Episode 10

TL;DR

Zero recalls the night his family was killed by Shizuka Hio, seeing his brother Ichiru with her after being bitten and left traumatized. In the present, Maria’s arrival at the academy raises tensions as she taunts Zero and reveals herself to be Shizuka in a different body. She incapacitates Zero, and Kaname erases Yuki’s memory of the confrontation to protect her. Yuki later learns from Maria that Zero risks degenerating into a Level E vampire, and Maria offers a mysterious trade to save him. Flashbacks reveal Ichiru’s admiration for Shizuka, their family’s murder, and Zero’s unresolved pain. In a shocking twist, Zero confronts the masked man aiding Maria and discovers he is Ichiru, who is somehow still alive.

Recap

Zero recalls the traumatic night his family was killed, seeing his brother Ichiru standing behind Shizuka Hio as she attacked. He weakly urged Ichiru to run before losing consciousness. In the present, tensions escalate as Maria approaches Yuki, but Zero pulls her away, reiterating his warning for Yuki to stay away from Maria. During an exam tutoring session, Zero struggles with pain from Shizuka’s bite, and Yuki notices his uncharacteristic behavior. Meanwhile, Kaname confronts Maria, admitting his initial uncertainty about her identity, only for Maria to claim they share a kinship. Before ending the tutoring session, Zero confides in Yuki, expressing gratitude for her support and leaves for his dorm. Concerned by his erratic behavior, Yuki follows him and discovers Maria waiting for Zero in a secluded room. Maria taunts Zero, daring him to kill her, but he hesitates, unable to pull the trigger, as she reveals that a vampire cannot kill the one who turned them. Eavesdropping, Yuki learns that Maria is Shizuka Hio.

Maria tells Zero to avoid being too violent as she occupies another body, but her masked accomplice drops a sword, which she uses to attack Zero. Yuki’s attempt to intervene alerts Zero, causing him to be distracted and injured by Maria. She orders the masked man to take Zero away, but Kaname prevents Yuki from getting caught and interfering further by erasing her memories of the event. The next day, Yuki wakes up confused and dazed, her recollection of the previous night erased. Kaname reassures Ichijo that it is better this way, while Yagari grows suspicious of Maria’s presence, questioning Cross’s decision to admit her. Cross defends his choice, citing Kaname’s recommendation and the complexities of vampire society, but Yagari wonders aloud if Cross believes Zero is now a vampire.
Maria later confronts Yuki, subtly reminding her of the erased memory and revealing that Zero will eventually fall to Level E. She offers Yuki a solution to save him, proposing a trade. Another flashback shows Zero and Ichiru encountering Shizuka as children. While Ichiru admired her beauty, Zero identified her as a vampire and told Ichiru that they should leave. Later, Ichiru fell ill, lamenting his weakness, and questions if Shizuka would be exterminated by hunters. That night, Shizuka attacked the family, killing their parents and biting Zero, leaving him to carry the trauma into adulthood.

In the present, Zero wakes up and confronts the masked man, recognizing him as his brother, Ichiru, and questions how he survived.