Authors Note: Hello! Sorry it's been so long. I hope you enjoy this longer chapter.

This chapter is un-betaed

When Zero woke again, he could see everything. The cracks in the stone walls around were too small to let in any light but big enough for air to seep through. Oddly enough, he wasn't cold. His mind was hazy and the water dripping in the corner was irritatingly loud. The worst was his physical body. Everything was sore, his muscle and bone arched as his moved around. His throat was on fire. It felt as if he had been screaming non-stop. He needed water.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Zero instantly knew that water wouldn't quench his thirst. He started to gasp, finding it harder to breathe. His throat was closing on him. He was suffocating. Gods, why was this happening to him? The door suddenly opened and light poured in. Zero closed his eyes, the harsh light blinding him. His head was grabbed roughly, his hair pulled and jaw squeezed. The pressure on his jaw forced his mouth open, only to have something poured down his throat. It was awful. It tasted like rust and slid down his throat like a knife. He tried to scream but it only came out as a gargle, which jarred the liquid in an unpleasant way.

After what seemed like forever, his jaw was realized and he surged forward, coughing violently. Gods. What did they give him? The liquid settled in his stomach like iron. It weighed down in the pit of stomach and made his dizzy. His chest constricted and his tummy gave in. Oh God, he was gonna hurl.

Zero started to gag, the bile rising in the back of his throat. "Don't you dare." someone threatened him, but the silverette couldn't help it. He turned his head to the side as best he could and rid himself of everything in his stomach, which wasn't much beyond the liquid he had been force fed. The contents landed around him, even some on his feet. This session triggered a series and his counted three more vomit sessions before his stomach settled. Meanwhile, his captor was groaning in the background and threatening to throw up himself if Zero continued.

The silverette was weak. His wrist were raw from the cuffs around them. His vision was once again blurry. He tried to focus on his captor but couldn't. "What did you do?" the question was shouted down at them by a new voice. This one was rougher and deeper then the original voice.

"Sensei, I was just trying to get him to eat!" the higher voice cried.

"So you force feed him!" the older man shouted, "It's been weeks, nearly two months, since he's eaten! How could you be so stupid?"

Zero tried to speak, he tried to see the faces of the voices but he couldn't. He was so weak. He could only manage a whimper before passing out again.

When he comes to again, his stomach contents are cleaned up, poorly but they're mostly gone. The smell lingers. He looks up, there is a man seated in a wooden chair before him. "'Bout time you wake up."

Zero squinted his eyes, the voice was so familiar but he couldn't place it. The man stood, grabbing a small bowl from under the chair. He moved towards Zero and held out the bowl. Inside Zero saw a small piece of bread. "Will you eat this?" the man asked.

Zero thought about it some, he didn't know this man but his stomach was empty and he was weak. He was dying for something to drink but some bread might do him well. He nodded once and the man tore up small pieces of bread before holding them in front of Zero. The boy went to grab at the food but he was still chained to the wall. He looked at the cuffs and then once back to the shadowed face of his captor. "Yeah, no chance in hell kid." was all the man said.

The boy grumbled but didn't fight it and leaned forwarded to eat the offered bread. He was being fed like a child. Anger boiled inside Zero, who was this man to treat him so lowly? The silverette didn't even know why he was here. Still, Zero eat in silence. The man ripped ten pieces and fed Zero before backing away. There were pauses between pieces to give Zero's body a chance to adjust to being fed again.

Zero tried his voice. It was scratchy like wool against dry, cracked skin from the winters cool air. The boy grimaced and swallowed thickly. Trying again, his voice a little better. "Who are you?" It came out slow and killed his throat but it came out and that was the most important part.

The man before him grunted. "You sound like shit." Zero could only glare at that, damn this man was rude. The other stood and walked over to a table in the corner. He came back with a cup and straw. Zero couldn't see what was in the cup but it was odd thick substance. The silverette grimace and shook his head, instantly feeling sick from the smell. He tried to back away, pressing himself against the cool concrete of the wall behind him. Turning his head, he pressed his lips together, tight and refused to drink the substance. His captor all but growled at him, yanking him back.

It shook his body which was still sore. Zero still wasn't 100% what happened to him. He felt like he had be ran over by a dump truck and then it backed up over him to run him over again only to have a tsunami come in and whip him around, slamming him into various structures. But only on the outside. Inside was worse. His organs felt on fire but at the same time, like mush. He was absolutely terrified but couldn't hear his heart beat and now his stomach was pretty much a raisin, incapable of holding anything down. Whenever he breathed, his lungs lit up like he was smoking glass. His eyes were sensitive to even the slightest light, feeling like he was staring straight into the sun. That was another thing. Zero wasn't cold. He could feel that it was cold. In fact he knew he probably had frost bite or worse, but he didn't feel it. It didn't bother him. Which is odd because Zero was, what Rima dubbed, a freeze baby.

That thought made Zero start. The man's voice faded away and a vision of petite, fiery Rima came to mind. How long had he been gone? Did she notice? Was she okay? Who was taking care of her and keeping her out of trouble? Zero's thoughts spiraled, what about Lily, his most beloved stray? And then Zero felt his heart stop. What about Kaname? Zero hadn't let himself think about Kaname for a while. It made his heart ache with longing, now more then ever. Zero wanted Kaname to rescue him, to wrap him in his strong arms and carry him away from this torture.

"Zero!" the said boy jumped and stared straight ahead, the man's eye stared right at him, only a few inches away. "Pay attention." the man seethed, his eye ice blue and equally cold.

Why did Zero know him?

"Sensei!" was called. Rapid feet flew down the stairs, light spilling in and finally illuminating his captors faces. Zero's lilac eyes widened. "He's coming and he's not happy."

"Damn." the older man cursed before sighing and moving to sit back down against the other wall, lighting a cigarette.

Zero shook, his anger warming him like a thousand suns. "Toga Yagari. Kaito Takamiya." It was the clearest his voice had been since he first woke up in this place. Another shadow fell from the doorway, not that Zero paid any mind to it. Instead, he thrashed and pulled at his restraints. This were men that he trusted, that he cared for. Once they had been family. Instead, as soon as he was useful anyway, they threw him out, abandoned him. Now, here they were talking before him as if they cared. They restrained him and starved him. He was sick and they didn't care, they just acted like it. His rage was boiling. How dare they. How dare they. He started to scream, there was no other way for him to release his frustration of not being able to get his hands on them.

They were talking to him but their words fell on deaf ears. The two hunters backed away, up the stairs. Zero's eyes followed them and landed on the third man. This one he didn't know. He was pale, but not so pale he looked sick. He almost had a peach tint, like he was standing in the sun just long enough to start to tan but not to actually tan. He wore thin silver wire glasses that were large and took up most of his face, and hid his eyes. He was older but Zero couldn't tell how old. He wore dull clothes. Black pants with matching boots. His long coat kissed just above his shin, just below his knees. The coat was brown and worn. It was beginning to fade but look so warm. A dull sand-brown scarf fitted snugly around the mans throat. A deep purple turtle neck peaking through at the top. Long, silver blonde hair was tied back in low pony tail. Zero knew, his senses singing, that this man was a hunter. "You two are upsetting him." the voice was cool and level. It caused a shiver to run through Zero's body. The man was not just some hunter, he was a powerful one.

Kaito said nothing and quickly sprinted up the stairs and passed the man. Toga on the other hand took his time. He sighed and lit a cigarette, and leisurely took one step at a time. At the top the two men stared at one another. Even though Toga was taller and more physically built, Zero could see how his ex-sensei stood around the man. Their eyes met but Toga wasn't looking down on the other man. He took a puff of his cancer stick, "We were just trying to help him, Kaien." the one eyed hunter said. The man, Zero presuming that he was Kaien, said nothing but nodded his head. Toga sighed once again and brushed past the man.

The silver-blonde man turned to face Zero, who still couldn't see his eyes, "I'll be back in a few moments, Rose-san. Please take this chance to calm down." With that, the door was closed and Zero was left once again in a dark that he could see. So he did the only thing he could do. He screamed. (A/N: Reminder that Zero's mother last name is Rose and Zero never knew his father)

*Cross Academy - Day Class Girls Dormitory*

Yuki burst through her room's door, shiver as the November weather bit at her heels. Her roommate and closet friend, Yori was sitting on her bed, fuzzy pj pants on, a science textbook in her lap. Sayori Wakaba, nicknamed Yori, was a young girl, shorter than most but still had a few inches over Yuki. She had short light brown hair and warm brown eyes. Her Spanish summer tan was quickly fading in the Japanese winter air. Yuki shivered again as she started to peel off her jacket and scarf. Quickly toeing off her boots and slipping her cold feet into warmer socks. Yori hummed, not looking up from her textbook, "Everyone's saying that there's going to be snow for the Winter formal." Yuki groaned but said nothing. Yori was day class student and Human. All of the Day Class students were..except Yuki.

Cross Academy was one of Japan's most prestigious private schools. It was for only the brilliant and most creative students, at least to Humans. To the rest of the world, the Supernatural part, it was an experimental school for Human students and Vampire students to get alone. The whole project was headed by the oldest living hunter, Kaien Cross and the most powerful and oldest vampire family, the Kurans. The only problem? Humans didn't know that vampires existed. The academy was split into Humans and Vampire, Day and Night Classes. The Human students were told that the Night Class were for the truly gifted students. Most of them were heirs and heiress' to famous companies. The Day Class students were often found memorized by the Night Classes beauty. Yuki hated it. She hadn't wanted to be apart of the Night Class, though her mother insisted. Unknowingly to her mother, Yuki was a Day Class student. Her father and Kaien Cross felt it would be good for Yuki to have non-aristocratic friends. So Yuki Kuran became Yuki Cross, Kaien Crosses adopted father. None of the Night Class students knew of Yuki's true heritage. The vampire students thought the same as the human, that she was adopted and in training to be a hunter. Yuki acted as a perfect. She patrolled the grounds at night in order to keep the Night Class in line and report to Kaien if there were any issues.

Yuki was exhausted. She only had a few hours before change over, when Night Class students leave their dorms and head to class, and day class watches. She put on a pair of leggings and a long sleeved shirt, leaving her uniform of a white button down shirt, a black skirt and jacket over the back of her desk chair. She brushed out her hair, de-tangling the knots with slight tugs. Yori didn't know she was a Pureblood, no one but Kaien did and she loved it. Growing up, she had seen how fame and the Pureblood name had hurt her brother. He had his court, a court of those he trusted with all his heart, but he was still alone. No one to truly love him and not his title. Yori was that. There were times Yuki wanted to tell Yori about her princess life, knowing Yori wouldn't care, wouldn't treat her any differently but still Yuki had her fears.

Putting the brush down, Yuki tugged her sleeves over her hands and claimed onto Yori's bed, resting her head on her friends shoulder. "Are we going to the winter formal together?" the vampire princess asked, they had to past few ones, but she still figured it was nice to ask.

Yori snorted, "If that's you asking me to be your date, you better try again. A little romance wouldn't kill you." Yuki just rolled her eyes and pinched Yori's sides. The other girl jumped and swatted her best friends away, "Aya! No tickling!" Yori scolded.

"Oh? What about poking?" Yuki questioned.

The girls giggled as they fought their tickle war. It went on for a few moments before Yori rolled off the bed and hopped away, holding her sides. "No tickling!" She yelled half-heartedly. Yuki just giggled some more before sprawling out on her roommates bed. "Besides," the shorter haired girl side, moving and jumping back on her bed, jarring Yuki a little, "I heard a certain popular boy wants to take you." Yuki raised an eye brow before leaning up, resting on her elbows.

"What certain popular boy?" She questioned. Yori just smirk like a cat tricking its prey.

"Oh you know, just Hiro Ando." Yori broke into a huge smile.

Yuki just stared, "Hiro Ando?" she questioned again. Hiro Ando was a year older then her and Yori, and a Day Class Student. Yori was right though, he was pretty popular. His father was a published author and his mother a successful editor. He was on the taller side, with jet black hair that seemed to be un-tamable. He had an easy going personality, and had an easy and loving upbringing. Yuki had seen him interact with his parents. Both of them were so proud of their son, and so supportive. The vampire princess couldn't help but be a little jealous of the boy. Sure she got support, her brother and father always backed her in almost all of her decisions, but her mother. Yuki stopped that thought before went dark. Her mother was always a dark topic.

Instead she focused on her friend, who had been staring at her. Yuki just shrugged, "So? What about him?"

Yori bolted up, "He wants to go to Winter Formal with you! He has potential to be a Night Class Student next semester so you won't to get to see him very often." Yuki did her best to not reply that he would never be a Night Class student because turning Humans into Vampires is grounds for war with Hunters. Yuki just shrugged and stood up. She needed to get ready for change over.

She shrugged on her warm socks and wiggled her toes into small boots. Finally dawning her black uniform jacket, having a sweater under nether, and tugging up her Disciplinary Committee sash on her upper left arm. As she fixed her earmuffs and held her gloves tightly, she headed out the door, down the stairs and into the chilled air. She made her way across campus and found herself before tall white walls. The white shined like pearls in the setting sun, the wind knocking against the unlovable force. The white was only broken the grand, deep mahogany doors. The doors were carved, telling tales of bloody war and gold peace, the tales only known to those that lived within those walls and those that had lived through it. Above the cobble stone outline, a Moon Crest in gold gleamed, marking the Night Children's territory.

Behind her, the Day Class students crowded around, waiting for the most beloved night class. The crowd was getting rowdy and began pushing close to her. Soon her back was pushed up against the cold doors of the Moon Dormitory gate. "Step back!" She called out, closing her eyes in order to not compel anyone with in eye contact distance.

Most of her female classmates whined, "No fair! Cross, you can't hog them!" Angry girls, and some boys, pushed forward and Yuki couldn't do much, without revealing her true strength. She slid down and whimpered, straining her instinct to control and fight back. Vampires were natural warriors, and she was about to break.

"All right kids, back it up." A voice cut through, Yuki's sensitive picked it up though the rest of the crowd ignored it. The vampire princess heard an in take of breath, the only warning when "Enough! Back it up losers! In a line!" The voice shouted out and instantly students backed away. "Line up!" It shouted again. The students slowly lined up, looking around, trying to find this new voice.

Yuki stood and brushed off the dirt that caked her now. Instantly, Yuki pin pointed the new voice. A man. She had to catch her breath. He was gorgeous.

He was taller then her, almost the same height as Kaname. He was lean and his arms crossed a broad chest. He was built like a swimmer. Long legs were clad in black trousers and tough military like boots on his feet. He wore a white button down shirt, covered by black blazer, white stitching lined the jacket and the Cross Academy crest was embroidered on the left side, aligned with the breast. It was a Professors jacket. Each new professor or instructor got a special jacket with the crest that was worn only on special occasions. But that isn't what really captured Yuki's attention. His hair looked like soft feathers, it shined like a new silver coin in the setting sun. The last rays peaked through the trees that line the academy's grounds. While the man was pale, like a vampire, his eyes were also pale. They were a light shade of lilac and they were beautiful. Yuki had never seen anyone with eyes similar. His eyes held calm, but there was so much. They were like an un-opened book, one that wanted to be read, and Yuki hated reading. But she wouldn't mind reading this book. The last thing Yuki noticed was a pale blue tattoo on the side of his neck. It was an intricate design. The edges were sharp and hard, it looked like it meant business. He looked like he meant business. As he turned to face Yuki, she noticed a white band around his upper arm - a disciplinary committee band.

Yuki's fellow classmates stood in a somewhat straight line. They stared in wonder at this new man. Yuki just blinked, only jarred when the gates to the Moon Dormitory open, causing Yuki to fall back, as she had been leaning the door. Before she could hit the ground, she was wrapped in a pair of arms. "Whoa there, Cross-chan." Yuki instantly blushed and bolted up. She was used to the 'chan' most by now but when she had first heard the honorific she had been offended.

"Hio-san," she said, fixing her skirt. Shiro Hio is a noble vampire, and the president of the Night Class at Cross Academy. He is a distant cousin of the Hio family, the same one that disowned Shizuka. Since he entered Cross Academy, Yuki had had a bad test in her month about him, thinking him the same as his rude family. She was only slightly wrong. Shiro was nothing the gentlemen her father, uncle and brother were. He was big headed, playboy and spoiled brat. He was the highest ranked vampire in the Night Class and that is the only reason he was president. Still, Yuki bit her tongue. She was just simple, sweet Yuki Cross, adopted daughter of an ex-hunter who day-lighted as moron; not Yuki Kuran, princess of the vampire kingdom.

The vampire raised an elegant, white eyebrow, "Spacing out again, Cross-chan? It's good that you're so cute." He said with a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his lips.

Yuki passed her lips together, dusting herself off, she just smiled. "Have a good day at class." she said in her typical 'Yuki Cross' voice. Shiro just sneer, white hair gleaming in the setting sun from the gel holding it back.

"Whatever, Cross." he said, pushing past her to strut through his adoring fans. But tonight's changeover was different. Everyone noticed. It was silent. Shiro's eyebrows knitted together, looking around. The other night class students also confused. Suddenly, Shiro was yanked back by the collar of his coat. Soon he was before Yuki again, her mouth slightly open. "Get off of me!" Shiro screamed, thrashing against who held him, Once again Yuki had to catch her breath. The silver haired hair was holding a struggling Shiro in front of Yuki, a neutral face.

Shiro was dropped, roughly and he scrambled to get back on his feet. He dusted himself off quickly and straightened his suit jacket. "How dare you! Do you know who I am?" he shouted, turning on the silver haired stranger.

One silver eyebrow raised before an eye roll followed. "Don't care. Apologize for being rude and then go to class."

Shiro gaped at the man before slamming his jaw down. Shiro Hio was everything people said; handsome, playboy, womanizer, and hot headed - just to name a few.

Yuki instantly bolted between the two men. Facing Shiro, Yuki saw that his eyes were beginning to tint red, "Hio-san, it's fine, just go to class," she said. The boys jaw clenched but still he huffed and moved around, leading the Night Class to the academic buildings. The Day Class students were quiet through the whole show and still eerily quiet after. "Well, it's almost curfew…" Yuki states, looking up as stars start to shine in the twilight sky.

The handsome stronger huffed, uncrossing his arms and screamed to the day class "Shows over; go back to you dorms!" Immediately the Day class students ran off to their dorms. Yuki watched in awe the area before her cleared with great haste.

"Wow," she stated in astonishment, "that was amazing." She finished cheerily, in her typically Yuki manner. She skipped up to the stranger and smiled brightly, "Names Yuki-"

"Cross, I know." The stranger said in a monotone. "Your Headmaster Crosses adopted daughter, Yuki Cross, Day Class student and perfect."

Yuki just blinked, once again astonished. "Um, okay," she said, skipping off to join the stranger as he walked away, "so you know about me, but I know nothing of you." She started to have jog to keep up, his long legs having a bigger stride then her.

Suddenly, the silverette stopped. "Names Rose-san, I will be patrolling the north and west side. You take the south and east. Go to bed at 2:00am sharp. Understand? Great." With that the one named Rose-san left Yuki, confused, just before the academic buildings. She shook her head and went off to the East side gate, starting her patrol.

Time Skip - 2:00 A.M.

The Night Class was back in their dorm and Yuki let out a sigh of relief as she trudged up to her room. She had been distracted all patrol. Thankfully it was uneventful but still it could be dangerous. The Night Class had never step out of bounds before but if it ever were to happen it'd be on a night where Yuki was distracted and then it'd be her fault a Day Class student got hurt.

Yuki shuddered as she shed her coat, unsure if it was from the cold or the dark thoughts racing through her mind. Instead she quickly jumped into bed, only bother to quick off her shoes and jeans before tugging her covers over her shivering body. Her mind wondering Rose-san and what odd character he was. He gave no first name and appeared rather cold. Yuki shivered ago, she just couldn't get him out of her mind. She gave one last shiver before she gave way to sleep, her dreams filled with the newest mystery in her life.

Time Skip - Next Morning Homeroom

Yuki skidded to a halt. Once again, she was late, no matter how many times Yori woke up her up she'd just roll back over and go to sleep. She slammed down into her seat seconds before the instructor looked up. "Thank you for your presence, Miss Cross." Her homeroom teacher, also her arithmetic instructor, raised a perfect eyebrow. Fukui-sensei was an older women who's wrinkles were pulled back and her eyes small and beady. Yuki pursed her lips and nodded.

Fukui-sensei started roll call and then went through their class schedule, the same as every Thursday. Luckily it was almost the weekend and Yuki would finally be able sleep. The Pureblood princess could feel her eyelids dropping. It was strange, as a Pureblood, the sun had no true effect on her but her sleep schedule was out of sorts. At school she lived as a human, at home a vampire. The different schedules did mess with her, not to mention her perfect duties.

Suddenly the door swung open and in walked none other then the silver haired stranger, Rose-san. Fukui-sensei double checked her watch before nodding, "Right on time," she then turned to the class and began to introduce the new addition, "This is Rose-sensei," Yuki noticed the annoyed twitch in the man's eye, "and he is your new History teacher. I will leave you in his care." With that, Fukui-sensei left the room.

The silverette man signed, "You will call me Rose-san and nothing else. I am your history instructor and I am a on the Perfect Committee." He said flatly. Students whispered and gossiped with each other. Yuki jumped when a sharp pain jabbed into her ribs.

Yuki turned and saw Yori staring at her, her elbow properly posed for a new strike to the purebloods ribs. "What?" Yuki asked, to which only got her an 'explain' look from her best friend. Yuki could only shrug. "He just showed up out of nowhere. I'm gonna talk to Dad at dinner tonight."

Yori raised an eyebrow but let the matter settle. With that Yuki turned back to her new teacher but her mind was racing. She wasn't focused, her mind completely taken up by this silver haired stranger who was apparently close enough to her guardian to get a job and to become a perfect.

Time Skip - Evening

Yuki quickly raced out of her last class - algebra - and off to her dorm. She changed quickly before rushing out the door again, almost bumping into Sarah Romanov, a Russian exchange student and Yori in her haste to see her guardian before change over. "Sorry!" She called, skipping down the stairs and out the door. She raced across the school grounds, passed the academic buildings and Moon Dorms, where students were all ready starting to crowd around. She started to slow at the instructor housing. There were four houses for teachers to live in. They were really for the vampire instructors but only two were in use. The first held to the two female vampire teachers and the second held the male vampire teacher. All three of them were Level C's and Yuki enjoyed them. They even helped her on her homework time to time.

She could hear the teacher milling around in their homes, preparing final touches for their lessons this evening. The young princess walked pasted the homes and off to the side. Hidden in the far corner of the schools grounds was a medium size cottage with a pair of dying flower gardens. The gardens were always dying and the shutters needed a paint job, decades of weathering chipping away of the pale blue. Smoke pillowed out of the chimney in thick stacks, and the light was on by the front door, as always.

Yuki walked through the front and smiled as she smelt the same burning scent as she had the first time she walked through that same door. She had been five, Kaname sixteen, and their father had whisked them away from yet another Vampire society party to visit a dear friend for the Holidays. The snow had been crisp outside and cottage warm. Instantly, Yuki loved this place and it became a second home for her. She fell in love with the old castle buildings on the grounds; their empty halls offering refugee for her during a bad storm.

"Yuki! I wasn't expecting you today." Came a cheerful voice, snapping the vampire out of her waltz down memory lane.

She gave a warm smile, "Good evening, Headmaster Cross, she greeted. She was only returned with a whine and a muffle 'It's daddy!' Shaking her head before walking into the kitchen to find her guardian, and God-father, in his typical pink apron and a burning pot before him. Yuki sighed, "You do remember you're only my pretend step-father, right?" She said in the kindest way she could.

Kaien Cross scoffed and place the now black pot into the sink, "Here you are Yuki Cross, and I am your father. End of story."

Yuki chuckled and walked further in, "What were you trying to cook now?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Spaghetti," was the simple answer. Yuki jumped a mile high and turned sharply to see a man with long brown hair framing his face, one blue eye pinning her down while the other was covered by an eye patch. He was stretched out, arms across his chest and ankles crossed before him. An unlit cigarette hang limb between his teeth.

"Hello." Yuki said sharply, eyeing her guardian, but not moving. Why hadn't she noticed him?

The man snorted. "Don't feel too bad princess, I'm well above your pay grade." Yuki's eyebrows met and she finally turned to Cross for an explanation.

"Oh!" Cross said, finally paying attention. As he dried off his hands, he began introductions, "Yuki, this is Toga Yagari, an old hunter friend of mine. Toga this is-"

"I know who she is, Cross." Yagari said standing up, the chair creaking from the absence of his weight. "Yuri Kuran, nice to meet you." the hunter said in a way that made Yuki feel like he wasn't all that happy.

She nodded, "Nice to meet you as well." she returned and when the man made no other comments or movement, she shifted uncomfortably.

Cross set a hand on her shoulder, "Yuki, dear, is there a reason for this visit?"

Yuki perked up, though she noticed Yagari cross his arms over his chest again, "Yes! It's about that new teacher, Rose-san." She trailed off for a moment when she saw a flash in Cross' eyes, she saw Yagari become slightly more tense. When neither man said anything she continued. "Who is he? And what is he doing here?"

Cross licked his lips, shared a look with Yagari before he locked eyes with her again. A goofy grin formed on his face as he said "Oh, is that all? Zero-kun is just an old student of Yagari's that needed a way to get on his feet. No worries," with a laugh.

"Zero? Zero Rose is his name?" Yuki questioned, not letting Cross' easygoing attitude fool her. "What is with that strange tattoo on his neck?" She continued, absently scratching her arm, "It makes my skin crawl." Yagari glared at the girl and Cross was quiet. Yuki eyed both of them. "Well?"

Yagari huffed, taking his cigarette from his lips and moved to leave the kitchen. "You're smarter than people give you credit, princess."

Yuki smiled, beaming, "Thank you." only after the man left the room did his comment actually sink in, her smile faltering and she called out a 'hey' with only the door closing as the mans reply.

The young girl turned to her 'adoptive' father with her lips pressed together. Cross said smiled and held up the phone, "How bout we around some take out before change over?" With that the discussion was over, for now.

With Zero

Zero groaned as he set back. Currently, he was puking up the contents of his stomach. Zero gulped, disgusted by the taste in the back of his throat. He opened his eyes, not entirely sure when he closed them, and glared at the small white pill on the floor. He been given an entire pill bottle of them, and was told they would 'help' him with his 'new lifestyle'. Zero groaned, 'lifestyle'. That's what they kept calling it. Cross and Kaito at least. Yagari hadn't said a word to Zero since he left the dungeon and truly there was no other word for it.

He didn't remember everything but enough. Kaien had left him in the dungeon to 'calm down' and Zero spent hours screaming his throat raw. When Kaien returned, he had a pitcher of water, a glass and a small container of pills.

*Flashback*

Zero glared as the man poured a glass of water and dropped two, tiny white pills into it. The pill dissolved, tinting the water red and left a metallic scent to the air. Zero knew what they were and they made his empty stomach lurch. The poor silverette groaned as the other approached him, glass held out.

"I know you're chained, but I'm willing to unchain you if you think can handle it." said Kaien, blood water still held out before Zero.

Zero just shook his head, "I won't drink that. I can't." he said with a gulp and tried to control his breathing. His throat was on fire, from screaming and a dark need for blood.

Kaien just nodded and placed the glass next to the pitcher and pill bottle on the stairs. Next the man took the seat Yagari had been sitting in earlier and moved closer. Zero sense great power from the man before him but, oddly enough, the ex-human didn't fear him. In fact, Kaien made Zero feel almost…safe.

The man before him cleared his throat, "Zero-san," Kaien waited for approval of the name before continuing, "My name is Kaien Cross, I am a…retired hunter," Kaien introduced himself with great thought. Zero recognized that name. The Great Kaien Cross, deadliest hunter alive and dear friend of the rumored King of Hunters. Retired wasn't the correct word choice if Zero remembered correctly. After hundreds of battles, Cross had snapped. He suddenly became an advocate for human-vampire co-existence. The Hunter's Council had not been thrilled with that and had forced him into early retirement. He was stripped of his Hunter tools and membership to the association but his name still carried great weight. The Cross family was an old hunter family, often chosen as guards for the royal family. "I see you've heard of me." Kaien said with a sigh. He took off his glasses and pitched his nose, it was than that Zero saw how old the man before him was, how tired he was.

"I'm not that man anymore, Zero-san. I just want peace, for everyone." Kaien replaced his glasses and chuckled, licking his lips he started, "You know, I built this school with the hope that it would be a safe heaven for vampires and humans alike. I wanted it to be a stepping stone for vampires to come out of the shadows. I mean, look at the Kurans, the humans love them but don't know what they actually are." Kaien shook his head, "This was once a a dungeon-" the old hunter only pause to throw a pointed look when Zero scoffed, wiggling his chains, "-that my family used to torture innocent men and women - all vampires of course. Which is why I found that making this place," he stood and gestured around, "this land to be the home of my co-exist plan. The old Cross Family headquarters. The main castle, would be the academic halls. The halls where my family plotted against vampires would be the same halls that young vampires learned in beside humans. The guest houses would be the dorms and me…well I would live in the little grounds keepers cottage at the edge of the property, granted with some upgrades, the whole place did." Kaien was smiling as he went on about his school, but as his speech neared an end, the light in him dimmed. "However," he sat down with a thud, "the students are still separate, the Day Class students are still being lied to and the Night Class students are still being hidden, treats as though they are better than anyone else." Kaien sighed.

"Zero-san, I'm at a loss of what to do. Both Vampire and Hunter councils are hounding me for results and then only thing I've been able to prove is that young vampires have the tendency to break rules and young humans are still wowed by a vampires beauty." He dropped his head into his hands and sighed.

A few moments of silence passed when the old hunter raised his head, "Unless…"

Zero raised an eyebrow, "Unless?" he questioned.

Kaien shrugged, "I mean this is just an idea." he said, reaching into his jacket pulling out a vial, filled with a blue liquid. "Inside this vial is a special liquid," Kaien explained, "granted, on its own it doesn't do much, but with a special symbol and chant, it will control a vampires basic instinct." When Zero showed only mild interest, Kaien pushed on, "It is even rumored, to halt the fall to a Level E." Now that got Zero's attention, the two men stared at each other.

Suddenly, with what only could be described as vampire speed, Kaien was face to face with Zero, only an inch or so apart. "Zero, you could be the key." Kaien whispered. "Let me tattoo, or rather have someone tattoo, the Hunter's Lock on you with this ink. Let me perform this ritual and we could possibly stop your decent to E. You could bridge the gap between humans and vampires!" Zero looked between the vial and Kaien. He shook his head 'no' and instantly Kaien deflated, "But if you do this, I'll realize you!" Still Zero shook his head.

Kaien backed away, "I'll give you a few hours to think about it." and turned to leave.

Zero sighed, "You're crazy." Kaien paused and turned back to Zero, "Vampires will never follow an almost E. And Humans would be afraid of me." Kaien crossed his arms, eyes hidden in the shadows behind his glasses. "But…if it means getting out of these chains…" Zero sighed, "I'll do it."

Kaien beamed, "Perfect!-"

"But!" Zero interrupted, "You have to promise me something," Kaien nodded, "When I turn into an E, and I will eventually, you have to promise you'll kill me. Before I can hurt anyone." Zero said and after a moment, added, "Deal?"

Kaien just nodded sadly, and with Zero was left alone to wait in the dungeon…again.

*End Flashback*

Zero slow went to trace his new tattoo. It had hurt like a bitch being on his neck, but not just on his neck, over his bite mark. The place where the pureblood who changed him, the strongest point of vampire venom in his body. Zero's mind wandered. Kaien had never asked who changed him, by law that pureblood would be put to death for changing a Human without the Hunter's Council's approval. Warm brown eyes flittered into his mind and Zero instantly slammed down on his mind, stopping all thoughts of that man, that vampire.

He swallowed the rage building in his throat. He hated that vampire, that beast that dared take his humanity.

He hated him.

He hated Kaname Kuran.