Vampire Knight v.3 by Matsuri Hino – 200 pages

Vampire Knight v.3 by Matsuri Hino – 200 pages

The story delves into Yuki’s past with Kaname, from the snowy day 10 years ago with he rescued her from a vampire, to being adopted by Headmaster Cross.  When Zero is taken in by the headmaster as well, Zero sees Yuki’s connection with Kaname, and hates that a vampire is close to her.  In the present, Zero tastes Yuki’s attraction to Kaname in her blood, even if she isn’t aware or won’t admit it to herself.  Kaname watches over Yuki as she grows, and agrees to join and help establish the Night Class at Cross Academy, but what is his hidden purpose?  Zero is called on to hunt down a level E vampire to show he can still function as a vampire hunter in the human world, and a frail but fearless vampire girl, a transfer student, joins the Night Class.  The players are pawns on a chessboard that Kaname moves about, and we are left to wonder what he is planning in private.

Vampire Knight v.2 by Matsuri Hino – 208 pages

Vampire Knight v.2 by Matsuri Hino – 208 pages

Zero’s agony worsens, as a human turning into a vampire, he is no longer able to tolerate blood tablets for subsistence.  His former vampire hunter master stops him just in time from attacking Yuki, and has him confined in the headmaster’s quarters for safety.  A human level E vampire, insane with bloodlust, is destroyed in town by night class vampires- must such be Zero’s fate?  In a forbidden act, Yuki gives her blood to Zero for feeding in secret.  Zero is stabilized, but still self-loathing.  The vampire hunter warns Yuki she must be ready with an enchanted bullet for Zero.  Kaname is aware of what Yuki has done for Zero, and wants her full trust in him, that seems to have vanished, again.  A very dramatic episode in the story, with drinking of blood, illustrated with rich layers of tones and textures.

Vampire Knight v.1 by Matsuri Hino – 208 pages

Vampire Knight v.1 by Matsuri Hino – 208 pages

Cross Academy exists as an experiment to bring peace between opposing worlds.  The day class consists of humans, and the night class- vampires.  The Disciplinary Committee makes sure that the day class never finds out the secret of the night class, and that the night class never draws human blood.  Beautifully and expressively drawn, one is very quickly "sucked" into the story of characters like innocent Yuki, aristocratic Kaname, and tortured Zero.  Plenty of action mixes with dashes of comedy.  I watched and enjoyed the anime, at least but for the resolution, but think I will enjoy reading the manga series as much or more for being able to linger over the fantastic artwork.