Alice: Hi! This is the beta-read of my first chapter. I finally found a beta-read and her name is XxDark-maiden201xX. Dark-chan is really good, right Zero-chi.
Zero: Oh, now its Zero-chii.
Alice: But of course.
Zero: ...
Alice: Anyways, please read and review.
Japanese Translations:
*Gomen: Sorry
*Otou-sama: Father/Dad
*Sumimasen: Forgive me/ I'm very sorry (used in more formal circumstances)
*Shiroiyuri: Literal translation for 'White Lily' since Shiroi means White while Yuri means Lily.
Fearless Nights
1st night: Miserable Return
"Zero…," Aimi Akane mttered, twisting in her bed, "Zero…Zero!" She woke with a start, breathing heavily as the images of her latest nightmare filled her mind. Her long silver hair was still a mess and so was her nightshirt.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to look at her so-called guardian, Yuuma Setsuna, who was sitting on her couch comfortably, completely indifferent to the fact that Aimi had been having a nightmare. Is he really my guardian or what? She thought skeptically. He was even reading a magazine.
Yuuma's eyes looked up as he noticed that her princess was awake and he raised his head to greet Aimi who had still taken no initiative to righten herself.
"Good morning, Yuuma-kun." Aimi greeted him with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Aimi-hime." Yuuma greeted back, returning her loving smile. He went back to reading the magazines about some occurrences in the world of Humans. Having discovered nothing of particular interest, he looked back at Aimi who was preparing for bath. She didn't feel self conscious in front of Yuuma considering the fact that he was the one who had taken care of her ever since her memories came back.
"Ah, Aimi-hime." She turned to look at him, now just in her black lingerie.
"I've finished talking with Kaien-kun. You can transfer anytime you want. The papers are already settled." He informed her casually.
"Is that so?" She went in the bathroom and prepared the water for a bath.
"So, what exactly happened there?" She asked, sinking into the warm water allowing her untied hair to get drenched.
"It seems that Rido-sama attacked the academy in order to acquire the Kuran princess, Kaname-sama's little sister." He continued his report as he resumed reading his magazine, "But Kaien-kun said that it's safe now." He finished and before standing up.
"I'll be preparing your breakfast." He informed as he turned to leave.
It has been a while. Soon I'll be meeting him again. Aimi closed her red eyes, her thoughts drifting towards him.
A few hours later, the duo found themselves at the gates of the prestigious Cross Academy. They had arrived at Cross Academy after such a long ride. Aimi yawned as she was roused from her slumber. Even sitting in the car seemed tiring. The two extracted themselves from the black limousine and entered through the familiar iron wrought gates.
"It has been a while," Aimi smiled softly, "How nostalgic." She commented whilst Yuuma carried her luggage.
"Aimi-hime, come on." He called out to her, already halfway up the stairs while Aimi was still at the bottom. She nodded and picked up the remaining bag and dashed up to her resident caretaker.
"A new student?" Zero asked suspiciously while leaning against a wall.
The Headmaster had been rambling on about how cute she was and that he would be surprised once he had seen her. He went on talking about her being in the Night Class and everything about his pacifism but Zero didn't pay mind any of it. He was more concentrated on thinking about just how many blood-sucking monsters were already present; and the result disgusted him.
"Geez, can't you just stop accepting new students?" Zero stated, angered by the news of the arrival of yet another vampire. A sharp knock was heard before the door opened to reveal a man with raven black messy hair and blood red eyes. He wore black slacks topped with a white Dress shirt unbuttoned except for the middle button making him look messy or rather as if he was getting ready to sleep. As he entered with a pile of heavy looking luggage, Zero simply eyed him with nothing short of suspicion, disgust and loathing.
"Ah, you must be Yuuma-kun." Kaien smiled rushing towards him, looking around excitedly as if he was expecting someone else.
"Where is she?" The Chairman beamed excitedly. A young girl stepped in with her silver hair swaying freely and her blood red eyes staring around the room emotionlessly. She had on a black tea gown that only reached above her knee and red shoes paired with long white socks that reach up to knees.
Zero stood straight with his eyes narrowed as he recognized the vampire before him.
"Mizune." He murmured as their eyes met for a brief second. The silver haired Vampire Hunter was thoroughly shocked at the sight whilst Aimi's glance only resembled an empty blankness. She turned to Kaien breaking their eye contact while Zero resumed glaring at the floor. Yuuma eyed him, observing his every move, as Aimi produced a large smile for Kaien who had pulled her into a tight hug once she had shifted her gaze to him.
"I missed you, Kaien-san." She smiled hugging him back.
They broke free with the Chairman crying comically. Their reunion was interrupted by a certain girl with long brown hair who had entered the room in her Night Class Uniform. It was Yuuki with nothing but tears of excitement and joy in her eyes.
Aimi turned around to face Yuuki and faced a bit of shock as she witnessed the Kuran Princess.
"Mizune-chan!" Yuuki burst out happily as Aimi mimicked the action to give a wide smile to her friend. It had been a long time since they had last met but the current reunion was quite unexpected. The last time they had met, they were both humans but now they were both pureblood princesses. The two young girls hugged each other tightly reveling in the light of their sudden reunion, considering the fact that Aimi had simply vanished one day.
"I missed you, Mizune-chan!" Zero eyed them catching the name by which Yuuki had called her. She still didn't know what Aimi's real name was.
"Um, Yuuki-chan, please call me Aimi. Aimi Akane." Said girl smiled politely. Yuuki pulled back and returned the smile, nodding in agreement. Then Aimi turned to Yuuma who was still eyeing Zero's every move suspiciously.
"Yuuma-kun." She called as he turned to face her, "You may leave now, as promised." She smiled and Yuuma stared at, looking like he wanted to argue.
"Is this really okay?" He asked, not sure about whether it was safe to leaving his princess alone. She gave him a look that made it final.
"Fine. As promised." He gave in and then turned to Kaien, "Please call me if anything happens with my troublesome princess." He bowed and then turned to Aimi before leaving. He kissed her forehead gently as she smiled at him.
"Take care." Yuuma said fondly and turned to leave.
"Then, I think I'll be going to my dorm. How about you, Yuuki-chan?" She asked casually, still ignoring Zero's presence. Zero frowned. He was bothered by her presence alone. Yet, Aimi acted to be unaffected by him in any way.
"Gomen*, Aimi-chan! I still have some business with the chairman," Yuuki replied sheepishly. Aimi smiled and turned around to face Kaien.
"Then, I'll be going, Otou-sama*." She said and Kaien's face brightened up immediately as he rushed to her trying to hug her though it was a vain attempt since he only ended kissing the floor.
"That's so cruel Aimi-chan. I was so happy you still call me dad." He pouted. Aimi walked towards the door only carrying one of her luggage, only smiling in reply to the Chairman's words.
"What about your other luggage?" Kaien asked, puzzled.
"Please let the one who's supposed to fetch me, carry it." She smiled. The one who was supposed to fetch her would be in great trouble. She was going to tease him and trouble him indefinitely. She already felt sorry for him.
"Nothing's really change." She said, to herself as she walked along the familiar Academy grounds, taking a stroll under the bright sunlight. Despite its blinding rays, she had loved the sunlight ever since she could remember which was highly unusual for a vampire. As Aimi's thoughts drifted farther away, she did not realize the other presence until she had bumped into him.
"Ouch," She turned to a blonde haired boy with crystal clear blue eyes. At first sight, she could tell that he was a vampire.
"Are you okay?" She asked, attempting to be nice.
"Do you think I'm okay? Geez. AH! I have to hurry." He rushed away from her, running towards the Chairman's office. His blonde hair and cute sapphire eyes were remarkable.
"He's kinda cute." Aimi commented, shrugging, before she continued on her way.
Aidou opened the door panting slightly as he had been running. He had been assigned to fetch the Akane princess before class but typically, he had woken up late and now, if he didn't get to her fast enough, he was so in trouble.
"Excuse me! Is Akane-sama here?" He asked as the chairman and Yuuki turned to face him whereas Zero had left a while ago.
"Aimi-chan? She left a few minutes ago." Kaien replied. The prospect of searching for the vampire princess really frightened him to no ends. He was going to be in a hell lot of trouble with this. Kaname would definitely punish him. As he bowed to leave after displaying respect towards the pureblood, he turned to the door when Kaien called out to him.
"Yes?" He asked, frantically.
"Aimi-chan asked you to take her luggage." He informed the blonde vampire motioning towards the pile of luggage Aimi had left for him. He took them in his hands without much effot, still fuming. If only that girl hadn't delayed him he might have managed to arrive before the pureblood had left. He was really irritated. He stalked off towards the Moon Dorms, dragging the luggage full of God knows what. Girls.
"I swear that if I see that girl again, I'll-" He muttered angrily.
"You'll what?" A feminine voice asked from behind him.
"I'll turn her into a pulp!" He yelled and turned to face Aimi who was standing beside Kaname. He was shocked to no ends. It was only after a while that realization hit him. The girl he had bumped into was the pureblood princess.
"Kaname-sama!" He bowed his head respectfully, hoping the Dorm-Leader was in a favourable mood.
"You heard him, Kaname-nii-san." Aimi teased Aidou with a smiling face. Kaname just looked at Aidou with a look of disappointment.
"Aidou," He began in a dignified tone, which was enough to let the blonde vampire, he was in for it, " I'm sure you know that speaking like that to and about a pureblood is disrespectful, don't you?" Kaname asked with a serious tone while the latter's head was still bowed in apology.
"Sumimasen*, Akane-sama." Aimi appeared before him, smiling naturally- a smile she was so reluctant to display before Zero.
"Don't worry." She patted him with a smile before turning to Kaname, "Kaname-nii-san, don't punish him, okay?" She said playfully. Kaname nodded to comply and she offered him a grateful smile before facing Aidou again.
"Just call me Aimi," She offered her hand in a handshake to a confused Aidou who was wondering at the difference between Kaname-sama and Aimi-chan. Yuuki entered the room to announce that it was almost time for class.
"YUUKI-CHAN!" Aimi beamed at her.
"Mi-," Yuki began, before correcting herself, "Aimi-chan," She ended a little awkwardly.
"Call me Mizune if you like, just don't call me Mizune around Zero, okay?" The girl smiled as Yuki nodded solemnly. Since they were already running late for class, the vampires decided to leave Aimi alone as she hadn't even completed unpacking yet.
Zero lay motionless in bed, having skipped his prefect duties since Kairi Hibari, the new prefect, had been taking care of it for him. As he stared up at the ceiling quietly, his thoughts revolved around Aimi. What was she doing here? Why had she suddenly disappeared that day? As the questions kept stinging him, he decided he would not be able to get any sleep and got up from bed, making up his mind to pay a little visit to the stables.
Aimi walked along the deserted forest as the wind blew her silver hair around her face. She had been bored staying alone in her dorm and had remembered her once best friend. As she approached the stables, she caught sight of a pure white horse, which was uncannily familiar.
"Shiroiyuri*!" She screamed and she petted the horse. White Lily recognized her soft touch as she neighed gently.
"It has been a while, right?" She let out a sigh and then closed her eyes to remember a distant past…
*Flashback*
"Wow! What a lovely horse! Zero-kun, come on, name her." Aimi tried to persuade Zero to name the beautiful horse, with an innocent smile plastered on her face.
The two had decided to take a stroll around the new academy where they would be attending the following year, when they stumbled upon the horse stables. Curious as to its contents, they had taken a peek inside to reveal the most stunning white mare.
"Mizune." Zero replied lazily making her pout. She was acting childish, as always.
"Geez. Zero-kun, that's my name! Don't give the horse the name of your girlfriend!" He sighed at her still pouting face.
"What do you want me to name her then?" He asked putting his hands on the top of her head but he didn't mess it and it made her think of a cute name for the cute horse in front of them.
"Hmm… let's see, since she's white and she's a girl…ShiroiYuri! I want to name her white lily!" She squealed happily.
Zero just rolled his eyes at her childishness before glancing her fondly, "Shiroyuri it is."
*End Flashback*
"It sure has been a while, huh, Shiroi Yuri." Aimi was petting her beloved mare when suddenly she heard footsteps and and she turned around. To her surprise, it was Zero.
"Kiryuu-kun, hello." She stopped petting the horse and returned her face to its emotionless state.
"If you don't mind, I'll be taking my leave now" Aimi nodded, not waiting for an answer, before she stepped past him out into the night.
As the breeze lifted her hair, yet again, it took away the soft words she murmured into the night air, "Take care, Zero."
But she knew very well that Zero had heard every word.
Alice: Yay! So what do you think?
Zero: Totally better than your writing.
Alice: Yeah. Anyway please feed the bunny reviews. Also, I don't own Vampire Knight even thought I would love to since if I do, I would have Zero hug me a lot.
Zero: Wish all you want.