Bittersweet

~ First Night ~ Welcome to Cross Academy

I turned back to meet the faces of my foster parents as I was just about a foot from the gates. "Now are you sure about this, Takara-san?" asked my foster mother. I shrugged. After all, it's not like I have anything left for me anyway. It's already too late for me to avenge the death of my mother—the damn pureblood is already dead. My father has already been executed.

I have nothing left in this cursed life of mine but going to this school they call Cross Academy. It seemed completely ridiculous; I never have, in my life, believed in the coexistence of vampires and humans. Despite that, there was no other choice of a school. Besides, I hear that there isn't a Night Class anymore.

"Come in," said a rather cheerful voice as I knocked on the door. I clicked the door open to see—Cross Kaien? I should've guessed since it's called Cross Academy after all, but the former vampire hunter looks like he's changed a whole lot. I never would've guessed that he'd become this weirdo.

"C—Cross Kaien, what happened to you?" I asked feeling a bit revolted. I examined him. Just what kind of former vampire hunter—let alone a chairman—wears a stupid gardening apron and such a cheerful expression?

"Kujo Takara, it's been a while, hasn't it! How's your family?" I immediately glared at him. I've always hated it whenever someone mentions the word "family". He scooted back quickly. "No, I meant your foster family!" he said quickly, intimidated by my glare.

I merely shrugged. "Oh, they're fine," I replied coolly. I handed in the enrollment papers and he examined them thoroughly. I took a seat right across from him, my arms folded as I waited.

He roamed about the office and handed out a black uniform; which is what the Day Class wears. I just looked at it. Got to admit it though, the uniform doesn't look that bad. I looked up and asked him, "So where's my schedule?"

"Oh!" he said in realization. He went over to his desk and pulled out a sheet filled with all my classes and a small map so I won't lose my way. "Enjoy it here at Cross Academy!" he said gleefully. I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the key to my dorm. Once I closed the door behind me, I set out to wherever the hell my dorm is located.

I turned the key to my dorm room and as soon as I walked in, a girl jolted—completely startled. "Oh, sorry," I said dully. Her brown eyes examined me before she had realized:

"You're the new student, aren't you?" I nodded. "I'm Wakaba Sayori, by the way. Just call me Yori," she introduced, her hand outstretched towards me. I hesitantly stretched out my own and shook my hand with hers.

"Kujo Takara," I said flatly. She just looked at me; I bet that she finds me very dull and boring, but it didn't matter to me one bit. "So when do classes start?" I asked. "Wait, never mind," I said abruptly as I pulled out my schedule. I looked up at her to see that she's already in uniform; I sighed.

After about ten minutes, I was dressed into my uniform. Afterward, I stepped out of the dorm and followed Yori to class; we have the same classes, after all. As we passed through the occupied halls, I asked, "How come there isn't a Night Class anymore?" She paused in her steps. "It's fine if you tell me. I know that vampires exist," I added in a hushed whisper.

"I don't know if I can fill you in with all the details, but there seemed to be some dangerous vampires invading the school. After that, my best friend, Yuuki, went off with Kuran Kaname," she explained. Kuran Kaname, I thought. I've known of these purebloods before. Quite frankly, I have a deep hatred for purebloods since that incident that happened four years ago.

"Is Yuuki-san a pureblood?" She nodded at my question. I can only guess that they're engaged brother and sister; I don't know, just intuition.

As soon as we entered class, I was a bit stunned to see who our Ethics teacher was—Yagari Toga. He just looked at me with a bored expression. "Well what do you know, my niece is now my pupil for Ethics and vampire hunting," he said in a bit of a joking manner. I raised an eyebrow at my uncle and just rolled my eyes, taking my seat next in the back; in all honesty, I'm a bit of a loner. Yori didn't seem to mind at all; we're just acquaintances—roommates.

After just a few minutes into the lesson, I was already bored. School is a cinch for me, and I thought that just falling asleep would just ease my consistent boredom. Before I could even rest my head, the sound of the door slowly opening woke me up somewhat. I turned my head to see a silver-haired boy with pale lavender eyes. I just stared at him for a moment—his appearance resembling a certain vampire hunting family I know of. I didn't put any thought into it though and just resumed dazing off into space, not giving a damn about these boring lectures.

He grudgingly took a seat on the other side of the desk, but I simply ignored him. The boredom was killing me and I just decided to let myself think how that appearance reminded me of something. Oh yeah, that's right. That boy must be Kiryuu Zero, son of the prominent Kiryuu family. I've heard about him; his parents were slaughtered by the pureblood, Hio Shizuka; he became a vampire because of her; and his twin died. I had to wonder though, why isn't he a Level E yet? For the time being, I simply ignored it.

Once the day was over, Yagari stopped me and handed me my execution list. I simply nodded and walked out the school gates, my anti-vampire gunblade in my possession. As I had walked out the gates, I noticed that Kiryuu boy right outside—does he not live in a dorm anymore? I could care less, and I simply brushed past him. "Just where do you think you're going?" he demanded.

I craned my neck to face him. Holding out my list, I replied flatly, "I'm hunting Level Es." I didn't look back after that as I rushed over to wherever those pitiful creatures are.

After about thirty minutes of roaming about the streets of town, I finally found him. Damn it! He noticed me coming and before I could pull out my gunblade, he had pinned me to the ground. "My, my, your blood smells good!" he said in its eerie Level E voice. I struggled to reach for my weapon, but once I had, I slowly brought it closer to me as I resisted the Level E trying to suck my blood.

"Ugh, finally!" said I in impatience. I pointed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger without another word. He immediately turned to dust and I brushed off dirt and dust as I stood up. "Ah, damn it!" I grunted as I felt the stinging pain on my bleeding arms. I just examined it to see how severe it was, but simply shrugged my shoulders and made my way over to Cross Academy.

However, just as I had started to walk out the dark alley, I heard another Level E dash towards me. I whipped around with my gunblade pointing at it. Before I could pull the trigger, it was already turned to dust. I didn't let my guard down so easily; I could still feel a vampire's aura. My eyes wandered about my surroundings, and the slightest sound I heard made me whip around quickly.

"Hey, watch where you point that thing!" spat a cold voice. I lowered my weapon.

"My apologies," I said flatly. "You have a vampire's aura so what was I suppose to do?" He glared at me, but I brushed past him roughly. "You must be Kiryuu Zero, right?" I asked as I craned my neck to meet his gaze. He nodded as I had shrugged.

"Be careful," I heard him say. "Your scent will just bring in more vampires." I looked at him for a while, and took it into consideration as I left without another word.

Finally, I had reached Cross Academy. I walked immediately to the infirmary and had gotten myself some rubbing alcohol, ointment, and bandages. Once I walked in my dorm, Yori just looked at me and then my wound. "Where've you been?" she asked.

"Hunting vampires," I said calmly.

"You're just like Zero-kun, huh?" I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. "I know him through Yuuki," she added. I nodded slowly as I walked to the bathroom to change out into something more comfortable.

Once I emerged from the room, I flopped on my bed, rather tired. I flipped over and took out some of the assignments that were to be done for school. It was simple enough for me to finish within thirty minutes—not that I'm bragging, so don't get me wrong.

I looked out the window to see that the moon was already out. I slid under the comforting sheets and let my mind drift me to sleep. Slowly letting the darkness of the night engulfing me to the point where I have sunken to an ideal world.

I'll show you a sweet dream next night…