"Third time's the charm," I whispered to myself as I walked through the tall oak doors that lead to my classroom, "hopefully today will be better."
Okay, I think I better explain before you get confused. I'm Hananichi Ozara, daughter of Kanari and Tsuyoi Ozara. I came to Cross Academy two days ago with my brother, Yakadere, but he's been here longer than me. It seems that I don't have the same ability that he does; everyone I've tried to speak too has ignored me. Everyone, even that guy I sit next to in class, he thinks I'm a freak, rich from a guy who has gray hair. I suppose he think's that because he's seen my drawings.
I took my seat, trying my best to ignore the stares all but two or three people were giving me.
"Hey," the girl in front of me said, "I'm Yuki, it's nice to meet you, sorry I haven't spoken to you sooner, I just get so sleepy during class."
"That's okay, Cross-san," I beamed down at the girl before me stretching out my hand, "Hananichi Ozara."
Yuki took my hand, hesitantly, but it was a start.
I could feel a presence in the seat next to me, and sure enough that gray haired bully sat in his place, towering over me. He didn't look at me, he didn't even acknowledge me… he just sat there like he always did.
The teacher walked in, the heavy looking book resting on his shoulder as usual, like a bird of prey waiting for the go ahead from its master to kill and kill it did with the dreaded maths.
I reached for a piece of paper from the inside of my blazer. When my hand had found what it was looking for, it began to carefully unfold the paper time bomb, an explosion of scribbled words and doodles stood out from the cream parchment. My eyes hunted for a fresh spot, before the fury of my pencil attacked the page, etching the haunting pictures from my dreams. Maths was the perfect time for me to search for the cause of my nightmares, as I sucked majorly at it.
"Drawing again, what are you a child?" the gray haired boy hissed under his breath, so as not to be heard by the teacher.
"What's it to you? Old man" I retorted.
"What did you say?" the grouchy old dude replied, angrily.
"What? Do you need a hearing aid or something, are you that old?" I was trying hard not to let the poison spill out from my words put it was failing badly.
"It's not old men you should worry about, you should worry about how messed up your family are," he spat back.
I rose from my chair, upsetting the chalk's rhythm as it scratched against the black board, trying incredibly hard not to lose control. I smiled at the cocky gray boy in front of me, his eyes filled with murky feelings, took the book in front of me and wacked Kiryu hard around the back of his head.
"I'm sorry sir, but I think I'll have to remove myself for this class, sorry once again." And with that I turned and left, ignoring the cuss the boy made under his breath, closed the door and then cussed myself as I remembered that I had left my bag in the classroom.
I took off towards the dorms in search of spare change, having already made up my mind to visit the sundae bar in town my brother had told me about.
~~#~~
I sat at the window in the café, listerning for the clock, so I could be sure it was the end of school.
This was the second time I had done this, I couldn't help it! I've always been like this. My brother is just the same, if we get angry or annoyed we complete lose it. He recently trashed my father's study in a blind rage, but he would tell me why he lost it.
There was my cue, picking up my blazer and the napkin I had used as drawing practise, I payed the lady adding a tip for letting me stay long after I had finished my sundae.
"Thanks again," I smiled at the lady.
I walked through the now crowded street, feeling more and more regret with every step I took.
The town is only a couple of minutes from cross academy, but it felt like it took hours. I hovered at the gate, dreading the moment I would walk through them.
"Oi, Hana," a familiar voice boomed, if there wasn't people looking then, they were now.
"Yakadere?" I said, walking past my tall brother.
"I can't believe that you skipped a whole day. AGAIN." He yelled, his usually pale white face, turning scarlet under his long punkish hairstyle.
"Yeah… your point?" I sighed, knowing all too well what is next words would be.
"Hana, if you fail your exams, you'll be unsuccessful and I won't be paying for you living expenses." he moaned.
My brother is the most hypocritical person you will ever know, forever moaning about his friends doing things wrong and then not taking his own advice and doing wrong himself. He has a brother complex; he's always looking out for me and scalding me for doing things wrong. It's anoying.
"Erm, Yaka… if I remember rightly you played hooky first day back." With that said I turned and took my leave, ignoring my brother come back.
I don't partially understand what happened next, I must have tripped over a blade of grass or something, because I was now lying on the ground, listening to the harsh laughter around me. I laid there for a while, recovering, before someone picked me up by the scruff of my neck, grabbed my hand violently and pulled me away.
Aww man, that gray haired guy probably wants to finish the fight I started, I thought as I recognised the boy who was dragging me. I didn't stop him, I was feeling way too sick to fight back. That sundae was amazing, but it was way too sweet.
I was suddenly in the headmaster's office.
"Hana, I though your parents had stopped this foolish behaviour," the famous vampire hunter said disappointed.
"I'm sorry headmaster, but I can't help this. My parents were the source of this fight anyway."
"I'll give you a light caution, this time." The headmaster adjusted his specs, and then gave me one of his stupid looks. I didn't mind his weirdness; it made me smile, inside of course.
"thank you headmaster, I'll try my best too-"
I didn't have time to finish because I was pushed roughly out of his office and then violently pushed against the wall.
"Sorry to you to, Kiryu-san. How's your head?" I stared blankly into the lilac pits of darkness that represent eyes, honestly not surprised at his violent gesture.
"Its fine thanks," he spat, "I thought you might like this back," he handed the crinkled paper I had scribbled on before the verbal assault this morning.
I shifted my weight ever so slightly, positioning my foot in-between his, then snatched the paper from his hands and brought my knee hard into his groin. His face screwed up as he let out a satisfying groan and slid to the floor, gasping for air as he did.
"I apologised, I didn't say I'd put up with your anger. It seems we've put ourselves in each other's bad books already." I giggled evilly. What? He deserved it.
~~#~~
Just as the nights before, I was unable to sleep so I went down to the hole in under the bridge. The only problem is that I had gotten too comfortable and fallen asleep and now the tide had come in.
I called out into the darkness in a hope that someone would hear, but no one came. It was at least an hour before I heard footsteps.
"Hello? Is someone up there? Please help! I'm stuck! I'll drown!" I screamed, terrified.
I would have literally cried for relief, if only Kiryu hadn't stuck his head over the side of the bridge.
"What the hell are you doing down there?" his voice sounded more annoyed than normal.
"Erm…" I couldn't bring myself to tell him why, embarrassed.
Zero jumped down from the bridge landing on the pebble beach that had led down to the cubby hole i was stuck in.
"Why don't you just swim round? The waters are safe you know?" he asked, making a face that said 'not impressed'.
"That'll be a neat trick, seeing I can't swim," I laughed nervously, as my hand slipped on the mossy rock that I was clinging too.
"I don't have time for this," he sighed, walking back up the bank and out of sight.
"NO! WAIT! COME BACK! Come back…" I could feel the warm tears trickle down my face as my voice trailed off.
"You seriously can't swim?" Kiryu's voice faded in once again as he walked back down the slope.
"No! I was being serious," I wept, embarrassed and scared.
"Then why did you come down here?" he asked, a smirk spreading across his face.
"It reminds me of home, we used to have a fish tank a huge one, but it got destroyed when… " the name caught in my throat, as huge bout of tears swept down my cheeks.
"You don't have to say if you don't want to." Kiryu interrupted, his eyes filled with distant sadness, like he was remembering something.
He waded into the river and held out a hand, which I took without hesitation. He then gently prised me off my perch and lifted me into a cradle. I grabbed at his shirt, afraid to let go.
"In future, go down there with someone and maybe not at night," his voice boomed in my ear, did it always sound this… comforting.
"Someone? Who would even talk to me, let alone go to a weird place like that." I asked him.
"You'll find someone," Kiryu sighed, "but I suppose I haven't been the best help. Sorry about this morning."
"No I'm sorry Kiryu-san I should have called you an old man." I said moppingup the last of my tears.
"Why do you speak so formally?" he asked, turning his back to me.
I shrugged, "old habit, I suppose."
"Back to your dorm, now!" Zero suddenly yelled, his monotone voice resonating in the silence. I ignored his order.
"It's stupid, you and Yuki having to stay awake so late just to protect those Mon-. " I stopped myself before I revealed my secret.
I hated those night-class students. Damn Vampire's.
Zero acted as if he hadn't heard, and walked hurriedly in the other direction.
I watched his back has he disappeared into the darkness.
What was that sadness in his eyes?
