Well then the introduction arc is almost finished with only two chapters after this one… Finally I'll be able to put up the plot of this story… Anyway, to those who've been waiting for it, this is the next chapter of the story…
NIGHT 4 – MOMENT OF RESOLUTION
It was a cold night and the chilly winds brought a spike of fear in a young girl as she walked through the streets alone. No one took notice of her as she hurried to the comforts of her home. She had been working to pay for her expenses and she was always used to going home late but recent news about murders had her running scared.
Her hurried footsteps resounded clearly to the streets and every echo sent fear running through her veins. The few lamps lighting the way did nothing to calm her nerves. The night was very grim and she wanted no part of it. Just then, a noise caught her and she turned around expecting to see some stragglers heading off somewhere. But she was alone.
That very notion sent her running away without confirming what it really was. It could be a cat? A rat? Or just something else? But the first that came to her was a fearful notion that it might be the person on the news. She ran away as fast as she could without trying to catch breath. She was frightened out of her wits. As she turned around the corner, she spotted a familiar house in the distance.
Her heart leaped for joy at seeing her house but the noise that sent her running was drawing ever closer. Surely, she would be safe inside her house right. That thought came to her as she hurried home. But before she could do so, she felt a painful sting in her back and sent her tumbling through the street. Her hand came upon her back, wondering what happened.
She felt something warm in her back and as she brought her hand back to her face. She paled considerably. It was blood. The crimson liquid poured from the wounds in her back. She tried to crawl towards her destination. It was really close. She wanted to shout but her voice failed her at this very moment. Tears were beginning to pool from her eyes. Why did this happen? The same question ran through her mind over and over again.
The laughter caught her ears. A young man approached her with a sadistic grin on his face. His eyes the same bright red as the blood on her fingers and he looked at her broken form with glee. She noticed that instead of hands like a normal person, his was adorned by sharp talons. She watched helplessly as he licked the blood on his talons.
The girl's eyes widened as the young man moved closer to her and with the downward slash of his talons, her whole life flashed before her. The girl's lifeless eyes stared at the sky as if asking the same question from before, why did this happen?
Kaname Kuran hated the idea that he had to leave Cross Academy with Chairman Cross for the day. He would be fine if it was any other day but the level E that Zero wasn't able to finish and the same one that Shiki had been chasing since yesterday was still on the loose. Just like the others, he didn't want the peace of the school to be ruined. The worst parts were the fact that Chairman Cross would be going with him to the damned meeting, Yagari-sensei was called by the Hunter's Association, and Zero was still sick.
The school could easily be attacked by that level E. Despite the knowledge that level E's were the lowest form of vampires, their strength had been quite different as if someone altered them in any way. He only hoped that the others would be able to handle matters while he was away.
As the car drove away for the annual meetings of the going-ons around the academy, Kaname couldn't help feel worried for no apparent reason but something within him felt as if something would happen. It took a lot of willpower not to decide ditching the meeting this time. He was a pureblood after all. He had to be composed and his appearances were important. He was occupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice that the person sitting beside him felt quite the same as him.
Kaien Cross was busy worrying about the safety of the students in the academy and without him and Kaname there, things are a little disadvantageous. He was worried about his daughter. After all, Yuki had the uncanny ability to attract trouble no matter what she did. Of course, he tried his hardest to keep her from knowing the truth about the academy in hopes that she would live a normal life. But the events a few days ago proved him wrong.
He knew about Yuki's recent attack by a vampire and he was glad that Zero was there during that time. It meant that Yuki is now aware of the other world that existed and knowing her, she would try to find out more about it. Kaien knew that it would be useless to stop Yuki and he only hoped that she would remain as herself despite knowing that all of her life, he had kept her from the reality of things.
The sun was beginning to set and as the academy came farther into view, both of them could only hope that the academy and the students would be safe when they return.
The day passed by uneventfully at the academy as it always did. Nothing changed at all. The same routine all over again- a monotonous life to be exact. Yuki didn't even bother listening to the teachers that whole day. Her mind always seemed to drift elsewhere especially since that fateful night. The only difference this time was that her father and Kaname-senpai had to depart for an important school matter.
It was finally afternoon, she was supposed to attend her make-up classes so she bade a swift goodbye to Yori and made her way to the faculty office. As she walked along the almost empty corridors, she noticed a familiar blonde-haired individual who she knew was Kiryuu-senpai's friend. She resisted the urge to ask about Kiryuu-senpai since she hasn't caught a glimpse of him since their last meeting but it was useless.
"Ummm…. Senpai?", she said cautiously as she tried forming the question in her head.
Takuma turned around at the sound of a voice and he spotted an underclassman with short brown hair looking at him. He realized that it must be Chairman Cross' daughter and the girl that Zero met before.
"Anything I can help you with?", Takuma smile and said to her gently.
"Umm.. senpai… I-I just wanted to ask if you've seen Kiryuu-senpai around. I haven't seen him all morning so…", Yuki trailed off growing embarrassed by the second.
"Oh. Well, Zero-kun caught a cold yesterday so he decided to take a day off from school. He'll be fine so no need to be worried", Takuma told her and he beamed when he realized that this girl was worried about Zero.
"Uhhh… thanks a lot senpai.", Yuki said shyly as she realized that another person found out about her feelings for Kiryuu-senpai. That was the same smile that Yori gave her yesterday.
"No problem. It's Takuma Ichijou by the way. You can call me Takuma-senpai if you want to. Anyway, nice meeting you"
"I'm Yuki Cross. Nice to meet you as well, Takuma-senpai"
"Well then, Yuki-san. I'll be heading off now. I'll tell Zero-kun you've been looking for him", Takuma said as he waved at her goodbye and headed off for the mission.
Yuki was very much embarrassed by Takuma's statement as she realized that maybe he really would tell Zero that she was looking for him. She hurried on to the office with her face flushed red in embarrassment…
Nightfall soon made its way to Cross Academy and Yuki could still be found roaming the empty corridors of the school. She was busy with her make-up classes since her grades were falling behind her too much. It was a miracle she barely made the average grade from time to time. The teacher went ahead of her since she insisted a few minutes ago that she had to check her father's office for something. After making sure that everything was okay in the office, her father was too disorganized at times. She was well on her way to the dorms.
As she walked on, she still thought about what she told Yori yesterday morning. She couldn't believe what she had said, was it really true that she was falling in love with someone she barely knew. But a feeling told her that Kiryuu-senpai was someone very familiar. She was embarrassed by Yori telling her that she would cheer her on. She could barely speak with him and there was the issue of what happened when they first met.
As Yuki thought about these things, she didn't notice how weird it seemed that the ways leading to the dorms were silent and empty. Yuki decided to put every confusing things out of her thoughts for a while. She knew that maybe she'll find out someday and that Zero would state his reasons for telling her to forget about everything. The moment she cut her train of thoughts, she suddenly noticed the difference in her surroundings.
It was just like the night she was attacked. She hurried towards her dorm, thinking that she didn't want the same thing to happen again. Halfway there, a mysterious young woman passed by and she instantly felt a sudden chill in the air. The cold breeze made her shiver slightly. The young woman had long, curly blonde hair and she a pale, gentle face. Yuki didn't need to describe her as anything more than beautiful. She was transfixed at the sight.
"You should be careful from now on, things are starting to move into motion. I'll be seeing you around then", the young woman told her gently as she passed her by.
"Wait. What're you-", Yuki was going to say something to the young woman but as she turned around to look back, the young woman was nowhere to be seen. She was clearly alone outside. She tried to dismiss the eeriness of the situation and hurried to the dorms without delay. Little did she know that someone was closely watching her every move.
It was eerily silent in the dark corridors and he couldn't see anyone everywhere he went. At first he wondered where everyone had gone but he had o time to wonder as a loud noise broke the silence. It was a girl's voice. It came from below the building outside. He hurriedly raced through the steps but it stretched like an eternal void before him. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he still saw no one. He walked slowly and carefully yet his footfalls echoed through the dim silence following that scream.
Suddenly, he heard something in the distance just beyond the doors. Then, as he stood before it, he noticed it. He bent down to touch the liquid that caught his attention. The liquid was crimson. It was blood. A horrible feeling enveloped him and he felt something. Suddenly he wrenched the door open, quite afraid of what he would see-
Zero woke with a start and he felt himself trembling from that dream. It was already night and he wondered how long he had been sleeping. He remembered vividly the weird dream he had. It was strange. He never had a dream like that before. It all seemed so real for him.
Suddenly, he felt something weird enter the academy. At first it was indistinct but later on, its form started to take shape. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized that a level E had managed to enter the academy. He clearly remembered that Cross and Kuran was not at the academy at the moment. He quickly dressed and picked up his Bloody Rose in the drawer. He didn't bother using the door as he opened the windows of his room and jumped down.
Yuki ran as hard as she could, longing to get away from that young man who was going after her. She already knew that he was just like the vampire a few nights ago and he would kill her. She could see it in the man's feral eyes- the look of death. She ran as far away as possible, and just when she thought she would finally get away, she saw that he was still following her. She didn't know where else to run or where to hide. It seemed that death was close by. She would finally die in the hands of that monster.
Why do these things always happen to me?, Yuki thought savagely as she realized that she had nowhere to run. She was cornered by that man. A man so dangerous and so evil. There was no doubt that there no escape. Still, a part of her wanted to survive- for her father, for her friends, for Zero. She refused to die today. Not today.
Then the words hit her- You should be careful from now on, things are starting to move into motion. She finally understood what the young woman wanted to tell her. There are things happening right now and that she was standing at the barrier separating those things. If she would survive right now, she was determined to learn the truth.
She quickly grasped the item her father had given her on her birthday before and wondered if this was the right time to use it. She brought it in front of her and with a push, it extended into a rod. The silver rod flashed in front of her but she didn't know how to use it. The man rushed to her with hunger in his eyes and raised his taloned hands.
Before the man could hit her, someone came from behind her and used the rod she was holding uselessly in her hands to parry the attack. The man cursed and put a distance between her and the person who helped her. Yuki turned around to see Zero's tall form staring at the enemy.
The level E remembered the newcomer in front of him, it was the same person who injured him a few nights ago. A feeling told him, like an impulse to get away from that person. He didn't want to risk it. Without a second thought, he fled away from the scene.
Zero watched the creature disappear from the academy. As much as he wanted to hunt it down, Yuki was still with him and she needed his protection. He was pretty sure that Takuma and the others would finally kill it. He was worried that the dream was going to be real but his worries disappeared as he saw Yuki trying to fight back, although useless as it is.
"Kiryuu-senpai, thank you for saving me once again. I'm so useless at these things. I'm sorry", Yuki said after awhile as she moved in front of the tall silver-haired young man. Why does it always happen to me? Kiryuu-senpai must be tired of always doing this, she thought dejectedly.
"There's nothing to apologize for. These things couldn't be helped", Zero said as he looked at the girl in front of him. He wondered if she was really going to be pulled into this world and if she would be prepared for it.
"I know that, Kiryuu-senpai. It's just that I want to know more about what is going on. I don't want to be kept in the dark anymore", Yuki said desperately.
"Would you still want to know the truth even if I told you that things will never be the same again? That you would be put into bigger danger than these?", Zero told her coldly as he fixed her a steely gaze.
Yuki at first faltered under his gaze. She admitted that she was scared that he looked at her like that. But she came to a realization that he told her that because he kind of cares a little bit. But it was only a guess on her part. She made up her mind long ago and she wouldn't change it even now.
"Yes, I would still want to know the truth despite knowing that one day I may be put into more danger", Yuki said determinedly and she looked at the young man in front of her with all of her might. Showing him that she would never regret this decision.
Zero was taken aback by the determination in her eyes. He knew that he could never change her mind no matter what he did. Really, Yuki managed to impress him deeply. It was the first time that someone made him feel like that. Maybe, it really was the right thing to do. If she wanted to learn about Cross Academy's secret, who was he to stop her?
He decided then that he would protect her with everything he had. He didn't know what he felt for her but a part of him knew that he was doing the right thing. His eyes lost his cold gaze and he warmed at the sight of this girl in front of him.
"Very well then, Yuki-san. I would tell you what you want to know", Zero told her as he looked at her and saw her being startled as if expecting he would disagree. He allowed a small smile to light his features as he regarded her.
Yuki was startled by his agreement to her decision when she expected to argue with him more. She looked up to him again and saw a smile in his features. She never saw him smile before and he always looked sad and seeing it now, warmed her heart. Smiling really did suit him and it didn't escape her that he wasn't looking at her coldly anymore and he used her name. She promised to herself that she would try to make him smile more often.
"By the way, don't call me Kiryuu-senpai anymore. Just Zero would be fine"
"Okay, Zero", she said trying to hide her blush at the familiarity of the name. It felt weird calling him by his first name but maybe she would get used to it. "Umm… Zero… please call me Yuki as well."
"Very well, since this is the first time we spoke freely. Nice to meet you, Yuki", he told her casually.
"Nice to meet you too, Zero", Yuki suddenly felt that this would be the beginning of everything. That this night would be the first of many nights but she was glad that at least Zero would be there to support her. For now, she would be learning the Academy's ultimate secret.
And that end's chapter four… Hope you like it… Stay tuned for the next chapter ^^…
