Chapter Twenty-Two: Things That Changed, Things That Did Not Change

Authors Note: I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the story as it's progressing (even though the updates are a bit out of whack). As I said before, there will be a plot twist later on but I'm not going to spoil the surprise so you'll just have to wait and see! Also, this won't be updated for awhile after next week because I start online classes on the 17th so updates will be delayed for awhile.

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight. All credit goes to Matsuri Hino.

Normal P.O.V.

Tonya slammed her hands on the desk, enraged when she heard the news. "The Senate plans to execute Zero?! Is the association going to stay silent and just watch?"

The higher up watched Yagari closely, his hands folded on the desk in front of him. "A pureblood was killed by Zero and there are many ways of saying it."

Yagari was close to losing her temper. "That pureblood was on our list, but what's most strange is...why Zero is still not acknowledged as a Hunter?"

"Yagari...how can we put an end to a matter such as the murder of a pureblood? There is no such system in the vampire's society."

Kaname P.O.V.

"We take pride in our duty to protect our pureblood kings and queens. But you managed to to slip around us and get your hands on lord Shion." The woman said, using a clawed finger to push her glasses up. "As far as we are concerned, our lord and lady purebloods are a scared existence. Anyone who inflicts as much as a small cut on any one of them should expect to be executed, Zero Kiryu." The vampire smirked. "This serious crime...can only be paid with your mortal life. That is a generous bargain, don't you think...?"

Zero's eyes narrowed and her grip on the woman's hand tightened as she bent it back, the sound of the bones breaking reaching my ears as Zero pushed me back.

"You broke the bones of a vampire..." The woman shrieked in anger while Zero pulled her forward and slammed her into the ground.

Zero slowly stood up, wiping blood off her cheek with the back of her hand. "It's too bad...there are no generous bargains to be obtained here..." She clutched at her chest, trying to catch her breath.

"Zero..." I looked at her, worried.

The woman smirked as she looked up at us. "Even if you've defeated me alone, you cannot escape...we said we will have you executed. That is your fate..." She said as several vampires dropped from the trees, surrounding us.

"You have nothing to do with this, so just leave." Zero said as we stood back to back.

"I can't do that." I said, my sword drawn.

"...UGH!" The woman in front of him shrieked as something pierced her chest and she turned to dust.

"What...?!" Her partner exclaimed.

We all looked around to see the entire night class surrounding us. Yuki stood nearby with Takuma beside her. "The Senate has consented to attend this school." She kept her tone even and her face blank. "It was already an inevitable matter to have that woman hunting for Kiryu."

The members of the Senate all knelt down at the same time. "Lady Yuki...!"

Yuki watched them closely. "However...the purebloods existence and for the sake of protecting it, why must Kiryu be executed...?"

One of the women spoke up. "Lady Yuki...if a pureblood such as yourself stands in our way, we would be unable to fulfill our duties. We would like you to leave with your honorable school friends."

"I thought I had made special efforts...to warn against dishonoring this academy with any foolish behavior." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the members of the Senate. 'Even from the dogs of the Senate."

"Lady Yuki...UGH!" The woman screamed as her arm was severed from her body.

Yuki held her hand up as something formed in her palm. She glared at the vampires and I could feel her power as she spoke. "Disappear."

I gripped Zero's sleeve as the woman held her wound. "The fact that you have defended Zero Kiryu...will be reported to the Senate. Lady Yuki..." She said as they disappeared.

Yuki came over and stood in front of us. "Will you be alright?" She asked.

I looked at her. "Yuki...Zero being their objective is not a good enough reason for this."

"I understand that. Don't worry..." Yuki said, caressing my cheek with the back of her hand.

"What are your intentions...Yuki Kuran." Zero didn't phrase it as a question as she glared at Yuki.

"...It's something I overlooked, that's all..." Yuki said as she saw that my hand was still clutching at Zero's sleeve.

-Later, Headmistress' Office-

"The night class informed her of the Senate's presence on the school grounds...after that, Yuki had those vampires under her influence and ended it..." I reported to Headmistress Cross.

She had her hands folded under her chin as she sighed. "That was...very serious..." Katrina stood up from her chair. "Thank you for telling me about it, Kaname..." She came over and put her hand on my head. "Thank you for your efforts. I'm sorry..." Her tone was serious. "it must have been an extremely difficult situation that you were forced to be in, wasn't it...?"

I was trying not to cry and wiped the back of my hand over my eyes. "Headmistress...about Zero, I seem to have misunderstood something. Yuki took a stand against the vampire Senate...will she be alright...?"

The headmistress picked up a folder and opened it. "The truth is...Yuki had reported what happened to me a little earlier before you came in. From the time that Shion Hio had taken over Ichiru Kurenai's body...until what happened today...was all according to business." She closed the report. "Ichiru has been sleeping in the infirmary...Shion left his body, however...it seems the real Ichiru still hasn't awoken."

The real Ichiru...

"Is...that so..." I didn't know what else to say.

"Dependable, isn't she? Yuki..." The headmistress looked at the ground. "Yuki's actions may have suggested that she was supporting Zero...but...this gentleness may backfire, and may very well be seen by the Senate as an act of defiance..."

An act of defiance...to go as far as that just to help.

"It's alright, Kaname." Katrina said as she leaned back against her desk. "Even though you don't depend on mother, I do not have any intention of taying silent on this one."

I put my hand over my arm. "Where Zero's sister disappeared to is also a matter of worry." But Yuki had...never said "Zero is innocent" to those assassins. "Zero...Yuki, too." Even so... "If this keeps up, it might never end, huh?"

Yuki P.O.V.

"When you're aware of Kaname's presence, your personality seems to change entirely." Takuma said ad we walked down the hall to the room where our class was being held. Why do you do that...Yuki..." I looked over at her and my powers put a hole right in the wall next to her head. "Whoa...that was close!" Takuma exclaimed, her hand clutching at her chest.

"Sorry..." I said, covering my eyes with my hand. "I wasn't aware that...I used a little too much power. That's all right..." I looked over at Takuma and smiled. "I'll get used to it soon..."

Kaname P.O.V.

I ran to catch up to Zero, who was walking ahead of me as she carried her jacket over her shoulder. "Headmistress was worried about you, since you didn't want to see her."

"Is that so..." Zero sounded bored.

I looked over at her. "Your wounds seem to be healing slowly...the tablets...did you take them properly like you're supposed to? I heard...Zero wasn't the one at fault and that it was clearly a childish prank." I said, holding up a finger as she went ahead of me. "Also..."

Zero cut me off. "I'm not sure whether Shion died because of my bullets or not...I don't understand, but...even if I had caused his death, I wouldn't regret it." She turned around to meet my gaze, her expression cold.

I didn't say anything for a few minutes and folded my hands behind my back. "It's okay...you're not bargaining yourself...that's fine." I smiled at her. "I know I said this before, but I am on your side, Zero. Although I'm most likely an unreliable ally...really...undependable...but...Zero, I...really wanted to give SHion my blood, so he could give you his blood, too, Zero, and make you better..." I said, choking back a sob. because that was the only way to save Zero...even though I knew that it would hurt her. "I'm sorry..."

Zero was quiet for a while. "What am I to you...Kaname?"

Her question caught me off guard. "...Eh...?" What are you to me...?

"You should stop...being so reckless because of me." Zero chuckled. "Isn't that being undependable...? Bye." She turned around and walked into the main building. Zero...? "it may be a little troublesome right now, but please go and control the school building. Just in case there are possible appearances returning from the other side, you should go over and take a look."

My regard for Zero...? I just stood there and watched until she was out of sight.

Yuki P.O.V.

The sound of the heels of my boots clacked against the wood floors of the hall. I stopped when I reached the corner and looked at her from the corner of my eye, where she was leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed. "How may I help you...Kiryu?"

"It was you you, wasn't it?" She asked. "The one who killed Shion after I shot him. I've heard that the flesh and blood of purebloods contains strong powers. If one were to obtain that power..."

"You would have drunk it, too..." I said, looking over at her. "You must have wanted to drink it..." My eyes narrowed. "And I even left some behind for you..."

"Why did you..." She started to say.

"It's such a pity, Kiryu." I turned around so we were facing each other. "Even so, I am...jealous of you...you, who is able to protect the boy we love." Zero was taken by surprise until she regained her composure and glared at me. "You appear to have been injured today. Thank you for your hard work." I said as I walked away. "But right now...I'm only leaving Kaname in your care...temporarily."

Normal P.O.V.

Kaname was outside running through the school grounds while Katrina stood up from her desk and shrugged her jacket on as she walked out of her office. "Zero...Yuki..." She muttered to herself.

Yagari stormed out of the office of the Hunters Association president.

Takuma was leaning back against the window, worried about her friend.

Aido and Kain were returning to the Moon dorm as Kaname kept on patrolling.

"Let's just hope this ripple doesn't get to the point of no return..."