General Knowledge

As Yuki continued her daily ritual of praising Kaname-Senpai all lesson, Maria and Yori sighed with one another. "When do you think she will stop?" Yori asked, closing her eyes tiredly.

"I have no idea, but I hope it is soon." Maria replied with pout, sitting back in her seat and stretching her arms.

"My apologies Maria, am I boring you?" Yagari-sensei blurted so unexpectedly, that Maria's chair tipped back and she fell on the desk behind her.

"N-no! Sensei… ouch." She mumbled, rubbing her head in pain.

"It's very unlike you to slip up so easily. Are you all right Maria?" Yuki asked her best friend with concern, "What's on your mind?" She smirked knowingly, "Could it have been the boy sitting right behind us? Huh? Huh, is it?" She whispered.

Maria blushed and shook her pained head urgently, "No, of course not Yuki! Besides I'm not as bad as you with your: 'Oh, Kaname-Senpai! He's so heroic and charming - the perfect prince!' We get it Yuki, you love him." She said with a few short laughs.

Yori smiled when Yuk began to deny it, adding, "Yuki, you're like his own personal stalker."

Maria gasped, "Oh, Yori! Now that was a little far…"

"Hmm, probably, but Yuki - you need to understand that if you like him don't wait around. Just go up to him and tell him how you feel." Yori wisely advised, as she finished the equations from the board. Yuki glanced out the window in thought.

"Humph, you're the last person I'd expect to be going down to the Moon Gates." He mumbled with a small groan, as Maria called for him to 'wait up'.

"Oh, don't worry Zero," She chuckled softly, "I'm not going to become a rabid fan girl. I'm just going to cheer Yuki on." As they continued down the staircase she nudged him thoughtfully, "You know you could do with some cheering up lately too. Do you want me to cheer for you Zero?"

He glared at the carpet, but shrugged none-the-less. Giggling, Maria took his hand in hers, "Then we better hurry or they'll be no Yuki left to cheer for!" Dragging him down the hallway, they passed many of their fellow students. Those that would chime gossip around the school, complete homework for a small fee, and the higher years whom would joyously ignore the presence of lower years such as Maria and Zero.

Huffing, she let go of his hand and ran into the mass of fan girls, "Move please!" Maria shouted out politely. To Zero's astonishment people did move. He had half expected her to be overwhelmed by the crowd and holler out for his help, but Maria made it to the front of the group with little trouble at all.

"Yuki!" She yelled with happiness, "Guess what, guess what - guess what!" She screamed a little louder.

Covering her ears, Yuki stressed out a 'My God! What?'

Letting out a small squeal, Maria sang quietly in her friend's ear, "Me and Zero held hands all the way here – that means progress."

Yuki's eyes widened with surprise and through her amazement she lost balance and fell onto the ground. Consequently this allowed the fan girls to get closer to the gates, but as they opened, each young girl lined up.

"Wow, they're very organized, aren't they Yuki?" Maria said, vaguely watching the girls shuffle about on their feet in anticipation.

Yuki quickly got to her feet and scuffed down her uniform, "I suppose - I swear they do this on purpose!" She hissed to herself.

"Good morning everyone! My, my, you're all so adorable, delicious even-"

"Aidou!" A small cry split through the crowed of night class students, as Kain Akatsuki hit his cousin over the head with one of Ichijou's mangas.

"No! Not my manga!" Takuma cried, as the tattered book was handed back to him.

Kaname chuckled at their antics and merely watched on in amusement. That was until a certain prefect caught his eyes. He sent Yuki a longing gaze, as she almost swooned at the sight of her Kaname-Senpai.

"Yuki, you know you have to breathe right?" Maria asked, prodding her friend, "It's no wonder I spend more time with Yuri," She muttered to herself, "She's not as crazy about the night class as Yuki."

"She's probably the only one that isn't crazy about them." A low voice said from behind. Screaming a little, Maria spun round and punched Zero in the stomach.

"Whoa…" She whispered, as he stared down at her with a somewhat determined face, "You didn't even twitch. What did I tell you about sneaking up on me? Didn't that hurt, at all?"

He grunted, "Not really." Maria's mind immediately began to wonder to more indecent thoughts, but in doing so, she blushed quite drastically and began backing away when Zero took a step towards her.

"I-err, I've got to go… and do; homework! Yes, homework! Yuri's been bugging me about it for a week, so you know…" She stuttered and bumped into someone behind her, as she continued to avoid Zero's piercing stare, "I'm so sorry!" She shouted, spinning to see the unfortunate soul she had knocked in to.

Akatsuki Kain.

His amber gaze drew her in, as she moved back and away from him. She proceeded to once more knock into another poor soul - Zero.

'Okay, not so poor.' She thought to herself, 'Now what do I do? Not only are they staring at me, but Akatsuki-san's admirers too!'

"Kain Akatsuki," He mumbled, taking her hand and placing a boiling kiss upon her soft skin. Blushing, she was about to pull away and run, but Zero dragged her away himself and separated the two from one another.

"Shouldn't you be getting to class?" He demanded with a strong and threatening tone. Maria sighed, falling into a fantasy of heroes and the like, which involved both men before her very own eyes and an evil dragon.

"I wonder which would win?" She said dreamily, unaware of the two frowning boys looking at her in confusion, "Which knight would win the heart of a dazzling princess? Forget the dragon, they'd have to battle it out themselves wouldn't they?"

Shaking her head furiously, Maria glanced left and then right. Nothing. There was no sign of either boy, nor any day or night class students.

'How long have I been standing here? Uh oh, I still, really do have that homework to finish. Yuri's going to kill me!'

Dashing over the grass and towards the Day Dorms, Maria heard someone call out to her. She halted and glanced at the woods, "I could have sworn…" She heard another shout. However, unlike the first, this call was familiar, though she had never expected Zero to yelp in pain. She followed the cries only to find Zero, Kain and Aidou.

"How odd," She said to herself, quietly, "Why would they be out of class?"

"You heard her earlier, Kiryu." Aidou stated, standing between Akatsuki and Zero.

"I don't see your point." He growled, the aim of his gun fixed on the bouncy blond vampire.

"It's simple," Kain said tonelessly, "Whoever wins, gets the princess - just like she said herself."

Gasping, Maria began to crawl further out of the shadows in order to halt the fight that was sure to ensue if she stood aside and did nothing.

"I can't let them go through with this. Those idiots are going to get us all in trouble!" She hissed to herself, gripping the sandstone wall of the main block. Tripping a little, Maria felt a tug on her sleeve. Looking back, she almost screeched.

A creature of great size and a dark aura was watching her menacingly. He continued to tug at her sleeve incessantly. His eyes were a deep hue of red and yet, still, a shade of blue was able to streak out of one of his eyes; miss-matched. His cheeks, as pale as winter snow.

Kaname?

No.

"Who are you?" She whispered in fright.

"Do you smell that?" Aidou complained.

"Smells like another pureblood." Kain commented idly, as he glared at the prefect in front of him.

"Should we not check it out? Tell Kaname-sama, or something?" Aidou asked with a serious visage and dark attitude. Kain sighed in aggravation, but complied easily enough. As they left to seek out their master, Zero heard a grunt of pain and followed the sweet trace of blood towards the tree line of the forest. He found drops and splatters across the grass, mixing with the fresh dew.

"What is this?" He pondered aloud, "What is happening?"

"Why are you doing this? Who are you?!" She shouted and wailed in pain, as he dragged her through the undergrowth of the forest.

"Hush up!" He commanded. For good measure he smacked her round the face with sharp claw-like nails. Maria sniffled, but otherwise quieted her pained moans. The beast's claws were stained red, her blood dripping from her uniform and tears soaking her cheeks.

"I don't understand." She whispered with fright.

"Kaname-sama, we sensed-"

"A presence," Kaname commented, cutting Aidou off, "I know. It is my uncle. Send Ruka, Rima and Shiki to watch over Yuki." He muttered, getting up from his chair and placing some documents on his desk, "You two and Ichijou will come with me."

Nodding hesitantly, Aidou and Kain left to gather the others.

"It's been a long time… uncle." Kaname said, staring at the forest with bloodshot eyes. "You've already gotten yourself a meal." He grinned maliciously, swiftly leaving his room.

"Help!" Maria screamed, praying for an angel to save her soon to be damned soul.

"I said hush! You would do well to listen to me. I'm a pureblood after all!" He shouted back, slapping her and digging his claws into her ankles. She whimpered and screeched in pain, twisting this way and that, attempting to make the pain go away, "Stop moving! Damn mortals these days!" He growled savagely.

He picked her up by her hair, tearing some out in the process, as he dragged a nail down her neck.

'Mmph!' Maria grunted, as blood seeped out through the torn skin. Her muscles tensed, as his inhuman teeth clamped down upon her neck and sucked out the small drops of crimson liquid.

"There, there, little girl, I'm only trying to become more powerful… ha ha! Your blood will help with that!" He grinned maliciously at her with a somewhat drunken expression that was also slightly dazed. Bending over her form, he bit into the main vein.

"Ah!" Maria yelped, her neck drowning in blood, "No! No, please stop!" She struggled to shout, her hands tearing and clawing at the strong arms that were clinging to her body. He slowly squeezed the blood from her body, teasing the tender flesh with his teeth. Weakened, she gave up, accepting death - they all did eventually. He smiled against her soft paling skin.

Should he change her?

That was the big question.

She cried, she bled, and she wallowed in self-pity. Her eye lids flittered open and closed every few seconds, as her breath came in short, rapid gasps. He lifted away from her.

"You know," He said, casually wiping the blood away with a napkin from his left pocket, "You might make a great asset to my team, after some training." He stood up and over her frail figure.

"Then again, you would also have made the most beautiful bride had been a pureblood." He squatted, stroking a cheek, "Shame." He whispered wistfully, "Such a bloody waste." He glared, contemplating.

"What are you doing out of class Kaname." Zero demanded, furiously cursing under his breath, as Aidou, Ichijou and Kain surrounded him.

"Why are you not patrolling, prefect?" The pureblood smugly retaliated.

Aidou shuffled on his feet, smelling the fresh trail left from Kaname-sama's uncle.

"Kain, Aidou, search the area for the other prefect… Maria-san, is it?" Kaname ordered, never removing his fixed gaze upon Zero.

Takuma's shocked voice cut through the thick and tense atmosphere, "You mean that is who your uncle has chosen to be his first victim?"

Kaname sighed, watching as Zero and Kain's eyes both widened in horror.

"We have to save her." Akatsuki determinedly asserted.

"What is this about? What has happened to Maria?" Zero demanded quite harshly, as he grabbed a hold of Kaname's shirt collar and pulled the pureblood to himself with great force.

Smirking, the pureblood easily removed the hunter's fists from himself and stood straight once more. Towering over the silver haired knight, Kaname explained, "Another pureblood has gotten to her." Shifting his weight, the pureblood stared at Zero with humor. "Does it comfort you to actually know her fate?" Kaname asked politely.

Turning, Zero considered the situation. "Fine," He said with a huff. "We'll work together to bring her back safely, but after that - I'm kicking your ass Kuran!" He shouted, glowering at the vampires.

Chuckling, Kaname gave a small nod, "Very well… prefect."

Growling, Zero ran off into the woods. Glancing at each other, Takuma shrugged and ran after him, the others following not too far behind…

"Please, I can't breathe properly!" Maria stuttered, trying not to give into the darkness clouding her eyes. She heard him laugh, but it was cut short by a loud and deafening bang!

"Kiryu!" She heard a stressed voice call through the woods.

Gasping and shaking with fright, Maria attempted to push away from the hands that grasped her arms. "Maria! Stop it! I'm trying to help you!" She heard Zero's frustrated voice grunt, as he pulled her bloody figure onto her feet.

Relaxing - just a little - within his arms, she immediately took in his strong scent and released a loud sigh of contentment.

Zero frowned at the young beauty before him. Her neck was marred, as droplets of blood slowly trailed down to her collar bone. His left eye twitched involuntarily and he could only hope that he would not lose his humanity in front of her.

"Zero!" Kain yelled by Kaname's large form, "Get her away from here!"

Both nodded to one another, as a look of understanding passed between the two.

Slinging her arm over his shoulders, Zero began to somewhat drag Maria from the battle scene. Kaname dived at his uncle, as Aidou froze the monster's feet. Kain and Takuma worked on distracting the vicious beast.

His breath was becoming rougher and hasty, as he gulped down air. Zero's eyes turned a vibrant red and he fell to the grassy floor, pulling Maria with him, as she let out a groan of pain and a small complaint.

She pushed herself up onto her hands, removing her face from the weeds and tall grass. "Zero?" She timidly ventured, looking round to see him leaning over and staring at his own bloody hands. "Zero?" Maria tried again, hesitantly placing her hand on to his shoulder.

He swiftly pulled away from her grasped and forcibly pushed her to the ground with a thud!

"Ouch, Zero?" She saw the colour – red like blood.

He bent down towards her, but as her eyes pleaded with his own murderous ones he blinked and the lilac returned. He appeared confused, as he watched the scared and tearful Maria struggle and shake under his weight.

Gasping, Zero leapt from her quivering form and gave out a sob of disgust, "Maria-san," He whispered fiercely, "I'm so- so sorry!"

"No!" She whispered harshly, hitting him upside the head, "Don't ever be sorry! That's not the Zero I'm used to," She whined, lightly kissing his cheek. "Thank you, for saving me." She gratefully expressed with a bright teary smile.

He looked at her, utterly speechless, until he finally gave up on the common sense he had been clinging to since he was turned. Leaning forward, they both met in the middle in a sweet chaste kiss.

"Zero you're a train wreck, but I couldn't love you if you changed." She told him with a grim smile, wincing from the pain.

He grinned like an idiot and immediately claimed her as his own. Zero grabbed her cheeks and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

They pushed away from one another to catch their breath.

A few meters away, watching from the cover of the forest foliage were two vampires.

"Come on Akatsuki, they'll never make it." Aidou said, attempting to cheer up his cousin, "After all, he'll still become a level E and then, ha ha ha! It'll be us that dispose of him!" He yelled with glee, "I'll let you have the honours if you wish."

Kain turned his amber gaze to his blond companion. "Thank you Aidou," He said lightly, throwing the flower he had picked earlier that day over his shoulder. "I'll keep that in mind." He told his cousin, smiling through a few un-fallen tears.

Grabbing his cousin's neck and pulling him down into a headlock, Kain forced Aidou into the Moon Dorm. He laughed all the way, as his cousin hollered and whined with annoyance.

Staring into each other's eyes, Zero took Maria's hand and licked the blood from her fingertips.

"I love you." He said, as though it was the simplest thing in the world. To him it was nothing more than general knowledge.

Grinning wickedly, Maria jumped him. They fell to the floor, Zero grunting as his back hit the grass with a thump.

"I love you." She said, laughing at his dazed expression, as she littered him with kisses.

He smiled.