A/N: i still refuse to believe that Yuki did not know about the vampire class ranks. it does not make sense for her to know when she's lived her entire life around vampires.

Life of the Party;

Naomi was trapped in a room; a beautiful room where everything looked expensive, but she couldn't get out. The windows wouldn't open, she even tried to smash with one of the mahogany chairs, but nothing happened. The chair and window remained unscathed. The gold handle on the door refused to give even when she was sure she had picked the lock. She supposed she could have been locked in a dirty and ugly room.

Naomi dragged her hands through her hair, where am I? She looked out the window and tried again to open it, but it wouldn't budge. The window glass was cold to the touch – it was snowing outside. The trees had lost their natural green color and at a distance she saw a tall figure. A man, but she couldn't make out his face. Naomi pressed her face closer to the glass and squinted; hoping she could get a clearer visual of him.

It's useless, thought Naomi, he's too far away.

The man looked up at her. She ducked under the windowpane. Holding her breath, Naomi peaked her head up. She gulped; the man was still watching. She could make out a smile and when the snow cleared, she saw those eyes. The ones that have been haunting her, but she couldn't make out anything else. Naomi's breathing became heavier, but he was a little boy. The vampire that kept stalking her was a little boy, unless he wasn't a little boy. Could vampires snatch bodies? Could they alter my perceptions so that I would think he was a child?

Naomi ducked her head back down; how did I even get here? She crawled towards the lock door. She needed to get out of this room – out of this house. She yanked on the handle harder each time, but it would not open.

Naomi stood up and banged her hands against the door, "Let me out!"

She grabbed the chair again and threw it at the window with a scream, "Leave me alone, you piece of shit!"

Naomi breathed shallower, heavier until she stopped breathing altogether, this is a dream.

Naomi jolted awake. She could barely catch her breath when she felt someone yank her out of bed.

"What the hell?!" She wrenched her arm off as she saw two familiar prefect sashes, "What are you two doing here?"

"We're going to the Moon Dorms," Yuki said. "We were invited."

Naomi whined, "Why?"

Zero spoke up, "They all wanted to formally meet you."

"And it has to be tonight?" Naomi gave herself a look over in the mirror, "I look like someone," she glared at Zero through the mirror, "just yanked me out of bed." She raised her hands to start fixing her black hair.

"The sun has barely gone down, " snapped Zero. "What were you doing asleep?"

Naomi grabbed the perfume bottle from her desk and sprayed him in the face, "You suck."

Zero's face scrunched up as the spray hit his face and started sneezing.

Yuki quickly placed herself between them. She hoped she wouldn't have to play mediator between them all night.

Naomi smirked at Zero as she sprayed her perfume on the necessary spots on her skin and saw him wiping his face from the floral fragrance.

Yuki sighed, "Come on, we have to go."

Naomi groaned, "For real?"

Zero glared at Naomi, "For real." He took a step toward her, "Am I going to have to drag you there?"

After what she did, he would thoroughly enjoy it.

Naomi scowled, "No need to manhandle me, Zero."

Yuki stood firmly between them switching her glances to the between the of them. They really were similar, except maybe Naomi was more carefree and mischievous. She knew they would get along eventually.

Yuki smiled, "Before we leave," she took out the vampire hunter weapon Cross gave her, "her."

Something cold landed on Naomi's palm: a silver butterfly knife. She had never held a weapon before, she had always told herself the only weapon she would ever need was her brain; but that has clearly been compromised. She held the knife tightly, "Let's go then."

The walk to the Moon Dorms was surprisingly quiet. Not that Naomi cared, she was too busy inspecting her new weapon. She unfurled it from its silver casing – the blade was double edged with a small rose engraved rose on the bottom half very close to the handle and pointed at the end; perfect for stabbing someone. She pressed her fingertip to the sharp tip; she pressed a little harder against it.

It doesn't hurt, she realized.

"It's a vampire hunter weapon," Zero said, "it doesn't hurt humans."

Naomi hummed in acknowledgement but didn't take her eyes off the blade. She looked at the handle; the handle had small vines with thorns engraved on it. The next thing she did was only to see if what Zero said was true – she sunk the blade in her palm. It wouldn't go through like the weapon had a mind of its own and refused to hurt her.

Small and deadly, she thought, and perfect for my pockets.

Naomi raised her head to at the two prefects and jokingly brandished the weapon against Zero, "So if I were to stab you it would go through?"

"Yes." Zero said, "Not that you'll ever be able to hit me."

Naomi didn't lower the blade, "Arrogant much?"

"Judging from the P.E. coach's notes on your physical prowess," Zero grunted, "I'd say yes."

Yuki didn't know if they were bonding or not, but she lowered Naomi's raised hand either way. Naomi laughed – they all seemed to be on the same side for right now. Part of Yuki was glad that Naomi hadn't brought up what happened that night, but she also didn't want Zero to agitate her too much. Who knew what Naomi would say if she got too angry with him, but for now Naomi slipped the butterfly knife in her pocket.

Naomi could see the Moon Dorms only a few feet away from them, "Am I going to have to mingle? And pretend to make nice with these people or what?"

Yuki smiled, "Just be yourself."

Zero lightly scoffed, "Better keep that knife handy."

Zero was right. Naomi could only nice when she wanted something from someone and she wanted nothing from any of the Night Class students, except for them to leave her alone.

Suddenly, Naomi was crushed against two backs. She saw long staff cross over her body shielding her as Zero's arm covered her back.

"Here to welcome us," Zero pointed his gun at a red-haired vampire, "vampires?"

Naomi's shifted from the stranger to Aido, "Here I was hoping I wouldn't have to see you again."

Aido's face pulled into a snarl, "Ichijo asked otherwise I wouldn't have come," he stepped closer to her, but Yuki held the end of her staff up against his neck, "especially if meant greeting you."

"Tell me," Naomi smirked, "did you manage clean out all of the spit from your eye?"

Aido grabbed Yuki's staff disregarding the pain the staff it caused him, "Wanna say that aga –"

"Aido," The vampire to Zero's side warned and raised his hands in surrender, "Don't be at odds with my kind." He said, "We're not looking for a fight, so put your weapons away."

Yuki and Zero only did when the both vampires stepped away from them.

"My name is Akatsuki Kain," The vampire introduced himself, "and you've met my cousin, Hanabusa Aido."

"It wasn't a pleasure," Naomi remarked.

Aido gritted his teeth together, "It wasn't a pleasure meeting you either."

Naomi ignored him. Someone this easily angered wasn't worth her time.

"Naomi," Yuki warned.

"What," Naomi shrugged, "you said to be myself."

Kain hand shot up to grab Aido's shoulder clearly to temper his cousin as he and Aido led them across the Moon Dorms courtyard.

Yuki and Zero were flanking her the entirety of the way and Naomi was doing her best to ignore the prying eyes of the Night Class students. They tolerated the Headmaster's adoptive children knowing their secret but an outsider?

Naomi's eyes stayed cold and emotionless; they think I'm a liability. Their entire secret has been compromised by me knowing this.

They entered the Moon Dorms and Naomi felt a chill run down her spine. Vampires were everywhere, even if Zero, Yuki, and her decided to fight their way out they wouldn't make it. She wouldn't make out of here alive if they all decided to pounce on them.

I'm surrounded. There's no way to escape, thought Naomi, no way to come up with a clever plan to sneak away. All I have is Yuki and Zero.

"Ichijo," Kain called out, "they're here."

A blonde vampire spun to cheerfully greet them, "I'm so glad you could make it!" His eyes fell on Naomi, "And you brought the new prefect!" He gave her a toothy grin, "I'm Takuma Ichijo, very nice to meet you," he shook her head enthusiastically. "This is great you can meet everybody!"

Naomi surveyed the room – everyone was dressed nicely, and a large cake was behind Ichijo. All of this clearly was not just for her. They were celebrating something.

"Naomi" she said as she took her hand from Ichijo's hold, "Nakamura."

Ichijo's smile and cheerful demeanor did not waver from her cold actions, even as Naomi's eyes narrowed at him. Granted, her reaction wasn't from disgust but mostly confusion; Is he – Is he, she thought, sparkling?

Ichijo put his hand on the small of her back guiding towards the large cake on the table, "Today's my birthday!" He grabbed a plate from the table, "Here, have some."

Naomi shook her head, "I'm good."

Ichijo's smile wavered, "Well-"

"We didn't come her to play," Zero said beside her.

Yuki spoke on the other side of her, "We're here on official prefect business."

Naomi had to give the prefects credit where credit was due – they were not leaving her side.

"I'm not prefect," Naomi said to Ichijo, "by the way."

Murmurs filled the room as she said that.

"Oh," Ichijo eyes widened, "I just assumed."

"You assumed wrong."

Yuki stepped in front of Naomi, "Introducing her was our main reason for coming here but we're also here ask about the Level – E vampire in town."

Naomi stared at Yuki, ha! I was a trojan horse. She almost laughed, good on her.

Ichijo sighed, "Alright, ask away."

"Why were you there?" asked Yuki. "Vampire hunters are supposed to deal with Level – E vampires."

Ichijo's gaze shifted toward Naomi, "I'm sorry, this must be confusing for you."

Only a little, thought Naomi.

"Level – E's are ex-humans," Kain informed.

"In vampire society," Ichijo put his cake plate down, "there are levels – to put it in a pyramid at the apex there are Level – A's: Purebloods. Below them are Level – B's: Nobles and Level – C's: Normal vampires. Then there are Level – D's: Humans that are turned into vampires." He exhaled, "Level – E's are not even on the pyramid. They're not people any longer just ravaging beasts."

A piece of shit class system, thought Naomi, that forces and perpetuates the separation of people.

"Otherwise known as the 'End Class'." Kain said.

"The Level – E I killed was ravenous, " Ichijo said, "he would've slaughtered his way through town."

"So, they're mindless," said Naomi.

A voice came from above them, "Correct."

Everyone turned to look at who spoke, Kaname Kuran.

He leaned against the wall, "Ichijo was sent there on my orders." His attention was directed at Yuki, "Why didn't you report this to Headmaster Cross, Yuki?"

Yuki refused to look away from Kaname, "I wanted to know for myself first."

Kanama sighed, "Coming to such a dangerous place just for that and with Kiryu and Naomi."

Naomi's nose scrunched up, again? We're not friends.

Kaname sat gracefully down on a velvet couch. Naomi never thought someone could sit gracefully.

Yuki and Naomi went up the steps together with Zero following close behind them as Naomi stopped with one more step left. She leaned on the railing, when it came to it, she was still closer to the exit.

"Yuki," Kaname said gently, "sit with me."

Yuki flushed red, shook her hands rapidly, "No, no, it's fine."

Kaname said firmly, "Yuki."

In an instant Yuki was sitting beside him.

To think Naomi congratulated her on using her to get into the Moon Dorms to get answers. She supposed that's where Yuki's backbone ended, especially when Kaname wrapped his arm around her shoulder and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Naomi," Kaname said, "why are you so far away?"

Naomi's eye slightly twitched in annoyance; since when are we so familiar that we're on first name basis?

Bluntly, she said, "No reason."

Kaname's eyebrow raised, "Hoping to sneak away?"

"If I want to leave," Naomi said, "I will just leave."

Everyone's eyes were on her and at the corner of her eyes she saw Zero lean in closer to her.

"I'd ask you to sit with me, but you'd only fight me." Kaname held Yuki a little tighter as he stared at Naomi, "You should know – the safest place for the two of you is next to me."

Naomi slipped her hands into her skirt pockets. She narrowed her eyes at him, "And why would we be in danger?"

"Yuki goes into dangerous places," Kaname said, "and you, cause yourself to be in dangerous situations."

Sarcasm dripped from her voice, "How insightful."

The vampires glared at Naomi. Some gripped their weapons but didn't take them out.

"How dare she talk to Master Kaname like that."

Zero moved closer to her.

"She should suffer."

Naomi casually hummed as she ignored the angry chattering of vampires.

Kaname sighed, "Truth is, Naomi, ex-humans should've never been created." He grabbed Yuki's arm and pushed up her sleeve, "But, in time long past when the battle between vampire and vampire hunters was at its fiercest," he unwrapped Yuki's bandages, "vampires wanted to add more soldiers to their ranks, so they began turning humans. As it's a Purebloods fault that humans were turned into vampires, we have taken the responsibility to take care of them."

Kaname swept her hair from her face, "You were injured were you not, Yuki?" He pressed lips softly on the cut on her elbow, "Let me heal this for you."

Yuki blushed as warmth cascaded around her.

A faint purple glow shimmered on her wound and the wound began to stitch itself back together. It was an odd sight for Naomi.

Zero spoke up, "The hunting of vampire should be left to vampire hunters."

Kaname shifted his attention from Yuki's wound to Zero, "Then why didn't you kill it? Or is it that your pity him, Kiryu?"

That was low, Naomi was she could think as everyone around her moved in a blur. She was roughly pressed up against the railing; the railing dug into her back, but Naomi reacted just fast enough to slash at the vampire's cheek forcing him to back off. The wound where she slashed started to get wider and some of his flesh was melting off.

Zero's gun was pointed straight at Kaname's forehead, while a girl with an awful bob had her hand up against Zero's neck – blood was trickling down staining his white dress shirt.

The vampire in front of her lunged for her again. She raised armed arm to strike but a wall of ice stopped the vampire in its tracks.

Yuki was up half up from the couch. Her hand resting on her on her staff, but Kaname was stopping her from reaching Naomi.

"Seiren, it's fine. The one that spoke carelessly was me." Kaname said his eyes not leaving the vampire that attacked her, "Thank you, Aido for upholding the Chairman's peace treaty."

Naomi glanced at Aido; no way am I thanking him. He was standing just two steps below her; they attacked me!

The vampire held his bleeding and damaged cheek, "She attacke – "

"You attacked her," Kaname snapped, "Naomi was defending herself."

Zero put his gun down. A glint of guilt passed over his eyes.

Naomi rolled her eyes and pushed off the railing, "This is stupid."

No one stood in her way when she made her way to the double doors. Kaname's silent command rolled over them – if anyone dared to touch her, they would be punished.

Ichijo nervously followed after her, "Let me escort you out."

Naomi shot him a glare, "I know the way."

Ichijo frowned and as she pushed the double doors open and made her exit, she heard him say, "We've made quite the impression."

Naomi walked past the Moon Dorms gates with her butterfly knife still clenched in her hand. She could finally breathe now that she was out of that awful atmosphere. She tilted her up at the night sky and lessened her grip on her butterfly knife. It glinted in the moonlight as blood the blood from the vampire bubbled in reaction to the blade.

"That's a handy weapon."

Naomi snapped her head up and saw a tall man with an eye patch; he's from Tanaka's coffee shop.

He blew a puff of smoke, "Named after the god Phthisis."

"I remember you," Naomi said.

His shotgun gleamed in the moonlight, "And I remember you. Not getting yourself in trouble, are you?"

Naomi couldn't bring herself to lie, "I handled it fine."

He twirled his cigarette in between his fingers, "Anything Tanaka should now?" He reached for Phthisis and wiped the blood off with his coat, before returning back to her.

Naomi frowned, "How do you know Tanaka?"

"You should ask him," The man placed the lit cigarette back in between his lips. "Better head back it's getting pretty late."

The man disappeared into the woods and Naomi yelled after him, "Hey!"

She shook her head she could ask Tanaka after school tomorrow – they weren't done talking after all.

Naomi back tracked to walk into the Sun Dorms but then she heard Yuki yell.

"Zero!"

Zero was huffing and puffing and running into the woods. Yuki was not far behind him. Naomi threw a hesitant look at the Sun Dorms then looked back into the woods where Yuki just disappeared into.

Naomi ran after her, despite everything, they had her back tonight and she knew if it came down to it the three of them would've fought together if it had come down to it. She lagged behind them. Naomi wasn't as fast as Yuki and she absolutely was not as fast as Zero, when she finally reached them, they were underwater in a pond. Naomi leaned over the pond and reached out her hand to help them out.

Yuki smiled as she grabbed her hand and as Naomi was reading to pull her up, she saw the barrel of a shotgun out of the corner of her eye. Naomi tilted her head to see the assailant – it was the same man from earlier. His eye colder than she remembered; his gaze fixated on Zero.

Naomi didn't know when she had moved but her hand was on the shotgun, and she pushed the barrel up as he pressed the trigger. A loud shot resonated through the woods.

The man's blue eye that had been concentrated on Zero moved to her figure.

Solemnly, Zero said, "Yagari..."