Kaname Kuran
Status	Alive
Age	10,000+
Height	184cm
Race	Vampire
Level	Pureblood
Occupation	Head of Vampire Society
Weapon	Anti-vampire sword
Family	Haruka Kuran (Father / Decendant, Deceased) Juri Kuran (Mother / Decendant, Deceased) Yuki Kuran (Sister / Fiancee / Decendant) Rido Kuran (Uncle / Decendant, Deceased) Senri Shiki (Cousin / Decendant)
1st Appearance
Manga	Chapter: 1st Night – Cross Academy Night Class
Anime	Episode 1: Night of the Vampires
Voice Actor
Japanese	Daisuke Kishio
English	Ethan Murray

Kaname Kuran (玖蘭 枢 Kuran Kaname) is one of the main characters of Vampire Knight and a Pureblood vampire. He is one of the few Pureblood vampires still alive and the first Pureblood introduced in both Vampire Knight manga and anime.

“	I have let the forbidden acts pass... Everything was done for this day.	”
	— Kaname Kuran, Vampire Knight Official Fanbook

Contents 1 Character concept 1.1 Name 2 Appearance 3 Personality 4 History 4.1 Kaname the Ancestor 4.2 Revived Kaname 5 Plot summary 6 Relationships 6.1 Yuki Kuran 6.2 The Hooded Woman 6.3 Zero Kiryu 6.4 Hanabusa Aido 6.5 Takuma Ichijo 6.6 Ruka Souen 7 Powers 8 Quotes 9 See Also 10 References 11 Comments

Character conceptEdit

Kaname was the third character design completed with a professional look. His personality was defined after Yuki's and he was created "as if there are no blanks left" unlike other characters still maturing, such as Yuki.^[1] Matsuri Hino describes Kaname as possessing her bad side^[2].

NameEdit

• "Kaname" means "ajar" or "door".
• The kanji of Kuran, is a combination of the old fashioned way of writing ku, meaning "nine," and ran, meaning "orchid": "nine orchids". "Kuran" is the japanese pronunciation for "Clan."

AppearanceEdit

Kaname is a tall, fairly built Pureblood vampire with a youthful look. He shares a similar appearance with Haruka and Rido Kuran; like Haruka and Rido, Kaname has reddish-brown hair and garnet colored eyes. Kaname's hair is similar in style to Rido's but is slightly shorter, less curly, and a little straighter. Like all vampires, he has a pale complexion. Kaname wears his clothes like a gentleman; his uniform is always prim, proper and perfectly buttoned. However, when he is wearing casual clothes, he is more careless about it, wearing more loose clothing usually not buttoned up completely. In her side notes, Matsuri Hino admits that this was a slight detail she'd accidentally overlooked.

PersonalityEdit

Generally a calm, stoic and authoritative individual, he becomes a complete different with Yuki: to her, Kaname is very gentle and

warm. This disposition bothers both Yuki and the Night Class vampires, who initially do not

understand his favoritism towards her. Kaname expresses occasional jealousy of Zero Kiryu because of Yuki's connection to him and is not afraid to show this to Yuki. He is very strict and often imposes discipline in a fierce way as being the dorm President, yet he is indulgent and kinder towards Yuki. Kaname has acknowledged to Rido that he has a contrary nature,which leads him to both desiring to lock Yuki up and keep her to himself and alternatively

,to watch her protectivel

y while encouraging her to be herself. Kaname never hides the fact that he is not interested in anything else but Yuki's welfare. Every action he makes is towards one goal,and that is Yuki's safety; his greatest fear is losing her.He is very determined to have Yuki live for all of eternity by his side and not only deeply fears of losing her because of the ten years she spent as a human, but because of the mysterious loss in his past.His solitary nature makes him rather secretive.Kaname has the Pureblood power of controlling vampires, but he chooses not to exercise this power,thus earning the respect of the Noble vampires, as mentioned by Takuma Ichijo and Kain Akatsuki.

HistoryEdit

Kaname the AncestorEdit

Main article: Kaname the Ancestor

Kaname Kuran is the ancestor of the Kuran family, one of the founders of vampires. He along with another character, mostly referred to as the Hooded Woman, created weapons used to kill vampires. Thousands of years ago, Kaname put himself into an eternal slumber and was recently awakened from his long slumber by Rido Kuran, his own descendant.

Revived KanameEdit

Due to his weakened state after reviving, Kaname transformed his body into that of a baby and supressed his memories entrusting his life to Haruka and Juri, who raised Kaname in place of the son that Rido had taken and killed. As children, Kaname and Yuki shared a close relationship, though Kaname was not especially outgoing around other children his own age. He first met Hanabusa, Akastski, and Ruka as children, but they did not form bonds with them until several years later, after the deaths of Haruka and Juri. Kaname severely wounded Rido during the attack on the Kurans, after he found he was to kill Rido as he was technically his master from having

revived Kaname from his slumber. After temporarily dispatching Rido, Kaname took the now-human Yuki to Kaien Cross's house. Kaname himself was taken in by Takuma's grandfather, a man whom he mistrusted. During her childhood, Kaname frequently visited Yuki and remained a steady presence in her life. After Kaien Cross built the Academy, he agreed to let Kaname decide everything that involved the school's vampires^[3], Kaname lent his assistance in the creation of the Night Class and as a Pureblood, he helped maintain order in the Night Class, taking on the role of Night Class president. Kaname's presence at Cross Academy further allowed him to maintain contact with Yuki, though he left most of the responsibility of protecting and watching over her in Zero's hands.

Plot summaryEdit

Main article: Plot Summary for Kaname Kuran

RelationshipsEdit

Yuki KuranEdit

Main article: Yuki & Kaname

Yuki and Kaname have a complicated past that goes back to when they were children. Yuki is Kaname`s

File:Vkg75.gif

younger sister, fiancee and also descendent as his history was revealed. Kaname loves Yuki very much, but often his motives toward her can be overprotective, such as locking her up. But soon, later mentioned in the manga chapters, Kaname reveals his secrets towards Yuki and states that her real brother was taken away by Rido, and Kaname was brought back alive with Yuki's brothers powers. Yuki then sees Kaname as someone more than a brother, but as her fiancee. Yuki wishes to start over with Kaname after she knows his secret. Kaname agrees, but he later leaves to pursue his original plans. Later in the chapters, Kaname said Yuki was a hindrance to his plans. He tells Yuki to abandon him.

The Hooded WomanEdit

Main article: Kaname and the Hooded woman

She was the woman from Kaname's ancient past and was also one of the ancestors or founders of the vampires. It was strongly hinted that she is Kaname's ex-lover, but there was no definite proof. Despite that, she sacrificed herself by tearing her own heart and throwing it into the furnace and from her blood created the first vampire hunter's weapon. Until today, the Bloody Rose can still recognize Kaname's voice and heed his request.

Zero KiryuEdit

Main article: Kaname & Zero

Kaname and Zero have disliked each other since their first meeting. One could say that they are archnemesis of one other due to different perspectives and methods. They both show very strong feelings to Yuki and envy each other from time to time. Due to this, they also share a limited amount of tolerance to one another when Yuki's safety is concerned.

Hanabusa AidoEdit

Main article: Kaname & Hanabusa

Hanabusa is Kaname's loyal friend and right-hand man. Their relationship is quite comedic and purely adoration on Aido's perspective. However, this had become quite complicated due to Kaname killing Aido's father in front of him without explanation. After Kaname left, it seems that Aido likes to follow Yuki better than Kaname.

Takuma IchijoEdit

Main article: Kaname and Takuma

Kaname lived with Takuma after his parents died, they have became good friends since then. It would seem that Kaname trusts Takuma to a certain extent and also seems not to worry about him despite having Takuma with Sara.

Ruka SouenEdit

Ruka both loves and admires Kaname however, he does not return her affections. Despite this, Kaname trusts and respects her. Ruka and Kain are the two Night Class vampires who Kaname chose to keep at his side and help with his plans after the death of Nagamichi Aido. It is also implied that Kaname and Kain had a deal that when the time comes, Kaname would have Ruka to leave his side even by force.

PowersEdit

Like all Pureblood vampires, Kaname is immortal and can heal from anything excluding an anti-vampire weapon wound to his heart or cutting off his head. Like all vampires,he can absorb the powers from vampires whose blood he drinks from. Kaname's powers have been listed as immeasurable ^[4]. However in the manga, he has stated that when his mind wanders he "loses control", as seen when he accidentally burns a hole in the wall (in the manga) and a tree (in the anime), both barely missing Takuma, and also shatters a window. Kaname has demonstrated the following abilities:

• Telekinesis.

• Erasing memories.^[5]

• Creation of a familiar in any form he chooses, such as a bat able to convey messages^[6] and a wolf ^[7] from which he can receive information instantly, and used to watch over Yuki when she left the Kuran manor. His familiar is also strong enough to carry another person^[8] and wields his telekinetic powers.^[9]

• Transformation of his body into a weapon.^[10]

• Control of multiple vampires by his command against their will.^[11]

• Changing the physicality of his body^[12] i.e. changing his body into an infant.

QuotesEdit

• "You're so scary... Mr. Disciplinary Committee." (To Zero)
• "I've always been alone. The only one that can bring warmth into my life, is you." (To Yuki)
• "You could never betray her, because you are under her obligation. You are being let to live because of that, Zero. By me." (To Zero)
• "You want me to slap you. You're an odd girl." (To Ruka)
• "Aido, I think I would like to discuss our dorm's rules with you again." (To Aido)
• "Yuki, the safest place is beside me." (To Yuki)

See AlsoEdit

• Kaname Kuran Image Gallery
• Kaname, Yuki, and Zero
• How did Kaname become Yuki's brother?

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Volume 1, Side notes
2. ↑ Shoujo Beat Interview
3. ↑ 32nd Night
4. ↑ Vampire Knight Official Fanbook
5. ↑ 15th Night
6. ↑ 61st Night
7. ↑ 57th Night
8. ↑ 60th Night
9. ↑ 61st Night
10. ↑ 46th Night
11. ↑ 43rd Night
12. ↑ 61st Night

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Characters
Main Characters
Yuki Kuran | Kaname Kuran | Zero Kiryu
Vampires
Purebloods
Shizuka Hio | Juri Kuran | Haruka Kuran |Yuki Kuran | Kaname Kuran | Rido Kuran | Ouri | Sara Shirabuki | Isaya Shouto
Aristocrats
Hanabusa Aidou | Tsukiko Aido | Asato Ichijo | Takuma Ichijo | Akatsuki Kain | Maria Kurenai | Seiren | Senri Shiki | Ruka Souen | Rima Toya
Humans
Vampire Hunter's Association
Zero Kiryu | Kaito Takamiya | Toga Yagari | Kaien Cross | Jinmu
Day Class
Yuki Cross | Nadashiko Shindo | Sayori Wakaba | Kaseumi Kageyama | Ichiru Kiryu

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