Aido looked down at Mitsuko. He could see a pained look in her face. He couldn't help but wonder if she had been bitten. Her physical injuries seemed minor; however, he couldn't help but wonder how she reacted to the sight of a level E vampire. She had clearly encountered vampires before, based on her book; however, had she ever encountered a level E? Is that why she was attacked and scared so easily? Aido couldn't help but smile to himself, as he looked down at Mitsuko.
"You certainly are just as troublesome as I thought you'd be," He told her. Suddenly he heard the sound of feet running towards him. He turned around to see her friend, rushing them. She stopped just a few feet behind him. She looked up at him, her expression unreadable, and Aido returned her gaze. Finally, Mahara spoke up.
"Where are you taking her?" Mahara demanded. Aido turned around, and kept walking.
"To the infirmary. She is hurt and needs medical attention," He told Mahara courtly. He could hear Mahara stop for a moment.
"Is… is she going to be okay?" Mahara asked nervous. Aido stopped.
"Yes. She will be fine. Her injuries appear to be minor," Aido told her. He then started walking again. He heard Mahara follow behind them.
"Those… those people that attacked us… They weren't real people," Mahara told him. "They looked so… demonic. And they all wanted something from Mitsuko." Aido stopped again.
"What did they want from her?" Aido asked, genuinely curious. Mahara shook her head.
"I'm not sure," she told him. Aido couldn't help but to let out an aggravated groan. He should have known he was getting nowhere with Mahara.
"But, they called her… their patron saint," Mahara added. Aido's eyes widened.
"Their… patron saint?" Aido asked, assuring he had heard Mahara correctly. Mahara nodded.
"They regarded her… as if she was some sort of god. Then… when she bled herself out… they all seemed to lose control and they… they attacked her," Mahara told him. Mahara gasped.
"Her blood," Mahara said aloud, Aido felt his throat dry at the sound of the word. "They… they wanted her blood. They were vampires!" Mahara said aloud. Aido felt an even greater shock.
"She, injured herself, to lure them away from you," Aido spoke aloud. Mahara nodded.
"Did you see what happened after?" Aido asked her. Mahara shook her head.
"No. I did as Mitsuko asked, and ran to get help. But… when I was running, even though I didn't turn back and witness it, I felt a very bright light flicker behind me," Mahara told Aido.
"I see," Aido said. He turned and kept walking.
"Can… I come with you?" Mahara asked, "I want to be there when… Mitsuko comes to." Aido shrugged.
"You may do as you wish," he told Mahara. Mahara followed him all the way to the infirmary. She never walked next to him. Only behind.
'If Mitsuko was some sort of Vampire Hunter, she wouldn't have level E vampires calling her their patron saint,' Aido thought to himself. He couldn't help but wonder what Mitsuko was hiding. He knew that for the sake of maintaining the established peace at the Academy, Kaname and the Headmaster would have to wipe both of their memories of the events that day. They made it to the infirmary. Mahara opened the door for him. The nurse on duty, looked up smiling at them, before the horror washed over her face.
"Quickly, set her down on the bed. I'll go get some antiseptic and wraps," the nurse told him as she rushed off to the storage closet. Aido did as she asked. Mahara sat down on the chair next to the bed.
"Come on," Aido told her as he left, "we need to take you to the headmaster so you can tell him everything that happened." Mahara looked down at Mitsuko. It was evident to Aido that she did not want to leave her friend.
"Mitsuko will be alright, she is in good hands here. But you need to inform the Headmaster. We can't let something like this happen again," Aido told her seriously. Mahara looked up at him, she saw his pleading and worried gaze. She sighed. She patted Mitsuko's head.
"Feel better soon," she said as she stood up and followed Aido out of the infirmary. As they walked out they saw Kain and Ruka approach them.
"Go up to the Headmaster's," Aido told her. Mahara looked between Kain, Ruka and Aido. She was suspicious but also fearful. She bowed, before briskly leaving. Aido turned to his cousins.
"Well?" Aido asked, "What did you find?"
"There was irrefutable evidence that level E vampires attacked Mitsuko and Mahara," Kain told Aido, "We found Mitsuko's blood, and a collection of blood samples from various vampires."
"But… we searched everywhere, and couldn't find a single level E. As if… they had all disappeared," Ruka added. Aido was not surprised. He was sure that Mitsuko had something to do with their odd disappearance.
'Is she… protecting them?' He wondered to himself.
"We need to go inform the headmaster," Kain told Aido, and the three of them made their way to the Headmaster's office.
XXXXXX
The nurse had just finished tending to Mitsuko's wounds, when there was a rapping on the door to the infirmary.
"Come in," the nurse called. Through the doorway, stepped a beautiful lithe woman.
"Hello," the woman spoke, her voice melodious. "I came as quickly as I could. I received a call from the Headmaster that my dear daughter, Mitsuko had been injured."
"Yes, she's right over there," The nurse directed the woman. "She's unconscious now, but please, feel free to stay with her." The woman bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much," she cooed, as she made her way over to the seat by Mitsuko's bed. She sat in silence, patiently waiting, her thin fingers, delicately stroking the hair away from Mitsuko's face.
XXXXXX
"Attacked? By level E vampires?" The headmaster asked, assuring he had heard Yuki correctly.
"Yes. I sent Kain and Ruka to go find and kill the vampires that attacked them," Yuki told the headmaster.
"Very good, and as for their memories? Have they been taken care of yet?" The Headmaster asked. Yuki shook her head.
"No… Not yet," Yuki told him, "I was waiting for Kaname to give the word." The Headmaster nodded respectively. Suddenly the door flew open.
"Headmaster Cross!" Mahara called out.
"Ms. Isozaki," The Headmaster addressed, "Yuki was just informing me of the situation. Are you alright?" He asked genuinely concerned.
"Aido told me to come here, because you wanted a first hand recollection of what happened," Mahara told the Headmaster. The Headmaster nodded.
"I most certainly do. I need to speak with a few other students first though," The Headmaster told her, "as this is a very dire situation, and it seems that you and Mitsuko weren't the only ones attacked." Mahara gasped.
"There… there were more attacks?" She asked. The Headmaster nodded.
"Please, wait outside my door and I'll call you in when I'm ready," The Headmaster told her. Mahara bowed and quickly exited, waiting in the chair outside of his office. She heard shuffling and when she looked up saw Shiki, Rima, Aido, Kain, Ruka, Takuma and Kaname all file into the Headmaster's office.
'Were…. Were the night class students attacked to? Is that what Kain and Ruka had to talk to Aido about?' Mahara thought to herself. She worried how many other students had been attacked that day, and were not lucky enough to be best friends with the attackers patron saint.
XXXXXX
Mitsuko's eyes flew open; however, the rest of her body remained still.
"What do you want," Mitsuko asked looking up at woman looming over her, "vampire?" The woman smiled.
"You forgot about me," the woman cooed. Upon hearing her speak, Mitsuko felt a heart wrenching sadness swallow her heart.
"Please… I cannot help you here," Mitsko told her. "My heart, is already overwhelmed with sorrow. And if I were to help you, I fear I would endanger the students here. Understand that-"
"There is no understanding," the woman hissed menacingly, leaning in close to Mitsuko's face.
"You're the only one with this kind of power… yet you deny me?" The woman hissed. Her lips curled up into a sinister smile.
"Then perhaps, you will be alright to feed me, while I wait for a more convenient time for you," the woman purred, her lips grazing Mitsuko's neck. Mitsuko sat up and pushed the woman away.
"My blood is not your dinner," Mitsuko told her. The woman fell back.
"I can feel it. The madness of this being is consuming me, and soon, every last bit of my humanity will be gone. Please… help me now… help me… before I go mad…" The woman pleaded in a hushed and hurried whisper. Mitsuko was unbelievably flustered. She couldn't risk exposing herself any more than she already has; however, she knew that if she denied this woman, she would heartlessly devour any student within her grasp.
XXXXXX
"You couldn't find a single level E?" Kaname asked his loyal servants.
"No, Lord Kaname," Ruka responded, kneeling before him. Kaname narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
"Lord Kaname," Aido spoke up, "I have reason to believe that Mitsuko is behind the disappearance of the Level E vampires." Aido informed him. Everyone in the room turned to Aido.
"Her friend, Ms. Isozaki, informed me that the Level E vampires regarded Mitsuko as their patron saint, and that Mitsuko had used some sort of… power against them." All the vampires in the room gave him a cold, hard gaze. Unsure what to think of their classmate.
"In conjunction to that, when I was taking her to the Infirmary, her injuries appeared to be minor. If she really was the innocent human she portrayed herself as, and if she really was attacked by a horde of level E vampires, she would have sustained much more serious injuries," Aido added confidently. There was a silent uncertainty that fell over the room, until the headmaster spoke up.
"Ms. Isozaki, could you please come in," the headmaster called, breaking the tension. The door opened, and Mahara walked in.
"These are the other students who were attacked," The Headmaster told her, "in order to verify everyone's story we need you to tell us what happened." Mahara nodded.
"The ones who attacked us… I know they weren't people," Mahara started. "I think… I think they were vampires." She told them. The room had a stoic response. Mahara continued.
"And I think Mitsuko knew they were vampires too. She knew exactly what to do! And I think the vampires knew Mitsuko. They called her their Salvation. And then… when she hurt herself, and the vampires attacked her. She still wasn't scared… When I was running away, like she asked me too. I felt this bright light behind me, and I knew it was Mitsuko… She… She…She..." Mahara fell over, and into the arms of Seiren, who was wiping her memories.
"Thank you Seiren," Kaname thanked his guard. Seiren was unresponsive.
"I will bring her back to her dorm," Seiren told Kaname, picking up Mahara and walking out of the office.
"Now," Kaname addressed the group, "I think we need to pay a visit to Ms. Ito." The vampires left the room, the Headmaster following close behind.
"Kaname," the Headmaster addressed him. Kaname turned to the Headmaster. "I'm not sure what is going on. All I ask, is that you do not harm Ms. Ito. She is after all, still one of my students." The Headmaster informed the pureblood. Kaname nodded.
"I have seen this Academy destroyed once already, and I will do everything necessary to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Kaname told the headmaster. The Headmaster sighed and nodded, knowing that it would be the best answer he would be receiving from Kaname.
XXXXXX
Mitsuko stood up, as she watched the vampire fall into madness. She saw her eyes glow red, her nails turn to claws, and every tooth in her mouth sharpen to a point. Mitsuko walked towards her.
"Please Miss," Mitsuko pleaded with the Vampire. "It doesn't, have to be this way. If you can hold on… Just a bit longer, I can help you." The woman growled in response.
"Please Ma'am," Mitsuko pleaded offering a hand to her, "I promise everything will be alright if you trust me." The vampire looked up at Mitsuko, her eyes filled with a Crimson luster and a hunger that couldn't quite be placed, but Mitsuko stood firm offering her hand as a symbol of peace, and never feigning from helping a creature in need. The Vampire suddenly turned away, howling out in pain. Mitsuko backed away a bit, unsure what would happen next
"If you value your life," The vampire told her, its voice hoarse and whispered, "run." Mitsuko didn't even get a chance to blink, before the vampire had its hands at her throat, and was pushing her through the window of the infirmary. Mitsuko welled her eyes shut. As she felt herself break through the glass, she thought of how wonderful and lovely her time here was, and how much she would hate to have a vampire destroy this place, when it could easily be prevented. She thought of Mahara, and Yuki and the Headmaster and all of her classmates. She thought of Professor Tachibana, and she even thought of the beautiful night class boy with Larimar eyes. Mitsuko felt the tears roll down her face as she faded out of the grasp of the vampire.
'I promise,' she thought to herself, 'that no matter what happens, I will protect this academy. Even if I no longer get to experience… the joy it has brought me.'
XXXXXX
As they made their way through the darkened halls, Aido couldn't help but worry. His mind was buzzing with questions about Mitsuko and her true identity. He looked to his cousins and saw they were as stoic as ever. He couldn't help but wonder if anyone else was as worried as him. He turned to the headmaster. They shared the same fearful expression. Although no one said anything, they all agreed that the situation was dangerous. They were about to go upstairs to the infirmary when the silence was broken by the tinkling of broken glass, the growl of a vampire, and the scream of a human girl. Aido recognized that scream, and he was sure Kain did to.
"Mitsuko!" Yuki called out. She rushed in the direction of the scream and the rest followed.
"Lady Yuki wait!" Aido called after her, "it could be dangerous!" Yuki ran out to the courtyard. She saw the shattered glass all over the ground, and blood. But she saw no Mitsuko.
"Mitsuko? Mitsuko!" Yuki called out to her, hoping she was alright. The other vampires gathered around her, protecting the pureblood princess. They heard the shuffling of fabric. They all looked up, ready to defend the princess, when out of nowhere, a vicious level E vampire with long dark hair appeared, and went straight for the night class.
XXXXXX
I saw the vampire lunge at the night class, and I knew that my secret could be kept no longer. I knew, that if I wanted to truly live among humans, I couldn't so passively accept my violent surroundings and ignore them. I knew I had to save the night class. Even if it meant relinquishing my freedom.
XXXXXX
The night class flinched and watched in horror as the level E barreled down on them. They all snapped and were ready to spring into action, when suddenly another force made an appearance. A smaller, slender figure with long dark hair appeared and stood between the night class and the Level E. In one smooth motion, she jabbed at the beast, sending the level E skidding across the pavement. Aido stopped in his tracks, as did the rest of the night class, watching the girl defend them from the level E.
'Is that… Mitsuko?' He thought to himself as he moved into position with the rest of the night class to protect Lady Yuki. The girl wore a day class uniform, and wore no shoes. She had her back to the night class, and faced the level E. Her normally tightly braided hair, fell wildly down her back and around her face in a splay of dark curls. legs were spread shoulder width apart, and her arm was gestured outward, protecting the night class from the level E.
"Please Ma'am," Mitsuko pleaded with the level E, "I will grant you your wish, but I cannot allow you to hurt the students here at this Academy. Please, stay back and remain calm and I promise to do my best to help you!"
'Is she… trying to reason with a level E?' Aido thought to himself, 'Is she insane?'
"Mitsuko, what are you-" Yuki called out to the girl running forward to come to her aid. But Kaname stopped her. Yuki looked up at him.
"Kaname what are you-"
"Let's just see what Ms. Ito has in store for us," Kaname interrupted her coolly, addressing the night class. They turned and watched the Level E struggle to its feet. Growling the whole time. Mitsuko took a step back; however, her eyes narrowed in determination.
"Stay back," Mitsuko demanded, calling out to the monster, "I don't want to hurt you!" Yuki was taken aback, by how strong her voice could sound, despite her wobbling knees. Aido could feel her enchanting eyes burning in his mind again. Everyone was watching Mitsuko.
"You…" The level E growled, as it made its way back to its feet.
"You Bitch!" The level E shrieked. There was a red mark across it's face. Its eyes were wide, wild and hateful, and the rage coursing through it was unscaled. The level E ran forward, ready to attack Mitsuko. Mitsuko watched in fear, unsure if she would be able to defend against it.
"Please," Mitsuko pleaded one last time, "Stay back!" And at those words Mitsuko covered her eyes with her arms as a dozen rays of sunlight appeared out of nowhere and burned across the skin of the vampire. The rays expanded and soon the whole courtyard was light as day from the sunlight generated by Mitsuko. The night class shielded their eyes and moved to protect Yuki from the blinding rays. Aido could feel the light burning his skin; he didn't want to imagine how painful a direct hit would be. The blast blew the level E across the courtyard and into the far wall. The level E hit the wall with a very audible thud, before falling to the ground. The sunlight swirling around them suddenly stopped and Mitsuko stood up right. Her hands clasped over her mouth in disbelief at what she had done.
"Ohmigosh," Mitsuko whispered to herself. Before anyone could say anything, Mitsuko was sprinting across the courtyard towards the Level E.
"Wait Mitsuko!" Yuki called, "It's dangerous!" But Mitsuko ignored her and skidded to a stop before the level E. She dropped to her knees and pulled the level E close to her.
"I'm so sorry ma'am," Mitsuko sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks, "I… I really didn't mean to hurt you like that." The Level E looked up at her. For a moment, the two beings were still, staring into each other's eyes. Everyone in the night class was on edge. Waiting for the vampire to sink its fangs into Mitsuko's neck. Suddenly the vampire lunged forward. The night class was prepared to attack when they saw, the level E was not biting Mitsuko; it was hugging her. The level E was sobbing, as she clutched onto Mitsuko. Aido's eyes were wide.
'Did… did she tame a level E? Just with her gaze?' Aido thought to himself not believing what he saw. Mitsuko paused for a moment, before returning the hug. She had tears in her eyes as she stared down at the poor creature.
"The pain you're going through right now… must be unbearable," Mitsuko spoke softly to the vampire. The vampire nodded.
"I'm… I'm so sorry for losing control, and I'm sorry for bothering you here," the vampire spoke. "But… I heard all the rumors and legends and when I saw you…. I just…" The vampire trailed off into a sob. Mitsuko hugged the vampire again.
"Do you… understand the conditions that come with my blessing?" Mitsuko asked the vampire. The vampire pulled away and nodded furiously.
"I am alright with dying. So long as I don't have to stay in this wretched state any longer!" The Vampire told her. Mitsuko nodded, understanding.
'Is she… some sort of Vampire Hunter?' Aido thought watching Mitsuko. Mitsuko closed her eyes, and in her hand, everyone saw a bright light form. They watched as she very gently and gingerly pressed her lit hand into the forehead of the vampire. The glow ended, and the vampire fell over. Mitsuko stood up, and slowly backed away from the fallen vampire. Then, in an instant… everyone in the night class sensed it. That the Level E vampire that had been before them… was now human. They watched in a mixture of shock and horror as the woman's eyes twitched, and she opened them, and sat up.
"The taste…" she spoke aloud, "The taste for blood… it is gone!" She exclaimed standing up.
"And… the fangs," she claimed touching her teeth. "They have vanished as well!"
"And my nose!" She said, "it is no longer overwhelmed with the sickly smell!" She danced around the courtyard.
"And the pain that you have riddled through my body!" She cried out, "I feel every bit of it, and I can't help but relish in the fact that I can feel once more!" She stopped dancing, and looked to Mitsuko, before quickly rushing over to her, and taking her in a warm embrace.
"You… you truly are our patron saint. You are our salvation. You have restored to me, the most precious gift that is my humanity. And I can't thank you enough for that," The woman told Mitsuko as she let go. The woman quickly rushed away and continued dancing around in the courtyard. There was a collective gasp from the night class, as the woman began to fade away in a flurry of blue sparks, as she danced. It wasn't long before the woman completely faded, leaving an empty courtyard. The whole night class was in awe of what had just happened. Mitsuko turned to them. Her head was down, and there were tears streaming down her face. She went straight to the headmaster. Aido was sure, that she would reveal herself and her true motive but instead, she bowed before him.
"Headmaster Cross," she addressed him, "I would like to sincerely apologize for causing such an unsightly disturbance within the confines of this Academy and as outlined in the student handbook, I will be accepting my assured expulsion and after collecting my things, will take my immediate leave from Cross Academy." Mitsuko stood back up straight and turned away, prepared to leave.
"Ms. Ito, may I please see you in my office before you leave?" The Headmaster requested. Mitsuko turned around, slightly taken aback.
"Of Course, Headmaster," she told him, bowing before him.
"Fantastic. Just follow me up, and we can discuss what just happened," he told her, before turning away and walking to his office. Mitsuko stood there for a moment, not sure how to react, before quickly following him. Yuki followed Mitsuko, Kaname followed Yuki, and the rest of the night class followed the purebloods, curious to learn the true identity of Mitsuko Ito.
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Hello Hello Hello dear reader! I apologize for being a bit late with this one. Normally I like to post in the mornings before I leave for classes, but it seems I couldn't will myself awake early enough today! I really hope you enjoyed this Chapter and I cannot wait until next week when we finally learn the true identity of Mitsuko Ito! Thank you thank you thank you for all of the wonderful reviews! It really warms my heart seeing people interested in my work! :) Please have a safe and blessed Holiday! Take care of yourselves and spend plenty of time with those you hold closest! You'll be hearing from me next week! xoxo
-JW
