I don't own Vampire Knight or any of the characters within the series.

A/N: Here's the first chapter of A Helping Hand. :D

Pairing is Kaname x Zero.

Will contain a lemon or two... or more. Will contain yaoi (manXman). You have been warned. Please do not read if any of these aspects do not appeal to you.

Would be lovely to hear what you think and if you wish me to continue: Reviews, faves and follows are appreciated :D

Chapter 1: The Bloody Rose

Zero Kiryuu was sitting at the bar. The name of this comfortable establishment was The Bloody Rose. It was a vampire-run and vampire-only pub, meaning that Zero wouldn't be at risk of attacking a human if his judgement got a bit affected after a pint of two. It was relatively close to his little apartment he shared with his brother and had become his favourite watering hole for both celebrations and sorrows. Tonight he was here for the latter reason: one huge pile of sorrows.

Three years ago to the day, as a promising young 16 year old hunter, he and his family were attacked by a pure-blooded vampire seeking revenge. His parents had been murdered and his weaker twin brother who was frequently ill was kidnapped by said murderer. Zero himself sustained a bite, cursed to live the lif of an ex-human and endure the painfully slow transition into the level E state.

Now 19 Shizuka had long since been killed and he was now living with his brother whom he had been united with after the ordeal. As Shizuka was killed Ichiru drank her blood to give him strength and allow him to live a healthy life. That blood could have been used to stop Zero from falling to level E, but he had chosen the life of his brother above his own.

Having become far stronger Ichiru was now working for the Hunters association in place of Zero, who was thrown out when they found out about his vampiric affliction. They had originally intended to hunt Zero to prevent his continual falling but he now had his brother and didn't want to die so easily. Ichiru ended up cutting a deal with the association president, Kaien Cross. The deal involved Ichiru keeping an eye on him, as a hunter, and performing hunting duties in his place. Since this deal was struck Zero had been living a somewhat more modest life, working in a nearby cake shop.

But times got even tougher. With the recent increase in vampire moderates there were less level E's around to hunt and Ichiru had to take long trips to faraway places to hunt vampires just to make a decent living and support them. Ichiru had just left on his most recent trip and estimated he wouldn't be back for a month. Meanwhile a recession had hit the country and Zero had been let go from his job today as a result.

This is how Zero ended up at The Bloody Rose, drinking away his multiple sorrows of increased thirst, being alone and losing his job.

By now Zero was thouroughly drunk. He was thankful for the bartender, a cheerful blonde by the name of Takuma Ichijou, had given him 2 pints on the house. He needed it. Zero was about to ask for another when, even in his drunken state, he realised that the man in front of him wasn't the blonde who had been there earlier, but a dark brunette.

"Nnn… Where'd Ichi go~?" Zero slurred to the red-eyed brunette in front of him.

"He received a call and had to leave urgently. I'm filling in for him." The brunette politely replied.

"Ha… Fine… Doesn~ madda! Gimme another pint, onegaishimassssssssssssu!" Zero insisted in drunken tones.

"I think you've had enough mister." The calm brunette replied.

"I've had enough when I say I had enough, stupid face!" Zero slammed his empty glass down on the bar-top in protest.

Stupid face? He sounds like a child who has lost its favourite toy. Not only is this man cute in appearance, his insults are too… The brunette thought, letting out a small chuckle.

"What-choo laffin at?" Zero began yelling in response.

Zero then tried to launch a fist across the bar counter and into the man's face. But, he missed spectacularly, coming off balance and landing face-first into the man's chest.

Mmm…Smells like roses…Zero thought as he drifted off into the land of the unconscious against the finely sculpted pectoral muscles of the other male.