Takuma stayed silent as we went into town. I kept glancing at him, unsure what to say before he grabbed my arm tightly and quickly pulled me into an alleyway, 

"Takuma what the hell?" 

I said angrily, narrowing my eyes at him as he turned to face me. He looked at me with intense and worried eyes and my gaze softened. He spoke to me in a hushed tone,

"Y/N listen to me, you can not trust any of the guys in the Moon Dorm, okay? Your brother has compelled all of them, they're just his puppets now." 

He said as gravely, causing me to tilt my head in confusion,

"What? How did he do it?"  

I asked skeptically as Takuma explained,  

"The night before you got here, there was a masquerade ball and all of the Moon Dorm students were invited. It was supposedly held by a member if the senate in celebration of the Night Class's achievements, but I found out it was your brother. The blood and food were spiked with his blood so that his voice would be in Lord Kaname's head along with all the others. I did some research on compulsion and found out the only way to save them is to kill the blood donor , namely Alek." 

His explanation made sense and I nodded in understanding before responding, 

"Okay, but I have one question. Why weren't you affected? You were at the ball as well, weren't you?" 

He nodded, 

"Yes I was, but since my grandfather is on the senate he would've been present. When asked why he wasn't present, Alek said he had business elsewhere but that's a lie. He didn't even know about the ball!" 

Takuma said and I nodded, 

"Okay I believe you. I thought the guys seemed off. How is he controlling them, though?" 

I asked curiously,

"They hear his voice in their heads. Their feelings towards you, I believe, are genuine but their actions may not be; they may hear his voice in their heads and think it's their own. I mean even you must agree that Lord Kaname would never put you in harms way, yet he seemed ready to let you go on a suicide mission without ever considering the alternatives." 

"Yeah I did find that strange. I assumed he'd try a little harder to talk me out of it." 

I commented as Takuma looked at me, his face slightly ashen at the thought of his friends being used like this,

"What do you think we should do?"
He asked as I  looked down in thought, until it hit me. I glanced back up at him, 

"We need to speak to Cross and Yagari immediately. Possibly Zero, too. If anyone can help it's them. We can't let the Night Class know what's going on, who knows what they might do." 

I said definitively as Takuma nodded in agreement,  

"I completely agree. I just hope nothing happens to you." 

He said as he hugged me tightly, pouring all his fears and anxieties into the embrace. I wrapped my arms around him in return, trying to reassure him that his friends would be alright and that we would put Alek down. I spoke to him softly, feeling his grip on me tighten slightly as my breath hit his neck,

"I hope so, too. Now let's get over to Cross and figure out what's going on." 

He pulled back from our embrace and smiled warmly at me, looking better than he had a few moments prior,

"Yeah, let's go. We need to let them know sooner rather than later." 

He said, a newfound conviction in his voice as we made our back to Cross Academy. We didn't speak much out of fear that we were being watched. We didn't know who else Alek had in his back pocket,

  Alek will pay, 

I thought to myself as we finally arrived at Cross's office. When we walked in, however, Cross looked tense,

"Can I help you?" 

He asked as Takuma looked at him seriously before responding,

 "We don't have his blood in us, Cross." 

He stated as Cross looked at him suspiciously,  

"Only one way to find out." 

The former vampire hunter said as he pulled out an ebony dagger and pricked each of our index fingers, 

"What are you doing?"
I asked in confusion as he looked at me, a small smile on his face,

"If you have any tainted blood in you, this dagger will burn your skin." 

He said as he put the dagger away and smiled warmly at us,

"Thankfully, you two don't have any. I was worried the entire Night Class was compromised." 

He said as I looked at him in surprise,

"You knew?" 

I asked, to which he nodded,

"Yep. I didn't know who exactly was infected with your brothers blood, so I have to take precautions. It was actually Zero who told me something was off, along with Takuma. Zero said they smelled off and Takuma told me about the ball." 

He said as I nodded again,

"That makes sense. So what are we going to do?" 

I asked as he sighed tiredly,

"I'm honestly not sure. No hunter has ever faced anything like this." 

He said, pushing his glasses up,

"But, we would have to kill your brother to stop the compulsion it's the only way. The question is how will we do that without dying?" 

He asked, causing me to shrug in response,

"I don't know." 

I sighed in irritation as Cross looked at me, 

"Get Zero please, Y/N. He should know what's going on since he's on the Disciplinary Committee."  

I nodded as I went off to the Sun Dorm. When I arrived at his door I knocked softly,

"Zero? It's me Y/N, can I come in?" 

I asked, hoping he was there. Upon hearing no answer, I went in anyway to see if he was even there. I opened the door and turned the corner to see him sitting on the floor in terrible pain. My eyes widened in fear,

"Zero!"

I exclaimed as I rushed over to him,

 "Are you okay?" 

I asked, surprised when he pushed me away,

 
"Get back! I don't want to hurt you!" 

He said with blood red eyes and a strained voice. I looked at him sadly as I pulled back the collar of my shirt and pressed his head against the crook of my neck gently,

"Do it. You're starving." 

I said softly to the weak vampire in front of me. He hesitated, 

"I don't want to hurt you." 

He said quietly as I began to softly stroke his silver hair, 

"You won't hurt me. I know it." 

I reassured him as he sunk his fangs into my flesh. I gasped slightly at the feeling, but didn't push him away. I held him close just as I did at the fountain the other night. He was far less reluctant this time around than he was last time. When I began to feel felt slightly dizzy he pulled back, 

"Are you okay?" 

He asked worriedly. I smiled at him warmly,

"Yes, I am. I told you that you wouldn't hurt me." 

He smiled and took my hand in his own gently,

"I should've trusted you, I guess." 

He said as I smiled sweetly,

"Here," 

I giggled and kissed his cheek,

"as a reward for self control. Come on, Cross wanted to see you." 

I said as we stood up and walked out of his room, our hands still linked. I glanced over at him and saw a light dusting of pink across his cheeks, 

Well, I guess I do have a superpower: making Zero Kiryu blush, 

I thought as I smiled to myself. I knew that this was a dangerous  game that we were playing, but I didn't regret it as we made our way to Cross.