Okay my CapriKittens (what I call my fans/readers), so I was working on my other story like I had planned but ran into a roadblock with the chapter. If you're into Fairy Tail please go check out my author's note. Maybe yall can help. Please and thank you!

I know my postings are erratic but my work schedule is never the same. I'm a night/midnight shift worker for an Assisted Living/Memory Care company. We have two facilities and I work at both of them. I also have a lot going on in my personal life. My bio mom's PCA has been taking days off and I go to her place to take care of her during those times. I moved out of a bad living situation as well and where I'm living now didn't have wifi for the longest time. I also got into a bit of a car accident on Oct. 4th and ended up with a bad concussion and a sprained neck. I was out of work for 2 weeks and wasn't allowed to watch tv or be on a phone or laptop at risk of worsening the concussion. I'm doing better now and am back at work which is hectic due to COVID. I ask that you all please be patient with me.

Anyway, that's enough about me. Like I said before, things are basically the same up to Shizuka's death. There will be slight changes but those will be seen in flashbacks and thoughts through the story probably. Of course I will say the relationship with Shizuka and Ichiru will be different simply because it was made for Zero/Zoe's sake.

Okay my dear ones; Onward to the story.

Description: When Shizuka decided to take revenge on the Kiryus it went differently than planned. Years later, her death sets many changes into motion. It throws off the plans of many and causes much trouble and confusion. How does Zero deal with the conflict it causes? How will Kaname make up for these unexplained events making kinks in his plans? Female Zero Kaname/Zero Read more in A Daughter's Life.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Vampire Knight. That belongs to Hino Matsuri.

Chapter 3

The Awakening

Zero rushed to where Shizuka was staying. He wanted to believe it was because of Yuki but he knew deep down it wasn't because of her. He hated that it was because of his own curiosity.

Something about this whole situation didn't feel right to Zero. Like Ichiru and Shizuka were acting parts. Their behaviors seemed like they were forced and it didn't sit right with him.

Zero knows that as a hunter he should hate vampires but he couldn't. It felt wrong to hate them, like it went against his very nature. He couldn't hate them when he himself only felt like being a vampire made him feel less like something was wrong with him. Zero, since as far back as he could remember, had felt like his very being was wrong. Like everything about him wasn't right. So he acted the part. He acted like a hunter should. He didn't know what else to do.

Zero arrived and immediately acted when he saw that Shizuka was about to drink Yuki's blood. He startled when Yuki protected Shizuka. Hearing Yuki claim that drinking Shizuka's blood would save him made him angry. Like Yuki had no right to talk about Shizuka that way.

Zero told the girl that he would get the blood himself. He couldn't help but startle when Yuki tried to use the bracelet on him. Then Shizuka used her power over him, it was blurry during that time but he remembered the vampire biting him.

He shot his leg to regain control and shot at Shizuka. He was angry with her. Zero felt like she was pretending to be this way. When the pureblood left, he made to follow. He had to know what was going on. Why he felt like his relationship with her was more than just master and servant.

Zero stopped in surprise when Ichiru blocked his way. He couldn't take it anymore, "What's going on Ichiru? Why does this all feel like some big act?" he paused when his head throbbed, "What's happening to me?"

Zero fell to his knees as the throbbing got worse. He reached for Ichiru wanting the comfort of his brother.

Ichiru smiled sadly at Zero before walking up to him and getting to his knees. He put Zero's head in his lap. He pulled a vial filled with blood out of his pocket, "It will all feel better and make sense soon Zero," opened the vial and watched as Zero's eyes turned red with bloodlust, "Drink this, all of it, and everything will be as it should be."

He poured the vial of blood down Zero's throat and waited. It only took a few moments before Zero clenched his head in pain.

XxX

Memories flew through Zero's, no Zoe's, mind. She could feel her body change as her memories unlocked and filled her head. Her veins were on fire as the blood in them changed to her pure blood. The very blood she got from her mother that made her Hio Zoe.

Zoe opened her eyes when the fire she felt inside cooled down. Her first sight was of Ichiru smiling down at her. She reached a hand up and put it on his face. She gave him a gentle smile, "You did this for me Ichiru? You helped mother get me back? Why?"

Ichiru held his hand over hers on his face, "Because you are the only family that matters to me. You went through so much suffering after coming back to us. I couldn't bear to see you in such pain. I had to help you. When Shizuka offered to help me get back at our 'family' and help you, I couldn't say no. I've been helping her all this time while I grew stronger to protect you. She gave me her blood to strengthen me. I trained for all these years to become your knight to keep you safe.

We concocted this plan when it became clear it was the only way to get to you. It hurt both of us to the very core to cause you so much pain. It was the only way to help you though. Shizuka knew you were close to falling to Level E and we had little time to act. She gave me this vial of blood in case she wasn't able to give you her blood herself."

Zoe felt tears start to fall from her eyes. Her mother and brother had done all of this for her. To protect her and help her become who she was meant to be.

Zoe jerked up when she smelt her mother's blood. She looked to Ichiru and saw a concerned look on his face as well. She focused with all her might to teleport herself to where her mother was.

She opened her eyes to see Kuran with his arm through her mother's chest. She gasped in fear and worry, "Mommy?"

XxX

Shizuka was fuming as she walked into her room. She was furious that that upstart little girl had a bracelet that tamed her child. Who did that little chit think she was? At least when Zoe awakened it would get rid of that tattoo on her neck.

Shizuka noticed the other presence in her room. She turned to Kuran and leveled him with her gaze.

"You're bleeding so much Shizuka-san. Then again that is the point of Hunter weapons. To lessen our ability to heal as well as kill us," he appeared behind her, "It makes this much easier. I am truly sorry for this but I am doing this to protect someone."

Shizuka felt the hand burst through her chest and grunted in pain. She really couldn't blame him for wanting to do all he could to protect his precious one. She had done the same for Zoe.

"I sympathize with you Kaname-san. You're doing this to protect Yuki, correct? You don't need to answer, I know I'm right," she told him, "I've done all this for one person as well. I won't fight back but in return you must protect my precious one in return."

"Very well," Kaname bit into her throat.

He was only able to drink a few mouthfuls when he felt the strong aura of another pureblood. He looked up to see a young woman who looked like Shizuka. His surprise only grew when he heard her say, "Mommy?"

'Mommy?' When did Shizuka have a child? How had she kept her daughter hidden? Why was the young woman wearing a male Day Class uniform? There were so many questions but he couldn't figure out what to ask. Kaname looked down and pulled his hand from Shizuka's chest. He lowered the other pureblood to the ground and backed up.

Kaname watched as the young pureblood woman ran up to her mother and got onto her knees next to her. The young woman put her hands on Shizuka's chest trying in vain to stop the bleeding. Shizuka put her right hand on top of her daughter's and shook her head and put her left hand on the girl's face when she started crying. He wasn't sure what to do now. He felt wrong looking upon the scene between mother and daughter.

Shizuka looked up at Kaname with a small knowing smile, "This is my little princess, Zoe. That night you let me out I had more than one motive. Get revenge on the Kiryus and to also reclaim my daughter from them. Zoe was once Kiryu Zero. Keep her safe for me Kaname-san. Don't let the Council lock her up like they did to me."

Kaname nodded and stood to the side to gather his thoughts while he let mother and daughter spend Shizuka's final moments together.

XxX

Zoe rushed to her mother's side as Kuran lowered Shizuka to the ground. She tried to stop the bleeding despite knowing it would be in vain. She felt her mother's hand join the ones on her chest. She looked at her mother's face and started to cry when Shizuka shook her head. Zoe felt her mother's other hand rest on her face and she leaned into it.

Zoe could hear Shizuka talking to Kuran but honestly didn't hear a word. It all sounded muffled to her. She couldn't help but blame herself. If she hadn't shot her mother she wouldn't have been too weak to fight off Kuran.

"Zoe, my little princess, I can tell what you're thinking and it's not your fault. I planned it, my baby. It was the only way to get you back. Don't blame Kaname-san, I figured this would happen and I don't regret it. Please trust him. He'll keep you safe. Ichiru will also be there to keep you safe my little one," Shizuka gave her daughter a teary smile.

"I just got you back," Zoe sobbed, "I don't want to lose you forever mommy."

"You won't lose me forever my little princess. I'll always be in your heart. Drink the rest of my blood baby. You need it to regain your strength," Zoe shook her head at her mother, "Don't shake your head at me. Please do this for me my little one. I want you to."

Shizuka used her left hand to pull her sobbing daughter's head down to her neck, "Drink baby. Remember I love you so much. Let me do this last thing for you."

Zoe nodded and bit into her mother's neck. She drank her fill and looked up at her mother when finished.

Shizuka was starting to fade away, "I love you mommy. I love you so much. Please don't leave me. I'll do anything. Just please stay with me. I just got you back. We can go home and be with everyone again. Just please don't go."

Shizuka gave her daughter one last smile as she disappeared completely.

Zoe looked down at her hands for a moment in shock. She finally comprehended her mother was gone forever and promptly screaming and sobbing.

XxX

Kaname felt for Zoe as he watched her break down in her grief. He looked up in time to see Kiryu Ichiru arrive. The silver haired man immediately gathered the young woman in his arms, holding her while she cried.

He stood awkwardly to the side as Zoe cried herself to sleep. He held up his hand when Yuki and Cross arrived to keep them quiet. Kaname looked back to Ichiru, "Kiryu-san, why don't you bring Zoe to her room at Cross' home. I think we can wait until tomorrow for a better explanation."

Ichiru only nodded in response before picking Zoe up and leaving.

Kaname turned to Yuki and Cross, "I believe we will get a full explanation tomorrow but from what little I know it appears that Kiryu Zero is actually Hio Zoe, a pureblood. I am unsure of the full details but from what Shizuka-san said she and Kiryu-san broke the spell on Zoe this evening."

Yuki was flabbergasted, "This is so confusing. I don't get it. How can Zoe be Zero? I thought Zero was a Level D not a pureblood."

Cross put his hand on Yuki's shoulder, "Like Kaname-kun said, I believe Zoe-chan will give us a better explanation when she wakes. Let's all get some sleep," he led her out of the room.

Kaname took one last look around the room before leaving for his own. He paused when he entered the Moon Dorm. Aido was sitting on the couch lost in thought.

"Aido I know you were there for everything. You'll be coming with me tomorrow when Zoe-san is awake," he told the blond before heading up to his room.

Aido nodded mutely, shocked that Kaname wasn't punishing him. He had expected to be punished for eavesdropping. He credited it to the shock of everything that had happened tonight. He knew he was in shock himself. He gave one last sigh before heading for his own room.

XxX

Ichiru arrived at the room where Shizuka-hime had been staying in the Old Moon Dorm. He walked to the bed and laid Zoe in it. He removed her shoes and covered her before making his way to the couch where he intended to sleep.

Ichiru was stopped by a hand grabbing the back of his coat. He turned to look at Zoe.

"Will you sleep with me? I don't want to be alone," she had unshed tears in her eyes.

Ichiru's could feel his heart breaking after seeing the look on her face. He gave her a gentle smile, "Of course."

He took off his jacket and shoes before climbing into the bed with her. She curled up into his side and he wrapped his arm around her. He held her close as she started to cry and hummed a lullaby their mother used to sing for them. He didn't stop until she had cried herself to sleep.

Ichiru kissed the top of her head before succumbing to sleep himself. Tomorrow was bound to be busy and stressful, just as today had been.

XxX

So what do you guys think? Is it good? I'm sorry it took so long to get this up. I know it isn't as long as the previous chapter but I wanted to get something posted for you guys since you waited patiently for so long! I live a busy life between work and personal things. I really hope it turned out well. Please feel free to review and give constructive criticism!

Also is anyone interested in beta reading for me? I have 2 fics in the works but you could choose to just beta read this one. It would be using Google Docs because I use it when not home. I got a Bluetooth keyboard I can use with my phone so I can work on my stories. Google docs is the easiest thing to use and be able to possibly add a beta reader to help out. Just dm/pm me or comment to let me know.

-CapricornKitty

(Tyler Zeta)

(Mama Kitty)