Welcome to my first Vampire Knight fic! This story takes place in the middle of Ch. 30, before the whole Kaname and Zero incident, but after the vampires come back from vacation. There are no set pairings, but if I had to predict them, I'd say Zero/Yuuki. Of course, there will be flirting. You can't write a vampire story without seductive vampires now can you?

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"We have a new student coming." The headmaster tented his fingers together and gazed at them, his expression unreadable. Zero stood in front of him, hands shoved in his pocket, his expression one of boredom.

"That's nice," he muttered, more for the headmaster sakes' than his own interest.

The headmaster's eyes seemed to flash at this statement as he looked up at the silver haired boy. "I suppose," he finally said after a prolonged silence, his brown eyes unusually cold. "She's a student of great importance so be sure not to rub her the wrong way. Whatever your opinion, keep them to yourself. She's not one you want to make mad."

Zero snorted, a grim smirk curling his lips up. "Then why am I the one welcoming her?" he asked. "If you wanted a welcoming committee, you'd have been better off with Yuuki."

The headmaster allowed a small smile as he un-netted his fingers and leaned back in his chair. "Yes, she probably would've have been the smarter choice, but she's not the right one to be greeting this student."

Zero glanced warily the blond man, his eyes hardening. "She's in the night class isn't she?" he asked. He kept his voice emotionless, but inside he was churning with various emotions. He hated the night class. That was simple enough, but for what reason was there to add more members to the elite class? It would only cause more trouble, trying to tame a new vampire, to teach her the rules. The call of blood was hard to ignore. Zero had learned the hard way.

"No," the headmaster said simply, now looking out his large glass windows. "Nothing of the sorts. It's just that, you should be the one welcoming her."

"Why?" Zero inquired, annoyance creeping upon him. "If it's just a day student, Yuuki should be able to handle her fine. You don't need me and I have better things to do."

"Now, now Zero, let's calm down," the headmaster chided lightly. "It's not like I'm asking you to behead yourself. It's just a simple task that needs to be done. Besides, I'm sure Yuuki can handle guard duties by herself for one night. She's perfectly capable…right?" he ended unsurely.

The silver haired vampire snorted again, running a hand over is face. "Well, I suppose we're about to find out," he answered mildly, knowing something was going to go wrong.

Just then, a light knocking was heard causing the headmaster to snap his head toward the door. "She's here," he breathed, so low Zero almost missed it. Something flickered in his eyes, turning them a darker brown before returning to its original chocolate tone.

The door opened quietly on its well oiled hinges revealing a petite girl in a day class uniform. White hair, purer than snow cascaded down her back, shopping short right above her shoulder blade. Her eyes were a sapphire tone, large in an almost naïve sense and glistening like the jewels themselves. Yet those beautiful orbs lacked the curiosity that was usually found with large eye. They were guarded, almost empty in a sense as she surveyed the room.

Zero hissed when he saw her, one thought crossing her mind. It evidently showed on his face as the headmaster abruptly stood up, a big smile on his face.

"Suzume! It's been a while hasn't it?" The girl returned her smile with a smaller one.

"Yes it has," she agreed quietly. Her voice had an enchanting edge to it, like a siren's call. "How are you, Kaien?" she asked, using a familiar name. She was beautiful, the girl. So beautiful in fact it was borderline unnatural. And yet, there was something about her that set her apart. It was awkwardness that was usually reserved for humans. Though she held herself in a regally, there was a human air around her that set her right in-between vampires and humans. She sat on the border, not really one, but not really the other.

"Fine! Perfectly fine!" he answered a bit too loudly as Zero's gaze started to burn a hole on his back, figuratively speaking, of course. Her lips seemed to twitch up in amusement as she watched the scene unfold, but before anything violent could happen, the Headmaster snapped his attention to Zero.

"You know what?" he asked with an all too brilliant smile, "It's starting to get late! You should show Suzume to the dorm before it gets too late!"

"Really?" Zero hissed, his eyes narrowing as the headmaster proceeded to shuffle him out the door. Zero didn't move.

"Of course! We wouldn't want her to…" He left the sentence unfinished as he quickly glanced at the new student. Tension seemed to build in the air as silence settled in, the two conversing with their eyes.

"Well, what else can we do?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. There was a slight bitterness in her voice as her eyes hardened. "It'll happen sooner or later, and I would prefer it if it happened on my terms." She raised her hand and took a strand of hair, entwining it between her fingers. Her deep blue eyes fell on Zero, meeting angry silver orbs with an emotionless expression. "Besides," she smirked as she released the strand, letting white fall back onto the dark black of her uniform, "it'd be much more fun if it's done my way." Zero's finger twitched slightly as he glared at her smirk, doing all he could to not do something rash. There were all the same, those types, believing that they were always above everyone else. They were arrogant to a fault.

The headmaster leaned back, perching delicately on the edge of his desk as he slowly rubbed the back of his neck. He looked off to the side as he spoke, his lashes lowered. "You know the only reason I'm letting you do this is because of-"

"I know," Suzume cut in suddenly. She lowered her voice as she repeated herself. "I know."

A cynical smile played on the headmaster's as he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, part of his neck revealed from beneath his layer of scarves. "Of course you do," he murmured to himself.

With a slight growl, Zero interrupted their secretive discussion. He had listened to their conversation without input for long enough. "I'm still here, you know," he snapped, silvery orbs flashing with annoyance and frustration. "There must be a reason as to why you told me to come here, Headmaster, so are you going to explain why a vampire," he said the word in disgust as he spared a glance at Suzume, "is joining the day class or would you prefer I found out with my own methods?"

Kaien winced slightly at his harsh tone, standing straight again. His brown eyes met Zero's, then looked away, a slight sigh escaping his lips. "Vampire. . ." he repeated in a murmur, now walking toward the window.

"Vampires don't exist," Suzume interrupted. She gently closed the doors, never turning around, trapping all of them in. A small smirk appeared, just a slight curve of the lips, yet there was something disturbing about it like it was hiding another intention. Still, her eyes remained cold and emotionless.

"Then what are you? A werewolf?" He was mocking her, his silver eyes challenging her to reply.

"Werewolves don't exist either," she answered as she widened her eyes slightly in a picture of pure innocence. "Besides," her smirk deepened as glittering blue orbs narrowed, "there is nothing in the student handbook that says the students belonging in the night class have to apply to the night class." Zero hissed, his anger showing plainly.

"This is the precise reason as to why I hate your kind," he growled. "You're just bored, aren't you, and you think this school will serve as an entertaining game. That's the only reason you're here isn't it? Or is it so you can gravel at the feet of your beloved pure blood prince, Kuran?"

Suzume stilled as the last question left Zero's lips. The smirk disappeared as she calmly regarded him, her head cocking to the side like a curious dog.

"Kuran. . ." she repeated, slowly rolling the name on her tongue. "Ka-na-me." Accenting each syllable, Suzume frowned, her delicate brows furrowing as she turned inward, her expression clouding, yet at the same time still completely emotionless.

Sensing something was about to go amiss, the headmaster removed his glasses, his eyes downcast. "Suzume. . ." he said, his tone hinting the slightest of a warning. "Now is really not the time, you know," he continued, his eyes never leaving the frame of his glasses.

"But gravelling?" she asked, her gaze never leaving Zero's. "Why ever would I gravel at his feet?" As she spoke, he could swear he saw a flash of angry surface, but just like that, it was replaced, once again emotionless. Then, in a completely unexpected move, she took a step forward and smiled, her lips curling into an angelic expression. "I'd much rather gravel at yours."

Zero started, thrown off by her answer, but recovered quickly, his hatred of vampires too strong to let him be wooed by one. "I don't know what game you're playing at-"

"I'm not the one playing games, Zero," Suzume finally looked away, her gaze settling on the headmaster's back. "No, but I am the one that's going to end it." Her lips parted slightly, intentionally showing Zero her fangs, though never looking at him.

"What are you-"

"I believe we're done here." The silver haired vampire glowered at the headmaster, more than a bit irritated being cut short for the second time. Kaien turned his back to the window where he was previously watching students rush to the front gate and replaced his glasses "I was hoping we could keep to more pleasant topics, but I suppose there is such a thing as being too hopeful." He paused, meeting Zero's glare with an unflinching stare. "You should go now, Zero. It looks like Yuuki needs your help after all." Though obviously dismissed, Zero refused to move. Of this meeting, he got nothing out of it other than a renewed frustration of the headmaster and a still growing hatred of vampires. Torn between finding out what the true purpose of the meeting had been and helping Yuuki, he gritted his teeth in indecision.

But his decision was made easier when Suzume gently glided over to the headmaster. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on the blonde's cheek. "You are dismissed," she said, her voice showing a mixture of arrogance and contempt that only a vampire could pull off so well. She looked back at him, her features slightly hidden by the shadows, but still, Zero could see the scorn that she was trying to hide.

He growled, his own disdain for her rising. "This is not over," he hissed, before spinning on his heel and exiting the room, slamming the door closed so hard that the wall vibrated.

The air stilled to an unbreakable silence, punctured only by the occasional muffled squeals from outside the window. Suzume, unwilling to move, continued to stand in front of the headmaster, her lips ghosting over his skin, drawing a path from his cheek to his neck.

"You cause me nothing but trouble," he finally said, shattering the silence. She hummed in agreement and gently grazed her fangs against his skin, eliciting a sharp intake of breath, before stepping back.

"He shows promise." Suzume looked over her shoulder at the door as she spoke, her sapphire eyes thoughtful. "With a bit of training, he might even be able to surpass. . ." She trailed off, her finger tapping at her bottom lip

"I don't like this, you do realize that, right?" The headmaster found his way back to his chair and was now leaning back in it, surveying her with a grim expression.

"You don't like this or is it that you're afraid of his reaction?" Suzume asked lightly, walking over to his desk.

He leaned forward a bit, his chocolate orbs bleak. "The whole purpose of this school is to create a peaceful coexistence between our two kinds, but something tells me that what you wish to do will not help that purpose."

"What are you talking about, Kaien?" she asked softly as she leaned over the desk so that they were only inches apart. "This is a matter between vampires and it will stay that way."

"But you forget, Suzume," the headmaster leaning closer still, "One of them will not see it that way."

"He is naïve in his understanding, Kaien. There has been no one to guide him." Suzume tilted her head slightly, looking at him through thick lashed. "But he will see, eventually. He will grow to understand."

"We will see," he said, displeased, but in a corner. He let out a small sigh, knowing he really had no other choice, but didn't move away. "The only reason I'm letting you run amuck in my school is because of him." His tone softened as he continued. "But even I have boundaries, Suzume, and I will not permit even you to cross them. Remember, to the one you are going against, I owe much to and I will end this if it gets too far."

A sad smirk crossed her face as she answered. "I know," she murmured, "But you must also remember that nothing is as it seems. We are vampires, Kaien. Manipulating is a second nature to us." She brought a pale finger to his lips and gently pressed against them. "What you see is never what really is. Our whole existence thrives on secrets.

"Still, I know only of what I know," the headmaster stated, his deep brown eyes smoldering. "And that is what I base my decisions on. I understand the nature of a vampire. I wasn't trained as a vampire hunter for nothing, but a debt is a debt and I do owe much to your opponent, though a vampire he is."

A cheerless chuckle escaped Suzume's lips. "You are so much like him," she whispered, her tone laced with a sense of loss and slight confusion. She brushed her fingers against the frame of the headmaster's glasses before slowly sliding them off, her eyes never leaving his. There was no protest from him as she gently set them on the desk. "Honorable to a fault."

"Not quite," he murmured as a pale hand cupped his cheek, tangling its pale fingers into his blonde hair. "I've done a lot of things to ensure this peace, peace that he wanted, and not all of them are honorable." He turned his head so his lips met the palm of her hand, closing his eyes at the same time. "You really miss him don't you?" he remarked, his words meeting the palm her hand.

"You could say that," she answered, "but I know you do, too."

Kaien opened his eyes, looking sideways at the vampire, the dark brown showing all the irony he felt. "If that's what you insist on believing in," he said in an offhand-ish manner, "then I have no intention of opposing you."

Hurt flashed across Suzume's face as she withdrew her hand and hopped off the mahogany desk. She looked down as she straightened the skirt to her day class uniform and when she looked up again, a cold smile was in place. Still, the pain of his words showing plainly in her eyes, deep blue usually devoid of emotion burning with contempt.

"I think I should go now, Headmaster," she said icily as she dipped into a semi-curtsy. "It's growing dark and I wouldn't want to break any rules on my first day, now would I?" Suzume made her exit, not bothering for an answer, but as she turned the doorknob, she stopped, her cold expression melting away. She pulled open the door in a somewhat reluctant manner, the door silently swinging open on its well oiled hinges.

"If you hate him so much, Kaien, then why don't you hate me?" The door swung shut on her last words and the fading echoes of shoes against tiles made its way through the wooden structure as she moved farther away.

"I don't hate him," the blonde answered to the empty room, his lips twisting into a bitter smile, "and hating you is virtually impossible. If I did, I'd be sent to hell and back just so I can be sent again." He sighed tiredly she leaned back in his chair again. What exactly had he gotten himself into?

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In the Sun dorm, velvet curtains parted, a pale hand holding onto the soft material, silver eyes peering out. On the right, a mass of students surrounded the gates that guarded the Moon dorm as the night students finally made their appearance. On the left, a petite girl with flowing white hair walked along the pathway that led from the main school building to the Sun dorm.

The silver eyes twinkled with amusement as a pair of dice fell from long slender fingers and fell onto a wood table with a crash that seemed louder than it really was.

"So now, the games really begin."

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And that's all for now. I know nothing really happened, but I had to set up for the main event (whatever it might be). I hoped you liked it. The chapter ended up more intimate than I expected, but ah well. Review and tell me what you think!