The smell of their breakfast made Yuuki hurry to the kitchen. Nothing beats the smell of butter and honey in the morning and the sound of the sizzling bacon as the headmaster individually flips the strips he's frying.

Probably sensing her arrival, the headmaster turned to Yuuki who automatically went to the plate drawer when she noticed the table wasn't prepared yet. "Good morning, Chairman." She said.

"Good morning, Yuuki-chan!" Cross greeted, smiling to his adoptive daughter. "I'll be done in a minute. Can you put the pancake platter on the table for me?"

"Of course." She uttered placing the plates first on the table before getting the platter near the Chairman who's now wrapping up.

Yuuki was already sitting on her seat when Kaien Cross sat on his own after putting down the platter of bacon strips. He took note of the pitcher of honey and the glasses filled with water and juice that were already prepared on the table. But what caught his attention more is the third plate with the same set of glasses and silverwares on the seat in front of Yuuki which is on Kaien's right.

Just a few seconds before Kaien opened his mouth to ask Yuuki about their breakfast guest, he felt a familiar aura by the door. Silver strands caught his eyes first before it settled on the small pale face of the broken little boy he now is responsible for. And for the first time since he came here, Kaien noticed how open and determined his look have become, from the twitching shy boy who's afraid to show his face and scared to have eye contact, he's now staring at his big beautiful lavender eyes. Eyes that reminded him of the boy's mother.

Giggling at the look of surprise on the headmaster's face and how he's got his mouth hanging open as he stares at Zero; Yuuki stood to welcome the boy when she noticed how he remained standing just by the door, still feeling a little shy around the headmaster.

Zero flinched when he felt the girl's hand on his forearm but Yuuki didn't notice it because she was now busy pulling Zero to the table. "You made it! Come on, join us! I prepared a seat for you."

Zero let himself be pulled this time. After sitting, his head turned to the headmaster when the man started sobbing for some reason. He's dabbing his table napkin to the side of his tearless eyes daintily.

"Oh! you don't know how happy you made me feel today, Zero-kun. Thank you for choosing to join our family. I'm so touched." The headmaster said, pretending to be sobbing. I didn't choose any of this. Zero wanted to answer but decided against it. When the man raised his hands and opened his arms as he reached out to him, his now misty eyes suddenly too close to his face as he leans over to him, Zero visibly flinched but the headmaster was too engrossed in his own emotions to notice. In the corner of the silver-haired boy's eyes he saw Yuuki rolling her eyes in the direction of the headmaster then motioned for him to accept it to get it over and done with.

Only this time. Zero thought to himself. The headmaster is technically still a stranger to him and he's not a touchy-feely type of person to begin with. But despite his inner disgust, the hug wasn't so bad. The headmaster was warm and his touch was careful and the way he tapped his back made him feel somewhat appeased- a little bit. But enough is enough, he felt like the man would likely to remain like that a bit longer if he didn't push him away.

"I'm so happy today, I feel like going to town with two of my children and treat them to whatever!" Kaien Cross blurted.

"Yes! The ice-cream shop in town serves the best parfait, you should try it Zero!" Yuuki recommended, her smile almost tearing her mouth apart- nodding at him as if that would convince him.

"Hnn..." Zero felt uncomfortable having two pair of eyes looking at him expectantly so he looked away trying to hide his face from them when he said, "O-okay."

When Yuuki squealed in delight, Kaien Cross hid the smile on his lips behind the table napkin as he pretends to be wiping something.

Shortly after they got home from shopping, Zero appeared in front of the headmaster inside his library as he looks into the remaining paper works for the school he needed to finish that night.

It pleased him to find Zero getting used to going outside of his own room and finally starting to ease into his house and to them. For the boy to approach him first; Kaien thought this must be important.

"I want to continue my training." Zero said, determination evident even to his own ears. "I want to be a hunter, just like my parents." He added, just to make sure he and the old man are on the same page.

Kaien Cross recognized the urge. It's all the same. Most of the vampire attack survivors almost takes the same path. They want the license to kill vampires. They wanted to become hunters for vengeance. "Okay." He leaned, elbows on the table. "But only once a week."

"What? That's not enough!" The boy complained.

With a finger raised in the air, Kaien wiggled it and said "You have to go to school five days a week. So once a week should be fine."

"Two days! I don't need a rest day." He tried to negotiate.

"No no no no. Sunday is family day. It's non-negotiable. Plus you're still a kid, no one gets their license at 10-"

"13! I'm 13!" Zero interrupted, angrily stomping his foot now.

"-nuance..." Kaien uttered, hands motioning things in the air. "I got mine at 15! I'm one of the youngest you know! Hah, one of the best even." He continued, left hand pressed on his chest and the other wiping the corners of his eyes with his fingers. "I still remember it, my first ever mission. Oh! It feels just like yester-"

Bang!

It was the sound of the door. Realizing the boy has already left, Kaien laughed to himself. "Oh, you're going to sleep now, Zero dear?" He asked but again realizing he can't be heard. "Good night then." He muttered, eyes now fixed on the shortly forgotten papers.

Rrrrrrr!

The sound of the telephone ringing was unwelcome in the silence Kaien needed to finish his tasks. Breathing in deep before answering the call, he reached for the handset. "Cross Academy, headmaster Kaien Cross speaking." He started and liked the sound of that so he added with a satisfied smile on his lips. "How may I help you?"

"Cross..."

Just that and Kaien knew in an instant who the person on the other line was.

Five weeks later:

It was exactly 4:30 pm when Zero hopped off the train in town. He's just been from his hunter training. Well, it's not like it's his first time. He started way back, and though Toga Yagari isn't his sensei anymore it's not going to stop him from becoming one of the best students again- if not the best.

The hunter is currently on a mission. Toga Yagari always is. The demand for the best hunter right now is no joke. He's proud he once was taught by him. After overseeing his family's burial and his guardianship, he had to leave immediately.

To be honest, Zero wouldn't have minded following the hunter in his every assignment but the man insisted being on the road too much isn't good for him on his own. He said he's too young.

Just you wait. Zero thought.

Instead of getting a taxi to the academy, Zero decided to course the forest on foot for added training on muscle and stamina. He'll start to jog in a bit.

Halfway through the jog, he noticed how the darkness has started to envelop the forest, covering it little by little. He didn't feel the need to hurry though. Out here he felt peaceful. The headmaster and Yuuki aren't that bad of a company- well, when they're not pulling and pushing him out of his room. It's not because of them that he wants to be alone. It's just who he is. He wasn't an outgoing person in the first place. Still that doesn't mean he's going to start prancing around for people to see that he's not grieving anymore. No. That was wrong. He'll forever grieve his loss. He'll never forget it. Not until he's killed the-

Vampire!

Zero's senses reacted faster than his mind, his body stopped on instinct at the sudden gush of wind behind him. He surveyed his surroundings carefully.

Shit. He cursed inwardly. He doesn't have any weapon. Zero can't be mistaken. There's a vampire around. This one's aura is stronger than the one's he'd encountered so far. So strong. Too strong for a Level E, even stronger than that of the bitch who attacked his family.

Then it was gone. Just like that.

What was that?

There was a good smell coming from the kitchen again. That means the headmaster is in there. He wants to report the possibility of a vampire in town. He hurried to the kitchen and the closer he gets the louder the older man's humming gets.

"Oooh this is gonna be good!"

Zero could only hope he and Yuuki would have a lucky night. No- scratch that. A vampire encounter is always a bad omen. Something bad is going to happen and Zero is almost sure of that. If they're not going to get attacked by the vampire in town tonight, then it's going to have to be the headmaster's food that will surely kill them. The smell can be very deceptive.

Kaien Cross spends a lot of time in the kitchen. He once mentioned-as a mistake; that he's never cooked before. But after he got Yuuki, he felt the need to learn. But his cooking is still hit or miss.

"My Zero-kun, you're back!" Kaien said when he sensed the boy."Get dressed now quickly. Wear something a little presentable, we're gonna have a guest."

"A guest?" He repeated.

The headmaster excitedly clasped his hands together. "Yes! A very important guest and I'd like you to meet him. He's a very good man."

"Who is he?"He asked.

"He's one of Cross Academy's benefactor. He-" The headmaster paused, tilting his head on the side as he stares at Zero. "I thought Yuuki-chan's already told you."Zero only shrugged. The girl told him nothing. "Oh, nevermind. The person we're meeting tonight is Kuran Kaname-sama. He's the one who saved our little Yuuki-chan."

Kaname-sama...

Then memories of an excited and blushing Yuuki speaking to someone on the telephone on several occasions flashed on his mind.

'Kaname-sama it's been a while...'

'I really want you to meet him Kaname-sama...'

'...I don't have those dreams anymore, Kaname-sama'

"Ah." Zero uttered. He now understood the girl's eagerness everytime they speak over the phone.

"Yes, and he's arriving any moment now so up you go and get ready, also please knock on Yuuki's door and tell her to get out already. She's been there since I got home from the supermarket. Go now! Go!" The headmaster was now pushing him out of the kitchen.

Zero remembered he still hasn't told him about what happened earlier. But even before he opened his mouth to speak, he decided to wait until after dinner to tell him about it.

Kaien Cross was very satisfied the moment Yuuki and Zero appeared before him in the dinning room. Both wore a somewhat presentable with Yuuki being a little bit extra. The headmaster stopped the smile on his lips as he motions for the two to take their seat.

As soon as the silver-haired boy got settled on his seat, the doorbell rang indicating the arrival of their guest.

"That's him! I'll go get the door!" Yuuki dashed for the front door.

It makes the headmaster happy to see how lively Yuuki becomes whenever Kaname comes to visit her although not that often since the man has other responsibilities of his own. With Kaname's proposal, Kaien Cross couldn't wait for their joint undertaking of a seemingly impossible plan that would show the world how they'll make it possible for both humans and vampires to co-exist peacefully in one school and maybe in the future it would open doors to more possibilities.

However, he's a little apprehensive of tonight's dinner. But this has to happen. It's inevitable for Zero to meet Kaname. It has to be now and he'll do his best to ease Zero into their plan.

The headmaster wasn't wrong when he found Zero stiffening on his seat, hands curling into fists on top of the table. There's no doubt this hunter-in-the-making was able to sense their guest.

Kaien reached for Zero's hand on the table and squeezed it. "It's gonna be okay, Zero-kun. He's a go-"

"Vampire!" Zero screamed, face so pale and lavender eyes gone pitch black.

It all happened so fast. Yuuki appeared with the tall brunet pureblood at the door with a smile on her face ready to introduce her savior to her new friend. But then suddenly, faster than a normal kid his age, Zero moved so fast he was almost a blur in Yuuki's eyes when he ran towards them.

A hand gently pushed Yuuki aside to avoid any possible collision even though the owner of the hand knew he was the target.

After all the movements that her eyes almost couldn't follow, Yuuki gasped at the scene before her. A seething Zero was right in front of Kaname, his hands on top of the brunet's arm and there was a knife plunged in there.

"Zero!" The headmaster cried as he stood to pull the boy.

"Kaname-sama!" Yuuki's voice was laced with worry.

But those voices became white noise as lavender and auburn eyes battle. Kuran Kaname felt the heat surging from the hand that was still holding the knife steady, pushing the knife deeper. The discomfort didn't bother the pureblood at all, he was more transfixed at the intensity of the hatred he sees in the eyes of the young boy for him...

A/N: I didn't want it to end there but I'm beyond my word count so I'll save the rest for the next chapter. I'm so sad at the lack of KaZe doujinshis. If I only was talented enough to draw, I'd create as many as I can. I really envy Ao No Exorcist, the YukioxRin ship has loads of dj's! Anyway thanks for reading!