A/N IMPORTANT: Okay, well… not that important but… whatever.. So, do you guys think I should re-write the first chapter? Answer in a review or message me!

Non-important stuff: I hope Zero isn't too OOC in this chapter, I tried really hard to make him not… in my mind he isn't really…. Meh…. Sorry for not updating!

Sorry if I messed up anything, but I hope you all enjoy!

"Mami-chan, I'm telling you, I just slipped outside." I said, pulling on some black jeans and gloves. (Both would help to hide the band-aids.)

"But you got all of those cuts and—" Mami-chan began.

"I was running on gravel, I'm fine."

Earlier this morning, I had fallen asleep surprisingly easily. I hated lying to anyone, especially Mami-chan, but what else could I do? I couldn't tell her about… him.

No. I needed to sort this out on my own; It's my responsibility and I have to solve it.

Mami-chan sighed and dropped it. She flopped back on her bed and began sketching a horse, her slender hands flying across the paper.

"I'm going to the stables," I said. Mami-chan nodded, absorbed in her drawing. I pulled on my coat and made sure my knife was still inside before I left.

Maybe Mami-chan's portrait will just… appear? I thought as I walked to the stables. I grabbed a carrot to feed White Lily on my way.

The sky was filled with grey clouds that resembled pigeon feathers. I scanned the ground as I walked, straining my eyes for a hint of white, and listening for the rustle of paper.

"Hey, girl." I said when I reached the stables. White Lily whinnied angrily, and stamped her hoof. "Calm down, I won't hurt you." White Lily continued to whinny, clearly pissed off. Her ears pressed down. I leaned against the stable wall, staring at her. "Get used to it, I'm not leaving."

"What are you doing?" Zero said. I flinched and turned to look at him. He was holding a new brush for White Lily.

"Getting to know White Lily." I said. Zero sighed and brushed past me to stroke White Lily. She calmed slightly, but still snorted at me. I took a step closer to her and she neighed again.

"You cared for her when she was a foal?" I said, suddenly recalling this part of Zero's past. I had been so focused on the death of his family that I had practically forgotten the happier points in his life. Zero nodded and started to brush White Lily.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He said.

"Nope," I replied, taking another tentative step. Zero scowled. I grinned.

"Why are you here?" I said. Two steps. Zero's scowl only intensified. "Well," two more steps. White Lily snorted and tossed her mane, "since the reason isn't important enough for you to tell me to leave—" I was beside White Lily now.

"Leave."

"—and I wouldn't listen if you told me to anyway, I'm staying." I held out my hand to White Lily, keeping it in the air for a moment before stroking her nose. I made sure to avoid contact with Zero's hand, knowing he would get even more irritated.

"Fine." He grumbled, placing White Lily's brush on a nearby shelf. He collapsed on a pile of hay in the corner of the stable. I grinned and tried to shush White Lily as she whinnied. I pulled out the carrot from my pocket, quickly breaking off a small piece, and fed it to her. I continued to feed her small pieces and pat her, until she eventually calmed down.

Food seemed to always be the answer.

"There now, see? Everything's fine." I stroked her mane and continued to talk to her, "My roommate, Mami-chan is an amazing artist. She should draw you sometime, you know? …Do you like being outside?"

"…Will you be quiet?" Zero said, voice muffled. He had thrown an arm over his face.

"Nope. If you want to sleep, go somewhere else. White Lily and I are having a fun conversation. Aren't we?" I patted White Lily's neck and continued to talk, "I wonder if Cantaloupe would like you… I bet she would, though she's not as temperamental as you."

I spaced out after a while but continued to chatter to White Lily. "Mom never liked horses. I remember her fussing over me when I rode one at a fair. Dad convinced her it was fine, though. I felt like I was flying… but that was the only time I got to ride."

"Explains why you're so terrible now…" Zero said.

"I'm not…that bad… well, at least I'm trying! I'll improve." I said, glaring at Zero.

"Right…" He mumbled.

"You'll see. I bet I could ride right now." I said, grabbing White Lily's reins and saddle. I led her to the riding area and didn't hear Zero following. She was completely relaxed now, so it was easy for me to set up everything. I had to use a log to get on.

"Alright," I said, settling in the saddle. "Now, let's go!" I encouraged White Lily to move, but she remained standing. I sighed and patted her gently. "I guess you're tired, huh?"

Something seemed to drift into the field. White Lily's ears went back again and she began to paw at the ground. "Shhh," I stroked her mane and tried to calm her.

I had the same feeling the night I had found Cantaloupe and something had grabbed my hand. Something was here.

I dropped down from White Lily and gripped her reins tightly in both hands, to prevent her from rearing up and stared around the field. I heard something move from behind a tree.

"More…" A voice said. "…Not enough… More is needed…"

I really didn't want to use mind control on White Lily, but she needed to be safe. Zero was fine in the stables… he was probably still asleep.

Luckily, I could tell there was only one… thing here, so behind the stables would be safe for her. There was enough room back there where she could move freely. White Lily, run! I pictured the destination I wanted her to go in my mind, and dropped the reins.

Her hoofs pounded into the grass as she galloped away from me. I pulled my knife from my coat pocket and pushed the blade out with the pad of my thumb, until it became a long, thin sword.

"More…. More… Blood!" Something shot out from behind the tree.

It was a Level E vampire or at least… that's what it used to be. Its skin clung to its body, making it look like a fleshy skeleton. Its eyes were gouged out, only empty black sockets. Now that it had fallen under the complete control of… him, it didn't need eyes to see. It was only driven by his will.

It moved on all fours, claws scraping the earth. Its head was twisted up at an odd angle, mouth gaping open.

I gripped my sword in one hand and swiped at it as it pounced. One of its claws dug into my shoulder, making a thin cut in my skin. It cackled and screamed in delight.

As my vision blurred, I watched as it turned and ran, no longer on all fours… because it was cradling its claw in one hand. A bang, loud enough that I felt the ground vibrate under me, filled the air. A stream of light missed the one Level E as it ran away.

"Akane-san!" Zero yelled, his gun still smoking. I thought to myself that this was the first time he had ever said my first name, and not "Hey, you" or "Tsukino-san". The ground was warm against my cheek.

And she died.

The end!

.No, not really, I wouldn't be that cruel.

.Possibly…

***

"…an… Akane-san!" Zero was saying. I groaned. Something hard was digging into my back. A rock?

"Akane-san!"

"…Shut up." I mumbled, trying to sit up. "…Back hurts…" Still keeping my eyes closed, I pushed myself onto my elbows. "Much better…" I opened my eyes and was surprised to find Zero staring at me. He was sitting on his knees, still gripping his gun. "…What?"

"How did it… heal so fast?" He said, looking at my shoulder. "It was so bloody and then it just…"

"Psychic, remember?" I said, sitting up fully. I grabbed my fallen sword and pushed the blade in. So he didn't drink from me… Hmmm… I thought, sticking it in my pocket. "Is White Lily okay? How long was I out?"

"She's fine and only for a couple minutes." Zero continued to stare at my shoulder and then his eyes flickered to my face. "How did you get White Lily to not…"

"Run wild?" I said, brushing some leaves out of my hair. "Psychic. And yes, it works on animals."

Zero gave me a look as if to say "Don't try anything funny with me." Or Yuki…

"Relax. I can only control minds when they're vulnerable. When they're frightened or angry, or entirely focused on something else." I said, rising to my feet. I fingered the rip in my coat. I like this coat…

I was grateful that Zero didn't pester me to go to the infirmary, since I was obviously fine.

But it created this awkward silence between us.

"…I'll tell the Chairman what happened." Said Zero. He turned and jogged toward the school.

"I can't believe you missed!" I called after him, and laughed when I saw his shoulders tense in anger.

When Zero returned, I had gotten fairly good at riding White Lily. I only fell off every other time I got on.

"You really are hopeless." He said, watching as I toppled to the ground. As he walked back to the stables I stuck my tongue out at him and climbed back on.

***

"Noooooo!" Chairman Cross whimpered. "Can't she stayyyy?"

I decided it was time to release Cantaloupe. I didn't want her to be trapped in cages for the rest of her life, even multicolored, fun ones.

It was late afternoon, and Yuki was in her room, and as far as I knew, Zero was still in the stables.

"I just think she needs to be where she belongs." I said, taking Cantaloupe from the Chairman. He sobbed pathetically as I left.

"I'll miss you, Cantaloupe." I said, stroking her scales. Cantaloupe flicked her tongue at me.

For some reason, I felt like releasing Cantaloupe near the stables was a good place… probably because I imagined that White Lily would look after her. I set her in the grass and watched as she slithered away.

I paused on my way to the stables. Two, brand new, brown stirrups were laid out on a rock. They were short enough for my legs, so I wouldn't fall off White Lily.

Thank you, Zero.