So…Uhm… Big detail: there are spoilers weaved into this story. As for where the spoilers start and end, really I feel like just letting you readers figure out that. Seeing as though initially I loved the story, then the progression and all these twists in the original plot sort of pissed me off, I stopped reading, but got back into it recently and well here I am now—writing a fanfic that hopefully won't be put on a long hiatus. The story skips a lot of the first couple volumes, since I'm just going to assume you readers already know the general background of all the characters, and it's going to start out with my OCs. From there I'll be weaving in the spoilers along with their interactions with the main VK crew. Oh, another side detail… Since I'm too lazy to fill in all the Japanese honorifics, basically the only honorifics that will be used in this fanfic will be 'Onee-chan' between Haru and Miku. The rest gets to be filled in by English terms that are about the equivalent of the respective Japanese honorifics (e.g. "Master/Mistress" for "sama")

Summaries are going to be subject to constant change. (: I'm not really good with summaries that have such a small character limit.

And last but not least...

Disclaimer: Vampire Knight belongs to Matsuri Hino. The only thing I own is this story and my OCs.

"Normal speech"

'Thoughts'

"Singing"

Chapter 1: Prelude

"MAOKO! " A black and white tabby ran across the dimly lit room gripping a small case roughly the size of a cigarette box in its jaws.

"Maoko, you come over here and give me that case right now! I know you're very smart and you're well aware of how much I need it!" A pale, dark haired girl, who looked she like was in her late teens, shouted at the black and white tabby named 'Maoko'. Her hair was pinned up into a slight bun with a few extra inches of it flowing out of the bun and she wore a pair of star earrings. Located on the upper part of her left arm was a black tattoo (A/N: Of which I literally can't quite describe, so I'll post up a drawing of her [and her brother] so you readers can see.).

"You know shouting at Maoko is useless. She's always super stubborn, Onee-chan," said a bemused boy who looked to be a bit younger than the dark haired girl as he sat at a small two-seat coffee table. His hair was equally as dark a shade as his sister's, but his fringe was slightly highlighted. Under his right eye was a tattoo of two black stars.

"But I'm quite well aware of how smart Maoko is. Watch… MAOKO IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME THAT CASE RIGHT NOW… NO dinner for you." And promptly the tabby ran over to the girl, dropping the case in front of her. "See? She's more obedient than a dog." The girl grinned, popping open a can of sardines and setting it down for Maoko to eat.

So the story starts off with two of our protagonists: Miku and Haru.

(A/N: And I'll unfold more about them as the story progresses…Because I'm too lazy to put it all here, haha.)

"Ne, Onee-chan, why are we always moving around? I mean I'm happy we're finally back in Japan, but I don't even think I remember us staying in one location for more than a couple months," complained Haru.

Miku poured out a couple tablets from the case she was trying to get from Maoko earlier, and dropped them into two glasses of water. "You know exactly why. I don't think I have to tell you more than once." She watched the tablets dye the water red.

"But I'd like to stay around in one location for once. Build relationships, make friends, actually get to know our neighbors! It's getting tiresome having to live like this!" Haru rested his head on his arms.

Miku handed Haru a glass of the ominously red liquid. "But we were in China for like 4 years?"

Haru glanced over at her, then over to the glass, then back at her. "China is a country. Even in China we still moved around." He didn't want to take a sip from that glass.

Miku gave him a scolding look, "I know it's bothersome having to move around like this. Haru, stop staring so morbidly at that glass and drink it already. You're going to become awfully cranky and intolerable if you don't."

"It's disgusting. I hate this shit. It's enough that I hate being a vampire, that I hate having to be so dependent on blood. But what's even worse is that we have to drink this red-food-coloring-dyed water that we call 'blood'. I can hardly tolerate its artificial stench and worst of all I have to chug it all down in hopes that I don't end up puking." Haru looked defiantly at the murky red liquid, still refusing to drink it.

"Fine, you want real blood? Here." Miku quickly slashed at her own wrist and let her blood dribble down her arm.

"MIKU…," Haru stared at the river of blood flowing down his sister's arm.

-Drip Drip Drip-. A puddle of blood now covered the floor.

"Go on. Drink it."

Haru stared at his sister, slightly mortified. "Onee-chan, you didn't have to—"

"Drink it."

Haru hesitantly lapped up the blood from her sister's arm. Pureblood vampires have a tendency to have very enticing blood (or so it's rumored to be). Their blood is a vampire delicacy. Miku fell back onto a nearby couch, startling Haru who was still drinking the blood from her wrist.

"M-M-Miku? Onee-chan? Are you alright?" Haru's face became akin to that of a wimpering puppy's.

Miku was always running around for them, having to constantly do odd jobs to make ends meet. Although Miku had many connections in high places, she despised having to be over dependent on others. To top it off, most of the vampire Nobles weren't aware that she and Haru were still alive. Having decided it was in their best interest to stay hidden from the manipulative Council of Vampires, she decided that they should lay low in the meanwhile.

"S-Sorry. I'm just a bit tired." Miku sighed, looking away, while waiting for Haru to finish his meal.

Haru looked up towards her, guilty that he was still feeding on his sister's blood while she looked like the living dead. "Onee-chan, do you want some of my blood?" He offered, holding up his own wrist.

Miku gave him a deadpanned look, "Unlike a certain someone, I can still tolerate drinking the 'red-food-coloring-dyed water that we call blood'. Besides, your blood tastes disgusting. You're too malnourished. All skin and bones."

Haru made an offended face, "Excuse me? Is the pot calling the kettle black? You're not much more than skin and bones either, Onee-chan. But I do admit your blood is rather mouthwatering."

"So you admit your blood tastes bad?"

"I wouldn't know."

As soon as Haru finished his feeding, Miku walked over to the coffee table where her brother's abandoned glass of blood stood. She quickly chugged it down, followed by her own glass. "Don't be wasteful, Haru, these blood tablets aren't cheap either."

Haru scoffed, crossing his arms, and looked away. "Whatever."

Miku's pager, which was lying on the kitchen counter, suddenly buzzed. She walked over to check what the message was, frowned for a moment, then quickly headed out the door, grabbing her coat and sliding two sais into two belt loops at her sides. "I've got some work to do. Keep yourself busy, don't open the door to strangers, don't break the house. I'll be back by 3 a.m. at latest. You better be in bed by then."

"Yes, mother." Haru said under his breath as his eyes trailed after his sister as she left the house.

Blood splatters covered the walls of a dark, narrow alley. Ashes were scattered amongst the blood splatters as two sais glinted from the light of the moon.

"Ugh, too many level-Es have been lurking around lately. Is there a rat infestation or what?" Miku sighed as she wiped a splotch of blood off her face. She looked down at her sais disdainfully, "Gosh, now I have to clean these again."

"Why don't you just use some of your illustrious super vampire abilities and just flick them away or something? I don't even think you need to use those things anyways. Speaking of which, why do you have those sais anyways? Aren't they Vampire Hunter weapons? How can you even manage to hold them without getting your skin burned off or something?" A short, cross-eyed girl said as she glanced over to Miku, then nonchalantly began to file her nails as she thought to herself, 'This girl will probably end up doing all the work for me anyways.'

"I don't really find it necessary to explain my situation, Takanari Hitomi. I'm probably not going to see you after this anyways." Miku stated as she used a handkerchief to wipe off the blood from her sais.

"Bitch…," Hitomi glared at her, "Sadly I'm probably gonna end up working on a couple more jobs with you before you leave. Good riddance when that happens though. You're such a stick in the mud. It's like you were born with a twig up your—"

"Shhhh," Miku put her palm over Hitomi's mouth, "I think there's another lurker here."

"You cranky skank, there's no more level-Es here, we killed them all—"

A blood curling screech was heard as Takanari Hitomi was promptly sliced in half. Miku jumped back, not even flinching. "Amateurs." She sliced the "lurker's" head off.

"Tch. Another weakling vampire."

Miku looked downward at the upper half of Hitomi, whose face was frozen in an everlasting scowl. "Such a pity you had to die with such an ugly expression. I actually thought you were pretty. Pretty funny. Oh what to tell that dumb Vampire Hunters' Association now? I'll tell them she reacted too slowly…but died and honorable death in combat nonetheless. Looks like I'm not going to see her again after all."

(A/N: I couldn't help it. Miku has to be at least a little bad-ass…before romance [hopefully doesn't] turn her into a ball of mortifying mush.)

[Back to Haru]

'Well, Onee-chan never said I couldn't leave the house…I need some fresh air anyways.' Haru thought as he grabbed a jacket and headed out the door, "Maoko, take care of the house while I'm gone okay?"

Meow.

"Good girl." Haru grinned as he locked the door, assuming that was a compliant 'meow'.

Miku wasn't the only one with a job. Every night when his sister was out of the house, Haru would go to a local bar to make some spare cash. He would play the piano. (A/N: Oh what were you thinking?) However, considering how often Miku made them move around, it wasn't always easy trying to negotiate deals with the various bar owners he had to associate with.

"Hey Mr. Watanuki! I'm here for work," Haru called out, as he casually strode into the bar, the door bell chiming as it opened and closed.

"Oh Haru, good evening! You're early as usual, but business is still a bit slow right now, so you can just relax for a bit," Tarou Watanuki smiled, giving Haru a slight welcoming gesture as he continued to polish some glasses. Tarou Watanuki was a middle-aged man, who was both the bartender and the owner of the bar Pastel. He had a kind smile and a stern way of running his business. When Haru waltzed into his bar the first time, he wanted to escort him out of the bar right away, until he heard Haru's piano playing and decided it would be a good tranquilizer for the sometimes rowdy drinkers in the bar. The grand piano in Pastel had become a decorative piece in the bar for a long while ever since the last piano player died of old age. Haru's presence and his piano playing was a breath of fresh air and it made Tarou pleased that the piano wouldn't be so lonely either.

"Nah, I think I'll just start playing. I'm feeling a bit off today, and playing a few tunes will probably calm me down," Haru said as he lifted the piano's cover. He sat down on the piano stool and stretched his fingers before starting off with Clair de Lune.

"Talented as usual. So who plays that one?" A slightly sultry voice inquired.

"Why hello Miss Tsujita. It's by Claude Debussy." Haru gave a gentlemanly smile as he continued to play the song effortlessly.

"It's beautiful. Haru why don't you take up a permanent job here once you get a bit older? You already charm all the ladies that come to this bar and keep those hyena-like buffoons, who call themselves gentlemen, quiet," Sawako Tsujita said as she lit a cigar. Tsujita was a charming lady in her mid-thirties who often came to Pastel to get a drink and a breather from her supposedly overbearing husband.

"Sorry, no can do, Miss Tsujita. My sister and I have to move around a lot, so I don't know how long we'll be staying in town," Haru smiled apologetically. As much as he loved this bar and the people that worked here and came to visit, he didn't want to become too attached. "Nocturne."

"Oh? Chopin? Wow you must be really down today, Haru. Quite a sad playlist today, huh?" Watanuki paused his glass polishing for a moment and raised his eyebrow at Haru.

"N-No… Not really…," Haru's face reddened a bit.

"Is someone bullying you, Haru?" Tsujita tried to hide her amusement, "Or are you a bit smitten with someone?"

"N-N-N-NO!" Haru's face began to imitate a tomato.

"How adorable!" Tsujita and Watanuki chimed in unison.

"Jeez, you two tease me too much," Haru sighed as he tried to regain his composure.

Soon more people began to enter the bar as the clock hit eight and more people were finished with work.

"Maurice Ravel. Jeux d'eau."

Time passed by quickly at Pastel, and before Haru realized it, it was already 2 a.m.

"I'm done for tonight, Mr. Watanuki, gotta get home before Onee-chan realizes I left the house. Otherwise she'll beat me black and blue." Giving a sheepish smile, Haru recovered the piano and was about to leave.

"Here, Haru, don't forget your coat," Watanuki handed Haru his coat and slipped a wad of bills into his coat pocket, "Your pay for this week."

"Wooow! There's so much this week! Are you sure you want to pay me this much?" Haru's eyes widened.

"Consider it a token of my appreciation. Now hurry along and get home before I reconsider!" Watanuki shooed him off.

"Thanks Mr. Watanuki!" Haru ran off waving towards Watanuki.

"Haru, watch out!" Watanuki yelled, shutting his eyes at the oncoming collision.

"Wha—Oomph!"Haru had crashed into a customer that was walking into the bar.

"Haruuu, you're supposed to pay attention to where you're running!" Tsujita teased while blowing out a ring of smoke.

"Ow… I'll remember that next time… S-sorry, sir!"Haru quickly stood up and offered a hand to the male he had just crashed into.

"It's okay, haha," The male accepted Haru's hand, "Oh? Are you the piano player I've heard so much about?"

"Huh? H-heard so much about? Wait how do you know I play piano?" Haru's face flushed.

"Your fingers are really long and slender, but it was really a lucky guess I suppose?" The male appeared to be in his mid-teens. He was slightly shorter than Haru, fairly thin, and his eyes gave him the appearance of a very kind person.

"O-Oh…" Haru blushed even more.

(A/N: Yes, yes there is slight, fluffy, shounen ai in this fanfic. Beware.)

"Why don't you play a little tune for me to make up for crashing into me like that?" He spoke in a jocosely manner, but Haru thought it sounded like a fair repay.

But then an idea popped up in Haru's mind, "How about you tell me your name as well?"

"Only if you tell me yours."Another gentle smile from the man.

"Haru." Haru held his hand out for a respectful shake.

"Natsume." Natsume ignored his hand and instead gave Haru a light peck on the cheek.

"W-W-W-WHAT?"Haru stammered, eyes widened, mouth agape, and hand frozen in mid-air.

"I studied in France for two years, it's a greeting gesture that rubbed off on me. Sorry, did I disturb you?" Natsume smiled apologetically.

"Is it really a greeting, Natsume?" Watanuki teased pointing to his own cheek, "How come I never get a kiss, Natsume?"

"Spring and summer!*What a fateful encounter!"Tsujita followed in suit of Watanuki's teasing.

"Oh you two old geezers, quiet down! I'd like to hear some of Haru's infamous piano playing in peace, thank you very much," Natsume said while sitting down at a table near the piano.

"OLD?" Watanuki and Tsujita shouted.

"Shhhh," Natsume shushed them, lightly chuckling.

'Ohhh, he has a pleasant laugh,' Haru face reddened when he realized what he had just thought.

"Got the sudden jitters, Haru? Or are you actually quite smitten with a certain someone?" Tsujita gave him a sly, knowing look.

"N-N-NO…!"Haru blushed even more.

"Stop teasing him so much, Sawako, it might ruin his concentration." Natsume playfully glared at Tsujita.

"You're lucky you have a pretty face, Natsume, otherwise I would've smacked you for calling me by my first name when you're so much younger than me," Tsujita gave out another puff of smoke, swinging her glass around towards Natsume.

"Oh so you admit you're old now?" Natsume teased.

"No, I'm saying you're a little kid."

"I'm twenty today, thank you very much," Natsume stuck his tongue out at Tsujita.

"Are you sure you're 20? You still look like a kid." She scoffed.

"So what do you plan on playing, Haru?" Watanuki asked, ignoring Natsume and Tsujita's little spat.

"Happy Birthday."Haru grinned while holding up a peace sign. He uncovered the grand piano once again and sat down on the stool. "Everybody ready?"

"Happy Birthday to you…"

When everyone in the bar had finished singing happy birthday Natsume smiled and thanked them graciously.

"You weren't seriously going to consider that song sufficient pay back for crashing into me did you?" Natsume tilted his head to the side and gave Haru a slight smirk, "Tarou, a martini please."

"On the house," Watanuki grinned, "For the birthday boy."

"N-No… I wasn't…," Haru pouted and began to play another song.

"Oh? This is a really nice song. What is it?" Natsume's kind smile resurfaced as the whole bar was enveloped with the peaceful music of Haru's playing.

"Claude Debussy…" Watanuki stated in a slight daze from the sudden lethargic mood the bar was filled with that had started from Haru's playing.

"…Arabesque," Tsujita continued after Watanuki, also feeling quite languid once the music started. She giggled a bit, beginning to show signs of drunkenness, "Haru plays this song often…"

"Well Haru certainly is the perfect tranquilizer for Pastel." Natsume rested his head on his arms, contentedly taking periodic sips from his drink.

"See Haru? You really should stay around longer! Natsume agrees!" Tsujita giggled.

"Well I didn't exactly say that…But I wouldn't say I don't want you to stay," Natsume gave a heartbreaking smile that made many of the females in the bar swoon a bit.

"What a lady killer." Watanuki rolled his eyes and went back to preparing more drinks.

"I'm flattered, but I really don't think I can… After all it's up to Onee-chan—" Haru shyly stated but stopped midway after noticing the person that had just entered Pastel.

"Why… Speak of the devil." Watanuki looked over to the door as well. The whole bar was suddenly silent and the chime of the door bell echoed throughout the bar.

"Haruuu…Funny seeing you here. It's 3 a.m. and I see you're obviously not in bed." Miku smiled evilly.

"Onee-chan…What a …delightful… surprise…," Haru wiped the perspiration that suddenly formed on his forehead.

"So I see you left Maoko in charge of house?" Miku sat down at a stool at the bar counter, "Tarou, a Bloody Mary please. Extra bloody."

"Spare me, Onee-chan… I was just trying to save up money to buy you a nice birthday gift…!"Haru felt like running for his life, but he knew it would've been a futile attempt, as Miku would easily catch up to him.

"Oh, I hope it's going to be a really nice gift." The sais at Miku's sides glinted under the light of the bar.

"Cross my heart and hope to live?" Haru decided to try playing something on the piano to calm Miku down.

"You mean die?"

"No…Live…Preferably..."

"Then you better hope it's going to be a nice gift."

Well that's the end of chapter one. I hope you enjoyed it! As for the asterisk [from "Spring and summer!* What a fateful encounter!"], the joke is a reference to their names. "Haru" means "spring" and "Natsu" from Natsume means "summer". Yeahhh. It amuses me to make puns out of names (no not really)… There will be another pun with names later on (and most likely that'll be the last of it—sorry to those of you who find puns distasteful). This was sort of like a prologue... so there's not much interaction with the actual Vampire Knight characters. But worry not! Some of them show up in the next chapter! *smiles meekly*