N/A: I have to start by explaining something to all of you, so there won't be any misunderstandings. The OC resembles Yuuki in more ways than one.

So why did I create it, instead of just using Yuuki?

Well, aside from the obvious emotional struggle that Zero and Kaname have to go through, my main reason is that Snow is completely human, whereas Yuuki (as anyone who's read the manga knows) turns out to be a pureblood vampire. I warned you about spoilers in the first chapter, so don't throw anything at me :) That being said, on with the chappie.

Disclaimer: Last I time I checked I didn't own Vampire Knight.

Chapter 2

Snow woke up feeling more rested than she had in ages. After stretching her limbs, she got up and pulled the curtains, noticing a strange darkness in the room.

Nigh time?

She then realized she had slept during the day and fragments of a strange dream came back to her.

Red eyes…?

Someone…something with red eyes…a familiar figure, though she couldn't remember who it was.

What now?

It was forbidden for the Day Class to wonder off this late at night, as it said in the rulebook. But she couldn't go back to bed either.

Well, it can't hurt to go outside for a bit, she decided, putting on her black uniform.

She found her way out easily and entered the inner garden, enjoying the fresh air.

It's so peaceful, she thought.
Noticing a layer of flowers further ahead, she ran towards them, inhaling the sweet fragrance.

Roses…

As she touched one of the flowers, the thorn pierced her fragile skin, drawing blood.

"Ow!" she whispered, quickly removing her finger. "I shouldn't be touching them." she concluded, stepping away.

The sky was clear tonight and she allowed herself a moment to gaze at the stars. She felt kind of lonely out here, without any friends or family. Not to mention the strange aura this place seemed to emanate.

"What are you doing here?" A male voice interrupted the silence.

Snow turned around, startled, to see Zero looking at her with an angry expression.

"I just…" she started, taking a step back. His eyes had a strange intensity.

Suddenly, his hand grabbed her arm, pulling her closer.

"It's forbidden to be out at this hour."

Snow wanted to make an excuse, but Zero cut her off.

"You hurt yourself too."

How the hell did he figure that out? It's just a small scratch!

He held out her pierced finger, as if to prove his point. A droplet of blood appeared, running down her skin. Zero's eyes followed it, as if entranced. His grip tightened.

"Zero?" she spoke, trying to pull away.

His eyes turned to her and she gasped.
Red…red eyes.

She let out a small scream, closing her eyes and he let go of her hand.

"Go back to your room." she heard his calm voice.

Snow opened her eyes to see Zero looking at her with an indifferent expression. His eyes were purple, just as they always were…

That stupid dream! I must be imagining things.

"You…won't tell the Chairman about this?" she asked pleadingly.

Zero looked away.

"Just go."

"Good night!" Snow said, turning around and walking back to the dorm as fast as her feet could carry her.

Now I know for sure he dislikes me, she thought, a bit saddened by the thought. After all, I don't know anyone here.

ooooOOooooo

"Just who is she, anyway?" Zero asked, sitting in front of the Chairman's desk.

"She's the daughter of a vampire hunter…Raido." Kaien answered.

"I've heard about him from my parents. He operated outside of Japan. Why is his daughter here?"
"It seems his family's being targeted and he thought she'd be safe here."

Zero rolled his eyes disbelievingly.

"You know as well as I do that normal vampires wouldn't come near a place protected by Kuran Kaname."

Zero flinched at the mere mention of the name.

"She isn't aware of the existence of vampires though." Chairman Cross said.

"She's the daughter of a vampire hunter and still…?" Zero asked, surprised.

"Her father thought it was better this way." he replied. "Did she give you any trouble?"

"No." Zero said, turning to leave. He had all the information he needed now.

"Zero…" the chairman started.

The young vampire looked at him.

"I know it's painful…she looks a bit like…" he stopped suddenly, taking a deep breath. "You have to get over it."

Zero turned his back to the headmaster.

"I'm over it." he spoke, exiting the room.

Kaien Cross sighed, letting himself fall on the chair.

ooooOOoooo

Finally, lunchtime, Snow thought, hurrying to the cafeteria. She wasn't all that hungry, but she relieved to get away. The first day of class didn't go as well as she hoped.
She had taken a seat next to Zero, seeing as it was available, but he shot her a look of pure annoyance.

"It's custom manners to ask if you can sit here, you know. " he said, his gaze frozen.

Snow's face turned as red as a tomato and she lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry…You're the only person I know and since this seat was free…"

What's his problem?
"I could move away, if you like." she added, seeing as he wasn't saying anything.

"I don't care one way or the other." Zero replied, diverting his attention from her to the blackboard. The teacher had just entered the classroom.

Snow sighed, wondering if his personality was truly antisocial like that or if it was just towards her.

As soon as the lunch break began, she practically ran out of the classroom. The cafeteria wasn't that good of a change though. Everyone was expertly using their chopsticks to grab the food and she felt embarrassed. Sure, her father had showed her how to use them, but at home they always ate with a spoon and fork. She couldn't do it properly all of a sudden and certainly not the way everyone else did.

Figuring a way out of this, she rushed upstairs to the chairman's office. She knocked on the door and heard his voice, inviting her to come in.

"Uhm…" she started, a bit flustered.

"Yes, Snow, what is it?" Chairman Cross asked in a kind tone.

Encouraged, she spoke quickly.
"I was wondering if I could have lunch in my room…I'm not that good with chopsticks and…"

"Say no more." he stopped her, "You can have lunch with me if you like, I'm so tired of eating alone."

He was smiling and Snow smiled too, nodding.

"Thank you."

Ringing a bell, the Chairman had the food brought up to his office.

"Aww, they forgot to bring me wasabi. I eat wasabi with anything. If it's not spicy, it has no flavour, that's what I always say!" he laughed. "Do you like spicy food, Snow?"

She looked at him, amused.

"I love it, but I've never tried wasabi."

"Then it's settled! I'll go fetch it right away." He got up and exited the room.

Snow smiled, feeling better. The chairman was such a nice person! Maybe she could actually learn to fit in here…

Grabbing her chopsticks she practiced handling the food. As she raised it to her mouth, the small boulder of rice slipped from the chopsticks and on to the floor.

"Damn!" she cursed aloud.

"It takes patience, that's all." she heard a male voice and almost dropped the chopsticks in surprise as she turned to see the tall, dark-haired night class student.

Seeing how she was frozen in shock, he spoke first.

"I'm sorry to have startled you, I was looking for the Chairman."

"He'll be here in a minute…I didn't hear you come in." she told him, feeling uncomfortable. There was something about his presence that disturbed her.

"I have a habit of moving around quietly." he replied. "I'm Kuran Kaname."

Oh, I'm so stupid! I forgot my basic manners…

"I'm sorry!" she said, getting up quickly and taking a bow. "I'm Akai Snow. Nice to meet you."

"Akai…Snow?" his voice seemed melancholic.

"My father's Japanese, but my mother is European. She chose the name Snow…a bit weird, isn't it?" she smiled.

"Not at all. It's lovely." he replied.

Snow felt her cheeks warming up, sign that she had probably turned a bright shade of red.

"Kaname-kun…I see you met our new transfer student." The Chairman said, entering his office. "Did you want to see me about something?"

"We'll discuss it outside, if you don't mind, Chairman. Take a walk with me." Kaname said, then turned his attention to the girl. "I'll see you around…Snow."

She nodded weakly, almost unable to look away from him. What was it about his eyes that entranced her so?

"I'm so sorry, Snow, I guess we'll have to have lunch together some other time. Bon appetite!" Chairman Cross told her, handing a small plate filled with a green plasticine-like substance.

Snow took hold of her chopsticks again, but for some reason her appetite had disappeared.

ooooOOoooo

It was almost time for the next class to start, but Zero didn't plan on attending. He wiped the sweat of his forehead and let his head fall on the rough hay. No one would disturb him here, in the stable. He realized he was lashing out at this new girl, just because he wanted to make her hate him…Maybe that way she'd go away or at least leave him alone. He didn't want to get involved anymore, especially with someone who looked so much like her.

He remembered Yuuki's pale face, moments before she died.

Her eyes gentle and kind and her mouth forming a peaceful smile. She wanted to die as a human, even if she could have accepted Kaname's blood…maybe that way she would heal. She drank if before…but now she looked at both of them with a serene expression and shook her head at Kaname's desperate offering.

"Kaname-sempai…" she started in a weak voice, addressing him as she had when she was human. "You must stay in Cross Academy…for the sake of peace between vampires and humans. I know you can help the Chairman…daddy…accomplish his goal." she coughed out another violent wave of blood. "Tell him…I loved him very much."

"Yuuki!" Zero cried, falling to his knees in front of her. "Just drink his damn blood!"

"Zero…you didn't like me as a vampire…" she whispered faintly, still smiling.

"You're wrong! I've always lo…" he stopped mid sentence as her soft finger touched his lips.

"I know." her finger trailed down his lips.

Kaname's expression was a frozen mask, but Zero knew he was suffering.

"You have to back to the Academy too, Zero. With both of you there, I'm sure things will work out." Yuuki continued. "And please don't fight."

She let her arm fall to the ground, as her eyes looked far away.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful? A world where humans and vampires could coexist peacefully…" Those were her last words, before those beautiful brown eyes closed forever.

Five years had passed since then and he had returned to the Academy, according to her wish. So had Kuran, but the peace between them was fickle. It was all his damn fault, turning Yuuki into…something that was so different from the Yuuki he knew. He should've left her as a human. Damn purebloods and their stupid arrogance.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He had suffered terribly, but in the end he understood her decision. It was life as a pureblood vampire, forever…different than what she used to be…or death as a human. He would've made the same choice.

So he rejoined the Day Class and took on his duties as a prefect, as painful as it was. But he had isolated himself even more than before. His glares kept everyone at bay.

And now this girl comes along and tries to be friends with him…just like that. So like…Yuuki. He couldn't quite place his finger on what aspect of their personalities was the same. A kind of warmth…

Whatever it was, he didn't want to be so vulnerable again. Maybe he was a coward in that sense, but he couldn't handle the pain of constantly comparing her to Yuuki.

It was better off this way.

A/N: Eating with chopsticks is not as easy as you might think. Thanks to all of you guys who've supported me with your lovely comments!