Artemis

The Artemis Rod is Yuki Kuran's anti-vampire weapon, which she received from Kaien Cross and always wears hidden under her skirt on a leather band. The Artemis Rod is, in its "normal" state, an approximately 20 cm long rod, which can be extended and eventually can turn into a scythe. If vampires touch this weapon, it will react against them with small flashes. For the vampire, this is unpleasant, but they cannot be killed by this. Only when the Artemis Rod is a scythe it is capable of killing vampires.

Yuki left the weapon behind after parting with Zero and leaving Cross Academy in 46th Night. The weapon was left in the custody of the Hunters Association, but was returned to Yuki when Kaname gave it back to her in 57th Night.

Yuki's Awakening
The first time Yuki picks up the Artemis Rod following her reawakening back into a vampire, it tries to reject her, but Yuki persists in spite of warnings from Kaname and it transforms into a scythe.

Trivia

 * Kaname carries the Artemis Scythe on the cover of Volume 2.
 * Juri Kuran was also a wielder of the Artemis Scythe.
 * Artemis was the Greek Goddess of hunting and of the moon.
 * The Artemis Scythe is in the shape of a bat. The bigger wing being the blade
 * Kaname the Ancestor was the creator of Artemis. Artemis was passed down through his bloodline (Chapter 64)