A/N: First off, I must apologize for not posting the next chapter of Ashes Falling; my laptop is dead and the charger is broken, so I am currently unable to upload. But don't worry! When I get a new charger and actually get my laptop to work, I will finish the chapter and upload it. It just might...take a while. So please, bear with me for the moment. To make up for this, I have a new story for you. There's just a few things you should know about it; one, this will be very, very AU. I'm exploring a new plot bunny that decided to chew on my brain and, well, this is the result. I hope you like the idea, and the coming plot twists.

As usual, I do not own Vampire Knight or the characters. The plot and any Original Characters are the only things that do belong to me. I do not write this for any personal gain, but purely for the enjoyment and entertainment of others. So, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Comtemplation.

Anger, anger and fear. That's what made up his mask at Cross Academy, but it was only that-a mask. Zero was so much more underneath it all. And now he was annoyed. Those stupid nobles. They couldn't control themselves for five minutes? He sighed, watching from the shadows of the treeline as the group of girls rushed past Yuki and knocked her to her knees. He scowled but stayed where he was as Kaname followed the rest of the Night Class through the gates. Hanabusa Aido was entertaining the girls while Kaname approached his adoptive sister and helped her to her feet. He'd been expecting that, really. It was something that Kaname did almost every day. And now he was ruffling her hair like she was some kind of dog.

Zero was across the expanse of grass in seconds and, without thinking, he grabbed the pureblood's wrist, jerking it away from Yuki. The pureblood looked at him. That was it-just looked, no expression at all, not anger or annoyance, or even fear. Just a cold, blank look. Zero glared at him, and hated doing it. "Get to class, Kuran," he said, voice low and calm. Kaname's gaze narrowed and jerked his wrist out of the ex-human's grasp.

"Scary," Kaname muttered, the corners of his lips lifting up. Zero swore the vampire was almost smiling, but Kaname turned and walked away before he could make sure, calling over his shoulder, "Mr. Prefect."

Zero scoffed at that and looked away, hands shoved into his pockets. He hated having to be rude and angry all the time. It was wearing on his will-power. And the frequent bouts of bloodlust were not helping things. In fact, Zero swore they were getting worse. Even now, he could feel the burning in his chest and the dryness of his throat. He swallowed, watching as Kaname joined the Night Class and the vampires continued on to class before he turned on a few lingering Day Class students and yelled at them to get back to their dorms. They scurried off, momentarily cowed. Oh, how he hated this mask.

"Zero?" Yuki asked, worried as he swayed. Zero glanced towards her, then looked towards the sky. The sun was setting. He turned away, scowling, but she grabbed his arm, halting him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he replied, jerking his arm away from her. "It's time to patrol-go take the Sun Dorms area, will you? I'll be on the balcony later. Meet you there?" Before she could answer, he disappeared into the trees, leaving Yuki standing in the middle of the pathway, alone. She would be fine, though. Or at least, Zero hoped so. He had some sleep to catch up on and some pills to take. Not that they did much good for him; his body rejected them, and he thought he knew why. Maybe he would finally have some peace once he got to the stables.

"Kiryu." Apparently not.

Zero groaned and turned towards where he knew the pureblood was. He found Kaname leaning against a tree to his left, arms crossed and one foot pressed against the trunk, knee bent. He raised an eyebrow at the pureblood before he continued walking. "I have nothing to say to you, Kuran." He paused to spare the other vampire a glance. "Now, aren't you supposed to be in class?" Without waiting for an answer, Zero started walking again, finding his way to the stables easily. Kuran followed, his presence an annoying buzz in Zero's ears. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

Kuran seemed to consider the question for a moment as he followed Zero right up to the building, yet paused outside, lounging in the doorway as Zero fell to sit on a pile of hay beside his horse's stall. "Because something about you bugs me, Kiryu." The look the boy gaze him made Kaname frown. Why did Zero look so scared and panicked? It wasn't like the pureblood wanted to harm him. Yet.

Zero chuckled, turning onto his side and presenting his back to the pureblood. "I wonder what makes you think that," he muttered, more to himself and White Lily than anyone else- especially the pureblood. He snorted and shot the pureblood a glare, even if it killed him. "Now, if you would kindly leave. Don't you have a class of bloodsuckers to keep under control?" He didn't wait for the pureblood to reply, resolutely ignoring the pureblood's presence and closing his eyes, trying to get at least some sleep before it was time for the morning change-over. It was just another day and Cross Academy.

The pureblood sighed and pushed away from the wall, scowling. Zero was already asleep-or rather, pretending to be. Kaname knew he was doing this just to get him to leave. Such a rude ex-human. Really, he shouldn't have expected any better from this boy. Shaking his head and smiling slightly, because he couldn't help it, really, Kaname turned and headed back to class. He would leave the boy to his sulking-not that Zero would admit to it, but Kaname did know what sulking was when he saw it. So Kaname left and returned to class, ignoring all the looks and whispered comments he received as he strode into the room and up to his seat near the back of the room. The chair, with its back to the last window at the back of the room, faced the crowd of vampires lingering about the room. Kaname sat down and accepted his books from Seiren, opening one to the page he'd bookmarked, leaving the rest of his books in his lap. He was well aware of the conversations going on around him, but chose to ignore them. They weren't important when compared to Zero and his strange behaviour. The pureblood was sure that Zero was hiding something. Probably from everyone, not just the Night and Day Classes, but also from his adoptive father and sister. Kaname wasn't surprised. After all, he was keeping a few dangerous secrets of his own.

In regards to Zero, though, the pureblood was curious. The ex-human had slipped up a few times in the past. Kaname had noticed; he was a pureblood, he noticed almost everything. But the amount of times Zero had not shot him a dark look, a glare or some other similar kind of not-so-nice expression over the four years Kaname had known him for far outweighed the amount of dark looks, glares and similar not-so-nice expressions. There was also the times when Kiryu had been nice to him, actually nice, instead of rude and arrogant. It made for a refreshing change, but it was also odd. Zero openly proclaimed his hatred of vampires-to Cross, Yuki and the Night Class, at least. He made no secret of his dislike of vampires, even himself. But sometimes, just sometimes, he slipped up. And Kaname noticed it. The pureblood found it strange; why would Zero try to be angry and fearful of vampires all the time, yet slip up and say the strangest things, things that could be or almost be called nice? Kaname shook his head. It was confusing. Did Zero have some kind of secret he didn't want to be known? Something to hide? Maybe it was related to his past? Kaname didn't know, but he would find out eventually, as he usually did.

"Kaname-sama?" Kaname looked up, directing his gaze towards the teacher. The elderly vampire look annoyed as he watched the pureblood in question for a moment. Kaname sighed yet again. "Kaname-sama, could you please answer the question on the board?" The pureblood glanced at the board and proceeded to answer the equation written on it. Honestly, it was far too easy for him, and probably the rest of the class, yet the teacher didn't seem affected by the obvious disappointment of his students. He continued his lesson and left the pureblood alone. Clearly, Kaname had better things to think about other than Math. Like what a certain ex-human could be hiding.

Meanwhile, Yuki was patrolling near the Sun Dorms, a scowl on her face. Where was Zero? He was supposed to have meet her at the balcony, but he'd never turned up. Yuki snorted and skipped down another pathway. He was probably sleeping again or something. He did that a lot; skipped out on patrol and slept through all his classes. Yuki was surprised that he wasn't failing. Then again, he was good at everything and was even nice enough to help her with her Math on occasion. Yuki liked it when he helped her; it meant they got some brother-sister bonding time. Hopefully without their adoptive father lurking around. He was such a pain sometimes. Yuki didn't know how Zero could even put up with the man-he drove her up the wall sometimes, he was that bubbly and erratic.

Yuki sighed, making her way back up to the balcony. It was after midnight and it seemed like it was going to be quiet for the rest of night and she didn't mind. It meant that hopefully she could go to bed early so that she didn't fall asleep in class again. Gods, that was embarrassing. She really hoped Yori wouldn't whisper things in her ear again like last time. Yuki wouldn't forgive the other girl for the lunch one-for a few hours, at least. She had been given after school classes that day, and Zero, too, but her annoying adopted brother had skipped out on it. Just like he was skipping out on patrol again tonight.

"Hello Yuki."

The female prefect looked up with a gasp, startled to find Zero standing with his arms crossed by the balcony railing, his gaze fixed on the windows of the classroom behind her-and, if Yuki was reading it right, Kaname. Zero grimaced when she tackled him from the side, almost knocking him into the railing. "Zero!"

"Geez, Yuki," he muttered, brushing her off with a small laugh. "What have been you been eating lately? Concrete?" Predictably, Yuki blushed and punched his arm, muttering about him being stupid. Zero didn't mind. This was Yuki. Sure, he knew what she really was, but still. He couldn't help but adore her, as childishly human as she was right now. "Oh, come now. I didn't mean it like that."

"Zero," she chided, laughing. Zero spared her one of his brilliant, meaningful real smiles before returning his gaze to the Night Class. "So, it seems everyone is well behaved tonight, doesn't it?" Zero grunted in reply, not really listening anymore. Yuki nudged him and his gaze drifted back to her. She gave him a huge smile before leaning on the railing, gaze now on Kaname.

Zero watched her for a moment, half-smiling before his gaze locked onto her neck and her had to force himself to look away. He took a moment to regain his composure before murmuring to Yuki, "You should head to bed. I can handle the rest of the patrol for tonight." He smiled again, this time more subdued. "You need the rest more than I do." And, Yuki being Yuki, she didn't protest as she skipped off inside and to her room, leaving Zero alone on the balcony outside the classroom. He sighed and moved to lean heavily on the balcony railing. He had taken more blood tablets earlier only to throw them back up, making him weaker than he had been upon waking up that morning.

A strange sensation brushed along his skin and he looked up, only to find Kaname gazing back at him. And this time, the pureblood's expression wasn't blank. It was worried, worried and confused. Kaname frowned at him for a moment, and Zero frowned back. Then the pureblood looked away, his attention taken by something in the room. Zero didn't care; he wanted to sleep, but he wasn't going to do so in the presence of other vampires. All it took was one careless mistake and bam, his dangerous secret would be revealed. He really did not need that happening any time soon. It would attract more danger than he wanted, or needed. And he had enough danger on his hands. After all, there were a group of vampires on campus. Vampires he didn't, and couldn't, trust. Yet.

Kaname's gaze flickered past him and Zero glanced over his shoulder. He cursed. What had he just told Yuki? He'd told her to go to bed! What was she doing down there, standing between two vampires and a couple of Day Class students? Without thinking, Zero turned and planted a hand on the railing, launching himself over it and dropping to the ground. He landed soundlessly and approached the small group of students, both Day and Night Class. He put the barrel of his gun to Aido's head just after he bit Yuki. "What did I say about drinking blood on school grounds?" he demanded calmly, pressing harder against the other vampire's temple.

"Kiryu, put the gun down." Zero hesitated, gaze flickering to the pureblood who had just stepped onto the scene. "Hanbusa, Akatsuki. You two should know better." Kaname glanced towards the girls before he fixed a dark look on Aido. The blond vampire cringed, looking away. Kaname took it as a sign of guilt-which he knew anyway, since he could smell the blood from Yuki and the guilt pouring off Hanbusa-before calmly turning to meet Zero's gaze. "I will deal with these impulsive idiots. Seiren, take he girls to Cross. He'll know what to do."

Zero nodded and withdrew his gun, tucking it back into the holster her wore beneath his school jacket. "I'll leave them to you, then, Kuran." He proceeded to take in the scene, noting Kain's silent embarrassment in the background before her grabbed Yuki and shoved her towards the Sun Dorms. "Go to bed. How many times must I say it?" She pouted at him while he just gave her a half-hearted glare. Yuki turned and ran off in the direction of the dorms, leaving five vampires in various states of emotion and two unconscious Day Class girls in her wake.

When Zero turned around, he found only Kaname still standing there. The pureblood scanned him, top to bottom, before half-turning away. "You and I will be having a talk soon, Kiryu," he warned before disappearing into the shadows. Zero could only hope the pureblood was going back to class-either that, or he was headed to Cross with his little pair of trouble makers. He frowned. What had Kaname meant by that? Zero wasn't sure, but he sure as hell hoped the pureblood hadn't picked up on anything. Then again, from the whole "having a talk" comment, he had to assume that Kaname was suspicious of something. Probably Zero himself. He certainly didn't act like any old ex-human, did he? Smothering a sigh, Zero turned to head back to his patrol. He should probably try and sleep, but it would be useless. Every day, he went to sleep later and later, so much so that he was starting to sleep during the day and stay awake pretty much all night. He knew he should have been used to it, but still. He was trying to pretend to be human, here. Not raise everyones' suspicions even more. Well, he might as well get on with it, then. The grounds weren't going to patrol themselves-and the vampires probably wouldn't stay in class for long either. Despite having a pureblood on campus, there were still vampires who didn't follow him. Zero was one of them.

Back in the Night Class, some of the nobles were getting restless. It was almost time for them to return to the Moon Dorm, and their leader, the pureblood, wasn't there. Takuma frowned at the other vampires in the room, glancing towards the teacher as he dismissed the class and left the room. The Vice President of the Moon Dorms abruptly stood and headed for the door, attracting the attention of several others. He paused by the door, taking in those present and those who were missing. "Please return to the dorms while I report to Kaname-sama," he announced, bowing to the room before slipping out the door and heading off down the hall towards Cross's office. It wasn't too far of a walk before he arrived at the Chairman's office and slowly pushed the door open, slipping into the room.

"Ah, Takuma," Cross said, smiling at the green-eyed vampire. "About time you turned up." The ex-hunter gestured to Kaname and the two cringing nobles who stood to one side. "Takuma, could you escort these two back to the dorms while I talk to Kaname-san?" Takuma nodded and made to open the door but paused when Kaname moved.

"One moment, Cross," Kaname said and turned to Aido. There was a loud crack and Aido whimpered. The pureblood had backhanded the ice-wielding blond. "Do not attack Yuki again. If you do, I will punish you with more than a slap. Consider this your final warning, Aido." Kaname nodded to Takuma. "You may leave now." The trio of nobles swiftly left and Kaname turned back to Cross. "Now, where were we?"

Cross seemed to think for a moment before returning to his seat and gazing at Kaname over the tops of his tented fingers. "I believe you were asking after Zero's well-being?" he asked, titling his head to one side. The pureblood nodded and took a seat across from the ex-hunter. Kaien dropped his gaze and shuffled around some papers on his desk before looking up again and meeting the pureblood's gaze.

"Ah, yes," Kaname murmured, inclining his head. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about." He fell silent for a moment, considering his next words carefully. How was he going to ask the man about this without giving away exactly what he wanted and what did not want to reveal? He sighed. "I am worried about him. It's been four years, hasn't it? Why hasn't he attacked another student, a human, yet?" He paused, considering the situation. "Kiryu has remarkable will-power to withstand such torment for so long, but I'm afraid it's starting to wear him down." Kaname adopted a suitable worried expression, watching as the other man echoed it. It seemed he was worried about Kiryu, too. "It has come to my attention that the blood tablets aren't working for him. If this is so, I'm afraid he may attack someone, and soon." Kaname paused, considering his next words even more carefully. "When he attacks someone, probably Yuki-I have no doubt it will be her-then call for me. I will help him."

Cross seemed to consider the pureblood's words for a long moment, absently sipping his cup of tea or fiddling with his paperwork. Kaname began to worry that the man wouldn't consent to this compromise. "I can't promise that he will like or appreciate this offer, Kaname," Cross finally said, putting down his tea and paperwork to give the pureblood a stern look. Kaname nodded; he understood this. "When he attacks someone, I will call for you." Kaien gave the vampire a long look before dropping his gaze to the papers scattered across his desk. "Now, I believe you should be heading back to your dorms. It's getting very late and I'm afraid the sun is close to rising."

The pureblood nodded and rose, turning for the door. He paused with one hand on the door handle and turned back to Cross. "Oh, and Cross?"

"Yes, Kaname?"

"Do you have any reason to believe that Zero may be more than he seems?" Kaname's question was almost vague, and it made the ex-hunter frown, as if to say 'why, whatever do you mean, Kaname?'. The pureblood shook his head and turned away. "Nevermind, Chairman. Goodnight." With that, he left the office and headed back to the Moon Dorms. He had a fool of a Noble to punish. Perhaps cleaning the restrooms would suit Aido's tastes?