[So, I've had this idea in my head for the longest time. And I just finally got my act together and decided to write it. This is taking place from the second manga on, just because I only have the second manga and so on. And yeah. Sorry for any spelling errors, my computer won't tell me, and my proofreading skills kind of suck.]
Aoki couldn't last one more second with this man.
When she had first arrived at Cross Academy, just the look of the buildings had made her think that everyone here was serious, and maybe dark. But her first meeting with Headmaster Cross had proven that different. He was bright and bubbly, and even though Aoki played along just a bit, she was tired.
"So, we'll get your uniform to you soon. Why don't you go walk around the dormitory for a bit? When you return to your room, your uniform will be there."
"Sounds good."
The door burst open behind them and Aoki turned, her blue eyes wide. A short girl ran in, with unruly brown hair and big eyes. "Headmaster! You said you needed us?"
Us? Aoki wondered, but then a boy walked in. He had silver hair, and purple eyes that Aoki couldn't help but stare at. "Ah! Zero and Yuki, I have an errand for you to run, in the town."
Yuki seemed absolutely overjoyed, but Zero's expression failed to move. Headmaster Cross grabbed a piece of paper from his desk and handed it to Yuki. He stopped for a minute, looking back at Aoki.
"Hey, Aoki, how would you like to go?"
Heat rushed to Aoki's cheeks and she meekly pointed to herself. "M-me?"
"Yes." He nodded, smiling at his 'brilliant idea'. "You could become friends with Zero Kiryu and Yuki Cross."
Yuki nodded, smiling down at the white-haired girl. "Sure, it'd be fun!" Her hand slipped into Aoki's and she pulled the flustered girl to the door. Zero's expression still didn't waver.
During the walk, Yuki babbled to Aoki about Cross Academy and how wonderful it was. Aoki stayed silent, a small smile on her lips as she nodded to Yuki's words.
Yuki grinned at Aoki. "It's been such a long time since we came to town. It's wonderful."
"Why is that?" Aoki asked in her small, soft voice, barely a whisper. The wind whistled through her hair, lifting strands as she turned her head towards Yuki.
"It's a privilege for headmaster to ask us to go on an errand." She smiled at Aoki. "Leaving school grounds is restricted."
Aoki rubbed the back of her head. "That sure sucks."
"Yeah." Yuki didn't seem that unhappy about it, for reasons Aoki couldn't figure out, but she didn't say anything.
Assuming they were going to the Marketplace, Aoki steered herself in that direction, and was inwardly pleased to find that Zero and Yuki were right behind her as well. Aoki kept sneaking glances at Zero behind her, seeing his expression didn't change.
Aoki slowed her pace, allowing Yuki to gain, leading the way.
"Uh, hey, Zero," mumbled Aoki, her shyness getting the best of her. She looked up at him, a bit shocked to see his looking down at her with careful eyes. "You look...a bit...bored." She rubbed her arms awkwardly. "After all, Yuki said...she said that it's a privilege for you guys to be here."
She smiled sideways at him. "You should be enjoying yourself."
He looked back the front. With a bored expression. "There's nothing to enjoy here."
A bit suprised, Aoki turned her head back to the front as well. Yuki remained oblivious to any conversation between the two. Timidly, Aoki reached over with a small smile and tugged on Zero's sleeve. "I'm sure you'll have fun."
Without saying a word, he ripped his hand from hers and looked away. Aoki blushed and kept her gaze down from then on. They had already reached the marketplace and Yuki had grabbed the various items they needed, pushing most of them onto Zero.
Feeling a bit bad, Aoki reached over and tugged the one bag he held in his left arm. He gave her a look, and refused to budge. "N-no! It's fine." She tugged the bag out of his arms and held it in her hands, smiling. "I'm quite strong, actually."
"We still have beef liver and bok choy to get," Yuki said, glancing at the list.
Zero sighed. "There's more?"
Yuki didn't respond; her attention flitted to something else. Her hand shot out and grabbed Zero's arm, pulling him towards a booth that sold clothes. "Hey, Zero, look at this!"
Zero barely glanced at it. "We should be back before sunset."
"Oh, calm down. The Night Class has today off so they won't be coming out of their dorms." Yuki continued to look at the clothes.
"The Night Class?" Aoki murmured.
"There are two classes. You know, we're in the Day Class. There are people in the Night Class as well." Yuki gave Aoki a reassuring smile, but Aoki didn't understand. "It just means they prefer night-time classes, while we stay in the day-time."
"Oh." Aoki nodded, understanding now.
Yuki reached over to Zero and layed the shirt across his arm, a smile on her face. "If I leave you alone, you don't take care of yourself. You're like..." she giggled, a blush creeping up on her face, "a younger brother who needs taking care of."
Abruptly, Zero turned, and Yuki frowned. "You're angry! Wow, Zero, you get angry so easily."
He turned, a slight smile on his face. "I find it funny. You're a year younger than I am. And you look like a grade schooler. Hurry up or we'll leave you behind, 'big sis'."
Aoki turned and started to follow Zero. That was cute, she thought to herself. It's like they're siblings. Aoki heard Yuki behind them: "I'll take this one, please! You don't have to wrap it!" She sound frantic.
After Yuki had caught up, they got the rest of their items and settled into a cafe of Yuki's choice. Zero and Yuki sat across from each other, so Aoki dragged over a chair to sit on the end.
"Aoki, Zero...I'll treat you to something." Yuki smiled sheepishly. "After you guys carried all that stuff."
"It's fine," Aoki blurted quickly. She wanted to become friends with this girl, so she didn't want to have her paying for the desert she got.
Zero looked down. "I wanted shio ramen."
Yuki flushed. In truth, Yuki had took them to a cafe without asking. "Well, I do love the parfait here. Yori and I came here last time..."
Aoki assumed Yori was one of Yuki's other friends, and nodded. "You still...can't go outside school grounds alone." Zero looked at Yuki.
"I...I can!"
"But you're afraid."
The bantering between Yuki and Zero stopped when Aoki cleared her throat. "Can I...ask why? Yuki. If it's not intruding." Redness colored Aoki's cheeks. "I just want us to be friends. And you can tell me, I won't judge!" Oh man, do I ramble or what?
Yuki tensed, but shrugged. "When I was younger...I was left out in the snow, with no memories prior to that. A man...attacked me..."
"A vampire." Aoki blushed even further and covered her mouth.
Great going, idiot, now they're really going to think you're nuts! You're probably the only one whose ever been attacked by a vampire. Good job ruining your chance at making two friends.
Yuki and Zero stared at Aoki with wide eyes, both frozen. Aoki looked down. She knew they probably thought she was a freak now. "You...you believe in vampires?"
Might as well stick with what she said now. "Yes...I...I was attacked by one when I was younger. I just...I thought...maybe it was the same with you." Aoki looked up, worridley. "You probably think I'm horrible for saying it, or even crazy. I understand if-"
"That's what happened to me to!" Yuki stood up, her expression shocked. "I was attacked by a vampire as well!"
Aoki was happy. Not happy because Yuki had been attacked by a vampire as well, but because she didn't think she was crazy, and knew vampires existed. "Aoki," Yuki whispered, her voice low, "you know how we were talking about the Night Class? Well...they're vampires."
"Really?" Aoki couldn't wait to see them, then. She was still scared to death by them, but...she could probably deal with it if they were in this school. After all, they couldn't probably do damage while in school, right? Otherwise...they wouldn't be allowed, right? Aoki gulped.
"Excuse me." A waitress had appeared, a pitcher in her hand. She was blushing a bit, looking at Zero and Aoki. "Are you two from Cross Academy Night Class?" Even though the waitress was referring to both Aoki and Zero, her gaze only stayed on Zero.
Zero's eyes went wide and Aoki blushed, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
"Oh, you are!" the waitress gushed. "You guys look different from everyone else! Students from the elite class aren't like everyone else."
"Uh-" Yuki began, but she was cut off.
The waitress smiled. "Isn't there someone named Aido in the Night Class? He comes here sometimes...he likes sweets. You should tell him to come again soon-"
Zero got up in a rush, grabbed the items and started outside. "I'm leaving."
"Zero, wait for us outside!" Yuki's words fell on deaf ears as the door slammed shut. She sat back down, her face a bit down.
The waitress was flustered, but turned to Aoki. "You'll tell Aido, right-"
"I'm sorry." Aoki looked up sheepishly. "I'm not in the Night Class. And neither was he."
"Oh! My mistake, miss." The waitress flushed and left.
Yuki quickly payed the bill and the two girls left. "Sorry about that Aoki. Zero...Zero doesn't like the Night Class." She chuckled nervously as she opened the door and stepped outside. "Zero?" She looked around. "He's not here."
Aoki saw Yuki get visibly nervous. Aoki reached over and grabbed the girl's hand. "We'll find him, Yuki."
With a slight nod and smile, Yuki took off, dragging Aoki behind her. Why was she so nervous? It was probably because of the vampire attack Yuki suffered when she was younger. It must have been much worse than Aoki's attack.
Aoki squeezed Yuki's hand, determined to be a good friend.
They turned down alleyways and down streets. Yuki turned and caught her arm agaisnt a broken piece of metal, cutting her arm. She clutched it. "Ouch...oh no. Zero, where are you?"
Still a bit determined, Aoki stepped closer and pressed a sheet of paper she had in her back pocket to Yuki's arm. "It'll be fine, come on-"
With a loud swish, a dark fog swept out of nowhere. Without hesitating, Yuki whipped out a long silver stick of some sort and stuck it out between the fog and herself and Aoki. The fog bounced off, but didn't go away.
The fog came back, it's form shifting into something of a human. But the expression was wicked, and Aoki spotted two fangs in its mouth. "Yuki! Is that...a vampire?"
Eyes wide, Yuki didn't respond. The vampire leaned closer to Yuki. "Your blood...smells good."
Yuki paused, panting. Aoki knew she couldn't stand still either. She grasped the stick and lifted it, swiping it towards the vampire. It hit him, and he flew back, but it didn't kill him.
"Yuki? Aoki?" Zero's voice came from behind them.
He approached, glancing at the vampire figure on the ground. "This is bad...we can't let anyone see this. Good job..." he mumbled at Aoki, as if he was mad that he even had to utter the words. Aoki blushed and nodded.
Zero turned his attention back to the vampire. "You used to be human."
"Oh, I wonder."
He was cut short when he split in two, startling Aoki. She stumbled back with her hand clutching the fabric of her shirt. When the smoke cleared, two boys appeared. One held a sword, and Aoki guessed he was probably the one who killed the vampire.
"You! You're..." Yuki veered off.
"There we go," the blonde said cheerfully.
The red haired one looked on with a bored expression. "You didn't need me at all."
"You guys are from the Night Class," Yuki said, eyes wide, finally getting her thought through. "Takuma Ichijo and Senri Shiki."
Vampires... Aoki held the word perched on her tongue, refusing to say it. She knew something was flickering in her eyes, and by the way the boys looked at her, she knew that they probably knew she already knew. Enough of the word knew.
"Why are you here?" Zero muttered.
"Yeah, why are you outside of school grounds?" Yuki asked.
"Not now, Yuki. Go get your wound treated," the one called Ichijo told Yuki.
"Your blood is too provocative for us," the one called Shiki said also.
Aoki shifted her weight onto her right foot, biting her lip. It was all so confusing for her, but she stayed quiet.