I had, of course, noticed the looks the other vampires were giving me every time I called their beloved 'Lord Kuran' Kaname. Also the way I didn't bow to him every two seconds made their glares all the harder. Obviously they thought I wasn't giving their Lord the proper respect. And then there was the fact that I was allowed in the day class and they weren't. They knew that I was a vampire, they could smell it in my blood, but they did not understand why I should be allowed 'special treatment'.

And so, it didn't surprise me when I found myself alone, in a deserted part of the grounds, surrounded by Kaname's followers.

I had been on patrol with Yuuki and Zero. Zero, although he wasn't eager to be with me, didn't want to leave me alone with Yuuki either. So, finally, I suggested that they take half the grounds and I'd do the other half myself. Yuuki had seemed reluctant, and Zero suspicious, but eventually I convinced them that this way it was easier for everybody.

Which is why I was now in such a predicament.

Drat.

I had been hoping not to have to make a scene in front of Kaname's followers but now it seemed I had no choice. I looked at the glares and snarls I was receiving, discreetly looking for a break in their circle or an escape route so I wouldn't have to fight them.

There was none.

Oh well.

I stopped looking around and stood up straight, pretending not to notice I was cornered. I causally pushed my hair back behind my shoulders and tried a smile. "Nice night out isn't it?" I asked, my smile never wavering as I watched the two in front of me. Hanabusa Ido and *someone* Ruka I thought their names were. "Of course, I'm surprised Kaname has let you all off your leashes so you could come out and enjoy it."

There. That ought to get us right to the heart of the matter. I could have this finished before Yuuki and Zero finished their rounds.

Ruka hissed at me and Ido bared his teeth. Around the circle there were general sounds of disbelief, outrage and anger. I ignored all this, my eyes a silent challenge to anyone who dared to contradict me.

"How dare you disrespect Lord Kuran." Ido spat at me. "Just who do you think you are? Show some respect for your Lord, and for a pureblood!"

I chuckled. If Hanabusa thought I was going to explain myself to the likes of him he was sadly mistaken. "'Lord Kuran', is it?" I asked innocently. "I suppose you would prefer if I called him that?"

"Yes." Hanabusa growled at me. "Although frankly I don't think you should be allowed to even speak of him, much less speak to him. Lord Kuran has no time for the likes of you."

"Hmm..." I said, considering. There was so much I could respond too in just that one sentence it was had to choose which retort I should use first. "But you see..." I said, smiling prettily. "Kaname isn't my 'Lord'. He never was and never will be. In my eyes he's an upstart little child who is only now beginning to understand the grasp of power. He is nowhere close to a Lord yet." I smiled at the outraged expression on their faces. "And perhaps you should ask Kaname himself whether or not he 'has time for me'. He certainly seemed to think he did. Maybe you should go inform him that you have all decided he is not allowed to speak with me any more. I doubt he'll like it."

"Why you little-" One of the others around the circle started.

"How dare you speak like that about Lord Kuran!" another cried.

"If you will not give Lord Kuran respect," Hanabusa growled out, between his teeth. "Then we will just have to teach you to respect us all!" A ball of fire appeared in his hands as the others called their powers as well, that were their right as vampire aristocrats. Fire and ice raced towards me, one made a whip of his own blood and cracked it towards me, others twirled weapons menacingly, just waiting for the chance to strike.

I gathered my power, born from my own pure blood, waiting till the last possible second. But before I could do anything, a blur made of girl and anti-vampire staff came flying out of the air, landing directly in front of me. "Stop!"

Instantly the powers stopped midair, some only inches from the girl.

"Yuuki Cross." Hanabusa sneered, his fire hovering, as though he was debating whether or not to burn her and then go on to me. "Get out of the way. This doesn't concern you."

"You're threatening a member of the disciplinary comity!" Yuuki yelled back. "Now stop Ido! Or I'll tell the headmaster about this!"

Hanabusa narrowed his eyes at her. Suddenly a stiff breeze blew through the circle, extinguishing Ido's fire and making all the vampires stumble back a few steps. I smiled and laid my hand on Yuuki's arm. "It's fine Yuuki. I think we're done here. Hanabusa, if you insist, I'll call him whatever you wish. But you'd better start being careful how you act around Yuuki. Your 'Lord' won't be happy with you if she gets hurt."

Ignoring Yuuki's bewildered look, I wrapped my arm around the girl and swept, gracefully, out of the circle. I didn't slow or look back until I had marched Yuuki all the way to the front gate, where Zero was waiting for us.

"Where were you?" he demanded, then he saw my arm practically dragging Yuuki along. "Let go of her!"

Obediently I withdrew my arm and allowed Yuuki to stumble away from me. "What was that?" she demanded, looking at me. "What did they want? Were they trying to bully you?"

Zero looked back and forth between us and I could tell he was putting together his own version of what happened. I smiled at Yuuki's concern and shook my head. "They were just being stupid. It's nothing to worry about. And now, if you'll both excuse me, I'd like to get some sleep before tomorrow's classes. Good night."

Ignoring Zero's muttered comment of "I thought vampires only slept in the day." I waltzed passed them and back to my own room in the sun dorms. Tomorrow, Kaname was going to get an earful, if not from me then from Hanabusa, though I doubted he'd be so brave as to tell Kaname the exact truth of what had played out tonight.

Either way, tomorrow was sure to be interesting.

The next day I stood with the rest of the disciplinary comity policing the change over between the day class and the night class. The day class had formed along either side of the path leading from the moon dorm to the school and were eagerly awaiting the vampire's entrance.

I doubted they'd be so eager to see the night class students, beautiful or not, if they knew what they really were. What we really were.

The moon gates opened.

I watched along with the rest of my classmates as Ido and Ruka lead the vampires out. I threw them both a wink as they passed which they pretended not to notice.

Behind the rest of the vampires walked Kaname, gifting the day students with just a hint of his gentle smile as he nodded a hello to them. He stopped first by Yuuki, exchanging a quiet greeting with her and making the younger girl blush prettily. Then he moved on to me.

He paused in front of me, but before he could say anything I smiled, bowed deeply and said "Lord Kuran. Good afternoon to you, my Lord."

Kaname looked confused. For a moment it looked as though he'd return my bow, but at a quick glance at all the eyes on us he stopped and instead simply inclined his head. "Miss Kara." I could tell he wanted to call me Lady, to return my curtsey, but didn't want to make any more of a scene. The 'Miss' was as respectful as he could get without arousing a great deal of curiosity. "Thank you, good afternoon to you as well." He frowned and took a step closer to me, lowering his voice in a vain attempt not to be overheard. "What's the meaning of this? Why are you calling me Kuran?"

I took a step back, placing more distance between us again. "Simple, my Lord. It has been brought to my attention," here I spared a glare for Ido and Ruka. "That I have not been giving you the proper respect. I do apologize. I suppose I'm just not used to being around such distinguished company."

The day class students were thoroughly confused by this point, none of them with any clue what was going on, except Zero and Yuuki of course. Kaname's eyes widened in understanding and he threw a glare of his own at his followers. "I see." he said, his voice cold and hard. "I understand perfectly. Please, Miss Kara, I would much prefer for you to call me by whatever you please. 'Kaname' is perfectly fine."

"But that's not giving you enough respect!" I protested, the ghost of a chuckle in my eyes as I shared the irony with Kaname. It should really be him bowing before me, and we both knew it.

Kaname smiled at my look, then his face became serious. "Please, Kara." he said quietly, inclining his head to me. "Call me Kaname. As a favor to me."

I sighed. "Oh, very well, if you insist."

He nodded and inclined his head to me again before he turned to continue on to class. The look he gave Hanabusa and Ruka made me very, very sure that they would be getting a stern talking to later. At the very least. I was suddenly very glad that I was not in their shoes.