A/N: Hello to all readers! Here's another update to my story, sorry it took so long… ^^… Anyway, thanks to all those readers who reviewed and put this story in their favorites and alert list... I'll try updating as often as I can…

Arc II would last up to Night 15 so I guess I have quite some chapters left to finish before we move on to Arc III… Looks like I still have a long ways to go… ^^… Anyway, here's chapter 9 and please read and review…


NIGHT 9 – THE SHADOW SMILES AT NIGHTFALL

The faint morning light filtered through the gaps of the thick curtains, illuminating the darkened room of a certain individual. The lone occupant of the bed stirred slightly but made no move to get up. He pushed the covers over his head to keep the sunlight away from his eyes and tried to get back to sleep or more like tried to sleep. Since the unexpected event last night, he was continually kept awake by his own thoughts.

Yet the incessant beeping of the alarm clock halted his movements. He wearily reached a hand out to push the button of the alarm and stop the annoying noise. Pale lavender eyes peeked though the covers and stared at the clock which read six in the morning. In the end, Zero fully understood that he didn't manage to get some rest at all.

He had classes today but somehow he felt so tired not in a physical sense but rather in a more subconscious level. He did inform Takuma that he would skip all of his classes for today and his close friend didn't question his reasons this time. For that he was grateful, somehow it was kind of hard to discuss the main reason he was acting like this. Even if he did attend, most likely his thoughts would just keep drifting away.

Vampires are… are like beasts… that j-just took a human form. They are just monsters who prey in humans because they believe they are stronger.

Those statements have been in his mind since last night and probably one of the reasons why he wasn't able to get his sleep. He was quite aware that those were probably what humans thought of vampires as a whole. After all, it was kind of obvious what with all those absurd stories and myths about bloodsucking creatures called vampires. He was aware yet somehow that was truly unexpected. When Yuki said those words… It hurt quite a lot… Even now, it still did.

He wondered if it was because he had become too attached to Yuki that somehow her words seemed to pierce through his very soul. A soul he never knew he had. He knew that Yuki was just getting used to this kind of living and somehow he should have been prepared for this reaction. After all no matter what happened before, she was still a human being. Fear and uncertainty would still be there despite her own determination not to feel so. Guess he did forget. A rather stupid move on his part. If he could say so himself.

Still he cared about Yuki in ways he never knew he could. Meeting her changed his life and he didn't mean it in a bad way. Being with her brought out the emotions he could never let others see. He was becoming dangerously close to her but he could never find it in himself to stay away. He was aware that he would hurt her if things remain like this. Yet she was already an important part of his life. Her opinion of him mattered than those countless nameless people he knew. Would she think of him any differently if she found out the truth?

Perhaps he was becoming to soft and naïve this time. If he did remember correctly, the Zero of the past would never allow something as trivial as this to affect him. It wasn't that he regretted anything, somehow he didn't want to feel pain like this again.

Zero draped an arm over his eyes after a while and sighed as he pondered over his thoughts. He remembered that he was of the same opinion quite a few years back. He thought that vampires were just monsters and nothing more. Filthy bloodsucking creatures that prey on humans just to survive. Those who live on blood and brought nothing but disasters.

Because of that reason, he hated himself even more which led to his aggressiveness and anti-social behavior. He truly hated his existence that he wished that someone would just end it. But somehow, he began to let go of his hate and self-loathing as he learned that maybe vampires weren't different from humans after all. Just as there are good people and bad people. So did the vampires. He learned to accept that fact and accept what he truly is. Of course, he wouldn't be able to do so if he never went here in Cross Academy and met Arisa Pheles and everyone else.

He grimaced at that thought and tried to think of other things. It's been two years yet somehow those memories were still quite painful to dwell upon. Zero was sure that the others like Kaname were of the same opinion. He tried shifting back to his former musings. He didn't need to add more pain to his feelings and remembering the past wouldn't help him now.

After all, he knew just like everyone else that no one can ever change the past and no matter how much he held on to it nothing will ever change. That is the truth even if sometimes accepting it was painful. Even if it took quite some time before he himself accepted that fact.

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Breaking news! Another suicide has occurred in the early hours of the morning. The victim is a student from Cross Academy. This event marks the fifth victim of the Academy suicide. Here we could see the grieving members of the family. We could only hope that this is the last of the bizarre suicides.

"This day just keeps getting worse and worse", Aido grumbled as he watched the flash report on his cell phone. He closed it off and turned to stare at the other occupants of the room.

"Well, guess we can't help it. We still haven't discovered the one who started this mess in the first place", Kain said as he entered the room and sat at a chair near his cousin.

"What brings you here? This is a different class after all", Aido asked as he looked up at Kain.

"I had nothing to do at my class so I decided to drop by", Kain said truthfully.

"There's another meeting later tonight, is everyone going to attend this time?", Aido asked suddenly as soon as the thought crossed his mind.

"I think so. Though I haven't seen the others all morning", Kain answered off-handedly. Since class started a few hours ago, he didn't manage to meet any of his acquaintances.

"Now that you mention it, Kiryuu's not here either. He didn't show up from first period until now. I wonder if he's caught something bad", Aido told his cousin who only gave him a weird look. Wait a minute! Why should I care about what that human is doing?, he mentally told himself.

Just then, Takuma entered the classroom with his normally cheerful greeting of hello to everyone. Aido mentally wondered how that guy managed to befriend Kiryuu of all people. Aside from the fact that Ichijo was a vampire, a noble one at that, their personality also seem to clash now that he thought about it but it seemed those two were pretty close. Even he could notice that.

Aido then called out to Takuma as the latter approached his desk. Takuma looked up to see who called him and his eyes fell on the two. He approached them with his still cheery aura. It's really hard to think he's a vampire, the two cousins mentally thought.

"Something you need, Aido-san?", Takuma said gently as he stood near the two.

"It's nothing important really. We were wondering if-", Aido began saying until he was cut of by Kain.

"We- ! Isn't that supposed to be I?", Kain cut in.

"Okay fine! I was wondering if Kiryuu's going to show up at the meeting later tonight because I haven't seen him all day", Aido finished irritatedly as he looked at his cousin. He specifically put emphasis on the "I" part.

Takuma stifled his laugh at Aido's antics. He could clearly see that Aido was also worried about Zero, though Aido specifically tries to deny it all the time. He wondered if Kain Akatsuki also noticed as well. He was aware that Aido had a bit of rivalry and mixed emotions regarding his close friend but despite fighting and arguing all the time, those two could be considered as friends already.

"I think he would though I'm not pretty sure. He told me that he would skip classes for today. If he is feeling unwell this morning, I bet he'll be fine later on", Takuma told Aido and he could visibly see relief in the blonde's features.

What the hell?! Why am I relieved that my enemy or rival didn't have anything serious going on?!, Aido thought out frustratedly. He was pretty right that today was turning out to be getting worse and worse. The two close to him stifled their oncoming laughter at the blonde's comically wide-eyed reaction.

The bell rang a few minutes later and Kain waved goodbye to the two as he went his way towards his own classroom. Takuma walked back to his desk and left Aido to sort his own thoughts. The professor walked to class, signaling for the afternoon classes to begin.

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Zero grabbed his navy blue jacket from the nearby chair as he looked at the time. The sun was beginning to set and he remembered that Takuma texted him about an important meeting this evening with the chairman. He didn't have anything better to do and he mostly sorted out his thoughts so attending wouldn't be a problem at all.

But still…

Those feelings were still there in his heart. The pain he felt when he heard them straight from her. It's painful… No matter what he told himself he couldn't get those words out of his thoughts. Was it the truth? Did she really mean them? Those were questions he asked himself as he spent the time in his room.

He wanted to see Yuki. He wanted to confirm if she truly meant them. But why… why is he hesitating now? Why was he so afraid to hear what she would tell him? How ironic… Zero thought to himself as he headed out of his room, his hand resting on the doorknob. He had fought a number of enemies and level E's for quite some time. Yet here he is afraid of knowing the truth. Afraid of what Yuki would tell him.

"You should stop staring into space like that you know", a voice said suddenly and Zero was broken out of his thoughts as he looked behind him to see Touga Yagari approaching him.

"I'm not staring into space. I was just thinking of some things", Zero answered indignantly as he inserted the key and locked the door to his room. Yagari merely shrugged in return before motioning for Zero to follow him.

The two walked the grounds in silence as they headed to the chairman's office where the meeting would take place this time. Zero was suddenly reminded of the times he walked like this with Yagari as he recovered from his memory loss little by little. He didn't know why but apparently a few years back he lost parts of his memories. Though he remembered a lot of things so far, he couldn't remember where he came from. Or who his real family truly is.

He was bothered by it at first but Yagari-san had always been there for him and also Takuma as well. He considered them as family already even if he would never admit it in a million years. They had helped him in so many ways and he guessed that he would never gotten this far without them. Yet there is a truth he could never deny no matter how he pretended that it wasn't real. The main reason he tried to avoid getting to close to others.

"Yagari-sensei, did you ever regret meeting me?", Zero asked suddenly and he turned away his gaze not wanting to show his weakness. Why did he have to ask this stupid question? There isn't any point after all…

"What are you talking about, kid? If I was going to regret things later on, I wouldn't have taken care of you in the first place", Yagari said as he fished out his cigarette from his pocket and proceeded to light it. The two stopped as soon as Zero began speaking. Seriously, what's gotten into Zero all of a sudden?

"I guess you're right… But I can't help wondering why you would do something like that? I mean you're a hunter and the greatest one at that. Don't you realize what other hunters thought of this arrangement?", Zero looked straight at Yagari's eyes this time. He didn't know why he was saying those things but somehow it felt better to let it all out. To say the things he wanted to say a long time ago. To ease the burden he always felt.

The master hunter sighed as he stared at those determined eyes. He knew that sooner or later he would have to answer those questions but he never realized that now would be that time. Has it been that long since he took Zero in?

"I really don't know myself why I decided to do just that, the moment I saw you I had a feeling that I wanted to protect you. You were looking very vulnerable and fragile that day. And I thought, he's just like those normal kids. I am aware that I am a hunter and others of my kind are thinking of how stupid my decision is on this matter. Who cares if they talk behind my back or right in front of me. What matters is that I know that I could trust you. That you would never betray me if you could help it."

"How can you be sure of such things?", Zero asked with a hint of amusement. He would have to admit that what Yagari told him was heart-warming. Would it really be okay for those people closest to him to put their trust on him?

"You might not believe it but you're the kind of person who shoulders a lot of responsibility and that you always put others above your own. You might not show it a lot but you're very kind, Zero. All my life, I thought that vampires were monsters without feelings. But when I met you, I realized that maybe I was mistaken. After that, I came to accept Ichijou, Kuran, and the others. I know that I'm a hunter and you're a vampire yet it doesn't change a thing. I'm still you're guardian whether you like it or not.", Yagari said without breaking eye contact with the silver-haired teen in front of him. He smiled a bit as he saw the emotions welling up at the teen's lavender eyes despite how much that kid tried to hide it.

Vampire…

Yes, that is the truth. That is what he truly is. He may not act like nor look like those Level E's they were hunting. But deep inside, he also needed blood to survive. Blood tablets had been able to satiate a vampire's thirst but it still is different from real blood. He decided to attend Cross Academy for the reason of coexistence but no matter how he looked at it, peace still has a long way to go.

There really isn't any guarantee that vampires like him would be able to control their thirst always. He knew that there might come a time where he'll truly lose control of his instincts and hurt someone.

He wondered if Yuki would hate him if she knew the truth. If she found out the person she had been with was the very thing she feared the most. That despite everything or how human he is, he was a real vampire. The so-called beast in human form.

"I can't believe you're saying those things. You know that I'm not a human turned vampire or just an ordinary vampire. I'm actually what some hunters call the worst type of vampire there is", Zero said as he turned away once again hoping that the master hunter didn't see his face flushing from embarrassment.

"How could you even say that? I don't see you biting anyone you meet. Actually, I can see that you've never bitten anyone at all. You're the kind who would rather suffer before doing something like that", Yagari said as he watched the teen in amusement. He noticed the faint flush from the teens pale face. He wondered why he hated all vampires before when they were just as human. That they showed emotions like loneliness, anger, joy, and many others.

"I wouldn't want others to suffer such a cruel fate. After all, ex-humans without a master turn to level E's. That's why purebloods are the worst type of vampires for hunters. After all, they're the reason they are level ends in the first place. And that is what I am. A pureblood vampire", Zero said as he looked at Yagari with his bright crimson eyes as if emphasizing the point. Despite everything else Yagari had known about vampires, he couldn't help but think that Zero's eyes right now looked eerily beautiful. If he could compare it with something, it would those red rubies.

Still, no matter what color of eyes Zero had. There is still that underlying sadness and fear buried deep within them. Sadness of not knowing who he truly is and being alone once again. Fear of hurting the people he cared for the most.

Yagari eyed the silver-haired teen in front of him who was looking away now with his still crimson eyes. Funny really, how he could care so much for the boy like this. He approached the teen slowly and held up a hand to ruffle the teen's hair like he always did. He laughed a bit as Zero protested at first but gave up afterwards.

"I know what you are, Zero. But the thing is I don't see you that way at all. To me you're not a student council member, a cold-hearted hunter, or a pureblood vampire. You're just Zero", Yagari said fondly as he continued ruffling Zero's hair. He was right, it was true that Zero was a pureblood, his hunter senses told him so but he never saw Zero that way at all…

Yagari laughed quite a bit as he looked behind Zero and noticed a few blossoms blooming on the rose bush. They were a deep crimson red, the exact same color of the eyes Zero had right now. He knew it since years ago that whenever Zero was kind of happy flowers especially roses tend to bloom. He would bet that sometimes Zero does it unconsciously just like now. It was one Zero's vampire abilities and he guessed it was unique to him in some ways. He remembered that the teen could make vines or other vegetation appear from nowhere. Still, one thing he was sure of was Zero makes the most beautiful flowers bloom.

But only a few were aware of Zero's true nature as a pureblood vampire and Zero himself wanted to keep it a secret for now. Technically, Zero still hasn't awakened completely as a pureblood because of the blood seal and because of that reason Zero's own physiology was put into to much strain. It was like a human body coupled with powers it cannot hold or control. Hence, the sickness from time to time and such.

"Geez… You didn't have to that…", Zero said irritatedly as Yagari finally pulled his hand away and Zero tried to fix his hair. Still, despite everything, Yagari-san's actions and his words helped eased his pain even a little.

"I know. I know. Anyway, let's go the meeting's about to start", Yagari said as he began walking and Zero followed suit.

"Thanks a lot, Yagari-san", Zero said gently as he went ahead of Yagari to the student council building. His eyes finally reverted back to their normal color. Yagari meanwhile only smiled at the teen's actions. He always knew that no matter what other hunters would say. Zero was still Zero. He guessed that was what the Kiryuu's saw in Zero all those times.

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Chairman Cross sat in his chair behind the desk gravely as he waited for the others to enter the room. He knew that things had to be settled as soon as possible preferably by tonight or tomorrow. Everything has gone out of hand and both the association and council wouldn't be pleased by the development of this issue.

Students of the academy were being murdered by an individual and it wouldn't be too long before the higher-ups would make a move. They knew that this case must be solved preferably by tonight or tomorrow. It wouldn't do anyone good to waste time anymore.

Everyone could not see in the chairman's features the cheerful and eccentric man they were used to seeing. The one who loved to tease his close friends and joke around as usual. There was no twinkle in his eyes as he looked at the occupants of the office. His face was solemn and serious. The way he looked now, everyone was reminded why the ex-hunter used to be the greatest hunter of times.

All of the occupants of the room were silent as they waited for the meeting to start despite the fact that everyone was already here. The truth of the matter was that they waited for the chairman to speak first.

"Good evening everyone. I see that everyone is here tonight. Anyway, let's get straight to the point. As of right now, both the council and association are not pleased with our situation. They want the matter settled as soon as possible. It is now important for us to settle this once and for all", Chairman Cross said as he addressed all of the occupants of the room.

"We're still at a deadlock. We don't even know who's causing this mess in the first place", Aido blurted out suddenly.

"We finally managed to figure it out with the help of Sayori Wakaba. Her statement last night gave us a clue to pinpoint who that mystery person is", Touga Yagari said from the corner as he directed the statement to Aido.

"What do you mean by that, Yagari-sensei?", Rima said from one of the armchairs next to Shiki.

"Before we erased her memory of the incident, we asked her to tell us certain details of why she almost killed herself. She answered that a voice told her and that she could not resist its lure. She said that the voice told her that she would be free from guilt. Then she went on about how she regretted not being able to help a student named Shun Uesugi", Kaien Cross continued.

"Shun Uesugi? Wasn't he the student who first committed suicide by jumping from his apartment building?", Ruka asked afterwards.

"Yes, he is. Shielle Adnade helped by getting information about the other victims and she discovered that all four victims were apparently friends. Another thing is that Shun Uesugi was acquainted to them and not as a friend but a sort of gopher", Cross said darkly and the others instantly understood the meaning of that statement. Apparently, Shun was being bullied by these specific group of friends.

"So it means that the one doing this acted out of revenge of some sorts?", Aido said after a while.

"I believe that is the main reason", Cross replied.

"Still, that Shun Uesugi had to have a number of acquaintances. How do we know which one?", Ruka asked suddenly as she moved to sit next to Kain.

"Shun didn't have any friends except for a vampire named Tachibana Seto", Shielle said suddenly.

"Wait a minute. Wasn't he that dark-haired vampire from our class?", Aido said quite surprised and looked at both Takuma and Zero to confirm this.

"He never stood out much from class but lately, he's been absent for reason unknown. Now we know why", Zero said seriously as he stood leaning by the wall.

"The only thing we should do now is to find out where Tachibana Seto is and either capture him or kill him if necessary. We cannot deny that his actions have cost the lives of four humans already", Yagari told everyone.

"Now that we know who it is. We should end this mess soon. Everyone is to stay alert on this mission. After all, we are not dealing with a level end now", Kaname said after a while and everyone nodded.

"Very well. Let us begin this mission now and everyone do be careful", Chairman Cross addressed to everyone straightforwardly leaving no room for argument. Though there was a hint of worry behind his lenses as he looked at his so-called students.