Setsumi flinched at the loud sound of gunfire as Zero practices with his gun. Setsumi stood there lost in thought as she plugged her ears the best she could to protect them from the noise. After awhile she finally looks over to Zero again only to find him staring at her expantly.

"How long do you intend to stand there?" he asked her.

"I'm worried about you," she answered, "I just wanted to know if you're okay."

"It's not easy. Being my nursemaid, is it?" Setsumi sighed in annoyance.

"I really don't want to argue, Zero," she told him tiredly. "Are you okay or not?" Setsumi gasps in surprise as he suddenly fires again and clasped her hands over her ears as he continued.

"Alright! I get it!" Setsumi shouts over the gunfire. "I'll fucking go, asshole," she stormed out of the bunker and headed to her father's home. She entered the house and collapsed on the living room couch. 'My headaches are worse every time I let Zero drink from me.' Setsumi thought as she gazed at the coffee table in front of her.

~o~

"Yes. Of course," the young white haired girl stares at the yellow thing in her hands. "I can look after these girls. You're the surviving son of the person who I owe a lot to," the white haired girl looks at the smaller brunette girl as she pokes a finger into the yellow thing. It jiggles as she removed her finger. The man that stood in front of them sighed causing the white haired girl to stare up at him with wide silvery eyes.

"They don't even understand that the pudding is food," he said.

"Yes," the girl turned to they younger male, "They've seem to have lost all of their memories," the boy leaned over and picked up the silver item in the bowl. "You scoop it up with a spoon like this," he told the two girls, "Here. Now say, ah."

The white haired girl eyes widened at the pointy teeth in the boy's mouth. Her brain goes into panic mode as it remembers the scary man from earlier had pointed teeth as well. The girl shrieks in fright as the pudding drops from her hands and she scrambles away from the brunet boy. She quickly moves to stand behind the man, her fragile body shaking from the scare. The girl whimpers as she clutches at the man's pants.

"Sorry," she heard the boy say softly, "But I think it's best if I leave now and never see them again after all. I'll go home."

"Go back home?" the man repeated. "To that place? There's nothing but a den of monsters waiting for you there, and all they want is to take advantage of you since your parents have passed away," the white haired girl peeked out from behind the man's legs.

"Yes," the boy answered, "But I have no choice," he turned and caught her staring." You take care."

~o~

A few days later

"That person said to me that girls are born princesses," Kaien told the two silent girls. "So from today, I'll give you a name that means tender princess. You'll be Yuuki," he told the petite brunette then turned to the paled colored girl.

"And for you, you'll be Setsumi. It means snow beauty which is perfect for you," Kaien said as he cupped the girl's pale cheek, "Because you have the beauty of winter in you," Setsumi smiled brightly at him before going back to the coloring book in front of her. Kaien chuckled then turned to Yuuki, who was still staring out the window quietly.

"Do you see something outside?" he asked her. "It's alright. If you stay here, you'll be perfectly safe," he told the two girls.

~o~

"Yuuki! Setsumi!" the white haired girl looked up from her new coloring book. "I filed all the papers to legally adopt you two! So as of today, I'm officially your father!" Setsumi broke out into a huge smile and raced over to Kaien. She wrapped her arms wound his middle tightly. Kaien laughs happily as he returns the tight embrace. He knew Setsumi would be happy about the adoption, it was Yuuki he was worried about.

"Come on, let's hear it, call me Otou-san!" he waited for the girls to say something before sobbing. "It's been over a week, and neither of you have said a word to me. You're starting to make me insecure. I don't know what to do," Setsumi stares at him curiously while Yuuki continued to stare out the window.

"Yuuki?" he called in concern.

~o~

Setsumi stared cautiously at the brunet boy from her hiding spot behind her father's legs. The boy gave her a small smile that she didn't return.

"You said you were having trouble with Yuuki, so I shook off my guard and rushed over here," the boy said. "But I take it, you lied. That is it. How can I ever trust you again?"

"Please. Just go and see her," Kaien told him as he took Setsumi's hand in his then walked them down to Yuuki's room. He opened the door and stared at his youngest for a moment. "Kaname! Kaname!"

"Come here! You have to see this!" he waved to the boy. Setsumi looked towards the boy questionably, 'Kaname?' she tilted her head in wonder.

"What happened?" Kaname asked as he reached them. Kaien pointed at Yuuki.

"Yuuki dressed herself for the first time ever!" he exclaimed happily as they watched the girl. Yuuki had put her pants on her head and her shirt around her waist. Yuuki quickly covered herself with a blanket in embarrassment. "Although, it's not quite right."

Setsumi watched the boy as he collapsed to his knees, his body shaking. Her eyes widened as he starts to laugh and bangs on the wall.

"What should I do! Kaname has gone berserk!" Kaien cried worriedly.

"If I scared you, I'm sorry," Kaname told the two girls after he finally calmed down. He got back to his feet. "Alright, I must go," he gently pats Setsumi on the head only to have her swipe angrily at his hands. Kuran startled for a moment before collecting himself and waving goodbye to Yuuki.

"Bye-bye," he turned to leave but stopped when Yuuki grabbed the back of his coat.

"Kana-me," Yuuki stutters out before smiling brightly. "Kaname!" Kaien quickly turns to Setsumi.

"Come on, Sumi-chan. Say Otou-san," the white haired girl only blinked up at him. "Sumi-chan!" he sobbed.

~o~

Setsumi quickly pulled her father toward the door.

"What is it, Sumi-chan?" he asked her. Setsumi pointed urgently to the door. The white haired girl had still yet to say her first word. Kaien opened the door and sighed tiredly when he saw his youngest standing outside.

"Yuuki?" he called to her. Yuuki turned to him, "Wait inside! You'll freeze out there!" all three Crosses looked back out when the sound of someone walking in the snow reached them.

"Ah!" Yuuki giggled as she raced towards Kaname. "Kaname-sama!" Setsumi inched closer to her father's side as she watched her sister embrace the boy. She always felt a bit on edge when he came to visit them. Though he was kind and nice to them there was something about him that made her constantly be on alert.

~o~

Setsumi read her history book while she and Yuuki waited for their father to finish making their hot chocolate.

"Kaname-sama is a vampire, isn't he?" Yuuki asked their father.

"Yes," he answered. "But unfortunately, our government doesn't officially acknowledge vampires exist. So you have to keep it a secret, too, Yuuki. Setsumi."

"Really?" Yuuki questioned, "It's a secret? But then, Kaname-sama, he was so nice when he let me touch his vampire fangs. He's different. Kaname-sama is nothing like that scary vampire was," Setsumi rolled her eyes. 'A vampire is a vampire. There is no good or bad,' she thought bitterly. Something lightly tapped the top of her head gaining her attention. Kaien smiled gently at his mute daughter, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"Kaname-sama is proof that there are friendly vampires out there, too," he said as he handed her a cup. Setsumi looked at him critically as she accepts the mug.

~o~

Setsumi stared at the fire while Yuuki tended to it. They both looked up as the front door opened.

"Setsumi? Yuuki? Sorry, I'm late," Setsumi is the first to the door and she stares at the silver haired boy standing next to her father. "His name is Zero Kiriyuu. Take care of him, girls. His family was killed by a bad vampire."

Setsumi watches as the boy opens his eyes and is completely besotted by his lavender eyes. She stepped forward and gently grabbed his hand in her's. She lead the boy to the bathroom to clean him up. A little while later, Setsumi found Zero in the living room scratching, deep, bloody, furrows into his neck. She quickly runs into the room and yanked his hand away from his neck. She stared at him with wide questioning eyes.

"It's disgusting," Zero told the silent girl. "It's still there. I still feel that woman's touch."

"It's going to be okay," Zero eyes widened at the soft voice. Setsumi smiles as she held his bloody hand near her cheek and placed her own hand over his wound. "It's okay now, Zero. I'll always be with you, so you'll be alright."

~o~

"Zero, when you see, I think you'll understand," Kaien told the boy as he sat next to Setsumi. The white haired girl looked up from her book and smiled at him.

"Understand what?" Zero questioned. The front door opened causing Yuuki to hop out of her seat and Setsumi to roll her eyes.

"Come on, hurry, come in!" came Yuuki's voice. "Weren't you cold out there? Kaname-sama," she giggled. "Kaname-sama, guess what!"

"What is it?" Kaname asked. Yuuki giggled as she brought him into the room. Zero gasped as he stood up from his chair. He slowly grabbed a butter knife.

"No! Zero-kun, don't!" Yuuki cried in alarm. Kaname quickly pulls her behind him as Zero lunges. The knife sinks into Kaname's arm.

"Vampire!" Zero yelled.

"Kaname!" Yuuki cried, scared.

"You just ran up and stabbed me for no reason," Kaname told Zero. "That isn't nice."

"Shut up, vampire!" Setsumi stood up from her chair and walked towards Zero. "I know what you are! You have the same smell as that woman!"

"Zero," everyone, beside Zero, turned to Setsumi in shock. She was finally speaking, "That's not your vampire," she grabbed his hand and started to lead him out of the dining room. Setsumi turns to her father.

"We'll have our dinner in my room, Otou-san," Kaien 'kyaed' at his adorable daughter as she left with Zero.

"You don't like him?" Zero asked her. Setsumi shook her head.

"Vampires are scary," she whispered.

~o~

"I'm going to establish a night class at our school," Kaien told his three children. Setsumi glanced at him for a moment then returned to her readings with Zero.

"Do you mean like an evening class for the seniors?" Yuuki questioned.

"No, it's not for the high school or university students," he said. "The classes will run at night, and most of their studies will be high level research, and they won't receive grades either."

"You see, these are nocturnal students. Who live much longer lives," that gained the two pale colored kids attention. "We can't treat them like us. Every student in the night class is going to be a vampire."

"What are you trying to do?" Zero asked him. Setsumi watched him warily. "Letting those things in the school."

"The goal is to promote peaceful coexistence between vampires and humans," everyone looked towards the door to see Kaname leaning against it, "And to educate young vampires, so they become a politically moderate force. That's his plan."

"Kaname-sama!" Yuuki cheered as she raced over to him.

"Good evening, Yuuki-chan," Kaname pats her on the head then smiled at Setsumi, "Cross-chan," Setsumi glared at him and looked away.

"That's absurd," Zero runs over to Kaien. "There's no way that vampires want to peacefully coexist with humans. Their history is stained with the blood of innocent people's lives."

"And it is our goal to put an end to that," Kaien replied in a unusually serious tone. "I know how you must feel, Zero. I, too, have lost someone because of them."

"Then why?" Zero asked.

"There's no need to worry. Kaname-sama has agreed to join the night class as well. This will ensure that the other vampires behave," Kaien explained. Setsumi glanced at Kaname suspiciously.

"But, things are over if he double-crosses us," Zero warned the Pureblood.

"What's your game?" everyone turned to Setsumi.

"My game, Cross-chan?" Kaname inquired.

"Your planning something and I'm going to find out what it is. When I do, I'll expose you for what you truly are," she told him.

"And what am I in your eyes, Cross-chan?" he asked sounding more curiously amused than offended.

"A lying, manipulative monster," she hissed.

"Nee-chan!" Yuuki exclaimed but Setsumi didn't take her eyes off the vampire in front of her.

"Vampires think themselves so highly but in truth, they are nothing more then beasts in human form," she spat out.

"That is enough, young lady," Kaien scolded her as he grabbed her by the arm, "We are going to have a talk."

"We're nothing but pawns in a chess game to you, aren't we, Kuran?" Setsumi said before her father could get her out of the room, "That is what I truly think."

~o~

Zero walked into the living room and stared at Setsumi's sleeping form.

"Hey, are you asleep?" he checked before grabbing a blanket to cover her with. "You'll catch a cold and we don't need that."

"Zero?" bluish silver eyes cracked open slightly. They stared at each other for a moment before Setsumi raised a hand and caressed Zero's cheek. "Sorry," she whispered sleepily. Zero shook his head and knelt down beside her, running a hand through her white locks.

"Don't be. I should be the one apologizing not you," he said, "Now go back to sleep."

"Okay," came the slurred response and Setsumi was back to asleep in seconds. Zero chuckled at his friend then looked to the door when he felt another presence.

"Let's go outside," Kuran told him. Zero stood up and followed him outside. "I have never told you why it is that I pretend to be unaware of what's happening to you."

"I realize how precarious the peace is here at Cross Academy," Kuran said. "That's why I have given great deal of thought to just who in this little garden would best benefit Setsumi."

"What does Setsumi mean to you?" Zero asked him, tired of the games Kuran was playing with the Cross sisters but Kuran ignored him.

"I know you would never betray her because you realize you owe her that much," Zero glared at him. "That is why I am allowing you to live, Kiriyuu."

"Is that truly what you believe, or are you more concerned with what Setsumi would do to you if you killed me?" Zero questioned. If the murderous glare Kuran gave him was any indication, Zero knew that he had hit the nail on the head with his remark.