Sorry for the long wait. Now that we're back into the school season I've been a bit busy. Please don't give up on me though! I'm doing my best to get chapters done quickly but not rushed.

Chapter 5:

It was dusk.

The sun was beginning to sink behind the clouds, casting rays of orange and gold across the land. Inside the Moon dorms, the night class were preparing for their classes. Most of them gathered around the door as they waited for Kaname, pureblood and dorm president, to emerge from the stairs and allow them to leave.

Sure enough, Kaname Kuran stood at the top of the staircase. He surveyed the students below him for a moment and then slowly walked down the stairs. Takuma, who was closest to him, smiled at his friend.

"Are we ready to set out to class yet Kaname?" He asked cheerfully. Kaname didn't speak for a moment, but then he smirked.

"We're just waiting on Zero. He's a bit disgruntled with his new night class uniform."

"Ah, I see." Takuma said, muffling slight laughter. "Well I think it'll look nice on him. Besides, it's about time he finally dressed like a night class student."

"I think he'll look adorable in white." Ruka, who had been listening along with all the other students, decided to give her input.

"He can hear you," An irritated voice spoke from atop the stairs. There stood a teenager, one with silvery hair and bright lilac colored eyes. This was the boy who had made a large impact on the night class, ever since he had joined them after the tragic ending of his previous past.

It had been about seven years since his parents had been killed, his twin had disappeared, and he had been bitten by a pureblood vampire. Now his fate lay with the night class, and his status was a level 'D'. Surprisingly Kaname's blood had been keeping him nourished and prevented him from falling to a level 'E'.

"Good evening Zero. Won't you finally come downstairs and join us?" Kaname greeted him with appraising eyes. "And I must say that you look even more exquisite than normal now that you're finally dressed properly."

Zero's scowl deepened. "Shut up Kaname. I don't see why I can't just wear regular clothes. You've never had a problem with it until now," He complained as he came down from the stairs.

"You're seventeen years old now Zero, which means you are the appropriate age of a proper student. Infact I honestly should have made you start wearing the uniform two or three years ago." Kaneme answered, not at all affected at being talked to in such a tone, despite his status. After all, it was Zero.

"And you're also wearing it wrong," Ruka observed with a frown. His red tie was untucked, hanging down loosely around his neck.

"It feels too uncomfortable to wear normally." Zero told her in a tone that suggested there was no way he would fix it.

"Whatever happened to the sweet boy who would let me and Rima pick out his outfits everyday?" Ruka said aloud with a small sigh.

"He finally understood how insane you both are," Zero replied, mimicking her small sigh. Ruka smirked, taking a small leap forward to muss up his hair slightly before turning. "Are we ready to go now Lord Kaname?"

"Yes, let's head to class." Kaname agreed. "Come along Zero."

Even though he showed annoyance, Zero didn't hesitate to join Kaname's side as the night class ventured out, soon to be swarmed by obsessed day class students before spending the night in class.

Night time...this was their time.

"I'm really glad you came over Zero!" Kaien Cross said, looking very enthusiastic from behind his desk. The silver haired teenager only raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"It's not like I had a choice when you all but dragged me here. This better be good...which leads me to my question. What did you want to talk to me about?"

The headmaster's gaze turned a bit more serious as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "This is for you, sent by the Hunter Association. It's your first assignment as a hunter, now that your training as complete. There's a level 'E' that needs to be taken care of."

Zero took the envelope and stared at it in shock. This was it. He had been training for three years, ever since he'd decided to continue his path as a hunter at age thirteen. Kaname hadn't been too happy about it, or the rest of the night class, but in the end the decision had been up to him.

His training had actually been by his former master, Yagari, who didn't like the night class but said he was doing it to 'keep an eye' on Zero. Other than that, sometimes the night class had helped him train as well, despite not being enthusiastic of his...choice in career. He'd once even heard Ruka and Kain whispering to each other, and hoping that it was just a small phase he was going through. Well they were wrong of course.

"A bit of advice Zero. Don't try and hide this from the night class. Kaname had a right to know, since you're his responsibility." Kaien told him.

"I know that," Zero said crossly. "But you know they'll make a big deal about it. And plus now that I'll officially be a hunter...won't they try to kill the level 'E' before I do?"

"Have more faith in them than that," Kaien replied with a smile. "Now why don't you head back? It's getting late."

Zero left the headmaster's office feeling both excited and nervous. Kaname was on a business trip right now, but he was back home anytime now. Hopefully he could just get away without telling the pureblood. Besides, what did Kaien know? He wouldn't have to be the one to deal with a bunch of overprotective high class vampires.

But at least now things were finally getting interesting.

When Zero was first going to be living with the night class, Kaname remembered he and the night class setting up his room. He made it the one right next to his, and tried to make it as friendly looking as possible. The bed was queen sized for now (he would get Zero a larger one when he was older) and the carpet was white. There was a bookshelf, dresser, and large closet that would soon be filled with clothes.

They were finally ready. Two days later, Kaname showed it to him for the first time.

"This is your room Zero. Everything in here is yours now." He spoke softly to the child who gripped his hand tightly. Zero gazed at it for a moment, and then looked back at the pureblood.

"My room is right next to yours, see?" Kaname pointed through the doorway to a separate door across the hall. "That way if you need something I'll be right nearby."

Zero still didn't move, but he looked rather appreciative, shifting a little closer to his older companion. Kaname took him a little further into the room. "Why don't you explore your room for a minute? I'll be right back, I just need a quick word with the headmaster."

Kaname felt Zero's fingers tighten around his own and he knelt down. "Go on Zero," He said encouragingly. "I promise I'll be right back, and then we can find you something to eat."

Finally Zero's grip slackened. After giving his shoulder a squeeze, Kaname left the room. For a moment Zero stood there staring off into space. Finally he took one small step forward. Then two. And then three more.

He made it all the way to the bed. Instead of sitting on it, he reached a small hand out to gently touch the blankets, which looked warm and inviting. His hand moved up to the fluffy pillows, giving one of them a pat.

Zero basically explored all of his new room this way...touching everything and occasionally patting at it. It was almost as if to reassure himself that it was real. When Kaname came back, he discovered Zero gazing silently at his reflection in the mirror, one hand resting against the cool glass of it.

"You have a beautiful reflection Zero." Kaname said, feeling better once Zero turned away from the mirror. It was obvious that seeing his own reflection would make him think of his twin, and he couldn't have Zero upset just before bringing him downstairs. After all, some of the night class were going to meet him.

"Come on, we'll go to the dining hall. They have desserts there, like cookies and cake. You'd like some of that, right?"

The only response he got was Zero resting his head against Kaname's arm as he gripped his hand once more.

"Let's head there then. I have a few friends who I'd like you to meet as well…"

Zero was very aggravated. What was the cause of his irritation? That was easy...his fellow vampire family was the cause of it. Once again, they had all gone into panic mode over him.

"Zero, I really think you should wait a bit longer! For instance, maybe another year." Takuma insisted frantically.

"Or perhaps two years." Shiki added, for once a little apprehensive. "To ensure maximum potential."

"Or you don't have to do it at all. That would make us all much happier." Ruka spoke as well. Zero scowled at all of them, taking his most sacred weapon, Bloody Rose, out of his pocket. Usually he could only use it during training, otherwise it was supposed to stay in his room. But now that he was officially a hunter, Zero decided he should be allowed to have his weapon on him.

"I've completed my training. This is my first assignment as a hunter, so stop pestering me. Do you really have such little faith in my abilities?"

"You know that level 'E' vampires are pretty dangerous. We really can't help but worry." Kain told him. "And is it necessary to have that weapon out right now?"

"...Well I have faith in him!" Aido announced. Zero just glared, while Kain smacked his cousin on the arm.

"Idiot, don't encourage him!"

All of the night class was freaking out because he had received his first assignment as a hunter. When Zero came back home with an envelope in his hand, naturally it made everyone curious. So Aido had grabbed it from his hand and read it aloud...and now this was the result.

"Just wait until Kaname finds out…" Rima commented.

He sort of expected them to react like this. However, there was one person who's reaction he was dreading, and that was Kaname's. Right now he was having a meeting with some business corporation. However, he was due to be here any minute, and of course the night class would 'tattle' on him. That is unless he decided to stop at the Cross household before coming home, in which Kaien would of course notify him.

Why did life have to be so stressful? He groaned to himself, stomping over towards the couch, and sitting down with his arms crossed. Then, just as Zero feared, footsteps could be heard pacing towards the main entrance, and everyone sensed a certain pureblood. The door flew open, and in he stormed.

"Zero, up to my room." Kaname said without even looking anybody as he walked up the stairs.

The violet eyed teenager winced. Obviously Kaname had found out. Now he would have to deal with the most protective of them all. He had only just turned thirteen when he'd decided to continue becoming a hunter. Kaname had panicked, but eventually relented and accepted his choice...but refusing to discuss the subject with him again until he was 'older'. He did somehow manage to get Zero's former master, Toga Yagari, to finish training him.

Once in Kaname's chambers, Zero flopped down on the pureblood's bed while Kaname himself sat down next to him. There was a relatively short silence, before finally the powerful vampire sighed.

"I honestly should have expected this….I take it there will be no changing your mind over accepting the mission?"

"That's right. I'm leaving tonight to take care of it." Zero nodded. He saw Kaname's fist tighten, causing him to smile slightly and take the hand in his own. "It's just one little level E. I can handle it just fine."

"I would feel better if you at least allowed someone to accompany you, just in case. If not me then perhaps Takuma, or maybe Senri."

Zero's amusement turned straight into annoyance. "You guys need to have more faith in me. I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm much braver than I used to be."

"That's what concerns me…" Kaname muttered. Although to still loved Zero just the same, he sometimes missed the quiet, timid, obedient boy who used to follow his every footstep. Zero still preferred to stay close to him, but now he was much more...independant. Such like he now refused to be doted on.

"Well, I should probably prepare, if that's all you wanted to say." Zero said, starting to get off the bed. Kaname grabbed his arm though.

"Wait a moment Zero, I'm not finished. I'll feel much better if you feed first, so that you'll be at full strength." The pureblood told him.

"Well…" Zero debated. "Alright." After all, it was impossible to pass up feeding time. Even though he was more mature and independent, he still always looked forward to feeding time with Kaname. It was very unusual, but even though almost seven years had passed, he hadn't shown any signs of becoming a level E whatsoever.

Kaname pulled Zero into his lap, just as he always did. Zero eagerly searched for a suitable vein before gently sinking his sharp fangs into it. He drank slowly, savoring the taste of such delicate and rich blood. Kaname idly ran his fingers in circles on the violet eyed teen's back the entire time.

For now things were okay.

Thanks to all those who reviewed chapter 4. Hopefully this chapter was satisfactory!