Why no stories on here about Kaien and Shizuka D: Unforgiveable! It seems there's a lot of unmined potential there. (Hoping this will help inspire you guys to write some more for ME to read =3=)

Bear with me, as I've seen the VK anime about 20 times, and I'm not going to re-watch it all now to check my facts, so I'm relying on my hazy memories. This is sort of an alternate take on the confrontation between Yuuki, Shizuka, and Zero. Forgive the inverted name order, if you're passionate about keeping Japanese name order.

This is actually the 3rd fanfic I've written; I'm working on a really long one, but I keep getting ideas for shorter ones. By the way, the whole thing is essentially written, I'm just a perfectionist who likes to proofread stuff to death. So don't worry, as long as I don't die or fall into a coma, this story will not be left unfinished.

Italics usually indicate thoughts and feelings of the main character (in this case, Kaien Cross).

Chapter 1

Fear. After his years of training, and from his blood as a vampire hunter, Kaien Cross could sense when something was wrong. Something was making him uneasy. A vaguely familiar rippling sensation….

Something was not right. Where was Zero? He'd be the man to send out to investigate. Where was he? Not at the annual mixed party of humans and vampires. And where was Yuuki? He glanced over where Kaname stood. Over in another corner was Yagari, scowling at the proceedings. He would have to leave the two of them to keep an eye on things. Hopefully they wouldn't murder each other while he was gone.

Where are those two? Kaien had been trained to not panic. But he was getting worried. That unease grew as he made his way to the school's grounds. Where was it coming from…the old night class dorm? The only one who occupied it now was Maria. Had he seen her at the party? He couldn't remember for sure.

He entered the mostly-dark building. Near the door was Maria's masked attendant.

"Have you seen either of the prefects?" Cross asked the young man.

"Yes. They are speaking with my mistress."

"Ah," he sighed. The relief was slight, though. "I'm afraid I'll need to interrupt them. I have some things I need them to see to."

"Certainly, headmaster," the boy responded with a bow, and turned and led him up the creaky, dim stairs. He paused and, he motioned to a door.

Kaien froze. Something was definitely wrong, and it was behind that door. Was it…the suppressed aura of a pureblood? He heard a squeal of distress. YUUKI! He threw the door open.

He instictuvely took in everything immediately: The white-haired woman in pale robes, and Yuuki, being held by Zero.

Shizuka Hio. Every hunter who was in business some four or five years ago knew well the face of that woman, the insane pureblood: The one who attacked the Kiryuu family, and the one who had bitten Zero. Who made herself to be his master.

A sane vampire could be reasoned with; a mad one could not. And who knew what she would do force Zero to do, with her sway over him. She was probably already forcing him to hold Yuuki. Kaien was sweating. He hadn't spared the time to get himself a weapon.

"Ah, headmaster," Shizuka said in a surprisingly soft voice. "How good of you to visit."

"Papa?" Yuuki asked, voice shaking. He barely registered that she'd called him by that.

"Madam Hio, I had not realized you had come to visit our academy."

"Hmm? I like surprises. So this girl is your daughter?"

"Yes. And I'll be needing her and Zero back." He tried to keep his voice pleasant, and keep her in a stable mood.

"Oh? But I think Zero is hungry. He seems rather starved. He'll need something to eat. Especially in a minute…." With that, she darted an arm around Zero's neck.

"STOP!" Kaien yelled, and jumped forward. While he hadn't brought a weapon, he carried a few anti-vampire spell wards at all times. He whipped some out. Hopefully it would shock her enough to back down. No, he was crazy doing this to a pureblood. But there wasn't anything else, and he was desperate. He didn't want Zero to have to experience another bite, especially at the hand of the one who first violated him.

Neither he nor the wards made it very far. He was suddenly flung against a wall. He was vaguely aware of something giving way, though he wasn't sure if it was the wall, or his bones. He was too dazed to make his body respond, even though his mind knew he had to help the children.

"Ichiru, sit him up somewhere." The masked boy came to him. Ichiru…wasn't that the name of Zero's brother? What an ironic coincidence. Though they don't look that much different. Dammit, I have to MOVE.

Move he did, but it was by the boy hauling Kaien up with inhuman strength, and dragging him toward the couch. Yes, he most definitely had broken bones. The ribs would be worrisome. He needed to stay alive long enough to help the others. Hopefully Kaname or Yagari – preferably both – would notice something was wrong, and come. Why hadn't he told the others what he had sensed? That was one of the first rules of vampire hunting. Let the others know where you're going. Not that Kaien had been one to stick to rules.

His rag-doll body was put in a seated position near the couch. The boy knelt behind him, holding his arms behind his back. His breath came in short, pained gasps. His voice was the only tool left to him, difficult though it may be to use. He could utter a spell, but one which would subdue a pureblood would take time, enough time to stop him. Weaker spells would take less time, but they wouldn't do any more than irritate her, and would be as likely to get him muffled. He needed to approach this carefully.

"Madam, please, I want to speak with you." He could tell she was languidly pulling away from Zero. Good. "For what reason did you come here? Is there some way we might assist you?"

"Why?" she turned. "Why, to see Zero. To see what a fine man he's grown into."

Kaien felt the boy behind him twitch.

"And as you can see, I've been assisted by your students quite well. But as I said, Zero is very hungry. It seems you have not been feeding him properly. But I think you can fix that now." Shizuka turned back to Zero, and took Yuuki's wrists from him.

"No! Don't you dare!"

She laughed lightly. "It might be interesting to see him drink from your daughter. I am sure you would be quite distressed. But the poor girl's blood is already quite low, and it would be sad to have her die quite yet. I was thinking of else."

She dragged Yuuki toward the couch.

"Papa!" she screeched. She hadn't been able to see him well up to now, and had been wrapped in paralyzed fear up till now. Shizuka seated herself on the couch, seating Yuuki on her lap like a child, and holding her firmly, so that the girl's struggles were futile.

Yuuki, don't tire yourself – save your strength. Dammit, where's Kaname! He should have been able to sense her by now!

"Zero, drink the headmaster's blood," the pureblood ordered.

"No, don't!" yelled Yuuki. "He's always hated that!"

Shizuka smiled. "All the better!"

Yuuki looked like she was about to cry.

"If it bothers you that much should I have him drink from you?" Shizuka asked her.

"No!" Kaien yelled – much louder than he should have. He gasped air back in from the pain.

"Well, that settles it," she said, as if it really did.

Zero had knelt at the headmaster's side. Kaien raised his eyes to lock with the boy's. Zero's eyes – oh, what anguish was deep in them. Kaien felt a breaking sensation in his heart. This poor boy, who had been through so much, and having his mind and body assaulted again.

"It's OK, Zero," he said softly, and smiled. "You know it's always free to you."

Zero reached out a shaky hand to dig into the hair at the base of his ponytail. The other hand ripped roughly at the high collar, in order to expose his neck. His head was pulled back, and the masked boy also leaned back to give more room.

And Zero bit. It was much faster and smoother than he thought it would be. And Kaien decided he really didn't like it. Sure, having Zero not in control of himself was unpleasant. But there was something very nasty about being bitten on the neck. The body is naturally very protective of it, as harm there can mean a quick death. It was a very vulnerable feeling, being wounded there.

Kaien had been bitten in the arms or shoulders a few times by wild level E's, back in the day, but they were usually reduced to ash within a few moments. Hunter education for the generations after his had had "practice biting" as part of the curriculum: fake bites, but enough to convey the feeling of being bitten. It was to help ensure that a hunter was used to the sensation, and wouldn't panic in the hunt for the first few times when he was bitten.

But Kaien had been too early for that, so this was his first time. If he knew if was like this, he might not have been so quick to offer himself to Zero all those other times. He was starting to feel uncomfortably drained.

"How is it, Zero?" the boy behind him – Ichiru – whispered. "First, she drinks from you a second time, then she makes you drink from a human. What a wonderful vampire hunter you are."

That smirking voice…Ichiru…it couldn't be…

Ouch! Zero apparently reacted to the taunt, because he gave a twitch that left a nasty, painful sensation in the injured neck.

"Zero, that's enough."

Damn woman, she could probably tell when I was getting to my limit.

Zero slowly pulled out, carefully running his tongue over the puncture holes to help clot them.

"Cross, I have an offer. You come with me away from the academy, willingly. Or I can kill this girl, and take you with me. Which would you like to do?" She gave a sickeningly sweet smile.

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End of Chapter 1

Did anyone see Moon Phase? There's that the scene where the guy falls off the mountain and breaks all his bones, so he's in the forest, unable to move for fear of puncturing a lung or something, and that's when that vampire girl finds him. It seemed like a scary, painful, yet effective situation to get a victim. Ugh, what weird thoughts I have.

`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`o`

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You're welcome to review, but I probably won't read them (respect my choices!). If you like this story, just follow or favorite! If you have any ideas of your own for the story, write your own fic! The story's already completely written, so I'm not adding to it, but I look forward to seeing more Kaien x Shizuka fics!

I am not a creator or copyright owner, nor official fiction writer authorized to use or create characters and events originating from the Vampire Knight Manga and Anime, or for the Vampire Knight universe, as should be obvious from it being published on the site fanfiction-dot-net. If you are reading this outside of the site fanfiction-dot-net, then this fanfiction was stolen from there.