Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight. '^_^


Aido winced, rubbing the side of his head. "I swear that girl was trying to kill me…" he moaned with a self-pitying grimace.

"I almost wish she did," Kain replied dryly, drawing a murderous look from his idiotic cousin. "It's your fault we're here, so deal with it."

Zero watched their exchange with silent amusement, whist the two nobles and the ex-human made their way back to him.

"Gold!" Hitomi exclaimed, smiling widely. "Oh, don't look so scared, you'll do fine!"

Zero nodded, throat feeling dry.

"Zero, I'm afraid I'll have to interrupt another of your assessments," a silky voice spoke behind him, and Zero turned so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. Sure enough, it was the pureblood. He must have been masking his aura, because he was totally unreadable under Zero's renewed suppressing charm.

"Lord Kaname!" the three other vampires exclaimed, seemingly just as surprised by his presence as Zero.

"Ah, Hitomi! It's nice to see you again. I hope you're getting along okay," Kaname said warmly.

"Of course Kaname! It's all thanks to you," she replied.

Zero noticed that she had left out the 'lord' when she addressed him the second time. From the way they spoke, they did indeed seem like close friends. What was this crafty demon up to? Zero had only known Hitomi for a little while, but he now found himself feeling quite protective of her. He hated how this pureblood was stringing her along, but found that he no longer felt mad at Hitomi for having affection towards the man. He was extremely genuine in the way he chatted with the pretty ex-human, in the way he smiled. It was always hard to fake a smile, something about the eyes always gave it away. But this Kaname Kuran somehow managed to spread a false warmth into his beautiful, sparkling garnet eyes. He was a pro, Zero thought, because the alternative was impossible. A pureblood prince couldn't really care about an inferior ex-human… could he?

"I'm glad you and Zero seem to have become friends, I have to admit I was a little worried about him," Kaname turned to smile in his direction. "Actually, it's you I'm here to see, Mr. Matsuda. If you have a moment, would you mind coming with me?"

"I haven't taken my assessment yet…" Zero said, feeling the usual distrust he felt around high bloods, as well as a strange flutter in his stomach as the pureblood had smiled at him. He wasn't certain what the feeling meant, but guessed it was something to do with his hunter senses. For some unknown reason, his face also felt quite warm.

"That doesn't really matter, Zero. I will explain if you have time to come with me."

"Of course, Lord Kaname," Zero replied. Kaname smiled again before gesturing for Zero to follow him.

"Ooh, maybe he wants to make you a vampire knight!" Hitomi laughed, waving as Zero fell into step a respectful distance behind the pureblood.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you again," Kaname began as they left the assessment centre. "I wouldn't have done so if I didn't find it necessary. It is nice to see that you look to be in much better health than when we last talked. I assume you have been assigned a blood source?"

"Yes. Me and Hitomi have been asked to share blood," Zero said, feeling extremely uncomfortable at the prospect of small talk with a pureblood. He felt some small swirls of Kaname's aura and they seemed to be pretty neutral, so he doubted very much that the pureblood had cottoned on to his real reasons for being in the capital. But for some reason the prospect of just being near the man made him feel uncomfortable.

"Ah, yes. You're lucky. She's a wonderful girl, and she's very loyal to her friends," the pureblood answered. For some reason this response sparked a small flame of jealousy in Zero, and it surprised him. He liked Hitomi, but had no particularly strong feelings for her. Perhaps it was just because she really was a sweet person and he didn't like the idea of a manipulative pureblood pursuing her.

As they walked and made awkward (to Zero, in any case) small talk, the young hunter couldn't help but notice that they were heading into an even grander part of the city. These vampires certainly liked to flaunt their wealth. Each building seemed to have a large intricate façade, each one an exquisite work of art and entirely unique. Zero knew that he was gawking like the country boy that he was, but he didn't feel like he could help it.

Kaname smiled at the ex-human's obvious awe. "The scenery is probably a little gaudier than the camp of those malicious hunters. But don't worry, you're among friends now." This comment elicited a sardonic snort from Zero, which he hastily concealed behind a cough.

"In actual fact, that is why I require your presence. You know more than anyone else in this city what lies in the hunter camp. Kidnapping you has been their biggest mistake. We'll make them pay for their poor treatment of you," Kaname's voice was surprisingly tough. It was the first time the pureblood had displayed an obvious show of emotion that Zero found plausible. After all, the hunter camp had gone out of their way to make themselves a pain for the high bloods.

This news did not bode well for Zero or Master Yagari's plan. He was going to have to keep a level head if he was to stand up to the close scrutiny that Lord Kuran was obviously planning for him. It had neverbeen his aim to come to the attention of any high bloods, let alone the bloody pureblood prince.

Really, what were the odds?

"Sorry, my Lord, but I'm not sure if I can be of much help. I'll do my best to answer your questions though," Zero said, hoping that he was convincing the older vampire.

"I'm very sorry if I will be forcing you to relive painful memories, but it's the only way to ensure that those vile hunters don't harm anyone else of our kind," Kaname said with steel in his voice, effectively ending the discussion for now.

The pair walked the rest of the way in silence that was somehow worse than the small talk. He knew that he should be panicking around now, kicking his brain into overtime to create believable responses that would be convincing without giving away too much, but for some reason Zero wasn't too worried. Even though Zero believed Kaname had ulterior motives for his kindness to low bloods, it was still obvious that he was no ordinary pureblood, and Zero didn't feel as frightened around him as he probably should. He once again found himself wondering why the man acted like he did. Shizuka killed for fun, hunted humans and tortured ex-humans but she hadn't ever pretended she was anything less than an evil, sadistic bitch. Perhaps the way Kaname acted simply made him even more dangerous, calming his prey until they willingly walked into the den of the beast.

Zero's musings were interrupted as they rounded another corner to come into sight of a magnificent building, even larger and more elaborately constructed than the surrounding architecture. Zero realised that he was gawping again, and hurriedly followed the pureblood as he ascended the steps before his palace. The thick oaken doors opened before the prince, and Zero scurried after the pureblood feeling humbled by the size of the entrance hall. How could he and his tiny group of hunters tear all this down? It seemed impossible.

Kaname led Zero through many hallways and up a few flights of stairs before stopping. "In this room is my adviser Takuma Ichijo. He is also my tactician and he will be asking you questions to help us learn more about the hunters. If you feel uncomfortable talking about anything, please let me know. I really don't want to force you into anything, but at the same time I feel that learning what you know is necessary," Kaname's ruby gaze was concerned.

"Oh, thank you, Lord Kaname. I understand," Zero said.

Kaname walked a few more paces and opened the door for Zero, making the ex-human feel that the gesture had been performed back to front. Zero entered into yet another richly appointed room that contained a large mahogany table and a rather amiable looking noble vampire.


Aido escorted Hitomi to the gold grade training arena, leaving Kain to grade the rest of the waiting vampires with the unfortunate Shiki, who had only popped in to relay a message and had instead been recruited by Kain.

He couldn't help sneaking glances at the pretty level 'D. She may have beaten the crap out of him, but she was still very attractive and Aido was certainly not above copping a glimpse now and then. He was considering making a move on her, but wasn't sure if he should. It was obvious that she and Kaname had a history, and the pureblood had never been the sort of person to broadcast his affections for someone, even to his friends. What if the pureblood had a thing for her? Aido would be a permanent punching bag for the army recruits if he started chatting up a girl Kaname had his eye on. Aido knew that as an ex-human that she would never be anything more than a thrall for Kaname, but purebloods were notoriously possessive of their lovers.

"Um, Aido? Wasn't that the gold grade training area back there?" Hitomi's voice shook him from his daydreams. Aido blushed as he realised that she was right. He had been so caught up inside of his head that he had led her straight past their destination.

"Oh yeah, you're right," Aido said, turning back.

"Wow, you're a great guide," Hitomi laughed, forcing his face to colour even more. Even though he rather fancied her, Aido was beginning to become a little annoyed with her too.

"It's not my fault!" Aido blurted. "You're the one who distracted me!"

"How did I distract you?" Hitomi asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I- I don't… Shut up!" Aido huffed petulantly, his face now a deep shade of crimson. "If you know the way then you can go yourself."

With that the young noble stalked off. Hitomi shook her head and hid a smile behind her hand. He was so easily flustered, and so transparent! Trying not to laugh at his foolishness, or at least not until he was out of earshot, she made her way to the Gold grade training arena on her own.


Zero hugged the corded muscles of Lily's neck as she speed across the dusty ground, jouncing him back and forth in his saddle as they raced to the fringes of the forest.

He felt a little dazed. He had never left his home of the hunter camp for most of his life, and now after only two days at the capital city he had been elevated to a gold grade palace soldier. Nothing was as it seemed at Nine-orchids, and he felt confused. He was not ready to let go of his long held preconceptions after only forty-eight hours, but neither could he pretend that he had been right in all of his prejudices.

For whatever reason ex-humans were treated with a kind of indifference that had surprised him. He had expected that he would have to deal with some harsh and perhaps even violent discrimination, and while it was clear that some people, such as the blonde Aido, were not comfortable with the status of level 'Ds, most of the vampires had been nothing other than pleasant.

He could not pretend that it was all fake; Kyoko and Hitomi had no discernable reason to deceive him. Neither did Lord Kuran need to act like he did. Purebloods could do whatever they wanted and still be respected solely because of the status their blood brought them. Zero just didn't understand Kaname, or why he acted the way he did. Every moment he had spent in the enigmatic man's company had only served to baffle him even more.

In the meeting he had had with Kaname the pureblood had been very compassionate, which was the main reason Zero's head still remained on his shoulders. When the questions he was asked became more dangerous for him, Zero had been able to blame emotional distress for his cloudy answers. He had still made sure to give them all the information that Yagari had assured him it was safe to reveal, and hopefully it was enough to ensure that they would trust him.

He had been absolutely astounded when Kaname had taken him aside after the meeting and asked him if he wanted to train to become a gold grade soldier. The pureblood had said that Zero's information was extremely important, and that as the only sole surviving vampire to escape the hunter camp it would be good to have him close at hand.

Zero still couldn't believe his luck. Yagari had wanted him to get close to the pureblood without drawing too much attention to himself, and although he had failed on the latter big time, he had still gotten closer to the pureblood than they had thought possible.

Lily's strong hoof beats began to slow as she came closer to her home. The hunter camp was just ahead, and she cantered to the entrance without being directed. As they made their way through the trees the moonlight allowed Zero's keen vision to make out the tents and structures of the camp. Although he had known what he would find, it was still quite sad to see the place that he knew as home in such a state. The tents had been taken down and furled into large canvas rolls, and the wooden structures had been emptied. Hunters were loading up wagons with the supplies taken from the shanty buildings, and draping bulging saddle bags over their horses backs.

Zero dismounted Lily and led her the rest of the way. After all, the mare was going to have to carry his weight all the way to the settlement within another few hours. She deserved a rest.

"There's a vampire nearby!" Zero heard one of the hunters exclaim, obviously alerted by his senses. "Zero? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me!" Zero called back, recognising the voice of Junpei, one of the older hunters. There was a rough sound and then a torch sprang to life, illuminating both the other hunters and the young vampire. "Where is Master Yagari?"

"He's up at his old place. I think he's having regrets, even though this whole bloody thing was his idea," Junpei said grumpily, slinging the rolled up canvas that used to be his home over the back of his huge roan stallion.

Zero released Lily's reigns, letting her trot over to the water trough that the hunters had made for their mounts. She was a strong horse, but Zero knew it would be hard for her to take him all the way back in time for sunrise. He walked down the shanty village, watching it be disassembled with mixed emotions. This was his home and it would be sad to see it go, but there was also excitement swirling within him. Finally the hunters would rise up against those that had wronged them, at last they would have their revenge.

Yagari was indeed back at his old house, but Zero had some serious doubts that his master was feeling sentimental. He was removing his hunter charmed guns and weapons from the small shack that had been the biggest house Zero had known until recently. Yagari seemed to be truly happy, and his eyes held a strong current of satisfaction. Zero knew that his master had been looking forward to taking action for a long time, and suddenly felt a burst of inadequacy. The hunters were moving their entire camp in the hopes that he would succeed for them. What if he failed?

"Ah, Zero! You're earlier than I expected!" Yagari said, fairly radiating excitement. "How are those bloodsuckers treating you?"

Zero relayed everything that had happened to his master, watching his face flicker from emotion to emotion. After he had finished Yagari was wearing a frown.

"I hope you're not going soft on me, Zero. You of all people should know what those freaks are capable of."

Zero felt his cheeks heat. "I never said that, Master Touga. I was only saying that they treat my kind a lot better than you told me they would. And the girl Hitomi is very strong. You would like her if you met her, master."

"How could I like any of those bloodsucking bastards?" Yagari shouted. A few of the hunters that were packing up nearby turned at the loud exclamation.

Zero was outraged at the outburst, but he also felt deeply ashamed. He had been treated so kindly by the vampires at Nine-Orchids that he had almost forgotten what he was. He was an abomination, and he was wrong to think that he ever deserved to be anything more.

Yagari sighed and ran his hands through his hair, which he had left naked tonight. His hat was in the pile he had gathered outside his ramshackle house.

"I didn't mean that Zero. You're different from them. You have hunter blood in you, and a high resistance to the vampire genes that you were infected with. You're one of a kind, and I could never think of you as one of those monsters," Yagari finished, the mirth he had shown when Zero had first caught sight of him was gone.

Zero wasn't sure if this comment made him feel better or worse. He had always been uncomfortable about his dual natures, and had suffered some harsh comments from the other hunters. Yagari had always been the one who had stuck up for him, and it had been extremely upsetting to think that deep down even the elder hunter was disgusted by what he was.

"I'm sorry, Zero," Yagari said, voice hoarse. "I just don't want you to lose sight of why you are at Nine-Orchids."

Zero looked up, stunned. Even though Yagari had raised him for most of his life, he had never heard the hunter apologise. Maybe it was just that his emotions were running high that had prompted his comment. Zero hoped so.

Yagari bent and rummaged through the carefully assorted pile of weapons, finally selecting one of the guns before straightening. He held it out, causing its barrel to gleam a liquid silver in the moonlight.

"This is the Bloody Rose," Yagari said as Zero grasped the handle of the proffered gun. "I've watched you practise often enough and I'm certain you will handle it correctly. You're one hell of a good aim, and thanks to your good work and a huge dose of luck, it seems that this whole thing will be over before it even started."

"What do you mean?" Zero asked, his delight in gaining the beautifully crafted weapon suddenly dissolved.

"What do you think I mean?" Yagari said, that excited edge present in his voice again. "You've gotten closer to the pureblood than we had ever imagined. We don't have to wait any longer, Zero. Purebloods aren't easily killed, but with your skill and that idiot's trusting nature, the ruling vampire could be dead in weeks, maybe even days!"

Zero felt his stomach turn to ice. He had of course known this day would come, but it had happened so suddenly. He felt afraid for himself; only an idiot would face a pureblood without fear, but he also felt a reluctance that's source was harder to pinpoint.

"I'm not sure if I trust in myself as much as you do, Master Toga. But I'll do my best."

"Of course you will, and you'll do great! But just in case things don't happen as fast as we need them to, we'll be moving our camp deeper into the forest. We'll send a scout to lead you to our new settling place, so try to be back here at the same time next week."

Zero nodded. "When I told them the location of our camp, Kuran said he would muster a small force to investigate within two days. Can you be a safe distance away by then?"

"Of course, Zero. Now, you'd better be getting back before someone notices your absence."

Zero nodded solemnly, tucking the Bloody Rose in underneath his coat.

Yagari ruffled his hair fondly. "Be careful, Zero."

"You too," Zero said, and walked back to the trough to get Lily. She had wandered only a few steps from where he had left her, cropping the grass around the forest edge. He patted her back, and then pulled himself up into the saddle. Lily was reluctant to leave after being reunited with her old home, but he finally got her to carry him back toward the human settlement.

The gun hidden under his coat felt like a lead weight. Zero had never killed anyone before, apart from an escaped level 'E that had crept close to their camp. One bullet had ended the poor, insane beast's miserable excuse for a life, but as the person had already fallen into madness it was very different. Zero thought of the silky hair and garnet eyes of his victim, and wondered if he had the guts to end the life of such a beautiful creature.

As Lily's hooves once again picked up their swift gait Zero realised he was being extremely optimistic. Even if he had the courage to pull the trigger, there were overwhelming odds that he would be dead before the bullet had even travelled half a centimetre. Purebloods had a fierce reputation for a reason, and even though he didn't choose show it, the same power lay under Kaname Kuran's creamy skin.

Zero felt uneasy and torn as Lily sped into the night.


Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think!

Constructive criticism is welcomed. =3