Chapter 1: Murdered…
" Where am I? " Naomi Segawa mumbled, sitting up. She blinked rapidly to clear away the blurriness in her vision.
" Hush now, you are still weak after ordeal. You must rest, " a bespectacled man dressed in thick clothing spoke to her, gently.
" No, my parents. I-I need to check on them… see whether they're okay and tell them that I'm sorry, " she blabbered.
Shakily, she got to her feet. The strange man made no move to stop her. Instead, he leaned forward and pressed his fingertips together. He continued to watch her, silently. She took a tentative step forward and lost her balance. He sighed and got up from his desk to help her up.
" It's okay, you don't have to, " Naomi replied, a little too sharply.
He gave her a strange look but he stayed where he was.
" Thank you for allowing me shelter from the snowstorm. I'll just take my leave now. "
The man remained silent but he nodded slightly. Naomi gave him, a small smile and strode out, hands in the pockets of her cloak. The girl paused, turned and met his gaze.
" By the way, please give my thanks to the other guy who found me by the gates and saved my life earlier. "
" I think you should do that personally, " the strange man suddenly answered.
" What? But how do I do that? I mean, I don't even know who- "
" He's me, " a deep voice snapped.
Naomi whirled about and her hand flew to her mouth. Leaning against the doorframe was a guy with white hair and lavender eyes, which was almost blue.
He's that half-breed…!
The guy was watching her with a fervent look in his gaze. Naomi avoided his eyes and stared down at the linoleum floor.
" Thank you for rescuing me back there, " she murmured, suddenly feeling a tad sick.
" Not a problem. "
" Well, Zero could you show her out of the Academy? "
Zero shrugged his shoulders and left. The girl smiled at the man gratefully and followed him out.
" I'm sure that I'll see you again soon, " the man murmured once Naomi was out of earshot.
" Excuse me, Zero but could you slow down a bit? It wouldn't hurt you know but I really can't catch up! " Naomi called after Zero's retreating back.
He slowed down his pace and allowed the girl to catch up with him.
" I'm really sorry but I hope you don't mind, " she replied, turning to face him.
Before he could answer, someone interrupted.
" Hey Zero! I didn't see you in Math's and - "
It was a girl and boy, was she pretty with amber brown hair and orange eyes. Naomi gave her a subtle smile but she did not return it.
" Gosh Zero, who's your new girlfriend? "
He stiffened but did not answer. Clearly, Zero's reaction was plain mortifying.
" Um, no. I-I'm not his girlfriend. You must have misunderstood him. I'm really sorry for intruding. Zero was simply showing me the egress. Anyway, I'm Naomi Segawa. "
The girl studied her for a second before answering, " Yuki Cross. "
" Pleased to meet you, Yuki. Well, I've got to go, see you. "
Zero had apparently gone off without bothering to see whether Naomi had followed.
" Thank you Zero, " Naomi told him sincerely. " for everything, you have done for me. "
The guy looked down at her for the first time and gave her a shy smile.
" In return, I'll keep your secret, simply a secret, " she replied, returning his smile.
Zero looked confused for a moment.
" I know that you're a vampire… "
It was almost dusk by the time she reached her house. The front door was ajar and a crowd of people was gathered. She froze in her tracks when she sensed death. The hairs at the back of her neck stood on ends.
" Hey, look there's Naomi! "
" It's the Segawa's daughter! "
" She's an odd one! "
Naomi ignored them and went in. A revolting sight met her eyes. Chairs and tables were overturned. The windowpanes were smashed and bits of glass littered the floor. In other words, the house was in a big mess. However, amongst the mess lay her parents…
Their faces were a deathly shade of pale. Their eyes were wide open and blank. Their bloodless lips reflected their intense pain. Great pools of crimson blood surrounded them. It was as if they were sucked dry until they only existed as a shell devoid of human life…
A mixture of emotions struggled to escape but the strongest was devastation. Her knees buckled as she sank down to the ground helplessly.
I'm an orphan…?
Tears glistened in her eyes as she wept silently for the loss of her murdered parents.
I left home…and you didn't even let me apologise for my silly mistake…?
Suddenly, anger blinded her.
Why am I crying…?
I should be avenging my parents' death…!
Crying won't get me anywhere…it's not as if my parents would be back from the Dead…
Trembling, she went over to her parent's corpses and her gaze landed on their necks. Two, gaping holes were palpable on their ashen skin.
Just as I thought, the murderer is nothing but a blood-sucking vampire…!Naomi sat on the bench of the Park. She had nowhere to go to now.
I have to get a part- time job somewhere if they'll except a sixteen-year-old who've had no experience in working…
She hugged her knees close to her chest for warmth. Images of what happened yesterday tormented her endlessly…
Why do you always have to be so protective of me…?We're just worried, sweetheart…
But I'm not a baby anymore…! I'm sixteen…!
We know that but we can't help ourselves…
My schoolmates are all teasing me and I've got no friends since I was young…! I hate you…!
The girl's eyes widened as sadness spread though her.
I'm so sorry…
I didn't mean it…
I don't hate you at all…
I'm such a stupid girl…!
What is wrong with me…?
Suddenly, a feeling of uncertainty swept over her.
No one can protect me anymore…
Now, I'm vulnerable…
Now I can't hide behind my parents' backs anymore…
Now I don't have anymore to trust and confide my emotions to…
My parents' are gone, never coming back…
Cold, hard reality struck her although she refused to accept it.
My parents' are dead, murdered against their own will…
And I'm never going to see them ever again…
Then, the tears, which she had resisted, fell silently.
" Don't you think that the girl whom you've save earlier at the gates was a little strange? " Chairman Cross asked Zero, studying him carefully.
" You mean, Naomi Segawa? "
The Chairman's eyebrow rose.
" Segawa…? " he repeated for confirmation.
Zero nodded absently.
" Yuki met her in the corridor when I was about to show her out. "
Silence ensued as both of them became lost in their own thought.
" Chairman? " Zero prodded finally.
The older man did not answer. He rolled his eyes and called out louder this time.
" Wasn't she the one whose parents' were murdered? " the Chairman replied.
" Murdered by a vampire? " Zero's eyes narrowed.
The man nodded gravely.
" But why? " he demanded.
" I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that answer to that question, Zero. However, what I do know is that the vampire will come back to hunt Naomi down… it seemed like she has something which he wants. Something, which he'll go to such lengths just to get it from her… "
" Then, we've got to save, Chairman! She's in danger! "
Chairman Cross stared at him, puzzled.
" Why are you getting so uptight about her life, Zero? This isn't like you at all! " He replied. " Did the girl say something to you at the gates? "
Zero's eyes widened for a moment.
I know that you're a vampire…" N-No, it's nothing. Well, I better go then! "
" I know you're hiding something Zero… " The Chairman trailed off.
The sixteen-year-old froze.
" Anyway, take Kaname Kuran with you tonight. "
Hearing this, Zero spun round, fury on his face.
" I don't need that damn ' pureblood' with me. I don't need his help at all! " He shot back, coldly.
" Yuki will be busy with her guardian duties and I might have to join her as well to take over your guardian duties temporarily, " the man said, ignoring him.
" Why, you…! "
Zero turned his back to Yuki's foster father and strode out, slamming the door behind him, for good measure.
" Zero must know something about that girl which he was reluctant to tell me about it… " Chairman Cross murmured.
Naomi drew herself to her full height and looked around her surroundings, uneasily. Someone or … something was watching her. Something stirred behind her. She whirled around, her eyes wild with fright. The whole place was deserted and silent. Nothing moved. Basically, the whole place was dead except for her.
" Wh-Who's there? " she managed a soft whisper, trembling.
She knew something was out there, waiting for the right time… to strike.
" He-Hello, anyone there? It's really not funny, scaring people like that! " She called out, backing away.
" We're really thirsty. Care to fulfill our thirst, girl? "
Naomi gasped as two guys stepped out of the gloom, blocking the shortcut to the exit.
" L-Leave me alone! "
" Looks like we have ourselves a difficult one, Akatsuki. "
"Don't come any closer to me! " Naomi cried out.
" Take it easy on her, Aido, " Akatsuki warned..
Aido's eyes glowed hungrily as he grabbed her wrist and twisted it. A razor sharp pain shot through her arm and she winced. He bared his fangs as his face hovered dangerously close to her own. The contact was enough.
Hanabusa Aido…
A seventeen-year-old guy…A normal vampire…
Has the ability to freeze things, turning them to ice…
Goes to Cross Academy…
Both Hanabusa and Akatsuki Kain are cousins…
Naomi's head lolled backwards, exposing her bare neck.
" Hey Akatsuki, the girl's fainted, " Aido called to his cousin.
Kain merely shrugged. Hanabusa rolled his eyes and turned to her.
" Please…let me go, " Naomi pleaded softly, tears glistening in her eyes.
" Get you filthy hands of her, Aido! "
Naomi lifted her head weakly and instantly recognized the white hair and lavender eyes.
Zero…!She stumbled into his arms and closed her eyes, feeling safe and warm.
" I'm so glad you came… " She whispered softly, before losing consciousness, her mind mercifully blank.