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 Yuuki was. Zero was calm then, prone to bouts of anger, and at first he didn't like Yuuki because of her close relationship with Kaname. This is fairly understandable considering that his entire family had just died at the hands of a vampire.

It's evident that Yuuki has with Zero a relationship far different from that of any other relationship Zero has allowed himself to have. Indeed, he reacts to others with indifference, anger, or violence. But, for Yuuki, 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.

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. Yet, sometimes, they way that they blush or look at each other suggests more. As the series progresses, this becomes even more apparent, at least from Zero. Yuuki remains torn between the two of them, 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, Yuuki becomes defiant and exclaims that she is going to prove Zero innocent and not speak to 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 Yuuki for Zero, but she took to it eagerly. The intimacy of their relationship also increased, too, when they engaged together in the Forbidden Act.

But, nothing is more telling than when Yuuki 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, Yuuki 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 Yuuki, too. When he has a dream that he has killed Yuuki, he wakes in a state of panic and pulls Yuuki 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, Yuuki 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 Yuuki that he loves her, and Yuuki is growing ever more expressive (internally) of her feelings for Kaname even as confused as she she at times in regards to his role in her past. Zero's rival in love? In chapter 32, Yuuki said outloud to Kaname and infront of Zero that Kaname is the one she has always liked the most. The panel on Zero's face is telling. Still, Yuuki 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 Yuuki 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, Yuuki tries to strangle Zero. After his initial shock, he submits to it without a struggle. Yet, in that moment, Yuuki 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 Yuuki, a clear symbolization of his feelings for her. However, after finding that he can keep his apparent need for Yuuki at bay, Zero is not shy in defining the fact that he will kill Yuuki if he sees her again.

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