A/N: I am so very sorry everyone for waiting this long to post the next chapter. My life is hectic I can't make any promises about a regular update schedule as of now but luckily I have already written the next couple of chapters so look for them in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for the reviews and those of who are still with me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight, this is just for fun.

Believe me, if I didn't Kaname and Zero would be leaving the bedroom ;)

All mistakes are mine.

P.S: Zero is not and Gloom anymore,maybe just a little, but has little more pep in his step*trying to picture that* and Kaname finally appears :D

Hope you enjoy ^_^

Chapter 3: Vigor

Dawn was fast approaching. The sun's beams warmed Zero's exhaustedly numb and wary body. The snow's decent from the troubled cloudy sky, was leisurely and indolent very unlike the creature laying on the ground. After an uncertain amount of time, Zero slowly rose to his feet. He only gets one day a year to pathetically sob out his troubles and haunting memories. In reality, Zero was walking time bomb of emotions, his protective façade, his armor, little by little, was wearing away at what little self- esteem he held. Zero wiped of the snow from his clothes and the last of his tears. He looked down at the grave, he so desired wouldn't exist. Zero removed his leather gloves and put them his coat pocket. Slowly lifting his hand to the Headstone, he whispered so softly , an incantation in the Hunter's forgotten tongue, voice filled with a new determination and vigor to fulfill his promise to his late parents. As he whispered the ancient incantation, he closed his eyes as his power flowed throughout him, the Headstones inscriptions glowed a hue of violet. The hue slowly creped to encompass the damaged headstone and it continued to stretch beyond. Along the small graveyard, damaged stone walls guarded the boundary and the rusted gates swung loosely from their hinges at the entrance way. In this poorly maintained graveyard, lay many forgotten beings from every walk of life, with different untold stories. The colored mist hummed with empathy stretching across this forsaken sleeping place. The snow slowly melted away and its contents seeped slowly into the soil. Revealing hidden grave stones, dead grass, wilted flowers and leaves. The over hang of the hibernating trees weak breaches lay like arms criss- crossing protecting what was left of this sad place. The mist covered the landscape, with a molding of bright the hue and vibrant energy till only the outlines of their forms showed and glowed lilac.

Zero's hand trembled as his dormant power flowed out around him and his eyebrows furrowed down, making his skin wrinkle on his forehead in concentration. His breathing becoming labored and his heartbeat slowly increasing. In Zero's mind, he saw the eternal life of the ecosystem, the cores of the living organisms and the untouched innocents and simplicity of the life cycles processes in pure white stands interconnected together. He gathered his energy and integrated the outside power into the invisible ones. Pushing, surging and attaching them together like DNA, becoming one.

Countless minutes passed, as the mist shimmered and vibrated like a whimsical song. Zero's violet energy was consumed into the outlined forms that once glowed the beautiful hue and slowly disappeared only to reveal an eternal life of this once sad forgotten place. An eternal beauty that he had only seen in his dreams, a younger version of himself with other children playing in a mystical garden maze. Once that hue was gone, it revealed in the dawn light, the captivating serenity.

Zero looked upon the graveyard with a new found hope and vigor for life. Zero's senses were heighten, eyes glowing violet as his power slowly receded back into his dormant core. His sleeve covered the faint glow of the birthmark like tattoo of the ancient emblem that belonged to the imperial family, the mark that was sacred and one could only obtain by royal birth from the chosen Imperial family. It signified the status and importance of one of the heirs. The birthmark would fade and only activate , once again, when an heir was awakened from their hidden slumber.

The scene of winter was gone, melted away, removed by the wealth of spring. The air was crisp and fresh with the scent of pollen, insects crawled through the green grass, the mix of different trees and different colored leaves and roots renewed to last another hundred years. Zero absorbed the vitality of the pure essence of his affinity. The pathetic and simple rusted gate was now a tall grand entrance with intertwining iron work, the cracked and crumbling headstones were new as the day they were carved, the stone wall the surrounded this resting place was reinforced and the years of wear gone, stood tall, white and solid.

Zero was happy and he was proud of himself. He was trembling from the loss of power, his body needed to recover, emotionally and physically. This took more out of him then he originally thought. He was vulnerable now and he couldn't afford to be; not with Yuki so close. But he was happy, really happy . The extra training he had put into learning to control his new power with nature had paid off. Zero looked up at the shimmering dome that covered the cemetery that he could only see; it protected the new life from the frigid winter that awaited him outside his little serenity. He reached into his pocket and took out his gloves, gingerly putting them at his hands shook. He slowly walked to the entrance and pulled the gate open, walked out and shut the gate behind him.

His eyes were not glowing anymore, nor his birthmark he didn't know existed .The familiar crunch of the snow was apparent as he walked back to his bike. Zero swung his bike over and ignited the engine. The ride back to the Cross Academy was smooth and untroubled. He felt at peace with himself and relaxed ; not rigid or stiff. He parked his bike in the student garages and made his way across campus to the Headmasters house. The clock tower read 9:30 AM , he missed escorting the Night Class back to the Moon dorms. Good. He didn't have to deal with Kuran's constant unnerving annoying stare. Asshole.

The Headmaster and his Master knew where he went and that he didn't want any company today. Of course, Yuki didn't know the details but she wasn't stupid . She could be an air-head most of the time but she was observant and respected his privacy and space, never pressured him for any information. He was grateful for that.

Zero walked passed a couple of a girls huddled around in a circle (to tired tell them to get to class) they stared at him and started to giggle and worse, blush.

Perfect , he thought sardonically and glared coldly as a Stray wondered over to him.

"What?," he questioned harshly.

" Z-Zero-kun, w-would you go with me to the Winter F-Formal?," the Stray nervously stuttered.

"No." he said more gently.

Zero stared at the pathetic girl that was dared by her 'friends' to ask him and heard them snickering as she as was rejected. She was an alright looking girl, probably nice enough but she was too close. Worse, she was close and blushing. Her eyes were downcast and a frown appeared on her lips. Apparently, she also heard her 'friends'. Zero started to lose himself as the Stray moved closer to him even more; invading his personally space.

Her heart was pounding fast and pushing fresh, delectable blood through those veins. The sweet red liquid coursed through that body, she wasn't wearing a scarf, and as her face moved closer to his, she became redder as she became more confident. Zero eyes were now on her pale neck, focusing on the girl's loud strong pumping heart and a large vein that became more prominent as she stretched her tempting neck. Zero's eyes started to turn blood red and his incisors and nails starred to extend. Maybe just a bite…

"Kiryu-kun," said a voice that made Zero change back as quickly as it came

Zero quickly pushed the girl a few feet back and turned around to face Kaname Kuran standing in all his infuriating magnificence. Luckily, the poor girl that didn't know she was just about to be sucked dry and torn apart just moments before had her eyes closed before Zero started to lost control. The huddled girls didn't see Zero's transformation because his back was facing them. Zero sighed , closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Get to class before I report you for skipping class and don't do it again," he said threateningly and fixed the huddle girls with a narrowed gaze. The Stray followed her 'friends' away dejectedly, with tears in her eyes. Zero didn't feel guilty in the slightest, at least he didn't kill her.

"Your control is slipping Kiryu-kun," Kaname stated.

"Shove it .What do you want Kuran?," Zero was not in to mood for one of Kurans games.

"Come to the Moon Dorms tonight, this is not a request Kiryu."

"If I don't?," maybe Zero was masochist but his good mood was gone and he was thirsty, exhausted, and pissed.

"Must we recount the last time you disobeyed me?," Kaname's eyes glowed blood red and he smiled vindictively, Zero playing right into his trap and he knew it. Kaname was already in a bad mood and needed relief. But he would have to wait to play, he knew what today was and he knew that Zero needed to rest before tonights meeting because it wasn't as much fun.

Zero 's shaking became worse with each passing moment, he had to get away from Kuran before he collapsed and showed him how truly defenseless and out of control he really was. Zero narrowed his eyes at the threatening figure infront of him one last time before turning on his foot and continuing his journey to his bed. Kaname stared at the retreating figure of Zero Kiryu, his face melting into an unreadable and unknowable emotion.

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