Hi there, this is my first proper fanfiction! My other ones have either been crossovers or interviews, so please tell me if its good. This is also my first attempt of a romance so im really scared... I really want to know if I can do it, and any help will be much appricated, thankyou. Well with out further ado lets get on with it. Summery: Maria arrives at Cross Academy and gets a surprise party . But Zero semes upset about something. but What?

Fresh Start, Fresh Blood

Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

"At last, Cross Academy." Sighed Maria Sakura, as she dropped her heavy luggage beside her. She had taken the long journey by herself, five buses, two taxis and one long, steep trek up to the school itself. Maria looked at her watch.

Come on Yuki… What's taking you so long?

Maria's parents were good friends of the Cross's; as a result she and Yuki had become best friends. They spent a lot of time together. Sometimes both their families would spend the summer holidays with each other. Zero would groan and act all superior, whereas Maria and Yuki would run about, scream and tease him. Kaname would sometimes join them too, but he would usually sit in the shade and read a book. Maria found this funny as Yuki would often admire him from afar with her big auburn eyes when he did this. She would tease her and Yuki would try to cover up with an excuse like "I just wanted to see what he was reading". She and Yuki were like sisters, there was nothing she could hide from her. Her time with the Cross's was some of the best times she had had.

Maria had joined Cross Academy for a reason, a fresh start. Maria would be bold, hipper, loud and jolly but inside she was a very shy and quite girl who actually all she wanted to do was sit at home and read, watch her favourite anime and draw. When Maria started getting into manga and anime at 13 her life changed. People started treating her differently, laughed at her and made her feel small. She said she didn't care, but every time someone gave her a mocking comment or laughed at her, it was like a knife in the wound. She felt people were trying to make her something she wasn't, and after months and years of endless torment, she changed, she covered her tracks, her real self was just a memory in the mud. But she did not want to hide herself anymore, she wanted to be who she wanted to be, do what she wanted to do. A fresh start.

Yuki, Kaname and Zero were the people who made her feel special, like she belonged and she hoped Cross Academy would do the same.

"Maria!" Squealed Yuki as she belted down the pathway, towards her childhood friend. She stopped right before she ran into her.

"Yuki!" Said Maria, reaching down to hug her. After a warm embrace, Yuki broke away from her and examined her friend. She put her hand on her head and measured it up to Maria's.

"You've grown… A lot! Great, that's another one taller than me." Yuki pouted, making Maria giggle.

"Why? Who else has?" Maria grabbed her bags and the girls made their way up to the school.

"The guys have always been taller than me. But now Yori is taller than me and im sure Zero's had a growth spurt, so there's no way im gonna catch up with him. Now Chihiro's the only one who's smaller than me." Maria raised her eyebrows into a question mark.

"Oh. You don't know her, she's one of my friends in the Day Class. I think you'll be sharing a room with her actually." Maria nodded. Yuki was happy to see her. Maria and her family hadn't come round in a while, so it was nice to see her happy and healthy. Yuki knew Maria like the back of her hand and she knew things hadn't gone well for her in the last couple of years, her parents had split recently and as she was living with her Mum. Yuki and Maria didn't get to meet; the headmaster was her Dad's friend more than her Mums so they didn't get many visits from them anymore.

Maria's parents seemed so happy; it was horrible to think that a family so happy and loving could be torn apart so easily.

They made their way to the Headmaster's private quarters. It was a Saturday so there were no lessons and the headmaster thought it was the perfect day to celebrate.

They made it to the door.

"Are you ready?" Asked Yuki.

When Yuki opened the door they were greeted by darkness. Then Yuki switched the lights on, and an exited man waving a banner saying "welcome" on it jumped from behind the sofa and shouted.

"Surprise!" Maria started laughing. But it was not at the headmaster, oh no, it was at the amusing image beside him. Sat on the sofa was a depressed Zero wearing a party hat and a party blower hanging from his lips that he blew off que. Maria studied Zero, he had grown to be quite handsome, with his silver hair and mysterious purple eyes, he would be perfect if he only smiled. Standing next to him was Kaname Kuran who was wearing his ever so graceful smile, fixed to his face, he too had grown up to be very beautiful. Maria knew everyone in this "Addams Family" (As she liked to call them) and knew that Kaname was actually thinking "Maria, I am too old for this stuff, don't try to persuade me". Unlike with Zero, Maria would not try to annoy him, Kaname was a very kind and caring person (especially when it came to Yuki) and she had an undying respect for him. Whereas Zero always seemed a sour puss. She knew that his parents had been killed so it was expected of him to be upset, but she had not once seen a smile on his face so she tried to cheer him up, but she wasn't good with the soppy stuff so she would tease him instead.

"Give me a hug, my daughter!" continued the Headmaster. Not going to happen grandpa… Maria stretched out her arms and instead of going to the Headmaster she skipped other to Zero and gave him a big hug, rocking him from side to side. Zero seemed in shock.

"Ohhh. Cheer up emo kid!" teased Maria poking him on the nose. Zero's cute, confused expression turned into that ugly scowl she always hated.

"Don't. Call. Me. An. EMO!" Roared Zero.

"Arrr! Kaname, save me!" She joked, putting her hand to her forehead as if she was a damsel in distress, and jumping behind Kaname, poking her nose out from behind his arm, Kaname chuckled. Yuki would usually join in at this point but she seemed concerned, Yuki, Kaname and Zero exchanged glances. Had she missed something? Yeah, Zero was always getting annoyed by her but he knew she didn't mean it. Why the fuss?

Zero swiped off the party hat, spat out the blower in disgust and headed for the door.

"Enough of this im leaving."

"Zero!" She called, trying to go after to him, but Kaname held her back with his strong arms and gave her a stern look. All Maria could let out was a weak "Sorry." as he left the room. Kaname sighed and dropped his arm. Yuki ran to her.

"Im sorry Maria, don't judge Zero too harshly, he's…"

"Not himself." Finished Kaname.

Maria knew she shouldn't worry. But after her recent experiences she knew Zero needed someone to look after him. He didn't need space he needed comfort. She knew she was probably asking for trouble but she didn't care. She didn't want their first meeting after 2 years to begin with an argument. Once dinner was over she would go find him.

"Right it's time for tea!" Sang the Headmaster, skipping in from the kitchen, he stopped and looked to were Zero had been sitting.

"Where's Zero?" His eyes narrowed.

"Kaname, what did you do." Kaname was about to answer when Yuki butted in.

"Kaname did nothing! Zero just got angry at Maria for calling him an emo kid!" Then, under her breath.

"Which he is."

The Headmaster looked concerned for a moment but then shrugged it off and presented his latest creation.

"Margarita pizza, my style, coca cola, my style, fruit salad, my style, vanilla ice-cream, my style, blood tab-"

"Okay, we get the picture." Said Kaname.

Was he about to say blood tablets? She thought. Blood tablets had been something Maria had thought up as a kid. It had been Halloween and her family had been invited to this spooky mansion with the Cross's. The headmaster was telling the children a vampire story, Kaname, Zero and Yuki seemed completely un interested, but Maria was excited, she had never heard of vampires before and wanted to know more about these nocturnal creatures. The Headmaster had said

"This man had a problem, when ate, he was not satisfied, when he drank, he was still thirsty, the only thing that destroyed his hunger was…" The kids rolled their eyes. But Maria leaned forward in excitement. "What was it ?" she had asked. The Chairman's eyes widened and his mouth grow into a smile, like a mischievous child. "Human, blood." He whispered. "Anything else?" She asked back. "No." "Wasn't there a tablet or some kind of medicine he could take?" All eyes were on here now. The tired, bored kids had suddenly become interested. "Why would you think such a thing?" Asked Kaname, looking up from his book. "Well, said it was a problem, all problems can be solved, right?" "Not this problem." Grunted Zero in disgust. "Don't be rude Zero." Said Yuki. All this time the Headmaster had been staring at Maria, and it was starting to creep here out. "Headmaster?" said Maria, bringing him out of his trace. The Headmaster jumped from the armchair he had been sitting on. "That's it!" He cried. "Kaname, that's it! Maria you are a genius!" He kissed her on the check and span her around the room. "You, my child are destined for greatness!"

Maria never did discover what it was she had helped the headmaster and Kaname with that day. But she loved that feeling she got when he praised her, ever since her parents had split her mum had become self-absorbed, she didn't have time to care about her "pumpkin" anymore, as far as her mother was concerned, she was alone. She knew her mother didn't mean to do the things she did but she couldn't help the feeling of being un loved and alone in the world. If only her dad hadn't left. Things would have been fine. So after that she just wanted to make proud. But to do that she had to find out what it was he was looking for. So she started reading vampire novles. She was now sure she knew everything about vampires, all the different types, the different blood everything, but she had not come any closer to discovering what it was she had done that day.

Maria was brought out of her thoughts by the gentle, feather touch of a hand on her shoulder.

"Maria, aren't you going to sit down." Kaname.

"Um. Yeah, sure."

Kaname, watched, chuckled, listened and smiled to the emerald eyed girl with short crisp brown hair sitting across from him. Kaname owed a lot to that girl, she was the reason he and Yuki could live peacefully in the academy. She lifted everyone's spirits and as with everyone else, even Zero she was like a sister to them. It was horrible to think that people would treat her badly. If he could he would make them pay. Maria was talking about a new anime she had been watching, Maria had this fascinating way of getting everyone's attention. She could be explaining anything and it could make you laugh, cry or just put you in a trance. Kaname often told her she should be an actress or a public speaker, but no, Maria was focused on becoming a mangaka and nothing was going to stand in her way.

Maria went to take a sip of coke and spat it out in horror.

"What the hell is this stuff?" She exclaimed examining the drink, holding it up to the light. Kaname laughed and then Yuki laughed, Maria laughed and finally the headmaster laughed. Kaname tried to put his hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing but it did not work. Maria's face was a picture of pure comedy.

"Oh, that's the headmaster's special style, made just for you!" That made them all laugh even harder. All Kaname's thoughts of the trails that lay ahead had disappeared all in that moment.

Zero watched the happy scene from the doorway. It repulsed him to see them so happy, especially when it was Kaname Kuran who was making them laugh so much, it wasn't that funny.

Zero had stormed to his room after his outburst. He hated how everyone sided with Kaname, he had them all wrapped around his little finger. But not him, even if he was a pureblood there was no way he would be bowing down to Kaname. Zero couldn't believe the headmaster had agreed to let Maria stay here. Zero had finally made the change. He hurt Yuki, who could say he wasn't going to hurt her as well. Also the school is the home to vampires, Maria is a curious, imaginative girl she is bound to find out sooner or later. How could this end well? The headmaster had said she had suffered recently and needed her family. Well that's understandable, but couldn't they just go visit her instead of her having to move in?

Zero found Maria irritating and annoying sometimes but she had a kind heart and did not deserve what was bound to happen sooner or later. Right at this very moment he was getting thirsty. He turned from the door and headed for the bathroom, just walking made him heave. There he found the emergency blood tablets. He ran the tap and gulped them down along with the tap water. He felt a pang in his throat and he choked up the blood tablets instantly, they were horrific, he could never keep them down. He tried again, same thing happened. After doing this several times he vomited. He had pushed his body too hard. He was quickly washing away the evidence when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." He rasped, expecting it to be Yuki. Yes, a brown head of hair come through, but it did not belong to Yuki, it was Maria's.

"Hi, umm I heard you vomiting and thought I better check up on you. Are you alright?" She asked peering over him. Zero looked up from the hard, cold flooring. Marias pale, porcelain skin shimmered under the artificial light.

"Oh, gosh you look terrible!" She exclaimed. Rushing over to him, clutching his face in her hands. Her hands were cold, giving light relief to his banging head.

"Have you got a fever? Is it a bug?" Maria ran her hands over his face, checking for a temperature. It sent tingles up his spine. He didn't feel right, he needed to get out of here, luckily for her his blood lust hadn't completely taken over him.

"Shall I call for someone?" She asked.

"No. Im fine." He tried to get up but failed. Maria looked into his eyes. Her eyes glistened and darted over him with concern.

"You are going nowhere. I'll put some towels under a cold tap. Okay?"

Zero nodded, he defiantly preferred this version of Maria to the teasing annoyance she usually was to him. She was about to leave when Zero laughed under his breath.

"The towels are there." He pointed to the wall next to her. Yep. Maria is still her blind self even when she is caring.

"Oh, sorry." Maria took a small pink towel off the rank and put it under the tap, ringing it before placing it on his head. Usually Zero would of stopped her and left as soon as possible but there something about the look in her eyes that made him stay there, it reminded him of his mother and he realised this was the first time that anyone apart from Yuki had fretted over him like his mother used to, in fact this was the first time Maria had ever been sympathetic to him, and it felt good, had this childish girl finally grown up? He wanted this moment to last forever.

Zero felt his skin tingle as Maria wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his shoulder. She was so close he could hear her heart beating, and could smell the sweet scent of her shampoo and felt the brush of her soft hair against his cheeks. It was a hug. A real one, not a silly, teasing one. Zero didn't understand what this meant; he didn't know whether to bolt, or to stay in the girls arms.

"What are you…?"

"Giving you a hug, silly." She whispered.

"I can't count the times I've needed a hug and not got one." She continued. She started to rock him like he was a child. Zero held onto her as if needing support, and rested his head in her hair, breathing in her scent, forgetting all the troubles in the world, he didn't know why he was doing this, he didn't know if it meant anything or not, his emotions were all mixed up, before he could not of imagined something like this ever happening between them, he had never been that close to her he must just be another sad kid to her, why all this kindness? A sudden rush of sadness flooded over him. His grip on her tightened.

"So im giving you one, to stop you from being sad." She then brought him up from the floor and stood back .and wiped a tear from his eye. Zero rubbed his eyes. He hadn't realise he'd been crying. She then grinned.

"Ha. I court you! And who says boys don't cry." There's the Maria he knew, she was just being friendly he reassured himself probably making up for what she had called me earlier. She gave him a weak smile as if to say "sorry I couldn't help it" Zero chuckled and ruffled her hair. Then a voice came from outside, it was Yuki calling for Maria.

"Um. Sorry I've got to go." She turned to the door.

"See you tomorrow."

"Maria! It's going to get dark soon! We should get you to your dorm quickly!"

"Alright! Keep your hair on!" She yelled. Before she left she gave Zero one last look.

"See ya." And before he could answer, she left.

Maria had left and Zero couldn't help but feel strange warmth in his heart that he could not explain. Maria had taken with her, her warmth and as quickly as she had taken away his pain it came back. And his blood lust hit him like storm. He knew her arrival had been a bad idea.

Well how was it? Im so worried. I put a lot of effort into this but im still not confident. I hope to hear from you guys so don't leave me hanging. Do you think I should continue? Yes, the you didn't get fresh blood yet, but its going to happen later. Please reveiw and check out my vampire knight and Haruhi Suzumiya crossover and mine and maisie's interviews. Review make me happy.