"Not too many people here today," both Zero and Setsumi glanced around the nearly empty area near the Moon dorm gates.

"That's because the exams are tomorrow," Zero said.

"Oh! That's right!" Setsumi watched as her sister started panicking.

"You really want to go?" Setsumi asked her sounding almost confused. She didn't understand what the big deal was. To Setsumi the ball was just a big annoyance.

"Not really," Setsumi chuckled in amusement as her sister tried and failed to stammer out an explanation. All three guardians looked up as the gate doors swung open. They took their spots to the side of the walkway as the Night class walked out. Setsumi quietly watched the group walk past her one by one. She blinked in shock as Kurenai stopped in front of her. Setsumi's eyes widened slightly as Kurenai reached a hand out to her. She gasped in surprise as she's yanked back against a strongly muscled chest. She looked up to see Zero glaring slightly at the girl in front of them. Kurenai smirked then pranced after the rest of the Night class.

"Zero, what's going on with you?" Setsumi asked him, "You've been acting really weird since Kurenai came."

"Just stay away from that transfer student," he told her.

"Why should I?" she questioned. Setsumi wasn't about to do something like that without a reason.

"It doesn't matter," Zero growled. "Just whatever you do, don't get involved with her. I'm begging you," Setsumi watched Zero leave in shock.

~o~

Setsumi silently watched as her father tried to tutor Yuuki. She chuckled to herself as she returned to her own studies. 'Why is Zero so adamant about not having anything to do with Kurenai?' She wondered as she flipped the page in her book.

"Hey! Yuuki-chan!" Setsumi glanced up. "You're daydreaming again. Focus!"

"Huh?!" Yuuki exclaimed, "I'm so sorry," their father stood from his chair and leaned over the table.

"Like I said, you substitute the value for x over there and then," he explained.

"What?" Yuuki questioned. "Why?"

"You don't know why?" Setsumi laughed at her sister's confused expression.

"Oh, Zero-kun, perfect timing," both looked over to the entrance of the dining room to find Zero standing slightly behind the archway, "Would you tutor Yuuki for me? Sumi-chan refuses to," Kaien pouted to his son. Zero looked like he was holding back either a scoff or a laugh, Setsumi couldn't tell.

"I've told you, Otou-san. I'm a Guardian not a teacher, that's baka-sensei department," Setsumi said with a smirk.

"The exams are tomorrow, and I'm afraid that she still doesn't get it. Perhaps you could help," Kaien explained as he struggled to keep a straight face at his daughter's words.

"Sure, no problem," Zero replied.

"Then I'll leave it to you," Kaien said as he pulled on his gloves. "It's my duty to go on patrol during exam time. By the way, Zero, did you want to see me about something?" he inquired as he stopped in front of Zero, "Is that why you came here tonight?"

"No," Zero answered, "It's no big deal."

"Okay," Kaien walks out of the room and Zero took the chair next to Setsumi. Setsumi quickly returned to her book while Zero begins to help Yuuki.

"You realize you made the same sort of mistake last time?" Zero informed Yuuki. Setsumi glances over to Yuuki's work book. "You have to be more careful."

"Huh? Oh, wow," Yuuki sighed. Setsumi leaned over and pointed to the equation.

"Here, Yuuki," she said, "This number goes here, and then use these numbers here to get the total value," Yuuki followed her sister's directions and looks up to her brother.

"Is that right?" she inquired hesitantly.

"Yes, it is," Zero said softly. Setsumi shot a quick look at Zero and noticed he was clutching his neck where his tattoo rested.

"Yuuki-chan, why don't you go and take a break? Maybe make some coffee?" she suggested. Yuuki smiled and quickly stood up from her seat.

"Okay, Nee-chan," she chirped before leaving the dining room and Setsumi turned to Zero. This was the first time she had spoken to Zero alone since the bathroom incident and Setsumi was keenly aware of Zero and where he was positioned next to her.

"Is your neck bothering you?" Setsumi questioned.

"The wound that woman made has been. . ." Zero paused as he searched for the right word, "throbbing. Every single night I remember. Four years ago. She toyed with my brother and me in the blood bath."

"But I think I've been able to keep living," he mutters as Setsumi stood up and stepped in front of him. She gently placed a hand over his.

"You're not acting like yourself today," she told him softly. "What's wrong?" Zero was silent causing Setsumi to sigh. "I better go check on Yuuki," Setsumi started to walk away when Zero followed after her and grabbed her hand. The back of her body was flush against Zero's front and Setsumi was trying desperately to control her body's reaction to Zero. Setsumi didn't know how good Zero's senses were now and she didn't think she could stand the mortifying idea of Zero knowing what he was doing to her.

"Come on, Zero," she spoke softly as she stares, determinedly, ahead, "What's wrong?" they stood there in total silence. "Do you need my blood?" Zero tightened his hold on her hand.

"I think I was able to live on because you were beside me," Setsumi's eyes went wide as he released her hand and stepped away from her.

"Zero," she called as she turned towards him.

"Zero-kun, Nee-chan?" they both looked toward the door where Yuuki was standing with a tray in her hands.

"I'm going back to my dorm now," Zero told the girls. "Don't forget our lesson," he said to Yuuki as he walked passed her.

"Okay, I won't," she replied with a smile. "Thanks for tutoring me. Goodnight, Zero-kun."

"Goodnight," he replied. Setsumi frowned as she stared at his retreating back. She sat back down at the table while Yuuki placed a cup of coffee in front of her. Setsumi wasn't a big coffee drinker, preferring tea instead, but when it came time for exams coffee was the only way to go. Setsumi helped Yuuki with her tutoring for a bit longer before taking her own leave. She wandered the grounds before stumbling upon the abandoned teacher housing. 'What does Kurenai mean to Zero?' She asked herself before crossing the river to reach the building. She quietly entered then frowned as she followed the voices coming from within. It was odd for there to be people in here because no one ever came here.

"You figured out who I am, Zero, even if I look different now," Setsumi's eyes widened in shock. She leaned against the wall for support as she listened into the conversation. "You knew I was the one who took your life as a human."

"That's right," Setsumi strained to hear the rest of Zero's response but he spoke too quietly for her to hear. 'Maria Kurenai turned Zero? But how? She's not a pureblood.' She covered her mouth with a hand to muffle her gasp. She peered around the corner to find Kurenai attacking Zero with a katana.

"Zero!" she called out before a hand clamped down tightly over her mouth and pulled her against a strong chest. Setsumi struggled in the tight hold before her world went dark.

"If something like this kills him, he is of no use at all," Kaname told Setsumi's unconscious form. "However, you are the one that I just cannot bear to lose."

~o~

Setsumi gasped as she jerked awake and stared around her room in confusion. Her head felt fuzzy, like she had been drinking a lot. It was a feeling that Setsumi did not appreciate in the slightest.

"What happened last night?" she questioned out loud with a groan before getting ready for class. The whole day passed in a blur for her. 'I wonder where Zero is.' She thought as she glanced towards his empty seat. Once exams were over, Setsumi wandered the grounds. She glanced up in confusion as some of the girls began to squeal.

"Good afternoon, Cross-chan," Setsumi stared as Kuran and Ichijou walked towards her. What the hell were they doing here during the day? Then again Kuran seemed to think that the rules did not apply to him, so Setsumi supposed she shouldn't be too surprised.

"Kuran," she responded only slightly icy in tone of voice.

"Could I speak to you for a moment?" Kuran asked her.

"Sure," she followed him to a more private area. "Is something wrong?"

"I wanted to discuss the ball with you," he said suddenly. "I'll see you there, won't I?"

"Yeah, I'll be patrolling the dance with Zero and Yuuki" she told him sounding slightly disgusted at the idea. Setsumi really did not what to go to the ball. She personally felt like she had better things to do.

"That's not what I mean," he sighed. Setsumi shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't really like these kind of things and I don't have anything to wear either," she said.

"When you were a child, I remember going to all of your dance recitals. What happened? You used to love dancing," Kuran turned to her. Setsumi was trying really hard to not be creeped out by his words and she was glad when she succeeded.

"You and your merry band of fangs showed up and I was forced to babysit you all," Setsumi replied, bitterly, "It just became too much."

"Don't worry," he tucked her bangs behind her ear, "I will always be with you," Setsumi shoved his hand away from her.

"And there you go being a creep again," she muttered as she turned and walked away from him.

"See you later, Cross-chan," Ichijou said as she passed him.

"Bye," she returned hurriedly, trying to get away as fast as possible.

"You're so cold," Setsumi glanced behind her to find Kurenai, "Aren't you, Snowdrop?"

"Kurenai," she whispered. Setsumi felt a jolt rock her as Kurenai called her Snowdrop. She had never been called that before and for some reason she couldn't explain it made her feel warm inside, and safe. That was a feeling that she usually only had when she was with Zero. Setsumi hated how much this girl affected her and wished she would just go away, but at the same time Setsumi never wanted her to leave.

"How could you have forgotten that boy. When he clearly thinks so much about you?" she asked her sounding curious.

"That boy?" Setsumi repeated confused as to what she was talking about.

"Wherever you go, he's always by your side," Kurenai said.

"What are you talking about?" Setsumi asked her. "Is it Zero?" Kurenai narrowed her eyes at her in suspicion and suddenly Setsumi's mind was bombarded with images. Her eyes widened as she remembered, 'How could I forget?' Setsumi pressed a hand to her forehead. She glanced back to Kurenai as she turns away.

"Hey! Wait!" Setsumi demanded as she grabbed Kurenai's hand, "What did you do to Zero?"

"He's going to be alright for the time being," Kurenai turned to her, "But sooner or later, he will become a Level E. And when that happens, he won't listen to you anymore."

"Go to hell!" Setsumi yelled, shocking Kurenai. "That won't happen, I won't let it." Kurenai smirked slightly once she regained her composure. She wasn't sure she liked how close Zero and Setsumi were, but if all Setsumi wanted was to save Zero then she would give her the option.

"Well, if you're interested there is a way to save him," she told her. "Let's make a deal. I want you to do something that only you can do," Setsumi's eyes widened and Kurenai smirked.