Vampire Knight


 * For the episode, see Episode 26: Vampire Knight

Vampire Knight (ヴァンパイア騎士 Vanpaia Naito?) is a shōjo manga and anime series written by Matsuri Hino. The series premiered in the January 2005 issue of LaLa magazine and is still on-going. Chapters are collected and published in collected volumes by Hakusensha, with eleven volumes currently released in Japan. The manga series is licensed in English by Viz Media, who has released thirteen volumes so far. The English adaptation premiered in the July 2006 issue of Viz's Shojo Beat magazine, with the collected volumes being published on a quarterly basis.

Two drama CDs were created for the series, as well as a twenty-six episode anime adaptation. Produced by Studio Deen, the anime series' first season aired in Japan on TV Tokyo between April 8, 2008 and July 1, 2008. The second season, aired on the same station from October 7, 2008 and December 30, 2008. The anime uses many of the same voice actors as were used for the drama CDs. The anime adaptations were licensed for release in North America by Viz Media, the DVD released on July 20, 2010.

Plot
Yuki Cross's earliest memory is of being attacked by a vampire and saved by Kaname Kuran, also a vampire. Ten years later, Yuki and a vampire hunter, Zero Kiryu attend Cross Academy as school guardians protecting the "Day Class" students from the "Night Class" vampires. The story follows Yuki's discovery that her childhood friend, Zero, has spent the last four years trying to fight his transformation into a vampire, and he has finally succumbed. Yuki struggles to help Zero fight his bloodlust and to recover her own lost memories, while suspecting that Kaname knows more than he is saying.

When his uncle, Rido Kuran, returns to kill Yuki, Kaname is forced to reveal her secret by biting Yuki and awakening her true nature as a vampire, returning her memories of being Yuki Kuran, his younger sister. Rido is killed by Zero and Yuki while Kaname faces and destroys Rido's allies, the Vampire Council, revealing himself to be one of the original vampires and the founder of the Kuran clan. Yuki and Zero part as enemies after Zero reveals he intends to end everything, by killing all purebloods, even her. Yuki leaves with Kaname and they return to the Kuran family home. The story restarts a year later with Yuki's dealing with vampire society and new enemies, such as Sara Shirabuki.

Main Characters

 * Yuki Cross
 * Zero Kiryu
 * Kaname Kuran

Supporting Characters
For more characters, see Characters 
 * Kaien Cross
 * Hanabusa Aido
 * Takuma Ichijo
 * Ruka Souen
 * Akatsuki Kain
 * Rima Toya
 * Senri Shiki
 * Sara Shirabuki
 * Maria Kurenai
 * Shizuka Hio
 * Rido Kuran
 * Haruka Kuran
 * Juri Kuran