Setsumi raced to Zero's dorm room and banged on the door while she panted for breath.

"Zero?" she opened the door but the room was empty. "Where is he?" she entered the room and flopped down on the unmade bed. She grabbed his pillow and pressed it to her face. 'It smells like Zero.' She thought before blushing like mad, her cheeks felt like living fire. 'God,' She put the pillow back, 'I'm acting like a love sick puppy. No, it's worse than that. I'm acting like one of the Day class girls.' Setsumi shuddered in horror as she left the room and headed to her own.

She stared at her practically empty and clean room. 'But I have a chance to save Zero.' She collapsed onto her desk chair and stared up at the ceiling. She thought back to Yuuki and her feelings for Kuran. 'She would get over him eventually, right?'

~o~

Setsumi stared down at the box of decorations in front of her with an expression of poorly concealed disgust. Yuuki had charged into her room and dragged her downstairs to help out with the preparations. She could barely meet her sister's eye after all those thoughts had entered her head. She felt sick to her stomach for entertaining such ideas.

"Cross-chan!" Setsumi looks up to find the Class rep standing in front of her. "Stop sitting around in a daze. I don't know what is wrong with you," she rolled her eyes and had to repress the urge to throw the decorations in her hands at him, and went back to ignoring him. Everyone went quiet as the doors banged open and Zero staggered in, looking worse for wear.

"Hey, isn't that blood?" a girl asked quietly. Setsumi quickly got to her feet and followed after Zero as he stumbled through the room and into a supply closet.

"Zero?" she called to him softly. He looked like he was searching for something. Setsumi had never seen him so agitated, "What's going on?"

"Have you seen that transfer student anywhere?" he asked her.

"No," Setsumi lied then looked down at the blood on his uniform, trying her best not to get angry and the glaring reminder of what she had seen. "You're bleeding. What happened?"

"It's nothing," he replied, "I'm alright now."

"You don't look alright, Zero," she retorted. She stepped closer to him and tilted her head slightly. "Are you hungry?" she tilted her head, fully, to the side, her white hair sliding away to show off her flawless creamy neck. Setsumi let out a gasp as she was shoved gently against the door and Zero's fangs sink into her neck. Zero pinned her hands to the door as he drinks. The sound of him swallowing her blood sends shivers of pleasure down her spine and she had to fight back the moan that threatened to escape. 'He didn't hesitate.' She glances at his silver hair with sadness. 'He's becoming desperate.'

"Zero," Setsumi called to him, "What does my blood taste like?" Zero lifted his head and stared at her with his glowing red eyes. He reached out a hand and lifted her chin up, their faces close together. She honestly thought he was going to kiss her, and if she was being honest with herself, she wanted him to.

"Why do you want to know?" Zero questioned. Setsumi stared at him stunned. He sinks his fangs back into her neck and she can't stop herself as she lifts her left leg to hook it on Zero's hip 'Let's make a deal.' Setsumi closed her eyes as Kurenai's voice echoes through her head. 'If you want to save Zero offer yourself to me, or give me Kaname Kuran's corpse as a gift.' She stares up at the ceiling as a lone tear rolls down her cheek. Her decision was made.'Forgive me, Zero. Yuuki.'

~o~

Setsumi glances up from the picture she'd been staring at for God knows how long as someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," she replied as she sets the frame back on her desk. Her father walked in carrying a large white box. "What's that, Otou-san?"

"It's a little gift from me for tonight," he told her cheerfully.

"Oh," was all she said as she took the box from him, slightly surprised at the weight of it.

"Now, I want you to be on extra alert tonight," he told her, "But make sure you still have some fun. Who knows, you could very well meet the boy of your dreams."

"No one here could ever compare to him," Setsumi sighs as she hugs the box to her chest. "Not that it matters. He'll never see me like that anyway."

"Who won't see you like what?" Kaien inquired, a small smile graced his lips as he watched his daughter's cheeks glow red.

"No one!" Setsumi shouts then starts to push her father out of her room.

"Sumi-chan, I want to know who's going to be my new son!" he cried as he drags his feet.

"Get out!" Kaien chuckles quietly as Setsumi slams the door in his face.

~o~

"Zero," Zero glances over as Kaien pokes him in the cheek, "Thank you so much for working tonight."

"Seeing how you told me it was an order, I really didn't have much of a choice, now did I?" he replied, dryly.

"Oh, my, Zero," Kaien pulled his finger away from his son. "You're so scary, and I'd say, as of late, you're rather moody, too," Kaien stared out into the distance. 'Both Zero and Setsumi's moods have changed drastically.' He thought, sadly. "It's like you've taken it upon yourself to shoulder anything bad that goes on around here."

"It's not so much an order, but more of a request really." Kaien explained. "I want to protect our students right to a peaceful campus life. And then, as for you, I want you to enjoy the moment rather than fear a future that you cannot see," Zero looked away from him.

"What'd you think? Did I sound cool now or what?" Zero's lips twitched at the question. 'He's such a dad.' Zero thought to himself.

"Zero-kun? Headmaster?" both males look up at the call. Standing before them was Yuuki all dolled up in a light pink dress. "I didn't know you were here already. Is Nee-chan with you?"

"Ah, my sweet Yuuki is all dressed up," Kaien kyad. "Please tell me you'll dance with daddy later, my daughter."

"Alright, sure," Yuuki laughed. "Later then, a short dance."

"Yay! I'll come find you later," he cheered, happily.

"I didn't know we were having a family meeting," everyone turned towards the new voice. Setsumi smiled shyly as she glided toward her shocked silent family.

"Nee-chan," Yuuki breathed in shock. Setsumi worried her lip as she glanced down at her beautiful white and ice blue dress. Zero felt his heart stop when he saw her. For a few seconds he wasn't sure who the girl was, but her voice was unmistakable. Zero had never seen someone so beautiful in his entire life. She was dressed in a form hugging gown that was white with ice blue lace overlaid with long sleeves so that the white part of the gown was also like a slip of sorts.

Zero could tell from where he was standing that she had extremely high heels on and even with heels the gown was ghosting along the floor when she walked. Her long white hair was twisted up into an elegant and complex looking bun with tendrils of hair escaping to frame her face. She wore no other jewelry than a thick white silk choker with a large icy blue stone resting against her throat. Her lips were painted a deep red and her eyes looked like they were dusted with silver. The gown hugged her body until her knees where it loosened slightly and while Zero couldn't see her whip, he had no doubt that she had it on her somewhere.

"Is something wrong?" she fidgeted slightly as they continued to stare. "Does it not look okay?" suddenly, her chin is gently tilted up and she stared into Zero's lavender eyes.

"You look beautiful," he whispered quietly enough that the others wouldn't hear. Kaien watched the two pale teenagers as they walked into the ballroom, well Zero walked, but Setsumi seemed to float. As perfect as they were together, Kaien knew better then to think that they would work. Zero and Setsumi's relationship was doomed the second they met.

"Fate cursed them the moment they were born," He muttered.

"Did you say something, Headmaster?" Kaien quickly turned to Yuuki with a bright smile.

"Oh, no, Yuuki-chan!" he said before holding his arm out to her. "Could I escort you in?"

"Yes, please!"

~o~

Setsumi glanced at Zero's loose tie as she tried to ignore the stares she was getting from the other students. They were all looking at her like they had no idea who she was.

"Come here, Zero," she turned to him and fixed his uniform. "One should wear his clothes properly, at least for tonight," she takes a white rose out of one of the vases, "And now, a rose in the pocket for the men," she puts the rose in its place and gave him a soft smile. It was a smile that Zero had never seen before and he wanted to kiss her right then and there.

"There," she smiles up at him, "You look so handsome." Setsumi poked him in the cheek next to his lips. "You'd look even better if you'd smile once in awhile."

"I don't get it," she looks at him with confused lightly kohled eyes. "How can you keep smiling like that?" her smile becomes tight on her lips.

"That's because what I want is for you smile, Zero," she told him before walking away. 'I need to find Kuran.' Setsumi mused as she looks around the crowded room. She finally spotted Kain leaning against the wall and walked over to him. He looked mildly interested at her approach and considering he had never seen her before, it made sense. Though he was wondering what a girl as stunning as this one was doing with Zero Kiriyuu of all people.

"Kain, do you know where Kuran is?" she inquired. "I need to speak to him." Kain felt all the air rush out of his lungs. There was no way in hell he could ever mistake that voice. This stunning vision of a girl standing in front of him was the Headmasters eldest daughter.

"I believe the dorm president is alone on the terrace right now," he told her only sounding slightly unsteady. He would have to keep Aidou away from her or else it would be a bloodbath. He didn't see her anti-vampire weapon, but that didn't mean she didn't have it somewhere on her person.

"Thanks," she replied and headed towards the balcony. "Kuran," the man turned to her.

"Good evening, Cross-chan," he greeted her. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you," Setsumi walked towards him.

"Is something wrong, Cross-chan?" she quirks an eyebrow at him. "The expression on your face is strange."

"What?" Setsumi questioned as she touched her cheek.

"Just a joke," Setsumi felt some of the tension melt away. She startled as Kuran gently grabbed her hand. "Do me the honor of dancing with me?" Setsumi nodded her head in agreement, thinking that dancing with him was the least she could do. Kuran lead her in a waltz, though he was dancing against the rhythm of the music playing.

"You know we aren't dancing in time with the music?" she inquired.

"We aren't?" he responded. "I must of not paid attention to it. Let's dance slowly, shall we?" Setsumi stopped dancing and stared down at their feet. 'I can't do it.' she realized as her body began to shake slightly. She had thought that she would be able to do it, to kill Kuran to save Zero, but it came down to the fact that while Setsumi might not like Kuran he had never actually done anything to her that would be reason enough to kill him.

"Setsumi?" Kuran asked as she stepped away from him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I have to go." Setsumi runs out of the ballroom. 'I've no idea why she wants Kuran's life but I can't do that to them. Not to Zero or Yuuki. Please, forgive me for what I'm about to do.'