The Vampire Knight manga series and its Anime adaption features a relatively small cast of characters created by Matsuri Hino. The series takes place in an alternative future of earth where global warming occurred ten thousand years ago giving rise to immortal vampires and dramatically reducing the number of humans. Their opponents, the vampire hunters were borne of a necessity for humans to defend themselves against the vampires who were turning their kind into the slave army. In spite of being set in future earth, it features a mixture of contemporary and old fashioned technology.
The primary character of the series is Yuki Cross, a naive but energetic human, who is the introductory narrator, she is supported by childhood friend and vampire hunter Zero Kiryu and her crush Kaname Kuran. The story is set in a school environment and originally the cast is divided into human and vampire students, but after the main three characters are eventually revealed to be vampires, the story moves away from the school environment in the second arc. Zero Kiryu’s revelation as a vampire drives the first half of the first arc and the second half is driven by Yuki’s revelation to be a vampire. In spite of the secrets held by the two former humans, Kaname is the character with the most secrets, which appear to be the focus of the beginning of the second arc. While initially developing the characters, Hino reported that though Kaname was created earlier, at every step in the characters' creations, she found it difficult to maintain a balance between Kaname and Zero as she struggled with fears of the former overshadowing the latter.[1]
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Yuki Cross / Yuki Kuran (黒主 優姫 / 玖蘭 優姫 Kurosu Yūki / Kuran Yūki) is the adopted daughter of the Headmaster of Cross Academy, a 16-year-old first year student, who wields the Artemis rod, an anti-vampire weapon given to her by Kaien Cross. She begins as a human, a Guardian protecting the vampire students' secret from the human students. Yuki is close to Zero Kiryu, who she becomes determined to help once she learns he is has become a vampire. Her other significant relationship is with Kaname Kuran, whom she has been in love with since he saved her as a young child. She is generally a kind, caring, cheerful, crazy and comedic character, but she is very naive and careless girl, often portrayed as not being very smart, being a poor student due to the fact that she is a Guardian at night and student in the daytime, giving her little time to study and sleep. She is often kept ignorant by other characters who know more about on-goings, which results in her character feeling guilty for being unaware of the suffering of other characters. Hino Matsuri has described Yuki as a healing and soothing character, who exemplifies her justice side.[2]
Towards the climax of arc one, Yuki is revealed to be a pureblood vampire, when Kaname awakens her breaking the spell cast by their mother, releasing suppressed memories of her past. This revelation alienates Zero, but the two fight together to defeat Rido. The formerly close friends part ways after Zero tells Yuki he intends to kill all pureblood vampires, including herself, while finally revealing his feelings for her. Yuki’s response is left unknown until she later admits to Kaname an unbreakable attachment to Zero in her heart. During the one year time skip, Yuki spent the entire time inside the Kuran mansion with Kaname until Yuki decides to take up the responsibility of killing purebloods who wish to die. Kaname finally reveals to Yuki that he is her ancestor, not brother which leads Yuki to ask to start over, but Kaname leaves to continue his past mission. Yuki returns to Cross Academy, restarting the Night Class to gather allies. Yuki begins mending her relationship with Zero, but his misunderstanding leads them to form an agreement based on mutual goals that is purely business like. When the hunters revolt against Kaien's attempt to stop Kaname, Yuki states that she wants to stop Kaname too. However, she also told Zero that if she were a piece in Kaname's game, she would play her part and then go to meet him.Yuki is also a pureblood princess
Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese), Mela Lee (English)
Zero Kiryu (錐生 零 Kiryū Zero) is unique being both a Vampire Hunter and a vampire. Yuki's close friend and a Cross Academy Guardian, he was trained to be a Vampire Hunter by Toga Yagari. Zero carries the anti-vampire gun called "Bloody Rose”. Zero lives with Kaien Cross and Yuki, after being bitten by a pureblood vampire who also murdered his family. Due to the attack, Zero developed a deep hatred and distrust of vampires, despite originally being a gentle character by nature. Matsuri Hino described Zero as exemplifying her hesitant nature.[2]
The first arc of the story is spent dealing with Zero trying to overcome his fall into the madness, helped by Yuki when she pledges to feed him her blood. Yuki continually oversteps boundaries in helping Zero and he ends up preventing her from trading her humanity to Shizuka Hio in exchange for preventing his fall to a Level E vampire. Zero swears never to allow Yuki to become a vampire and attempts to help her with her own issues. Zero clashes with Kaname Kuran, who only allows Zero to live to protect Yuki and Zero is eventually forced to drink the blood of Kaname to delay becoming a level E vampire. Following the discovery of Yuki's true nature as a pureblood vampire, Zero and Yuki's friendship is broken. Perceived as dangerous, Zero is arrested by the Hunter Association and it is revealed that Kaname had been grooming Zero in order for him to defeat Rido Kuran. Zero is shot by his dying twin brother, forcing him to "eat" Ichiru to complete the Twin Hunter fragment. With this final act and carrying the blood of three purebloods,[3] Zero becomes one of the most powerful characters appearing in the series. Zero and Yuki work together and defeat Rido, but Zero reveals his intention to end everything, to kill all pureblood vampires including Yuki. However, (in the manga only,) Zero is unable to kill Yuki, revealing that he had been in love with her for a long time and kisses her. The two mutually part, as Yuki promises to run from Zero forever to give him a reason to live.
Following the one year timeskip, Zero has progressed from his dangerous state of mind, more concerned with maintaining peace between vampires and hunters,[4] enough to find himself poised as the future president of the Hunter Association. Zero continues to hunt vampires and seeks the truth about a Vampire hunter's death at the party, but is still dealing with issues regarding his loss of his humanity and intense vampire hunger. When Zero meets up with an injured Yuki, Zero finds himself assisting her though they are still technically enemies and he once again finds himself entwined in Yuki's business when she restarts the night class. He is again surrounded by vampires, he is even approached affectionately by Maria for his connection to Ichiru. Zero finds Yuki's behaviour at school abnormal when she attempts to re-establish a connection to Zero and insists she drinks his blood and they begin a new agreement driven by mutual interest of keeping the students safe.
Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese), Vic Mignogna (English)
Kaname Kuran (玖蘭 枢 Kuran Kaname) is introduced as the pureblood vampire saved Yuki from an attack by another vampire when she was five years old. Kaname is revealed to be one of the original vampires and founder of the Kuran family, who was raised as Juri and Haruka's son after being reawakened by Rido Kuran. During the first arc, Kaname spends his time working to protect Yuki, which includes killing Shizuka Hio and fostering Zero Kiryu's powers. The end of the arc culminates in his destruction of the Vampire Council, which attacked the school, fearing the return of the Kuran family as the rulers of Vampire Society. Kaname's inexplicable attachment and gentleness to Yuki is finally explained when Kaname awakens her true nature as a pureblood vampire born as his sister and to become his wife. Kaname is forced to do so with the return of his enemy and uncle, Rido. As Kaname is unable to kill his master, he approaches Zero to kill Rido and free him from Rido. The attachment to Rido persists beyond the vampire's death and his remnant is later seen talking to Kaname, taunting him about his conflicting nature.
Following the timeskip, Kaname takes Yuki to their childhood home and solidifies his rule over the vampires and forges and new peace between the purebloods and the hunters. When Yuki reveals her attachment to Zero thinking rejection, Kaname instead impresses upon her his love, preferring to be killed rather than losing her. Kaname is haunted by the idea that he will one day lose Yuki should she choose to sacrifice herself and he wavers between the desire to lock her up or allow her freedom. Kaname tells Yuki that he is not her brother but, her ancestor. Later, his true intentions are once again shrouded in mystery when he kills Aidou's father and leaves Yuki. He has underlying intentions that aren't revealed yet, but he does say to Yuki, who saw him kill Aidou's dad, "I have to fulfill my original goal, Yuki." Kaien confronts Kaname and says he is going to kill Kaname for many reasons but mainly because of Yuki.
Voiced by: Daisuke Kishio (Japanese), Ethan Murray (English)
Day Class students are humans who attend Cross Academy and live in the Sun Dormitory. The majority remain ignorant of the vampires at the school. They attend classes during the day only, hence the name, while wearing black uniforms. Following the battle on the school, the students realized the true identity of the Night Class students. At first they were fearful, but eventually accepted the vampires reluctantly; however, upon the reopening of the school, all but a selected few had their memories erased of this information.
Sayori "Yori" Wakaba (若葉 沙頼 Wakaba Sayori) is Yuki's dorm-mate and best friend since junior high. She has a fiance.[5] Yori is a very perceptive girl who finds the aura of the Night Class to be scary. She is one of the few girls with no interest in the Night Class and not intimidated by Zero, frequently joining Yuki to tease him while maintaining that Yuki is the only one capable of dealing with him. When Yori discovers that Yuki is a vampire during the attack on the school, she accepts Yuki. After a year has passed, Yori remains Yuki's loyal friend, she refused to have her memory erased by the hunters, now one of the few students who knows what actually happened at the school. Kaito uses Yori as bait at the vampire ball in an attempt to provoke trouble, while she does this in order to meet with Yuki whom she hadn't seen in a year. It is revealed that she is also a daughter of an important official, whether hunter or not is unknown, when the headmaster was discussing on reopening the night class. At Chapter 71 a man known as Sayori's Father said: "I'm also entrusting my daughter Sayori to this school of yours."
Voiced by: Risa Mizuno (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)
Nadashiko Shindo (新藤 撫子, Shindō Nadeshiko). Shindo appears as a shy, but daring Day Class student, and like the rest of the other Day Class girls, she first appears as silly, because of her giddy admiration of the Night Class. She was considered as brave by her fellow Day Class students after she timidly, but bravely asked Zero Kiryu to dance with her during the ball. Shindo braids her long hair into two low pigtails and she has clips in her hair. She also wears glasses. Shindo's hair color is very light brown which almost looks blonde, and her eye color is blue. She shares a dorm with her friend Saboten Hageshī. Shindo is first seen on St. Xocolatl's Day/Valentine's Day, when the day class girls stand outside the Night Class. She attempts the climb the wall to get into the night Dormitory but falls. Zero catches her before this happens though. Zero rebuffs her repeated attempts to get close to him. She attempts to give chocolates to Zero, but he refuses and tells her to leave him alone. Then she comes across him in a side story in the stables and later attempts to ask him to dance during the ball. She is not seen again until after the battle with Rido's vampire servants is over and is one of the girls who speaks up for the Night Class, one of the many voices of the Day Class girls who voted that they did not want to forget about the Night Class's secret: being Vampires. voiced by:(English) Carrie Savage
Kaseumi Kageyama (影山 霞 Kageyama Kaseumi) is a student of the Day Class at Cross Academy and the president of Yuki's class. Appearance He has dark brown hair and wears glasses. He wears his uniform properly and normally has an expression on his face. He is in love with Ruka Souen and shows it to her, but Ruka has no interest in him. During St. Xocolotls day, he tried to give Ruka some chocolates, but she rejected the chocolates. At the social ball, he had asked Ruka to dance with him but she denied his request, saying that she did not want to dance with someone she doesn't know. However, he does dance with Nadeshiko Shindo at the ball. When Ichiru arrived at the academy, the president was told to take care of him.He is one of many Day Class Students who find out that the Night Class are vampires during Rido's attack on Cross Academy and didn't want to have their memory wiped.
A secondary character, Fuka(如月 風花, Kisaragi Fuka), Kisaragi appears only in the novella Vampire Knight: Ice Blue's Sin. Fuka first has a has a crush on Kaname Kuran, but later in the novella her affections focus on Aido. At the end of the novella, Fuka dies.
Ichiru Kiryu (錐生 壱縷 Kiryū Ichiru) was Zero's younger identical twin brother. Ichiru failed to be a Vampire Hunter due to being a sickly boy and his lack of hunter talents. He was believed to have been killed by Shizuka Hio, but he returns healthy after revealing that he had become the servant of Shizuka and she had given Ichiru her blood to cure his chronic ill health. In spite of his desires, she does not turn him into a vampire and he remains a human. With Shizuka's death, he returns to Cross Academy as a Day Class student by the orders of the Vampire Council and his own desire for revenge for Shizuka's death. During Zero's imprisonment by the Vampire Hunters, Ichiru visits and shoots him but reveals that he attained a mortal wound in an attempt to kill Rido, because of his role in Shizuka's death. After he shoots his brother, Ichiru convinces Zero to drink his body so they can finally become one, as they were originally supposed to be. Zero buries him alongside their parents grave.
Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese), Vic Mignogna (English)
Saboten (サボテン 激しい Saboten Hageshī ) is a Day class student, guardian and prefect at Cross academy. Saboten is a razor sharp tongued, tough, courageous and hilarious yet, sensible, super smart, and wise vampire hunter. She doesn't find Zero a threat or intimidating at all like most of the other Day class and actually doesn't Zero that much, she was the first person to have figured out that he was a vampire. Being a guardian and hunter Saboten has an anti vampire sword she wielded herself called "Silver Knight" which she carries around twenty-four seven and used it to fight the vampires when Rido's attack on the school took place. Saboten's friend are Kaseumi Kageyama, Sayori Wakaba, and Nadashiko Shindo. Saboten wears her hair in two twin plaits that are a kind of sandy or dirty blonde colour, she wears very circular black glasses and often gets mistaken for her friend and dorm mate Shindo because they look similar. Saboten usually has a a crazy expression on her face. In Rido's attack on the school She fought alongside Ruka and Kain for for most of the time and by herself or with Shindo and Kaseumi. Saboten is an orphan who ran away from the orphanage when she was six years old, because vampires attacked the orphanage and Saboten wandered into the academy where she met four year old yuki before Zero came along. Kaien didn't adopt her officially like he did yuki but he did let her stay at the academy. She didn't have a name so she made one up for herself Saboten means cactus and Hageshī means fierce. Instead of wearing a skirt with her uniform like the other girls she is the only one who wears long, black shorts claiming that the skirts are too short. She can be such a know it all and carries around a Cross academy student handbook to remind and scold students.
Night Class students are young vampires who attend Cross Academy and live in the Moon Dormitory, while wearing white uniforms. They are offsprings of elite families in vampire society and are of noble blood, gathered by Kaname Kuran, in order to pursue peace between humans and vampires. They are extremely beautiful and highly intelligent. As they are nocturnal and sensitive to sunlight, they attend classes during the night and sleep during the day.
Akatsuki Kain (架院 暁 Kain Akatsuki) is Aido's cousin and considered one of "Lord Kaname's right-hand men." While the Day Class girls have nicknamed him "Wild", Kain is actually mellower than Aido and his laid-back attitude and association with Aido frequently sees him getting into trouble, despite not being directly responsible.[6] Kain is incredibly perceptive and frequently sensitive to others' feelings, most particularly with his cousins, Aido and Ruka's. Kain has the ability to conjure and control fire. It has been hinted that Kain has some feelings for Ruka but he has yet to reveal his true feelings to her.[7] His protectiveness over Ruka is the only thing preventing him from fully devoting himself to Kaname like Aido. During Rido's attack on Cross Academy, Kain and Ruka fight vampires attacking the Day Class on Kaname's orders.
Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese), Troy Baker (English)
Hanabusa Aido (藍堂 英 Aidō Hanabusa) nicknamed "Idol" by the Day Class girls, Aido is well known among the Night Class along with his cousin Akatsuki Kain to be "Lord Kaname's right hand". His fierce admiration for Kaname borders on jealousy and though extremely loyal, Aido has a tendency to overstep his boundaries, which results in Kaname punishing him if discovered (often by slapping him). A noble-class vampire who can conjure and control ice, Aido often appears cheerful and friendly one moment, but vindictive and cruel the next. In spite of his seeming capriciousness, he is a dedicated and serious individual. A perceptive individual, he and figures out Zero is a vampire, but he keeps this information to himself without any hidden agenda in mind. He is often irritated at Yuki and her naive ways and he resents the fact Yuki is given special attention from "Lord Kaname". He is temporarily troubled when he witnesses Kaname's killing of a fellow pureblood and runs away from the Moon Dormitory and imposes himself on Yuki and Zero. Agreeing with Yuki's assertion that he would remain loyal to Kaname even if betrayed by him, he returns to the vampire's side.
Aido has difficulty adjusting himself to referring to Yuki in a formal manner following the revelation of her true nature when he is appointed as one of her protectors. During Rido's attack on Cross Academy, Aido protects the Day Class, as ordered by Yuki. Half a year after the incident, Aido becomes Yuki's tutor and personal guard. After witnessing Kaname kill his father, Aido tries to suppress any hatred towards the Kuran family and collaborates with Yuki to reestablish the Night Class. Hanabusa witnesses Yuki drinking Zero's blood, but refrains from saying anything and instead asks for Rima Saboten Hageshī and Senri to help him snoop around. He follows Kaien in order to track down Kaname but meets instead with his cousin, Kain who blocks his way before leaving him.
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama (Japanese), Bryce Papenbrook (English)
Maria Kurenai (紅 まり亜 Kurenai Maria) is a very distant relative of Shizuka Hio. She allows Shizuka to possess her body in exchange for being allowed to drink Shizuka's blood, which would strengthen her weak body. Due to Shizuka's untimely death, this promise is never fulfilled. She seems to be fond of Ichiru Kiryu, and she hugs Zero when she mistakes him for Ichiru. She asks Yuki to tell Zero that if he sees Ichiru, to tell him Maria wants to see him again. She returns to her family after Shizuka's death, and when she sends an owl out to search for Ichiru she witnesses Kaname's destruction of the Senate, and proceeds to spread the news.
Maria returns to Cross Academy to support Yuki and the Night Class. She notices the changes in Zero and Yuki's relationship and tells Yuki she intends to take Zero. She becomes closer to Zero, seeking him out and finding the presence of his twin within him. Voiced by: Mai Nakahara (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)
Rima Touya (遠矢 莉磨 Tōuya Rima) is one of the youngest Night Class students and she works as a model alongside Senri Shiki. She is 165 cm tall. Rima is smart and usually appears uninterested and indifferent. She is often blunt and has a fairly quick temper. She cares deeply for Shiki and possesses a personality similar to his. Rima possesses lightning or electricity related abilities.[8] She shares a fondness for Pocky with Shiki. After suspecting Shiki has changed upon his return to school, Rima confronts Rido and demands him to leave Shiki's body since she can tell that he is not Shiki. She is wounded by Rido, but is saved by Ichijo. While injured, she tries to convince Shiki to snap out of his state and calls him an idiot for letting Rido control him. Badly wounded, she is sent back to the Moon Dormitory by Ichijo. Rima is later seen at the vampire ball with Shiki and at a photoshoot at a school Sara Shirabuki was spotted at. Rima rejoins the newly established Night Class, but has since become a critic of Kaname's actions.
Voiced by: Eri Kitamura (Japanese), Carrie Savage (English)
Ruka Souen (早園 瑠佳 Sōen Ruka) is a female noble vampire who provides a stark contrast to Yuki Cross. Ruka has also been in love with Kaname Kuran since she was a child, ironically she remains completely unaware of Kain's unrequited love for her even when her day class friend Saboten tried to tell her. Ruka power is she can make other vampires kill each other or themselves. She is 169 cm tall. Ruka is one of the most faithful and protective of Kaname. She is also a childhood friend and cousin to Aido and Kain. She has an intense jealousy of any humans that raise Kaname's interest, leading the pack in persecuting them. Her character gets more jealous towards the end of the first arc, after she learns that Yuki is Kaname's lover and that they are engaged, she feels upset though still has love for Kaname. Like the rest of the night class, she works with Kain, Aido and Saboten to defend girls in the Day Class during the attack on the school and expresses a desire to protect them from the hostile vampires. Since the time skip, Ruka has been seen giving Yuki etiquette lessons and Yuki is aware that Ruka still appears to have some feelings for Kaname. While Ruka is kind to Yuki, she avoids Yuki when she can. Wondering why, Yuki confronts Kaname about her; Kaname states to Yuki that it will be a long time before Ruka forgives him, shamelessly admitting to using her as a substitute for Yuki when she was human. Her crush on Kaname disintegrates in the second arc.
Voiced by: Junko Minagawa (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)
Seiren (星煉 Seiren) is a student of the Night Class, and is Kaname's unofficial bodyguard. She is usually the first to defend Kaname from anyone she regards as a threat. She barely refrains from killing Zero when he threatens Kaname with the Bloody Rose. Seiren also appears to serve Kaname in the capacity of a spy or informant, for example, she is the one that tells Kaname that his uncle has risen. She uses her body as a weapon and is very skilled in her hands is sharp that can rich the body of the enemies combat. After Rido was killed, Seiren continues following her master, Kaname.
Voiced by: Risa Mizuno (Japanese), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)
Senri Shiki (支葵 千里 Shiki Senri) One of the youngest Night Class members, he works as a model with Rima Touya. When the night class is given orders to hunt down a level E vampire, Shiki is usually the one seen out hunting the level E vampires. He has a whip-like weapon which develops from his blood. It is later revealed that Shiki is in fact the son of Rido Kuran, meaning he's Kaname and Yuki's cousin. Shiki possesses a personality similar to Rima Touya. He is usually impassive, and often detached to the rest of the vampires except for Rima and Ichijo. He rarely expresses emotion, and may seem like he doesn't care about his surroundings. Because of his reserved nature, he keeps to himself, and never has much to say. However, he cares for Rima and he is deeply in love with her. Voiced by: Sōichirō Hoshi (Japanese), Steve Staley (English)
Takuma Ichijo (一条 拓麻 Ichijō Takuma) is the vice-president of the Night Class. He is a noble-class vampire nearly as powerful as Kaname, whom he is close to and respects. With his cheerful and enthusiastic demeanor, Ichijo appears very "un-vampire like", lacking the dark atmosphere that surrounds most vampires and making him appear more like a human. Ichijo maintains a close friendship with Senri Shiki. Ichijo is ordered by his grandfather Asato Ichijo to spy on Kaname while attending Cross Academy but refuses out of loyalty for his friend. When Senri Shiki is possessed by Rido Kuran, Ichijo is forced to go against Kaname in order to protect his friends. Once Shiki is freed from Rido's possession, Ichijo rejoins Kaname's side and stops Kaname from killing his grandfather, instead asking that he be the one to handle the issue. It appears that Ichijo intended to end his life along with his grandfather's. Takuma was discovered unconscious afterwards by Sara Shirabuki, who said that she always wanted "to have" Takuma. Following the year time leap, Takuma remains at Sara Shirabuki's side and cannot return to Kaname's side after being fed with Sara's blood when he was injured, because Sara's blood have been taming him and turn him into her slave. After poses as Sara's brother at the elite school she is scouting, he come back to the new Night Class formed by Yuki Kuran in Cross Academy, along with Sara, completely under Sara's possession.
Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (Japanese), Spike Spencer (English)
Vampire Hunters are the enemies of vampires. They were created thousands of years earlier by one of the first vampires who desired to give humans a chance to defend themselves against the vampires that were turning the human race into their slaves. By drinking her blood deeply, she poisoned the humans, those who survived became Vampire Hunters who developed accelerated healing, the ability to sense vampires. They also are capable of using magic to detect and detain vampires. Only Vampire Hunters are capable of wielding anti-vampire weapons, such as swords and guns, that will only harm vampires and are the only weapons capable of killing the immortal pureblood vampires. The abilities were passed on through the genes, however as a result of sharing some vampire instincts, twins are rare, normally devouring each other in the womb and are stillborn. They set up an association of hunters with rules and regulations that they must follow in order to hunt vampires. The hunters maintain a list of vampires who have become dangerous and violated the rules as defined in the treaty with the vampires.
Kaien Cross (黒主 灰閻理事長 Cross Kaien) is over 200 years old,[9] the oldest and most powerful known Vampire Hunter, nicknamed "The Fangless Vampire". In spite of being a vampire hunter, Kaien maintained friendships with several pureblood vampire families, especially the Kurans. Kaien adopted Yuki and also took Zero and Saboten into his home after they lost their families. Kaien retired as a vampire hunter and became the Headmaster of Cross Academy, he established the Day Class and Night Class with Kaname Kuran with dreams of promoting peace between humans and vampires. Kaien is an eccentric character who often provokes Zero and irritates other characters with his silly mannerisms, though he is a serious character when it comes to matters he cares about. He carries a hidden anti-vampire weapon in his cane[10] which he uses to fight against the President of the Hunter Association who had turned corrupt from drinking Rido Kuran's blood.[11] It is also pointed at, although never said directly, that he was in love with Juri Kuran.
Voiced by: Hozumi Goda (Japanese), John Burgmeier (English)
Kaito Takamiya (鷹宮 海斗 Takamiya Kaito) is a young hunter and a teacher-in-training. He is first introduced in the light novel Vampire Knight: Ice Blue's Sin (ヴァンパイア騎士 憂氷の罪 Vanpaia Naito: Aisu Burū no Tsumi) and does not appear in the manga until the second arc when Matsuri Hino needed another hunter character, she liked Ayuna Fujisaki's creation so much, she asked to use him.[12]
According to Kaien, Zero and Kaito share Yagari's attitude because they trained under him. Kaito was trained by Yagari with Ichiru and Zero after his former teacher was wounded. During that time, Kaito picked on Ichiru for his physical weakness and Zero for his soft heart. And Saboten often picked on kaito and Zero for not being a self taught hunter like herself. Later, Zero and Kaito become more friendly. He is a ruthless vampire hunter and trusts no one. His elder brother was bitten by a Pureblood and on his first mission with Yagari, he insisted on killing his brother himself. Kaito is invited to the academy by Kaien to be a student Ethics teacher, while they are relying on his competence as a skilled hunter to assist the Hunter Association's organization. Kaito makes his own plans, inviting Yori to sneak into a vampire soiree, later revealing to Zero that it was to stir up the vampires as an excuse to hunt and as a test on Zero's control around them. He later reveals that his role is to observe Zero and invites Zero to rely on him as Zero once did on Yuki.
Toga Yagari (夜刈 十牙 Yagari Tōga) is currently the top ranked vampire hunter, as well as the one who trained Zero to be a Vampire Hunter. He lost his right eye trying to save Zero long ago when Zero's old school nurse turned out to be a Level E Vampire and tried to attack both Zero and Ichiru. Yagari told them to leave but in an attempt to help his teacher, Zero refuses and stays. It is during this time that the nurse goes for Zero, that Yagari stands in front of him and gets a blow to his face, losing his right eye. He appears at Cross Academy in the guise of being a new Ethics teacher for both the Day Class and the Night Class, but he's really there to see if Zero's become a Level E. One night when Zero tries to drink Yuki's blood, the two fall in a swimming pool and when the emerge from the water Yagari shoots Zero in the shoulder with an anti-vampire gun. Later when Ichiru returns to confront Zero, they get in a fight. Yagari steps in, and to avoid Ichiru having his sword fall through his face Yagari stands over him and lets the sword fall through his own shoulder.
Yagari is shocked to learn the Senate's decision to punish Zero for the death of Shizuka Hio and later reappears to arrest Zero. Yagari subsequently joins the Kaien Cross to protect Cross Academy from the Hunter Association.
Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese), Travis Willingham (English)
Matsuri Hino's vampires do not follow the traditional mythology of vampires, they are a spontaneous genetic oddity born from humans ten thousand years ago as a result of climate change, which gave rise to creatures who was sensitive to the sun, but immortal and do not age. The offspring of a union between these first vampires is known as a pure blooded vampire and any bite to a human from a pure blooded vampire would turn a human into a weak vampire. The offspring between humans and vampires resulted in four levels of vampires, characterised by the amount of human blood, a level A having no human blood and a level D being a former human; with levels B & C falling somewhere inbetween. Vampires drink blood but it is not necessary to survive, they enjoy human blood, but the blood of a pure blooded vampire is actually the tastiest blood to drink. Along with their healing powers, vampires also have supernatural powers, the strength of their healing and powers corresponds to how pure their vampire blood is, with the exception being vampire hunters who have been turned into vampires.
Asato Ichijo (一条 麻遠 Ichijō Asatō) often referred to as Ichio, is Takuma's grandfather and a member of the Senate. He wanted to become Kaname Kuran's guardian after the death of Kaname's parents, but Kaname did not accept. He allows Takuma to attend Cross Academy for the purpose of spying on Kaname and was later killed by his grandson who opposed his methods.[13]
Voiced by: Kouji Ishii (Japanese), Jamieson Price (English)
Haruka Kuran (玖蘭 悠 Kuran Haruka) was Yuki's and Kaname's father and both brother and husband to Juri Kuran. Haruka was killed ten years ago, by his elder brother, Rido Kuran, in a fight to protect his family when Rido came to take his daughter.
Voiced by: Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese), Erik Davies (English)
Juri Kuran (玖蘭 樹里 Kuran Jūri) was Yuki's and Kaname's mother and the wife and sister of Haruka Kuran. Ten years ago when her elder brother, Rido Kuran appeared, she sacrificed herself to erase Yuki's memories and sealed away her vampire nature, because she wished for Yuki to be able to live happily like a normal human girl. Kaien Cross states that he is indebted to her, and it was revealed that she spared his life when he attempted to murder her when she was pregnant on the condition that he would establish a school where humans and vampires can co-exist.[14]
Voiced by: Mariko Kouda (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
Rido Kuran (玖蘭 李土 Kuran Ridō) is a pureblood vampire, Shizuka Hio's former fiancée, Senri Shiki's father, and elder brother to Haruka and Juri. He is the main antagonist of the second arc. In order to drink the slumbering ancestor's blood, Rido awakened the Kaname by sacrificing Juri and Haruka's first son, but the starved ancestor (Kaname) attacked Rido, leaving him incapacitated and he was arrested by the Senate. He was set free ten years ago seeking to take Yuki like he did with Haruka and Juri's first child. Rido killed Haruka with a sword that was used by the Vampire Hunters. Young Kaname was unable to kill Rido as Rido was his master and instead he reduced Rido to pieces of flesh. Rido now required another pureblood vampire's blood in order to revive.
Aided by the Senate and the Hunters' Association, Rido manipulates events from the shadows for ten years by transferring his soul to other bodies and taking control. Rido takes possession of Shiki's body and he goes to Cross Academy. Kaname revives Rido's body using his blood seeing that he can't kill him. Seeing Yuki's resemblance to Juri, Rido decided to take Yuki as a replacement for Juri,[15] who had rejected him. Rido's life came to an end when he was defeated by Zero Kiryu and Yuki, but Rido appears now as a phantasmal 'fragment' of consciousness attached to Kaname, who can only be seen or heard by Kaname.
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki (Japanese), Patrick Seitz (English)
Shizuka Hio (緋桜 閑 Hiō Shizuka) was the first antagonist to appear in Vampire Knight. Shizuka was the pureblood vampire who bit Zero and is referred to as the "Kuruizaki-Hime". Shizuka shows up at Cross Academy in the guise of another vampire, Maria Kurenai, but is recognised by both Kaname Kuran and Zero. In order to save Zero, Yuki risked her life and humanity for Zero to be able to drink Shizuka's blood to prevent his fall to level E, but Zero stops her by defying his master's orders. Yuki in turn prevents Zero from gaining his revenge on Shizuka, instead Kaname kills Shizuka to save Yuki.
Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)
Sara Shirabuki (白蕗 更 Shirabuki Sara) is a pureblood vampire who first appeared minorly at a party held by the Aido family. Sara has taken a larger role in the second arc as the story's newest antagonist. Sara first took the injured Takuma Ichijo as her pawn and created her own harem of Level D vampire school girls barely within the rules. But Sara has also violated the rules secretly, she killed her fiance, Ouri, forcibly turned humans into vampires attacked a small number of slumbering pureblood vampires by taking their heart, while Kaname has been following her and killing the purebloods that she has attacked.
The first purebood vampire to whom Yuki makes her offer of being a grim reaper. Isaya is a long time friend of Kaien Cross, even before Kaien was friends with the Kurans. Isaya missed the vampire ball due to still being in his fifty year slumber, he questions Yuki's wisdom on her mission but remains impressed by her and reflects on the similarities between her and her adoptive father, Kaien. Intended to be killed by Kaname Kuran, but Kaien Cross protecting him and Kaien ended up fighting with Kaname.
An antagonistic childlike pureblood who attacks Yuki Cross without provocation. Kaname's retribution on Toma at the castle of Toma has implications that it has violated the treaty between the vampires. Kaname also used his body when he faced Kaien, which lead to Kaien almost killing Toma instead of Kaname.
Name unknown, she plays a significant role in the history of vampires and hunters. The hooded woman appears only in Kaname's deep past, she is responsible for creating the hunters, by throwing her heart into a furnace, she created the first anti-vampire weapons and then giving her blood to humans in toxic amounts, she created the vampire hunters, but sacrificed her life in the process, to Kaname's grief.