This is a Takuma/Me FanFic, I'll try to keep it as close to the story as I can, while adding two new characters, me (Rachel) and another girl (Maxine). Read. Love. Review.

PROLOGUE

I looked down at the picture below me, silently wondering to myself why small drops of water kept making splashes on it.

Is it raining?

I didn't remember it raining, then I slowly began to realize the water droplets weren't rain.

They were tears.

They were my tears.

I sighed, staring still at the picture, thinking about my best friend. I hadn't expected the letter that had taken him away from me, the letter from Cross Academy. The day he told me, he had seemed so sad, yet so excited. I couldn't hold him back and not let him go, that would be cruel. I wouldn't tarnish his memory of me.

"Are you sure?" Takuma had asked, silently searching for any signs of reluctance in my eyes.

I took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "Takuma, I can tell how much you want to go. Don't worry about me; I think you should do what you want to. And I can tell, that means Cross Academy. Besides, what, you don't think I can handle myself?" I grinned, punching his arm lightly.

He threw a forced smile in my direction. "No, that's never been a problem before, Wildcat."

I smiled at his nickname for me. He had given it to me forever ago; I couldn't remember a time when he HADN'T called me "Wildcat". It stemmed from my stubborn personality, and how apparently, I resembled a kitten who thought it was a tiger.

I knew I would miss him. Ever since birth, we had been practically been inseparable. Even though I was human, as was my family, our two families had been close for generations. My grandfather was a member of the Vampire Council, as was Takuma's, which in itself was odd. It was meant to promote friendship between humans and vampires, or at least give the Council a less harsh and violent reputation. I would often spend entire summers at his family's estate, joking and laughing with Takuma. We shared a mutual love of books, which had also brought us closer, as well as our cheerful natures. On my ninth birthday, Takuma had given me a katana, a duplicate of his; claiming I needed something to protect myself with or I'd end up getting myself into too much trouble.

I looked up as I heard a knock on my bedroom door. It had been a year since Takuma had left for Cross Academy.

"A letter came for you in the mail, sweetie!" My mom grinned from the doorway. She noticed the picture in my hands, Takuma's and mine's smiling faces grinning up at her. She sighed and gently placed the letter on my bed next to me before slowly leaving through the door she had entered through only moments ago. I heard the door lock and I glanced at the letter before slowly picking it up, my interest piquing. My heart began to race as I stared at the familiar symbol on the envelope. My lips stretched up into a smile as I ran my fingers over the return address, trying to comprehend what this meant.

This letter was from Cross Academy.