Purity

Part I

Little Zero wondered why his father seemed so anxious today. Did something bad happen again? He was aware they were always moving. They never stayed in one place too long. It wasn't too bad, the boy supposed, as today his father seemed to constantly want him in his arms, not letting him down for long. Zero liked his independence, but it didn't win against having the warmth of his father near. He giggled as he was bestowed with a sweet kiss to his forehead.

When he saw the car outside, he smiled, recognizing the crimson vehicle for whom he knew it belonged to. It was one of his father's friends, a nice pretty lady that stopped by from time to time. He asked once if she was his mother and his father had laughed a lot, but said that no, she wasn't. His mother was in a place Zero won't be going to any time soon.

His father let her into the room and squeezed him tight before giving him more kisses to his cheeks and telling him to behave for Nase-san since he was going to go away for a while. Nodding to tell his father he understood, Zero was let down. Nase-san came over to hold his hand to take him to her car. Looking back at his father, Zero blew him a kiss, like Nase-san had taught him before, promising to see him later and went inside the backseat.

He frowned as he saw tears in his father's eyes from behind the glass window of the car, asking Nase-san why he looked so sad. Was it Zero's fault? Had he been bad? Nase-san told him he wasn't sad, he was happy. When people were really happy, they cried too, didn't he know? Zero shook his head, but he was glad his father wasn't sad. She smiled at him from the mirror but her eyes didn't twinkle like they usually did.

Settling back into his seat, Zero wondered why it felt hard to breathe. His chest hurt. His father was crying, but he was happy, wasn't he? And Zero was going to see him in time. He blinked when he felt his eyes sting. Why was he crying too? He wasn't sad, and he wasn't happy, not enough to cry. He placed his hands over his eyes to try to make them stop, but they wouldn't listen, and continued to wet his cheeks.

He didn't notice Nase-san looking at him sadly over the mirror while she drove.

Now seventeen, Zero was looking down at a bundle of music sheets with half a mind to set them on fire. Nase had called him up early for a song he could memorize in ten minutes. She knew he liked his sleep. He couldn't understand the urgency of having to look at it now. He could have taken a thorough look at the music at a later date. Setting down his cup of cranberry juice, he scanned the notes and the lyrics and realized it was a lullaby. It'd been extended to fill the length of an average song, with new words added, but it didn't change the fact that it was one.

He sent Nase an inquiring look, but she only smiled at him and passed forth a folder. Flipping it open, his eyes narrowed in confusion. The picture of a vampire noble and a short note was included. It informed him their customer wanted the song played tonight for a special friend. A 'special friend' usually indicated a lover, but Zero doubted a lover would appreciate having a lullaby sung to in a restaurant.

Well, it wasn't his place to question what the customers wanted. His job was to play and sing and that was what he did, damn well too. Nodding, he took another sip of his cranberry juice and looked over the lyrics again with a dry smile. It was pretty sappy. If this guy was responsible for the lyrics, he was probably the soft romantic type that didn't mind looking like an idiot. Seeing the golden blond hair and cheery expression in the picture, Zero didn't think his observations were too far off.

"He'll be coming with two special friends, just to let you know. He also wants you to dress up appropriately for those friends. No going out in your usual dress shirt and pants. You need the whole look." Zero grimaced at this. He hated wearing stiff three-piece suits. "I already have one prepared for you. It's in your rooms, on your bed. I have your shoes there too, don't forget them." She smiled, "he's a very important customer, Zero."

He merely nodded, knowing that was her way of saying she knew them personally and didn't want to disappoint them. It didn't mean much for him anyway, as all he had to do was play and sing. She knew he always played his best when he played for an audience. He doubted there was anything to worry about.

"When are they due to arrive?"

"They have a seven o'clock reservation." She laid her hand on his wrist, as it was still holding the cup, "and thank you Zero. I'm know they'll love your performance, as every customer before them has." She always thanked him when he played, even though it was the only thing he could do for the restaurant other than cook. Placing his hand over hers, he nodded. "I'll let you memorize that. If you need me, I'll be in the Red Room."

He looked after her as she got up and walked off. Nase had taken him in and raised him here, at her restaurant, when his father had died that day. He couldn't remember much of it, the details having been lost to time, but he remembered he'd cried. He hadn't known how or why, but he had. He understood now his father had been prepared to lose his life that day and had made sure Zero would be safe. Nase had told him everything on his sixteenth birthday.

Zero roughly shook his head. It was useless thinking of something so depressing when he was supposed to be focusing on the song he was requested to play. Taking a breath, he looked over the notes again and lost himself to the music.

Takuma hoped what he had in plan for the Kuran siblings went well. He'd been wondering what he could do for them on this day when he remembered the restaurant he'd been to not long ago. Having known the owner, he contacted her for the reservations and to ask if they still had the piano player from that time. She informed him that indeed, he still played for the customers and requests, if given in advance, were possible. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass by, he sent her the notes and lyrics after she'd given the okay.

Looking at their reflections in the window, Yuuki and Kaname were conversing amongst themselves quietly, their moods somber. Today was the day their parents had lost their lives in place of their own. Haruka, for Kaname and Juri, for Yuuki. Takuma thought the least he could do was let them enjoy a nice dinner at an excellent restaurant. Bloody Rose had nothing but the best, in all elements, including their star performer.

Checking the clock, Zero saw it was time. Making sure there were no visible imperfections, he went downstairs, greeting Nase with a nod before stepping out and striding casually towards the slightly raised stage in which the piano was on. Stopping beside the bench, he bowed lightly to his audience before announcing, "tonight, I will be playing a lullaby requested by one of our esteemed customers." Sitting down, he took a breath and let his fingers find their way across the keys. As always, once he started, everyone fell silent. Parting his lips, he let the memorized words flow, closing his eyes to better concentrate and let the music sweep his mind away.

Slowing, he let the last note ring and die down before opening his eyes. Standing, he bowed again for his audience and walked off amidst the soft appreciative clapping. Getting himself a cup of cool water, he downed it quickly and went back upstairs. He wanted to get the stiff suit off before heading to the kitchens. Nase, guardian or no, would kill him if he dirtied the precious expensive suit she'd gotten for the occasion. Changing into a casual pair of dark pants and white dress shirt, he headed back downstairs.

"Zero." Pausing, he tried not to let his shoulders slump or let out a sigh. Damn it, he wanted to avoid something like this. Hearing Nase call his name again, he turned and saw her at the end of the hall, standing next to the blond noble who'd requested the lullaby. Seeing that she had his attention, she beckoned him over. Resigned, he did as she wanted.

"What is it?" He tried not to sound too curt, it'd be bad for business, as one of the other waiters was used to saying.

"Ichijo-kun wanted to meet you, he was impressed by your performance." Said Ichijo person smiled brightly and stuck out a hand. "I was most definitely. It's a pleasure meeting you, you can just call me Takuma."

Taking the hand only out of polite courtesy, Zero nodded. "Thank you. It's a pleasure for me as well." Takuma had smooth hands and a firm grip. His fingers were long and elegant, his skin pale. It was obvious he was a vampire. He seemed easy going for a noble, but there was no mistaking it, Zero could always tell.

"Ah, on that note, my friends want to meet you as well. Would it be possible for us to have a few minutes of your time?" Now this wasn't a request. It was only expected of Zero to indulge his customers. Inwardly grimacing, he nodded, shooting Nase a meaningful glance before following the blond to his table.

"Hey guys, this is him." Takuma enthusiastically introduced. Zero merely nodded. The two friends, whom he could tell were also vampires, were most likely siblings, or related. The girl looked shy, while the other probably older, looked more of the aristocrat. "Oh, Zero-kun take a seat, we won't bite." Takuma laughed at his own lame joke, unaware Zero knew exactly what they were.

"Zero?"

"Yes?" It wasn't always that the customers took the liberty to call him so familiarly. They both seemed surprised on some level. He knew his name wasn't all that common, but still…

"Would your family name happen to be Kiryuu?" Now it was his turn to be surprised. How had they…? He shot a glance towards Takuma and saw he seemed just as lost, if not more so than Zero. So they hadn't been sent here deliberately to find him. Even still, he had no intention of just flapping his lips to answer whatever they wanted.

"No, it wouldn't. It's Yuuzuki." The sliver of unease solidifying to a heavy lump in his gut, he got up. "It's best if I go. Thank you for your request and please enjoy the rest of your meal."

"No, wait, I'm sorry if we scared you, but we need to know." The girl called, half standing from her own seat.

"Who's asking?" He bit out, not bothering to hold back on his tone. He received a sharp look from the older brunet for it, but he could care less. This was his damn life they were in danger of ending.

"Just, just us. Ichijo-kun doesn't know anything. This is really personal for us, if you could please…" She seemed honest enough. "We've been looking for someone with the same features as you, and the name Zero." She hastily took out a worn picture from her purse and held it out to him. "This is him, but it was taken more than a decade ago. You just looked so much like him—"

Zero tuned out the rest of what she said afterwards. The picture was indeed of him when he was just a toddler, days before his father died. He was only three and a half in that photograph. It showed him smiling up at the camera as he showed off his oh so impressive sand castle. Taking the picture from the girl's dainty fingers, he flipped it over, pursing his lips as he saw his father's writing on the back, 'Zero at the beach'.

"That, that's the son of the man who saved my life." The girl's voice came through to his thoughts. His father had saved a vampire. She only looked to be in her early teens now. If she'd met him that long ago, she couldn't have been any older than the physical age of five. He laid the picture on the table and sat back down.

"Why are you looking for him?"

"From your reaction, I'd say it is you." The other male vampire spoke for the first time. Zero barely spared him a glance. "And what if it is?" There was no use trying to lie his way out of this one. They even had a picture of him. No matter how young he'd been, there weren't many people with natural silver hair with the name Zero.

"We believe you may be in danger," the girl said earnestly. Zero refrained the urge to snort. That line sounded like something from a bad action movie. "Your father saved my life. I wanted to repay him for what he did for me that day. He risked his own life fighting off those other vampires."

"You mean level E's?" Zero specified. The only type of vampires that'd carelessly attack a noble would have to be insane. If that was so, then his father was only doing his job. He'd been a hunter before he was betrayed and hunted by his own kind.

"Yes. It seems you are at least familiar with vampire society." The older one spoke again. Zero shrugged. "I've lived here ever since the death of my father. I know the owner is a vampire. She made sure I wasn't an 'ignorant narrow-minded fool like the rest of the hunters'." He sighed. "Why do you think I'm in danger?"

"Our parents told us about your father and the people that wanted him." Zero tensed. "We've found out they're looking for you too, and wanted to offer some protection." Like your father did for me.

"I understand, but I feel safest here. My father trusted my current guardian enough to leave me here. I've been fine until now."

"But…"

"It is futile, Yuuki. If he chooses to stay and compromise his life, then that's his decision." Zero bristled. God almighty, sometimes he hated vampire nobles. They were so freaking full of themselves! "As if your help would make my life any easier?" He scowled. He felt like shooting something. That guy's face, preferably.

"Of course," he said, and left it at that. So he was above explaining huh? Zero scoffed. "What, were you planning on having guards follow me around everywhere, paranoid and ready to beat the living daylights out of anything that so much as looked at me wrong?" He was obviously being sarcastic, but judging by the expression on the girl's face, he'd hit the nail dead on.

Zero shook his head. "That's like telling people to come get me. I'd be having a neon sign around me: I'm Kiryuu Zero, the son of the man who thwarted your asses fourteen years ago and managed to keep me hidden." He handed the picture back to them. "Not really helping."

He moved to get up and saw the stricken look on the girl's face. "Look, Yuuki, was it? Thanks, I'm glad my father saved you. You seem like good kid. But you shouldn't worry about me." He nodded to the two other vampires and left.

He didn't notice their concerned glance and a few other extra pairs of eyes that didn't look at all friendly.

Taking another sip of his cranberry juice, Zero slipped on his shoes, grabbed a coat and went outside. That was some conversation. Most of it was something he could do without, but it felt good to know his father had saved someone's life even just days before his death.

"Zero-kun!"

Zero was ready for the incoming projectile aiming for his left, but his back was left wide open, which his captors were hoping to strike at. Hell no, Zero growled, his guns already in his hands, pulling the trigger. The shots hit their target and those closest to him immediately went down. Judging from the warning call, the vampires had gotten rid of the rest. Letting his guns dematerialize, he didn't see the last shot aimed his way, straight at the back of his neck.

Before it was able to reach its target however, Zero was shoved swiftly behind a strong back and the needle caught between two slender fingers. The guy had just saved his life; he supposed he should've felt grateful, but in that moment, all he could do was wonder at the way things just always seemed to work against him. He couldn't believe he got ambushed right after he said he'd be fine without help. By the fact that he needed help avoiding that needle, his argument kind of lacked the back up.

Dad, I hope you're having a grand old time up there with Mom, 'cause I'm sure as hell not! Zero resisted the urge to cross his arms and stick his bottom lip out at the condescending look being given over the shoulder of the older male vampire. One that he hadn't gotten the name of yet, now that he thought about it. But if he said one word about—

"Are you still so sure about not needing any guards? From their aim, they seemed to already know who their target is."

"Yeah, yeah laugh it up you bastard," Zero muttered under his breath. His hand itched for his gun. The girl, Yuuki, took one of his hands in her own, her expression worried. "Zero? Are you okay?" He frowned. "I don't mind it, but is there a reason you're so familiar with my name?"

She still held onto his hand, but looked down, flushing. "Sorry, it's just, your father told me a lot about you the day he saved me. You hated suffixes to your name. 'Just Zero', he told me. I thought maybe—" He held up his other hand to stop her. "It's alright. You're starting to ramble." She smiled sheepishly. "My father was right. I hate suffixes to my name." Especially after a girl that dared to mutilate it to, horror of all horrors, 'Ro-Ro-chan', he threatened imminent death to those who tried.

"Zero-kun?" Takuma came up. "I'm glad Kaname-sama got to you in time. I don't think that needle was coated with anything that'd benefit you in the long run."

That brought his attention back to the vampire that covered for his ass, or neck in this case, and looking up, he could see the dark eyes in his direction. He hated feeling like he owed something to complete strangers, and the guy was such a snob, it was hard to feel an ounce of gratitude…but Nase hadn't gone and forgotten to teach him manners, thus true to her teaching, he bowed lightly and muttered out a quick thanks.

To his surprise, the guy, Kaname or whatever, just nodded in return and dusted off nonexistent dirt off his suit. He turned to Yuuki and asked if she was injured, to which she replied with a happily confident no. Leaving the two of them to discuss the recent ambush, he walked over to his cup of cranberry juice, left perfectly untouched where he placed it.

Picking it up, he took a few sips of the cool liquid and had almost reached the door to freedom when again, the call of his name held him back. What did they want now? They weren't serious about the guarding thing were they? Just as he started wondering how Nase would take to having people following him around, a minor explosion in the restaurant shook the ground.

The customers had all but ran out, screaming, adding to the chaos. Dropping his cup, he could care less about his juice, he ran in, not minding the calls from behind him. He had to get Nase. She'd be fine if she were on her own, but he knew she'd take the time to make sure everyone was safely outside before even starting to think of her own wellbeing.

Another explosion shook the restaurant, and the screams got worse. Nodding to a few of the workers that ran past, he headed further inside. Thick smoke was already starting to fill the area, forcing him to cover his mouth with the sleeve of his coat. Knowing the workers wouldn't be stupid enough to stick around, she'd most likely be helping the customers find their way out. Hearing a sharp yip, he turned to his left and caught sight of a puppy. What the hell was a dog doing here? Cradling it in his arms, he continued looking.

"Nase! Nase!"

He couldn't call out too far, for fear of inhaling too much of the smoke. Coughing slightly, he kept a tight hold on the puppy and tried to blink the sting out of his eyes. At the third call of her name he heard a faint cry. He didn't waste any time rushing over, jumping over a few overturned pieces of furniture. It'd been a kid, he saw, that'd called out. Nase was with him, but she was the worse off of the two. He could see severe burns on her and wouldn't be surprised if there were broken bones. She'd probably been near the explosions when it happened.

"Can you help her? We were looking for Cookie when she tried to save me. Now she's hurt and I still can't find Cookie!" The kid looked to be having a breakdown. Zero sent a prayer to whoever Cookie was. As it was, they were likely gone or already outside. He hoped for the latter. Pushing the puppy into the kid's arms, he gently picked Nase up, glad vampires were never all that heavy.

"Come on, kid, we have to go."

"You found Cookie!" So it was a pet. "That's nice kid, but we have to leave." Ushering him behind his legs, Zero tried going back the way he came and seeing it blocked, he cursed, immediately turning another way. It was too dangerous to be wandering around, looking for an escape route. The third explosion had gone off and the restaurant wasn't going to hold forever.

He was about to lead the three of them to a cellar not too far off when someone grabbed him around the waist and another took Nase from his arms. Struggling he tried to get her back, coughing as more smoke entered his lungs. Damn it, once he got out of this heads were going to roll. He unconsciously relaxed when he felt a familiar voice reassure him everything was going to be alright. But no, Nase wasn't alright. He was kept from struggling further as he felt his lids get heavy.

Disclaimer: No own Vampire Knights. Just borrowing characters. No profit.

Thank you for reading peoples! How did you like it?