16:04
Yo! Boring chapter up ahead but it was necessary for the plot's sake. Gotta show you what Zero plans to do, even if it's mean attending at a boring meeting. If I didn't, you wouldn't have a clue and that would have frustrated some.
Disclaimer: Dude, do I even have to do it anymore?
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''Kuran Yuuki has gone missing.''
Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered on and off and the temperature dropped a few degrees. The one responsible for the change of atmosphere was completely still, hands crisped around the armrests and eyes clouded like a thunderstorm in summer. Every other occupants of the room tensed, knowing they were walking on a mined field. Yagari now knew why Umeko was so reluctant to bring up this peculiar subject.
These past two years, talks about the Kuran siblings were definitely a taboo when around Zero. They preferred to avoid the subject when it wasn't necessary, but when they did for official business; it was enough to set the young hunter in a bad mood. And a bad mood sometimes meant that his vampire aura slipped a bit from his control and lashed at his surroundings. With Kaname Kuran, it was plain and simple: he showed an unfathomable hate for the pureblood that was sure. He avoided having to talk directly to him while in official meetings and slipped one or two well-covered insults when he did. Any kind of polite conversation between the two archenemies was more like an exchange of verbal blows, testing each other's limit. Kaien Cross usually acted as the peacemaker, surveying Zero and making sure he wasn't ruining the effort for the peace agreement between races. As for the subject of his former best friend, partner, stepsister and object of affection, it was mixed because as much as he seemed not to care about Yuuki Kuran and associated her with his hate for pureblood beings, he still seemed protective of her somehow. Yagari was sure that Zero didn't even notice how he instinctively tried to keep her out of harm's way.
''Hum, Zero-senpai?'' risked Umeko.
The dark atmosphere suddenly lifted from the room, temperature rising once again. Zero wasn't as tensed anymore, fingers relaxing around the armrests. His pose was still rigid as he passed his hand in his hair, ruffling them in annoyance. He seemed to have less and less control on his little outbursts and he didn't like it.
'' Umeko, I'm calling a meeting in the briefing room in 15 minutes. I would like you to go and notify Sakomoto-san, we'll need him and captains of each hunter teams. And I want you two to attend it, of course.'' He simply said. He stood up and started gathering the papers and map on the table.
His secretary looked at him questioningly, waiting for further orders and to see what he was going to do about Kuran Kaname, but it didn't seem like he would say anything else. So she simply nodded once and left the room to seek the hunters needed at the meeting.
Yagari stood up too but merely leaned against the wall, crossing his arm and observing his ex-apprentice with one severe blue eye, clearly not buying the nonchalance act Zero put up. ''What are you trying to do, sending some search team to find that little girl? ''
The ruffling of paper stopped. Zero looked up from his hands holding a pile of documents and the folded up map but merely shot an annoyed look at his master. ''What are you talking about?''
His master's unique eyebrow furrowed at that response. That was definitely not the answer he had expected. '' Well, I guessed that you were doing all that because of Kuran Kaname's phone call. Aren't you going to search for her? ''
'' I'm not calling a meeting for that. We've got more urgent matters to deal with. I want to deploy teams around Dahlia Academy and we already don't have many men on the fields since we cleaned up the Association of every corrupted member. It would only be a waste of effort and time to search for her.'' He answered, obviously not fazed by the older man's early assumptions.
Yagari couldn't stand one more minute of that nonsense. Uncrossing his arms, he walked to his disciple and grabbed forcefully the front of his uniform, approaching his face to his stupid disciple's to be sure he wouldn't be able to look away. '' Do you honestly think what you just said?'' Did your humanity really vanish two years ago? Was that the vampire you answering?
Zero made a weak attempt to disengage from the hold his master had on him, but decided otherwise after seeing the icy glare piercing him with intense disappointment and anger. He actually felt glad that it was only one eye and not two, which stared at him, but felt immediately guilty over that thought. That one missing eye had been his fault too.
''What if I did? '' Zero snapped, slipping from Yagari's grip and backing one step away. '' Since when does the security of one pureblood pass before the security of the innocent humans on whom Shirabuki's army of level D may pray upon? We can't risk some war when the Hunter Association is weakened after the incident from 2 years ago. And if it's mean that we must find out where Kuran Yuuki is to avoid some political incident with the Kuran's, we'll do it.''
Okay, now Yagari was confused. But confusion wasn't something he liked to deal with. '' Stop taking detours and answer clearly. Are you or are you not going to answer Kuran Kaname's demand and send hunters to look for that
girl?''
Zero scowled at that. " I'm not obeying that bastard. He can search her for all I care and drop by the HA. And I'm not sending any hunters to look for her. Check this out.''
The young hunter bowed down to retrieve a piece of paper, which had fallen among the others, scattered on the floor. Yagari's bold movement had made him lose hold on his documents and they were now decorating the wooden floor.
Glancing at it, he handed it to Yagari after making sure it was the right one.
He then proceeded on retrieving the other ones while he explained to his master what it was.
'' This is the written version of a record the intelligence service managed to tape of a conversation between Takuma Ichijo and some students from the Academy, one day after my assassination attempt. I've found it earlier as I flipped through the file but it didn't flash me as some interesting lead before Kuran called.''
The veteran read in silence the short bit of conversation, the soft murmur of Zero's clothes as he stretched his arms to get the slightly ruffled documents being the only sound in the room.
T. Ichijo: '' Please, let go of me, I must have a talk with Shirabuki-sama.''
whining
Student 1: '' But sir, we want to know so much. The lady Sara-sama is taking so much care of, is she going to be one of us to and transfer in our class?''
Student 2: '' Takuma-san is so mean! We would like to help Sara-sama's guest too but we never see the two of you these days. ''
T. Ichijo: '' That's really kind of you, girls, but Shirabuki-sama wants to help her herself. You see, that girl is very sick and was brought in since you all know of Shirabuki-sama's healing powers. She fears you might catch her illness too, so she would like to heal her alone. Even I isn't allowed to see or enter in contact with her, she is to be left alone in the underground guest room. Understood?''
Student 1: '' Sure, if Sara-sama ask it. We'll prepare a welcome party for the new student if Sara-sama wish so though, so please tell her.''
T. Ichijo: ''Sure, sure, I'll make sure that she knows of your suggestion.''
-The following conversation wasn't recorded as the main subject, , left the scene hurriedly, and the rest of the girl talk didn't constitute anything in link with Shirabuki Sara's whereabouts and activities.-
Looking up from the paper, Yagari watched his disciple-who was replacing the papers in a neat pile- with a certain wonder.
His gruff voice cut through the soundless atmosphere. '' So you actually think that Sara is behind Kuran Yuuki's disappearance, isn't it?''
Scoffing, Zero answered the question with certain smugness. '' Call it a hunch but I'd bet anything she's the one behind the twisted plan. I didn't have much of a proof before but this paper confirmed my sixth sense, which definitely smelled something fishy about all those coincidences. She probably thought Aido made great bait to get Yuuki out of her house. The Chairman told you too, huh? Aido was asked to get some sweets and out of worry at his lateness she probably decided to look for him. As for Kuran Kaname, he was working at that time at the Senate. I don't know if I was just unlucky to fall on Aidou on my way and got dragged in all that and she decided to kill me as well just to make good figure. Anyway, she managed to take the opportunity to get her hands on a young pureblood who was unprotected, far from her well guarded home. ''
His mind thought otherwise as he said that. Some part of his mind whispered that there was no coincidence about him getting caught in it. Some part of him thought that maybe that Shirabuki had been planning on using Zero's link to Yuuki to draw the young vampiress to him. Some part of him analyzed the fact that maybe if he was dying; Shirabuki thought that Yuuki would be selfless enough to her former best friend to offer him her blood out of kindness. And that part of him realized with some mixed guilt and stupor that draining Yuuki of her sweet blood surely made her an easier prey for Shirabuki. Zero put that theory at the back of his mind for now.
He completed as he put the big folder of paper under his arm and took the bag of croissants and his coffee.'' -And she's being held prisoner underneath the girl Academy by that vampiress. There's no need to send hunters to search for her, we'll surround the school and make Shirabuki surrender. If she doesn't, we'll take this as a menace to guardians of order and say that she's actually threatening another pureblood. Her immunity will be taken down and we'll be able to hunt her properly.''
''Let's go, we'll be late if you continue asking things I'll re-explain to the others in three minutes, Shishou.'' Walking to the door, the silver-haired hunter opened it and waited for his master to come.
Letting out a heavy sigh and a small chuckle, Yagari shoved his hands in his pants' pockets and proceeded on following out his stupid apprentice. ''Stupid, but quite a genius when he actually makes an effort to use that brain of his. To actually figure that out alone, in so little time and with few information, I guess he does deserves the title of president.''
But then, some interrogation came up as he walked in the corridor next to the younger hunter.
'' And if she uses Kuran as her hostage?''
He answered automatically, no hesitation showing in his voice. '' I'll fetch the lost princess myself, that's all.''
Zero's determination finally persuaded the veteran hunter that he had made the right decision in pushing Zero in the painful road of survival and hard training one year ago. Sure, the kid had changed a lot throughout the years, but as hard as he had become, he still would never be able to let go of that inner kindness. They were enemies, but Zero would blame it on his duty as a hunter to go and save the girl from her captors. After all, Yagari knew his student like the back of his hand; Zero still couldn't let go of his feelings for the little prefect who always smiled brightly at him. This instinct of protectiveness tugged at the boy, unconscious that there was more than what he accepted to believe in those few words. Now, if only he stopped deliberately ignoring it…
-20 minutes later-
''…So that's how it is, we should deal with this matter as rapidly as possible before she manages to create a bigger army and recuperate the pureblood Kuran Yuuki before Kuran and the Senate start a blood feud in that city. Understood?''
It had been a hard job to convince them of the urgency of the situation. The duty of a hunter was a solitary job. Most worked in solo or in small teams of two or tree but they existed an organization of ten different teams for big operations.
The majority of the men present in the room nodded, agreeing with the start of a rescue and extermination operation. Zero had been briefing them for the past 15 minutes, explaining the reason of such a major operation with the aid of Sakamoto-san and the pieces of proof. In the dim light of the old electric lamps, the young hunter was standing up at one end of the long wooden table, masterpiece of the antique room, and was examining the faces of the 10 men. The young head of the hunters sometimes had difficulties persuading hunters as experienced as his master when he gave away missions and such. He was only 19 years old while most of the team captains were his master's age. Though as nail, hardheaded and gruff, the hunters assembled here disliked being bossed around by a ''young' one'', let alone a vampire youngster. In the first months following his new position in the HA, they had tried to pick on him and ridiculed every decision he had made. Racist jokes punctuated the meetings and only a well-placed glare shut them up. They gradually made up their mind; as ironic as it sounded, the best vampire hunter of the Association was a vampire. The clever ones decided to trust the heir to the Kiryuu family with his duty, unable to object when faced with his strict sense of duty and fidelity to his hunter origins. Stubborn ones preferred death over having to admit that Kiryuu was an exceptional hunter.
'' Okay then, I'll divide the teams: I want team A, B, D, positioned around the fences of the Academy. Don't leave anyone in or out of the school. If some normal students come to you, use the usual governmental police force excuse and evacuate them. You may use the memory-eraser spell on recalcitrant students. Vampire students mustn't be harmed until you get the go-signal from me, once Sara makes any hostile move toward us. Even if she does, don't attack the level C and D unless they show any aggressiveness at us. Also, our scientific division would like to study any of those weird enhanced level D, so if you ever encounter one, try to capture it and handcuff it. The scientific division director will take care of him. Team C, E and F, I want you in front of the school gates, with Yagari and me. Once we make an entrance, I want team C and E in front, with team F backing us. Some medics will be dispersed in team A, B and D, so injured hunters can find help there. The rest of the teams will work as usual, taking care of the stray level E and continue in their usual missions, but I want at least some hunters on guard duty at the Headquarters. If she takes Kuran as her hostage, I'll leave Yagari in charge of the operation and sneak in unnoticed. I'll confront Shirabuki alone if I'm found out.''
As he talked, he moved some pawns on the map displayed on the table representing each team. A grumble on his right interrupted his train of thoughts.
A strong built hunter, a certain Tokusa of team B, regarded him with certain dissatisfaction and doubt in his eyes. Passing his calloused hand in his coal-black beard, he asked: '' 'suppose we do as you say, what are the chances that this operation isn't a whole fluke, that you overestimated the strength of normal D's when you were attacked and that the Kuran girl isn't prisoner of the blond witch, whatcha gonna do, huh? Apologize for the dead hunters who died because of a wrong decision?''
'' Personal attack huh…You're questioning my strength and implied that I'm too weak to even gauge the force of my adversaries.''
Putting both hands flat on the wooden table, Zero directed his hard amethyst glare at the man but addressed the following at every hunter in the room, sensing the whole ambience of distrust. His pupils flashed in the glowing light, a silver spark of something unnatural twinkling briefly.
'' Say what you want about it but I can sense the girl's presence from afar. The taming spell etched in my neck should be able to detect her if I go at that Academy. If I can't sense her, we'll retreat for now and pursue a deeper research. Rest assured that I wouldn't force you to fight, Tokusa. I'm sure plenty of others would be happy to take command of your team if you think you are not fit for this operation.''
Dropping the honorifics, Zero's harshness cut through the silence like a well-sharpened knife.
Offended, the big man stood up from his chair and roared: '' Are you implying that you have the power to take away my position? You are a hundred times too young to even dare assuming that. You may be our president, but only because of those goddamned vampire capacities of yours. You don't fight fair, filthy vampire!''
Zero didn't react at the insult, merely hardening his gaze and his mouth turning into a scowl. He was seriously pissed at having his authority contested every time because of his vampire nature. Couldn't they see already that he despised it too, being what he was? He was seen as a vampire good to be killed by the hunters, a hunter to be hated by the vampires.
'' Is that a challenge, Tokusa? If that makes you happy, we could have a match immediately. I could wield a regular weapon and nullify my vampire powers by nicking my skin with an anti-vampire weapon. Let's fight fair and square and if I lose, maybe you'll deem me unfit for managing my role as president of this organization and I'll have to step down.'' He quirked one end of his upper lip in a discrete smirk, knowing in advance what would be the hunter's reaction.
Some hunters looked stunned by the personal challenge issued; other secretly satisfied: they would happily agree with a change of president, but nobody wanted to step out and challenge the vampire themselves.
Tokusa's fat lip trembled with rage, wanting to bash the pretty boy's face into a big accident. His fists clenched till his veins were showing, he looked about to explode. Yagari, standing a little off by the Zero's side, next to Umeko, was harboring a small smile. His apprentice was stirring up some trouble but it was the best way to pass a clear message to the others. That way, the dissidences were stifled before the beginning of the operation.
A moment passed. Someone discreetly coughed.
The burly man finally decided otherwise. He fell down loudly in his chair, grumbling to himself. He wasn't ready to lose his face and dignity to a vampire teenager. He was disgusted to have to admit that he couldn't stand a chance, even in those conditions.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly. People had gotten the message:
''Do not mess with the silver-haired vampire hunter.''
The meeting room was cleared rapidly, team captains gone to organize their own squadrons. It only left behind a tired vampire hunter, a frantic secretary and a veteran contemplating the scene of an empty table.
Taking back his things, Zero only spared a glance at his master when the guy approached him and ruffled his hair with a gloved hand.
'' You did a pretty good job handling those men, kiddo. It's not an easy feat to mobilize those guys, we're quite an independent bunch.''
''…I hate those meetings.'' He answered bluntly. That only reminded him how different he was from the other hunters.
The tall man grinned. '' I know you do. I hate those too. Too much talking, uh?''
The teen nodded once.
Umeko's nervous laughter rang in the room. '' Haha, wow, I really thought that you and Tokusa-san were coming to hands. But Zero-senpai, you seemed so sure of winning it. I guess you do deserve the title of strongest hunter, he couldn't stand a chance.''
'' It's not entirely true.'' Zero calmly explained, '' It would have been a hard fight; it was fifty-fifty. Tokusa looks like a Neanderthal but he's got some brains and has more experience than me. He's also physically stronger than me if I don't use my enhanced strength and I'm still a bit weak from my convalescence.''
Dumbfounded, the young woman declared: ''So you could have lost. Why did you provoke him then?''
''I was betting on the fact that the rumors circulating about me would be enough to dissuade him.'' He answered, his right hand brushed lightly over his heart, on the emplacement of his wound.
A bit queasy, Umeko replaced a strand of hair, her cheeks blushing with some kind of shame. ''Oh. You did hear them then.''
He whispered softly. ''How could I not… I know what they say about me in my back, what they have been telling even to my face for a year. They think I'm even more of a wretched creature since I survived death two days ago. A monster that cannot die. But it's fine; they'll fear me and obey. And that fear will make them stronger.''
His secretary was even more ashamed. A shame against her own people and a guilt that made her want to cry. And she felt culpability, knowing that she had been like them too before she got to work with the lonely young man.
A slight pat on her cheek made her realize that he was right in front of her.
'' It's fine, really. '' He tried to reassure her. Blushing even more, she nodded once, not trusting her voice at the moment. She turned around, averting his eyes, and started gathering the documents.
Profiting from the distance the girl had made between her boss and herself, Yagari approached Zero and asked in a low voice:
''I was wondering, are you not worried in the slightest for the little girl?''
A pause. Zero was searching for the right answer but his heart gave different instructions to his brain. He decided to follow his logic; his heart was too much of a mess to answer. '' I'll perform my duty. She has to be returned safely to Kuran Kaname for the sake of peace. I'll keep to my word and hunt her one day. In the meanwhile, her security is the least of my worries.''
Yagari decided to drop the subject, not eager to get Zero in a bad mood just before such an important fight.
As for Zero, he marked an hesitation before adding: '' In truth, I'm not sure anymore…''
Looking behind him at Umeko, he noticed that she was waiting for some kind of order.
'' You stay here for me. Handle that Kuran guy if he shows up.''
When she heard that, Umeko twiddled with her pen uneasily. '' Huh, should I lie to him and tell you're somewhere else?''
She was really uncomfortable with that notion. Kuran Kaname was a powerful pureblood, if he thought that she wasn't useful, he might torture her to get the information of Zero's whereabouts. Or get very angry with her when he would learn that Kiryuu didn't bother calling him back. Her poor skills with a rapier wouldn't be any help in that situation.
'' No. Just tell him where we are; we'll avoid unnecessary deaths. I'm sure he would be able to tell that you are lying.'' Zero scoffed, obviously aware of her discomfort. He added: '' But if you have time afterward, can you go at Cross Academy and deliver that to Wakaba Sayori? She must be patrolling somewhere on school grounds. '' He handed her the bag of croissants.
'' And if you could tell the Chairman that I might not come tomorrow for the final exams. I'll try to take them back another day.''
How annoying. He was almost done with school but now this came up. If he had to take back the whole school year because of that, he would strangle the Chairman.
Reassured, his secretary bowed slightly. ''Sure, I'll do that.'' Taking the small package, she left the room with the various documents in her arms.
Not long after she left the room, another woman appeared at the door. Dressed in a long white smock, brown hair tied in a sever bun, eyes glinting with a certain maliciousness, the tall woman had her lips pursed in a thin smile.
'' Before you go deal with the blond witch, mister Kiryuu, I want you in the infirmary now for a medical checkup. Pronto.'' She said with certain malice as she watched the frown immediately appearing in the boy's face.
God, not that devil woman again.
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Author's note: Yaay, after a very long and boring chapter, I'll alleviate all of that seriousness with a visit a the infirmery. *giggles* I understand a bit Matsuri Hino now. People are complaining of the sudden seriousness in the main story, but with what happened, it's really hard to keep the story fluffy or funny. But we try, we do. But Zero and Kaname are so serious sometimes. That's why we need people like Aido or Kaito; they lift some of the seriousness. And that ''devil woman'' will help me make fun of Zero in the next chapter. I don't know her name yet, but I'm sure that she is a sadistic character mwahaha!
