Yuki sighed as she picked at her school lunch, staring at her adopted brother's back as his leagues of followers surrounded him at an overstuffed circular table in the courtyard just outside the cafeteria.

It was nearing the third year since she had fallen into the silver haired prefect's shadow- since Zero had changed.

Before they had entered school he had been gruff, sharp, and constantly grumpy but then, just before school term started and his birthday had just passed, she'd seen a sharp shift- where once only deadly glares and icy remarks had been now lay smirks that invited mischief and smooth invitations delivered with a snake-like charm.

She hadn't seen how his freshman year went because he was a year above her but she could only imagine as she and their adoptive father had often found him in his room or dorm room with various companions in various states of undress.

A year later she entered school and quickly realized her adoptive brother held the hearts of the whole student body in his hands- well, maybe not the Night Class, but the Day Class frequently clung to him with an unnatural fervor.

"Staring at Kiryu-kun again, Yuki-chan?" Yori teased beside her and Yuki dropped her spoon in shock, splattering mashed potatoes across her uniform tie.

She blushed and made to deny but thought better- she knew well that she was an open book to most people.

"Don't worry, Yuki-chan. They might have his attention during school hours, but you get to spend the nights with him." Yori comforted with a teasing quirk of her lips and Yuki blushed furiously.

"Nngh, Yori-chan! Don't say that so loud!" She paused, grumbling, "I still have bruises from when Kimiko-senpai and her gang cornered me."

Yori shrugged, "I don't know why you didn't hit them back, according to Kiryu-kun they like to be spanked."

Yuki gaped at the slightly taller blond who had her nose in a school textbook across from her and was only pulled away as uproarious laughter came from the courtyard through the door which lay cracked slightly open.

Yuki sighed, "I just miss how it was before…"

She frowned, her brows furrowing as she chided herself for her comment.

She should be happy for Zero! He had friends now, and he was happy! Sure, she wasn't his only friend any more and his attention was now taken up by others, but she was still the only person he would make time for.

Yori hummed and Yuki sighed, casting her eyes down at her forgotten meal as the lunch bell rang, summoning the Day Class back to their classes.

She followed Yori to their history class after dumping her food, her eyes trained on Zero as he stood and was followed by his groupies as he left in the opposite direction for his junior level calculus class.

He caught her gaze briefly as he cocked his head to the side, tossing her a wave and a grin as he left, making the girls in front of Yuki swoon like it was for them.

She sighed- at least she would have him for prefect duties.


Classes passed uneventfully and the hours before dusk were spent with her head in her school books as Yori helped her with her physics homework in their shared dorm room.

As usual, she was running late as she rushed for the Night Class gates, righting her prefect band as she was greeted by a swarm of screaming Day Class girls (and a few boys) as they flooded the gates (as usual, only on her side as Zero's side was made up of his fans who only came to stare at him until they were forced back to their dorms till dawn).

"Form a line!" She whistled, shoving her way through the throngs of simpering Day Class fans to the front of the gates and recklessly smacking them back with both arms.

"You just want them to yourself, Cross!" One of them screeched angrily.

"Yeah, why don't you share, Cross-chan?" Another purred and she gaped at them.

The gates fell open then and her side fell into a sharp line to please the Night Class, sending Yuki to a harsh landing on the dusty ground.

On the other side of the walk she could hear Zero's side complaining at his absence.

"Is he with Nadashinko-chan again?"

"What do you expect, she is his favorite."

"I don't know why, all she does is scream. Gives me a headache."

"Don't be a hypocrite, Akane-chan. After he works you I'm lucky if I can hear the next day at all."

"No, I saw him with Kaori-senpai an hour ago."

"Kaori-senpai? I thought she was too good for us."

"Not anymore if what I heard is correct."

On her side, Aido had stopped to entertain much to the Night Class' irritation while Kaname had stopped to help her up.

"T-thank y-you, Kaname-senpai!" Yuki stuttered as he ruffled her hair affectionately, his wine colored gaze warm and soft as she smiled back up at him.

"Who does that bitch think she is?!"

Yuki looked away at Zero's side where the voice had come from, sharp with vitriol.

Just beyond them Zero appeared, Kaori-senpai clinging to his sleeve with a pout, her clothes askew and hair a tangle. Her lips were swollen and her skin reddened, small bruises dotting her collar, her eyes petulant and dark as she trailed close to Yuki's adoptive brother.

Zero smirked at his hanger-on before sending her on her way and leaving her with a frown.

Kaori didn't move toward the crowd, instead frowning at his back.

Her lips moved but Yuki couldn't make out the words from the squeals Aido was drawing from his fans.

The Night Class appeared to hear perfectly well however, several notable members stilling in shock, jaws dropping in surprise, as did Zero's side of the walkway and they all turned to gape at the normally bratty senior Day Class girl who was pouting at Zero's back.

"Did she just-"

"She did! That cow!"

"How dare she! She hasn't been with us a week and she thinks she can call him 'Daddy'?!"

"I'm going to kill her- the whore! He's ours!"

Yuki heard those comments well enough and looked at Zero who most people had ignored in the shock.

His perfect features were contorted in a devastating show of irritation- an echo of the past expressions that he had mostly left behind. He was frustrated, displeased, but when he noticed her gaze narrowed on him he met her eyes briefly before turning on his heel and approaching Kaori and whispering in her ear softly.

The upperclassmen frowned, and looked away as he stepped away from her, turning sharply and bolting toward the Sun Dorms.

He turned back toward the path and smiled softly at his side, making two girls swoon as he made his way to where Aido still entertained Yuki's side.

"Now, now, ladies. Your idol-senpai needs to head to class. You wouldn't want his grades to suffer because he was distracted with all of your lovely compliments."

Aido pouted at the taller silver haired male as his audience nodded swiftly and dispersed back toward the Sun Dorms.

"Oy, Kiryu! I was having fun."

Zero cocked a brow down at the blonde noble, "Yes and unless you want to have fun with me during detention I suggest you head to class."

"Careful, Hanabusa. You might be calling him Daddy next." Kain snarked with a deadpan delivery as Takuma led the Night Class onwards at Kaname's signal.

Ruka cackled at her cousin's expense and Aido blushed furiously as Zero sent him a playful smirk.

"Ah, I uh, um…. I've got to go." Aido stuttered beneath the amethyst gaze of the male prefect and ran quickly after the bulk of his class.

Zero blew out a breath and Yuki balked when she realized she had forgotten Kaname's presence at her side.

"How can I help you, Kuran?"

Yuki turned her gaze up to the Night Class President and found his expression flat and eyes dark with agitation.

"Kiryu, shirking your duties again?"

"What? Going to punish me, Kuran?" Zero taunted before glancing at Yuki who frowned at the two.

The pureblood's mask fell slightly, though Zero was the only one to catch it. Zero cocked a brow in challenge and gently gripped Yuki's hand, spinning her in a circle as he stepped away from the pureblood.

"Zero!" Yuki chided as he pushed her toward the eastern half of the campus.

"I'll meet you on the roof," He promised and she swallowed with a nod, sending one cautious glance over the silver haired prefect's shoulder at the pureblood vampire who, even though his face lay in perfect calm form across his features, appeared to darken in fury as she left the two men she loved most alone together.


A/N: Thoughts? Opinions? Predictions? Feelings? Let me know below! As always, thanks for reading! :)