A/N: Well, here it is! My first Vampire Knight fanfiction! I know this first chapter is a bit boring, but I promise the next one will be much better. Thanks to the FabulousGeorgina for proof reading this. Timings are slightly against the manga. Enjoy!!

R&R

Disclaimer: This is the sad part. But *sighs* no, I do not own Vampire Knight. But I do own Yumi!!! :D

Ch 1: Traditions

Zero clutched his side, taking sharp, quick breaths. He loosened his red tie to no avail—leaning against the mossy trunk of a tree he sank down to the grassy floor. He reached for his left side once more—blood soaked his pale hand, the crimson liquid dripping from the tips of his slender fingers. Zero rubbed his forehead, with his clean hand, feeling waves of dizziness and nausea wash over him.

He woke suddenly, suddenly seeing the black jacket of a day class uniform with the white detailing and rose buttons. He looked up towards the light and saw long silver strands of hair dangling in front of his face, brushing against his forehead and cheeks. His eyes continuing to travel upward, he was met with a young womans' pale aquamarine eyes that were framed by her short, dark silver lashes.

"Zero," he heard, turning his head to his other side he saw the petite form of Yuuki. The brunette looked down at him with large chocolate brown eyes that were filled with anxiousness. Zero attempted to sit up, but Yuuki pushed Zero down effortlessly with the pads of her finger tips. "Don't get up." she warned him, scooting closer to his side, her short brown locks framing her face as they cascaded infront of her face.

Beads of sweat broke out against his forehead and began to run down his face, as Zero began to lightly gasp for air, his whole body seemed unpleasantly on fire as he gritted his teeth out of frustration. He groaned, struggling to find the inner strength to sit up. A cool hand was pressed against his seething forehead. Zero closed his eyes, focusing on the lovely way the soft skin cooled his own slick face.

"Yuuki-san," said the owner of the hand, her voice was strong and assertive but still deep in concern. "Go get the Chairman or nurse, Zero's developing a fever." Zero peeked through his long, light silver eyelashes, and heavy eyelids seeing Yuuki dash into the distance. Zero felt a hand run through his hair playfully, he groaned again. Locking his jaw into place his face tensed as he prevented himself from throwing up. Swallowing hard, he developed a revolting burning taste in his mouth as his eyelids drooped forward over his lavender eyes. He saw no more in the darkness.

Zero's dreams throughout his unconsciousness were dark and filled with bloody horrors that he was forced to relive through his realistic nightmares. Hours soon became days, much to his blindness.

He was in a dark room with no light to lead the way. He could feel his eyes burning with crimson, craving the sweet taste of blood. He yelled loudly out of untolerable pain as his eyes burned forever red. His hands became more claw- like as his nails grew to a disgusting length. Zero's tainted, slightly arched fangs protruded from his mouth, resting on his bottom lip. A chill ran down his spine, he didn't bother to repress it, his body becoming gradually....painfully accostomed to his Level E self.

Monster... he thought as he let out another agonizing yell that echoed off the invisible walls. A dark colored, warm liquid dribbled down his chin. Blood....the intoxicating scent of blood. I really am a Level E...he deliberated depressingly. Zero looked onward, seeing numerous forms of lifeless bodies laid haphazardly across the floor.

Yuuki was farthest from him. Her petite frame was spread eagel upon the ground as her hair messily covered her cheek. She was gently smiling, though her eyes were hollow, a sight that Zero painfully looked away from. His mother, father, and brother looked in a similar fashion. Their eyes were wide open as dried blood remained on their necks. Zeros' best childhood friends face was forced into the ground, her arms and legs distorted. He kneeled down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Feeling the muscles slightly tense beneath him, he turned over her fragile form.

"Zero..." she sighed but looked away from his crimson eyes. A tear cascaded down her dirty cheek leaving a tear trail stain. She turned her head to the other side, revealing multiple puncture holes in her neck. The deepness varying from the shallowest wounds to the deeper ones that remained to excrete the red liquid. More tears leaked from her eyes, her lids began feeling heavy. "I..." she started in a soft whisper, though he could hear no more as her eyes shut...never to open again.

Death taunted him in cruel ways, as the Level E remained hungry for the sweet satisfactory taste of blood. How Zero strove to end his own life before he was to hurt anybody....... but it was too late. Monster.

Zero's eyes snapped open, suddenly adjusting to the dim light that shined through his window. His lavender eyes shifted to the petite brunette who was chewing on her thumbnail subconsciously, focusing on the hardwood floor. He observed her other fingernails, they all seemed to be short with a ragged edge from biting. Zero gave a soft roll of his eyes, still she maintains such childish habits, he thought.

"Yuuki?" Zero's voice was horse from the lack of use...not that he did use it often in the first place. However, he placed a hand under his adams apple to ease the taring pain in his asophogus.

She jumped and dropped her thumb to her side, quickly turning towards him. "Zero," she whispered with a mix of relief and surprise. Yuuki rushed to embrace the silver haired teen. "I was so worried about you. We were afraid that you wouldn't wake up. Thanks goodness you did." She said, pulling away from him, her eyes seemed to be searching his rapidly.

"What happened?" He asked groggily. With and aching side, splitting migraine, and an upset stomach, Zero had felt much better in the past than what he felt now.

"Well, we found you unconscious. And, well I don't know what happened; Yumiko-san was the one who found you. But you've been out cold for three days. We've been worried sick." She said quietly, taking her previous position on the bed, this time facing towards Zero.

…..I've been out for three days?! Not once have I needed bed rest for that long. I just know this is all because of that damn fight I got in with Kuran. And I'm the one that needs the bed rest. That damn pureblood has me drink his blood and then we get into a fight ….I hate purebloods...especially him. Zero thought angrily, sending a series of more cusswords to Night Class dorm president.

"Yumiko-san should be coming back here soon, taking the turn to take care of you while I carry out prefect duties. I finally convinced her to go back and get some sleep." Yuuki continued even as Zero seemed to be in deep thought with an angry expression displayed on his face. At that point a small knock came at the door.

Steadily the oak door opened to reveal a slender, silver haired girl behind it. Her feet didn't seem to make a sound against the hardwood floors; her shoulder's were back in a relaxed way and her strides were long. Moving with a fluid, stream-like grace, she closed the door behind her silently and made her way to the bed.

"Yuuki, I thought you'd left for patrol." She said in a flat tone, no expression in her voice showed that she was at all interested in anyone's actions. An aura of formality hung heavily between the two teenage girls. She looked at the shorter girl who remained to sit on the bed. Slowly Yuuki rose, to show that Yumiko was a head taller than the brunette.

"No, I waited for you to come first. But I should be going. G'night," Yuuki gave a small smile at the fellow Day Class student—who didn't return it. "Zero, get some rest. I'll see you later." Yuuki's voice sounded sad as she collected her things.

Giving a soft sigh, Yuuki remained in the middle of the room, facing the doorway.

Zero could see how reluctant Yuuki appeared in relevance to her leaving; she remained to stand perfectly still, and turned her head to face the silver haired teen sitting in bed. Yuuki looked at him with her large doe eyes, but Zero gave her a look saying: "You should go; the school needs to be patrolled. I'll be fine..."

Zero's gaze boosted her faith as she swiftly left the room. Zero will be fine, she thought. And Yumiko is there, so she can take care of him. Though she found that thought slightly depressing. Though, I should be the one taking care of him…... The door closed with a small 'click'. Zero's gaze flickered over to the remaining female in his room. She was shaking a bottle filled with thick fluid.

"I should seriously beat you up for this Kiryuu. Gosh, you're such an idiot, taking on a pureblood alone! What were you thinking!?" She suddenly demanded her voice on the border of yelling, but not quite. Zero glared at her, not thirty seconds in and he was already being scolded by a student he barely knew.

"Turn." She said commandingly, clearly annoyed. Zero gave her a questioning look. "Turn on your side-- I need to see your infection." Who the hell is this girl and what gives her the right to tell me what to do? Zero thought angrily.

Seemingly powerless under her intense glare, Zero turned. Three claw-like marks scarred his left side. Black and oozing out pus. Applying the bubblegum pink fluid onto a cloth, Yumiko worked tenderly on his injury. He heard her mumbling quietly to herself words like "Idiot"..."Shouldn't have gone alone, and now he's all injured."

Zero felt a burn and amount of pressure when the cloth came into contact with his skin. He gritted his teeth from pain as he endured the seething sensation.

"How the heck was Kuran able to do this to you?" She asked him, a bittersweet tone in her voice. Again, Zero raised his eyebrows questionably at the girl. She already knew that Kuran was a vampire, including that he was a pureblood. Also she knew that he was the one that gave him the wound, and he was shocked that she addressed him as Kuran. She waved an elegant hand in front of his face. "Zero, are you with me here?"

The attention span of a day class girl swooning over a Night Class student. Yumiko thought sarcastically as she continued to clean the wound. Zero was abruptly snapped out of his thoughts. He glared at the girl before realizing how familiar she looked. He imagined what she would look like as a child. Small, short with shorter silver hair and large grey eyes with little hints of blue. Her round face would be smiling brightly showing little gaps inbetween her teeth. Could it be? He pondered.

"Who are you?"

"Yumiko." She said with a slight tone of sarcasm.

"The daughter of the vampire hunting clan…..?" He asked curiously.

The girl merely nodded, tightening the cap on the bottle. She shoved the used cloth in a plastic bag, and tossed it alongside her black book bag. Placing her hands on her hips, she stared at him, expecting some sort of reaction.

"Yumi…." He said, remembering his best friend from early childhood. Meeting through his parents, and her parents they soon became inseparable. However, he thought of the reason that would make him…want to forget her.

"No one's called me that in years. I'm not one to break tradition Zero," Yumi smirked.

"I thought you died," Zero said bluntly.

"Why would you think that? I thought you had died." She raised her eyebrows.

"Well, I heard that there was an attack on your family last year. And I didn't hear any other news. So I assumed." He pursued, though he was felt a hand on his shoulder attempting to push him down onto the bed.

"Zero, I'll tell you everything later alright?" she said in her flat voice, a mild smirk stretching over her lips. Swinging her bag over her shoulder Yumiko left, so Zero could get a proper rest.

Zero stared at the dull gray ceiling as he shifted slightly to the right to find a more comfortable position. Boredom soon swept over him as he drifted off to sleep, pale aquamarine eyes swimming in and out of his dreams.