7

Katsu gasped for breath as he tried to beat his attacker away. A vampire was biting him. It was a horrifying sensation, a cold and tingling sensation, but with a ton of pressure on two point in his neck; the point that the fangs had pierced. The pressure suddenly lessened and Katsu felt dizzy.

"Who's there?" he whispered, feeling immediately stupid as he did.

He, of course, received no answer and all around him things were starting to dim. Katsu fought to keep his eyes open, even after falling to the floor. The last thing he saw before blanking out were two dimming red eyes.

~VM~

Mayu had fallen asleep on her father's couch, but she didn't realize until her father nudged her awake. He wore a serious and worried expression.

"You need to get up, dear," the headmaster murmured.

"Why?" Mayu demanded. "What's happened?"

"Katsu's been hurt."

Mayu sprang off the couch and began to run towards the door. The headmaster grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Why are you stopping me? I need to see if he's alright!" Mayu growled.

"I don't want you going out alone. Whatever attacked him may very well be still lurking."

Mayu knew it must have been a vampire. She fought tears back and allowed her father to lead the way to the infirmary. It seemed like a thousand years had gone by in the long walk there. There was a full moon high above their heads, smirking at Mayu's fear.

Once they reached the door Mayu ran in, nearly blowing the door of the hinges. Katsu was there, lying in the last bed. He was unconscious. As Mayu drew closer she could see scratches on his neck around a bandage that must be cover the fang punctures. She burst into tears at his side. He was like her brother, Katsu was, her loving, annoying brother. They'd known each other since they were small. But now he was not himself. He wasn't cracking a joke, smiling, or slacking off. He wasn't there.

"He'll be alright Mayu," her father whispered to her.

"T-t-that's v-v-very good," Mayu choked out. "I'm sure tears are my reaction because I'm just overtired. I can't control my-myself."

Mayu sniffed. The headmaster wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Where did they find him?" Mayu asked in a whisper.

When her father did not answer, she got an awful feeling in her gut. It quickly became fury.

"What's happened, Cross?" asked a voice that Mayu and the headmaster both new. Zero walked urgently into the room. Mayu ran at him and punched him square in the face. She was about to punch him again, but Zero grabbed her arm.

"What're you doing?" Zero demanded.

"Why'd you hurt him?" Mayu hissed.

"I did not and never would hurt him. You should know that Mayu-chan."

Zero threw her away from him. He may have meant for it to be gentle, but being a vampire he must not have realized it. Or perhaps he had meant for it to be as strong as it was.

Mayu wrapped her arms around herself. She was so lost and scared. She then turned to go out the door when she walked right into Daichi. He laid his hands on her shoulders.

"I was just looking for you," he told her. "I heard what happened and I knew you would be hurting. So I came to see if I could try and help you."

"Okay," was all Mayu said.

"Why don't we take a walk?" Daichi suggested. He took Mayu by the hand and they began walking.

They had already turned to another hall before Mayu realized they could be in danger.

"Wait," Mayu finally whispered, "the vampire is still on the grounds."

"I'll defend you if I need to," Daichi said softly with a smile. Mayu smiled the slightest of slight smiles. Daichi, the one she'd loved for three years now, was on a walk with her.

Daichi stopped walking once they reached the back hallway. No one usually used this one since they built other hallways that were quicker routes. It had some rose bushes growing over the side of the wall threatening to prick. Daichi turned to face her. He placed his hands on the wall on either side of her.

"I don't ever want to see you in pain," he murmured.

His face drew closer and closer to hers until finally their lips met. It was like a spark. Mayu's face burned red with surprise as she kissed him back. She could feel the brick rubbing against the back of her leg, but she didn't care. Daichi gripped her hair in both his hands. Mayu laid one hand on his chest and the other on the back of his head. Daichi slid his hand down her back and pulled her close to him. Mayu closed her eyes and lost herself in the moment that was beyond magical.

"I love you," Daichi murmured into her ear.

"Mayu!"

The two broke apart and watched as Zero ran to them. Mayu scowled and turned away.

"You can't just run off like that without telling your father! Especially not with a Night Class student," Zero growled. "They're all considered suspects right now."

"You, too, are a vampire, need I remind you?" Daichi replied coldly. "And the attack took place in your office, did it not? It seems like you're a greater suspect than any of the Night Class."

"Mayu, follow me now."

He took her arm and started to walk. Mayu walked with him, but once Daichi was out of view, she ripped her hand out of her grip. She stopped, causing Zero to do the same. She stared at him searchingly for a moment while Zero stared back harshly.

"Are you going to attack me now?" Mayu asked bluntly.

"Mayu, I did not attack Katsu! I was with you and your father," Zero growled.

"You got angry and left, remember?"

Zero sighed, covering his face with his hand.

"You're so headstrong. It'll lead you to trouble one day," Zero murmured, "but not today. We can ask Katsu who attacked him once he wakes."

"Fine," Mayu replied, then hesitated before asking, "Do you hate all purebloods?"

"Not all, just most. Now let's hurry back before your father murders me."

~VM~

"Mayu," the headmaster sighed with relief, "thank goodness you're safe. You mustn't scare me like that."

Mayu hugged her father loosely. She was too aware of Zero's presence in the room. He just stood near the window, searching for anything on the grounds. Mayu could tell that he was still keeping an eye on her though.

"Has he awoken?" Mayu asked her father.

"No," replied the headmaster. "Zero, I must check on the Night Class, please stay here with Mayu."

"Why not just have Kiryu-san go? He is a vampire, after all, wouldn't it be more fitting?"

"For goodness sakes, just stay here Mayu!" her father nearly shouted before quickly fleeing the room.

Mayu sat in a chair next to Katsu and thought about him, Daichi, and Zero. She was ignoring Zero, but she couldn't help but think about him. He seemed like the most logical suspect, yet the least likely. He had nothing against Katsu, surprisingly. If Zero were to attack someone it would have been Yuuta or one of the other vampires. Zero had so much control, though, that it seemed unlikely for him to loose control.

What if a rogue vampire had gotten onto the grounds, though? Would Mayu and Katsu be blamed for not properly doing their job, or would Headmaster Cross have to take the fall. Perhaps the school could manage to keep it a secret and swiftly dispose of the vampire before anymore harm came.

Mayu's head was spinning, as was Zero's. Mayu had been accusing him relentlessly and he couldn't put his finger on the reason why. He had reveled his past to her that was haunting him endlessly, and this was her thanks? Zero couldn't help but notice that her behavior had become more and more reckless. Kissing Daichi while her dearest friend was lying in the hospital and a vampire was on the loose was merely stupid and disrespectful. Zero planned to talk to the headmaster about reorganizing priorities. Catching the vampire and controlling Mayu should be first, other matters second.

A tremendous cough disrupted the thoughts of the two. Katsu was stirring. He gripped his shoulder as his face contorted with pain. He slowly sat upright.

"What the hell happened?" he asked in hoarse voice.

Mayu was on her feet as she replied, "You were attacked!"

"I know that!" Katsu growled back. "I mean what happened to my shoulder? Did they stab me with a needle?"

Mayu rolled up his sleeve, quickly at first but then slowly after he winced a few times. She revealed a large bandage covering his shoulder.

"According to this," Zero said, reading off a sheet the nurse left. "That's where the vampires claws dug in, probably to hold you still."

"It hurts like hell, man."

Mayu poked his shoulder. Katsu grabbed her hand.

"Don't mess with me," Katsu told her, "I seriously kill you."

"It's good to know you're still you," Mayu said.

"Why don't you stand back, Mayu-chan," Zero suggested. "Mori, did you see anything?"

"Sorry, I only saw a pair of bright red eyes, nothing special. You're office was really dark," Katsu told them.

Mayu and Zero sighed, but for polar opposite reasons. Mayu was still angry with Zero's behavior and was searching for something to convict Zero with. Zero was looking for some way to prove his innocence to Mayu. He didn't like how she acted towards him now. She was usually trying to bother him or ask him obnoxiously long questions, but now there was nothing. She didn't talk, unless he talked to her or if she was accusing him.

Katsu was so disoriented. His shoulder was in pain, along with his neck. He grabbed Mayu's shoulder.

"I'm sorry I couldn't see who it was," he told her.

"It's not your fault," Mayu told him.

Katsu knew she was right, but it felt like it was his fault. A crazy half fed vampire could be running around the school grounds now.

Someone knocked on the door. It was Yuuta to Katsu's dismay.

"He's awake?" Yuuta asked.

Mayu walked over to him and murmured, "I don't think you should be here."

"Don't worry. I just heard that it was Zero who attacked him and came to uncover the truth."

Zero bared his teeth and then growled, "I did not attack Mori."

"I know, I did."