I have returned with this story after a long delay. Frankly I'm eager to finish it because I have the ending all planned in my head-plot twist and all. I would appreciate valuable critiques. Enjoy!
Chapter 8: A Covert Substance
"Come on, we have work to do."
Hm? I looked up to see Zero Kiryu staring down at me where Sayori and I were quietly eating our lunch near the academy stables. For once, the day felt marvelous— clear and sunny, as if everything that had happened, or was happening, was just a dream.
Except it wasn't. I had not taken my mind off my duty. I knew I was part of something I didn't expect to be caught up in, and every evidence, every page of that little book with the dates of deaths, still continued to haunt me. I had to be prepared at any moment I was summoned, and this was the time.
"Eh…" I looked over at Sayori, but she returned a smile. "You can go, Jona-kun. It's okay."
The girl was seriously cute, and thankfully, much more understanding than before. How she was even dealing with a burden like me, I would never know. But as a dorm-mate, she was a great friend to have around.
"Thanks, Yori-chan. Here." I gave her the rest of my untouched lunch. "A little Ethiopian treat. Bon A'petite!"
Following Zero past the horse track and the green fields felt the greatest I had ever felt since coming here. I really enjoyed nature. The smell and feel of nature under my feet. The Day Class girls were having their riding class. I wish I could have mounted one of those horses. The animals looked beautiful, but alas…being in a supplementary class did not give me that option.
The thought then suddenly led me to delve onto something else. I turned around to see that Yori had already left from our spot. I had to wonder…
"Say, Zero-san, why doesn't Sayori take classes in the day like the other Day Class students? She seems to have a lot of time on her hands."
"It's probably her day off." Zero replied. Hm? Day off? From what? "She's been going back to her father, Councillor Wakaba, more often now. Her family is planning her marriage soon I think."
What? Marriage? Sayori getting married at her age? "But she's still in high school!"
"She's older than the other Day Class students, you know. In fact, Sayori would have already graduated." I had to gape a little. I didn't even think… "But she apparently likes it here. She says it's her home."
Yori-chan…so this was the reason why she was taking class with me, separately from our other peers? Because she just wanted to? But that meant…
"And you Zero-san? And Takamiya-sensei and Toga-sensei and Headmaster Cross? Why are you all here?"
Zero gave me an irritated look, and I was expecting him to tell me to mind my own business.
"We're here because they're here." He pointed at the Night Class dormitory in the distance. "And they're here because they want to make this place their home too."
The vampires…right, the good ones. I remember Takamiya-sensei telling me how the nobles and aristocrats were there to promote pacifist ideologies like the headmaster wanted. They were the ones who wanted peace…except because of these recent crimes, that claim was up for questioning.
Strange…the dorm looked so quaint in the sunlight. I wonder if the vampires were sleeping. Would they burn if they stepped out? And Touma-sempai…the only pureblood…
"What about you, Africa?" Hm? Africa? I raised a brow at Zero's little nickname for me.
"What about me?"
"Why are you here? Of all places?" He looked up and down at me. "And I know for a fact that you're not in the age group to be a high school student either."
Caught. Again, this had become such an recurring pattern with him and sensei that I was done being surprised. But I brought it up on myself, didn't I?
"You're right. I'm 20 years old. I've been home-schooled all my life so I missed out on some of the curriculum taught in regular schools. So I got knocked down to Junior high here." I shrugged. "But only part-time, and only to fulfill a few easy classes before I can move on to a university. So far I've just been working with my dad in the mornings at the studio in town. That is until you guys, you know, booby trapped me into joining your epic goose chase."
I saw signs of a chuckle coming out. I was so close to making him laugh. "That wasn't the answer I was looking for, idiot."
I grinned. Of course. That was my intention. "Well don't look now, Zero-san, but we've got more important things to worry about."
And sure enough, he led me to the front gates where Headmaster Cross waited in all his flamboyant glory. He opened the back door of a car next to him, and from his gesture, I could only think that he wanted me to get in.
"Good morning, Joan-chan! I hope you're enjoying your stay in the Sun dorm."
"I'm enjoying it the best I can, headmaster," I sent him a reassuring grin. "It's not every day an ol' commoner like me gets a lavish room to herself."
But then I saw his little laugh, "You're not just an old commoner, Joan-chan," and his finger that poked me on my nose playfully. "You're more important to us than you know."
Important? Hmm, strange. I didn't know what to say to that. It seemed to strike up a feeling of pride within, but I couldn't help but remain cynical. I mean, clearly I was the bait here right? An outsider who could surprise this alleged suspect? Just like in those crime novels—a mysterious foreigner who comes from nowhere and has no name, helps an organization kill their target and disappears without a trace. What was it? Right, the Jackal. That's what he was called. And maybe if I had more experience, more skill and the mind of a lone assassin, I would be called one too. I wouldn't be just a simple bait. To be just "used".
"Well then, hop in!" The headmaster waved me inside. "We've got some distance to cover."
I rode with them in the car, noticing the black filter on the windows that blocked the outside view from my eyes. Whatever this was, it was meant to be secretive. I scanned the inside and noticed it was just me, the headmaster, the driver, and Zero.
"Where's Takamiya-sensei?" I suddenly noticed he was not with us. I wished I didn't ask. That strange feeling again. That word. Kawaii.
"He's got a day class to teach." The headmaster responded. "Don't worry he will join us in a couple of hours."
"Did you bring the camera with you?" Zero added.
"Oh yes." I quickly turned my attention to my bag and opened the flap to reveal the piece of equipment inside. "I reloaded it last night so it's all set and ready for more action."
"Good girl. Keep it close…" The headmaster turned his head towards me and smiled. "I believe you'll be happy to see the results that came out from the shots you took in the sewers. It may provide an important link we did not have till now."
I sat up. Instinctively. No, gleefully. "It worked?" I said it as loudly as it went through my mind. Almost in disbelief. Almost…oh wow. So my half-assed idea to go down in the dumps was not a failure?
"Your idea did work. And you did good." The headmaster chuckled. "But let's not mention anything until we get to the site."
"Alright." My mind churned with anticipation, but I was not going to complain. Not when I felt wholly satisfied. Yes! Joan, give a pat on your back! Making that spontaneous decision to venture into the sewers was not worthless after all. It was like instinct, the most important decision I could make in this heinous crimes. And I was doing good. At least so far.
"So…am I being sneaked into the hunter's association? 'Cause of unfriendly eavesdroppers?" I spoke up in almost comical excitement.
Zero raised his brows at me, and when I looked to the front, so did the headmaster and the driver through his rearview mirror. There was a moment of silence. And I had to think on it. Wait a minute…
"We're not going to the hunter's association…are we," I said it plainly.
"You're not ready for that place yet." Zero crossed his arms. It was enough to practically see Takamiya-sensei in his place.
"Yeah, your first-class nagging companion said the same thing." I pressed on my lips even when I heard the headmaster suppress a laugh. "He just remembers to add 'newbie' at the end."
XXXX
Inside the same room where I was introduced to the many shards of evidence few days before, I waited patiently as the headmaster brought me the developed photos in an unsealed envelope. It was amazing how crisp they sounded when I gingerly took them out, slowly and carefully, as if they were fragile pieces of art. And they were. If anything, photography to me was like architecture to Antoni Gaudi—it was my life's greatest passion. It defined my worth. And strangely enough, it got me this job. A job that took more than just trigger-happy fingers. This was a dangerous field, and it was going to demand more from me than just passion alone.
"Joan-chan, do you see it?" Hm? Oh…oh right. The headmaster was looking at me now. I seriously needed to stop narrating in my mind.
I looked down, finally noticing the content within the pictures. Woah…this was different. Yes, these were not even taken with regular light. So that must have meant…
"These are the ones you took with the UV setting on the camera." The headmaster pointed out. "The ones in the sewers I imagine. Near the pipes. But the most important thing is this."
He pointed to a specific spot on the picture, and I saw it right away. A blue-yellow fluorescent trail running across the top of one of the pipes, right before it stopped at the mouth where I stood clicking away in the darkness. So there was something down there that connected to the fire above after all. Well how about that! My luck was beginning to change.
"And look at this, same thing here." He changed to another photo I took of the man's ashes. "patches of fluorescent marks in his remains."
"It's the chemical." Zero spoke up next to me. "The culprit traced some kind of invisible chemicals along here that are detected only through UV lighting." His eyes lingered over mine. "Joan thought it could have been some invisible gas that caused the fire…but this shows that some synthetically-composed chemical was involved somehow. Something with flammable components."
I blinked twice. "Oh wow, Zero-san, look at you squirting out big words here and there." He grumbled in response as I snickered.
"Kiryu-kun has a good point. But the strange thing is—why were there signs of this chemical underground when the fire started above? And how was it found within the level D himself?" The headmaster suddenly put the envelope with the pictures within a satchel and handed it to me.
"Which is why Joan-chan, I'm going to send you to do an errand by finding out what this chemical actually is." Huh? An errand for me? "There is a chemical manufacturing complex that deals with these kinds of, how you say, mysterious and new-age compounds. If they know anything about this, it might lead us to understand how it could have caused the fire. Possibly even to more answers."
"Er…okay." I looked through the content within the bag. "Where is this complex?"
I saw the headmaster lift his glass from his nose. "In the outskirts of town. A half an hour journey by the underground train. It is Joan-chan…" he paused. "in the human realm."
I raised a brow at his strange attempt to speak in a foreboding tone. "Well am I going into this 'human realm'…" I lowered my voice in a creepy manner, "by myself?"
"Kaito will go with you." Hm? It was Zero. "He was kind enough to cancel supplementary classes today, and with nothing else to do…"
"Nothing else to do? But why with me?" I said that out loud hastily.
"Is that a problem?" The head master said. "Are you two not getting along?"
No, that wasn't it. I wasn't trying to find an excuse...well, maybe I was. But how could I tell him some irrational thoughts were getting in the way? Some strange emotion...
"I'm merely saying that Zero-san came with me to inspect the courtyard and the sewers so I think he should come." I covered for myself quickly. "It's only practical to have one partner at a time."
"Zero and I have to report some things to the association. And then…have a meeting with the vampire order about this whole mess. Best that Kaito takes over this time." The headmaster sheepishly smiled. "But I'm so happy both you and Zero-chan are getting along. He does seem more at ease now that he has a brand new female companion to watch his back."
"Shut up…" I heard Zero mutter under his breath. Again, that tension in his skin. And his face… I saw it now for the first time. A sudden sadness in his eyes. And it made me wonder; made me come to a spontaneous conclusion.
Did Zero lose someone very close to him?
I understood what I was getting into when I agreed to this work. No…when I decided to even come to this school and take supplementary lessons. It was as if every decision I made was planned out from the start. My involvement with under-cover vampire hunters. My encounter with the vampires. The whole scene in the courtyard…how I was at the right place at the right time. And now this—this mysterious chemical without a name. But even with these surreptitious occurrences, I was dealing with people who had their own personal secrets to hide. I knew it because I noticed it. In Zero. In Yori. Sometimes even in Takamiya sensei. Vaguely, sure, but it was there.
And I wondered—I had to wonder—if they noticed it too. If they knew that even I had my own tragic events I was trying to forget.
"Ah, Kaito, there you are."
I looked up to see his familiar face fill my sight. It wasn't enough that the satchel and my camera were loading me down, but my legs grew suddenly heavy when I noticed him wearing a slick black peacoat that reached up to his thighs. Goodness…the one time he decided to dress nicely. Nothing like the casual turtleneck top and jeans I wore.
"I sneaked out when I could. Is our new apprentice ready to go?" He seemed to already know about this so-called errand. But then he…ah, my face was warm. Because he was looking at me again.
"Ah, I've upgraded from a newbie to an apprentice now eh?" I spoke out instinctively, confidently, almost in mockery to his name for me. "Then I say we get moving, partner."
I rushed out the door even before he could respond, before he could see me let out a huge breath to relax my tense nerves after saying that in full cockiness. I was trying to play it cool, but I knew I was actually covering the fact that he made me grow warm when I saw them this time around.
And I knew that was never a good sign.
XXXXX
In spite of everything that had happened, and what was to come, I managed to enjoy the train ride out of Cross Academy and the small town. It felt short, hardly noticeable that we were riding underground, but it had been a very long time since I last rode a high-speed railway.
I wanted to close my eyes and enjoy the ride, but then I turned to Takamiya-sensei beside me. Ever so quiet—looking through papers of importance probably. Perhaps if I could, I would have started a casual conversation. But casualties were far behind us. This was the time to get more answers.
"So Takamiya-sensei—"
"Kaito would be nice in public, thank you."
A startled flinch. First name basis now then?
"Okay, Kaito-san. So this whole secret chemical business...do you believe whoever is behind all this is taking them out to do his dirty work? From somewhere not within the vampire territory?"
"It's possible. Certainly narrows down places to look." He turned at me. "Do you have any speculations on the matter?"
Did I? "Well…it seems to me that whoever it is…knows how to operate with unknown substances. At least for the recent crime anyway." I took out a container that held a sample of the man's ashes and gazed at it closely. "Seems kind of useless though if he or she…what you say, is already a vampire. I mean why would they need to go through the hassle when they can just manipulate their lesser kind with their powers?"
"Well that's one of the questions, isn't it?" He leaned towards me, a glint of excitement in his eyes. I inched back slightly. "Because using just their powers—it's too easy. Too predictable. If we knew a pureblood or anyone else was behind these killings in their methodical way, we would have caught them by now. But this…" He tapped the satchel on my lap. "He is using other resources, he is operating in a different way. Which is why it's hard, even for those on the vampires' side, to trace it back to a single culprit when he shields himself behind several faces."
"I don't understand…" I tried to make sense of what he meant. Shielding behind faces? Using other resources? "So you mean to say it's not a typical vampire?"
"It is a vampire. But not among us. Not within our realm." He folded his arms. "I believe he's an outsider…just like you, partner."
I tried to hide my slight giggle at his new title for me. "So that's why you appointed me?" I was curious now. "Because you wanted to use an 'unpredictable' strategy to catch him by taking along a crazy foreigner?"
I saw him lightly chuckle. "Yes, well, we do need a fresh pair of eyes. And to play along with his games. And…" hm? He paused.
"And? And what?"
"Nothing. Let's just concentrate on the task we have now."
I pursed my lips. "Do you really think knowing what this invisible chemical is will solve this whole mystery?" I changed the subject. "From what I read in that book of records, it seemed the other crimes were each carried out differently."
"It won't solve the mystery but it will certainly open some closed doors. Narrow down some alleged suspects I would say." He suddenly bore his teeth at me. In that devious grin. "You seem to be really enjoying this, aren't you?"
Enjoying? How could anyone be enjoying something this sinister? This awful awful series of—
"As a matter of fact I am."
What? Did I say that?
"It is a privilege to do something exhilarating for once, thank you." I raised my nose in the air and turned my face away. In a manner, god forbid, similar to a haughty aristocrat. Yet I did felt proud. I was feeling proud all day.
As much as I hated to say it, it did felt good looking for answers. To play this game. I couldn't understand why, but when time came to do anything other than ordinary, I leapt at the chance. And here I was, begging for more.
XXXXXX
"Oh wow, this place?"
I had to make a face at this. I really did. And here I expected this chemical complex to be in the outskirts of nowhere. Probably in a dry deserted area where crazy experiments were sure to be carried out. Meth labs for instance…that's what I had in mind.
But this…this little building between rows of restaurants, cafes, supermarkets…why, this was just like a mini second-hand store! A scam that's what it was!
"Why…" I squinted my eyes in speculation when I saw the neon sign flicker ominously. "How is this even…"
"Don't make that face. If I said it's legit then it is." He opened the door for me and we went inside.
Yuck. The smell inside was awful. Hydrogen sulfide I suspect.
"Excuse me, sorry." It was a man who came out from the back. "We're doing some things in the back. Please wear some masks for your safety."
Right. Where were they—hey! I looked up. Kaito had already slipped one on my face.
"We need to get some information about some alleged 'invisible' chemical." He took my bag and unloaded the contents within. "Flammable, only detected under UV light, not something used in ordinary doses. Or found in nature." Wow he was quick to the point.
The man looked through the pictures and the ashen particles in the container. As Kaito explained more, I stood in silence and pondered—pondered whether one of us should tell him what had happened in the courtyard. The fire. The murder. The strange after effect that made me collapse. Even now it made me shiver.
But when I thought about it more…this chemical. Whatever it was. How it was administered. How it all connected to the unused matchstick, the burning body that hanged overhead, the evidence in the sewer pipes…it suddenly dawned on me.
"Well you're right about this being not ordinary." The man looked at both of us. "What you're describing me here is a very rare and 'new' type of chemical compound. Insanely flammable…you only need to hover something like a match over it and it will catch fire, wherever you applied this chemical that is. Kind of like gasoline. But there's a difference…" he leaned in, excitedly.
"What's so 'special' about this bad-boy like you said is that it's so covert. You put this stuff on something and let it dry out and it will still be as flammable as ever. And no one will know. Plus it even seeps through pretty hard and thick objects and harden, reflecting this fluorescent patches right here under UV." He pointed to the pictures I took in the sewers. "If there's some patches of it in the pipes underground, you never know it may have just seeped in through the cracks from above."
"The courtyard did lack good solid foundation…" I saw Kaito mumble.
So that girl that made the fire trail towards the dead body…she didn't strike the match on the ground, nor there was gasoline there to begin with. It was that chemical trail. Undetected, in sight and smell.
Just like…
"I've seen this before…" I spoke up. Yes I remembered now. "When I was in the Cameroon villages, the households there were introduced to this in place of cooking fire. Came in small doses in barrels, and it didn't create smoke. I've never seen it personally, but I heard it helped greatly since many houses were not ventilated. And it contained the spread of regular fire too." I found my voice weaken. Even now it was fresh in my mind. "But I think in the end, it caused more harm than good…"
"I would think so. It's a fishy substance. Can cause unconsciousness and even be lethal in high doses. In other words, it needs more research." The man sighed. "Whoever got their hands on this is definitely screwing with the black market."
"Or using it to screw with us." Kaito added.
"I've got some more things you would like to take a look at…the association needs to handle this immediately." He took out the ribbons and the eggshells. There were other things from his own parcel too, but I didn't pay attention.
Things just started to buzz through my head endlessly. Ugh…this problem, why was it affecting me so strangely? Because it suddenly led back to that time? That day which changed everything for me?
My scar…yes it still burned. But it seemed more of a scoffing matter now. It was all so strange. Strange as how such coincidences led to another—how a simple substance could lead to a tragic massacre. A war. A fire.
No stop it Joan. Just stop it. It's in the past. It's different now.
"Andalifi." I spoke hoarsely. "The people in the villages called the chemical that."
"Ah…well it doesn't have a universal name yet." The man continued. "But we Japanese who know about this call it Ka-yinjo."
"I see."It was all I could say before tucking that word into my brain for later.
XXXX
"Damn, it's been awhile since I've come out here." Kaito mumbled. I forget what we were talking about, or what he exactly meant by that comment. I was too engrossed in my own deductions. After we left the complex, it was all he and I could talk about.
Andalifi, or Ka-yinjo; this chemical that can start a fire but hardly leaves a trace to the visible eye. This fire can attract other fires, which essentially what caused the level D to burst into flames from the inside—he had apparently taken a dose of it before he hung himself, which was why the evidence was also found in his ashes.
Then there was the fire that the Day Class girl saw. The same level D was playing with the chemical by lighting himself up, but there was no burning smell or matches that were used. Only the vampires smelled it—probably because of their intense ability to detect the smallest whiffs. But they admitted that they didn't see a fire from their windows. Were they distracted? Could it have been those eggshells and ribbons that misled the intruder's scent? At the end of the day, the specifics were hard to decipher.
But as a whole, one thing was true. The mastermind behind this was dealing with new synthetic compounds, not just ka-yinjo, but other ones too—at least that's what Kaito told me. And they were something neither the vampires or hunters had ever dealt with. Why? Because they were now a part of a new weapon—a combination of human science and a pureblood vampire's powers. And no matter how they were used, there was still the possibility that this new invention could seriously impact the relationship between vampires and humans in the future.
Whoever was doing this…why he was doing this—it had to be found out soon.
"You're awfully quiet." Hm? I looked up. Kaito had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to observe me. Where were we? I looked around. People passed us left and right. That's right—we were still in the busy district of the human town, far from the place where vampires dwelled. It seemed pretty normal here. Too normal…almost scary to think about it.
"This is why you're going to fail my class." Ow! He hit me in the head! "My words just fly over your head don't they?"
"Hey I was listening when we were throwing our theories back and forth." I rolled my eyes to the ground. "But now that we're not, I'm using this time to think."
"Think about what?"
I caught his obvious way of teasing me. "Not your nonsense, that's for sure."
Oh. Damn, I spoke up again. That face…he raised his brows. In shock? Speaking against my own teacher? I wish I didn't open my mouth.
But then there was a laugh. What? He was laughing?
"Nonsense huh? Well at least you're honest." He paused. "A sharp mouth with a sense of humor to boot."
I didn't realize when my face had turned pink. But it happened again. Suddenly a smile. Not the ever-so-conceited smirk but a small grin fighting to leave a print on his lips. What was this?
"You reeled in a good catch I suppose." I tried my best to humor it off again.
"The best catch I should say…" He answered. Huh? What was that supposed to mean? I saw him turn his face away immediately. Talk about being fishy, no pun intended.
"Are you hungry?" Hm? He was looking at a ramen and sushi place down the street. "We did some work, found some information. Seems like a good time to get some food."
"I am a bit hungry, sure." I followed him towards the little outdoors restaurant. My eyes fell on the prices. "Ah but it looks a bit pricey for me though."
"My treat, newbie, don't worry about it." He took me to a vacant seat in the front counter. I could have acted surprised and objected his offer all I wanted, but this was the first gentleman-like thing he was doing without force. A smile crept my face. He was starting to grow on me. Maybe I wasn't a prick on his side anymore. Maybe I was worth being around someone...whatever that meant.
"Where do we go from here?" I asked as he placed our orders. "We give our new evidence to the others, and then I suppose that will lead to more puzzles to crack."
"Of course, new things will start popping up." He looked at me. "But let's change topics...tell me about Africa."
"What?" I shot him a look of confusion. "Why suddenly?"
"Am I hitting a chord here?" He said as I instinctively rubbed below my collarbone. He was hitting a chord, a mighty fine chord that had left me traumatized for months afterwards. And when I didn't answer, he blew a sigh. "I asked because you seem to be aware of this chemical. You said it was used in the villages in place of real fire."
"Yes, Andalifi, I mean, Kayin-jo was popular with the villagers in Cameroon." I continued, unaffected. "It was a good import despite it not being government-approved yet. The people loved it, even big cities there tried to do business by selling cases of it behind the backs of politicians. I knew because of my father..." I blew a sigh. "Those who lived in poverty or at least in low socioeconomic conditions...they got these imports as part of a relief effort. To see if their living conditions could be changed. It was an illegal substance that was still in its primary testing stages...but the poor don't care about that right? As long as it does its job." He was listening intently, as if captivated by my knowledge on the matter. "And the people got good heat and food from those fires. So why would they stop?"
I saw him wait curiously for the punch line. "And?"
I debated whether I would tell him. But then our food came and I realized I was too hungry to explain anything further. So I just ended with a conclusion. "And then things didn't turn out as well as we thought. And...I was left with a scar."
My silence said it all. He did not say anything for the rest of the meal.
XXXX
After our short lunch, we decided to head back. The sun was still glistening overhead but our journey was going to take us till evening.
"Wait right here." He said as we stopped at a corner street. " I have to go inside this store and talk to an association member."
Store? I looked behind us. Ah, a genuine antique shop. "A hunter works here? Of all places?"
"Hunters are everywhere. Even few civilians are associated with our organization. That man in the chemical complex for instance."
Strange…so these people were all over the place. Even had normal jobs in the day. "Seems all convoluted to me."
"More like men who know how to lead a double life." Kaito opened the door. "Stay here. It won't take long."
"I'm not a dog, you know." I folder my arms. "But okay, Master."
I saw him chuckle before he went inside. I shook my head and saw some antiques at the window. I walked towards the glass and looked at some of the cute items on display. Chairs, music boxes, old Chinese and Japanese dolls. Even…ah, a toy train. It rotated on small circular tracks. How sweet! I imagined the sound it would have made in real life.
The shrill of its steam, the chug of its engines, the distant yell of its whistle. It was a treat to my ears. Nature was beautiful, but the train meant…it meant civilization was there.
But then the sounds…it turned to hard gallops in my ears. Gunshots, like clapping thunder. Screams of fear. No… Blazing winds. The villages. The people. The people. Faces of monsters. Red eyes…ever so red.
I gripped my chest. And the knife. Burried. Right there. My face. Ever so close. Tears? And the whistle. The whistle blinded everything out. Was I crying? That distant whistle. Was I…?
"Joan?"
"AH!" I yelped as a hand grabbed my shoulder. My heart. Who…?
"What are you doing here?" The voice spoke again. Oh! It was her—my future stepmother. The namesake woman. I still felt my goosebumps. What was I doing here…?
"Oh Ito-san! I, uh, I'm just here with a friend." I tried to show a smile. "Classes were cancelled today apparently."
"Oh really? Sounds to me you're in luck today. It's a beautiful morning to come out don't you think?" She grinned. But it wasn't her usual broad smiles.
I saw her reach out towards me. I quickly flinched as her fingers touched the side of my head. What the? It would have been easy to pull away, if it were not for how warm and soft her hand was.
"Joan…you cut your hair." Hm? I noticed her quizzical look. Was that disappointment? "It's a shame. I really liked your ponytails."
"This is easier to maintain." I answered almost instantly. "And a change is good once in awhile, right?"
A pause. "Of course. You're not really all that concerned with beauty, are you."
What? She rested her hands on my shoulders, almost pitifully. "But that's what I really like about you, Joan. You prioritize the more practical things."
What was that? "I do pay attention to beauty." I answered with a slight frown. I don't know why her words caught me off guard or made me annoyed with her yet again. "I'm a photographer, a photojournalist actually. It's my job to make the ugly things look beautiful, and the beautiful more surreal. You would already know that if you talk to my father."
I noticed her step back slightly from my retort. I tried to hold my ground, but a part of me figured it was probably not the right time to bring up personal matters. Surprisingly, however, her expression softened in response. "Ah you're right, Joan-chan, I'm sorry," she continued. "I didn't mean to say it that way. I just meant...for yourself."
For myself? "You are a pretty girl, Joan. Kirei ne. You don't see how pretty you are without even trying."
I almost scoffed. There was no holding me back now. "Are you subtly trying to make me buy your make-up products?"
"No of course not, quite the opposite," she waved her hand dismissively. "I am saying that a lot of women would kill to look like you. The so-called natural beauty. Why do you think they need my products if it were not to become someone they desperately desire?"
"Desperate to become pretty?" I sighed exhaustedly. "Look, I don't want to take credit for that. Not when I don't feel..." I ached to say the word 'beautiful'. "I don't feel I am a good example. Because you're right...all I care about is my work and my school and my father."
She smiled once again. "I know. And I will say again what I said before...I really do like you, Joan-chan. For being steadfast with your principles. For being you."
"Thanks." I felt a slight tinge of guilt for disliking her, but it was obvious that she was trying hard to make me like her.
"Just don't change for anyone...not for me," she continued. "Not even for anyone else you come to befriend."
I felt the sincerity in her eyes. It was odd to see her so concerned. "I won't. You don't have to worry about that."
"You ready to go?" Hm? The voice took me out of the moment. I turned my head to see Kaito had come out. He stopped when he noticed a new face.
And then I saw a grin curl up in her lips. "Ah out with a friend is it?" She sent me a wink.
What! My face went hot. "N-no! It's not like that! I mean t-this is, we-em, he's really my teac—"
"Her classmate from school, Takamiya, Kaito. It's a pleasure to meet you." He interjected almost instantly.
"Of course. Well I don't want to hold you up from...exploring." She returned a bow. Aw no. I put my head in my palm as I heard a suppressed giggle. The silence that followed was even more unnerving. "I have to return to her father. And…work on some more perfumes for my next release." She looked at me. "Don't forget what I told you, Joan-chan."
Kaito had already raised a brow, even though it was hard to clearly see him through my fingers. I sent her a nod before she walked off, that familiar honeysuckle smell of hers tickling my nose once again.
"What was that about?" I heard his voice next to me. "You seem to know people here already."
"She's my soon-to-be stepmother, aaaand it's a long story." I nudged him in the back. "Well are you done, Kaito-san? I'm ready to go now."
I pushed him to keep walking, and to prevent him from asking the row of questions that were sure to follow. But of course I was expecting too much.
"What exactly did she not want you to forget?"
"How to diet? I don't know..." I mumbled. "I don't really listen to what she says."
"Well maybe you should," he stopped in his tracks. "If she's going to be your mother, you should at least give her a chance."
What? I threw him a look before putting my hands on my hips. "You're not really in the position to delve into my personal life, Kaito-san."
"True. But I am allowed to give advice."
"This is not the time or place. Let's focus on our assignment please." I answered sincerely. I took a few paces ahead of him, in fact on purpose to get away from his curiosity. Somehow a part of me was still chewing with discomfort.
"Hey…" I ignored his voice. "Hey Joan—"
"What?" I turned to him. My face was still red from embarrassment. If anything, I really hoped it had to do something with our current mission.
"You're clutching your chest again." He leaned forward quizzically. And something…skipped a beat. "Does it hurt? This scar of yours?"
A gulp. A quick flinch. He knew where my scar was. Of course...I've always had the habit of rubbing it constantly. I did so many times so far. I thought my turtleneck would cover it well, but nothing was free from the eyes of this hunter before me.
"It's the same scar that you got at Cameroon right?" He wasn't grinning anymore. "Does your step-mother know about it? And the...whatever accident that gave it to you?"
"No." I spoke plainly. I didn't have to look down to notice my fingers were shaking again. And Ito-san…my father must have told her at some point. What we went through before coming here. Where we were before we became more "civilized." But she knew nothing. She could never understand. "Because it wasn't an accident."
It was all I could say to close the topic. And it was all I could say to prevent him from seeing the glazed moisture over my eyes. The overwhelming feeling filled my head, as if her words continued to ring in my ears.
'I don't feel beautiful,' I repeated in my head. 'I never did since that time.'
I didn't even notice that he had called me by my name today.
XXXXXX
Cross Academy looked dull and empty when we returned at sunset. I didn't want to admit it before, nor did I have any evidence to show it until now…but this whole town was just a separate piece from everything that was beyond—the human realm; the world that lied outside. Everything was isolated here. Small. Compact. Quiet.
It felt different when we were gone. There was life in that human town. Diversity; laughter; quarrels; the hustles and bustles of the street. Even if Kaito and I had been there for a specific purpose, and took away so much, it was hard to ignore the busy atmosphere around us. Everything was on the move. And I liked it. I liked the vibrancy.
But here, everything was so still. It moved slower, in its own pace. It was hard to describe, but I felt as if everything, and everyone, was chained to their place. As if they were caught in a trap. No one here seemed to care what happened beyond the hills or beyond the woods. And with the tension between vampires and humans existing more than, hm, what was it? Ages—I wasn't surprised. These people were fighting their domestic battles for a long long time.
"The headmaster's out." I heard Kaito say as we drove towards the gates. I looked outside. Sure enough, there he was. And Zero and Yagari-sensei.
I flinched in discomfort. Was there something wrong? Their expressions looked off, and I wondered…oh no, was there another…?
"Joan-chan!" The headmaster came forward when we got out. "Ka-yinjo is it? The chemical? Good work. I've never heard of that before."
"Neither did the vampires. But they do have some new names that might be affiliated with these experimental practices." Yagari-sensei looked at me. "Great…you gave us more work to do."
I looked from Kaito to the others. Wow information did travel at the speed of light. But what did this mean…? Were we getting closer? Was there more to do? More to inquire? I knew I was not done…No, I wanted to do more. Anything. Anything that could help.
"It seems you guys want to say something to our young apprentice." Kaito spoke up. "Just spit it out and say it."
Hm? Something to tell me? I looked at the headmaster, and before I knew it, he handed me a card.
A nice card. Elaborately signed. What was this?
"Joan-chan, this is from Touma-sempai. He's having a soiree tomorrow night and well…he wants you to come."
I widened my eyes. "A soiree? Like a party? A party by one of them?" By a vampire?
"We're all assigned to go." Zero added. "But it's not a place for fun and games. It's where we'll be doing our duty and looking out for possible hands to the plot."
"Touma feels it would be a good chance to narrow down our suspects." The headmaster smiled at me. "And since you're part of our team now, I suppose he was kind enough to think about you."
"But I haven't done anything. I-I mean…" What did I want to say? "I mean that I don't know if it's a good idea for a human like me to go. I wouldn't know how to defend myself. I-if anything happened that is."
"The kid speaks sense for once." Yagari spoke.
"It's alright, Joan-chan. We will protect you against the vampires." The headmaster sighed. "Believe me though, humans are not normally allowed in their domain but since this is a personal invitation…"
"I don't think that's her main problem." Hm? Kaito was pointing at me. "It seems to me she has never been to a soiree before."
I frowned at him. That was not the kind of support I was looking for. It was always like him to point out my flaws, but I couldn't deny it was true. I never lived in high society before. Even in the cities back in Africa, I was more used to street festivals and some of the formal parties my father went to. The common kind, for all sorts of people. But this—I only heard about soirees and fancy balls of the up-scale kind. I didn't know their etiquette. Hell I didn't even have a dress!
"I hate to say he's right, headmaster. I won't really know what to do in a place like that. Not at a time like this." I reached the card out towards him. "Please give my apologies to Touma-sempai."
"No." Hm? I saw Kaito take the card and put it in his pocket. "This is a part of your assignment. I can't let you get out of it now."
I felt his hand rest on my shoulder. Hey! What the…? A pull, and I was suddenly closer to his torso. The soft material of his peacoat brushed my hip.
"I brought her into this. So rest assured she'll be my responsibility for the night. Including getting her prepared." A heartbeat. No many. Fast in my chest. I looked at his face. He looked focused, and yet uncertain. It was a different side of him…the same one he pulled out back in the human town. Sincere. Worried. I couldn't explain why.
"Alright then Joan-chan. It's settled." The headmaster took a deep breath. "Tomorrow night we are going to take you into their territory."
I gulped. My brain was entirely hesitant on this. But my instinct said otherwise. Deep inside I did want to go. To see them again. Like the lions of the wild. And not only that…I wanted to talk to Touma-sempai.
Yes, something told me I had to speak with him.
A rush of adrenaline made my body quake. I didn't realize when Kaito let his hand squeeze my shoulder softly. Almost reassuringly.
"Thank you…" I whispered. For once I felt grateful that he cared.
