A/N: I dunno where this came from, really I don't. It's one of those things that hit you over the head continuously until you pay it proper attention. As stated in the summary, there is major role reversal in here, and on a random note, I'm guessing Kaname to be about eleven, and keeping in mind he grew up as a human, he'll be behaving like a regular eleven year old. There won't be any mature purebloods here XD

As for warnings, Zero is...well he's very different :D

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And When You're Here

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Snow. It was that time of the year again. Staring expectantly through the window, Kaname's lips lifted in a soft smile that couldn't begin to express the actual excitement he was inwardly feeling. For around this time, no matter how busy, no matter how late, he would come. Whether it was just five minutes or five hours, he always came on this day. And as if to honor his arrival, the skies would grace their town with a thick white coat of icing to cover their streets and rooftops.

A sudden chirpy voice to his immediate right interrupted his thoughts. "Wow, it's so pretty outside! Kaname-kun, wanna go make a snowman after breakfast?" Kaname looked down into curiously bright large brown eyes and wondered… "No, that's alright, Yuuki-san. I'm fine with staying inside, thank you."

The younger brunette pouted a bit, but nodded, knowing there was no persuading her friend should he decide on something. If he wanted to stay inside, then that was what he would do. Yuuki on the other hand, would definitely be going out to the park to get her hands on that snow.

"Breakfast is ready, you two!" The chairman called cheerily. Both Kaname and Yuuki exchanged a resigned glance before heading for the kitchen.

With how their guardian's menus usually went, they were understandably surprised to see what was laid out on the table. "Er, did you make all of this?" Yuuki blinked.

"I'm afraid not," the chairman grinned sheepishly, taking a seat, "we just had a very early visitor this morning who left us a rather extravagant meal to take advantage of." He waved them over. "Come now, take a seat!"

An early visitor? Kaname felt his heart clench as he immediately realized who that had to be. So he already came, but had left without a word. Without coming to see Kaname.

Suddenly holding less than pleasant feelings for the snow outside, Kaname tried to keep in his sullen expression as he sat down and slowly gathered food onto his plate.

Unknown to him, the chairman sent Kaname a sympathetic smile from across the table before moving to pour some warm syrup over his buttered pancakes. The young boy had tried his best to hide his disappointment, but the chairman could see it clear as day, practically labeled across his pale face.

Ah, you are such a terrible heartbreaker, the chairman inwardly admonished, coming without seeing him and then leaving such obvious traces of yourself behind for him to sulk over. Kaname must be in a state; the ex-hunter shook his head. The brunet always looked forward to this day, as it always guaranteed a meeting with the most important figure in his life.

But the chairman wondered whether that would have been a good idea this year as he chanced a thoughtful glance in Yuuki's direction. The ten-year-old's parents had been brutally killed by a vampire, and the girl herself was raised as a hunter. Despite her light attitude, the chairman could only guess as to how far that reached when it came to the same race that'd taken her family from her just mere weeks prior to coming here.

Today was Christmas Eve. After what she'd gone through, the chairman wished for her to have a calm, fun-filled holiday to forget her past for even a little while. And if he had come…well, the chairman wasn't sure if things would have gone well for her at all.

Yuuki is so wonderfully kind, though, the chairman hoped. It's hard to imagine her being rude to anyone, whoever they may be. Despite the way her parents were killed, she seemed to be doing remarkably well since the incident. He and Kaname had tried their best to get her to open up to them, and she was getting a bit of that vitality back.

"I wonder if we can have the same person make food for us again," Yuuki hummed happily, biting into one of the strawberry scones. "Can you ask them to come again?"

Plastering on a quick smile, the chairman gave out a hasty reply, "I'm not sure, but I can make sure to at least ask." Satisfied, Yuuki beamed back.

Kaname lowered his eyes as his hand clenched around the fork in his hand. "May I be excused? I don't feel hungry."

The chairman parted his mouth to get the boy to eat something, but took one look at his face and merely gave a slight nod. "I'll keep some for you in case you get hungry before lunch."

By the end of the day, both the chairman and Yuuki were sending Kaname worried glances. Yuuki had tried to keep her mind on her snowmen, but had inevitably drifted back to the way Kaname had looked so despondent at breakfast and his possible reasons as to why. Everything had been rather normal until then. In fact, she could even say Kaname had been happier than usual as he gazed at the snow outside, hence her decision to invite him to the park with her in the first place.

But after their rather exquisite morning meal, Kaname's mood only seemed to tread downhill, and it was now time for dinner. What could have happened for the older boy to be so sad for so long? Yuuki had yet to see him this way, and grew terribly concerned at the way he'd practically holed himself up in his room to read the beautiful day away. Or sketch. Kaname was extremely good at that as well. She'd accidentally caught sight of one of his pictures, and although he hadn't been too pleased with what she'd seen, Yuuki thought the drawing wonderful. The boy in it was beautiful too.

She'd impulsively asked after whom Kaname had drawn, but hadn't received an answer, and seeing how important it was to Kaname, she didn't mind it.

"Um, chairman, isn't there anything else we can do for him?" She whispered. He only sent her a small smile. "Sorry, Yuuki, there's only one person who can make him better, and he's not here."

"He…?" Could it be…? "Is it that boy Kaname-kun has in his sketchbook?"

The chairman blinked. Sketchbook? Oh! He laughed nervously. He hated to give away information Kaname held so dearly, but Yuuki was going to meet him anyhow, so it couldn't hurt to give her a few hints, could it?

"Mm, something like that, yes."

"He must be really close to miss him so much, huh?" The chairman could tell she was thinking of her own parents and squeezed her shoulder.

Kaname woke to gentle fingers stroking his cheek, moving to go through his hair. His lips lifting in a smile, he sighed softly and automatically turned his head to get more of that familiar hand, his eyes still closed.

There was a soft chuckle. "Kaname, I swear you must have been a kitten in your past life."

Hearing that voice worked to rouse him fully and realizing it wasn't a dream, he quickly scrambled to get up. "Zero!"

"Yes, Kaname?"

Wine red eyes blinked. "Zero…" He looked up into expectant eyes. "You…you weren't here today…" He couldn't keep the hurt out of his tone and inwardly winced at how vulnerable he sounded.

Zero hummed. "Mm, I left something else for you, though, didn't I? Did you like the scones?" His bright lilac eyes slid to the small plate with said half-eaten treat still on it, left on the table in front of the couch Kaname had fallen asleep on.

"…Yes." They had been delicious, but if Zero thought food could make up for his presence, he was terribly wrong.

As though reading his mind, Zero smiled apologetically and leaned forward to press his lips to Kaname's forehead. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come until now, but there were things I couldn't get away from. Forgive me?"

Kaname pouted. Zero was being horribly unfair. How was Kaname supposed to say 'No' to one of Zero's smiles?

Catching his mutinous expression, Zero laughed softly, unknowingly making it even harder for Kaname, and affectionately brushed a few locks out of the younger boy's eyes. "What should I do to make up for my mistake?"

Well, Kaname wasn't one to miss such an opportunity. "Can you stay until tomorrow? Since you didn't get to come today…" He was more than sure he'd receive a polite decline to his invitation, but still couldn't help but hope for that slim to none chance of Zero actually saying yes.

He bit his lip as he saw Zero look contemplative for a few moments before he sighed and parted his mouth. "I don't know, Kaname…"

Right. He should have known… Feeling his eyes sting, Kaname ducked his head and tried to blink away the aching tears, desperately wishing Zero hadn't seen them. He flinched when he heard laughter.

"Kaname, I'm sorry," Zero didn't sound sorry at all, Kaname bitterly noted, feeling an arm wrap around his shoulders, "I didn't mean to tease you so." Cradled against the older boy's side, Kaname squeezed his eyes shut when he felt soft lips flutter against his ear, "Of course I'll stay, if that's what you want."

It took a moment for the words to register. Snapping his eyes open, Kaname looked up incredulously. "You-! You did that on purpose?!" Zero couldn't suppress the amused smile curling his lips. "I couldn't resist. You pretty much walked right into that one." He gently rubbed noses with Kaname as he stroked his cheek.

"Zero!"

The pureblood merely smiled. "You seem keen on calling my name tonight. So where will I be sleeping? I personally wouldn't mind sharing your bed." Zero tilted his head. "I know it'll be a hassle to get one of the guest rooms ready."

"You'll stay with me?"

Amused with how quickly the younger boy could go through his emotions, Zero nodded, "It'll be easier and gives me the perfect chance to hide your second present while you're sleeping the night away."

Kaname frowned. "How am I supposed to sleep after you said that?"

"You will, don't worry." Zero ruffled his hair.

True to his word, Kaname had fallen asleep rather soundly, and he woke to Zero reading as he leaned against the headboard. So the vampire had stayed…

"Breakfast is ready, if you're up for it," Zero put the book down to smile down at him. Kaname shook his head. "I want to find out where you hid my present."

"That can wait. I don't want you to open it until I after I leave."

"Why?"

"You'll see." Zero's smile only made Kaname all the more suspicious as to what the pureblood could have gotten him.

The chairman actually winced as he saw the stormy expression on the face of his adopted son. What had Zero done now? He seriously thought that pureblood took too much amusement out of teasing Kaname like this. And his only excuse, every time, was,

"He looks so cute when he's angry." Cue charming smile.

What kind of answer was that? The chairman doubted he'd ever understand the hell spawn that was Riku and Yuri's child.

Oh Juri, Haruka, what would either of you say, if you two were to see this? He mourned before frowning. On second thought, they might actually try to add to Zero's arsenal, giving the older boy further material to rile their son. Juri and Haruka did have a weird sense of humor the chairman was never quite able to grasp.

"I hate him…!"

"Ah, Kaname…?"

"I hate him!"

"Kaname-kun?"

"I—" Kaname took a deep breath. "I'm going to kill him," he said quite calmly. The chairman coughed delicately. "What did Zero-kun give you exactly?"

Kaname clenched his jaw before he finally relinquished his tight hold over the gift, shoving it towards the chairman. "You can laugh all you want, I don't care," he muttered out.

Looking down at the picture, the chairman was hard pressed to do just that, but miraculously managed to keep his laughter in. "It's…very interesting."

Kaname snorted.

The chairman merely nodded, trying to think of something other than a five-year-old Kaname in a frilly pink dress with matching white shoes and a pair of fuzzy pink bunny ears fixed to his head. Admittedly, it was adorable, but considering who Kaname really was (a pureblood prince) it was…difficult to not imagine what his reaction will be should he see the picture again in a few more years.

To Zero's credit, he hadn't left Kaname to suffer the indignity alone. Kneeling behind the young brunet, his arms wrapped comfortably around him, the older pureblood was dressed as a cat, fuzzy ears with a tail and all. He wasn't in a dress however, most of his milky thighs visible due to the white shorts he'd been wearing as well as his smooth pale arms from the sleeveless turtleneck.

The chairman tilted his head. Now that he thought about it, Zero was wearing a lot less than Kaname the bunny, who, despite having to suffer the cross dressing, hardly showed any skin, the long sleeved dress coming down to his knees.

"When did he take this?" He wondered aloud. Kaname, still upset, just shrugged. It wasn't as though he really remembered something from when he was that young.

"He just said he didn't want me to see it until he left. Now I see why."

The chairman smiled. He doubted Zero asked that of Kaname for that reason. The older pureblood actually enjoyed making Kaname mad, after all. He probably just didn't want to stick around for the chairman's questions on when exactly this picture was taken, as the ex-hunter didn't remember this either.

"Kaname, were you able to give him your gift?" He changed the subject. The effect was immediate. Kaname ducked his head, a flush to his cheeks. "Yes," he answered softly.

Ah, at least that went well, the chairman nodded.

"Zero, is that new? I've never seen you with it before." Takuma smiled, watching his childhood friend toy with a delicate chain around his neck. He suspected it was made of white gold, as well as the small ring that hung from it. His green eyes softened when he saw Zero lifting it against his lips. "A gift from a special someone, maybe?"

"Yes."

The blond blinked. He hadn't expected Zero to actually grace him with an answer, much less one so clear. Not to mention, he hadn't been serious when asking that question. "Oh."

"Is it so surprising, Takuma?"

The blond noble shook his head. "I just feel immense pity for whoever it is you hold so much affection for. We all know you're a terrible tease, Zero." A day didn't go by where his grandfather's patience and murderous rage was put to the test.

The pureblood shrugged, completely unrepentant, not even bothering to deny it. "He's the cutest thing when angry, looking like a wet kitten."

Takuma smiled wryly. Pity indeed. "Just be careful with how you treat him. Everyone has their limits, Zero." Expecting another flippant reply, he paused at the tender smile the other vampire sent his way.

"Thank you for your advice, but he is the most important person to me, you know."

Takuma sighed fondly. "I hope he knows that."

Disclaimer: No own Vampire Knight.

Thank you for reading! I wouldn't blame anyone if they were weirded out *snort* I still am.