Disclaimer: Neither Harry Potter or Vampire Knight is mine. I don't claim the characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling and Matsuri Hino respectively. I also don't make a profit from writing this. Thank you.

Warnings: Foul language and some bashing.

A/N: Willow was de-aged back to her 15 month old self. I meant to add that to the first chapter, but I ended up forgetting before posting it. I picked 15 months old for when she was dumped on his doorstep because that was the first time her life dramatically changed for her in her first life and it would also help with her back story if anyone were to ask about her parents and past.

I would like to thank Setsuna24 for being my beta for my stories. She has helped me improve my writing with every chapter I write, and I am very thankful to her. Thank you Setsuna24! I would like to also thank all who reviewed, Favorited, and Followed my stories. If it wasn't for any of you, I would have stopped writing after my second chapter of my first story. So, thank you very much for your encouragements.

"Vampire" - Talking

'Vampire' – Thinking

Edited - 9/30/2018

Chapter 2

One thing Willow could say about being raised by the eccentric man known as Kaien Cross, was that… well… it was an experience in and of itself. She couldn't get a fix on his character no matter how hard she had tried. One moment he's acting like her current body's age or a hormonal teenager going on about love and what not, or on rare occasions, he would actually act his age.

However, his behavior is mostly that of a five year old on a sugar high.

The funny thing was, that every time he had to change her diaper when she was still a baby – to her mortification of course – he would always make such funny faces while using tongs and oven mitts with a safety mask over his nose and mouth. Though she believes that he just continued doing that because it always made her laugh.

She was just happy that she was able to be potty trained not too long afterwards.

One thing she had hated about being in his care was his desire to dress her up in cute animal costumes to show her off in town. Even if she did secretly love it when he cooed over her. It had always made her feel loved and appreciated when he did. She just could do without the costumes.

She could admit that he had her screaming at the top of her lungs and throwing a big tantrum once when she was four years old when he put her in a mouse costume while she was asleep. It was the only time he could get her in them and he would take advantage every chance he got - much to her chagrin.

They were at the park when she woke up to find out which costume he put on her. She couldn't remember completely why she hated anything to do with mice or rats, just knew that every time she sees or hears about them, she always wants to go on a rampage to kill every single one she can. So, seeing herself in a costume catered to one of the creatures she hated, she couldn't be held accountable for how she reacted.

Unfortunately, she ended up terrifying her dad and the other people at the park half to dead that they didn't go back to that park for a very long time. Though the best part about that situation was that she never had to wear that costume again.

She took great pleasure in cutting that outfit to pieces when they got home with the scissors she nicked from the kitchen drawer. All she had to do to get them was drag a chair to the counter and climb it to be able to reach the drawer. Since she was able to retain all her memories from her former life, she was able to relearn how to walk, run and talk before she hit the age of two.

She didn't like the thought of being reliant on others to do basic everyday things and it helped that she was too stubborn to quit when she didn't have her mobility from when she was older right away. Kaien just thought she was a prodigy from how advance she became in such a short amount of time.

She - of course - was grounded for a week for playing with the scissors when she got caught. It was her loud maniacal laughter that had drew his curiosity and when he went to look for the source he found her in a pile of ribbons with the scissors in her hand and an insane gleam in her eyes.

Though she didn't like not being able to read any of the books she wanted, she was satisfied with the end result of her actions: her not having to wear that hideous costume ever again and with him steering clear from anything to do with mice or rats.

She will admit that she has come to love him with all her heart regardless of his weird quirks and his inability to cook edible foods. When they go out she makes sure everybody knows to back off – for he belongs to her – with just a glare from her intensely bright green eyes that make people feel as if she is looking right into their souls. Which she is, seeing as she is the Mistress of Death.

Feeling uncomfortable, they would make excuses and run off, leaving her smug and him confused and a little bit hurt from the abrupt departure which she then distracts him from.

'He doesn't need those worthless parasites when he has me. Those tainted souls would latch onto his pure one and corrupt him. I will never allow it! He's mine!' She thinks every time it happens.

Since he belongs to her, they have to have her permission before even thinking of approaching what belonged to her. And he belonged to her no matter what anybody says.

'Not that I will give them permission. Only I am allowed to be near him, talk to him, touch him or anything else I want to do with him.' She thought possessively while tightening her hold on his neck.

He was the first person she had come into contact with after years and years of nothing but Death and silence. Him taking such good care of her just made her that much more possessive. She has no memories of anyone ever taking care of her. It was always her taking care of herself and everybody else. So having someone put her first was not something she is willing to give up anytime soon.

Don't get her wrong, she knew how she acted was wrong and that she was hurting him by making others avoid him. She just couldn't stop from the absolute fear of him forgetting her for them. It wouldn't be the first time she was pushed to the side because she wasn't good enough in others eyes. So, if she kept others away, then it would be impossible for him to find someone better than her.

She turned to the man whom she calls 'father' in this world and asked confusedly;

"Where are we going Otou-san?"

"We are going to meet some old friends of mine, dearest Willow." He all but cooed in answer to her. He hugged her to his chest and twirled around a couple of time in excitement before resuming his walk towards the two story house.

'Friends?' She wondered uneasily.

"Who are these people and how long have you known them?" She asked in innocent wonder.

'It must have been before I came or I would have driven them off already. I don't like that he seems so happy about reuniting with them. He should only be happy because of me and no one else.' She thought with an unhappy pout.

"They are known as the Kiryu's – a family of vampire hunters. They have two sons – twins – the same age as you. I am sure you all will get along fabulously with each other." He chirped happily, completely ignoring the intense and suspicious stare directed at him.

"If I don't like them, what then?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, hoping that he would say that he would never see them again.

Seeing the cute pout/glare on her face he couldn't stop the squeal coming out even if he had wanted to and hugged her even tighter.

"Don't be so nervous my little humming bird. I am sure that they would just love you." He beamed.

She scowled at the nickname he had come up with out of the blue one day – for reasons she still doesn't know about – she muttered under her breathe, "I am not nervous and I have no interest in them loving me since I only need you."

He beamed even more with hearts floating out of his head while he started to hum off key. He was just so happy to hear that. He always worried because she had never told him that she loved him and hearing that made his worries disappear in a snap. It might not be an 'I love you,' but it was a start. He knew sooner or later she would say that three worded sentence and he just hopes that he has a camera when that time comes.

When they got to the front door, he set Willow down – which she promptly hid behind his legs clutching his pants legs in a tight grip – and straightens his clothes before knocking on the oak door three times before waiting. He glanced back at Willow and couldn't stop another squeal coming out at seeing her pressed up against his legs and scowling cutely and darkly around them as the door opened to show a pretty middle aged woman with long dark blond hair tied back with weary lilac eyes.

"Well, look who the cat dragged in." The woman said with a smiled when she recognized who dropped by.

She hid the wire in her hands she had prepared in the case it was an enemy. She then went to hug her old friend that she had missed. Before she could get her arms around him she was stopped when she felt little hands pushing her back a step.

"Oh?" She uttered in her surprise. She looked down to see a beautiful little girl glaring up at her with intense green eyes with arms crossed over her chest standing in front of a surprised Kaien.

"Don't touch him!" She snapped at the strange woman. "I didn't give you permission to do so." Her voice was low in threat, fighting the urge to bare her teeth.

A silence followed the exclamation of the five year old. It was broken by two different squeals – one female and one male – before she was engulfed by the two adults exclaiming on how cute she was.

She gritted her teeth in frustration not liking the screaming in her ears. She couldn't help but yell, "I am not cute! I am a very intimidating woman damn it! Fear me!" when it got too much for her.

She even stomped her foot for effect. This - unfortunately - just provoked more squeals with Kaien trying to reprimand her for her language. Not able to escape the human boa constrictors, she just waited it out in anger.

She tried to fight the deep blush of embarrassment from her face, realizing just what she just sounded like –her body's age. She decided to ignore it in favor of plotting her revenge against this woman for not only trying to touch Kaien, but also for thinking she could touch her without repercussion.

"What's going on out here?" Demanded a deep and smooth voice that broke her from her plotting.

The person stepping in the doorway was a 6'2 handsome middle aged man with slightly long silver hair and very beautiful silver eyes to match. Her breath caught at the sight of him.

'He's gorgeous! Though not as gorgeous as my father of course.' She amended at the last second. 'Nobody could match my father in the looks department.'

She was glad that her face was already red in the face from her earlier anger. She didn't know what her father would do if he knew of her reaction to the new comer.

"Oh, honey. You have to come and meet the cutest girl that Kaien brought to us." The woman let her go to go and hug the man instead. "Zero! Ichiru! Come to the living room please!" She called into the house.

"Come on in." She said when she turned back to them before dragging the man with her inside.

'She's not all there. She keeps switching from one subject to another in quick sessions.' She thought deadpanned, disregarding the fact that she wasn't all there either. Getting tugged into the house she looked back the way they came longingly before the door closed behind her.

The living room was bare except for a dark gray couch, love seat, and a chair set with a coffee table in the middle. The floor was covered by a white carpet from wall to wall. The walls were also white with no pictures on them.

'Does anybody really live here?' She couldn't help but wonder. 'This house feels so cold and lonely.'

She took hold of Kaien's hand to drag him to the love seat after shrugging off the ominous feeling she got from the house. She pushed him down in the seat furthest away from everybody else then she sat in the remaining seat. She gave the others a baleful glare to make her statement even more clear: He's off limits so stay away.

All she got in return were amused chuckles from the man and squeals from the woman and Kaien. She was going to snap something very mean at them except the moment she opened her mouth was the moment two beautiful twin boys entered the room. She wasn't the only one to notice the new additions to the room.

"Oh! Are these your twins?" Kaien asked excitedly.

"Yes, they are. Aren't they just the cutest as well?" The woman exclaimed while clapping her hands in front of her face with a light blush on her face and a proud gleam in her eyes.

The twins were motioned to come and sit with their mother and father on the couch but instead they went to sit in the empty chair together to better observe everyone in the room getting a discouraged look from their mother and a fond look from their father.

"Oka-san, who are they?" Asked one of the twins in a soft and curious voice.

He was the taller and healthier looking twin. Like his father, he had silver hair, pale skin, though not as pale as hers and a serious aura around him even if it was tainted with innocence with his mother's face shape and eye color.

"Yes, Oka-san, who are they?" The less healthy looking boy repeated his twin's question.

She could see a budding darkness in his eyes while looking at his parents but also saw the adoration for his bother as well. While this twin had the same coloring and face shape, he was more slender and fragile looking then the older boy.

She narrowed her eyes on the younger twin in contemplation.

'He's sick. Though his aura is that of a survivor and seems to fight to stay alive, he won't make it to his 20's. His body would fail before that time. I won't, however, underestimate him. Dying people would do things nobody would ever expect from them since they don't really have much longer to live to experience the repercussions of their actions. I will keep an eye on him whenever we are in the same place.'

Dismissing him for now, she turned her attention back to the older twin.

'He's the typical older brother: overprotective and would overlook any signs of his twin plotting anything bad.' She thought when she saw him trying to unconsciously shield the younger from the stares they were both getting.

"This is Cross, Kaien and his daughter..." The man paused when he realized that he didn't know the girls name.

Kaien blushed at his over sight and stood up in a rush with a spin to pick up a surprised Willow to crush her to his chest while saying, "Oh, how could I have forgotten such an important matter! This, my little ducks, is Cross, Willow. She is five years old, very bright and..." before he could continue to wax even more praises about her, she growled and demanded to be put down with a soft kick to the stomach for emphasizes.

"I can introduce myself thank you very much." She said with another growl.

She twirled around with her long black hair flowing gracefully with her movements – to the awe of the boys and amusement of the adults – she gave a small regal looking nod of her head and stated, "My name is Cross, Willow even if that buffoon already told you that. I have yet to decide if it's a pleasure to meet you or not."

She sniffed and turned to her father, who was on his hands and knees with his head bowed and a dark cloud over his head before pointing back at the seat they had just left. She ignored the hurt puppy dog eyes he shot at her while climbing back onto the love seat.

When she got comfortable once more she turned her attention back to the others and asked with a raised eyebrow, "So, who are you?" Her tone demanding for them to answer her question at once.

It was with a deep chuckle, that the man spoke up since his wife was too busy staring at the girl with stars in her eyes.

"My name is Kiryu, Kazuo; my wife's name is Kiryu, Isamu. The twins are Kiryu, Zero and Kiryu, Ichiru." With each name mentioned, he would point to the one the name belonged to with a small and warm smile on his face.

She had to suppress the urge to twitch in annoyance every time he said 'Kiryu' with each name – which she found to be unnecessary. She just nodded for each name given, trying not to be rude. Well…obnoxiously rude anyways. After all, there's a limit to everything.

"Now, that the introductions are made," she turned to her father, "why exactly are we here?" She demanded getting surprised looks from the adult Kiryu's who were surprised that such a young girl could have such attitude towards her father. Their boys didn't even act like that. Though Ichiru tries all the time to act like he's the boss of the household.

They looked to their friend in question and all they got was a beaming man radiating pride for the girl next to him. They looked at each other and decide to just accept it while keeping a close eye on her. They couldn't feel the aura of a vampire so they knew she wasn't a bloodsucker, though they could still feel a dark aura around her. They just didn't know what that aura could mean but if Kaien is willing to introduce her to them that meant that he trusted her and so they would give her the benefit of the doubt… for now.

"I just wanted to meet with my old friends like I said earlier." He chirped while looking off to the side.

"That is not the only reason is it?"

"Don't you trust your otou-chan?" He asked with sad puppy dog eyes.

"No. Now tell me why we are truly here."

He sighed at the stubborn girl and gave in.

"Fine. I really did want to reconnect with my old friends. I just happened to know that they had twin boys around your age and hoped that if I were to introduce you to them that you will become good friends with them." He stated with a pout at the beginning and then with a hopeful smile at the end. He completely disregarded the fact that he was talking to her as if she was an adult.

Before she could open her mouth the woman interrupted with a "That's an excellent idea!"

Isamu stood up from the couch before approaching the little girl, grab a hold of her hand, and made sure she was steady on her feet before dragging her to her boys with Kaien and her husband standing behind her.

"Why don't you boys take her outside so you can get to know each other better?" She more demanded than asked them.

"Because we don't want to play with her." Ichiru stated.

"Ichiru!" Zero called with a reprimanding tone before he turned back to his mother. "We will be happy to Oka-san."

He got up – tugging his brother with him. He then held out his hand to the girl glaring at his brother with a slightly stiff expression.

She eyed the held out hand, looked at her hopeful father, sighed in defeat and gently grabbed hold of it and allowed him to lead her out of the house to the back yard. The adults followed but instead of going out to the garden they stayed on the veranda to keep an eye on the kids but not to seem as if they were hovering.

~With the kids~

An awkward silence descended upon them. None of them wanted to be the one to break it so they either: Willow – looked at the sky, Ichiru – at the adults in hopes they would forget this whole thing, and Zero – observing the unknown.

'She is very pretty.' Zero thought with a light blush. 'Her eyes look really sad though.' He could see that she had let her guard down unknowingly and he could see the sorrow and heartbreak shining through her eyes. 'What happened to her to make her eyes look like that?' He couldn't help but wonder.

"Enough with the staring. It's starting to get creepy." Willow snapped when she realized that she was being stared at.

"Don't talk to Zero like that." Ichiru jumped in to defend his beloved brother.

He glared at the intruder thinking, 'I can't wait until she leaves and hope she never comes back. How dare she talk to Zero that way? He's the best person in the whole world and deserves respect.'

"Excuse me?" She asked darkly sending shivers down the boy's spine. "Did you just tell me want I can or cannot do?"

"Of course he didn't mean anything by it. He's just protective of me." Zero said in a rush in the hope of diffusing the tension between the two. "So, what's your favorite color?" He asked in a desperate desire to change the subject with another blush at such a lame question.

She gave one more glare at Ichiru before she turned her attention to the other.

"I don't have a favorite color."

"Everybody has a favorite color." Ichiru snapped at her.

"Oh? And what is yours little boy?" Willow asked condescension dripping from her words.

"Mine is green." Zero interjected before his growling brother could say something that would anger the girl. He had the feeling that angering her wouldn't end very well for anybody.

"Green? I guess it is a beautiful color." She answered calmly.

After that, to the relief of Zero, the conversation ran more smoothly with only Willow and Ichiru sniping at each other once and a while. By the time she and her dad left, he was confident that he made a tentative friend in the girl. Though he couldn't say the same about his brother and her. They seem to only tolerate each other for his sake and maybe the adults.

'I hope I can see her again soon.' Zero couldn't help but think while his brother thought the very opposite.

~With the Cross family~

"So how did you like the Kiryu's?" Kaien asked his daughter.

"I liked Zero well enough. He seems like a good henchman." She said seriously.

"Where are these words coming from?" He muttered wonderingly. A little bit louder he asked, "What about Ichiru and the others?"

"What about them?" She asked rudely still somewhat sore about this suppose "playdate". "I mean Kazuo seems like an interesting guy and I don't really care about the other two."

"So you wouldn't want to go back anytime soon?" He asked sadly.

He wouldn't make her do anything she didn't want to do – her being his very first child he didn't want to make her upset with him – but he did miss being around his friends and had a great time catching up.

"I never said that. If I don't go back, how would I be able to train Zero to be the best henchman he could be?"

"What if he doesn't want to be a henchman?" He asked her amused. Thinking it was just her way of say that she considered Zero as a friend.

"It doesn't matter if he does or not. He is mine now just like you so he must obey me and make sure that I am never dissatisfied." She stated with a wicked smile that he either missed or ignored.

He just hummed non-committedly. For the rest of the trip home they chattered about nonsensical things. They arrived home after sunset tired and happy. After dinner and a bath to help unwind from the evens that day they happily dropped into bed.

In her bed, having just been tucked in by her father, she couldn't help but think, 'I can't wait to see Zero again.' before falling into a deep slumber.