The steady rain that had fallen from dawn had not eased at all, the droplets gathering and occasionally dripping of the edge of a well loved and worn hat. The ridge was exactly the right length for protection against weather such as this. Yagari exhaled allowing the shielded cigarette to rest between his thin lips, the nicotine fuelled fumes escaping into the cool damp air.
Sighing and re-adjusting the collar of his jacket preventing water dribbling down his back, he continued on his way towards his usual haunt. He didn't even need to glance up at where he walked, the streets had been walked so many times that he didn't even need to think of where he needed to go.
The bell stationed above the door of the small establishment rang softly, muffled by the ambience and chit-chat that didn't pause at all. Making his way towards the bar, he acknowledged the tall thin man behind the bar before sitting himself on one of the stools that littered the floor.
A glass of strong smelling golden liquid on ice arrived promptly in front of him, he glanced at the bar keep who had not removed his hand from the drink. Yagari turned, following the silent direction that accompanied his drink. He inwardly cursed himself for being as rusty as he now understood that something was amiss. Something that he would, should have noticed as soon as he walked in. He made his way to one of the small cramped, dimly lit booths towards the side wall bringing his glass with him.
"Hmmph...so, what can I do for a good little girl like you?"
Zero was more concerned than usual. It wasn't the fact that Yagari had rung him in the middle of the night that was by far not uncommon. It was the fact that he had seemed, well he seemed very elusive and secretive. He had given him so little information to work with and if it had been anyone else to have told him to return to the now disused Cross Academy buildings for no apparent reason, he would have flatly told them where to shove it.
But, regardless, there he stood, gazing at the empty shells of the buildings that had once teemed with hopeful students. Looking at them now, with the gardens and courtyards overgrown with weeds, the ponds filled with past seasons fallen leaves, many of the ornate glass windows had been smashed allowing the local wildlife to make a home out the abandoned buildings. There former glory of Cross Kaiens pride had vanished and seemed a very distant memory.
Checking his weapon, the silverette made his way past the demolished walls and gatehouse towards the main buildings. He didn't really know what he should be looking for as he recalled Yagaris cryptic phone call.
"Yo Zero. I got a lead for you. You have to get to Cross Academy immediately! I will speak to you soon..."
He had hung up before Zero could make any query or ask for more info from his former mentor. So, he had simply trusted what he had been told and was now regretting his decision.
The grand wooden oak door protested in an audible groan on its hinges as the loan hunter pushed into it with his shoulder. A flutter of wings and a few ravens startled as he moved through the atrium towards the remnants of the Sun dorm. Apart from the soft insect sounds of the night, the whole place was still.
Starting to believe this trip to be a waste of time, he then made his way towards the Moon dorm after concluding his search of the first dorm and lecture rooms. He had found absolutely nothing there and had even rechecked the headmaster's office and his room in case he had missed a clue.
His heightened senses were detecting every move, sound, smell around him. The scurry of the field mice that where innocently darting to and fro to the soft and gentle beating of the heart of the owl that stalked them silently. He smirked at the irony of the situation as he entered into the liar of the creatures he despised.
He instinctively drew his Bloody Rose, the atmosphere had not changed a fraction since he last set foot here.
"This place really...stinks" he grumbled.
Pausing mid step, he sniffed the air as a cat might picking up the smell of mice to hunt. This scent, so familiar, yet so nostalgic. It stirred within Zero many repressed memories and seemed to compel him. He resisted the urge to be so caught up in his emotions and cautiously made his way towards the room he new once belonged to the Moon dorms president.
He looked at the doors that were slightly ajar, clearing his mind before entering.
"Purebloods are so arrogant." He removed the safety on his gun and turned, raising it up and pointing to the person stood behind him. He levelled the barrel to eye level and focused the aim on the cloaked figure before him.
"You told me that before...Zero" Reddish-brown orbs glittered in the moon light as the girl removed her hood and placed her hands together in front of her. A small smile gracing her delicate features.
Violet orbs bore into Kuran Yuuki trying not to betray the amount of emotions that had begun swirling inside of their owner. Without flinching or moving or saying anything, he stood and stared at the person he grew up with.
"How have you been Zero? You're looking well..."
"What do you want?" Cut in the armed man.
Zero could see that he had hurt Yuuki a little by his curt reply but wasn't in any mood now to worry about that now.
"You're here" the petite woman replied happily, "You actually came. I honestly didn't think you would. I am truly happy you did."
Zero coldly dismissed the pleasant tone and smile that had so warmed his heart in the past regardless of his mood.
"I am here because an old friend told me, not because yo..."
"Are you sure you're here because Yagari said so?" This time it was the silverette who had been cut off. Expressionless, he stared on.
"How would you know it was Yagari who told me to investigate here?"
"Because I asked him to tell you Zero, why else?"
"And why would you do such a thing?" He couldn't help but sound both exasperated and a little annoyed.
"Because Zero, I need your help" She started to step towards him but was stopped in her tracks by the gun that pointed more sternly in her direction. Her pain at that response was evident.
"I thought you had your knight Kaname to protect you?" Instantly he regretted his words. A small knot had begun to ache in his chest, it swirled in him and he tried to force it down, to ignore it. He focused on the target in front of him. That only made the aching to gain more momentum as he gazed at the pale skinned woman. Her eyes soft in the night light, her pink lips glistened and her long dark brown hair fell in trestles down to her waist.
She readjusted her cloak that hung snugly from her slight shoulders and glanced downwards.
"It's about Kaname Zero..."
Kaname, Kaname Kaname... that name was like a poison to the vampire hunter. He holstered his weapon and turned on his heel without saying a word. The feelings that had started to ever so slightly held sway had evaporated at the sounding of his name on her lips.
"Wa...wait Zero please!" Yuuki reached out for Zeros arm s he walked away. She stopped as he shrugged her off and continued without letting up on his pace. He mentally kicked himself. He knew he wanted to stay, he knew he wanted to talk to the person he loved, he knew he wanted to tell her everything but still he carried on walking, the scent of the Pureblood princess diminishing as the distance between them increased.
He could tell she wasn't following. The only sound he could hear was the 'tak' of his boots and the pumping of his heartbeat in his ears.
"I take it my charming pupil didn't listen huh?" Yuuki turned to the owner of the voice and faced the tall figure of her former ethics teacher.
"It didn't quite work out how I would have liked Sensei" she replied with a smile.
A smirk crept onto his face and he gazed down at the young vampire with his good left eye. He gestured to a nearby table and followed her as they made their way over to it.
"You haven't lost that ability to smile at everything regardless of your circumstances. Something that you learnt from that twit of a father of yours...and besides, you don't have to call me Sensei anymore" He seated himself opposite to her.
"Well, it could be a worse trait. Thank you Yagari." Her smile, so often seen on her face betrayed the frustration in her eyes.
"For what exactly?"
"You did what I asked. Thank you. You didn't have to and I would have understood if you had not rung Zero and got him to go to school. But I didn't know where to start looking for him."
"It would do no harm for me to do what you asked. It is down to him. It could have worked out well for you, or...it could have worked out that there would be one less vampire in the world as a result of me contacting Zero for you. What will you do now?" He inhaled as he lit another cigarette and pocketed his lighter.
"I don't know. I have nowhere else to turn...Zero is my only hope." She fiddled with the glass in front of her and glanced at the man opposite. She had so hoped that Zero would have listened. She needed him to. For more than just one reason and more desperately than anyone knew.