Author Notes: OK! Managed to rush out this chapter on Friday night after all... hope it's up to scratch 'coz it does seem a little... plotless. Anyway, hope you enjoy it! -bows apologetically just in case-

I actually wanted to upload this tonight 'coz I'm quite keen to work on the next chapter of No Matter What. And you'll know why after you've read this one! :D

- Chapter Start -

"Oh, I forgot!" Chairman Cross slapped a hand to his forehead. "I was supposed to pass a copy of the new rules to the Dorm Leaders this afternoon and I forgot about the Night Class – Kaname should have a copy of this too" He waved a sheaf of papers stapled together and sighed, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen.

Yuuki's knife paused in the midst of slicing vegetables, and she looked up at her father at once. Zero scowled into the pot of soup he was stirring on the stove but said nothing.

"I wonder if I've time before my meeting… but no, they've just started their lessons" the older man glanced distractedly at his watch then sighed again – there wasn't time. He glanced at the tall, silver haired boy.

"Zero, would you mind taking -"

"It's OK, Father, I'll do it" volunteered Yuuki at once. "Thanks, Yuuki! said the Chairman happily, blithely ignorant of the fact that his adopted son was now glaring daggers at him.

Yuuki dropped her knife right on top of the sliced greens and quickly snatched the papers out of her Father's hand. She'd noticed Zero's glare of course, but ignored it all the same – he was sometimes just overly protective of her.

Zero's mouth tightened as he continued to stir the contents of the pot – if moods could affect food, that soup probably wasn't worth dishing out now.

Doesn't Father know how dangerous it is for Yuuki to go there? What was he thinking? In fact, what was Yuuki thinking, volunteering like that? Hadn't she already seen Kuran during class changeover an hour ago?

Zero scowled even more as he recalled seeing the tender exchange between Yuuki and the charismatic pureblood leader, ignoring the envious glares from the Day Class girls as they chatted briefly, though not briefly enough for Zero's liking. Yuuki loved him, not Kaname…

By this time, the bottom of the pot had become a couple of millimeters thinner no thanks to his forceful stirring.

"Can't it wait?" he asked now. The Chairman glanced absently at Zero as though he barely noticed the belligerent tone in his voice. "No, because the new rules come into effect tomorrow…" he said, with somewhat exaggerated patience.

Yuuki could hear the wildly sloshing contents of the pot even from where she stood and she glanced again at Zero. "It's OK, I can do it" she said quietly. Zero exhaled and let go of the soup ladle, watching it twirl around helplessly in the swirling liquid. He knew Yuuki wouldn't let a golden opportunity like this escape.

"I'll go with you" he said resignedly, knowing there was no way he'd allow Yuuki to go to that den of vampires alone without him and his Bloody Rose.

"Thanks, Zero" smiled Yuuki, a little relieved at not having to go alone and rather belatedly realising why Zero wasn't keen for her to go. Besides, there was just something rather… creepy… about the Moon Dorm grounds and she always felt a little… uncomfortable… in the opulent and plush interior of the dorm hall and lounge. Nothing to do the Kaname-sempai of course, he was always unfailingly polite and gentle towards her. And so were the other vampire nobles… in his presence at least.

- o -

By the time they'd finished dinner and clearing up, it was almost time for the lessons to be over for the Night Class students. It appeared that they had a much shorter timetable this week since a couple of their teachers were away.

Yuuki and Zero showered and dressed in T-shirt and jeans. Zero's Bloody Rose gun was tucked into his back pocket underneath his jacket as they set off in the direction of the Moon Dorms, Yuuki clutching the set of rules rather as though she were carrying the first edition of the Ten Commandments.

- o -

As soon as Zero and Yuuki stepped past the ornate gates of the Moon Dorms, the atmosphere seemed to change. The very air they breathed seemed different, even the temperature felt a little cooler. There was just no explanation for it and goose bumps rose on Yuuki's arms while the fine hairs on the back of Zero's neck stood up.

They walked up slowly to the entrance of the building that housed the Night Class students. After Yuuki had explained the purpose of their visit to the dour security watchman (also a vampire), they were admitted inside. Yuuki was relieved – there was something about his penetrating yet vacant stare that made her feel very uncomfortable – the eyes seemed to look through her rather than at her…

Barely half a minute after waiting in the large and luxuriously appointed living room, Takuma Ichijo came in, having been duly informed by the watchman on the visitors. He seemed a little surprised to find them there but was his usual unfailingly polite and cheerful self.

"Ichijo-sempai!" greeted Yuuki happily. "This is the set of new rules Fa- uh, Chairman Cross was supposed to pass to Kaname-sempai earlier" She stepped forward and proffered the sheaf of papers to Takuma, who took it with the grace of a messenger accepting a proclamation from the King.

"Thank you, Yuuki-chan. So sorry you had to come here personally" Takuma tried but couldn't quite hide the slight lift of his eyebrow – it was actually prohibited for humans to come to the Moon Dorms, even the adopted daughter of the Chairman. And although Yuuki had the moody School Guardian Kiriyu with her, it still didn't make her one hundred percent safe. After all, her blood was the sweetest one on the campus. Probably only Kaname's blood could surpass hers with its sheer irresistible pureblood power…

Zero saw that eyebrow and the concern it implied and his customary scowl deepened. He resisted the urge to scuff at the beautiful carpet he was standing on with the toe of one sneaker. He'd told Yuuki not to come, hadn't he? He'd told Father not to let her come, hadn't he? Zero had forgotten that actually, he hadn't – it had been a struggle mostly in his mind.

"Well, let's go" he said shortly, pushing up from the wall he'd been leaning on and reaching for Yuuki's arm.

"Oh but…" protested Yuuki immediately. Her wish of catching at least a glimpse of Kaname was transparently clear to both the vampire noble as well as the made one.

"Why don't you both sit down for a moment?" invited Takuma graciously. "I'll pass this to Dorm Leader Kuran and see what he says…" Takuma genuinely wanted to please Yuuki - he knew how she felt about Kaname.

Zero opened his mouth to argue even as Yuuki nodded eagerly and moved forward to sit down on the sofa. Pressing his lips tightly together, Zero leaned back against the wall, arms folded. Takuma nodded at them both, then turned towards the door. He took a step forward, then paused. A few seconds later, Hanabusa Aido strolled in. He attempted a double-take upon seeing them there, which Zero could tell was a fake from a mile away.

"Yuuki-chan… and Kiriyu too! What a pleasant surprise!" he said with his charming smile, unfortunately lost on both its intended audience. He stepped forward to capture Yuuki's hand in his, even though he knew this was precisely what had gotten him into trouble with Kaname the last time.

"Are you here to relieve me of my loneliness, Yuuki?" he murmured as he bent over Yuuki's fingers with faultless grace, making Zero glare at him. "Have you passed my message to Yori?" he breathed in a very soft whisper as he kissed her hand, not wanting the Assistant Dorm Leader to overhear his words.

Unfortunately, that gesture only increased the heat of Zero's glare by at least fifty percent. That presumptuous little…! And after he'd cooked dinner for him and Yori too last Sunday!

Aido flicked a glance at Zero who was glowering at him, then quickly straightened up. He hadn't actually meant to make Kiriyu annoyed… Takuma's eyebrow was significantly higher this time. He had been on the verge of leaving the room to go look for Kaname but with Aido here now…

"Glad you popped in, Aido. Could you please take this to Kaname-sama and let him know that Yuuki-chan and Kiriyu-kun are here?" The request was politely worded but left the young tousle-haired blond in no doubt that it was at the same time, a command given by the Assistant Dorm Leader.

"Eh…? Oh sure, no problem" Aido mumbled, not daring to look at a smirking Zero now. Takuma was looking at the door again, but with an expectant smile on his lips this time. Almost as if on cue, Senri Shiki's head of artfully arranged curls popped around the door and he winked at Takuma, having heard his words. "Aido? I'll go with you…" The brunette vampire placed a graceful hand on Aido's shoulder and guided him out of the room, after directing a wink at Takuma and receiving an appreciative smile in return.

The silence stretched on awkwardly as Yuuki absently rubbed the memory of Aido's kiss off her fingers onto her jeans while both males remained standing. Zero had refused to sit after yet another graciously worded invitation, and good manners, of which Takuma had an abundance of, dictated that he remained standing as well.

There was no sound from outside the living room but Takuma's head suddenly turning towards the door, followed by Zero's body tensing told Yuuki that Kaname was approaching. And in spite of having known him all her (conscious) life, Yuuki was still unable to stop the soft blush appearing on her cheeks.

The charismatic pureblood strolled in, long waves of dark hair spilling over the black silk shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He was flanked by Seiren and Kain. "Yuuki…" Kaname smiled his gentle smile and drew her from the sofa into his arms, holding her against his partly uncovered chest gently.

Zero gritted his teeth and swallowed a growl of almost possessive anger. A moment later, he shook himself mentally, surprised at his own heated reaction. Yuuki's infatuation for Kaname was nothing new to him, neither were the pureblood's tender embraces. After all, Yuuki had known Kaname far longer than she'd known him… so why was he suddenly so inexplicably furious? Yes, Yuuki was infatuated with Kaname but she loved him. Him - Zero Kiriyu.

It had to be the Moon Dorm atmosphere, affecting his mood, being surrounded by vampire nobles and seeing that insufferable Aido trying out his charms on Yuuki again… while dating her best friend, no less.

Kaname looked up at the silver haired vampire and nodded. "Kiriyu-kun" he said with a faint smile that somehow reminded Zero of their previous meeting, just before the holiday break about a month ago. He nodded in turn. "Kuran" He still omitted the 'sempai' honorific but it wasn't a rude greeting… at least not by his standards.

Takuma glanced at his watch and went over to whisper something in Kaname's ear. The pureblood leader nodded immediately and the amiable vampire went out after a courteous nod and smile at Zero and Yuuki.

Kaname must have said something amusing to Yuuki because she was giggling now. Then she remembered Zero and saw how still he was standing. Her heart ached a little as she took a step backwards.

"We have to go, Kaname-sempai…" she said. The pureblood leader nodded. "Be careful, my dear" he murmured as he gave her hands a gentle squeeze before releasing them. He glanced at Zero but the latter ignored him as he strode quickly to the door after a curt nod at everyone in general. He waited for Yuuki to walk past the door before following her out.

As they walked out of the Moon Dorm entrance, Zero allowed himself to relax slightly. It was silly of him to be affected by the opulent surroundings of the Moon Dorms and its noble inhabitants. After all, Yuuki was now walking back to the main building with him… and not with Kuran.

They walked on in silence as they exited the Moon Dorm gates and started on the main cement path leading to the classrooms and the other buildings. Zero inhaled deeply to calm his rather unsettled nerves, catching Yuuki's sweet scent as well. After a moment, he caught Yuuki's hand. "Let's cut across here, it's faster" he muttered. Yuuki glanced at him and didn't protest as she let him pull her off the path and towards a cluster of trees that stood about ten meters away. It was a short cut that would lead directly back to the main building.

Zero slowed down his stride as they reached the trees. He thought he heard the faint murmur of voices coming from the trees. A few moments later, they realised they were not alone.

Two people were standing in the shadows of a large tree and Yuuki jerked to a stop as well, Zero's hand clapped over her mouth. It wasn't necessary – she was speechless in any case. The couple were half hidden in the shadows of the tree but she recognised them anyway –Ichijo-sempai and Shiki-sempai…

The Assistant Dorm Leader was leaning with his back against the tree, his hands lightly clasped around the shorter vampire's neck.

"Your shoot finished so late, you must be tired, Senri. You should be resting now since you have to be up early again tomorrow morning…" murmured Takuma, gazing into his lover's eyes. Then, at the unspoken plea in the crimson depths, he sighed. "Well, just a little then…"

Shiki reached up and burrowed his face in Takuma's neck, making the taller boy moan softly as he felt fangs sink into his flesh. The sound was too soft for Yuuki's ears but Zero heard it and it raised goose bumps all over his body. He let his hand slide from Yuuki's mouth to rest on her shoulder.

Watching the couple in front of them oblivious to anything and anyone else save each other, Yuuki's mouth went dry. Seeing Takuma arch his neck sinuously as he thread his fingers languidly through Senri's artfully arranged curls brought a shiver of déjà vu to Yuuki – sensual images of how she and Zero looked like reflected in her clothes cupboard mirror one time and the hotel room mirror more recently as he drank from her flashed into her mind. Goose bumps erupted all over her skin as well – had they looked as erotic as the young couple in front of them now?

Yuuki had no idea the Assistant Dorm Leader was on such… erm, friendly.. terms with the part time professional model. Then she gulped very softly. Shiki had stopped drinking and after he had lovingly kissed and licked at the rapidly healing puncture wounds made by his fangs, he sought Takuma's parted lips where partially grown fangs could also be seen. The young model's hips, clad in designer jeans, started rubbing against Takuma's in slow, circular movements, making the sandy haired vampire's fingers curl tightly on his lover's shoulders, his moans now audible even to Yuuki. She felt Zero's hand tighten almost painfully on her shoulder. He was remembering the feel of Yuuki's fingers in his hair, sliding through the silvery strands as she held his own head to her neck, the action more telling than words that she didn't mind him taking from her at all. But he hadn't realised how… arousing… the scene could have looked like, to someone else. Even if the two persons he was seeing now were of the same gender.

Long agonising moments later, in which both Yuuki's and Zero's eyes had widened more and more and their breathing had become somewhat erratic as the couple's movements became increasingly erotic, the heated kisses and caresses broke off and after a moment of whispering and a suspicious glance in the general direction of the stunned School Prefects, the two vampires moved away, walking hurriedly but with the innate grace of their race as they disappeared hand in hand back in the direction of the Moon Dorms.

After a long moment of absolute silence, Yuuki let out a long, very shaky breath and heard Zero do the same, his hand falling off her shoulder back to his side. "Wow…" she whispered. Her cheeks had started to heat up from the moment Shiki buried his head in Takuma's neck and it had intensified with each passing second until she seriously thought her cheeks would catch fire if she were to just touch them with her fingers.

"Yeah" muttered Zero, trying to swallow past a dry throat and feeling more unsettled than before. "Come on, let's go" he reached for her hand and tugged her along, fervently hoping they wouldn't meet anyone else from the Night Class. Suddenly, he tensed, hearing someone else coming from the Moon Dorms down the main path behind them. The footsteps were quick and light, as if the person was walking quickly.

"What is it, Zero?"

"Shh!" Zero quickly pulled Yuuki back closer to one of the trees, letting its shadow hide them. By now, Yuuki had heard the steps as well and kept quiet. A petite blond girl dressed in a long sleeved shirt and jeans appeared on the path. Yuuki gasped softly. "Yori?" she breathed.

It was indeed Sayori Wakaba and she appeared upset, dashing her hand across her eyes repeatedly as if she were in tears as she stumbled along the path. Yuuki stepped forward immediately, concerned for her normally calm and collected friend, but Zero's hold on her arm tightened.

"Let me go, Zero!" Yuuki tried to pull her arm out of Zero's grip. "Wait Yuuki - someone else is coming" he murmured softly but urgently. His keen ears had picked up another set of footsteps – someone else was indeed coming down the same path now, moving even faster than Yori.

That person came into view a few seconds later and Yuuki gasped again. It was Hanabusa Aido, whom they'd seen a few minutes ago. He was running after the blond girl now.

"Yori! Please – wait a minute!" they heard the young noble plead before catching up with Yori. He grabbed her arm and swung her around.

"Damnit, Yori, I said wait for me!"

Yori snatched her arm free, placing her hands on her hips. She tossed her head and glared at Aido. "Why?" Her voice was almost tearful but angry.

Zero and Yuuki froze, uncomfortably aware that they were overhearing an argument between Aido and Yori.

Then Zero swore under his breath – Aido was holding onto Yori's arm again and was pulling her towards the trees right where they were standing! Grabbing Yuuki's arm, Zero hauled her back and they hurriedly cut across the clearing where Takuma and Shiki had been earlier, before ducking behind a bush.

"Uh… Zero? Do you think we should see if Yori's OK?" asked Yuuki rather breathlessly. She stopped as Yori's upset voice and Aido's more frantic one floated back to her. Peeping from behind the bush, Yuuki gasped. Her friend, normally so cool, level headed and sensible especially where boys were concerned, appeared to have lost it completely and was hitting Aido-sempai. Actually pummeling him with her fists and kicking him hard with her sneakered feet – she looked absolutely furious.

Yuuki's mouth fell open and she gaped at them, Zero looking over her shoulder. "I think Yori can take care of herself" he said dryly after a while, unable to stop smirking as he saw Aido stoically taking all the blows without appearing to defend himself in any way. Inwardly, he was a little surprised. And more than a little puzzled as well.

"C'mon, let's go…" he murmured, pulling at Yuuki's arm again. She threw another look behind her as they crept away.

Yuuki shook her head slightly as they reached the main building. "Geez – those were two close calls, huh, Zero?" she muttered a little breathlessly from the fast pace Zero had set. "But I wonder what that was all about…" she added, half to herself.

Zero shrugged as he squeezed Yuuki's hand gently. Yuuki returned the squeeze but she promised herself she would go look for Yori tomorrow to find out what had happened.

- Chapter End -

A/N: About the Assistant Dorm Leader and the professional part-time model... well, I was influenced by Crimson Door and Trust Me, two awesome fics from my favourite author Blackened Wing. I guess those of you who are familiar with her fics would have grinned at that part, but I do apologise to everyone else for dropping that unexpected scene into Hold Me.