Zero rests his cheek on his palm and sighs dejectedly. Night classes are just as boring as Day classes. He wasn't sure how he was expecting it to change, but the fact that it's exactly the same is a little disappointing. He lets his gaze wander around the dark classroom, watching as unfamiliar vampire nobles take notes and otherwise pay attention to the lecture. Just when he begins to wonder if he is the only one not paying any attention, he notices Akatsuki Kain is doodling randomly on his paper, Ruka Souen is filing her nails, Rima Toya is on her phone, and Shiki is gazing out the window. After staring longer than strictly necessary, he realizes Seiren isn't as attentive as she seems either; her eyes are glazed over and she's obviously not paying any attention to the teacher.

Zero smirks; it seems the Night Class nobles aren't as perfect as they pretend to be. They are still young, and school is just as boring for them as it is for some humans. Seeing them like this makes them seem weirdly normal.

Takuma Ichijo stretches against his chair, his back cracking loudly enough to draw Zero's attention. Ichijo never looked at Zero, but it was obvious by the way he stiffened up that he knew Zero was watching him. He found it hard to look away now that he suspected Ichijo of being in love with Shiki.

Forcing himself to look away from Ichijo, Zero considers his options. He can either get involved and try to get Shiki and Ichijo together, or he can let it go and pretend he never saw anything. He feels like he owes it to Shiki to help him find happiness after everything he's done for Zero. On the other hand, Zero doesn't feel comfortable exposing those feelings when he painfully understands Ichijo's need to keep these feelings from Shiki.

It's possible that he could get involved if he knew the whole picture. If he knows whether Shiki knows about Ichijo's feelings and returns his feelings, or if he does know and doesn't return his feelings, or if he doesn't know and does return his feelings, or if he doesn't know and doesn't return his feelings.

Zero drives the heels of both his hands into the sockets of his eyes in frustration. All this thinking and worrying is giving him a headache. If he was still human, he'd probably have to worry about all this stress causing wrinkles.

Another sigh escapes past his lips as his eyes focus solely on the building just out the window next to him, and catches sight of Yuki. He wants to be out there with her, patrolling the grounds and focusing on nothing but his job. Not stuck in this room with no escape for him or his thoughts. He can't even pass out like he used to when he attended Day classes. Zero can feel the auras of all the vampires in the room, and it's almost impossible for him to relax fully and not reach for Bloody Rose every time one of them so much as shifts in their seats. He wouldn't be able to sleep in the dorms if he didn't know none of the vampires would ever dare to enter Kaname's room; not even to get rid of a Level-D vampire. And Zero stupidly trusts Kaname not to kill him in his sleep.

Zero senses the nobles getting out of their seats, and realizes he didn't notice the teacher dismiss them. He begins to slowly gather his belongings; not really looking forward to being stuck with all of them again at dinner. He doesn't trust the chefs not to try to poison him, especially when it's happened once before. Shiki waits for him in the doorway, and together they make their way back to the dorms.

Zero can tell Shiki wants to ask him about what happened earlier, but he never breaks the silence. Zero is grateful to the mahogany-haired boy for leaving the issue alone. He can't stand to think about that nightmare so soon again.

When they get back to the dorm, Zero leaves Shiki in the dining hall with all the other nobles and journeys to the kitchen.

The kitchen is enormous, with chefs scrambling to serve all the five-star food to the prissy nobles. Zero rolls his eyes and walks past all the chaos and discovers a small area in the very back of the kitchen that has a note left on it from Kaien Cross.

"Dear Zero,

I couldn't sleep at night knowing I angered one of my most darling children, so consider this an apology for forcing you into the Night Class.

With lots of hugs and kisses,

Your loving Papa~!

Zero tears the letter up in his hand, rolling his eyes as he throws it in the waste bin. He opens the small fully stocked fridge and pulls out all the ingredients he needs to make okonomiyaki. He chops up the beef and pork, napa cabbage, green onions, green bell peppers, and zucchini before adding them and corn kernels into a large bowl. He shreds the carrots into the same bowl and mixes them all together. He searches the cabinets for a second smaller bowl and puts it on the counter. He cracks three eggs into it and adds water before beating them lightly. He mixes in flour and adds a little salt. He places a skillet on the stove and covers it in vegetable oil. Zero opens a package of bacon and lays it out in the pan and sets the stove to medium heat.

After that's done, he pours the sauce onto the meat and vegetables and tosses it to ensure they're coated. Zero puts enough for one serving into the skillet and covers it. He sets a timer for four minutes and relaxes against the counter while he waits for it to turn a perfect golden brown.

Once the timer rings, Zero takes off the cover and expertly flips the food and recovers it for another four minutes to cook the other side.

"Your flipping skills are impressive. I wonder how much of that is attributed to your vampire reflexes and how much is pure talent." Zero starts and whips around until he's staring at the one and only Kaname Kuran. Zero internally berates himself for not noticing the other while he was cooking. That wasn't safe in a house full of vampires.

Kaname noticed Zero wasn't at dinner and asked Shiki if he knew where the hunter had run off to. When Shiki told him Zero was in the kitchen, he went to investigate and he ended up stumbling upon Zero cooking. Kaname was curious to see if Zero was a decent chef.

Zero frowns. "I don't trust the chefs around here not to poison my food, so I'm cooking it myself. Now, if you don't mind, I'm not done."

Kaname lifts one eyebrow and tilts his head challengingly. "You don't strike me as the useful type. I'm doubtful anything you cook will ever surpass the chefs employed here." Kaname was purposefully baiting Zero into letting him try his cooking. His curiosity wouldn't fade until he knew. Kaname didn't know where this sudden need to know more about Zero came from, but he was more than willing to follow his instincts as he always has.

Zero was vaguely aware Kaname was only baiting him, but he certainly wasn't going to back down from the pureblood's challenge. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent cook; way better than those stuck up chefs here. Once the food is done, I'll prove it to you." As if on cue, the timer sounded and Zero turned back to the places the food on a plate and adds the rest of the batter to the skillet.

He grabs the plate and looks over his shoulder at Kaname. "What sauce do you want with it?"

Kaname surveys the condiments before answering. "Ketchup will do." Zero grabs the bottle and spreads just the right amount onto it before handing the plate and a fork to Kaname.

Zero folds his arms across his chest. "Well, go on. Try it." Kaname cuts a piece off with his fork and lifts it to his lips. Zero waits impatiently for some sort of reaction, but Kaname's face is solid. Just when Zero begins to think Kaname hated it, Kaname takes another bite. Then another. He continues eating it, and Zero feels so elated he has to turn away and look at the stove. He bites his lip to ward off a smile and busies himself with making some more food for himself.

They both sit in silence while they eat, the only sounds coming from around them while the staff cleans up the kitchen. Kaname finishes his serving first and hands his plate off to one of the passing chefs.

Kaname waits patiently for Zero to finish and pass off his own plate before finally breaking the silence. "Thank you for the meal."

Zero blushes but doesn't even bother trying to cover it up. He just glares at Kaname. "Told you my cooking was good." Kaname was mesmerized by the pink blush that stained Zero's normally pale cheeks. The

Whatever spell that descended upon Kaname was broken when Zero turned around and started cleaning up his area. Kaname was tempted to tell him to leave it, to remind him the staff will take care of it, before remembering Zero doesn't trust the staff. Kaname stands there awkwardly before deciding he is no longer needed there and leaves.

Zero follows Kaname's aura as it leaves the kitchen and heads toward the common area. The tension leaves his body and he has to lean heavily against the counter to keep from sliding to the floor. How could he be stupid enough to blush and smile at Kaname? He noticed Kaname was looking at him strangely and he had to turn away before Kaname realized his feelings.

Zero sighs and continues cleaning. No sense worrying about it now; there was nothing he could do to change what happened. Not that he wanted to change what happened. Zero would never forget tonight.

Later on in the night, Kaname returned to his room after spending time with his inner circle of nobles. Zero was all ready to sleep and was just about to climb into bed when Kaname walked in. Zero tried to ignore him as Kaname went into the bathroom to change, and relaxed slightly when Kaname finally crawled into his bed.

Zero was just about to turn off the lights when Kaname spoke. "I'm setting an alarm for 10:00 a.m. We'll go shopping for your suit for the party tomorrow night." Zero nodded in agreement before plunging the room into darkness.

Kaname was waiting patiently for Zero at the base of the stairs the next morning. As he descended the stairs he took in Kaname's appearance. The pureblood was wearing a black silk button up dress shirt with the first button undone and tight, black designer jeans.

Zero swallowed the tight lump that formed in his throat as he just barely fought off a blush that threatened to spread across his pale cheeks.

'Damn him for looking so good. No matter what he wears he still looks gorgeous.' Zero suddenly felt inferior next to the pureblood in his black sleeveless hoodie and worn denim jeans.

Zero came to a stop in front of Kaname and just stood there, awkwardly. Kaname noticed his hesitance but thought nothing of it as he walked to the exit and pushed the door open, turning his back to Zero.

"There's a car waiting for us at the gates." Normally the pureblood would have loved to take a walk through the forest, but it was a rather sunny day so he decided to forgo the idea. Perhaps if the weather changed when they got back...

Zero decided not the say anything as he followed Kaname out of the gate. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the expensive car waiting for them. Kaname ignored his reaction and dismissed his usual driver and slid into the driver seat. The sound of the car door closing shut pulled Zero from his stunned state and he quickly scrambled into the passenger seat. He knew Kaname had money but was Kaname really going to use one of the most expensive cars ever to take them shopping? He shook his head and sighed. It was only going to draw unwanted attention. Of course, he somehow doubted Kaname cared if they got looks since he was used to getting them from humans and other vampires alike.

They drove in silence. Zero couldn't stop feeling uncomfortable and awkward with neither of them talking. He wasn't one to fill the silence with meaningless small talk, but he needed some way to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling surrounding them. He just didn't know how to. So he just settled for watching Kaname drive from the corner of his eye.

Kaname tried to keep his eyes on the road, but he, with all his pureblood brilliance, forgot his sunglasses and the sun was upsetting his eyes and making his vision slightly blurry. He blinked a few times to clear it but it did nothing to help him.

Zero noticed Kaname was tense, and it only took a few seconds for him to put together what the problem was. He bit his lip hesitantly before taking off his sunglasses and holding them out to Kaname, who glanced at them for a second before turning back to look at the road.

Kaname didn't move for a minute and just when Zero was about to sigh and pull his outstretched hand back he felt the sunglasses be pulled from his fingers. He turned to look at Kaname as he put them on and watched in wonder as he saw the other man's body relax slightly now that he could see clearly again.

Kaname turned his head slightly in Zero's direction, not taking his eyes off the road. "Thank you."

Zero ducked his head down to hide his embarrassed flush and scoffed. "Just don't want you to kill us, is all."

Kaname's lips lifted when he heard this. He noticed Zero's words were spoken without their usual bite.

Silence fell over them again as the town became visible on the horizon. Kaname drove them through the town until he finally parked in front of a small building. It was gothic style architecture, with stairs leading to a circular porch supported by four columns. It was two stories high, with a bay window on the second floor.

It was certainly impressive, and yet not quite what he was expecting. He expected Kaname to take them to some extravagant building that was made of gold where everyone, customers, and staff, all bowed to him as he walked past. He was pleasantly surprised to be taken to somewhere less obnoxious.

Kaname directs him inside and a middle-aged vampire greets them at the door. The man bows to Kaname. "Kuran-sama, how delightful to see you again. How may I be of assistance?"

Kaname gestures to Zero. "Hello again, Hansuke. I require you to craft him an entirely new suit. Shirt, jacket, tie, vest, pants, and shoes." Almost before Kaname is finished speaking, Zero is dragged by the man named Hansuke into the center of the room. Without saying a work, Hansuke begins taking Zero's measurement.

Kaname sits gracefully in an armchair nearby and simply watches Hansuke work. With how talented Hansuke is, he's done within two minutes and rushes into the back room to find what Kaname requested of him.

Zero slumps down in the armchair next to Kaname. "Just how long is all this going to take?"

Kaname barely refrains from rolling his eyes. "Once Hansuke gathers every article of clothing I asked for, we can pay and be done." Honestly, it hasn't even been five minutes and Zero is ready to leave.

Zero frowns. "What if he doesn't have my size?"

Kaname gazes at Zero from the corner of his eye. "I'm sure you're aware that Level B vampires have abilities that lower levels don't. Aido with his ice, Kain with his fire, Rima with her electricity, and Shiki with his blood whips. Hansuke has the ability to change the size of anything. So if he finds the perfect jacket that is too small for you, he will use his power to resize the jacket to perfectly fit your dimensions."

Zero smirks. "Well, that must come in handy being a tailor. Is that why he chose to become one?" If he had any cool special powers, he'd find a job where he could use those powers. The common vampire powers he has certainly made being a hunter easier.

Kaname shrugs slightly. "I don't know." Zero guesses Kaname doesn't know because he was never interested in knowing.

Hansuke returns with six articles of clothing. He says nothing as he holds out each item for Kaname to inspect. A black jacket, a lavender dress shirt, a gray vest, a dark violet tie, black pants, and black dress shoes. Kaname nods after seeing each article of clothing and Hansuke rushes to the register with Kaname following behind him. Zero sits in the chair awkwardly before getting up and trailing after Kaname like a lost puppy.

Kaname pays for the outfit - Zero's head started spinning after he saw how much all of that cost - and the two leave Hansuke's little shop behind as they pile in the car and head back to campus.

Zero runs his hand through his hair. "Thanks for the - thanks for buying me all that. I know you did it so I wouldn't embarrass the Night Class at the fancy party tonight, but still. Thanks. A lot. For everything." Zero winces and forces his mouth shut. He should never have started speaking.

Luckily for Zero, Kaname found his speech endearing. "You're welcome." Kaname took his eyes off the road and caught sight of what he was hoping for. Zero blushing and smiling softly to himself, probably unaware he's even smiling at all.