Warning: MalexMale relationship. End pairing not set in stone. Still quite relevantly AU and there is an OC.

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight.


The less than excited prefect had been pulled most of the way to the Chairman's office and it didn't take long before the twins were at his door. Lila knocked a few times and stood to wait, much unlike the two half-knocks she usually spared for Zero before barging in. They simply stared at the wooden door until a short and cheerful reply sprang up. "Come in~"

Zero opened the door to see Kaien Cross sitting down behind his desk, smiling at them calmly as he ushered for them to move forwards. Though his attention was immediately drawn to the extra person in the room. It was a woman who seemed to be about the same age as them; likely a new student, which meant likely showing them around, which meant likely less sleep, which he likely wouldn't like... She was currently facing Cross, so they couldn't see her face well.

But judging on what they could see of her, she was beautiful. Her long, silvered hair and her medium sized stature reminded Zero a lot of his sister, but while Lila's hair was wavy and a perfect shade of silver, this woman's hair was completely straight, kind of like his own and the shade showed a soft purple tinge.

Lila soon plastered on her polite smile, shoulders slightly straightened, and remained quiet as they waited for the mystery woman to finish her conversation with Cross. Suddenly, with a nod to the chairman, she turned to the mystified twins. She threw her own polite, though weak or tired looking smile at them and allowed the cheerful man to introduce her.

"Well, the reason I called you both here tonight is to introduce you to Cross Academy's newest student" Zero looked at her 'New student huh?' he couldn't help the weird feeling he got when she turned her silver gaze to him. He quickly looked away as Kaien continued, gesturing to the stranger.

"This is Maria Kurenai. She will be attending the night classes starting tomorrow"

At this, the twins both looked at her and Zero's thought went straight to default sulking. 'So she's a vampire?... figures…'

Lila decided she'd been quiet for too long and walked towards Maria with her hand out as an introduction.

"Hi Maria, my name's Lila." The other girl nodded and accepted the hand offered, with a soft shake, she spoke to the twins for the first time. "It's nice to meet you Lila". Before he knew it, it was his turn at introductions. Her gaze swayed towards Zero and he stood there, shoulders slumped at a loss of what to say.

"Zero Kiryu"

Though he figured eye contact was suitable and looked up at her straight on while he spoke. Just as eye contact was achieved, she advanced to him with arms extended. His eyes widened considerably when he felt her small arms wrap around him, catching the prefect off guard, with his hands in his pockets. Her arms were tight over his, shocking the usually anti-touch boy into a sort stiff, frozen state. He'd never experienced a more awkward hug in his life –and that was truly saying something for him, but she seemed satisfied as she let go and grinned softly as she took a step back to appraise him.

She was a perfect stranger, but he felt something familiar in her, he supposed. Though it could just have been the surprise attack messing with his mind. Maybe it was something about the aura she gave off. She seemed delicate, somewhat fragile even, though she had a strength about her. He figured it was that familiarity and what he could tell was a determination in her eyes. 'She's pretty much the usual noble…' Zero sighed 'I've been spending way too much time with those vampires. I'm already overanalyzing…'

Maria chuckled lightly "Really… well it's a pleasure, Zero Kiryu" The way she acted gave Zero the creeps. She was cheerful, but not in a normal way, it seemed like she was amused… 'Well at least I don't need to be around her too much-' Zero's thoughts were cut off as Cross continued.

"I'd like our prefects to show her around and help her out with whatever she may need." Zero frowned lightly '…Thanks Cross. It figures.' He was dragged from his new string of sulk as Lila happily agreed.

"Sure, sounds fun." His sister was far too peppy for Zero at the moment.

Lila turned with a wave of the hand to face Zero and Maria, having finally noticed a slight tension in the room as she saw her brother staring anxiously at nothing with a distant expression. So she decided to try and break the ice for them. "So Maria, where will you be staying until tomorrow?"

"I have a house in town, it's pretty far but I was told I don't have to be here too early, so I'll have time." Maria smiled at Lila and looked to Zero, her slender eyebrow raised. "You don't talk much do you? Nice to know."

The male Kiryu twin snapped out of whatever daze he'd purposely thrown himself into in an attempt to remain quiet, when he figured he had to respond things directed at him.

"I guess I'm just tired… I'll see you tomorrow" With that, he excused himself to go get some well-deserved rest. Maria kept her gaze on him until the door closed, obstructing her view. She looked to the ground, a calmed expression gracing her features. 'I'm glad… I'll do my best.' With that little spark of resolve, she shifted her gaze up to the other two, deciding it best to get to know them. After some more small talk, Cross sent Lila to her dorm room too and Maria left to her home.

Zero was on his way to his dorm, keeping a blank gaze forwards, focusing his thoughts on nothing in particular. Though the Academy's newest student came to mind soon enough. 'She's…odd. But you can't really judge someone for that…'

He thought of the way she looked at him and his sister, the way she talked and smiled, she held a hint of arrogance within everything she did, like she knew something they didn't.

'Well again, if I judged people like that… Maybe it's a vampire thing… stupid bloodsuckers.' With a sigh, he decided to try and give a chance to the girl he'd apparently be seeing a lot of.

Lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed someone had been approaching him until he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the silky voice he knew too well. "Zero.."

The startled prefect turned around to look at the one who'd so gently called his name and lavender eyes met dark red. "Kuran, you should be in class." Zero spoke the lines of a worthy prefect as his eyes landed on the pureblood's longing smile. 'Oh so it's the decent one now… good, I'm not in the mood for bastard Kaname'

"I was on my way to see Kaien… something we needed to talk about. Our last class was almost finished anyways. Shouldn't you be done with your prefect duties by now?" Kaname looked at him with his usual reserved demeanor before adding. "How are you Zero?" The human was surprised by the question; did Kuran know something he didn't?

'Ah, so it is a vampire thing!' Zero kept his expression trained in a slightly annoyed stare as Kaname waited for an answer.

"I was on my way to the dorms… and what do you mean 'how am I'?" It struck him that he probably wasn't looking very good right now. Hell, he was pretty sure the bags under his eyes had developed bags of their own. "Fine, I guess. Tired."

The pureblood's expression noticeably softened at receiving an answer from Zero, when he'd usually only get his question thrown back at him, though he'd gotten that too. Zero guessed he was just a bit off his 'talk-back game'.

"That's somewhat what I mean. It was nothing much Zero, you should go rest then." Kaname raised his hand to rest on Zero's cheek, realizing with disdain that he had met someone whom the pureblood would have preferred Zero had never seen. Though he mostly felt the sting of noticing the silverette stiffen a bit at his touch.

"Well what's up with the chairman then? You're going to see him now huh?" Kaname smiled, seeing as Zero hadn't pushed his hand away.

"… Just discussing certain things" At this, Kaname leaned in to give a quick peck to the human's forehead "Have a goodnight's sleep Zero" Though he disappeared down the walkway before the prefect could react brashly. This meant that Zero was left to frown heavily at the ground as he continued his own path, grumbling internally and resisting the urge to raise a hand to his forehead.

'Who the hell does he think he is? Treating me like I'm some five year old you can't tell anything to! It's obvious it was something important.' Zero got to his dorm more tired than he should have been… Way more, in fact. He actually felt drowsy, not just the general tired that wouldn't get him any sleep, just tossing and turning on the bed. He took a short shower and dragged his feet to the bed before crashing down on it and dosing off instantly. A true first for him.


The male pureblood arrived at Kaien Cross' office immersed in a sort of high. He would've skipped a few times on the way had he not been, well, Kaname Kuran. When he entered through the already open door, he was met with the Chairman's unusually calm gaze.

"Kaname, glad you could make it." The brunette nodded and took a seat in the plush chair in front of the chairman's desk.

"What is it you needed to talk about?" He asked out of courtesy, as he already had an idea about what this was about and wanted explanations.

"Well, I had to inform you that we'll be having a new student in the night class" Kaname raised an eyebrow at this unveiled affirmation, replying slight irritation in his voice. "Then why wasn't I informed of this before?" Kaien grinned sheepishly.

"It was very sudden and normally it takes a while to have everything sorted out but the family was surprisingly efficient so it was done much sooner than expected" Kaien stood up and took out a file from his desk drawer and handed it to Kaname. "Her name is Maria Kurenai"

His slim hands took the file and flipped it open as he looked it over. 'Hmm… Noble vampire…sickly from time to time…doesn't have any records of misbehaving…' The pureblood had gotten the usual feeling that came to him when something shady was happening; a sort of foreshadowing anxiety mixed with annoyance that kept him awake through the nights and invaded the back of his mind at random intervals. He was pretty sure of what this hurried change had to do with, since only one person could make him as worried as this and the timing seemed about right. But what he wasn't sure of was exactly how troublesome this Kurenai girl would prove to be… Why couldn't they just handle their business directly?

'Or it could just be a coincidence.' Kaname's narrowed eyes examined the papers, looking for anything that would raise any flags.

"What's her reason for attending here?" Though the pureblood figured that if it was them, they would lie when asked anyway. He continued reading over the details when Kaien looked back up at him to answer. He'd sat down to sign a few papers while waiting for Kaname to finish reading the large file.

"Her family said they wanted her living in a safe environment, since many noble vampires looked down on her because of her health problems. They heard of the reputation of the night class in cross academy, led by the pureblood Kaname Kuran, so she was sent here." Kaien stood from his chair and walked towards the brunette who'd just finished reading -or rather, skimming. Kaname handed the file to the chairman. "I did not get any bad vibes if that's what you're thinking. And you know I'm very thorough." The chairman grinned as he gestured to the impressive new-student folder.

"When will she be arriving here?" He looked at kaien who was grinning sheepishly again "… tomorrow…you don't have to worry, she's a very well behaved girl..."

"Well, something seems odd about this… But I'll allow it, seeing as despite her health, Miss Kurenai has always maintained quite impressive grades. And it would be good for this school to have other noble vampire families, like the Kurenais, attending here." The pureblood stood up and was on his way to the door when Kaien smiled once more and chose to add a last bit of information.

"So I'm having Zero and Lila show her around tomorrow". Kaname stopped in his tracks. "Why? That isn't necessary," He spoke slowly, barely hiding the annoyed tone his voice had taken. Kaien made a rather exaggeratedly confused expression, knowing that, for whatever reason, Kaname Kuran always had a problem with him assigning their prefects to help anyone he didn't run his own form of background check on.

"Well…It would be nice if she knew where she was going wouldn't it? Zero and Lila are prefects after all. And they're very capable-'

"Very" Kaname cut him off and didn't leave Kaien much time to wonder why he'd agreed so easily. "Since they are so capable, why is there a need to have both of them showing her around? She is going to be with the night-class taking lessons most of her time anyways."

Kaien looked at him and smiled in purposefully displayed understanding. "You have a point…"

The pureblood held a charming, triumphant smile "I knew you'd see it my way" Kaien bid him out and as the door closed, he added a final affirmation, "I'll have Zero show her around, then."

Kaname stood, alone in the hallway '…Damn'

He begrudgingly made his way to greet the night class back at their dorms, seeing as the final class had been ending when he'd left.


Zero dreamt of several things that momentous night in which he'd finally gotten a full eight hours of sleep. A seemingly never ending skit show of completely unrelated scenes played vividly in his subconscious. In one, he'd arrived at a large luxurious mansion, apparently his new home. He'd been extremely impressed by its beauty, but chose not to set foot inside and simply walked beside it, to the backyard, where a large pool and immense gardens awaited him. As soon as he stood beside it, he jumped in. The water was clear enough that even deep under it, the bright sun directly above him, was completely visible. But he took notice of nothing and climbed out, only to jump back in, and again and again. The pool got smaller as he continued letting himself fall into it. And at one, final fall, time slowed. He noticed a various things during that long moment. The sun was gone and the night was dark, no moon to speak of. There was a rusted fence running along the edge of the pool, dividing this now barren yard from a deserted asphalt road. Though most important was the change of this luxurious pool awaiting his fall; it was now small, with jagged edges. One of which his head was approaching ever so slowly. Time sped again. He was off to the next dream.

A fishing trip with his parents, Cross and his horrid cooking. Lila riding a tiger. A usual school day with absent conversations, the night class turning into cats- he'd adopted the now Abyssinian Kaname and Ragdoll Yuki.* and had just been about to pick up their new belled collars when-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

"What the hell?" He sprang up on his bed, turning a furious gaze to the small device that was now invading his desk, then to his twin sister sitting next to it. Lila was smiling proudly. "Zero! Check it out" She signaled to the annoying beeping thing with what to him was extremely misplaced pride.

"Got you an alarm!" She herself was apparently already irritated by having to scream over it as she quickly leaned to turn it off. "So I won't have to wake you up. Great, isn't it? You can set it to a good time too" Zero huffed, got up from the bed and walked towards it with all the intention of throwing it out the window. Lila crossed her legs, picking up the alarm to cradle it protectively, a small frown on her face. "Oh come on, I was just trying to make both our lives easier. And I spent good money on this." She noticed her brother hadn't slowed down one bit, his eyes shooting glares which spelt death for the poor machine.

"Chairman said it was a good idea! He gave me permission to go get it… uhm, it's just and alarm but he was very excited about it. You wouldn't want him storming in here in tears!" Zero had paused with his hand on the alarm. He seemed to debate it in his mind before sighing and choosing to grumble his way to the bathroom. He really was in need of a warm shower… again. Lila also sighed, though with relief, when she saw the death grip loosen. As her brother entered the bathroom, she placed the small alarm back at her side.

"Hmm… Maybe I should set it to go off to radio… It's much better that way." She got off the desk and kneeled to start working on it. Though soon she found that she couldn't figure it out, so she gave it up with a sigh. "Guess fate's not on his side…" Lila chuckled at that, then she left to wait for Zero at the front of the boy's dorm.

The day classes went on, ending, uneventfully. Since Zero'd been excused of his prefect duties after school, he was on his way to the spot where Cross told him to meet with Maria Kurenai.

When he'd exited the shower, Lila informed him that Kaname had suggested to Cross that Zero be the only one to show her around and help her out. The prefect frowned, 'Thanks a lot, Kuran… And to think I adopted him.' He referred to the last dream he'd had, the only one which he even vaguely remembered, and continued his bitter thoughts as he got to the meeting spot and Maria was nowhere to be seen.

At some point during his wait for the girl, who seemed to be taking her sweet time, he'd started grumbling his thoughts out loud. "Who does he think he is? So that's why he was so nice… that bastard" He heard a small giggle which broke his rant. "Who's made you so mad, Zero?" The mellifluous voice had a sort of relaxing effect on him now. Though it was double-edged, seeing as that aforementioned vampire thing made him feel like she knew more about him than he did. Zero turned around and saw the beautiful Maria Kurenai, standing just a few feet from him. Zero looked at her with a small, polite smile, trying his best to soften his default narrowed eyes. He said he'd give her a chance and he will.

"Let's get started with the tour"


*Abyssinian and Ragdoll are cat breeds. :)