Cross Academy is an elite boarding school with two separate, isolated classes: the Day Class and the Night Class. On the surface, Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu are prefects of the academy, and attempt to keep order between the students as classes rotate in the evenings. As the Night Class is full of utterly gorgeous elites, this can sometimes prove to be a bit difficult. It is completely necessary, however, as those "elites" are actually vampires. Yuuki and Zero act as guardians, protecting the secrets of the Night Class and the safety of their ignorant morning counterparts.

As the adopted daughter of the academy's chairman, Yuuki takes her job with a serious and energetic attitude. It also allows her to interact with her secret crush and savior, the president of the Night students' dorm, Kaname Kuran. Zero, on the other hand, has a deep-rooted hatred against vampires, and at times, does not hesitate to kill.

Can vampires and humans co-exist, even in the strict setup of the Cross Academy? Only time will tell.

Included one-shot: Volume 17: Watashi to Fukigen na Panya-san (The Sour-Faced Baker and Me)

Vampire Knight was published in English by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint from January 2, 2007 to October 14, 2014. Two boxed sets were released: one includes the first 10 volumes of the manga, a planner, and a case and was released on November 16, 2010, while the other set includes the last 9 volumes released on November 4, 2014. It also had an official fanbook which was released in English by VIZ Media on October 19, 2010. The series was also published in Spanish by Panini Comics from May 2008 to November 2014.

The manga also received multiple drama CD adaptations, three novel adaptations, a fanbook (2008), a Japanese dating simulator titled Vampire Knight DS (2009), and a live action musical adaptation shown from January 21 to January 25, 2015.