"But why?" I ask. "Why did you save me?"
"Oh, Yuki," Kaname sighs, "This is dangerous territory and I want to protect you from it."
I stop, suddenly furious and I extract my arm from his. "Kaname Kuran! I am seventeen years old. I'm not a child." I tried not to yell, but I as I talked my voice grew in volume until I did. So much for not sounding childish. I added, more calmly, "Please. Please tell me the truth."
He looks at me. Really looks at me, as if he's gazing into my soul. I stare back, determined.
"Yuki, do you know why your father went on an assignment with the Hunter's Association even though he had retired?" Kaname finally asks.
"I thought he said that was supposed to be his last one," I say, confused. That's what I'd always been given to believe anyway. That the mission he went on before my mother died was supposed to be his last.
"Well, he had already technically retired when they sent him on that one," Kaname replies. "He probably just told you that to keep things simple."
I mull that over for a moment. Then I say, "But I don't know why he went on that assignment. I've never thought about it before."
"Then you should start there, Yuki," Kaname says. "Ask your father about that. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you everything right now."
I glare at him. "I don't need protection! I'm a big girl. I can handle it," I say, struggling to keep my voice even.
"It's not about what you can handle," Kaname says sadly. "It's about what the vampire society can handle."
What on Earth? I have no idea what he's talking about. I start to say, "Wha--?" but he cuts me off. "I'm so sorry, Yuki," he says, touching my arm. "But I can't tell you any more than that. Not now."
And before I can respond, Kaname is gone. Bitterly, I set off to find my father.
---
Ultimately, Maria decided to just unpack tonight rather than barge in the middle of class, which seemed sensible to Zero. Coming into class randomly would be a bit awkward. So, after showing her around, he escorted her to the Moon Dorm. Seiren was waiting for them outside of the gates.
"Thank you, Zero," she said brusquely. "I'll take Maria to meet the others."
Zero thought about arguing, just to be difficult, but he decided he didn't want to make things harder for Maria. So he said, "Sure," and looked at Maria. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."
"Okay. Goodbye, Zero!" Maria said. "I really enjoyed spending time with you!"
Surprisingly, Zero had also enjoyed himself. He actually had never spent so much one-on-one time with a vampire before, but Maria didn't seem too much like a vampire, despite the face that she'd never met a human before today. She was very inquisitive and curious about everything, which challenged Zero because he had taken a lot of things for granted. She was like a child exposed with new scenery—she wanted to know it all. He realized that Maria brought a whole new perspective to conversation and he looked forward to seeing her in the future.
"Yeah, me too," Zero replied. And, waving goodbye, he left the two women and headed back down the path. Once he was out of earshot of the vampires, he said, "You can stop hiding, Master."
Toga Yagari stepped out on the path. "Well, well. My pupil is all grown up," he commented.
"What are you doing here?" Zero asked.
"I was sent to kill you," Yagari said simply.
Zero nodded. He thought this might happen. "Well, I know that you could have killed me at any point before now. Have you decided not to obey the orders?"

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Finding My Way
FanfictionA retelling of Vampire Knight where Yuki is empowered to make her own decisions: Yuki, daughter of renowned vampire hunter Kaien Cross, has been entrusted with guardianship of Cross Academy along with her adoptive brother, Zero, when her father deci...