Note: this chapter is not very significant in anyway, just saying first. It's more of a drabble i want to add so ya. enjoy

Chapter 3: Our Gifts

--Zero--

Kuran regrouped with his underlings and I headed back to my dormitory room. Don't forget, my shirt was ripped by the Level E. I had nothing against myself wearing it to face others. Maybe I could fake Halloween.

No, that was a stupid idea.

Currently, I'm in the bathroom and undoing my top.

Look away, you perverts.

I glanced at the small clock I had placed on one of the shelves and I calculated that I had about half an hour to go before the vampires and the Day Class meet.

His plan was to get the Day Class to rebuild the shed because it was a waste of money to hire builders. I'm not the one who would be complaining. It's going to be those whinny girls. Kuran's counter-plan was to get the Night Class to take part as well.

'After all, we are a school', as quoted by him.

I stared at the reflection of myself, picking details bit by bit. The first thing I checked for was the wound the Level E gave. The area it got me was flawless at first glance, but when I traced my side there were welts. No scars, though.

I couldn't bend over and see. I'm not that flexible plus the bathroom was so tiny it takes ages just to squat to retrieve something from the lower cupboard… Thus I leave everything on the basin level, making it really messy. Oh well.

I figured I'd skip class. Didn't feel like going, so I grabbed a black, sleeveless top from a door hook. I might just head down to town and get some groceries.

Since neither Yuki nor Cross were here, I had to cook for myself.

I can cook simple dishes, okay?

Cafeteria food was alright but I'm getting sick of it. Catering for the dinners weren't fabulous either.

After putting on the top, I adjusted the collar and noticed my tattoo. It's not that I paid attention to it and I smiled as I recalled Yuki's reaction when she saw me coming 'home' with it.

Ha. I loved her expression. She flipped.

It was a crest for taming vampires. Right now you could be thinking that it was a dead give-away to tell everyone I'm one. It's not, actually. According to Cross, ex-humans were just as uncommon as Purebloods, probably even rarer than them. And even if there were ex-humans, they usually had owners and did not require the taming charm.

I cut my ties with Shizuka. That left me 'untamed'.

This crest had not been used for two thousand years. You've got to be older than that to know what it was… are you?

My finger brushed the flat surface of my neck, where the tattoo was.

It had caused an uproar in the school as no student should have such thing on him. Some said Cross was being biased and only allowing his 'son' to come to school looking like a junkie. Everyone knew our relation wasn't blood-tied, but still referred me as his son.

Cross dismissed the matter, saying that I was from some made-up tribe and had it as a tradition.

And they actually believed. Stupid people.

I would've jumped off the roof for them.

Right now, staring at the mirror, I looked like some… emo-ish guy.

My pants were also black, mind you.

Oh well, who cares.

I exited the bathroom and grabbed Bloody Rose. My top just ended above my pants so I decided to bring a bag.

It's also black. Sheesh I have got to get another colour soon.

I chucked the gun in along with my wallet. No mobile phone. How sad.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and left my room, heading for the burnt down shed.

It took my twenty minutes (mostly because I was strolling) to get there. Believe me, a big school was not always advantageous. I was late by five but the students hardly noticed. They all had their attention to Kuran, who was sitting on a man-made rock structure.

"As of today, the Day and Night Class shall assist each other…" He glanced up from the piece of paper he was reading from and glanced at me before resuming to speak.

The girls were swooning over the vampires at the front. I'd like to see you swoon in front of them when you find out they're going to suck you dry.

"…to rebuild the horse shed as it is our responsibility to keep it standing. Students shall split into two shifts and the works begin at 4, after the Day School and ends at 7, just before the Night Class commences. All after school activities would be cancelled for the Day Class until the shed is restored. Yours truly, Principal Cross."

What a liar! It was probably Kuran who made the speech himself!

"The shifts and names of students will be put up in the cafeteria board before this evening. Remember to check which group you're in!" Ichijou said with a cheerful smile and all the girls, even some of the guys, gave obsessed responses of 'yes'.

Suckers.

"You are all dismissed. We shall see you in the evening", Kuran said.

Most of the guys started to leave, but the girls remained and attempted to chat with the vampires.

I could tell all three were sleepy, even Ichijou who was putting on his best smile.

Well, I'd better leave before the teachers come to school and find me trying to scale a three-meter high fence. I turned away from the crowd and heard my name. Looking over my shoulder, I was greeted unwelcomingly with a smug look on my class representative's face.

"Kiryuu-kun, you might want to do something about Lily before you leave to get yourself changed", he said, raising his glasses.

He thought I was late and just ran out in whatever. I'd say he'd expect me to be in class later.

"What's the problem with her?"

"She had been chasing and being chased by Oscar. If she's trying to pick a fight with a stallion, I'd say we'd better take her out of the paddock and isolate her.

Isolate her. Not Oscar. They always picked on her because she wasn't nice to them. Tough luck, you imbeciles.

"I'll check it out."

"Is there a problem here?" A voice asked.

Curiosity killed the cat, Kuran! Which part of it do you not understand?

"Oh it's nothing, Kuran-san. It's an issue only Kiryuu-kun can settle."

Kuran looked at me and I shrugged.

"If that's all…" I trailed off and turned to the direction of the paddock.

Even from here, I could see what the class representative was talking about.

A short distance away from a large group of horses, there was a white and black one seemingly crazy and darting around madly.

The white was Lily, the black Oscar.

I headed down to the fence and called out for the mare. She would usually respond to her name by coming or neighing, but this time she was distracted as Oscar kept trying to bite her back. She was doing the same in return.

Cursing, I threw my bag to the ground and jumped over the fence. I ran towards the two, oblivious of any danger which two rampaging horses could cause. I managed to scare Oscar away and Lily finally gave me her attention. Luckily, she was unhurt and trotted over, sticking her snout into my face. I stroked her head when there were thundering hooves.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Oscar charging, full-speed. I darted aside and Lily avoided the stallion as well, breaking into a small run before she peered over at me.

I had little time to recover after my duck-and-roll. When my head lifted, Oscar was overhead on his hind legs, flailing his front and neighing loudly.

Instinctively, my arms went up to shield against whatever may come and I sub-consciously held my breath. I had expected a set of hooves to be crushing me by now, but they never came. Confused, I removed my arms to find Oscar on the ground, on his side and unmoving.

"You should think before you act."

My head snapped t the side and Kuran was there, arm outstretched and palm open. Oh god had he killed-

"I merely knocked him out", he said. He must've seen the… shocked look on my face or something…

Lily came over and gave Kuran nuzzled at his hair. His head inched away a little before pushing her head downwards. She snorted and pulled away, sniffing at the unconscious stallion.

"You didn't have to do that", I muttered, looking at Oscar. He was going to wake feeling unwell.

"And watch you get trampled to death? I think not", he shook his head and came over to where I was sitting. He stretched a hand out and I stared at it as if it was a trap of some sort. "You're not going to sit there all day, are you?"

My lips tightened. I wasn't sure if I should take the hand. Taking it meant that we were… 'closer'. And I didn't want it to look that way.

You're still an enemy, Kuran…

… but an enemy who saved my life, twice.

I took the hand with reluctance and he pulled while I pushed. When I stood up, I let go and brushed the back of my pants. From the corner of my eyes I saw Lily bobbing her head up and down.

"What are you happy for?" I hissed at her.

Kuran was staring at me as if I grew an extra head.

I kept silent after. It had always been an intuition to know what Lily's emotions were. The saddest part is that it tends to be a reflection of mine. So in true fact, I should be asking myself…

What am I happy for?

--Kaname--

To say Kiryuu was weird is an understatement. Right now he was blushing. For what reason, I was unsure… but he kept glaring at Lily, so I'm assuming it had nothing to do with me.

He took Lily's rope and led her away. I had overhead the conversation with Kiryuu and his classmate. The black stallion I had just knocked out was Oscar. Considerably strong one.

I wondered what Kiryuu was going to do with Lily. Hanging around here with a big male would not be safe, I suppose. I just stood where I was and watched Kiryuu took her to another fenced area. A much smaller one.

He brought her in and took the rope off her and exited, making sure she was locked in. Lily stayed with him instead of trotting away and she started grooming him again.

It was a wonder, from here where I stood, saw such a bond. They looked like twins, if it wasn't for the fact that Lily was just a horse. Then I realised how similar they were. Both were outcasts. Both were alone.

If I'm not wrong, it was because they were afraid. To get hurt, and for Kiryuu, to be betrayed. He had experienced all of it. Cross told me. His parents were killed and his own beloved brother became his enemy.

I understood about the pain he had to go through seeing his parents die, since I have seen mine with my own eyes. Call us heartless, but vampires hardly cause ourselves anguish even with the death of family members. We simply just… remember who they were. Not a single tear was shed when I saw their dead bodies. They were dead - there was no point in grieving. I don't even remember the last time I cried.

"Oi!"

I blinked to my senses. Kiryuu stood in front of me with his hands on his hips, giving a questioned look.

"Kuran spacing out. That's unusual", he commented.

I shook my head, refraining from a smile. "I was simply thinking."

Kiryuu shrugged. "Well, I'm going."

Going? To class? You seem to be in the wrong attire, Kiryuu. And you look rather… dark.

"Not to class in that, I suppose?"

He snorted. "Of course not… I'm going to town. Skipping class."

Ah, bad boy. Then again, it was not uncommon for him.

Town… was there anything to do there? Frankly, I have never been to a human town. Passed hundreds of them, but never remained in one long enough to understand what went on. It got me interested.

"May I follow?" I asked without thinking.

Wait, why do I need to go to town for? It's not like I needed anything. If I required something, I would ask Ichijou… Okay, I just realised how lazy I sounded. Someone else always got for me what I needed.

I would be better off sleeping, actually. It was morning and the sun was warming the environment.

"I… don't mind…" Kiryuu muttered.

Oh really? I thought you might have given me a straight 'no'.

--Zero--

Kuran wanted to go to town. Can't say that I was surprised, but what did he intend to do there? And I thought it was his underlings who did everything for him.

Anyway, I couldn't believe what I just said. 'I don't mind'. I was about to go get groceries… and I'm probably going to embarrass myself. I don't know by what but it just felt like that…

Whatever. I'll just shoot him if he pisses me off…

Speaking of shoot, my bag was still on the other side of the fence, containing my gun.

I went across the main paddock, past Oscar and to the fence, picking my bag up.

"We have to sneak out, by the way."

"I enjoy a challenge."

Pft. Whatever. You probably don't even need to sneak. You're a Night Class student – you can go out freely in the day.

So we snuck out via the three meter tall fence. Climbing over the pointy top was the hardest bit, but we were fine.

It would be a quarter hour walk to reach town. Both of were silent all the way through. Kuran kept glancing around like it was a new environment. I'm sure he had come out of school grounds before…

Sheesh, stop acting like a tourist, Kuran you're embarrassing me.

We hit the outskirts of town and he was still evaluating the surroundings, taking note of every human and crease on the ground. God, I'm trying to act like I don't know him... but the proximity of him walking right beside me gave away the fact that we knew each other.

Every passer-by stared at him. A few possible reasons:

1. To them, Kuran was dark, handsome yadda yadda. That's not what I think! It's what the girls in school keep saying every evening when he walked past.

2. The might recognise the design of the uniform, but wonder why it was white. I hope this was a better reason… because if grandma over there was thinking the first I might just faint.

Kuran followed me wherever I went. Like a dog. Ha. I could even say that he was mirroring my every move. I walked, he walked. I stopped, he stopped. I turned… you get the point. It was plain creepy.

It was early in the morning, about seven or so but more than half the town was wide awake. Most of them were either getting to work or starting it. Shop barricades were opening and I got us both to the supermarket.

I helped myself in, grabbing a basket at the same time. When I entered I noticed Kuran wasn't beside me. I turned around and found him staring at the automated barrier and wondering what was to be done.

I rolled my eyes. This guy was hopeless.

"Get closer", I said.

Kuran did as I said and a small surprised look came from him when the barrier swung open.

"It's based on sensors… Don't just stand there, walk in!"

I swear, if I had to tell him to do everything I might just blow up.

"What is this place?"

"It's a supermarket. Ever heard of one?" I asked sarcastically.

"Black market, yes, but not a supermarket. Are the things sold here illegal as well?"

I smacked my forehead. Gods, what kind of environment were you brought up in, Kuran? Don't tell me you've been to a black market but not a supermarket?

"No, the things sold here are not illegal", I sighed. I turned and headed into one of the aisle.

I picked food off the shelves and racks. Canned foods, vegetables, fruits… I'm n ot fond of meat now seeing as what I… have to consume…

"Here", I said and threw him an apple taken from my basket. He stared at it and took a bite. He looked contented with it.

I paid for my stuff, along with the apple Kuran ate. Be grateful, Mr I-do-not-know-what-a-supermarket-is. I fitted most of the stuff into my bag except for the canned food and my gun was buried with fruits and vegetables.

Kuran bought some apples of his own.

When we were walking away from the supermarket, he asked another question which had me tripping, literally.

He asked what the name of the object he was eating called.

I think you can really lure him with candy and he would just follow like a baby.

"Apple! How could you not know? Wait, let me rephrase that. What do you know?"

"I'm not accustomed to eating what humans eat, I'm afraid. But the 'apple', as you call it, was quite appetizing."

Meaning, in your entire life, you've just had blood. Nothing else but blood. Gods, vampires…

"Well, blood isn't going to be the only dish in my menu", I snorted to myself. I think Kuran may have overheard it but said nothing.

He was busy munching away on a second apple from his batch. I had to remind him not to eat the stick, core and seeds.

We were halfway out of town when something had caught Kuran's attention.

He stopped to look and I did as well. It was a woman with a hooded, brown cloak, settled against the brick wall with a deck of tarot cards.

Kuran stood there staring and I nudged for him to leave when the woman spoke.

"There, there. What's the rush?" She asked. Her voice was raspy and old. She looked like any beggar on the streets with her rugged clothing. Her hand reached out as if surveying something and I found out she was blind. Her eyes were misted grey like a cataract disease and I sub-consciously turned uncomfortable. "Have a reading done for you, for free."

Kuran knelt on a knee before her, placing his bag beside him.

Are you really that of a brainless twit, Kuran? She was probably some random poor person about to rip you off for money or something. Also, didn't your mother teach you not to speak to strangers?

Obviously not. Kuran had nothing to fear, either.

--Norm--

"And how does this reading of yours work?" Kaname asked, discretely observing the old woman sitting on the ground.

She smiled, contented that the young man had not ignored and left her to be lonely. One of her hands started brushing the floor in search of the deck of cards. When she found it, she took the whole set into a single hand and fanned it out.

"Let me show you… but first, pick two."

The pureblood, without hesitation, took two out.

Zero beside him fidgeted uneasily.

The woman took the cards from Kaname, both facing the floor and her face became enlightened.

"A status of elevation… a very high one indeed", she started.

Both vampires froze.

"You may keep moving on, but there is a compulsion to remain. Do you fear the future, or something to let go?" Kaname was about to deny, but she cut him off. "Keep it to yourself. Only your heart knows." She turned over one of the cards.

Death.

Kaname peered at the card presented before him. Words of others usually meant nothing to him but…

"And the second card? Does it represent the other person?" He asked, referring to Zero.

She shook her head. "You decide your own choices, not for others and neither them for you." She turned over the next card, displaying 'Judgement'. "What this card is for, or what you can do, is of your love."

The brunette almost grunted.

"Hm… step away from temporary reality. What you're seeing now isn't the larger picture. Do not fool yourself – commit or call it quits… If you quit, you will find regeneration."

She brought the card closer to Kaname, signalling him to take it. "The Hebrew words… you will be able to decipher them when the time is right."

Without a thought, Kaname took it. All this tarot reading interested him, although unclear of what the woman spoke of. Taking the card had not necessarily meant that he believed, but the words tugged at him.

Zero was getting impatient, annoyed and creeped out at the same time. Kaname's position on the ground made it tempting to kick, if he wanted to live only two seconds more.

"Kuran, let's go", he said between grit teeth.

The old woman started chuckling after Kaname got up.

"There is nothing to fear from me, child."

"I'm not afraid!" Zero snapped and turned away. "I just don't… believe in such things."

"Would you believe if I asked 'why are you withdrawn from the world'?"

Zero froze. That had been a vague question, but it struck him somewhere inside.

Kaname studied the other's reaction carefully. Even though he had claimed that he did not believe it, the question seemed to have affected him, nevertheless.

"Let me show you what you are…" The woman pulled out a card and placed it on the ground, the back of the card shown. "Help is always there. Guide and be guided, for the wise, resistant and understanding side of you. Don't let the darkness lead you to confusion and ignorance. Although you may not know it, you can teach of things hidden – you may not even realise it."

"I'm going first!" Zero ended for her and ran ahead.

Kuran shook his head. Zero could still act like a kid at times.

"The Hermit is one of will", commented the woman. "Here, hand this to him."

She took another card out and handed it to Kaname. He took and it and flipped it over, 'The Hanged Man'. "Convey the Hebrew words to him, for his love life."

Kaname glanced between the two cards in his hand. Judgement and the Hanged Man. The Hebrew words were just below their names, which were below a drawing. He aligned the cards one behind the other, about to turn away when the old woman called out, reminding him of his belongings.

"You may keep them, in exchange for these", the pureblood replied the cards very lightly pressed on his lips.

The woman dropped her head like a bow and smiled. Her hand reached to a pocket.

"Young man, I like you. If you do not mind, take a few paces back and receive a gift from me."

Kaname turned around and saw her hand stretching out weakly. Then, from her hand two objects dangled, making a jingle. At first sight, it resembled any mobile accessory. The brunette took it into his hands and examined them.

There were two of them, each with a black string looped into a metal clip and from the clip hung a round cage with a bell inside. One accessory had a silver bell, the other had black. They tinkled in their cages.

"Give them to a loved one, my lord."

Immediately, Kaname's gaze snapped from the bells to the pathway ahead of him, but it was empty. Neither the woman nor the bag of apples was there. He looked around. It was impossible to have left without him noticing, as the roadside path he was standing on had no alleyways. Also, it had been as old woman. There was no way she could have… disappeared?

He shrugged to himself. The world was always about discovering. He was not normal himself.

Kaname turned around and headed in the direction Zero had set off in. When he reached a corner, he found the teen leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"I'm thinking you just got ripped of your food", Zero said without looking at the pureblood.

Kaname held back a smile. "No, I gave it to her willingly. Do you really think an old lady like her might have been capable of taking what is mine?"

Zero snorted at Kaname's words.

Without a sound, Kaname reached over and took one of Zero's wrists, the one not holding a bag. The ash-haired teen was momentarily stunned and his mind could not respond appropriately. Kaname had his palm facing the sky and he dropped the accessory with the black bell into it. Then, he let go.

Zero stared at the item in his palm and glanced back up at Kaname.

"Souvenir, from the old lady."

"Just throw it away, Kuran", Zero said, rolling his eyes. He had not got a phone to hang such silly and noisy thing, anyway.

"Do as you wish", Kaname replied, looking at the silver bell dangling from his own hand. "I intend to keep mine, as a little momento."

Zero had the urge of tossing it across to the other side of the street. However, after staring at the useless thing for a while, he suddenly felt inclined to keep it.

Sighing, he slipped it into his pocket.

"Fine. Can we go?"

Kaname nodded. At the same time, he made a mental note to translate the Hebrew words on the cards. He was keen to find out Zero's.

tarot! i'm just expressing my love for it here.. and believe that the information specified of each card is factual. no i'm no professional in reading tarot, but i can a little. i figured it'll be fun to have kaname in town.. i mean in the manga he did go down becfore to save Yuki's butt but hey, it's not like he was hanging out.. so might as well make him look like a town-dopey. Zero was funny i think... well, here's the update!

everyone likes Lily.. i wonder why. but no worries people she will come out time to time. i will keep in mind of the things you wish for her to do to Kaname, that's for sure.

i love you reviewers XD i think i can almost make it a weekly update, provided school does not intrude. haha. school. i'm a naughty gal who's lazing around school works.

review replies:

aoiyume-sama: haha.. i guess it's an animal thing sometimes... she liking him a bit too quickly. but i'll keep that suggestion of yours in mind. in fact it would actually fit nicely in one of the later parts XD thankies.

noobs: aha haha... sadly there might not be as much scenes going on with lily and zero but i'll try

ashmirk: coupled to what aoiyume-sama has mentioned, the suggestion of kaname hurting zero and lily going crazy on him is a very high possibilty for the future chapters. don't worry. it'll happen, that's a confirmed guaruantee XD

hugs and thanks to all rest of the reviwers! i love you guys too