Chapter 3:

Kaien sat at his desk with a stack of papers in front of him. His face had adopted a kind of determined look as he read the content of a folder on his desk. He looked up when Kaname entered into the room.

"You needed me?" Kaname asked. "I can't be away from class too long."

"That's never stopped you before," Kaien remarked. "Anyway, I have news. I did some inside research on Keiko and got family records from the hospital and federal archives. This is what I found." He pushed a folder toward Kaname and leaned back in his chair.

Kaname picked up the folder and looked inside. His eyes soon widened and he looked back at Kaien with shock on his face. "You mean…"

Kaien nodded.

"That would explain why I was attracted to her so easily," Kaname said, setting the folder back down. "What are you going to do?"

"I have yet to decide," Kaien replied, closing his eyes. "I wanted your input as well before I said anything."

Kaname looked to the side in thought. "We could always put her in the Night Class anyway, regardless of her being a human. After all, if what those records say is true, she should have no problem at all."

"So then that's your decision?" Kaien asked.

Kaname nodded. "Yeah."

"Very well," Kaien sighed. "She'll attend the Night Class starting tomorrow, but she'll still stay in the guestroom here. I don't want to take any chances."

"I understand," Kaname said, turning for the door. "I'll be in class if you need me."

***

Keiko yawned as she headed back to her room. She had been up all night patrolling and, now that it was daytime, all the Day Class students were on their way to class. "I guess that means me, too," Keiko sighed as she walked into the headmaster's bathroom. Before she was able to get undressed there was a knock at the door.

"Someone's in here!" she yelled, annoyed.

"It's me, Kei-chan! Can you step out here real quick, please?"

Keiko opened the door and stood with her hands on her hips as she faced Kaien. "Make it quick, or you'll make me late for class."

"No, I won't!" Kaien replied with a smile. "You're moving to the night class!"

"Say wha?"

"I was able to dig up some old records of your family from the government. It turns out you are a descendant of, as your name suggests, the Mie Clan, an elite group of vampire tamers."

"Vampire…tamers? You mean my family killed vampires?!"

"No, no," Kaien replied with a chuckle. "Those are vampire hunters. Tamers were able to use special charms to keep vampires in check. I found this," he held up a small chain bracelet, "in a drawer at your house."

"You went to my house?" Keiko asked, examining the bracelet.

"It was the only way I could confirm it. That symbol on the center charm is the one that your ancestors used to tame the vampires. This won't work on Level E's I'm afraid, though. The only thing charms can do is blast them back with a energy beam. But I'm afraid you have to have a special charm for that…far different from this one."

Keiko stood in thought for a moment. "Wait a second. I have a necklace that has a symbol a little like that."

"Is that right?"

Keiko nodded. "Yeah. Now that I think about it, when I was attacked by the Level E two nights ago, something glowed and shot it back with a beam."

"Do you have the necklace with you now?" Kaien asked.

"Yeah," Keiko replied. She disappeared into the bathroom then came back a moment later with a sliver necklace. Kaien took it from her and looked at the charm on the necklace. The center of it was in the form of a small bat with little crystal attachments dangling from it. Kaien noticed that it was different from the bracelet charm which also had a bat on it, but had small roses around it instead of crystals.

"You're right," Kaien said giving the necklace back to Keiko. "That's definitely the repel charm."

"I never realized it was for taming vampires," she said amazed. "So then, if I'm around the night class, I can keep them under control?"

"Bingo! Vampire tamers are able to become close friends with vampires and sometimes they can even team up. In other words, if you manage to tame a vampire, they will attempt to become your friend and will help you when you are in danger."

"Sweet," Keiko said with a smile. "I guess that explains why was Aido was so eager to come apologize to me last night."

"It seems that your power is already starting to surface. Just don't abuse it, okay?"

"Don't worry," Keiko assured him with a wink. "I won't." And she turned around and closed the bathroom door again.

That night, Keiko stood in front of her mirror as she examined herself in the Night Class uniform. After she took a shower that morning, she had gone to sleep and taken a long nap and had just gotten up a couple hours ago. "I totally think the white suits me better," she said with a giggle. She suddenly gasped as she remembered something. "I have guardian duty!"

She burst out of the room quickly and ran to the Moon Dorm gate, just in time as the gates opened. "Everybody, back away!" she yelled at the gathered Day Class girls. They all turned around and jumped away from the door. Keiko turned around and watched as the Night Class students walked out, waving to Hanabusa who smiled at her. He looked away when Kaname, who was behind him, hit him in the back of the head and glared at him.

"Hello, Keiko," Kaname said, walking up to her. "Your uniform has changed."

"That's right!" Keiko said joyfully. "I'm joining the Night Class as of tonight!"

Hanabusa stopped and gave Keiko a curious stare. Keiko put her hand behind her back and waved to him, signaling that she would explain later. Hanabusa sighed and walked on to the school. Then, after Keiko scared the Day Class away, she ran after the vampires and went to class with them.

***

Keiko stopped as she stepped into the Night Class. All of the vampires turned to look at her with glowing, curious red eyes. "Who's that?" a light brown-haired girl asked.

"Keiko!" Hanabusa exclaimed standing up. He sat back down when Kaname turned to look at him and stared at the ground. 'What did I do this time?' he wondered.

Kaname turned back to Keiko. "Good evening, Keiko."

Keiko waved with a smile. "Hi, Kaname-san!"

"She's not a vampire, is she?" the light-brown-haired girl asked Kaname.

Kaname shook his head. "No, Ruka, she's not. She's a human. Her name's Keiko Mie."

"Mie?" Ruka repeated. "You mean a…?"

Kaname nodded. "A what?" Hanabusa asked, walking over to Keiko. He suddenly stopped dead and knelt to the ground in front of her.

"Aido!" Akatsuki and Ruka cried. Kaname watched on indifferently.

Hanabusa looked up at Keiko and tilted his head. "What happened?" He then noticed the bracelet on her wrist glowing. "A…tamer?"

The other vampires stood up quickly and Takuma moved over next to Kaname. "What's a tamer doing here?" he asked, a faint tint of recognition appearing in his eyes.

"So I was right," Ruka said quietly. The other vampires turned to look at her. "The Mie Clan was an elite family of vampire tamers and they often were able to control our kind with charms like what she has."

Akatsuki clenched his fist. "So what should we do? If she's able to tame us, how do we know she won't kill us all off?"

"No," a violet-haired boy answered. He lifted up his head and stared at Akatsuki with sky blue eyes. "She won't because…"

"Because what, Shiki?" Akatsuki asked.

"The Mie Clan has never had a history of harming a vampire…ever. In fact, in a story I heard, they often helped us out."

"A human helping vampires?" Ruka asked doubtfully. "Come on, Senri, do you really believe--"

"Yuuki did it…didn't she?" Kaname broke in calmly. Ruka turned to look at him. "I requested for Headmaster Cross to transfer her from the Day Class."

"Why would you do something like that?" Takuma asked.

Kaname gave him a look that said "I have my reasons" and Takuma nodded. "Well," Kaname said, leaning against the wall, "I believe class is about to begin." He finished his sentence and looked toward the door. Hanabusa looked behind Keiko and quickly got up off the floor. "Looks like Yagari-sensei finally arrived."

Keiko looked behind her and saw a man with dark hair in a suit standing behind her. A metal patch covered his right eye, but his left eye was a brilliant light blue. "You must be Keiko," he said, looking down at her. "Kaien has told me all about you. My name is Toga Yagari and I'm a vampire hunter, although I'm also the Ethics teacher for this bunch. So," he pushed Keiko forward a little roughly and closed the classroom door, " find a seat so I can get started."

Keiko sat down next to Hanabusa and smiled at him. Hanabusa blushed and looked away, casting a nervous glance at Kaname who was frowning at him. 'It's going to be a long night,' the blond thought wearily.

***

In the morning, Keiko headed to her room. She had noticed that Hanabusa was having constant behavior changes, one minute being cheery and the next being silent and glum. 'I wonder what's wrong with him?' she thought as she walked in to the room.

Meanwhile, in the Moon Dorm, Hanabusa walked anxiously toward Kaname's room. The brunette had requested his presence and, honestly, Hanabusa wanted to turn and dive under his bed covers. He hesitated outside the door but finally walked in when Kaname called him. "Come in, Aido."

Hanabusa opened the door gradually and peeked his head in side. "Y-Yes, Kaname-sama?"

"Will you get in here?" Kaname told him a bit harshly, causing the window behind him to crack.

'Oh…he's mad all right,' Hanabusa thought uncomfortably as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

Kaname was sitting at his desk with his head lying on his hands. He honestly looked bored but Hanabusa knew better. The blond stopped in front of the desk and looked at the ground.

"Seems you're on your way to being tamed," Kaname said, glancing up at Hanabusa who turned his head to the side.

"I'm not meaning to," the blond spoke quietly. "I know that she's your dear girl…like Yuuki was."

Kaname smirked. "So you do realize something there. Your suspicion may very well be right, and there are things about Keiko that need to be considered, but…" he glanced at Hanabusa who was looking at him confused. "That's all I wanted. Leave."

"Yes, Kaname-sama," Hanabusa stepped back, bowed, then shakily walked out of the room. After he closed the door behind him, he leaned against it with a sigh of relief.

"Spared from Kaname-sama's wrath?" Takuma asked from nearby.

Hanabusa turned and looked at him. "Ichijou…yeah. I was spared this time, but…"

"What's wrong?" Takuma asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I didn't do anything this time," Hanabusa replied bewildered. "Really!"

"I agree," Takuma said, lowering his voice in case Kaname was listening. "Kaname-sama has been acting weird, but I think it's best if we just let it pass. Just don't do anything to make him suspicious of you, okay?"

Hanabusa nodded and watched as Takuma entered Kaname's room. "Ah, Kaname-sama…" Hanabusa scratched the back of his head and walked to his room. Outside the door, Akatsuki was talking quietly to Ruka. The two looked up as Hanabusa approached. "There you are, Hanabusa," Akatsuki greeted him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Akatsuki," Hanabusa replied, walking into the room and closing the door.

Akatsuki switched puzzled looks with Ruka then sighed. "I'll talk to you later, Ruka."

"'Kay. Bye, Akatsuki."

Akatsuki walked into his room and saw a huge lump under the covers of Hanabusa's bed. "It's not like you to go to bed immediately after class, Hanabusa," Akatsuki joked. He was answered with mumbling from under the blankets. "Can't hear you, Hanabusa," he sighed.

Hanabusa pulled the covers from over his head. "I said, 'I'm in trouble with Kaname-sama and I don't like it'." He pouted and hid his head again.

"Aren't you always in trouble?" Akatsuki asked, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off. He was answered by more mumbling. "Can't hear you."

Hanabusa uncovered his head again, annoyed. "I said, 'But this time I didn't do anything wrong.' He's acting all weird and blaming me for no reason."

Akatsuki looked at the blond as Hanabusa covered his head again. "I don't know what to tell you," Akatsuki said, pulling the curtains closed then climbing into his bed. "I guess we'll just have to see."

***

Hanabusa woke up at about noon because of a nightmare. He had dreamt that he was being chased by a vampire hunter. He had run inside an abandoned building and thought he was safe only to be cornered by the hunter. He woke up just as the death shot was fired. He sat up and looked over at Akatsuki who was still sleeping soundly. 'Lucky,' he thought. Hanabusa got up and put on a polo shirt and jeans. 'Might as well go walk around.' As soon as he got to the door, he heard a familiar voice behind him. "And where are you off to?"

Hanabusa turned around and saw Akatsuki sitting up in his bed sleepily. "Not trying to run away again, are you?" the red-head asked.

Hanabusa shook his head. "No, I had a nightmare. I just wanted to walk it off."

"Don't get caught," Akatsuki warned with a yawn before lying back down and covering his head with his blanket.

Hanabusa waited until Akatsuki's breathing slowed down as he went back to sleep then opened the door and walked out. The hallways were quiet since everyone else was sleeping as well. Hanabusa looked both ways down the hallway before creeping down the hall and down the stairs. Then, making sure no one was around, he quietly opened the door and slipped out without a sound.

The sun was shining brightly outside and Hanabusa groaned unhappily. "Great, it just has to be sunny," he mumbled before walking toward the gate. Just as he walked through the Moon Dorm gate, someone yelled at him.

"Aido! No Night Class students out during the day!"

Hanabusa turned and saw Keiko running toward him. "Hi, Keiko," he greeted softly.

"Hi. Is something wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep," Hanabusa mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "Nightmare."

"Really? I couldn't sleep either."

"I guess I'll just go back," Hanabusa sighed.

"No, wait!" Keiko grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Don't worry about it. Wanna go for a walk?"

Hanabusa shrugged in agreement. "Okay."

The two exited the school grounds and walked around the city. Hanabusa hadn't said a word the whole time and it was beginning to make Keiko uncomfortable. "Aido, are you okay?" she asked.

Hanabusa nodded without a word.

"You're lying. Are you hungry?"

"Nothing a blood tablet can't try to cure," he mumbled.

"Are you having a hard time with Kaname-san?"

Hanabusa's head shot up and he looked at her. "How do you know?"

"Well," Keiko began, looking up at the sky. "I'm not blind. I notice that whenever both of you are around me, Kaname gets mad for some reason and takes it out on you."

Hanabusa looked down at his feet. "Yeah. He's upset about me being tamed, I guess."

"I'm not trying to tame you, Aido," Keiko told him, leaning forward to try and look into the blond's eyes. "Really."

Hanabusa stopped walking but didn't look up. "I know, but…I am being tamed and…it feels weird."

Keiko frowned and walked in front of him. "How is it weird?" she asked.

"It's not the taming itself," Hanabusa explained quickly. "That's not it. It's…uh…awkward in…inside."

"Inside?" Keiko repeated. "You mean right here?" She lifted up her hand and placed it on Hanabusa's chest over his heart. "Here inside?"

Hanabusa looked at her with a blush on his face then nodded. "Yeah…right there."

Keiko lowered her hand and giggled, causing Hanabusa to pout and look to the side. "It's not funny," he mumbled.

"No, I know," she said in between laughs. "I'm sorry." Once she stopped laughing, she looked up at Hanabusa and smiled. "It's not weird, Aido. It means you like me!"

Hanabusa's face turned red. "N-no I don't!" he protested. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"It's okay, Ai-kun," Keiko told him, hugging his arm. "I like you, too."

"You…do?" Hanabusa asked. Then he shook his head and looked down again. "No. You can't."

"And why not?"

"Because you're Kaname-sama's 'dear girl'," Hanabusa said with a pout.

"I don't remember becoming anyone's dear girl," Keiko said with a frown. "That's for me to choose."

"I guess," Hanabusa replied, giving her a weak smile.

Keiko smiled back. "Come on. Let's get some food."

"Okay."

***

Back at Cross Academy, Takuma woke up to a knock on his door. "Who is it?" he asked sleepily.

"It's Kaname. Let me in."

Takuma laid back down. "It's unlocked, Kaname-sama."

Kaname opened the door and walked in. He took one look at Takuma under the covers then sighed. "Get up, Ichijou."

Takuma yawned and sat up again.

"Have you seen Aido?" Kaname asked with a cold edge to his voice.

Takuma shook his head. "No, Kaname-sama. Last time I saw him, he was coming out of your office."

"What about after that?"

Takuma shrugged. "Nope. You might try asking Akatsuki, though, since they're roommates."

"Good idea," Kaname said as he turned around, walked out of the room, and closed the door.

Takuma laid back down with a sigh. "You better not be off with Keiko," Takuma said sleepily as he closed his eyes. "It's for your own good."

Kaname knocked then opened the door to Akatsuki and Hanabusa's room. "Akatsuki," Kaname called. The red-head sat up sleepily. "Oh, it's you, Kaname-sama. What's up?"

"Where did Aido go?"

Akatsuki stared at Kaname for a second then looked at Hanabusa's bed. 'Uh oh…he's not back yet,' he though worriedly.

"Well?" Kaname pressed.

Akatsuki scratched the back of his head and looked to the side nervously. "Hanabusa had a nightmare and said that he was going for a walk."

"When was that?"

"Around noon," Akatsuki answered with a bad feeling.

"Is that so?" Kaname stared at Akatsuki for a moment longer then turned and left the room. 'You're in for it now, Hanabusa,' Akatsuki thought as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Kaname squinted as the sun shone on his face as he opened the door to the Moon Dorm. It was almost time for the Day Class to get out of class and if Hanabusa wasn't here, it could only mean trouble.

As Kaname opened the Moon Dorm gate, he was greeted by Kaien. "Oh, Kaname-kun, good. You're just who I wanted to talk to. Have you seen Keiko anywhere?"

Kaname frowned. "Keiko's missing, too?"

"You're missing someone?" Kaien asked stunned.

"Hanabusa Aido's missing. From what I hear, he had a nightmare and went for a walk around noon and hasn't come back."

"Interesting…oh look! There's Keiko now!"

Keiko was walking down the path from the school to the Moon Dorm with a smile on her face. She saw Kaien and Kaname standing there and smirked. 'Just as I thought. Just wait a little longer, Aido,' "Hi, Kaien-san! Kaname-san!"

"Hi, Keiko!" Kaien greeted. "What are you up to?"

"Just on my way here for guardian duty. The Day Class just got out."

"That's a good girl. Oh, by the way, have you seen Aido anywhere by chance?"

Keiko glanced over at Kaname before looking back at Kaien. "Nope! I've patrolled the whole campus and I haven't seen him! Maybe he's playing hide-and-seek?"

Kaien looked at Kaname in amusement. "That does sound like him. Better go check the rooms again, Kaname."

Kaname nodded, looked over at Keiko who grinned, then walked back through the gate.

Keiko waited until the gate closed back then motioned behind her. Hanabusa ran out of the trees and up to Keiko's side. "You were right," Hanabusa panted. "They were looking for us."

"I told you. Now hurry and get back to your room. You should be able to do it without getting caught."

"Thanks, Keiko. I'll see you in class, okay?"

"'Kay." Keiko sighed as she watched Hanabusa run inside the gate. "Please don't get caught," she whispered anxiously. "Please."

Hanabusa ran down the path toward the dorm. He and Keiko had come up with the perfect plan, now all he had to do was carry it out. He ran around to the back of the building and snuck through the back door. There was a small staircase in the back of the dorm building that continued all the way up to the roof. Hanabusa slipped into the stairway and ran up the stairs as quickly, and quietly, as he could. At the second floor, he stopped and pushed his ear against the door. He could hear Kaname's voice and then Ruka answering him. 'Good. I have enough time if I hurry.' Hanabusa ran up to the next level and crept through the door, made sure no one was around then broke into a run to his room. Akatsuki looked up as Hanabusa burst into the room.

"There you are," Akatsuki said, with a sigh of relief. "Kaname-sama's been looking everywhere for you."

"Yeah, I know," Hanabusa replied, quickly stripping off his shirt and pants and throwing them into a drawer. Then he threw his pajamas back on and dove under the bed.

"What are you doing?" Akatsuki asked him in complete puzzlement.

"Sh!" Hanabusa told him, sticking his head out from under the bed. "As far as you know, I came back hours ago."

"But I already told Kaname-sama that you left around noon and that you hadn't come back yet."

Hanabusa smirked. "But you couldn't know that if you've been asleep the whole time, now could you?"

Akatsuki smiled back. "Oh, I get it. That's actually smart. Good thinking."

Hanabusa gasped as the doorknob rattled, and he hid his head under the bed again and pretended to go to sleep.

Akatsuki put on his best sleepy face as Kaname walked into the room. "Find him?" Akatsuki asked casually.

Kaname looked around the room suspiciously. "Not yet…" the brunette replied, walking to Hanabusa's bed. He bent down and looked under it then groaned in annoyance. "GET UP, AIDO!" he yelled.

Hanabusa jumped, hitting his head on the bed for added effect, then rubbed his eye in fake sleepiness. "Ow…Kaname-sama, I was having a good dream," he whined.

Akatsuki shook his head and smiled. 'You're one hell of an actor, Hanabusa.'

Kaname stood back up and Hanabusa crawled out from under the bed and did the same. "Oh, is it twilight already?" the blond asked, looking at the open curtains.

Kaname narrowed his eyes. "Yes. Just what were you doing under the bed?"

"Oh, that," Hanabusa said, as if he had been there all day. "After I had a bad dream, I got up and walked around a bit, but Keiko caught me and told me to come back to the dorm so I did, and I crawled under my bed because the sun was shining so bright through an opening in the curtains and onto my face and I needed a dark place to go back to sleep."

Akatsuki stared at Hanabusa in shock. 'Are you serious?' he thought amused. He regained his composure when Kaname looked over at him. "Did you know he came back?"

"Hey, I was asleep between the time he left and the time when you came in," Akatsuki answered with a shrug. "You know I sleep like a log once I've been out for a while."

Kaname looked from Hanabusa to Akatsuki and back again. "Just get ready," he told the two with closed eyes as he left the room and closed the door.

Akatsuki looked over at Hanabusa and laughed shortly. "So just where exactly did you go, Hanabusa?"

Hanabusa winked. "Out with Keiko," he said softly. "We went out to lunch."

"You sly little blood-sucker," Akatsuki said, shaking his head. "I knew you couldn't have come up with that plan yourself. Keiko helped you, didn't she?"

Hanabusa smiled. "Yep! Oh, Akatsuki, please don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Not even Kaname-sama?"

"Especially not Kaname-sama."

Akatsuki sighed then looked back up at Hanabusa with a smile. "My lips are sealed."