~A Vampire Knight Side Story Part VII~
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or any of its characters.
Special shout out to MadokaMagica1998 and lilmissmessy. You guys were my inspiration by messaging me since no one reviewed the last chapter. I'm happy to know that at least a few people are enjoying the story so far. Thank you so much!
~Kaien Cross's pov~
"Even so, Cross, we cannot simply overlook the fact that Yaiba Surudoi has disobeyed one of our highest laws. What would you suggest her punishment be for this transgression?" the Hunter's Association president asked while she hid her mouth with her fan. There was always that amused and condescending look she gave him that made Kaien's blood boil, but he kept as calm a face as ever.
She had already disapproved of protecting Zero when he came to her before, even sending Yagari to evaluate the situation. Of course, Yagari was always welcome, but he knew his friend wouldn't spare Zero if he thought the boy was too dangerous. And now she asked for an opinion she would no doubt dismiss anyway. However, Kaien was treading on dangerous ground right now just revealing Yaiba's actions.
"I'm not asking you to ignore what Yaiba has done. However, she has indisputable evidence of the atrocities that have been going on within Ground Zero. Would you so easily condemn her after saving an innocent?" He tried not to clench his fists as the president laughed. The walls in the Association's highest office pressed in, starting to give Kaien a headache. To think that this had never bothered him before concerned him deeply. He used to be so determined to fulfill his purpose as a vampire hunter that he'd never stopped to realize that something was very much amiss in the Hunter's Association.
"An innocent? I don't remember any such thing occurring. We haven't harbored any refugees recently. Perhaps that mind of yours is failing you?" The woman feigned astonishment and fanned herself a little while Kaien's eyes narrowed for half a second. The president was toying with him. Yaiba wouldn't lie about such a thing and now he worried about the girl she saved. Kaien replaced his glasses and smiled at the president.
"Yes, my mistake. I'll make sure Yaiba stays confined within my academy. I believe that is punishment enough right now, and Yagari and I can keep an eye on her. Surely that should be enough."
"No, no, no. A thorough suspension of any vampire hunting duties for Surudoi will be enacted. Make sure you retrieve her weapons as well and have them sent here to be locked away. I will personally contact the Council to look into her accusations. I'm sure everything will be resolved and accounted for. Nothing to worry about. Oh, and do bring the Kiryu offspring here sometime. I have a room to show him. Dismissed." With a wave of her fan in dismissal, Kaien found himself striding through the Hunter's Association's halls once again.
Vampire hunters, young and old alike, stopped and stared as he passed by them. When once he thought it a symbol of strength, he now wanted to do anything to get away from their view.
Kaien finally let out a deep sigh as he stepped outside and into the cold weather. Something needed to be done, and soon, or all of them would be facing the consequences of overlooking Ground Zero.
xxxx
~Yaiba Surudoi's pov~
I slowly pulled the sock up and over my knee and clipped the garter belt to it. When I glanced over, I barely saw two heads move in a blur. Smiling, I returned my attention to pulling the other sock up, feeling two sets of eyes on me once again.
"Cross, why exactly are we sharing this room again?" Toga started up come casual conversation.
"Because all of the funds I earn go towards the Academy and my precious children."
I adjusted the black miniskirt I was wearing and turned my back to them, lifting my shirt over my head. I heard Toga choke out a cough.
"Ahem. And refresh my memory as to why we're here in the first place?"
"Well I'll have to send Yai's weapons in soon, so we need to investigate Ground Zero before the president gets too suspi-"
Unhooking my plain white bra and tossing it on the bed, I bent over to reach for the black lacy one on the bed I was facing.
"Uh, Cross. You were saying?"
"Erm, yes. Too suspicious. That's a tricky word."
"Yeah"
"Mhm. Ah, right! And well, we couldn't walk the Academy grounds looking like this. What would my students think of me?"
"They'd think you finally dressed appropriately and had a very sexy, overwhelmingly hot, prost-"
"Womanfriend! Attractive and mature friend who happens to be a woman!"
"Riiiight…"
I clipped the bra into place and reached for the black and green top that laced up the back.
"Kai, could you help me with this?" I heard something drop behind me and almost turned to look before a pair of hands straightened my head toward the art above the hotel bed once again.
"Yes, don't worry about it!"
~Toga Yagari's pov~
They were all getting dressed to attend Ground Zero's main building where their "entertainment" happened. Toga would have to watch the reconnaissance mission from the shadows since his reputation and very visible eyepatch would give away who he was. Kaien had dyed his hair a dark brown for the evening and they both wore turtleneck sweaters with black slacks. Toga's was a navy blue while Cross's was crimson.
Normally, having to pile in motel rooms for a quick shower and getting dressed in a new set of mission clothes was no problem. They'd all seen each other multiple times over the years as a team that it just became habit. But none of them had seen each other for quite a while.
Toga's attention was fully focused on the nimble fingers that drew that thigh-high sock up oh so slowly. Both him and Cross's attention hadn't really been on her while they got dressed, but of course their outfits weren't as complicated as Yaiba's and they were soon finished. So Toga and Kaien leaned against the dresser across from the bed to wait for her, an old habit that had resurfaced.
Toga shamelessly admired the form before him, not really having done so when she was half naked and on top of him before. Why the hell hadn't he taken a good look before? Even if he was trying to dissuade her from being with him, he could have at least appreciated what he hadn't seen for so long. And even back then, they were just glimpses. Didn't want to blatantly stare at your partner's breasts for too long when there was a watchful third person in your party.
When Yaiba glanced up, he guiltily looked away toward the curtained window. In that moment, Toga realized he wasn't the only one caught up in admiration, seeing a similar head movement in the corner of his eye. Well, well, Cross was actually starting to respect his ex-partner's assets. All that downtime at the academy must have given him time to get over that pureblood.
Toga mentally assured himself again that neither of them would go any further than looking though. Off limits. They'd agreed upon that, but that faint blush on Cross's cheeks wasn't very convincing. Anger flared up a little within him. He'd valued Yaiba first. Actually stopped to look at her from time to time and think about what could have been. But Cross was a robot. Single-minded on every mission and dedicated to the cause. Toga wouldn't know what to do if Cross broke the line they'd drawn, and he didn't want to think about it right now.
The one-eyed hunter started up some conversation with his comrade to distract both of them from what was happening right in front of them. That is, until Toga almost choked on air when said object of their attention took her shirt off. And once again, he wasn't the only one in the room it was affecting as Cross actually stopped midsentence when the damned tease took her bra off. She had to be doing this on purpose. But at the same time, this was necessary and wasn't any different from what they'd had to do in the past. It was frustrating.
Toga picked up and downed the plastic cup of water he'd fixed earlier to keep him from coughing so obviously. And then quickly dropped it when Yaiba asked Cross for assistance. Cross be damned, why couldn't it be him? She never asked him for wardrobe help! Of course there was the one time she offered and he'd been playfully handsy, but it was to clear the serious mood. Well, mostly.
~Yaiba Surudoi's pov~
I could feel Kai quietly looping the cords through their respective holes as his knuckles brushed against my back. The room was suddenly uncomfortably quiet and I wasn't quite sure what to say. I'd wanted to call for Toga to help me so that it might help clear the air a bit more in a show of trust, but Kai's name just slipped from my lips out of habit.
If Kai were closer, I'd be able to feel his dark brown hair brush against my shoulders since my own hair was in a messy bun for the evening. It made me want to lean back just slightly, but I resisted the urge to do so. No need to muddle up all of our thoughts right before a big mission.
"So, Cyclops, what do you plan on doing tonight? Just eyeing the layout while the real adults handle the situation?"
"Haha, Catwoman. An eye joke, because you've never used that one before. Be sure not to stray from the path if you sniff out any catnip or happen to have the urge to chase a dog on the way. The vamps might just use you for the show."
"At least my nickname doesn't elude to me being a one-eyed oaf."
"But sexiest and most dangerous oaf in all existence. Admit it."
Cross finished lacing up the back of my top and I pulled on a coat to block the bare skin from the frosty air tonight. We were ready. The banter was nice and felt like old times, but we needed to be serious in planning our next move. After checking weapons and discussing strategy, we finally headed toward Ground Zero...
