Chapter 3

"So what's your name…?" The raven-haired girl's question hung in the air, her amber eyes looking straight into his.

The Night Class student let out a mischievous chuckle and extended his slender pale fingers to hers. Still maintaining eye contact with her, he leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. His breath gently tickling her neck and giving her goose bumps everywhere.

"Ha –na –bu- sa. Ai - dou Ha –na –bu -sa," he enunciated the words excruciatingly slowly and with each syllable his cool breath caressed Misaki's exposed neck. The Seika High President froze and fear grabbed her.

Sensing the slight discomfort that he was creating, the blonde took a step back and grinned.

"Are you that nervous? I can practically hear your blood thumping in your veins just now."

Misaki, still traumatized by what happened earlier, stood rooted to the ground, speechless. Her face drained of color. What…the heck just happened a moment ago? Why was his breath so weird and icy cold? She re-played her memory in her mind. Something's not right about him, but I just can't pinpoint the problem…

"Uh…" She gulped involuntarily and tried to mutter something, but her throat felt raw.

"Oi Hanabusa! Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" A distant male voice shattered the heavy silence that engulfed both students. Heavy footsteps ensued.

"Oi oi oi! It's not the time to play now Aidou!" The student shouted grumpily.

Misaki trained her eyes on the person emerging from the dark shadows, squinting miserably to make out who he was. Another Night Class student... Must be his classmate or something…But why are they so pale. They're as pale as death itself. Unnaturally pale…

Ignoring her, the other Night Class student released a huge sigh. He marched towards Aidou and roughly grabbed him by the collar, before turning to face Misaki.

"It's really not a good idea to find him personally. Even though you are his fan girl, this isn't the right timing." He shook his head to emphasize his point. But his dead cold glare was enough to tell Misaki that it wasn't wise to fool around with them. The Night Class students. For whatever reason there was.

"Ay ay ay, Akatsuki, this isn't what you think it is!" Aidou exclaimed and desperately tried to struggle in Akatsuki's strong grasp to no avail. He flailed his long arms madly in the air and kicked his legs wildly like a spoilt little child caught by his caretaker.

"Akatsukiiiiii lemme explain! But let go of me first!"

Akatsuki did a slight bow and disappeared into the shadows with Aidou.

"Akatsuki you're so mean!" Aidou's protests grew weaker and weaker as they walked further and further away from Misaki.

Misaki stared into the darkness, her heart thumping wildly as she tried to regain her composure.

In the distance, a bell chimed thrice, sending eerie echoes throughout Cross Academy.

Dong. Dong. Dong.

I should ask Usui if he encountered anything weird today. But before that, I should find out where the rest of the students went.

Inhaling deeply, Misaki trudged on in the direction where the two classes gathered.

Meanwhile

"All right, all right! All Day Class students please step back!" Yuki hollered madly, her face turning crimson red. She stretched her arms as wide as she could to hamper the overly-enthusiastic students from crossing over.

"Peeeeeeet! Peeeeet!"

Ugh. Where is Zero when you need him the most? Ooh That jerk! He'll get it when I see him in class tomorrow!

The shrill sounds of the whistle were drowned in the ear-piercing screams of the Day Class students who got wilder upon seeing the Night Class students.

"OHMYGAWD KANAME!"

"AIDOU HANABUSA! AHHHHHH!"

"RIMA! RIMA! I LOVE YOU! WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?"

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

The solo guardian hung her hair down in defeat and sighed. This is really futile…especially when I'm doing this by myself…Zero, you have let me down too many times.

A light tap on her shoulder pushed her train of gloomy thoughts away. She tilted her head upwards to meet a pair of strangely familiar eyes.

"Need my help?" He offered graciously.

"Eh? Are you serious? You're willing to help me? But -"

Before she could put together a coherent response, the blonde was already issuing commands to the rest of the population. In a very professional manner.

"Please take a step back for the Night class students to go through!"

"Peeet! Peeet!"

Yuki looked on in disbelief. Could he handle it better than her? No way…

And did he just take her whistle without her permission? How did he -

"Alright alright, PLEASE GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!"

A scary feminine voice hollered in the air, her ginormous dark aura spreading around the Day Class students like a tsunami, crashing down onto each and every one of the Day Class population and drowning them in a pool of fear.

"Misaki…and Usui…?" Yuki's mouth fell open in shock. Oh dear, I bet the Chairman won't be pleased to hear that the exchange students are carrying out the jobs that only Zero and I can do…But they seem to be doing fine. In fact, better than both Zero and I… The petite brunette sweatdropped as she imagined how the Chairman would react later when both she and Zero were summoned to his office for dinner. It's not going to be good.

"Yuki, yuki…" A familiar tender voice called out to her. Yuki snapped out of her gaze and stared into the chocolate brown eyes of the man she was indebted to for the rest of her life. Kaname.

Her heart fluttered joyfully in her chest, leaping and bouncing about in her ribcage, as to dawned upon her that Kaname was approaching her. He gently rested his hand over her head and patted her twice.

"Are you okay? The two new students here are unexpectedly good. Has the chairman actually approved of this…two helping out?"

His soothing voice melted the insides of her like butter and Yuki flushed, hoping that he didn't know his effect on her. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized he was actually asking her a question and patiently awaiting her response while gazing lovingly into her eyes.

"Ah, no…" She mumbled weakly, embarrassed of her two-worded response and avoided Kaname's gaze.

"Why are you avoiding me Yuki? Look at me." Kaname lifted her chin up and adjusted her fringe.

"So that I can see you clearly Yuki. You know how much you mean to me don't you?"

Yuki blushed furiously and nodded meekly. Her heart couldn't take this any longer.

"Kaname, let's go. We're really late for class." Shiki's voice drew Yuki out of her thoughts and she quicked snapped back to reality.

"Yeah you should go. See you tomorrow!" She smiled brightly and waved goodbye. Her eyes never left Kaname's broad back until it was out of her sight.

"Hey Yuki, are you okay?" Misaki waved her hand in front of the brunette's dazed face. Usui was standing next to her and well, chewing on a pack of gum again with a very disinterested look permanently plastered on his face.

Aw dang, this girl is definitely in love with that dark brown haired dude… Misaki thought to herself. Head over heels in love with him. But honestly speaking, all the Night Class students are really good-looking and gorgeous. Are they all models or something and that's why they have to pursue their education at such a late timing?

"Oh! I really appreciate your help for tonight Misaki and Usui. Well it's really embarrassing that you guys can do it better than me when I'm supposed to be the one in charge," Yuki blurted out, embarrassed. She scratched the back of her head awkwardly and flashed them a smile.

"Nah, it's nothing really. I can't stand it when a girl is helplessly trying her very best to control a crazy mob of students all by herself. You are really brave Yuki. I acknowledge that." Misaki complimented and nodded her head in acknowledgement.

She glared at Usui from the corner of her eye and elbowed him. Say something…

Usui merely shot her a look of nonchalance and shrugged.

"Yeah, I also admire your courage too." Upon hearing his half-hearted reply, Misaki narrowed her eyes at Usui and shot daggers at him.

The guardian bowed.

"Thank you so much for today and please wake up early tomorrow for class!"

On the way back to their dorms…

"Anyways, why were you so shocked when I saw you? I've never seen the strong and mighty Seika High president acting like that…well except for when you're around me?" Usui asked cheekily, arching his eyebrow playfully at her.

Misaki rolled her eyes in annoyance and resisted the urge to throw him a punch.

"Well, it was a really weird encounter…but I'll just let it slip for now." Her eyebrows furrowed together and she pursed her lips.

"Misaki, do you know that when you show me that vulnerable expression, it makes me want to kiss you real bad?"

Usui grabbed both her arms and stopped her in her tracks. Misaki glared at him.

"What. Are. You. Doing."

"Can I kiss you right now? No one can see us in the darkness anyway."

He closed his emerald eyes and leaned in closer, closing the distance between them…