No Such Thing As Normal

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight, but it doesn't mean I don't want to own Zero.

I follow silently as Zero charges ahead, the chains on his belt clicking in tune with his long stride. My eyes move from our holding hands to Zero's broad shoulders. He's really hitting his growth spurt. I remember just four years ago, he arrived at our doorstep. He was my height then, but now... At least a head taller. His shoulders have broadened, no to mention his voice is now deeper. I chuckle silently as I remember his voice box cracked and squeaked for 3 months. He only ever speaks when necessary, but during that time, he avoided talking like a plague. I guess even Zero can be embarrassed.

Five years ago...

It was a cold night, the wind was howling and a snow storm was brewing outside of the window, I was about to go to bed after a long day, and a series of loud knocks reverberated through the house.

"A visitor at this hour?" said father with a worrying voice.

The knocks came again, this time louder and more desperate. "Coming, coming!", father ran to the door and swung it open. I followed him out of curiosity. Snowflakes drifted in and the wind howled. "Oh dear, detective Yagari, come in and go sit by fire, it must be freezing!"

"I cannot stay long Kaien, I'm still on duty. I need a place for this boy to stay." He leaned down, and pushed a pale little boy from behind him. I was shocked to see a boy, about my age, wearing clothes straight out of lost and found bin, with battered bruises on him and a bandaged neck. His eyes caught my attention, filled with hatred, with a hint of sadness swirling in a whirlpool of purple.

"This is Kiryu Zero, his mother attempted to kill him, but ended up committing suicide, right in front of him no less. His wounds were taken care of but... he has been through so much, and I don't want to just hand him over to the child services in his fragile state... I think you knew their family before the divorce..."

"Ah yes, the Kiryus; they were such a lovely family back then, but after the incident I lost contact with both of them. How did it come to this? And I never thought that she would be the type to do something like this..."

"I'd be happy to chat with you about the details later, but I need to get back to the crime scene."

"Wait, I will come with you, I'm out of practice but I'm sure I can be of some use... Yuuki!"

I raised my head and walked over. "I need to go out for a bit. This is Zero, he will be staying with us for now. Could you please show him the bathroom and the guest room?"

I nodded hesitantly. By then the boy, Zero, had become very expressionless, and almost lost in his own world. White skin, white hair, and long lashes framed his violet globes. I couldn't help but think that he was quite beautiful, and fragile at the same time. I slowly reached out my hand and hesitated again. "Can I touch you?" I asked, and wondered why I did, it was as if I wanted to confirm that he would not shatter under my touch. I took the lack of response as yes, and took him to the bathroom. I took off his ill fitted jacket and shirt. The bruises on him contrasted starkly to his white skin, and the neck was heavily bandaged. What happened to you? I remember thinking. He must be cold, his hair was wet from the snow, the rest of him was still covered with grime from the storm. "There is hot water in the bath." No response.

Perhaps a wipe down, a shower is definitely out of the question. So I took a sponge, and slow wiped the dirt off him. After I was done, I realised that his eyes were on me.

Ah, still here I see.

I wondered if I should ask him to change out of his sweat pants, but thought against it seeing that he is in no condition to do anything himself. I guess he can sleep in that... Then I lead him to the guest room, and settled him down. He turned his back to me straight away, and I wondered if I should leave...

When I suddenly felt an urge to cry.

Something in me clicked at the moment, he was just like me, his parents were taken away, and now he was all alone. I was lucky; I still had my brother. He had nothing. A strong, protective instinct that I didn't know existed welled up in me. With that thought, I decided that I wanted to help him, support him, and protect him. So I just sat there, and began to stroke his head, he froze, but then visibly relaxed. "I remember someone who is very gentle patted my head like that when I was afraid."

I didn't know how long I was there, I vaguely remembered Kaien coming in, and carrying me to my own room.

He will surely throw a fit if I call him beautiful now. Zero ended up staying at our home since he had settled in so well. The papers were complete for father to be his foster parent, although he blatantly rejects being adopted. My legs are beginning to get sore from the speed of Zero's power walking, and I try to pull my hand away. Zero, suddenly realising that he has been holding my hand the entire time, let go abruptly and then puts his hand back into his pocket, but slows down so that I can keep up.

"You know Zero, you should really consider getting adopted by Kaien, I mean he might be a little childish and is occasionally eccentric, but he really cares about you, and we already think of you as a part of the family..."

Zero cuts me off with his glare, and mumbles, "I will not call him father and you are not my sister." He speeds up again, and turns his face away from me. Ack! I really wish he would let me and my father in!

After a couple of minutes we reach the wrought iron gates that is the entrance of Cross Academy. "Oh wow it's nicer than I remember from the opened day, without all the store clutter and posters. Let's see, I think our class is in that building over there..." Before I could finish, I notice that quite a number of people stop and seem to be entranced by what is going on behind us. Both Zero and I turn, and my eyes widen. Kaname is getting out of a black limo right behind us, along with a blonde, green-eyed senpai that I don't recognise, from what I hear the family that adopted him also has a son. Ah so that must be him. I turn my attention back to onii-san. He's immaculate as always, and gives off an air of authority. The student council president has arrived. Chocolate hair and mahogany eyes that mirror my own suddenly meet mine and my heart races with excitement.

"Takuma, you go on ahead, I will catch up later." and then he heads my way. "Yuuki, I see that you are well, and Kiryu-kun", Kaname smiles gently, and nods at Zero, acknowledging his presence. An unspoken tension flows between the two.

"Um you know, I would be calling you Kaname-senpai from now on..." I look away feeling slightly embarrassed. Suddenly my words are caught in my throat and I'm not sure what to say. It's been months since I've last seen him and I have so many things to tell him, but my mind suddenly goes blank.

Kaname leans down so that he can whisper in my ear. "I can't talk for long. I need to go and prepare for the opening ceremony. Come to the senior's library during lunch, I'm sure I can escape my duties and talk to you."

I smile at him brightly and nod, watching him as he waves apologetically and turns to walk towards the seniors building. Zero's voice brings me out of my daze, "Come on, class is going to start," with a slight annoyance in his tone.

Author's Note: I made it so that Yuuki sees Kaien as more of a father than in the manga. I think in the manga Yuuki subconsciously knew that she wasn't really a human, so she never saw Kaien as a father. Since everyone is human here, there isn't a divide like that.

I was going fit all of the flashbacks in one go so I could go into some terribly mundane school life, but I realised that since I have to rewrite Yuuki and Kaname's past it's just too difficult to fit it all in with one go. So the next chapter is completely devoted to them.