Zero Kiryuu [Vampire Knight]
Well...my day was productive? Not really but I did get my thoughts on Zero all out. Hopefully it's out of my system. Read at your own risk. Silly theories, fangirling and interpretations ahead. And spoilers. Especially since...you know. Most of my f-list hasn't ever read it.
~*~*~*~SPOILERS~*~*~*~*~
These are mostly my interpretation of how things are going and what is going on in Zero's head. Since he's been so ambiguous lately, trying to nail down his thoughts and predict his actions have been difficult. Playing him can be difficult because of this, especially in such a closed environment where he is forced to interact with people that he might not want to or be around.
Maybe it's the writer in me that craves a long term plot with believable character development to reach the goals of the story. It's one reason I have come to love manga: character development and the fluid movements of characters. You don't find that in most novels. The journey is so much more paced and believable that when you are dealing with manga, when it comes to romance, you can actually believe it. I don't think I've ever shipped characters from a movie or a novel, unless it was a long series where you did get to see the characters mature and grow together during the course of the series. A lot of TV shows get it right too, pacing the growth of the couples as they come together so you can actually see and cheer for it. It's the whole 'Show don't tell' principle that makes things work at a pace that is slow and steady.
When the journey of a character you like goes through this same process there is the potential to really get attached to them. Not everyone is going to bond with the same character and some people probably don't really have enough maturity to understand or articulate their feelings in such a way that is acceptable and come out as 'fangirls' and get very defensive of their pairing or character. 'Shipping Wars' and 'Bashing' tend to happen because of this.
Kyou Sohma was the first character I really had this sort of bond with. I still do, but Zero has slowly threatened that top spot for awhile now and these last few chapters have really evened the score for them. It's like my two kids. I couldn't possibly love either of them more or pick one of them over the other. My love for them is very different from each other though because they are different.
A lot of people complain about Zero and his hatred of purebloods, saying that he blames all of them for the action of one. That he just needs to get over the hatred and accept himself, which I agree that he does need to do this. But this is his journey in the story and he's not going to do it overnight. I don't agree with his goals but I can sympathize with his actions and understand them. For the record, this isn't just about one purebloods actions. It's about all of them. It isn't about what Shizuka has done. There is more to it than that. I'm just going to start with her since she's the first one he met and the one that probably caused the most damage to him emotionally and physically.
As anyone familiar with VK knows, Shizuka was the vampire that changed Zero on that winter night four years before the start of the series. I personally adore her and find her life one of the most pitiful in the series. Engaged to Rido, there was obviously no love in that relationship and she spent her life locked in a cage, presumably by the Vampire Council. She was fed humans and had an extremely lonely existence until one of the men that was given as food gave her resistance. He still was turned by her and she kept him by her side, falling in love with him as he did still resist her a little and spoke with her like others hadn't before, but still had that blood bond and followed her anyway. It probably her first taste of free will and she craved it.
As we all know, though he wasn't Level E, her lover was still placed on the execution list for the Kiryuu's to discard and they did. Rido is apparently the one who got his name placed there. Shizuka went a little nuts, not having anything to live for and wanted revenge against everyone. Who's plan it was to start, Rido for making the Kiryuu's the family that was selected in hopes that she'd do what she did or Shizuka for taking advantage of the rare situation of that particular family...in the end it doesn't matter. Shizuka came away with two things. Someone who adored her of his own free will and had lost his own reason to live...and a vampire hunter that would be willing to hate her and gain the powers to eventually kill Rido and her because of what she'd done. The fact that his own twin brother helped set up this whole thing didn't help.
So Zero's primary focus in life became revenge on Shizuka for destroying his family and changing him into something he never wanted to become.
The next pureblood he met was Kaname, just after the whole thing with Shizuka happened. I know a lot of people think that the story will end with the trio on 'good' terms, but I don't think that will happen. There's a lot of argument on if Kaname 'used' Zero or not but Kaname even admits to gathering all the pieces in one place to draw things like Shizuka's attention. When Zero and Shizuka fought, Kaname altered Yuuki's memories and as he dragged her off said something like "If he is to die here, he's not the one we needed." Yes, Kaname didn't force his hand, but he did maneuver things to ensure things fell the way he needed them to. All plans have detours, he just regrouped quickly and used them to his advantage more.
But besides the worries he had for Yuuki in loving Kaname and what that would mean for her, the real issue came down to the fact that Kaname did steal Zero's revenge. His only real reason for living at that time was to gain the means to defeat and kill Shizuka, something that Shizuka wanted Zero to do. I am of the thought that even though Yuuki was hidden, any pureblood that came across her would know she was one of them. This page and the next one have Shizuka angry over how 'happy' she grew up. That she grew up so 'protected'.
Everything she did was all about gathering the power to defeat Rido, by giving Zero the power that he needed. Biting Yuuki would have turned her into a vampire, which would have forced Kaname to wake her up...turning the blood in her own body and Zero's body like it did later. Drinking and killing Kaname, if she'd done it first, Zero would eventually need her blood to survive which would mean he'd be drinking Shizuka, Kaname and Yuuki. But in order to kill her, he'd have to do his sacrifice with Ichiru. Ichiru...hadn't planned on being without Shizuka. That was never part of the plan. So he ran off and regrouped for later to figure out what he needed to do to achieve Shizuka's dream.
So long story short there, Kaname stole his reason for living by stealing his revenge. So he was a little lost and his reason for living turned to Yuuki. His new reason for living was literally for her, which is why he agreed to drinking from Kaname. But I'll give Kaname that because really, Yuuki wasn't quite at a point where she required waking...but he did remove Zero's second reason for living at that time around her waking. He told Zero he'd be protecting her now and he wasn't needed. Not that Zero would have listened, but waking her cemented that.
Zero's first reason for living, revenge on Shizuka, stolen by Kaname.
Zero's second reason for living, Yuuki, also removed by Kaname.
Then Kaname literally allowed Rido into the school. Endangered the students and the place Zero had called home for four years. Kaname just expected Zero to do what he'd asked and get rid of Rido while Kaname took Yuuki and left. It didn't have to be at the school, if he'd taken Yuuki and left before...Rido probably wouldn't have touched the school.
Zero, you should notice, didn't go running after Rido when Kaname came to see him. Saving Yuuki and Kaname from this monster, really, he didn't care. That wasn't his intention. People tend to focus on Zero going to save Yuuki from Rido in that arc. That wasn't it at all. Look at the bottom panel, his shots were specifically missing her but not avoiding here. If she got in the way, it was her problem. Not his. He wasn't there to save Yuuki. A lot of people miss the fact that Ichiru took his last breath before Zero ever touched him with his fangs. Rido killed Ichiru and that's what sent Zero over the edge and had him taking his blood to complete his fragmentation and leaving the prison he was in.
So Zero by this point has met three purebloods.
1. Shizuka killed his family and turned him into a vampire.
2. Kaname used him for his own means and removed his two reasons for living. Not to mention allowing Rido to revive at the school and endanger his 'home'.
3. Rido killed his brother and endangered his home.
Which brings us to Yuuki. He said himself that Yuuki hasn't done anything wrong but she's on the side of the 'enemy' and he chose his path and she has given him a reason to continue living. She's a roadblock in the middle of his goal that he has to deal with and that's how he tries to approach her.
So then we have Sara...the fifth pureblood we've seen him encounter. Who while he was ON CAMPUS turned an entire school of HUMAN girls into vampires. And laughed in his face about it because the new rules allowed her to do it legally.
The sixth, Touma, Zero just scared away after seeing him attack Yuuki badly.
So we have seen Zero meet six Pureblood Vampires. Four of the Six he's got personal issues with. One of them we don't know enough about, but I can't imagine after seeing what he did to Yuuki that he'd label him 'good' . The last one he has the excuse that she still has some of her human self left and has really conflicting emotions about anyway. In other words, Yuuki is a weakness that needs dealt with or removed because his goal is to get rid of all purebloods.
His hatred of Purebloods is not only understandable, but necessary for him at this point. Without it, he has nothing to live for. For five years he's spent his life living for reasons that aren't healthy. I think his heart is in the right place, he doesn't want anyone to ever go through that sort of pain again. But stories are a journey and I think that Zero's journey started the day that Yuuki and him separated. Hino has cast one of her heroes in an almost anti-hero role, which has just made me adore Zero more and made me excited to see how he ends up redeeming himself later. Yes, he's totally messed up but I think it's made him a much more interesting since his struggle to move on with his life and accept himself for whatever he is will be a journey I am excited to see.
The visit to the grave was an amazing turning point for him. Zero is the most unique character in the series in terms of his abilities and what he is. There are purebloods, vampires, humans, hunters...and then there is Zero. By his life and experiences is a little of all of these...and none of them at all. He has many people around him preaching their own personal beliefs at him, telling him what he should do, what he should think...who he should be. Kaito, well meaning but with obvious opinions about him needing to cling to his humanity. Kaien, preaching to accept his vampire side and promote peace. Ichiru telling him he just needs to accept himself and realize that what you are doesn't determine who you are. That it's your actions that determine if you are good or bad.
Zero's story is an intricate dance, moving him forward a little at a time...with big steps back along the way and often. Helping Yuuki in chapter 60 was a huge leap forward. I don't think there was any motive other than getting her a safe place to rest before sending her out on her way again. But Yuuki is someone he's trying to remove the feelings he has for from himself. It's not mean. It's not cruel. It's just his reality. Why would anyone want to have unrequited feelings for someone like that? This isn't something new for him. He's always been a very kind person, he just attempts to distance himself from others for his own sake and their sake. He didn't want to hurt anyone, so he never interacted with others. Yuuki took to dragging him around by the sleeve instead of the hand because he would tell her not to touch him if she grabbed his hand or touched his skin. She forced the interaction and wouldn't allow him to avoid her. His feelings for her have always been as unwanted as everything else in his life.
What Yuuki almost did to him had to be something really conflicting for him. It's proof that she's one of the monsters that he always claims they are. Being bit is not a small thing for Zero, it's happened to him twice (not including Yuuki's joke when she was human) and both were by Shizuka and unwanted. Yuuki cleaned up the first one and was traumatized watching as he ripped open his neck because of the feeling of the bite later. She witnessed the second one and begged Shizuka not to do it because she knew it hurt Zero. Her own horror at almost biting him was probably worse than what he's feeling about it, for several reasons (but this isn't about Yuuki so I'll not go off on these other reasons.) I really believe that part of him wanted it, because of his feelings for her and he has such mixed feelings about this. What he said to her after was his own upset and confusion on this. His attempt to get enough distance between them, because what had almost happened shouldn't be happening and he shouldn't want it to happen.
Yet he had to be asked to let her go.
The series has a long way to go though, including uncovering Kaname's past and actually mending the broken relationship between Zero and Yuuki and strengthening the relationship with the vampires and hunters association in order to actually work toward peace. Because no matter what their relationship ends up to be, that's the end goal here. Mending this relationship brings the two worlds together because they are the two people who literally straddle both worlds of humans and vampires and have the power, ability and desire to make a difference. Yuuki has to gather the personal strength and respect to wield this power on her own without any assistance and on her own two feet or she'll be undermined at every turn. Zero has to gain the desire to make these changes within himself and with others and let go of his hate.
And this is why I'm so excited about where this story is going. The set up for Zero's journey is really amazing and I'm excited to see where he's going and how he'll end up when it's all finished. There is nothing more exciting to me as when I read a series and the growth of the characters is literally dripping off the pages, to the point that I can tell you exactly when and where those changes were made. As someone who loves plot and characterization it's a huge treat.
~*~*~*~SPOILERS~*~*~*~*~
These are mostly my interpretation of how things are going and what is going on in Zero's head. Since he's been so ambiguous lately, trying to nail down his thoughts and predict his actions have been difficult. Playing him can be difficult because of this, especially in such a closed environment where he is forced to interact with people that he might not want to or be around.
Maybe it's the writer in me that craves a long term plot with believable character development to reach the goals of the story. It's one reason I have come to love manga: character development and the fluid movements of characters. You don't find that in most novels. The journey is so much more paced and believable that when you are dealing with manga, when it comes to romance, you can actually believe it. I don't think I've ever shipped characters from a movie or a novel, unless it was a long series where you did get to see the characters mature and grow together during the course of the series. A lot of TV shows get it right too, pacing the growth of the couples as they come together so you can actually see and cheer for it. It's the whole 'Show don't tell' principle that makes things work at a pace that is slow and steady.
When the journey of a character you like goes through this same process there is the potential to really get attached to them. Not everyone is going to bond with the same character and some people probably don't really have enough maturity to understand or articulate their feelings in such a way that is acceptable and come out as 'fangirls' and get very defensive of their pairing or character. 'Shipping Wars' and 'Bashing' tend to happen because of this.
Kyou Sohma was the first character I really had this sort of bond with. I still do, but Zero has slowly threatened that top spot for awhile now and these last few chapters have really evened the score for them. It's like my two kids. I couldn't possibly love either of them more or pick one of them over the other. My love for them is very different from each other though because they are different.
A lot of people complain about Zero and his hatred of purebloods, saying that he blames all of them for the action of one. That he just needs to get over the hatred and accept himself, which I agree that he does need to do this. But this is his journey in the story and he's not going to do it overnight. I don't agree with his goals but I can sympathize with his actions and understand them. For the record, this isn't just about one purebloods actions. It's about all of them. It isn't about what Shizuka has done. There is more to it than that. I'm just going to start with her since she's the first one he met and the one that probably caused the most damage to him emotionally and physically.
As anyone familiar with VK knows, Shizuka was the vampire that changed Zero on that winter night four years before the start of the series. I personally adore her and find her life one of the most pitiful in the series. Engaged to Rido, there was obviously no love in that relationship and she spent her life locked in a cage, presumably by the Vampire Council. She was fed humans and had an extremely lonely existence until one of the men that was given as food gave her resistance. He still was turned by her and she kept him by her side, falling in love with him as he did still resist her a little and spoke with her like others hadn't before, but still had that blood bond and followed her anyway. It probably her first taste of free will and she craved it.
As we all know, though he wasn't Level E, her lover was still placed on the execution list for the Kiryuu's to discard and they did. Rido is apparently the one who got his name placed there. Shizuka went a little nuts, not having anything to live for and wanted revenge against everyone. Who's plan it was to start, Rido for making the Kiryuu's the family that was selected in hopes that she'd do what she did or Shizuka for taking advantage of the rare situation of that particular family...in the end it doesn't matter. Shizuka came away with two things. Someone who adored her of his own free will and had lost his own reason to live...and a vampire hunter that would be willing to hate her and gain the powers to eventually kill Rido and her because of what she'd done. The fact that his own twin brother helped set up this whole thing didn't help.
So Zero's primary focus in life became revenge on Shizuka for destroying his family and changing him into something he never wanted to become.
The next pureblood he met was Kaname, just after the whole thing with Shizuka happened. I know a lot of people think that the story will end with the trio on 'good' terms, but I don't think that will happen. There's a lot of argument on if Kaname 'used' Zero or not but Kaname even admits to gathering all the pieces in one place to draw things like Shizuka's attention. When Zero and Shizuka fought, Kaname altered Yuuki's memories and as he dragged her off said something like "If he is to die here, he's not the one we needed." Yes, Kaname didn't force his hand, but he did maneuver things to ensure things fell the way he needed them to. All plans have detours, he just regrouped quickly and used them to his advantage more.
But besides the worries he had for Yuuki in loving Kaname and what that would mean for her, the real issue came down to the fact that Kaname did steal Zero's revenge. His only real reason for living at that time was to gain the means to defeat and kill Shizuka, something that Shizuka wanted Zero to do. I am of the thought that even though Yuuki was hidden, any pureblood that came across her would know she was one of them. This page and the next one have Shizuka angry over how 'happy' she grew up. That she grew up so 'protected'.
Everything she did was all about gathering the power to defeat Rido, by giving Zero the power that he needed. Biting Yuuki would have turned her into a vampire, which would have forced Kaname to wake her up...turning the blood in her own body and Zero's body like it did later. Drinking and killing Kaname, if she'd done it first, Zero would eventually need her blood to survive which would mean he'd be drinking Shizuka, Kaname and Yuuki. But in order to kill her, he'd have to do his sacrifice with Ichiru. Ichiru...hadn't planned on being without Shizuka. That was never part of the plan. So he ran off and regrouped for later to figure out what he needed to do to achieve Shizuka's dream.
So long story short there, Kaname stole his reason for living by stealing his revenge. So he was a little lost and his reason for living turned to Yuuki. His new reason for living was literally for her, which is why he agreed to drinking from Kaname. But I'll give Kaname that because really, Yuuki wasn't quite at a point where she required waking...but he did remove Zero's second reason for living at that time around her waking. He told Zero he'd be protecting her now and he wasn't needed. Not that Zero would have listened, but waking her cemented that.
Zero's first reason for living, revenge on Shizuka, stolen by Kaname.
Zero's second reason for living, Yuuki, also removed by Kaname.
Then Kaname literally allowed Rido into the school. Endangered the students and the place Zero had called home for four years. Kaname just expected Zero to do what he'd asked and get rid of Rido while Kaname took Yuuki and left. It didn't have to be at the school, if he'd taken Yuuki and left before...Rido probably wouldn't have touched the school.
Zero, you should notice, didn't go running after Rido when Kaname came to see him. Saving Yuuki and Kaname from this monster, really, he didn't care. That wasn't his intention. People tend to focus on Zero going to save Yuuki from Rido in that arc. That wasn't it at all. Look at the bottom panel, his shots were specifically missing her but not avoiding here. If she got in the way, it was her problem. Not his. He wasn't there to save Yuuki. A lot of people miss the fact that Ichiru took his last breath before Zero ever touched him with his fangs. Rido killed Ichiru and that's what sent Zero over the edge and had him taking his blood to complete his fragmentation and leaving the prison he was in.
So Zero by this point has met three purebloods.
1. Shizuka killed his family and turned him into a vampire.
2. Kaname used him for his own means and removed his two reasons for living. Not to mention allowing Rido to revive at the school and endanger his 'home'.
3. Rido killed his brother and endangered his home.
Which brings us to Yuuki. He said himself that Yuuki hasn't done anything wrong but she's on the side of the 'enemy' and he chose his path and she has given him a reason to continue living. She's a roadblock in the middle of his goal that he has to deal with and that's how he tries to approach her.
So then we have Sara...the fifth pureblood we've seen him encounter. Who while he was ON CAMPUS turned an entire school of HUMAN girls into vampires. And laughed in his face about it because the new rules allowed her to do it legally.
The sixth, Touma, Zero just scared away after seeing him attack Yuuki badly.
So we have seen Zero meet six Pureblood Vampires. Four of the Six he's got personal issues with. One of them we don't know enough about, but I can't imagine after seeing what he did to Yuuki that he'd label him 'good' . The last one he has the excuse that she still has some of her human self left and has really conflicting emotions about anyway. In other words, Yuuki is a weakness that needs dealt with or removed because his goal is to get rid of all purebloods.
His hatred of Purebloods is not only understandable, but necessary for him at this point. Without it, he has nothing to live for. For five years he's spent his life living for reasons that aren't healthy. I think his heart is in the right place, he doesn't want anyone to ever go through that sort of pain again. But stories are a journey and I think that Zero's journey started the day that Yuuki and him separated. Hino has cast one of her heroes in an almost anti-hero role, which has just made me adore Zero more and made me excited to see how he ends up redeeming himself later. Yes, he's totally messed up but I think it's made him a much more interesting since his struggle to move on with his life and accept himself for whatever he is will be a journey I am excited to see.
The visit to the grave was an amazing turning point for him. Zero is the most unique character in the series in terms of his abilities and what he is. There are purebloods, vampires, humans, hunters...and then there is Zero. By his life and experiences is a little of all of these...and none of them at all. He has many people around him preaching their own personal beliefs at him, telling him what he should do, what he should think...who he should be. Kaito, well meaning but with obvious opinions about him needing to cling to his humanity. Kaien, preaching to accept his vampire side and promote peace. Ichiru telling him he just needs to accept himself and realize that what you are doesn't determine who you are. That it's your actions that determine if you are good or bad.
Zero's story is an intricate dance, moving him forward a little at a time...with big steps back along the way and often. Helping Yuuki in chapter 60 was a huge leap forward. I don't think there was any motive other than getting her a safe place to rest before sending her out on her way again. But Yuuki is someone he's trying to remove the feelings he has for from himself. It's not mean. It's not cruel. It's just his reality. Why would anyone want to have unrequited feelings for someone like that? This isn't something new for him. He's always been a very kind person, he just attempts to distance himself from others for his own sake and their sake. He didn't want to hurt anyone, so he never interacted with others. Yuuki took to dragging him around by the sleeve instead of the hand because he would tell her not to touch him if she grabbed his hand or touched his skin. She forced the interaction and wouldn't allow him to avoid her. His feelings for her have always been as unwanted as everything else in his life.
What Yuuki almost did to him had to be something really conflicting for him. It's proof that she's one of the monsters that he always claims they are. Being bit is not a small thing for Zero, it's happened to him twice (not including Yuuki's joke when she was human) and both were by Shizuka and unwanted. Yuuki cleaned up the first one and was traumatized watching as he ripped open his neck because of the feeling of the bite later. She witnessed the second one and begged Shizuka not to do it because she knew it hurt Zero. Her own horror at almost biting him was probably worse than what he's feeling about it, for several reasons (but this isn't about Yuuki so I'll not go off on these other reasons.) I really believe that part of him wanted it, because of his feelings for her and he has such mixed feelings about this. What he said to her after was his own upset and confusion on this. His attempt to get enough distance between them, because what had almost happened shouldn't be happening and he shouldn't want it to happen.
Yet he had to be asked to let her go.
The series has a long way to go though, including uncovering Kaname's past and actually mending the broken relationship between Zero and Yuuki and strengthening the relationship with the vampires and hunters association in order to actually work toward peace. Because no matter what their relationship ends up to be, that's the end goal here. Mending this relationship brings the two worlds together because they are the two people who literally straddle both worlds of humans and vampires and have the power, ability and desire to make a difference. Yuuki has to gather the personal strength and respect to wield this power on her own without any assistance and on her own two feet or she'll be undermined at every turn. Zero has to gain the desire to make these changes within himself and with others and let go of his hate.
And this is why I'm so excited about where this story is going. The set up for Zero's journey is really amazing and I'm excited to see where he's going and how he'll end up when it's all finished. There is nothing more exciting to me as when I read a series and the growth of the characters is literally dripping off the pages, to the point that I can tell you exactly when and where those changes were made. As someone who loves plot and characterization it's a huge treat.