Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knights, or any of its characters.

It happened that about a month after Cross Academy was laid siege by Rido, and the Kuran siblings left their school/home, they once again returned, with Kaname's obsequious followers (and Kain) in tow.

Zero peered out from Cross's office window at the new arrivals and allowed a faint smile to ghost across his lips; he saw Yuki's befuddled expression as she tried to retrieve some of her luggage from an overburdened Aido, who appeared to be insisting he was fine. She hasn't changed, Zero allowed himself to be comforted by that thought, relaxing into the windowpane. His eyes went up to meet Yagari, as his sensei joined him at the window.

"Figures, Kuran would show up after we clean up the mess he made," Yagari snorted to himself, as Zero's lips twitched up at his sensei's comment.

"Ohhh, come now Touga," Cross smiled coming up behind the two, "this will be good for the school. Besides, my beautiful daughter Yuki is coming back to me, I bet she missed her Papa," tears caught in Cross's eyes causing both Yagari and Zero to roll their eyes and brush past Kaien. Yagari plopped himself in a chair, as Cross began to dance around and Zero paced until they heard a knock at the door, two purebloods aura's radiating from the other side. At this Cross flung open the door, squealed and nearly tackled Yuki with an enthusiastic hug, as Kaname looked on with amusement and Yuki politely patted the back of her doting "father".

"It is so good to see you both, I am glad to have you back at the academy," Cross exclaimed escorting the two young purebloods into his office and pointing them to chairs as he took his own seat.

"I hope you don't mind that I sent the others ahead to the Moon Dorms." Kaname intoned quietly, to which Yagari snorted.

Cross assured him, "you know I don't mind, but I would be happy if you would send them to visit me later. Zero, you'll escort them of course."

Zero, leaning on the wall didn't reply, which was equivalent to acquiescing as far as the chairman was concerned. Kaname took note of this, though Zero remained as laconic as ever something had changed in Zero's aura. There was less confusion and agitation emanating from him, Zero somehow seemed, dare the pureblood think it, serene.

"Zero," Kaname called softly, causing the aforementioned to make eye contact with him, "have you fed recently?" Zero stiffened.

"What the hell kind of question is that?" Yagari roared, getting up and striding over towards Kaname, but the pureblood remained fixated on Zero.

Before anything could go down Zero's gaze returned to the window and he murmured, "no, I haven't been hungry since … Ichiru." The young hunter's eyes eased shut as he spoke, and remained so as the room collapsed into an awkward silence, during which Kaname returned his gaze to the angry hunter in front of him who gained a unique pallor to his face as he now starred at Zero, while Yuki fidgeted and looked like she was ready to leap out of her chair to coddle her dear former-semi-adopted brother.

Cross's sanguine voice eventually broke the silence, "so Kaname-kun, what brings you and my wonderful daughter back to campus? Don't tell me Yuki darling that you returned because you miss me and Zero-rin so much?"

While Yuki blushed at the chairman's comment Kaname was quick to respond, lest Kaien embarrass his dear sister any further. "It has come to my attention that you have received applications from numerous new noble families, even several purebloods as of recent, and Takuma has informed that you plan to accept them."

At this comment Zero's eyes shot open and he turned a bewildered look towards Kaien. Yagari on the other had managed to muster in his one eye, such ferocity that he put every other two-eyed hunter's glower to shame. To Cross's credit, his voice only wavered mildly as he muttered, "I was going to tell you about it soon, but the timing never seemed right and I didn't want to be a bother."

"A bother?" Yagari howled. "When were you planning on telling us? When they arrived?" Cross took on a slightly defensive pout, but didn't refute the accusation.

"There goes my extra sleep," Zero muttered from his spot on the wall and Kaien sent him a look of slight apology.

"Your position as the only prefect will only be for a short while Zero," Kaien commented, "I am hoping to get three new transfer students of hunter children around your age, that way there can be shifts of two, and it won't be as draining as when it was just you and Yuki."

"Thanks."

Zero's simple show of gratitude hit Kaname like a ton of bricks, this was not the Zero he knew. The Zero he knew was stubborn, angry, and never accepted anything given to him graciously, so raising from where he sat, Kaname strode over to Zero, Yuki promptly getting up to trail him. Zero simply eyed Kaname with bemusement, only when Kaname continued to stare did he inquire "Yes, can I help you?"

There it was, proof that something was wrong, this was not Zero, or at least the Zero he knew from before. In Zero's divine lavender eyes, there was something new, it looked similar to an odd breed of confidence, self assurance, that had never been there before, and to Kaname, it was mesmerizing. "What happened to you, Kiryuu?" the words escaped his lips in a whispered question he hadn't intended to ask.

Zero simply looked down at Yuki, clinging to her brother's arm with a similar curiosity in her eyes, though she had known of the goodness in Zero's heart, more so than her brother at least, she too could see that something had changed in her dear Zero. Something she had seen planted in him upon her departure a month prior, had grown in her absence, and was now beginning to blossom beautifully in the exquisite young man before her. Zero allowed himself a small smile at her large wondering eyes, before stepping back and turning to face the chairman, "if I am needed for nothing further, I am going."

Cross who had been slightly transfixed by the little episode unfolding in front of him simply nodded, "yes, we can discuss more things later perhaps, I'll call you when you're needed."

Zero nodded heading for the door, but before he shut it, without turning back he spoke barely loud enough to be heard, "Yuki, it's good to see you again," and then he was gone.

At this Yuki's eye's grew impossibly wider as she starred at the door, then up at her brother, who was watching her, and then over at Kaien Cross, who simply smiled at the closed door. But before she could voice any of her questions, Kaname voiced his. "Do you know what brought about this change in Kiryuu?"

Cross turned his attention to the young pureblood, and was about to speak when he was interrupted by Yagari, "why should it matter to you? or does this mean now you'll have to change your tactics in that little game of chess you like to play with us all. Perhaps its better you don't know."

Kaname remained impassive to the older hunter's jabs, while Cross eyed Yagari before replying to Kaname's question, "as you yourself noted earlier, he's less hungry, and since only Takuma, Senri, Rima, and a few other night class students, truly aiming for co-existence, have remained after you left, despite him being the only prefect, his duties have been more relaxed. The stresses of the day to day have eased on him a bit; he has been able to sleep more. Overall, the sleep-deprived teenager in constant bloodlust, afraid that he would at any moment break down into a monster he was trained to despise that would threaten not only his peers, but also his dearest friend," his eyes rested on Yuki at this point, "that you knew before was not perhaps the best, nor the most accurate picture of Zero. There is more to it, of course, then even what I mentioned, but I think I hit some of the main, if not superficial points in my analysis."

Yagari grunted, "Maslow's hierarchy of needs aside, the kid still had to deal with the vampires responsible for his parents death and his own transformation running loose, as well as having a brother who…, well, and yourself using him, degrading his worth, not to mention the little miss's propensity to endanger herself; oh, I think we have hit on most of the points now."

Though Kaname had earlier known of some Zero's stresses, seeing the physical transformation between the Zero of yesteryear and that presently somehow put a greater emphasis on the turmoil Zero had previously been facing, and Kaname couldn't help but feel a slight pang at being among the list of troubles that had composed the former Zero.

"Chairman," Yuki's delicate voice broke the silence that had settled in the room after the description of Zero's past woes.

"Ah, Yuki-chan you know you can still call me tou-chan if you want," Cross suggested hopefully.

"Uhn. Now that Zero has left I think we should discuss more fully our reason for returning to Cross Academy."

"Oh?" Cross and Yagari exchanged looks with raised eyebrows before settling their gaze on the young pureblood, and their behinds on whatever surface was closest.

"So Kuran was intentionally pissing Zero off to get him to leave then?"

"No, that was just an added benefit to my actions," Kaname retorted.

Yuki directed her gaze to Cross and began, "We came back because I have a feeling someone is going to try and do something to Zero. You see, a few evenings ago while visiting Nakaharu-san's dinner party I first heard about it…."

Flashback

Yuki stood by her brother's side, remaining listless as every vampire at the party approached them to fawn over the Kuran siblings; she was beginning to detest the prolix introductions each new face felt inspired to give. It was not until the youngest son of the Nakaharu family (about the same age as Kaname) approached that Yuki blinked out of her stupor.

"I hear that you previously attended Cross Academy, am I correct?"

"Why yes," Yuki stammered as the charismatic young man starred down at her, his full attention on her alone, while another noble chatted up her brother.

"What was it like there? Did you fear for yourself?"

Yuki's brows furrowed, "why should I have been afraid?"

"Well, I heard the Kiryu heir goes there, and he is capable of killing purebloods, in fact he has killed two within the last half year."

"Oh, but he's not like that," Yuki protested, not quite sure what she was objecting to, but feeling like this young man had the image of her former dearest and best friend all wrong.

"You mean he didn't kill your uncle?"

"No, he did, but-"

"And he didn't kill Shizuka-sama?"

"Well, he shot her, but…"

"Wait, were you there? Did you see him do those things?" Nakaharu asked eyes wide.

"Well, mostly…" Yuki was going to elaborate, but when she saw Nakaharu starring at her as if he had just won a years supply of pure blood, she stopped for a moment, then proceeded.

"He is not simply a pure-blood killer as you suggest." She had to be careful of how she said things now; she had already incriminated Zero, if she said anymore, especially about their past friendship, she would only add to the number of vampires who would be curious about him. She was trying really hard to act like pureblood.

"Oh, I figured that, after all, Kuran-sama seems in very good health, as do you." Nakaharu took this moment to give Yuki a quick scan, which made the girl blush. "Besides, I don't think so many families would be sending their children there if he were such a loose cannon."

"Um… excuse me?"

Nakaharu couldn't help but smile at the young pureblood's naivety on all customs vampire. A pureblood should never show their confusion, should always at least pretend like they knew everything, which, they usually did, and most of all, should never expose where their true interest lay. But there was something enchanting about this young girl, with her sweet, genuine nature, so Nakaharu decided to indulge her.

"Well, it's been a while since vampire society has seen anything intriguing, and this Kiryu creature is definitely one such oddity." Nakaharu lowered his voice and leaned closer to Yuki, beginning to weave together Zero's tale like a bed time story of lore. "The Kiryu clan has been a strong hunter clan for as far back as hunter myths start, and then, there was the birth of cursed twins into this family. The dominant twin was transformed into a level D vampire, but instead of succumbing to a monstrous state, as most D's do within weeks if not at longest months, this particular individual remained stable for years. Long enough to be reunited with his master, and as sure as I am that his master called him, and did her best to control the young vampire, he possessed enough skill to defeat his own creator. A thing unheard of in vampire culture, the call of your master has never been broken according to our records. And if this didn't already stir enough curiosity in the young heir, he went on to defeat another pureblood, your own uncle, who was known for his brutality and fighting prowess. It is even rumored that the young man can use hunter weapons, despite being a vampire, and has vampire powers, despite being a level D vampire; two other anomalies within our history. Stories from some of those who have been lucky enough to see him have even started to circulate saying that he has eyes the color of lavenders, hair the color of the moon, and he possesses beauty that could make Narcissus envious. All in all, he has begun to capture the imagination of countless noble and pureblood families, who wish to possess him."

"Wait, p-possess him?"

Nakaharu was slightly delighted to see that what had stopped the young woman was the latter fact, and not any of the former, because as far as he was concerned, that confirmed the previous statements to be true.

"Yes, several noble and pureblood families have decided to send a member of their family to Cross Academy to try and gain control over the young man, because despite all his accomplishments, he is still a level D, and it is possible that he could fall under the power of someone of a higher class. If you ask my opinion though, it is pointless, if Kiryu can defeat his own master, then I highly doubt anyone else can control him." Nakaharu relished the expressions flitting across Yuki's face, allowing his enjoyment to reflect out of his own mask.

"I tend to agree with you, Nakaharu-san," Kaname's voice broke the two out of their thoughts. And Yuki turned to look up at her brother with pleading eyes.

End Flashback

Yagari starred, mouth slightly agape, until his faces started to contort as fury began to bubble within the hunter. "Fucking vampires just won't leave the kid alone."

Yuki flinched noticeably at the words; Kaname instinctively wrapped his arms around her. Cross just remained still, brows slightly furrowed and eyes squinted shut.

"Um…I didn't know what we should do, which is why I wanted to consult you two before we tell Zero anything, I don't know how he'll take the news." Yuki mumbled, burrowing further into her brother's embrace, a slight blush on her cheeks. "But I want to protect him, like he has me."

Cross smiled at his daughter, such a good little girl he had raised. "You see Yagari, it's not all vampires, these two came back to protect Zero."

"Well at least the little one did," Yagari allowed his posture to slightly relax as he looked at Yuki, convinced in her care for his young apprentice.

"Kaname-kun is here to help too," Yuki chimed in, trying to defend her brother.

"Hmph. Well, with any luck people will get tripped up looking for someone that could 'make Narcissus envious' and they won't identify Zero for a while," Yagari chuckled to himself a little. His student was a good looking kid, but seriously.

Quite contrary to Yagari's musings, Kaname pondered, perhaps losing his eye has affected his eyesight worse then I thought, should he really be allowed to have a gun, Kaname's fine aesthetic had forced him to admit to the hunter's physical allure. However, he expressed his musings as, "if that is all we are relying on to protect Kiryu, he's doomed," they'll gobble him up in an instant.

Yuki and Cross nodded in agreement; apparently it was only the one-eyed hunter, who had neglected to notice Zero's beauty.

"Chairman, I assume it is too late to reconsider enrolling these students without creating problems," Kaname carefully studied Cross's expression.

"Yes," the chairman nodded, he laced his fingers together and propped them up under his chin, leaning more heavily onto the desk in front of him. "Besides, I cannot dismiss a student willing to modify their lifestyle towards co-existence simply because of rumors. Even if co-existence isn't their primary interest in entering the school, we can only hope some of its ideals stick, as they did with several of your followers Kaname-kun."

"Alright," Yuki clutched her fist tight, keeping them close to her in a mock fighting stance, some of her youthful vigor returning to her voice, "operation Protect Zero will commence."

"Umm…Yuki, we have to plan it first."

A/N: Please review, especially giving constructive criticism, I would really appreciate any advice. The story starts out kinda third person limited, but I am not sure if this is an effective writing style. Please help me become a better writer. Also, this story may take a while to develope, but I have a contingent plan.