Wow do my professors like to dump a bunch of reading and paper writing on me in the first weeks of school. I'm amazed I've gotten this out lol. Anywho, I'm moving the rating up to mature for this story because...well you'll find out so I'm just saying it can be a little graphic at times from here on out. So i had one guess for where Church got his name and no it isn't from the Mortal Instruments...actually i know nothing about that but after looking it up i understand how you could guess that :) Actually Church is from Stephan King's book The Pet Sematary (yes it is spelled that way). But thank you minutestomidnight for guessing! Also, thank you also Levi Heichou (I'm so honored! I lurv Levi from SNK :) ), Shizza 24, and Azalyn Branegan for the awesome reviews! Still not too much Zeki yet but I'm working on it lol
Most people don't believe something can happen until it already has. That's not stupidity or weakness, that's just human nature - World War Z
This is the emergency broadcast system the computer generated voice stoically said, it's monotone, static muffled drone miles away from the rapidly racing hearts and increasing pulses of all of those listening to its message. Everyone would remember that exact moment. What they were doing so mundanely before the angel of wrath poured her bowl out upon the earth, beginning with this warning from a seemingly inhuman and distant voice. A new strain of virus, thought to be but not confirmed to be a mutation of rabies, has been confirmed in all states of the U.S., South America, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and is now appearing in parts of Central and South East Asia. This is a rapidly progressing virus that is not fully understood as of yet and has been declared pandemic. Please remain indoors and be prepared for many weeks. Stay clear of the infected. It is not yet fully understood how the disease is transmitted but bites from the infected prove fatal. Early symptoms include high fever, nausea, tremors and seizures, anxiety, and loss of awareness. Do not get near the infected. There is no known cure or treatment. Contracting the virus is a 100% fatality rate. Please refrain from eating any animal products to prevent ingesting contaminated products. If death occurs dispose of bodies quickly within a 24 hour period. Martial law has been declared in all of the above countries except for Central and South East Asia. Please stay indoors and repeat, stay clear of the infected and dispose of bodies promptly.
As the tone clicked off, a massive silence settled in every building and in every room of the spacious Cross Academy. Horror stricken and panic laced eyes stared in disbelief.
"Holy shit," Yagari exhaled slowly, reaching a hand out to steady himself against Cross's desk, Kaien himself still staring off blankly at the speakers in the ceiling, as if waiting for another tone to sound and another computerized voice to pop back up and say it was all a test. But that wish never became a reality.
Zero was the first to snap himself back to a bleak reality. "You better get on that intercom and say something before this whole school goes to hell Cross," the silver haired teen commanded in a rush, his hands coming down on the wooden desk also getting Kaien's attention as hazel eyes quickly became clear once again.
"Toga, Zero, both of you go do crowd control," the blond ex hunter directed coolly, Yagari finally seeing the old Kaien Cross's features written on the ageless man's face, but to be honest, he wasn't sure he wanted that for his friend. Where warm smile and often goofy grin used to stay, Cross's hard expression seemed to weigh him down more than his century old age. Both master and student turned to go about their orders as Cross flicked on the school wide intercom, but quickly turned it off before catching the attention of the two before they were gone out of the door.
"Both of you," Cross's voice reached a level of seriousness and graveness neither Yagari nor Zero had heard before as they turned around quickly. "Keep my daughter safe," Cross said with a sharp look before turning the intercom back on, his silky hair falling around his face as he stood and leaned over the desk.
For Yuki and Yori both still sitting stone still with frightened eyes, they knew all too well already what it was Zero was speaking of. Just moments ago, the young man who was their pre-calculus teacher had abandoned his equally terrified class in a frantic rush, his coffee mug shattered and bleeding dark brown liquid on the white floor. All of their young bodies were tightly coiled springs, natural flight instincts ready to pull the plug of rational thoughts in each of their minds when Cross's commanding and yet relieving voice was heard throughout the building.
"Attention everyone," his voice caught everyone off guard, many not even recognizing it as their own headmaster. "Until I and the faculty get this sorted out, please remain where you are for the time being. Everyone is safe if you just stay calm and remain where you are in your classrooms. Teachers, please remain with your class unless I send for you. I know everyone is frightened at this sudden news but please, remain calm and stay in your classrooms until further notice," Cross finished before the intercom clicked off.
"He…he left us," a girl behind Yori squeaked out.
"We'll be fine," Yuki turned around and smiled as best she could at the frightened girl, even when her own heart was racing in her chest. "The headmaster knows what he's doing…we'll be fine like he said if we stay calm," Yuki turned and stood, her shaking knees betraying her mock confidence. Thankfully her feigned words of courage seemed to calm the jittery students down, those who were standing slowly sliding back into their seats, their eyes still glazed.
Cross was sitting at his desk with his head buried in his hands trying to figure out where to even start with the mess he was dealt when he heard his door slam open. Nearly making his glasses fall from his face, he shot his head up to see one of the school nurses storming into his office with the others standing in the doorway, her eyes blazing as he stood bewildered.
"Miss Dougl…" he began to say, but the woman never slowed down and the next thing Cross knew is that her hand had connected with lightning speed to the side of his face, his spectacles sent flying as he saw stars for a moment while catching himself against his desk.
"You brought it here!" the woman screamed hysterically at him as his cheek stung, but her words cut the man even deeper as he stood holding his injured face with wide eyes looking to the floor. "That girl was in infected areas and YOU let her into this school," she spit, fear pumping venom in every word. The crowd of school nurses and even some custodians still stood in the door way and into the hall, some shocked at the woman's actions, and some applauding her with the looks in their wild eyes.
"We don't…know if she has…" Cross tried to get out, finally able to form words again.
"Are you deaf?!" the nurse screamed, Cross actually shrinking back slightly from her raging. "Did you not hear the symptoms? She fits every one of them! It's here and it's your fault!" the distraught woman lost control of herself and shrieked at the silent headmaster, her hand poised to strike at him again. Cross begrudgingly closed his eyes and flinched away. He would never raise his hand at a woman…not since he met her…so he stood motionless at her mercy awaiting the inevitable sharp pain to explode through his head. But none ever came. The ex hunter cracked open his hazel eyes when he heard his assailant gasp in shock, his orbs fully opening when he saw her wrist caught in Yagari's iron grip. The stern faced hunter said nothing, merely dropping her hand almost as quickly as he had grabbed it to stop her slap from bruising Kaien's fair skinned face again. Kaien himself watched in shock as the woman melted to the floor, tears freely streaming down her red face. "It's here, we're all going to die, it's here," she kept whispering over and over to herself through sobs.
"All of you, go to the faculty lounge…now," Yagari told the crowd that had since gathered in the office with an ominous tone, the group collecting their still hysterical member before doing as they were told, none of them willing to incite the wrath of the imposing hunter. When the door was shut behind them, the hunter's shoulders relaxed and a tired exhale escaped his lungs as he walked over to retrieve his friend's glasses. "Why you let her take a swing at you is beyond me," Yagari muttered after stiffly rising and heading over to the deathly quiet headmaster who stood staring bleakly. "I saw them heading your way…they didn't look too pleased," the hunter said while holding out the undamaged spectacles, but Cross didn't budge.
"Why didn't…I see this coming," Cross whispered, broken eyes still staring at the floor, a red bloom forming on the side of his pale face.
"Hell Kaien, we're secluded from the world. If they don't know vampires exist, how the hell are we supposed to know some disease is running around out there," the hunter huffed while roughly grabbing the blonde's hand and shoving the glasses into his palm. "You can have your pity party later, but you have a school to get under control right now," Yagari sternly told the ex hunter while turning to go resume doing damage control before stopping in the threshold. "Shit Kaien, I don't think anyone could see this coming from the sound of it…it's not your fault about that girl," the hunter turned to glance at his friend one last time before heading back down the hall, Cross slowly sliding his glasses back on his marked face. Of course the exhausted headmaster didn't have a quiet moment for long when it dawned on him that there was no one looking after his sick student. The embers of anger quickly kindling inside him, Kaien darted out of his office and headed straight for the infirmary. Come hell or high water, he wasn't going to abandon any student for any reason…no matter the risk.
It had been about fifteen minutes that Yuki and her class had sat in crushing silence since the young girl had succeeded in getting everyone to sit in their seats for the time being. Yuki sat nervously twisting the hem of her skirt, the quiet sounds of soft sobbing and sniffing the only noise in the room. Truth be told the girl wanted to allow herself to shed her tears of fear along with everyone else…even Yori's eyes were misty as she blankly stared at her notebook…but Yuki knew she had responsibilities as a guardian to keep herself in check. Still, her mind couldn't stop thinking about the whereabouts of Zero. The last thing she knew was that he had gone out looking for Lilly. The more she thought about it, the more her stomach somersaulted with the thoughts of Zero getting caught up in a panic somewhere outside of the school. Nearly biting the eraser off of her pencil, Yuki squeezed back tears that threatened to spill. In that second she missed the silver haired boy so badly. Just the faintest possibility that she might be separated from him for an extended period sent a swarm of tears to her eyes that stung like bees.
While fighting to stave off her tears, a boy in the back of the class made the dire mistake of allowing the tickle in the back of his throat to cause him to cough out loud. Yuki could feel the instant tension, like a pin dropping in slow motion before all semblance of order was shattered. Some shrieked. Some cursed. Chairs were thrown back as hysteria broke out in the classroom, a swarm of students running over each other to get to the door. Yuki stood and turned, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of her classmates borderline killing each other to make it down the rows of seats. Some had taken to flying over the desks themselves. Before she could even register what to do, the black clad, hysterical crowd was upon her. Instantly the girl was roughly slammed into the side of her desk as students pushed and plowed their way through, a gasp of pain escaping her lips as her hip ground against the unyielding wood. Panic and terror freezing her, Yuki could only flinch powerlessly…that is before she felt someone's hands quickly grabbing her shoulders and pulling her down under the desk. Instantly her head was cradled against a warm chest, protective arms pulling her close as slender fingers ran through her hair. Those cool and gentle hands could only belong to one person.
"Zero," Yuki shakily sniffed, burying her face closer to him, his racing heartbeat loud in her ears.
"It's ok Yuki, I've got you," he said quietly while softly rocking them back and forth to try and soothe the terrified girl in his arms. He was trying his hardest not to let her feel him trembling as well, the sight of her getting run over by the crowd of insane students nearly causing his to lose his sanity.
"I'm scared," she whispered against his white collared shirt, his chin coming to rest on the top of her head as he ran his fingers though her chocolate locks soothingly.
"I know…we're all scared," he softly said back, the images of the burning fields and the charred carcasses of cattle coming back to mind. Before long both of them flinched at a gunshot, but Yagari's deep and commanding voice soon eased their worries as the hunter brought the insane group back under control outside.
"Come on, I want you with the headmaster," Zero said while beginning to move both of them out from under the desk, Yuki hissing as her hip protested from being stretched.
"You're hurt," Zero said somberly, his eyes heavy as Yuki tried to force a slight grin while creaking up to stand.
"I'm alright…" she started to say but Zero had already scooped her up in his arms silently. Being held so close against him, Yuki could feel the cold sweat soaking the boy's skin through his shirt. Leaning her head against him, his skin held that same, slightly musky scent that he had the night he had awoken in a panic. Fear was easy to smell on Zero. Yuki knew that he hid it well with his actions and stern face, but the girl had a sixth sense for detecting when something was amiss with the young hunter. There were few times she had smelled such a bitter scent on the boy: one when he first bit her, two when Shizuka had her hands on her, and three the night Zero had that awful nightmare that had broken him so. Yuki didn't know whether to feel comforted or even more afraid as she rested her face against his warm skin. If Zero was unsettled, then something really terrible usually followed.
"You can come too, Yori," Zero's voice cut into the girl's thoughts, her brown eyes snapping to see her friend also clambering out from under one of the desks, her hair slightly askew but otherwise unscathed. The equally shaken girl nodded silently before Zero shifted Yuki in his arms and then proceeded to make his way out of the destroyed room. Hearing his teacher's voice still sternly giving orders in the interior of the school, Zero decided go around outside and get to Cross's office taking the back way. The cool breeze against the boy's damp skin sent a slight shiver down his spine and Yuki wasn't one to miss it.
"Zero, I can walk…its ok really," the girl said a bit guiltily, not wanting to be yet another burden on her silver haired friend.
"Like hell you can," the boy exhaled, glancing over to see Yori silently keeping up with him. Truth be told, nothing was going to pry Yuki from Zero's arms until he felt that she was somewhere safe, and right now the only place the young hunter deemed safe for his girl was next to the greatest hunter known to date. The man might have driven the boy to contemplate throwing himself through a window many a time with his gushy and borderline idiotic behavior, but even Zero would admit Kaien Cross wasn't afraid to revert back to his merciless hunter tactics if Yuki was threatened.
"Hey Zero," Yuki's warmth breath tickled the skin of the boy's neck, her arms wrapping around him tighter. "Thank you…for helping me," her lips nearly brushed against the seal engraved on his pale flesh, another tingle coursing through his body as he cleared his throat a bit awkwardly.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it," he replied unceremoniously as they reached the back entrance. As soon as they entered and began to ascend the stairs that led to the second floor, the sound of panicked voices echoed in the halls. All three listened with grave faces as angry and terrified voices of both men and women, most certainly the faculty, shouted question after question at one individual.
"Is it here?!"
"Are we safe?"
"What about my family back home?"
"What's going to happen?"
"Are we going to die?"
"Why didn't we know?"
Zero closed his eyes for a moment in respect for his mentor, who was certainly the recipient of the onslaught. The silver haired teen thought that the adults could be worse than the teenagers when everything decided to go to hell in a moment's notice. Finally the trio made it to Cross's office, Zero setting Yuki down gingerly on one of the cushiony sofas when they realized Cross was nowhere to be seen. Zero cursed slightly under his breath, Yori taking a seat next to Yuki, both girls waiting for Zero's next decision.
After tearing his hands through his hair, Zero exhaled forcefully before turning around. "Listen, I need for you two to stay here. If Cross comes back stay with him. I'm going to help get this damn place back under control," the teen said gravely. "Yori, lock the door behind me and do not open it for anyone except Cross, me, or Yagari, got it?" the young hunter asked the auburn haired girl, who nodded and stood up ready to fulfill her orders. Before the teen left however, he walked over and knelt in front of Yuki, who didn't notice him at first while she winced and rubbed at her throbbing hip. "Yuki, are you sure you're alright?" his soft voice snapped her eyes open, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Y…yeah, I'm fine Zero," she babbled as usual before being silenced as Zero's long fingers reached out and slowly traced through her hair. "Zero…" she began to say, but just as quickly as he had touched her, the boy was already back up and heading for the door.
"Please stay here ok," he said over his shoulder before exiting, Yori turning the lock on the knob as the two girls were left alone, the muffled sounds of the angry voices below the only sounds in the room.
An icy chill began to claw its way up Kaien Cross's spine as he walked down the deathly silent infirmary halls. Wastebaskets were knocked over in the halls, the spilled remains littering the white tile floor evidence of the massive panic that must have swept through the small building. Usually filled with ringing phones and the low hum of chatter, the eerie quiet in the brightly lit white hallway was enough to unsettle even Cross. The man's silky, straw colored hair fell into his face as he peeked in each room quickly to find an empty bed…until he came to the last room on the right. Before he entered however, a loud beeping sound like some kind of alarm caused him jump a bit before he rushed into the room the noise was coming from.
Cross stopped after entering the threshold about as quickly as he had rushed into the room, his hazel eyes wide, his hands limp at his sides as he felt his breath stop short in his chest. He knew the scent, the feeling…the very presence of death almost as well as an old friend and there was no denying it's eminence in the room…like some grotesque demon smiling wickedly at him from the very walls. The now frail chest hidden under the white sheets that lined the girl's small breasts remained stone still, not a rustle to be seen or heard from the white linens. Her usually rich, tanned skin looked waxy and rubber…a strange pale and bruised color as if her very life had merely leaked from her skin. Cross felt himself numbly shuffling over to the bedside, his hands beginning to tremble slightly along with his now pale lips as his eyes began to smart strongly with growing moisture. The blaring, electronic ring that bounced in the headmaster's skull came from the glowing IV pump that read HIGH PRESS, dark blood sitting stagnantly in the clear line where it joined the girl's pallid arm. By now the ex hunter's breath was coming in short, silent hitches as he leaned over the bed, his trembling fingers tenderly brushing the deceased student's dark hair from her lifeless face.
"I'm sorry," Cross whispered brokenly, a tear slipping from his eye and falling on the dead girl's cheek. "I'm so sorry…I couldn't help you," his words became more strained as his shoulders began to jerk with quiet sobs, the man's long hair falling around his face as he hung his head in crushing guilt. "I'm sorry…this happened to you," Cross barely managed to get out as he forced himself to look into the girl's face, but a part of him wished he never did. Glassy, flung open eyes stared back at him, the girl's orbs almost seeming completely black from the overly dilated pupils. Her mouth was slightly open, a ring of dried foam around her colorless lips. Squeezing his eyes shut and looking away, the shattered man slowly took his shaking hand and closed the girl's eyes, giving her the appearance she had merely gone in her sleep instead of staring death right in the face, her hazy orbs forever imprinted with the image of an absolute end. After, the warm hearted man who was cursed to feel the pain of others so acutely leaned over the still girl and let out a heart wrenching groan before crying shamelessly.
Kaien didn't how long he had stood sobbing over the corpse of his student, or how long he had sat on his knees numbly by the bedside with swollen eyes when he thought he heard something. He had since shut off the blaring pump, and now the acute silence was broken by a slight hissing sound. Cross sniffed quietly and looked up, his bleary eyes quickly turning sharp once again. Again he heard the sound, like a soft rush of air trying to escape a tight space, and then a soft movement caught his eye. In an instant the man was on his feet, cold adrenaline coursing through his veins. Again the noise, but this time Kaien discerned that it was in fact coming from the lips of the girl, although her chest did not seem to be moving in the least bit. Cross still stared stunned when he saw one of her fingers twitch slightly, again the creaking hiss escaping her pale lips. All rational thought blinded by hope, Cross flung himself over the girl, his eyes darting to her face. Even her eyes appeared to be slowly twitching beneath the lids.
"Nikki…" the man's voice wavered as his again trembling hand came and softly stroked the side of her face. For a moment he heard nothing, but soon another rasping sound came from the girl's chest, Kaien's wide eyes staring in shock as the lids of the girl's eyes began to slowly slide open. "It's ok," the ex hunter said softly, new tears sliding down his cheeks as he smiled softly, but his grin quickly turned to horror when he saw the still hazy, black orbs staring back at him blankly. Cross only stared frozen as the spittle ringed jaws began to slowly open and close, a gurgling sound emanating from the throat, the thin fingers jerkily moving on the sheets. Before he could pull himself away in his stunned state, a searing pain shot through his hand as he looked down and realized the girl's head had turned and his thumb and part of his palm was caught between her crushing teeth, the sight of his red blood painting her blanched face as her dead eyes rolled back in her head like loose marbles sickening him more than the livid pain. He might have been a legendary vampire hunter, but even Cross himself, possibly for the first time in his life, felt like a trapped animal. Finally, with instincts taking over, Cross grunted and attempted to yank his bloodied hand free from it's horrific trap, but the quickly panicking man was in for quite another shock when the girl's jaws remained fixed like a sprung trap, her body snatching up awkwardly with his movement. A strangled sound of desperation escaped Cross's lungs as he gritted his teeth and seized whatever it was that used to be a young teenage girl by the throat. A strange, guttural sound escaped the thing's lips as Cross slammed it's head back against the wall, his body nearly straddling it on the bed by now as he felt its hands stiffly groping at him. Cross knew a blow like that to the head would have knocked any living creature out cold, but still he felt the thing grind down on his flesh, a groan of pain heaving from his chest as his eyes searched frantically. Fueled by now on pure will to live and adrenaline, the ex hunter spotted a pair of scissors on the bedside table. Letting go of his precious hold on the thin neck, Cross snatched up his makeshift weapon and with a sour lurch in his stomach, plunged the blades through the side of what used to be the girl's head with a cry of utter agony.
Immediately the terrible grip on his now mangled hand loosened, the corpse limply falling forward onto Cross's chest as the stained scissors clattered to the floor. It didn't even matter to the shaken man that his hand was profusely bleeding onto the white sheets. For the first time in Kaien's existence, he was shocked into a mute stupor as he sat shaking violently with his blood spattered face devoid of color.
"God help us," he shakily whispered knowing that this was something much greater than a raging level E, his quivering stained hands running through the dead girl's matted locks as her body lay against him. Level Es, no matter how insane or animal like were at least still alive on a very basic level, their eyes flashing with lust. Cross could only see the filmy eyes rolling around in the girl's head. Slowly, his senses trickling back to him, he raised his injured hand. Cross hadn't given his mortality a second thought ever since he seemed to stop aging. He imagined that he would meet death valiantly defending those he loved…or he would end up taking his life himself when he grew tired of watching those he loved age and die while he remained perpetually young. Staring at the crimson leaking from his torn flesh, Kaien actually felt the nauseating weight of fearing for his life.
But Cross was not one to focus on himself for long. Wiping his face with the cream colored sleeve of his usual sweater, the ex hunter gingerly worked himself off of the small bed and laid the broken body of his student back down and drew the sheets over her haunting face. Still running on shock and adrenaline, the headmaster stumbled over to the many drawers and cabinets and set about crudely cleaning and dressing his wound, although it proved to be difficult with such violently shaking hands. And of course, halfway through trying to rudely suture his mangled skin, Cross fell to his knees in front of the wastebasket, his skin a pale green at the realization of what he had just done to one of his students…and for what she had become. Finally, his hand smarting something fierce under the white gauze wrappings, the headmaster of Cross Academy slowly headed back to the main school building. Yuki was in for quite a shock when Yori unlocked the door to let in the disheveled headmaster, who immediately went over and threw his arms around his adoptive daughter, Yuki's mouth hanging open in shock at the sight of him spattered with crimson. For once the girl didn't push him away or make a fuss when his arms threatened to crush her, instead carefully threading her arms around his strangely silent frame.
"Father?" Yuki whispered while trying not to sound frightened, but the way the usually flippant man's arms were shaking so strongly was unsettling. After getting himself together once again, Cross tried to ease the two girl's worry by grinning sadly and saying he got into an altercation with a few panicked teachers before going to change out of his ruined sweater that reeked of death only to his sensitive nose.
The ex hunter had barely pulled on another hunter green sweater, a still trembling hand raising a glass of amber colored liquid to his lips, when his door was flung open in a fury.
"Where the hell have you been?!" a very irate and exhausted looking Yagari yelled as he stormed up to Cross, who still leaned against his bed languidly, the raven haired hunter not missing the glass in his left hand.
"Dammit Kaien, wouldn't we ALL just love a drink right now," the hunter spit angrily at his friend, feeling quite used when he had spent all day keeping the school together while Cross sat in his room sipping on brandy. "What the hell kind of headmaster hides in his room and throws back…"Yagari was fuming when his rant suddenly stopped. That's when it hit him. Immediately Yagari shut his mouth and dropped his accusing look, his arms falling limp at his sides. Cross didn't drink. Ever. He always had a small selection of scotches, wines, and brandies, but Yagari was the only one who took part in them from his memory. Kaien would always have a steaming cup of tea in a ridiculous kitten mug and chastise him for drinking too much after a particularly long day. Hell, Yagari couldn't remember the last time he had seen Cross even take a sip of wine. And then the hunter raised his blue eye to meet with Cross's still slightly puffy, but shattered hazel orbs that stared back pathetically at him. The hunter felt his stomach churn at the way Cross was looking at him. That hopeless look didn't belong on the face of the legendary vampire hunter.
"Cross…what happened?" the hunter asked immediately dropping the tone of his voice down to a level that was rarely used. As Yagari asked the question, his single eye scanned the pile of bloodied clothes that lay rumpled at Cross's feet and then he noticed how tangled his friend's usually neat locks seemed.
"The student that was ill…she's dead," the blond muttered, his voice scratchy and deflated. Thankfully the brandy he had been sipping on was starting to warm his numb body and bring some sense of feeling back into his shocked system.
"Kaien, where's the blood from?" Yagari asked cautiously, suddenly feeling quite on edge.
The ex hunter took one last drink from his glass before setting it down on his bedside table and proceeded to turn around to allow his comrade to see his bound up hand.
"Jesus Kaien, what the hell?" the hunter breathed, seeing crimson starting to seep through the white bandages.
Running a hand through his bangs, Cross sighed heavily before facing the shocked hunter. "Don't tell Yuki, please. I got bit," his quiet voice sent a chill down Yagari's spine.
"I don't get it Cross, by what?" the hunter asked with a huff, not understanding what had the older man so ruined. Sure losing a student was hard and he knew Cross took things personally, but he had been through so much more than this and had managed to keep his spirit.
"Before she died…" Cross began, hating to lie to his closest friend, but knowing Toga was a very rational man and he didn't want to shock him anymore than he was already going to. "She was out of her head. I reached down and…she bit me," the man's voice slowly tapered off, Yagari left feeling like the rug was snatched from beneath him.
The hunter tore his hands through his dark locks while turning away and pacing a few steps forward then abruptly turning back. "It won't affect you," the hunter muttered in a rush, his eye looking sharply into Kaien's. "You're the vampire without fangs, Kaien Cross. Age doesn't even touch you anymore. You've never even had a cold once in your life…it can't touch you," Yagari said sternly while grasping the blonde's shoulders, but Cross had known the gruff man long enough to know that fear was behind every word. "Listen just…just stay here and…I'll get one of the nurses to…"but Cross's hand grasping the hunter's arm and gently lifting it away from his shoulder stopped the raven haired man mid sentence.
"No Toga. I've had enough time to collect myself," Cross said solemnly before beginning to walk toward the door. "You've done more than enough for today…it's time I get this school under control again," Yagari stared after the older man walking out of the room to go spend a sleepless night trying to calm a terrified crowd, sending and receiving phone calls, watching nearly the entire staff leave, and spend the rest of time wondering what to do with hundreds of children who may not even have parents anymore all while his marred hand throbbed mercilessly.
Zero knew something else was going on as he watched his master chain smoke for the better part of two hours as the night rolled into early morning. The boy sat on a couch in the dark living room, Yuki quietly sleeping with her head on his lap as his fingers idly brushed her soft hair. The teen was used to not getting any sleep and he was more than happy to let Yuki stretch herself out on the plushy couch under his watchful eye, but something was ominous about the way Yagari hadn't even spoken a word to him. The hunter had merely come in late and had stood outside on the balcony smoking and drinking from one of Cross's scotch bottles with a foreign look in his one eye. There was something…desperate about the man that made Zero feel unsettled.
A soft rapping at the door caught both of their attentions, Zero motioning carefully to his slightly dazed teacher that he would get it. After tenderly lifting Yuki's small head and resting it back against a pillow, Zero padded over to the door and cracked it open. Lilac eyes widened when he found the majority of the night class standing outside, for once the aloofness and pride gone from their eyes.
"Zero…I think Rima…I think she has it," Takuma relayed with dark circles under his eyes to the equally exhausted level D. "We can't contact Lord Kaname and…we don't know…what to do," the boy said quietly.
I am depressing... So questions to guess on this time are:
What breed of cattle did the old farmer have? (Yes you can google...my family raised them :) )
and
When Cross said "I'm sorry this happened to you,", what famous TV series did the main character say the exact same thing on the pilot episode?
and
Pretty please review please!
