A/N: Hey everyone~ another new day, another new chapter.
Enjoy reading! And please remember to follow, favourite and/or review!
Thanks so much to Sakure Heme, Guest,December 25th,blackcat711, fanfiction2010, Eovin,Rozari-chan, hirinoutaka and 4DarkMirror6 and Killer Angel2 for taking the time to review, follow and/or favourite! It keeps me writing!
Summary: Vampires are real. I attend Cross Academy, a school where the student body is populated by the human Day Class, and the vampire Night Class. This was all supposed to be fiction. A story I read for entertainment. But it's real. It's all real. SI, OC Insert.
Disclaimer: Everything to do with Vampire Knight is owned by Matsuri Hino. I only own my OC Maya.
Warning: this fanfiction includes dark themes, swearing, mentions of death, serious injury, murder and suicide.
Chapter 8 - New Student and the Hunter Crash Course
Hol- god, they're freaking lively today. What the hell is going on now? A new event?
Oh, right. The stupid dance.
... I'm not going.
The only person who can make me wear a dress and high heels doesn't exist in this reality, damn it!
Okay, so two people can. But neither of them are here so- oh for fuck's sake!
"STOP. PUSHING" wow, it's been a while since I used my parade voice. That's right, I used to be an army cadet when I was younger. Oh~ good times...
The girls I was holding back listened to me this time and actually took a full two steps back from me.
Hmm, I thought gleefully. Good to know they're not that stupid. They fear the Parade Voice. And so they should.
Yuuki, on the other hand, was handling this horribly.
Honestly, she's been at this way longer than me - why has she not mastered this yet?!
I used the creaking of the lock from behind the gate as a warning, so when the gates opened, I was ready.
I turned to the girls, slapping a suspiciously bright smile on my face and said "you can shriek all you want, but unless you wanna be banned from the event, don't take even one step past me"
To say the least, they stayed behind my line as the Night Class passed by.
Yuuki's whistle didn't help her either, she just got pushed all the way to the classrooms building by the students she was trying - and failing - to restrain.
So of course, after the rest of Day Class students dispersed, Zero and I went to retrieve her.
Opening the door, Zero quickly snatched her straight from Aidou clutches and then stalked off, dragging Yuuki along behind.
I sighed and turned to face the remaining Night Class students "please excuse us, Kuran-senpai, Ichijou-senpai" I nodded to them each respectively, then ran off after the other two prefects, yelling for them to wait for me.
My pace slowed to a jog and then a walk as my thoughts drifted back to the other day, my eyes narrowed and lowered to the ground.
I could still hear the agonizing scream the Level E let out when I shot him. Like it was still ringing in my ears.
"Are you two angry I made Zero go the other day?"
Since Katsumi wasn't available to supervise me at the gun range - she'd been neglecting her duties as the school's nurse to train me and needed time to catch up on paperwork and other stuff - I was totally free to wander campus with my fellow prefects, but Yuuki and I had been called to the Chairman's office instead of going out on patrol liked I expected.
And he starts off with this topic of conversation... really, Cross. Do you like making people angry?
"Zero was born a hunter, so sooner or later that type of job would arrive"
"Are you saying it's like his responsibility?"
"It's not just that, Yuuki" I began, glaring at the floor, fists clenched "it's a birthright. Vampire Hunters aren't made" I looked up "they're born... but Zero, he's different. And it's because he's different that he has no choice"
Cross cleared his throat "putting that aside... I have a favour to ask of the both of you. It's about the guidance of a transfer student"
... transfer student-? Oh. She's here.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in"
I froze as the door opened, I could feel a pair of eyes on my back... and they were not friendly eyes.
"She is Kurenai Maria" Cross introduced "Kurenai-san, this here is my daughter, Yuuki. And her fellow prefect, Matsumoto Maya"
At the mention of 'my' name, I forced my body to turn around and face the short vampire girl with long silver hair and exceptionally pale skin, a polite smile on my face.
"What a delicious looking person. So healthy..." she murmured, eyes locked on Yuuki now. My eyes instantly narrowed.
"At this Academy, that is taboo!" Cross exclaimed, running up to her.
"Oh!" the girl apologized and then turned to us again "I'm so sorry. It's a pleasure to meet you, Yuuki-san, Maya-san"
Since when did we say she could use our first names?
Wow, if I didn't already find her annoying, she would've just made the mark. As it is, she's starting to piss me off.
We took her on a comprehensive tour of the school campus, breezing past the administration buildings and the Sun Dorms, and we soon came to the classrooms and the library.
"Um, Yuuki-san... I'm really afraid about transferring here" Kurenai admitted. From my position standing over by the window, I raised an eyebrow. I'd been keeping an eye out for Zero, glancing out across the grounds every so often.
"If something happens, please don't hesitate to tell me, Maya-chan or the Chairman! Right, Maya-chan?"
I turned away from the window to see them both staring at me "yeah, of course. It's my job after all" I replied, slipping on a polite smile and trying to look reassuring.
Yeah, sure, I'll help you. Like she'll actually need it. Cause if anything happens any time soon, it'll be all her and her aunt's handy work... do vampires have telepathy? Please tell me they don't, or I am so screwed.
Oh wait. I'm always screwed.
I couldn't stop myself from flinching when Kurenai threw her arms around Yuuki in a hug, caressed her face and then hugged her again.
She stared at me over Yuuki's shoulder with a creepy look on her face "I... really like girls like you" she murmured.
I held back a shiver.
... god, she creeps me out.
I sighed, leaning against a concrete pillar outside the classrooms building.
Hmm... another couple of rounds around the building and that'll do it for the night. I'm tired. I haven't gotten much sleep since what happened yesterday...
"Maya-san?"
I looked up "hmm? Kurenai-senpai? Weren't you just in class?"
"Please, call me Maria" she simpered. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "And as for the reason I'm not in class... I think I may have made a bad first impression"
Really. I would never have guessed.
I sighed "well, I can't let you walk around by yourself. Not only would it be rude since you're new, but I'm afraid it's against school policy - I could take you to the Moon Dorms, if you like?"
"No, that's alright" she smiled "I'd like to enjoy the fresh air for a while before I go there"
"At the very least, I have to escort you though, Maria...-senpai"
She pouted. What. I'm uncomfortable with people, Kurenai. You're lucky you got me to use your first name so fast. Deal with it.
Giggling, the little vampire girl led the way across the grounds, down a path, past a fountain and then into the trees. All the while I followed her a few steps behind, listening as she told me about what happened with the rest of the Night Class.
Her movements were oddly fluid, almost like she was dancing. It was strangely beautiful to be honest, and the way her silver hair flowed behind her somehow seemed both unnatural and elegant at the same time.
Then she disappeared behind a tree.
Shit. Where did she go?
I jogged forward, eyes searching- what the hell? Where the hell did she go-?
"Maria-senpai!" I called, slowing my jog to a walk as I finally caught up with her.
Oh shit, she found Zero.
"Maria-san, did something happen?"
Kurenai looked sheepish.
"From what I understand, she made a joke and accidentally upset the rest of the Night Class" I told her, my eyes watching Zero.
Shit-!
He drew the Bloody Rose, the jingle of the chain quickly joined by my hand slipping under my blazer and drawing my own .38 as I stepped in front of Kurenai.
What? I'm supposed to be nice to her! And besides, just because I find her creepy and don't like her aunt - and Zero wants to kill her - doesn't mean I can let the guy shoot the technically innocent niece of the woman who murdered his family! Jeez...
"Zero!" I protested, as Yuuki cried out. He seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and lowered the anti-vampire gun.
"Who are... you?" he asked, a hand to his face.
"Pleased to meet you" Kurenai began from behind me "I'm called Kurenai Maria"
"She's a new student Zero, not a trespasser or something, jeez. She's wearing a freaking uniform" I explained, still not moving from in front of the small girl, but lowering my gun.
"This is the third academy guardian, our partner, Kiryuu Zero" Yuuki said, turning to face Kurenai "normally, he wouldn't go this far, but... no, actually, I wonder if he would"
Maybe I should talk to him?
... while I didn't particularly want to leave Yuuki by herself with a vampire, I should probably try to get a handle on this fast and maybe try and avoid a few things that are coming.
"Sorry about this, Maria-senpai" I apologized "I'll talk to him"
"Thank you for covering me, Maya-san" Kurenai chimed "you're such a good girl" ... what.
Okay. I'm really uncomfortable right now.
"I really like you... I know the blood of girls like you are really delicious" she whispered in my ear.
Seriously uncomfortable right now!
I swallowed, opening my mouth to say something, but she was already twirling away from me and then running off, saying "play nicely, okay?" before jogging off.
See what I mean? See?! She's freaking creepy as all hell! God fucking damn it.
I turned back to Zero "we need to talk" he opened his mouth to protest, but I just interrupted him "and now would nice, don't you think?"
While Yuuki ran off to try and find Kurenai, I confronted Zero.
"The hell was all that about?" I asked, lifting up my blazer to replace my .38 in it's shoulder holster, revealing the other gun I had there.
Zero's eyes narrowed, but he seemed to relax a little when he saw it... as if my .38 wasn't enough.
Hmm... I think it's time for another 'therapy' session.
Sighing, I sank down to sit by a tree a little further into the forest and closed my eyes "take a seat, Zero"
I didn't even look at him this time "don't bother protesting, just do it please"
Making an annoying sound, I heard him sit by the same tree, leaning against the trunk.
We sat in silence for few minutes, before I warily broached the subject "so... are you gonna tell me what happened back there? Or am I gonna have to figure it out myself?"
He didn't respond straight away, the silence dragged to the point where I didn't think he was going to even answer. I opened my eyes and looked over to see him staying at the ground, his eyes moving back and forth... as if he was searching for the right words.
"She... reminded me of someone..."
... that's all I get? Well... its something, I guess. More than Yuuki got, at any rate.
"... someone I met before. The woman that-" he cut himself off, his stare becoming a glare.
"... the woman that you hate so much, you would kill on sight" I finished for him. He looked up in surprise, his shocked eyes meeting with my worried ones.
"Come on, Zero. It's not that hard to guess" I chided "you did pull a gun on her the second you saw her"
"And not just any gun" I continued, he avoided my gaze again "the Bloody Rose. You must've really wanted to hurt her-"
"It's none of your business" Zero growled, suddenly very defensive as he stood from his spot. I grabbed his wrist in an attempt to stop him from leaving, but a shock suddenly went through me - the image of another, a woman, superimposed over his figure - causing me to release his hand.
Wha- what the hell was that?
... I'll deal with it later.
"Ze- Zero!" I called and he hesitated in storming off.
"Kurenai- she's been sick for a long time, and- she... doesn't really know how to deal with people, so... please try not to hold it against her, okay? I mean, you didn't hold it against me, so-"
"You're not a vampire" then he stormed off into the trees, ignoring anymore of my calls.
My eyes watched the trees he disappeared into... great. He so hates me now.
I can't really deal with my friends hating me...
And what the hell was with that shock? That image when I touched his wrist?
Come to think of it, the last time I touched his bare skin, when he bit me, I saw- I saw the same woman.
The same silver hair. The same silver eyes.
I know her. I know I do.
Who is she?
"So what's on the roster today, sensei?" I asked, loading a new magazine into my .38 and discarding the used one, the click of it locking in to place audible to my ears.
"We're going off campus"
"Really?" I asked, turning away from gun range to face the dark-haired woman "but I've got exams soon. I should be studying, not spending the day in town"
"We won't be in town. And don't bother arguing, I've already spoken to the Chairman, you're signed out until tomorrow and he said not to worry about your prefect duties - besides if this goes how I'm expecting, we should be back in plenty of time before classes start on Monday"
"But I-"
Her back was to me as she spoke, she was sliding her broadsword into a sheath disguised as a cylinder storage tube used to hold paintings. Once Katsumi had secured it on her back, she turned to face me "I said no arguing. Now go get your bug out bag - and change into something else while you're at. You'll die of exposure wearing those clothes. When you're done, meet me at the front gates"
... what the hell are we going to be doing that requires extended periods outside where I could die of exposure? And why do I need my bug out bag?
This can't be going anywhere good.
When I didn't immediately do she said, Katsumi sighed, placed the gun she was checking on the table, and turned to face me "the Association sent me a job. It's only a couple hours north from here by car, and I asked to bring you with me"
"... why?" was all I could think to ask.
"Because Kiryuu told me about what happened the other day in town with that Level E" she explained "how you hesitated, and almost got yourself and Cross's daughter killed"
"But I didn't hesitate. I shot it" I protested.
"And hit it's arm. From less then a metre away" she responded bluntly "you're a far cry from an expert shot, but even I know you couldn't miss from that range"
I flinched, the moment playing back over again in my mind's eye. The inhuman sound of agony the Level E made as the anti-vampire round from my gun hit its shoulder. The sound of it's blood splattering across the ground.
"You can't hesitate like that, Maya" Katsumi continued, and my attention snapped back to present "in this world, hesitation means serious injury - and that's for an average vampire hunter. You're not average. You don't have advanced healing, or faster reflexes, or extra strength. Hesitate again, and it'll get you killed"
I swallowed, my gaze lowering to look at the .38 in my right hand.
"Which is why I'm bringing you with me. We're gonna hunt this rogue vampire, and you are going to kill it" I looked up, eyes wide.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
I arrived at the academy's front gates around ten minutes later wearing my jeans, two t-shirts, my purple scarf, and a dark army green military style hoodie Katsumi had given me, along with an old similarly coloured army style bug-out bag on my back with it's strap across my chest, as well as the shoulder holster with my .38 snug underneath my jacket.
Leaning against the high dark iron fences as I waited, my thoughts drifted as I stared at the ground.
I've been so naive... thinking I could take on a vampire. Creatures that are faster, stronger, more intelligent... even with everything that's happened... everything I know...
I closed my eyes, sighing. Katsumi is right. I can't go on like this. Learning how to fight... it's very different to learning how to kill. But if I don't do this, I'll get myself, and others, killed.
I bit my lip as I heard the Level E's agonized scream in my mind. It was more faded then it was the first time I remembered it.
But it was no less horrifying.
... I don't know if I can do this.
"Going somewhere?"
I looked up "Zero? What're you-?"
"What? So I can't leave, but you can?"
"I-" I didn't know what to say. He thought I was 'leaving? Where the hell was I supposed to go? I don't have anywhere else.
Oh, right. He doesn't know that.
"I'm not leaving for long" I managed "I'll back by Monday"
"That's it? That's all you're giving me?"
I scowled, opening my mouth to retort. Why the hell should I tell him? He was being a total arsehole to me the last time we talked!
"Maya-chan!" called a voice and I looked behind the ever annoyed silver-haired teen to see Yuuki running up, out of breath.
"Yuuki? You, too?" how the hell did they even know I was going anywhere? I only just found out myself!
"Look" I sighed "like I said, I'll be back by Monday, okay? It'll be fine"
Why is he even so concerned? The last time we talked, he almost - figuratively - bit my head off. And now he's concerned?
"Why won't you tell us anything, Maya-chan?" Yuuki asked, a worried look on her face.
Oh, Yuuki... if you knew everything I was keeping from you... you'd probably hate me.
The sound of an engine drew our attention behind me to see an old four wheel drive was coming up the road.
It pulled to a stop outside the gates, and there was Katsumi sitting in the driver's seat, waiting. Yuuki immediately jogged over to talk to the academy's nurse, leaving me with him.
I turned back to face him "I have to go now" I said.
"And you'll be back by Monday?"
I looked up at Zero "... I will"
"Promise me"
My eyes widened. What? What is he-?
Oh... he figured it. He knows what we're going to do.
He knows that if I fuck up like I did the other day, I'll be dead.
I swallowed. Can I really make this promise?
I... don't know. I don't know if I can.
I clenched my hands into fists, I don't break promises. But he couldn't know that, could he?
"I promise I'll come back..." I said, not looking at him.
... even if I'm dead. I left the last part unsaid, otherwise he would probably try and stop me from going.
I need to do this. If I'm going to be smack damn in the middle of plot like I've apparently decided... I can't be so naive anymore.
I have to commit.
Turning away from him, I hoisted myself into the car, dropped my bag in the back seat, and put my seat belt on. We said our goodbyes to Yuuki, but Zero didn't respond when I called one to him, he just stayed where he was, scowling silently as he stood by the gate.
I looked behind me as we drove away, and after a few moments of hesitation, Yuuki turned to head back into the school.
But Zero didn't.
He just stood there, watching, until we drove out sight.
It was a little over a couple of hours driving before we stopped... in the middle of nowhere.
The car door creaked as I opened it, then jumped out, my black boots landing with a soft thump on top of a thin layer of snow. I walked forward a few feet from the car, looking at our surroundings as the car's engine still rumbled behind me.
We'd stopped on the side of a road about halfway up a mountain, and at this point the greenery had begun to give way to the higher altitude's climate - hence the snow.
According to Katsumi's information, a Level E with six human murders and another missing to it's name, was using an abandoned house at the peak as it's hide out, so we'd have to trek up the rest of the way on foot so it wouldn't hear us coming.
At least that's what I'd been assuming.
The sound of something thumping to the ground behind me made me turn around.
My bag was on the ground, a folded map sticking out of the front pocket. What the-
As I stared, something else dropped to the ground - a sword? Why-?
"See you at the bottom"
"What? You're leaving me on my own?!" I protested, looking up at my teacher in alarm.
"You're the one who wanted the crash course" she replied, then the door closed and drove off, going back down the mountain.
What... the fuck, sensei.
You must be the absolute worst teacher ever! You're sending a noob out to fight a Level E - without the assistance of not only her teacher, but the right fucking genetics.
... I repeat, what the hell have I gotten myself into?
I looked up the mountain, we were only about halfway up, it would take me almost the rest of the day to make it up there by myself.
And I don't particularly want to be fighting a vampire in the dark, thank you.
... okay. Let's do this.
I grabbed my bag from ground, pulling out the map and unfolding it. Time to make a plan.
It was a photo-map of the local area, and Katsumi had - thankfully - drawn a red circle around the Level E's location as well as the nearby town where the women had been going missing from. It was still a far way up and sitting here wasn't going to do anything.
So I strapped on the bag and stood up, turning to look for a way to start trekking up, before my eyes drifted over to the sword.
Kneeling in front of it, I unsheathed it. The blade was shorter then the average katana - maybe a wakizashi, a shorter weapon then the katana - and was inscribed with some greek letters I couldn't understand, but idea was clear. It was anti-vampire blade. This must be the sword Katsumi said she was going to get me.
Until now, I'd just been practicing with wooden bokken swords, and while this had a similar weight to it, I took a few practice swings before I tucked it into the weapon slot between my back and the back - it was mean for guns, but it would do for now.
With one last longing look down the road that Katsumi's 4WD had disappeared down, I began the climb up.
Despite my best efforts, it was night by the time I reached the house, forced to navigate by moonlight as Katsumi had taken my torch - and my spare ammo, which explains why she gave me the sword.
While my night vision was pretty good, once adjusted... the vampire's would better. Much better.
He would see me coming. It was just one of the many things I would have to account for before I entered the house.
What? You didn't think Katsumi would send me out unprepared, did you?
While she is kind of a bitch for leaving out here like this without warning - though I guess I probably should've figured it out when I didn't see her bug out bag in the car - she did teach me a few tactics for fighting on my own against a superior force.
Okay, so she didn't use the word 'superior', but you know what I mean. Also, I had 'studied Level E. While this one would be genetically superior to me in almost every physical aspect - as all vampires - I had one advantage that it didn't.
I still had my mind.
By preying on it's animal instincts to kill threats and to feed, I would - maybe - get out of this alive.
... by god, I hope so.
It's gone.
The Level E is fucking gone.
I checked the entire house, attic to fucking basement, but it's not here.
Though there was a... body in the basement. She was pale, and her skin was ice cold to the touch when I put two fingers to her neck to check her pulse.
Nothing.
Biting my lip, I pulled away, wiping the blood off on my jacket. The poor girl couldn't have been much older than me, and now she was chained to a wall, in the basement of an abandoned house, probably not far from her home. Dead.
I found an old blanket tossed to the side and laid it over her. It was disrespectful to leave her like this, I know, but I didn't have much time, I would have to remember to come back and bury her more respectfully later.
As I covered her, I noticed her body had yet to begin decaying - the Level E must've drained her dry recently then... and now he's going to get another. Victim number eight.
Storming out of the back door, I stood there scanning the area, wondering what I should do - and that was when I spotted the footprints in the snow.
This high up, the snow was almost a foot deep, so the footprints were clearly visible in the moonlight.
Making sure my .38 was still loaded, I clicked off the safety and began following the prints into the trees.
It was heading down. According to map, there's a town that way - it must be hungry.
One well-placed trap later, I had a fair sized marmot strung up from a tree and bleeding.
While not human, if the Level E is as hungry as I think it is, it'll be too out of it to matter.
Blood is blood.
... at least that's the theory.
It was a risk, bunkering down to hide, and just waiting for the Level E to come back. I admit it, I expected it to come sooner than it did. After all, vampires can smell blood for at least a kilometre or two, and going by how fresh the tracks were, it hadn't gone very far by the time I got to the house.
What can I say? I camped a lot when I was kid, my Dad knew a lot, and we liked to talk.
So I learned. And I'm so glad I did. Otherwise, I would be even more screwed than I already am right now.
Cracking of branches and the movement of something about human size blundering through the undergrowth, alerted me to someone approaching.
Seconds later, the crazed male Level E I was hunting launched itself into the clearing, pouncing on the still struggling marmot and devouring it.
What? I didn't know if vampires drank the dead, so I left it alive just in case! Please don't give me that look, I love animals, okay? I have an absolutely adorable golden labrador dog back home.
But it's life or death here, damn it! And I want to live.
I lifted my .38, clicking off the safety- shit! Mistake number one. He heard the sound.
His whole body jerked in my direction, and without hesitating, he charged.
I fired, missing the first two times, but a familiar agonizing scream told me my third shot had hit, the sounds of the fight echoing around the empty forest.
Unfortunately, I'd missed what I was aiming for - the heart - and instead, the Level E was now bleeding heavily and clutching at his side.
He kept coming.
Four shots later, I was now running through the trees with an empty gun.
God damn it, Katsumi! You couldn't have left one extra magazine in there?!
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
He caught up quickly.
Before I realized what was happening, the crazed vampire had tackled me to the ground, fangs bared, they sank into my flailing left arm, causing me to scream out in pain.
My other arm was useless, pinned beneath me as I struggled to get away.
No. Nononononono! It can't end here. Not like this!
Finally I managed to get my arm free, and got a grip on the handle of the katana, the sound of scraping metal sounding as I drew it from it's sheath.
Having at least some sense left, the Level E jumped back, which allowed me a second to get to my feet.
My arm was bleeding, but it wouldn't be too bad as long as I cleaned it up and got some bandages on it soon... but the blood also meant there was no running away now.
The Level E had tasted my blood. He could find me anywhere. Follow me anywhere.
And, as my brain liked to continually remind me; he was faster, stronger, quicker... there would be no running. And if I tried, I would be dead before I got halfway down the mountain.
I have to fight.
... and that's a lot more daunting of an idea for me then you realize. Because before, I was fighting to protect someone... and now it's just me.
Chapter End
A/N: Hi again~ hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I'll be posting the next one up soon~
I would've posted this hours ago, but 's document uploading system wasn't working for some reason. And then, when I got past that, you could only edit in HTML for some reason... it was very annoying. Looks like it's back to normal now though~ fingers crossed it stays like that!
Thanks,
Milley02
