This is my first attempt at a Vampire Knight Fanfic. I watch the manga, (seen both Vampire Knight and Vampire Knight Guilty) on ABC 3 on Saturday nights so… it's one of my faves beside The Tudors and The Walking Dead. I am sorta basing it off a bit of the things I have written in Princess and the War Hero, one of my Legend of the Guardians fanfics, but I will not use too much of it and also A Game of the Throne, one of my Sonic fanfics.

I am trying to find another category to write in, and well, I am a VK fan, so I would give it a go. I am creating a few new set of OC too. It is fairly modernised, and it has a little swearing in it. Do not worry, I am a The Tudors fan, I always end up making it sound formal…

Etiquette of Affection

-Chapter 1-

Wisps of chocolate brown, with dyed streaks of scarlet, hair effortlessly wafts in the breeze of a summer's evening. Curls of hair picked up by the light winds while the rest sits down her back. She chose for her hair to have such colouration, much to the distaste of her parents. Her dark brown eyes staring upon the place she calls home, as she lies upon a sturdy branch of a tree. She remembers when she first climbed this tree, only six years old and she was with her cousin, Lysander, when he had told her to climb a tree with her. She didn't want to as she thought she would get hurt. With gentle encouragement, small child hands and feet climbed the tree and she first saw the view. Breathtaking sight it was to be high above the ground.

She is sixteen now, in a way fully grown, though still young and innocent, timid and shy and she inherits a soft, elegant but strong Italian accented voice from her parents. She stares upon the view with some sadness, as she will be leaving within the coming days. Leaving home to attend Cross Academy, a school that her parents want to send her to, since it is a school that hosts vampires besides humans, even if that means leaving home, leaving a secure place. Her governess had tutored her for all of her life; she usually would never leave the house… No wonder she feels better when she is looking out from her viewing point.

"Lady Catherine, get down from there this instant!" Her lady-in-waiting demands

Catherine rolls her eyes; she can definitely hear the voice of her attendant over her music. She finds her now annoying since for as long as she can remember she has been around and keeping her in order since she was a tot. "Catherine, don't do this, don't do that, bossy much?" that is what the teen herself thinks. They say that she shouldn't be up there because it is undignifying for a woman of such dignity and grace to be sitting in a tree, as she is within the highest of the vampire society. Nevertheless, she doesn't give a damn about etiquette when she just wants to be herself, is that too much to ask?

"Catherine Giovanna Eleanor D'Amico!" A loud male voice shouts, snapping the teenager to her senses and almost making her fall out of the tree "Get out of that tree right this instant!"

Catherine sighs and replies with her heavily Italian accented voice, "Yes, papa."

It seems she spends most of her time, sitting on the sturdy tree branch, 3 metres in the air. She goes up there to think, as she finds that she is at peace with the world when sitting up in the tree. However, when she comes back down, reality hits her hard half of the time. Now, the only who gets through to her when she is sitting up there is her father, Antonio… Lord Antonio D'Amico. He is the head of their family.

"My lady, how many times have we told you, climbing a tree is not what ladies do?" The lady-in-waiting, Cecilia, says while her mistress fixes her jeans

Catherine sighs, "I know, I know. But, it is the only place I can go…"

She really doesn't want to go, especially as every time she leaves here, she feels unhappy. And when she does leave the family household now, her parents want what is best for her and a few other things they have mentioned that she really hasn't paid attention to. She then opens the door and enters, being a fair bit self-reliant, though she does have the servants and her lady-in-waiting, Cecilia, waiting on her. She then enters her room and her mother, sitting on the sidelines choosing what and what not, and her servants are already packing her things. Crawling on the floor, Rosalie crawls along the floor. She is the youngest of the daughters and she is a little over one year old. She is playing with some toys her mother put nearby the chair out to keep her distracted while she works.

"We're you sitting in the tree again, Cath?" Her mother asks before getting up from her chair and removing a leaf from her hair

"Mum, why do you have to send me so far away?" Catherine asks, as it is daunting towards her

"It is what is best for you dear. We want you to attend Cross Academy to be around others. You'll be able to go to school, to make friends and you will have someone taking care of you." Lady Amarelle says to her daughter, with her soft voice, before turning her head "No, I do not want her to take that."

"Are you kidding?! They're my jeans." Catherine exclaims in outrage

"You are not going to take the informal clothes. You take what I assign you. You are representing this family, so you wear what I tell them to pack." Amarelle sternly says

Catherine sighs and then just falls on her bed in submission. She cannot argue with her parents, there is no way to do it as they are firm and persuading. They do treat her as if she is an adult, especially as she has an opinion now, though at times she is opinionated. Lady Amarelle D'Amico is the type who is stern, but caring towards her daughter. She does want what is best for her daughter even if that means having her leave the safety of the family household. She has noticed that the years of home schooling has been very… unhelpful. Her daughter only leaves the house every so often. It is not that her parents do not allow her; it is because she often does not do well in social occasions, and she is very shy…

Amarelle sits on the bed and strokes her daughter's head "I know being in social places isn't… Your thing, but if it doesn't go well, you can come home or if you want, just don't sit in the tree too long."

Catherine sighs, "Just finish your packing and get out."

"Alright, dear. Just so you know; your father will want to speak with you later." The mother says to her daughter "You're not in trouble."

True to word, they finish with the packing, the attendants picking up little Rosalie D'Amico and her blocks, and then leave her in peace. Catherine is to head out tomorrow so she will attend school. She usually spends most of her time in her room or in the study, where her governess tutors her and where she reads many books. She likes to read more than anything in the world, besides One Direction and her pet, Lily. As she is taking down her posters, putting them in a protective folder, the door opens and Cecilia has Lily, on her shoulder like a pirate would his parrot.

"My lady, I have your pet." Cecilia says

Catherine turns around "Oh, thanks. Lily, Come here."

When she was twelve, her parents decided to get her a pet as a companion to keep her company, especially when her cousin, Lysander was at boarding school. They trailed many pets, cats, dogs, bunnies, birds and she found no interest in any of them. That was before young Catherine D'Amico demanded that she wanted a special pet, it being an owl, not any of the other animals. They just complied.

Lily lands on her shoulder as Catherine pets its head and then says that she's a good girl before putting her in the cage in the room. Lily is a beautiful Barn Owl who was called Lillian-Mary, but they call her Lily for short. Catherine adores her with all her heart, truly. She then gets back to what she is doing, and her father enters while she is distracted with her music and is dancing around. He then rolls his eyes before turning it off.

"Oh, what is it?" Catherine asks as she then gets a drink from the bedside table, "Mama had said you wanted to speak with me."

"Catherine, dearest, I have been within talks and you have a suitor. He wants to have your hand in marriage someday." Her father announces

Catherine chokes before lowering the glass, "Marriage?! Papa, are you out of your mind?"

"No I am not." Antonio replies to his daughter, "He is a pureblood and he is of the highest of honour and wants to ask for your hand."

"Papa, why must you choose who I marry? You say I do have freedom, but why restrict a personal choice." His daughter complains with disgust to the notion

"Actually, my dearest daughter, he had chosen you. I had nothing to do with it. He had spoken with me briefly over the phone and asked that he would see you." Her father explains promptly after her complaint

"If you are arranging me a marriage, why couldn't you marry me off to one of the guys from One Direction?" Catherine quips

Antonio rolls his eyes to his daughter's ridiculous demand as she laughs. In his mind, the suitor would want to be able to deal with her silly remarks whenever she thinks it suited. As smart, charming and eloquent she is, she's still a teenage girl and in the essence of her youth and as often childish as, well, a young child. Her father told Catherine to sit on the bed and she complied. He then pulled up a chair and started giving the explanation again, about how lucky she is to be born into a family of this calibre and to have everything she could want. He then says that he wants to find someone who she will like, and likes her back and the suitor likes her since he does know Lysander from around the around. Catherine then says that she'll give it a chance, but if it all fails, she will blame him. Antonio kisses his daughter's forehead and says that she should get some rest, as she's going to be leaving tomorrow.

She then went to bed and that following morning and as she lied awake most of the night, she could dread as tonight is the night that she is going to leave. By later on, when the first of the stars start appearing, when Cecilia comes to check on her, she then runs down the stairs and exits into the backyard and she is sitting in the tree again.

"Lady Catherine, get down before your father wakes up!" Cecilia demands

Catherine sighs and as she is climbing down, her phone goes off and the caller ID is her cousin, Lysander. She then gets down and answers the phone. Her cousin is three years older than she is and is a rebellious one at that, a jet setter too, going on global adventures half of the time, though he always finds time to stay in contact with his favourite cousin.

"Hello." Catherine answers

"Hey, little cousin, so, you're actually going to school, eh. Parents must have got sick of you being around." Lysander says before a laugh

She rolls her eyes, she knows he can't see it, "No, they're just enrolling me in school and no to the last part."

"Just having fun with you, Cath. God, you can't take a joke now can you?" He replies

"So, you're still as per usual in some other country." Catherine snaps

"Actually no, just arrived back home a day or two ago. Was going to come up, but, you know jet-lag and my mum always being nosy." Lysander corrects

"Aunty is always like that." Catherine says before feeling something tug at her pyjama pants, it is her little sister, looking at her with her little brown eyes framed by curls of light brown hair "Oh, Rosie wants to talk to you."

"Put her on then." He then says before a laugh

Catherine picks up her sister and puts the phone near her "Cousin Lysander is on the phone. Want to talk to him?"

"Hey, Rosie." Lysander says before the baby looks around trying to look for where the voice came from "I'm on the phone."

The baby looks towards the glowing screen of the phone and makes some noises as she then pokes the glass touchscreen with curiosity.

"You say, 'hi', Rosie?" Catherine asks with baby talk to her baby sister who then makes cooing noises and tries to pull the cover off the phone "Good enough."

"Well, it's nice talking to you, Rosie. Goo, goo, goo to you too." Lysander says before laughing and the older of the cousins rolling her eyes

The nursemaid then comes out and Catherine hands the squawking and chattering tot over. She then starts having a conversation with her cousin, sitting outside in nothing but her pyjamas as the sun is setting before her attendant then notifies her that her flight is due in two hours and she has to get ready. She then gets off the phone and goes upstairs, where some of the servants are moving her luggage downstairs. She then goes into the bathroom, which still has some of her things cluttering around, including her hair straightener, curling iron, hairdryer, hairbrushes, her toothbrush and toothpaste, a bag with makeup in it, hairspray, styling mouse, the old box of hair dye she used to put her red streaks in, soap… the list goes on. As Cecelia choses what she will wear, her mistress take a shower.

After coming out, dripping wet with a towel around her body and her hair in a hair turban, she then looks on the bed and finds a formal gown instead of something a little more casual, like a shirt, jacket and jeans.

"Are you kidding me? I hate wearing this la-de-da shit." Catherine complains. She then devises a plan, when she sees her attendant packing up her laptop, "Cecilia, could you please clean up the bathroom, leaving my hairdryer, straightener, curler and makeup?"

"Yes, Lady Catherine." Cecilia replies entering the bathroom.

Catherine, rushing to her closet, places in her carryon bag a blue long-sleeved skive, a purple shirt, and a pair of jeans, and a pair of ballet-flats, so she can get changed at the airport. Lysander, her cousin, is going with her (Antonio said he had 'volunteered' to do it, as he and Amarelle will be busy) and Cecilia to escort her to Cross Academy, and he does the dramatic change of clothes all the time.

Catherine disappears behind a screen then places the lilac silk and lace evening gown, with black heals over white tights, a silver ornate necklace with a locket suspended, headband and simple silver earrings. She then hits by her dressing table while her attendant helps her do her hair, which falls to midway down her back and her makeup. She has natural curls and waves in her hair and she does curl her hair to maintain them. She naturally has a long fringe that sometimes covers her right eye, but she has to bush it out of the way.

She then comes downstairs and her parents and baby sister are downstairs with her and Cecilia's luggage to say goodbye. She then walks down the stairs with her handbag that she is placing her iPhone, wallet and passport into while Cecilia has her laptop bag and carry-on bag.

"You look so much more beautiful wearing a dress, dear." Amarelle says to her daughter, as she does think she is a little unsophisticated if she wears a shirt and jeans.

"Alright, now that you're ready, where in the hell is your cousin? Plane takes off in an hour from now." Antonio says while looking outside

Just as Catherine's father says those words, Lysander's car comes up the driveway. He drives a very posh and otherwise expensive car. He then pulls up and gets out of the car, before moving some of his dark brown hair out of his face as the family then steps outside to greet him and say goodbye to Catherine and he walks up the stairs.

"There you are nephew. Do not tell me that you've been sleeping in again?" Antonio says to his uncle

"No, no, uncle, I assure you that I haven't. She has been bothering me again since our break up. I just got off the phone with her before I came over." Lysander answers, before scuffling Rosie's hair, which is tied in two little curled pigtails, "Aunty, nice to see you again."

"I would ask how your trip was, but you should really get going soon." Amarelle says before hearing the phone and going back inside with her husband while carrying their youngest daughter, as they have been expecting a call "Excuse us."

Catherine sits on the stairs and Lysander joins her while they watch the servants put the luggage in the car. She has two large suitcases full of her clothes and other necessities that are placed in the back. A smaller one with other assorted things inside and then there is the laptop case, which is placed in the back, on top of one of her suitcases, which lie flat, along with Cecilia's suitcase too. Her handbag, carry-on bag and Lily (in her cage) are placed in the car.

"Looking nice, Cath." Lysander says to his cousin, "Sometimes I think you aren't a girl since you usually try not wearing a dress."

"I am a girl you idiot, I just hate being dressed up…" Catherine replies, butting him with her elbow, before moving a hair out of her face, "I'm getting changed at the airport. I hate wearing this sort of darn thing, but I have to."

"Thought so." He replies, knowing that she pulls off costume changes like him whenever possible "You taking Lily with you? She better not be flying loose in the car if so."

"Can't trust her with my parents now can i?" She answers before a laugh before turning back serious, "Besides, they had to let me take her since, really, they're sending me to a foreign boarding school and as it turns out my suitor does attend there too. Oh and for a matter of fact, she is in her cage, and she does not do that sort of thing. She's trained."

"Good. And yeah, he does attend there…" Lysander says before the boot closes, as they are finished "Looks like they're done loading the car."

On cue, her parents and sister then come back outside. The family exchanges hugs to the leaving pair. Cecilia, the lady-in-waiting, is considered one of family too. She is only a Level B vampire, an aristocrat, and has been like family to the D'Amico's and a very good friend besides attendant (and nursemaid) to their two daughters, Catherine Giovanna Eleanor and Rosalie Marguerite. They then get into the car and drive off to the airport.

"My god… This is both exciting and nerving…" Catherine says both excited and nervous

"Just keep it chill, Cath. Try and speak, alright, even if it's to me or Cecilia." Lysander says, while having his eyes focused on the road "I got the tickets. You got your passports?"

"They're in her handbag, Master Lysander. I made sure of it." Cecilia answers

"Good, wouldn't want to be without those." He replies before hearing the muffled noise of Cath's music from her headphones "I can guess what she's listening to."

They then arrive at the airport and they park. Cecilia then is unloading the car, Lysander doing the cautious thing and lending her a hand while Catherine is talking with her pet. They then go check themselves in. Catherine then goes to get changed, as she looks way to overdressed in her opinion, while her cousin and her attendant wait. Moments later, she steps out wearing her chosen casual outfit and has her dress, part of it sticking out, in the bag. She still has the earrings in, chose to wear her necklace and headband. She then comes and sits beside Lysander.

"Let me guess, feeling much better now?" Lysander asks his cousin

"You bet." Catherine smiles

Their flight is called and they board the plane. They are in first class and are flying in complete luxury; Catherine's parents had put her there as they do have standards. They also have to behave themselves, which means no drinking blood from humans and no having the blood tablets out in the open. They do have to keep it a secret of their identity, as you never know what trouble it could bring within the human world.

They then arrive to their destination and it is approaching nightfall. On the flight, Lysander received a call, while Catherine had fallen asleep, and it seems that the suitor to his cousin's hand in marriage ended up doing a few things in time for her arrival, especially organising an escort. They have arrived and Cecilia puts up a parasol, as they step off the plane, since her mistress is a little jet-lagged and the afternoon sun isn't nice when it gets in your eyes.

They then leave the airport. Lysander had told his friend and the suitor that he, his cousin and the lady-in-waiting would be at a hotel, he staying there before flying back to Italy after Catherine is settled in all right. Lysander then checks in, then receives another call, and takes it outside while leaving the two women inside the room. He then opens the door.

"Kay. See you in an hour. Ta." Lysander says before hanging up and turning to his cousin's attendant "Get her dressed. The dark green ensemble, with the corset, do her hair; place a green bow in it. We have an hour."

"Ok, what?!" Catherine says with confusion as her attendant then goes through the luggage, "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, you are not making me wear a gown. And…You are so not making me wear a corset either!"

"You are going to be taken to Cross Academy in an hour and he's going to be there. You are wearing a gown or I will call uncle, it is probably something like one in the morning in Italy by now, and he will be furious with you if you mess things up. And he'll be mad with me too." Lysander explains before a hasty demand just comes out

"Fine, but you owe me 200." Catherine says before holding out her hand "Deal?"

Lysander sighs and takes her hand "Deal."

As the escort arrives, Catherine's luggage then is loaded into the escort car as Takuma Ichijo stands there supervising. He then comes across the cage and then lifts the covers before the Barn Owl screeches with annoyance, as if he had woken her up. Lily gives him a displeased stare.

"Oh, sorry, little creature. I did not mean to disturb your sleep." Takuma says as he kneels down and takes a look at her

"Do not touch the Barn Owl, may you not touch her. As you can see, the nocturnal beauty likes her sleep." Cecilia explains, kneeling beside him, before taking out a small treat and opening the cage. She feeds it to the barn owl and petting her head and neck, before placing the door over the cage and the cloth over it "Let's just hope my mistress didn't hear that."

"You must be Cecilia Danielle. I am Takuma Ichijo, vice dorm president. Dorm President Kuran had told me to escort you and Lady D'Amico to Cross Academy." He then introduces himself

"Yes, I am Cecilia. Pleasure to meet you. Oh and my mistress shall be down shortly. Do not worry, I will not tell her that you had set of Lillian-Mary here since if you mess with her owl, you won't be on her good side." She says before a laugh

Within moments, Catherine descends down the stairs as if on cue and she then remains calm and collected, a little restricted because of the corset she is wearing, but still fine. Lysander then follows as he is also coming with. After introductions, and that Catherine then has Lily perched on her gloved arm for a change, they then take off to Cross Academy in the car.