willing to admit to her that he knows that the one Yuuki really wants and needs is Kaname. In Chapter 46 Zero kisses Yuki, a clear symbolization of his feelings for her. However, after finding that he can keep his apparent need for Yuki at bay, Zero is not shy in defining the fact that he will kill Yuki if he sees her again.

All in all, the relationship between Yuki and Zero confounds readers, but it shows us that Zero is a better person when he is with Yuki, and that Yuki relies on Zero for comfort and support. Zero and Yuki's romantic life is very undefined, and short lived, but it is very real and a very controversial subject.