Disclaimer: I own nothing aside from the original characters
It happened to fast, she could not have portrayed any more foolishness, and she was paying the ultimate price for her betrayal.
it was all so short lived, the reality of her situation, and his last gaze stung. his eyes glazed in understanding, piercing through her conscious with wild stabs. He knew who was at fault for this.
her delicate body shook violently with tremors and waves of tears.
The night was blisteringly cold, the slight breeze chilled her goose bump covered skin. The tall looming wrought iron gates she stood in front of were frosted over with the threat of winter. Clasping her hands together she blew warm air towards frozen glove covered fingers. She sighed in impatiens and ground her chattering teeth softly, just how long did he intend to make her wait.
"Good evening. You're Hara Etsuko I presume?"
Etsuko glanced to her left and observed the smiling girl who offered a greeting. She had shoulder length layered brown hair, and deep wide brown eyes. She was clad in a black school uniform with white embellishments. Next to her was a tall boy with piercing eyes and silver hair, who glanced towards Etsuko indeferantly choosing to not supply a greeting of his own.
Etsuko smiled lightly affirming it was her and returned the girls friendly greeting.
"If you will please follow us, we will show you to Chairman Cross's office."
Nodding curtly she began to follow the pair into the school grounds. While they were walking the girl had taken the liberty of introducing herself as Yuki Cross, she gently nudged the boy beside her to prompt him after he had failed to introduced himself.
"Zero" he sated listlessly.
"Kiryu Zero" Yuki amended sighing over his impolite response.
They had entered a large building near the end of the campus. The warmth of the building gently soothed the trio's tender skin as they continued up flights of stairs and through numerous hallways in relative silence. They came to a halt in front of a plain oak door. When neither of her guides proceeded she glanced curiously towards Yuki who quickly explained that she and Zero had prefect duties to attend to and that they would not be accompanying her.
Etsuko thanked them for the help and as the pair departed she knocked lightly on the oak door. There came a muffled reply to which she responded by opening the office door.
"Etsuko-chan, I'm so glad to see you." The chairman beamed at her over the rim of the golden trimmed tea cup he was cheerily sipping from, softly gesturing for her to take the seat opposite him and the desk he sat behind. She strode into the warm office and closed the door behind her.
"Good evening Cross-san." She replied hesitantly while sitting down in the plush chair offered to her. His cheery welcome was disheartening. She had envisioned the man who wrote to be a person of serious nature. It was of concern to find that he was quite the opposite. She had found people of his temperament to have the tendency of being unpredictable.
"I hope the trip here was pleasant." He stated simply while pouring her a cup of tea, she accepted the tea and paused to take a sip, waiting for the warm liquid to coax the words from her sore throat. There was a slight hesitation, but she felt that they were no longer in need of the formalities.
"Chairman I do hope that you understand that my only intention in coming here is to have my questions answered."
Previously she had given little thought in coming to cross academy at all, it was deemed unnecessary when she had first heard from the chairman. But as time dwindled on and information sources bacame scarce she found relief in having received the letter. The only slight draw back was the request to meet in person. It had almost taken a full month to write in response. As she twisted over the details that she had already collected attempting to delay, but nothing new had been found, and with no other options left she reluctantly agreed to the chairman's conditions. Answers were needed and his letters seemed to make it clear that he was capable of providing them.
"Etsuko-san I have an option for you. But you must understand that I can promise little. At best you may find some information of interest."
Her eyes widened momentarily as the chairman spoke seriously, having thought that this was the source that she was in need of and believing him to now be withholding information was greatly disappointing. Clenching her jaw in irritation, dimly aware that she was cornered and realizing that being this needy meant that she was at a complete disadvantage. Surmising that the chairman had his reasons for caution yet still annoyed with the premonition of cryptic partial answers she struggled. The bitter knowledge that she had gone to long with out new information was even more limiting then the discomforting idea of grabbing straws at another's mercy.
"I think that you should consider continuing your schooling here, I want to place you into the night classes." His keen eyes watched as the color drained from her face.
Schooling, she wasn't exactly prepared for his offer. To be truthful she had given little thought to ever continuing her interrupted studies. She was already eighteen and missing a good year of her formal education but really this was to off base. His suggestion just seemed like a distraction an awfuly unrealistic one at that.
However she did have to commend him on figuring out that finishing her education had been a previous goal. But that goal had been made during a very different time. Currently other more pressing issues sought top priority on her list. Feeling now that her frustration must have been too evident in her letters. It must have been clear to the chairman that she was at a stand still. The fact that she was willing to meet with him was confirmation enough. There were no other places left to look. Cornered and desperate, the chairman was in control of the pieces now and leaving empty handed had never been an option. There were no other choices she was forced to continue from here.
"I'll attend."
"Wonderful." The chairman beamed before continuing. "However there is a small stipulation."
-
How annoying that chairman was exceptionally conniving, it had been awhile since she had been around them. Their presence a strong reminder of mistakes, a red flag that was avoided at all times necessary. She had slim to no tolerance left for their kind.
She fidgeted in her pristine new white uniform, readjusting her prefect's badge, and grimacing over the chairman's decision to place her in the moon dormitories. The thought of attending night classes became extremely nerve wracking upon learning what her classmates were. The mistrust of vampires ran too deep, she was disgruntled to find it already jarring her mobility. Wobbling up the steps towards the front door, taking in ragged puffs of cool night air, she faltered hand poised inches from the door handle.
Breathe. Just breathe.
"Hey you, who are you?"
Her spine went ridged as soon as the velvety cool voice reached her ears. Withdrawing her hand and pivoting slowly. Her eyes came level with the sight of a white collar mere inches from her nose she nearly stumbled backwards into the door. Having failed to realize that a creature like that was in such close proximity was a bad omen. Glancing upwards she deftly took in the appearance of the man who startled her. His blond hair was gently tousled by the cold winds that blew past them, his deep calculative blue eyes held her gaze unblinkingly, and his fangs ominously glistened in the moon light. He was undeniably handsome, her heart beat slowed as she released a shaky breath her eyes narrowed back in defense as his intimidating stare left her weak in the knees. Etsuko inhaled forcing a gentle response despite the rude address.
"I'm a new student"
Author's note: okay so this is try number two the first post of this chapter was horrid in all senses of the word I'm praying that this attempt is at least semi-decent. I try to edit as thoroughly as possible but I find that I occasionally drop the ball on that. I'm sure someone will be able to tell me if there are any critical editing errors that need remedying. I'm hoping that this chapter isn't to short I felt it ended where it should have. I'm sporadically working on the next chapter so no clue as to when I'll finish that. ( not to mention that most of the plot isn't exactly panned out yet for the rest of the story xD ) I'm also debating a change in rating but I'll have to see where the story ends up going before anythings definitive.