Chapter One

Hidden Within His Eyes

-Her XCDXXIV Year-

decem milia quadringenti vicesimus quartus

"Arise. . . . Awaken, my . . . queen."

Paying no mind to the soft murmur that was tantalizing me sweetly, I remained unresponsive. Only when a sweet drop of warm liquid splattered against my closed lips did the smallest quiver occur at their corners. The tiniest slip of it entered my dry mouth, fervently awakening the taste buds of my barren tongue. The mere taste of it was enslaving, stirring the demon inside of me that wanted more of it - more of hot, gushing blood. "Do you . . . wish more?"

Yes . . . more. I could not speak yet. I still lingered in between the borders of my consciousness and my daydreams, not knowing which one was reality and which was just a strand of my imagination.

My retired muscles disregarded my commands to move about, to grab the warm body that the blood belonged to, not caring for the consequences of its life. May it be a vampire or a human, I wanted to suck out its life force until it was a withered corpse in my arms; I was starving. As if sensing my need, more of it came oh so willingly. It took a tremendous amount of effort to part my lips a few centimeters open, letting more of the heavenly liquid inside. They rolled past my stained teeth and straight to my parched, avid throat.

Truth be told, I could have moaned, even purred in pleasure since my basic desire to feed was gradually being fulfilled. Then I heard his voice again, a slow echo of reverberations thrumming against my eardrums. "Oh, great mother of the . . . Kuran Clan." I felt my ears twitch in irritation. This man, so freely accommodating, was very foolish to taunt me in such a lecherous way. "What a way to keep . . . me waiting . . . your dear descendant . . ."

Cool fingers brushed against my calloused cheek, dragging his youthful, smooth skin against mine languidly. My body let out a weak tremble when his sharp nails traced the edges of my bottom lip, smearing blood across it. "Arise . . ." There was a familiar crunch of bone directly on top of me and the drops that entered my eager mouth quickly turned into an idle flow of blood. My eyelids began to flutter at the surge of energy it gave. If I concentrated hard enough, I could hear my growing heartbeat pound in sync with the stranger's.

"That's it. . . . Wake up. Taste the silk of his blood."

Flexing the stiff muscles of my body ever so slowly, I finally opened my eyes to gaze at the man leaning over my golden coffin. The first thing I noticed were his minacious odd eyes, icy blue contrasting against intense dark brown. They flickered with captivation at my dazed expression, knowing full well I was enduring my weakest point of existence - a freshly awakened vampire from torpor. I could do nothing in my palsied state. His full lips curved into a smirk on his handsome, oval face. He was gifted with seductive beauty; given a strong jaw, translucent tender skin, and dark locks that curled past the tip of his straight nose.

While I studied him, he had done the same to me. "Such beautiful . . . eyes," he murmured, indecision flashing in his face.

Wary, I blinked in response, growing infuriated with the amused chuckle that I received. Fool . . . My lingering stare drifted past him and to the broken remains of what appeared to be a baby - a dead baby. The blood I desired so much had belonged to that small, feeble creature, and despite my stained red past of gluttony, I felt twisted sympathy for that innocent little thing.

"Mihoko Kuran," he called with interest, even with a tinge of greed, as if tasting it on the roll of his tongue. To my annoyance, he intended to make it sound like I was his lover. His gaze returned to me, almost hopeful yet perilously insane. "Mihoko."

I was instantly miffed at the lack of honorific, but now that I grew stronger, I could sense his overwhelming presence as a pureblood. At my attempt to respond, I let out a strangled hiss. What a strange hallucination.

He straightened from his crouch. "This shall not halter my contrivances." My supposed descendant suddenly disappeared from my sight, leaving me by myself to glare at the high ceiling above. I heard padded footsteps at my left, then the rough sound of metal grounding against marble. "And here . . . so lies . . . the powerful Kaname."

Kaname? A curt, antagonizing burst of memories filled my head all in one time. I instantly remembered who he spoke of so disdainfully. Kaname! My eyes widened in horror, realizing this spontaneous occurence was not a dream. Someone truly awoken me from this damned slumber; and he was arranging to wake him as well.

I reached out in determination, trying to grip the edge of the jeweled casket with strained strength and frowning when I couldn't. My efforts were in vain; I needed more blood and the supply of it was with that stranger. Biding my time, I stretched my body little by little, cringing at every crack and pop of my severed joints. The pain of my composed body harassed my weary nerves in waves of agonizing throbs and aches, making the effort of waking up seem valueless to the peace unconsciousness offered.

Managing to take my first lungful of breath inside the coffin after however long I had stayed in it, I weakly leaned my shoulder against the metal wall, unable to break the dark seal that kept me - and only me - entombed. "Ah!" A frustrated yowl escaped my regenerating esophagus, and I sensed the scarcity of blood in burning pains, thin walls of each vein rubbing together like sandpaper.

As the colorful-eyed man repeated the same tactics on him, I allowed his taunts fill my healing ears. "I suppose there has been a change in plans, for my curiosity had gotten the better of me. The queen - such a beauty," he teased to my husband's motionless body. "Is it not a better idea to let you feed me in her place? It is only courteous since Haruka's brat was named after you. That was how I got this ingenious idea of gaining so much power."

He was to . . . feed on me? A surge of indignation made my trembling hands clench into fists. While my physical form was weak - edging pathetic, my mental capability and my powers simply strengthened at each passing second. The walls began to shake as I used my anger as a source for energy. How dare he threaten me.

"Instead of Kaname, my darling nephew, or the Kuran queen, it shall be you - Kaname, once ruler of these ancient lands." A bitter laugh left the pureblooded fool. He hadn't given my irritation a second thought, a severe insult by itself. "I deserve nothing less."

The king was waking up much faster than I had, without the additional exertion of a cursed catafalque, and a low growl erupted deep within the twin casket a few feet away from me. The sound of it sent chills down my spine, both pleasant and troubling; it was a warning to cease the stranger's actions, but the obnoxious pureblood would not listen. "Yes, that's it," he cooed sardonically. "Take the rest of it for Kuran blood is the thickest one can come across. Imagine how it will be for me to take your blood, or hers-"

With another aggravated snarl, I heard swift, ragged movements of flesh meeting flesh. "Ah, ah, ah. Let me go." He mocked, "Must you forget who has brought you up from your sleep? Who was it that filled your decayed shells with rich blood? I am your owner - your master - whom you shall obey, and there is no other." When he growled, the man ordered sternly, actually believing that he would follow anyone's orders but his own, "Stay still while I take what is mi-!"

There echoed the appealing sound of lacerating muscle and skin, Kaname's fangs shredding his vulnerable throat. Blood.

I shivered at the gurgling noise, aware that he would eventually die. Kaname was indulging himself, and I could only listen enviously in my own haze of starvation. My senses heightened at the smell of spilt blood, cringing at each wasted drop that splashed against the ground. He had always been the neater drinker than I, but I could comprehend his hastiness. This incessant craving within me was too strong to resist; I supposed it was the same for him as a ferocious, inhuman hiss left his feeding mouth, obviously yearning more.

Restless, I made another pitiable attempt to press my shrunken hand against the invisible force field that was wrapped around my lavish coffin. My beating heart dangerously slowed at the sight of my skin, once glowing with lovely health, now gray and dessicated. My nails too were disgusting, long and curved like it belonged to a wild beast. I need blood.

No! Enough of blood! What else has changed though my slumber?

Glancing down at my outdated apparel of layered ripped skirts and torn draperies, I caught sight of preserved muscles and scarred bone. My other hand ran through my long, tangled curls of chocolate hues, dry and infirm of shine. The diadem remained perched over my forehead and the single pendant that adorned my neck jingled happily on top of my rough palm. A scepter, adorned with precious stones and silvers, lied at the bottom of my casket. Three were the everlasting artifacts of the vain queen before me, and ironically, they seemed to be the only things that were kept in perfect condition.

No. My distractions ceased to be of use as the nagging desire for sweet, red liquid continued to invade my mind.

Blood. Yes, blood. I was brought back from my thoughts when I heard the man's body drop to the floor with a content thud.

"Ha, ha, ha! What is it that you . . . plan to do then?" I could picture his patronizing grin as he spoke his last words. "Will you so eagerly sacrifice . . . the rest of your kin just over there? Ha, ha! You jest yourself, dear king. . . . Merely your hunger alone, built after . . . thousands of years, shall overtake your mind. None shall . . . sate it." A snicker brashly echoed through the luxurious tomb, his badgering voice rebounding around our inner chambers. "How merciless that will be for you . . . and for her. Heh, heh . . ."

Our conjectured master exhaled his last breath, his heart failing to beat again. Then there was silence. Hungry . . . empty . . . blood! My heart perked up when I heard my husband's hesitant footsteps nearing my opulent prison.

He could not come sooner enough. My fangs were slipping out of my sore gums, my mouth salivating at the unadulterated idea of sinking my teeth into his body as I had many times before. The exchanging of blood had been marvelous then, ardently anticipated so much so in our shared bed. My Kaname. I was flustered with excitement and impatience, perhaps with a tinge of fear too, as he drew closer. I could not help myself and froze when a bony hand clenched over the coffin's edge, his stained fingers rejuvenating right in front of me.

As my pride would have it, I stared defiantly the moment he appeared, orbs of consuming garnet clashing with iron green. My sweet, sweet Kaname. At last. He was the image of a shriveled demon, wrinkles upon wrinkles marring his whole face beyond recognition.

The vampire's blood drenched over his jaw, his aged flesh reviving into more pleasant tones of tan. I could only imagine what I appeared in his eyes. Was I still his desiderated partner, a figure who equaled his power, who belonged by his side - or a mummified monster who wore a horrifying mask? A million silent messages were shared between us with just one heated look. When I took careful notice of the surprising amount of remorse in his haunting eyes, I recalled a few more things from our ancient past, but it was not what I expected at all.

A forgotten scream of bitter pain pierced my mind. Angry - no, I was supposed to be furious . . . vengeful . . . But why? I didn't know. Somewhat nervous, I wondered if he would ever break the seal when our encounter dawdled on. A hidden side of me was anxious that our positions might have changed during our joined slumbers. Kaname was always unpredictable, and as much as I loved him as any wife would her husband, my instincts gave me reasons to be wary.

A dreaded feeling crawled up my stale insides when he pulled on the marble cover of my casket, nearing panic. Would he keep me here by force unwillingly? The air in my aching lungs rushed out in relief when I heard the satisfying cracks of precious stone, the fragile heart of the curse itself. It had been enchanted for only him to break, that I could safely remember. But at the accusations I unfairly threw his way, guilt and disbelief clouded my head. How could I have imagined the worse from him? Did I not trust him enough?

Pushing aside the throbs my body experienced, I was motionless as his attention returned to me. He seemed transfixed to scrutinize every misshapen detail of my monstrous carcass after years of sleeping side by side. Softly, like I was a delicate shard of breakable glass, he caressed the edge of my cheekbone with the back of his now youthful hand. In return, I weakly reached out to feel the edge of his wet chin. The touch between his restored skin and mine made me shiver in delight.

Our reunion was gratifying, yes, but at his sadden expression, I became concerned. My love?

Thump. Thump. Thump. We both stiffened at the pulsation of a strong, enticing heartbeat that cautiously advanced closer to the entrance of our ostentatious tomb.

While Kaname grew deathly still, I pulled myself up into a predacious crouch. It was difficult to move, but I needed to sate this nagging demon. Its hunger had not been appeased with insignificant drops of a newborn's blood. Mine, mine, mine!

Kaname grabbed my wrist, defying my wish to take what I desired. Wild instinct overpowered sentiment, and my lightning-quick claws raked his shoulder into jerky ribbons. His hand was suddenly around my neck, tightening in warning when I struggled against him. The king growled, firmly urging my face sideways, "Look!"

My eyes lowered to the engraved coffin that had encased him, darkening at the mauled remains of the pureblood that lied beside it. With one sniff of the air, I realized that the contemptuous vampire had spoken the truth. His lacerated body had belonged to a Kuran descendant; next to it was the broken little body of his alleged nephew, the recent generation of our children's lineage. Dead, gone . . . lifeless. Kaname did not want to kill, and at this revelation, neither did I.

"I know . . . what you are . . . thinking," I rasped, relaxing in his arms.

Without his usage of words, I knew what he wanted to accomplish; a rebirth of life done by the remaining power his feeding granted him. Kaname was so inclined to leave our fates to these incomers' hands that I was almost reluctant to agree - even if they were derived from the same blood as I, but I could not deny that he was right. We had lived lifetimes, cheated the very being that was called death, and to steal the life of another - who was remarkably younger than we were - was a cruel and selfish doing.

But I am a cruel and selfish vampire . . . Looking back at my husband, my doubts faltered. I remembered I wasn't the same girl he had first met in that morning massacre; I now knew right from wrong, good from bad. This is something we had to do.

"Very well." It was ironic to think that after years of surviving within our nightmares, it was reality that brought our inevitable ends. What a melancholic finish for royalty.

The familiar smolder of Kaname's gaze was the last thing I choose to lay my eyes upon before closing them completely, trying to grasp the smallest shred of peace that I could snatch inside the corners of my mind. Perhaps this is goodbye, my love. There was nothing else to say as I felt the force of his power around my withered figure. Even if there was - oh there was, I could not speak them aloud.

My confusion towards his peculiar reactions, and the apprehension for what the future held, did not matter anymore; the expectations of living once again did not exist as it had moments ago. As I settled into the darkness of my empty thoughts, my subconsciousness weighed upon me like a heavy load. My power faded substantially against my consent, as did my body, until the only thing I desperately held onto were my memories. Some were shaded while others were clear, but it was not long before they too were taken from my grasp.

I was left with nothing. I had nothing else to lose.

". . . Mihoko Kuran . . ." A woman acknowledged gravely. "She's . . ."

"Juri . . . we must."

"The queen . . . shall be known . . . as our Tsukina."

Then I was given a new beginning.

-Her XV Year-

quintus decimus

"Kiyoe~!" A gentle voice called out to me with a hint of teasing, "Kiyoe, you're out of it again."

"Huh?" My eyes snapped open, and I straightened from my drowsy slouch, bringing me out of my daydreams. I noticed Sayori nudging my side, a smile growing on her face once I giggled at her antics. She was a small girl in height like the majority of the female student population, her light brown waves cut short to her chin, curling to frame her heart-shaped face. "Oh, Yori."

"You broke your own record - fifteen minutes." Sayori shook her head, not surprised at all, as she gathered her books into her arms. "I keep telling you that you'll get in trouble if you daydream during class. It's a good thing Sensei hadn't noticed." Her big hazel eyes lowered to the corner of my mouth, a flash of amusement glinting in them. "Heh . . . you drooled."

My cheeks reddened, and I quickly moved to clean it away with my jacket sleeve, glancing around to see if anyone saw. Mercifully, no one did. "Oh. Sorry." I was somewhat of an airhead when I drifted off into the land of imagination, which was sadly all the time.

It certainly did get me into a lot of trouble, and the chairman had to pull some strings to keep me from being suspended from his own school, but it wasn't something I could control since the accident. Everyone assumed that my attention span was very short, limited - that I was naturally ditsy and eccentric. Both of my teachers and classmates had long before agreed to cut me some slack, though it didn't stop the instructors from lecturing me to pay better attention, or my peers from scolding me for getting them in trouble when I asked for help.

"Have you been sleeping well?"

A grimace settled on my face, and I stretched my throbbing wrist, remembering that I had slept on it throughout the lesson. "Recently? No, not with all the stuff I have to do."

"Like Disciplinary Committee stuff," Sayori clarified. When I nodded, she seemed a tiny bit sympathetic until she said bluntly, "Well, that's your own fault for agreeing to be a prefect. What can you expect from staying out all night then sleeping all day through your classes? You're not going to learn anything that way, Kiyoe."

After months of the same schedule, I still managed to keep up - barely, and that was impressive to say the least. Glancing down at my blank sheet of paper then to the blackboard that was filled with lines of messy scribbles, I inquired sheepishly, "Yori, can I copy your notes?"

"Just give them back when you're finished."

"I always do that." When I caught her pointed look, I shuffled through my messy files and saw the sheet I owed her two days too late. "Right, sorry. I knew I wrote my reminder somewhere, but I think I lost it-"

Sayori took the sticky note from the back of my binder, arching an eyebrow at my forgetfulness. "You mean this one?"

I flushed, giving them to her obediently. "Er, that wasn't there earlier . . . I think."

"Here." She handed today's notes to me before the bell rang - our daily ritual. "Oh, and five spiders or fifteen worms?"

"You mean, like eat them?" I made a face when she nodded. "Ew. Find a new survey next time . . . but I'd probably eat worms. Less chance of choking, I think."

"Me too. It's nice we can finally agree on something." Shooting me a small smile, Sayori left for the library. It was the only place I wouldn't follow her to unless it was necessary. The librarian was more or less intimidating, despite her old age and wrinkled face.

Grabbing hold of my stuff, I stood up from my chair reluctantly and glanced back at my other friend - the grouchy one. He made up half of the Disciplinary Committee with his lean build, tall height, and his signature ferocious glare that came in handy once in a while. My best friend . . . "Hey, Zero." I murmured, approaching the quiet boy cautiously. "I was, um, wondering if you could-"

"No." He answered immediately, heading for the door.

Okay, maybe my childhood friend then.

"W-Wait, I wasn't done!" Persistent, I trailed behind the moody prefect closely.

At his side, I couldn't help but note that the top of my head barely reached his wide shoulders. With his straight silver hair and narrow lavender eyes, it made him one of a handful of guys from the Day Class that deemed to be handsome by some girls who dared to say such things, especially with Zero's low-tolerance for unneccessary attention. I picked up my pace to catch up with his long, determined strides. "I just don't understand these notes-"

Zero interrupted, "Ask Wakaba."

"Yori's gone to the library," I reminded him delicately, sticking close to him when we went past the cliques that blocked the doors to the outside. "She's gonna be too busy studying on her own to help me with these . . ."

As he shoved his way through - even glaring at anyone who dared to complain, I cried out apologies left and right, pointlessly scolding him once we were far from eavesdropping ears. His response was to shrug, simply continuing on his way to the Moon Dormitories. Kurosu Academy was a very large property, probably surpassing several acres of stretched land. The pathways that connected both Sun and Moon Dormitories to the main building were made of thick limestone and hard cement, surrounded by rose bushes with the occasional lily ponds here and there.

The chairman, who was also my adopted father for three years, specifically had a soft spot for irises, wisterias, and plum blossoms. He had planted some behind his residence - of reasonable size - which was a small walk away from the Sun Dormitories. A smile appeared on my face at the gentle, cool breeze of the late afternoon, shooting a buoyant one to Zero. "So, maybe you can help me later? Please?"

"It's not my fault you dozed off during class. I think you even drooled-"

Wiping my mouth in reassurance that nothing was there, I accused with an embarrassed blush, "You saw? B-But you did too!"

". . . I don't drool."

"Zero-"

He let out a sigh, bothered with my stubbornness. "I'm busy. Just leave it."

Before I could argue, a familiar classmate of ours surged forward, unintentionally slamming against my shoulder with shocking force. "Oof!"

My books fell to the ground in noisy clatters. I was literally thrown to Zero's side and would've fallen to my knees if he hadn't caught me, his muscled arm hooking around my waist to stop my fall. Finding myself pressed against his hard chest and feeling his warmth at our proximities, I blinked in surprise. What . . ?

She gasped, whirling around to pick up my books. "Oh, sorry Kurosu-san, Kiryuu-san! I didn't see you there."

"I-It's fine, Nakayama-san. Nothing seriou-" My sentence was cut off short when I was suddenly pushed back to my own feet, giddiness rising to my head at the abrupt speed of Zero's actions. Glancing at his troubled and pained expression, I saw how rigid his posture and body became without any warning. "Erm, are you okay?"

"Watch where you're going," Zero snapped irritably.

Nakayama couldn't help the squeak that escaped from her and practically threw the books in my arms before she dashed to meet up with her impatient friends. I turned to him and frowned. His temper was more agitated than usual these past few days. "There was no need to be mean. It was an accident."

Wordlessly, he stormed ahead to the clusters after giving me an exasperated glance. "Z-Zero!?" I hurried to follow, perplexed.

Much to our dismay, a building crowd of apprehensive girls began to multiply in front of the dormitory gates; their vociferous blathers could be heard from afar, even at this distance. The old iron gates were most likely the only thing that separated them from the Night Class - and from aimlessly discovering the most prized secret hidden within the academy. I cringed at the topic of my thoughts, reminding myself that Night Class was friendly, hospitable, good. If that was what the chairman believed, then so did I.

But Zero is a different story, I whispered in my head, discreetly scrutinizing his back. He's grown rather . . . distant from me lately.

Zero contributed less to the conversation and kept more to himself as the years went by, and after we started high school, it had only gotten worse. We were sometimes mistaken as close companions by others who didn't fully comprehend our complicated relationship. Zero and I knew each other for three years; however trivial that was compared to other friendships that had began much earlier than that, they didn't know the magnitude of those three years. Those were the times when I had needed a friend, and he was earnestly there for me.

But when had things changed between us? Why did I feel so clueless around him? When would be the time when I would look at Zero and find myself just staring at a stranger? I can only do what I can to make sure that doesn't happen, I vowed to myself. I'll try to understand him.

"Hurry up!" I heard a girl whine from a distance.

Another retorted, obviously annoyed, "Hey, watch it!"

"Don't push!"

As much as I was content with being the other half of the Disciplinary Committee - also with putting a smile to the chairman's face as a result, I didn't want to go against another horde of energetic girls. It was my least favorite part of the day. I recently healed from the old bruises I'd gotten yesterday and the days before that, dreading to think about what other injuries awaited for me later on. Even giving slip after slip of detentions with the rest of the faculty members didn't work with them; they were a persistent bunch, never giving up on trying to catch the attention of the object of their affections.

They might have appeared stupid and foolish to act so openly desperate, but I admired them for their courage. I wish I had that too.

With my face burning, I forced myself to push aside any thoughts of him and focused on my duties, fighting back winces at the dirty looks that were shot my way. "Please go back and head to your dorms! Classes are over, and it'll be pass curfew for you guys!" I yelled as I stood in front of them. "You'll get in trouble-"

A girl from the crowd scoffed. "You say that everyday, Kurosu-san."

"Don't get bossy just because you're a prefect-"

"-or the chairman's daughter," another finished for her friend snippily.

"What? I'm not!" I found myself arguing back, my cheeks heating up at their accusations.

"Then move it, Kurosu-san!"

Someone demanded discourteously, "Get out of our way!"

My frustrations climaxed when others murmured in agreement, pushing me away as they pressed much closer to the gates. I staggered backward from their combined forces and glanced at my wrist watch in panic. It was almost time for the Night Class to leave, and they would be walking straight into the the masses that would try to eat them alive - if they could, that was. Looking behind me to expect Zero doing nothing, I scowled when I realized he had disappeared completely. I checked at his hidden post beside the trees to find his accustomed spot empty.

Of all the times to be gone, I thought with displeasure. Zero had never followed routine before, so why did I presume today would be any different?

"W-Wait! Hey!" I shouted through their chatters, almost straining my voice at the volume. Recalling Sayori's advice, I quickly fabled the moment I grabbed most of their attentions, "W-What about the Night Class? Don't you think that blocking their way to the main building will inconvenience their studies? I-I heard something about a major test tonight . . ."

"Oh," a girl gasped dramatically in front of the group. "A test?"

"What are you talking about, prefect?"

When they hesitated in retreating, I corrected myself with haste, "Exam! I meant it's an exam, not a test! Er - it costs some major points and, um, I heard it's very difficult to pass. It, uh, counts as a large portion of their final grade."

Her friend questioned suspiciously, "But I didn't hear about this before-"

"Some of you did, I think." I interjected, shrugging as nonchalantly as I could. Sayori had advised me to manipulate their admiration for their superiors. As I had disagreed to do such a thing before, now, I was nearing desperate. "Maybe they indirectly informed a few of you and, er, you just didn't notice. Students of the Night Class would only tell their closest friends about something so very, very serious like this exam."

"I did," someone quipped in loftily, squirming at the envious glares she got from her companions yet standing tall. "Idol-senpai is very punctual with his studies!"

Nakayama, who stood at the edge, stammered shyly, "I-I think I did too."

A friend of hers seemed uncertain but said nonetheless, "Then, I suppose Kurosu-san has a point."

"Ugh, I can't believe I forgot about that."

A girl nodded her head, eager to concur with the mumbling crowd. "Yeah, me too."

"They must've studied hard for them. Especially Ichijo-senpai." I heard someone from the back allude proudly. To my utter disbelief, they willingly shuffled back from the gate entrance to make way for the Night Class - neat and orderly, I should add. It wasn't exactly the lot of them heading back to their dorms - that was the desired goal, but it was a significant start.

Oh, my . . . Yori, you are the most intelligent friend I have ever had-

My tiny accomplishment soon dwindled away when the gates began to creak open, and my heart began to pound in nervousness. I warily jumped to the side of their makeshift runway. If they had arrived so soon, they must have heard the white lies I sprouted about them. Would they be angry with me? The girls started to cheer, filling the air with doting acclamations for their upperclassmen, and I couldn't have been more humiliated with myself.

"Ichijo-senpai! I hope you ace it!"

"Good luck, Wild-senpai!"

"Do your best, Kuran-senpai! We know you'll do well!"

My heart deviously skipped a beat at his name. Stop it! Relax! I watched with the rest as the Night Class sauntered forward in their organized formation, finally making their awaited appearance.

Each of them were undeniably gorgeous with similar auras of prestige, elegance, and sophistication that none could compete in the Day Class. With matching flawless skin, striking colored eyes, and cultivated postures, it was no wonder the Day Class girls were completely engrossed by them. They were, of course, known as the best of the best - an elite scholar in alleged fields of art and science. If I didn't know what they truly were underneath their human hides, I would have too been one of those girls in the crowds that were presently screaming their names - captivated and absolutely enchanted.

"Ah, ladies! Such a good afternoon to see you again!" A charming voice greeted mirthfully. "You have surely made my day already!"

"Kya!" was his fervent reply. "Idol-senpai!"

The girl from earlier cried out as encouragement, "I know you'll do great in the exam!"

"We believe in you!"

A swift look of confusion passed his baby face. Compared to the rest of the guys in the Night Class, he was somewhat short but his lithe body and thick golden-blond curls made up for that easily. He was still one of the most sought out males of the Night Class, insanely popular and unsurprisingly attractive. "Exam?" He inquired, arching an eyebrow in faint amusement.

From the blank looks that he got from the rest of the Night Class - a few curious ones from Takuma Ichijo and Akatsuki Kain, I realized most of them were disinterested by the gossip. Either way, they didn't falter on their steps towards the main building. One girl was more than happy to reply, "Yes, Kurosu-san mentioned it to us."

"Kiyoe-chan . . ?"

I managed a timid smile when Idol-senpai, officially known as Hanabusa Aido in the school's records, glanced at my direction with his electric blue eyes. "Er, good morning, Aido-senpai." I swallowed when a flash of mischief - bordering malicious - glinted across them.

During my months in this academy, he had always been delving for games to play, regarding human girls, especially with me since I already knew about their secret. He wasn't a friend, a classmate, or an enemy, but a scary acquaintance for the lack of better term. I was definitely not his plaything, the nickname he was continuously trying to force on me. This was another taunt of his - another joke to tease me about for the rest of my schooling here, and forebodingly, I knew my death by the mass' hands was just a sentence away with Hanabusa signing the very deed.

Before he could accuse me of my deceit, the object of my affections intervened. "Have you disappointed your admirers to have forgotten about it?"

We stared at Kaname Kuran, both of us wide-eyed. He . . . saved me from public humiliation? Hanabusa stuttered, clearly flustered, "N-No, Dorm President. O-Of course not!"

"Let's hurry to our classrooms, shall we?"

"Y-Yes. Right away . . ." Hanabusa took another glimpse of my surprised expression, puzzled himself, before walking past the crowds.

Kaname. My face heated up, my teeth gritting together at my awkwardness. Guilty with my lies, I met his remarkably soft gaze. Kaname was tall, even surpassing Zero's height, and exceptionally hypnotizing. There's something about him that pulls me to him.

"Kiyoe," he greeted with that harmonious voice of his. A pleasant thrill shot down my spine as a response.

I nodded shyly. "K-Kaname-senpai."

"These girls must be hard to control, and for that I am sorry-"

"N-No! Don't apologize to me." I stammered, loosing any control over my mouth. "I-It was my fault - I mean, that they think there's a test today, not that they're hyper. Well, they are kinda all over the place, er, not in a bad way, but it's nothing I can't handle . . ."

Kaname looked amused at my blush. "Then I suppose you too will be wishing me luck."

"R-Right. G-Good luck."

His wavy locks of dark brown hung past the nape of his long neck, strands of them loosely covering over his beautiful, garnet eyes. I could have honestly admitted that I could've stared in their smoldering depths for a very, very long time, and not ever tire of their iridescence. I could hear the wild thumping of my heartbeat against my ears, and most likely - mortifyingly so, so could he. "Kaname-senpai, I'd like to say-"

Before I could finish my thanks as he turned away, I stopped myself when I noticed a familiar girl tripping on her feet. At the current of the crowd, they had unwittingly shoved her from their way as they excitedly rushed toward Hanabusa's retreating figure. I brushed past him briskly to halt her fall, making her land in my arms. "Are you okay?" I questioned, concerned.

She rushed to her feet and blushed at my worry. "Y-Yeah."

"If you're sure . . ." Once I was assured she wasn't scratched with any injuries that could've drawn blood, I risked a glance to my previous position. It wasn't unexpected to learn that Kaname had left. I bit my lip, disappointed, as I watched the Night Class reach their destination to the entrance of the main building.

A particular student caught my attention as she drew closer to her prevalent spot at Kaname's right hand. Her dark straight hair was left down to her slim waist, her petite body appearing small and daintily fragile next to him. As if sensing my stare, her head turned back slowly to avoid someone's scrutiny. Her doe-like eyes met mine, curious, flickering with a glimmer of melancholy and slight warmth. The corner of her pink, full lips quirked up to a hint of a genuine smile before she disappeared past the double oak doors.

A true beauty who deserved to be by his side . . . I instantly felt remorseful for my envy. She had been benign, even courteous towards me, and that vampire didn't deserve my spite or my petty jealousy.

"Why are you staring at her?" A voice asked from behind me. "Kiyoe?"

Jumping, I whirled around to see Zero. He seemed tired - like he had ran miles around the academy grounds - with dark circles under his strange lavander eyes; they were exceedingly apparent against his naturally pale skin. Unable to help myself, I challenged sharply, "I was nearly murdered a few minutes ago! What would you have done without a partner tomorrow, huh? Leave the gate unguarded?"

Zero shrugged, deciding to humor me much to my astonishment, "Get a new one."

"Where were you? I looked for you . . ." I trailed off, remembering one of my fears as a child, "and you weren't there."

"Not here, obviously," he replied in a clipped tone, refusing to feel apologetic at all.

"Zero," I began before I took notice of his weariness. My anger faded immediately and was replaced with uncertainty. He looked almost sick and clammy, a sheen layer of sweat covering his entire face. "Are you feeling well? Do you have a fever?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure-"

"Why were you looking at her?"

If his repeated question acted as a distraction, it worked. I busied myself with my hands, a little ashamed as I played dumb. "Who?"

"Kuran Yuuki," he answered impatiently. I looked up at his inquisitive, very much pointed expression and stayed silent, proving his hidden inclinations without words; I was jaundiced against the beautiful brunette because of my feelings toward a certain Night Class male. "Look, I don't really care how you act with the likes of them, especially the Kurans, but you know the rules. You know . . . right?"

"Yeah," I conceded with a sigh.

"Do you really?"

I grumbled, "Yes . . ! I know, Zero. I get it."

While every student of the Day Class were human, they were something else entirely; a predator, a demon, a monster - all depending on one's beliefs of the supernatural and the like. The Night Class were vampires, easy and simple . . . and I was dangerously in love with one of them.

Shiri-sama exclaims: My first vampire knight fanfiction - very excited! One POV is the present time, the other POV is the flashback. Comments are appreciated whether criticism or just friendly reviews. I'll continue this story on how much it attracts attention so for now, be patient for the second chapter! Warning: I like details so each chapter will possibly be long; so any long-term readers - go on:)

I do not own Vampire Knight, but my OWN OCs are my OWN and made of my OWN ideas. Also, to those who are strictly anime watchers, this story will make a lot more sense if you read the manga. Enjoy it, read it, and review it if you can!