Chapter: 10

Sweet Revenge

Aura walked towards the stairs, and stopped, listening to the rustle of voices of many vampires downstairs. Suddenly her attention was caught by what she decided was her name uttered in a quiet tone.

"Yeah, I've heard about it," a vampire said. "Who would have thought?"

"Why would Kaname-sama bring her back here? It's odd."

Someone chortled loudly.

"Poor Aidou! He almost wet his pants when they told him who was coming back!"

The other vampire's laughter rippled through the air.

"Yeah, especially since Kaname-sama punished him!"

Aura listened carefully, trying to practice her breathing calmly like she didn't have the care in a world and wasn't eavesdropping to that particular conversation. A silence fell at once, heavy, grim silence. Aura swallowed a bit nervously and wondered if they noticed her at last.

"They say she has been recuperating," a voice uttered at last.

"Unbelievable... And she's still alive?"

"Phew, I wouldn't believe it," someone mocked. "Piss her off and you'll see what happens."

"Poor Kaname-sama."

"Why does he put up with her?"

Aura winced. She knew people detested her, but this was a bit too much. The palm of her fist at her side tightened and the level C had to call for all of her self-control not to explode. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes, reminding herself of how their words didn't matters. Those people who judged her differently wouldn't change their minds. That was all too it and nothing could change that.

The vampires, oblivious to her presence, continued talking.

"Can you believe the way she talks to Kaname-sama so rudely?"

"The girl must have been born with no respect!"

"SHHHH!" the vampire, who sounded like Ruka, hissed loudly. "Don't talk about that! The walls can grow ears at any time!"

Aura froze, not listening to them anymore. The level C forced herself to push the thoughts away. But found that she couldn't. Aura frowned at the words the others were saying. After trying to ignore the voices for several minutes, she rose took one step and stomped towards the main hall.

"Such hurtful and vindictive words," she snarled, her anger obvious.

Every head turned to Aura—how long she had been there, they did not know—who stood as defiant at the top of the stair case as easily she could have been in a suit of armor. "You guys didn't think you could get rid of me that easily now did you?" Aura leaned against the railing lazily.

"Kaibara Aura."

Aura smirked. "In the flesh. Miss me?" Taking hold of the railing of the stairs Aura leaped over it effortlessly. She landed in a crouched position and slowly stood with a new found confidence. It showed.

"Well, look who's back." Ruka snarled, her anger obvious.

Aura chuckled and nodded her head. Her dark pale orbs and her blue orbs glared as they met. "Ecstatic to see you too, Ruka," she said sarcastically and Ruka felt a small smile pull on her lips from hearing Aura's voice say her first name instead of using her last name.

Aidou muttered something incoherently, and immediately Aura's eyes landed on the messy haired blonde across the room. His arms were crossed defensively and he wasn't looking at her which meant he did not notice her when she approached him dangerously.

"You..!" Aura seethed, her fists shook with anger at her sides. "Aidou..."

Shoving his hands into his pockets Aidou asked, "What do you want?" he glared down at her.

"You tried to kill me..." she said finally.

"Because you tried to kill me first, of course."

"Nearly killing me and making me bed ridden for weeks...how could you? Aidou Hanubasa...I'll kill you!" The girl had retaliated with a hard punch to the face, effectively spiraling him back a few feet and leaving him dazed while she stood her ground. She was pretty sure that she had broken his jaw.

It didn't take long for the dorm president to arrive. Aidou was in shock and absolutely had to see Kaname's presence for himself. When did that happen?

After a few seconds of laying on the floor at the feet of Kaname, the pureblood simply stood in the open stairway, staring. After a full minute, Kaname cleared his throat, snapping the man out of his stupor.

"Making trouble, Aidou?"

"K-Kaname-sama! It's not what it looks like, I swear! Aidou tried to explain frantically. He stopped himself too late, realizing he didn't sound believable. "She attacked me first!" He yelled out and pointed an accusing finger at Aura.

Aura narrowed her eyes and spoke up before she got a chance to continue. "Not before he-."

"You hit me first"

"You deserved it!"

"You b-."

"Shut up," Kaname ordered, his eyes obviously showing anger at both of them.

Both of them froze and shut their mouths immediately, glancing at the pureblood surprisingly. He was in a very bad mood.

Aidou was the first to speak. "...Kaname-same, please!"

Kanme ignoring the blonde. "I warned you, now I want you all to call a truce and live in peace for once." he said, knowing that a truce was the last thing in their binders that they were going to do.

"Truce with them? Oh – please..." Aura said and rolled her eyes at the stupidity of it all.

"Like we would ever have a basis apart from hatred with her" Aidou replied to Kaname's command and folded his arms across his chest.

Aura couldn't help but accept that the last part hurt. The fact to have an immense hatred received from the other vampires and to have them treat her differently couldn't be helped to hurt a little.

Even though with a dozen different things scurrying through her mind, Aura regained her previous stiff posture and glared at Aidou who was glaring back.

Kaname sighed and glanced at each other, knowing that creating a friendship between them was impossible.

"You said Kaibara started it? It appears to me that you antagonized and she retaliated."

"My... my apologies, Kaname-sama," Aidou said while pressing his face to the floor in a humble bow. Afraid for his life, he kept his face pressed to the floor, hoping that his submissive behavior would keep him alive.

The pureblood looked thoughtful for a moment. Kaname heaved a heavy sigh, watching as Aidou twitched at the sound.

"Get up, Aidou." He watched as the blonde climbed to his feet, his nervousness and fear apparent. "I have no intention of punishing you, though you should not have antagonized Kaibara."

Aidou studied Kaname while trying to control himself. "My sincerest apologies. I believed that I have brought shame to you, Kaname-sama."

"There will be no fighting. Understand?" Kaname said not only to them but to everyone who stood in the room and waited for a reply.

Every vampire in the room gave a yes and Aura 'feh'd' informing that a solemn promise had been created between them, though how long it would last no one in the room knew. "Do not fail me." he warned.

Kaname turned his attention to Aura, who looked rather shocked as well, though she had the decency to try and hide it. Kaname allowed a small smirk to show on his face. "You're early this time." he noted. When Aura groaned and rolled her eyes, Kaname chuckled softly, shocking everyone. "Is that it?" Despite everything that had happened, not a whole lot got past Kaname Kuran. Damned disconcerting it was, too, that insight and perception of his.

Everyone nodded.

"Okay, let's go," he mumbled as he opened the doors

Aura walked passed the other vampires as they watched her with fixed glares. They wanted to fight back. They wanted to say something, but Kaname watched them like a hawk.

The vampires of the night class calmed down considerably once the air was clear, and she turned, and smiled as if she had won this round.

"Aura!" Yuki waved as she ran up to her.

"Morning, Yuki." Aura smiled.

"You okay? I haven't seen you in a while. Kaname-sempai told me you were recuperating. I'm so sorry."

"I'm fine." Aura throat constricted and she took a deep breath. "Exhausted, but life goes on, I suppose."

"How are things?" Yuki asked referring to the other vampires.

"Better." Aura smiled, looking over her shoulder at the others who where starting to drift farther off without her. "Much better. We're trying to get along." She said. "It's harder because I'm left alone in the dorm all day. Everyone is pretty distant. I got friends like you and Zero, but it's not the same. Everyone in the dorm likes to keep to themselves, so I don't know." Aura swallowed.

It was quiet between them. After all there really wasn't much to say.

"Thank you, Yuki. I mean it." Aura said seriously.

"Eh, for what?" Yuki was confused.

"For helping me when no one else would." Aura looked over at the reserved Zero who appeared to not be listening in on their conversation but was close enough to hear every word. "You too, Zero. I probably wouldn't be alive if you hadn't came when you did."

"Don't mention it. Ever." Zero said.

Zero was seemingly relaxed beside Yuki, his tension was obvious. Aura looked into his eyes, welcoming the tingling sensation his intense stare gave her. Aura wanted to trust Zero, but what were the odds that he wouldn't shield himself with walls again at some point? Aura frowned. "I won't. It's been a rough week and I need to collect my thoughts first."

"I understand," Yuki said reassuringly. "I'm sure everything will work out just fine. I have faith in you. And please come see us if something like that happens again, okay?"

"Sure thing."

They were making small talk; Aura briefly told Yuki about her week and they suggested they'd hang out sometime. Then they talked about lighter stuff and Yuki theatrically told her a horror story about baking a cake for the first time in her life. Aura laughed.

"Yuki, may I steal Kaibara for a moment?" Kaname asked, making Aura turn to find him beside her. "School stuff." he smiled.

"Sure." Reluctantly, she walked away.

"What are you to Yuki?" he dropped the nice guy act.

"What do you mean?"

"I was watching you two. What were you two talking about?"

"What is this? Are you interrogating me? Yuki and I are just friends," Aura told him. "But even if we weren't, that's none of your business," she said. Aura let out a sigh, just wishing the pureblood would leave.

Aura roughly brushed passed Kaname while fixing him with a slight glare, still angry at being manhandled earlier the day before. She supposed she should have been thanking him for helping her with the level E and such, but this definitely didn't excuse his behavior. Pureblood or not!

Suddenly Aura found Kaname's hand gripping tightly to her bicep painfully. Her eyes widened and her jaw slightly dropped—she hadn't expected this type of reaction from Kaname. Seriously, what was the deal with him? What on earth...? Aura thought. She didn't understand why he was being this way.

He pulled her back forcefully to him. "If you ever hurt Yuki..." He threatened.

Aura gasped and stared at him in disbelief, "Why would I want to do that? I would never hurt Yuki!" It was true. Aura wouldn't do that. Not consciously or on purpose, at least. His words suddenly resurfaced in her head: What are you to Yuki? Aura thought hard on those words. She should have been asking him that very question not him.

He tilted his head, looking confused. "Is that so?"

"It's the truth!" Aura unclenched her fists, reminding herself about body language.

Aura opened her mouth to say something really snarky when she felt a hand reaching out, Zero pulled her out of Kaname's grip. "If this asshole hurts you, just tell me, and I'll deal with him."

"Thank you." Aura blushed. It was a bit too much, and it made her feel warm. In her experience, Zero used to be indifferent with her, or merely tolerating. But then again, Zero was more than a level D, he was a friend; Aura could tell that close people to him were like a family to him—a loving family he hadn't had when he was a child.

Aura lowered her eyes, staring at her throbbing arm that she held close to her. She was the little Aura afraid of the pureblood again. She shifted from one foot to another, suddenly feeling so small. The air instantly became thick with tension. He closed his eyes and took another long breath, then pinched the bridge of his nose and turned quickly on his heel. The pureblood walked away with a dangerous aura that she thought the very ground would collapse.

"I believe you." And he did. Kaname looked at her apologetically. "My apologies."

Aura nodded, feeling like the air had been punched out of her lungs. When she saw him walk off, she returned to her usual position by following behind the others, unable to understand what the hell had just happened. What was wrong with her talking to Yuki? It wasn't against the rules to interact sociably with the humans. So, why? Why is a pureblood such as Kaname so concerned with a human girl? Especially Yuki... Aura had absolutely no idea what had gotten into Kaname and why it was seemingly her fault. She felt deflated but at the same time so damn pissed.

The next week, Aura found herself sitting in a class, trying to fight both the feeling of boredom and overwhelming panic. Her mind was racing as she pondered the relationship between Yuki and Kaname, and the fact that she couldn't get any sleep during the day wasn't helpful either. Seriously, what was it about Yuki Cross that Kaname Kuran was so protective of?

Yuki looked down and blushed. "Kaname-sempai," Aura felt her throat itch. The fire spread down her throat, and into her lungs. "Is a very kind vampire."

Aura gasped in realization. Now that she thought about it Yuki did blush every now an then whenever Kaname was present. Is it possible...? Aura thought. No, it couldn't be but then again she could be wrong. Kaname did appear to hold much respect for her, and he was kinder towards her than any regular human.

But why only her though? One thing was for sure is that nothing good could ever come between a human and a purebood. And because of that very reason Aura decided she'd keep a very close eye on Kaname. A very close eye.

Aura glanced over her shoulder at the pureblood suspiciously. He held a lot of secrets.

"Where's the teacher?" Aidou sounded bored. "He's taking forever to get here."

"Didn't you hear? We're getting a new Ethics teacher." Ruka replied.

"Really?" Rima murmured.

It suddenly occurred to Aura there were so many things she missed out on while spending all her spare time skipping class, doing what she liked to do and not doing what they did. Everyone still tended to ignore her because she didn't get along with them and Aura rarely had time to meet with Zero and Yuki because of different class schedules. On the weekends, she spent time with Yuki and Zero; not only did Zero warm up to her he was still secretly despising her for some reason, but Aura also hated being in the dorm when it was buzzing with exciting events.

Why didn't she see their differences earlier? Why did she keep trying to stoke the fire that never really burned? For what purpose had she sacrificed her time, her life, letting "I" get sucked into "we"? For the sake of being accepted just because the majority of people here were just like her? Screw that. The idea of finding happiness in siding with the vampires never appealed to her. Screw them and their expensive silky satin bed sheets. She'd rather enjoy being happy on her own.

Aura sat watching the light rain fall in a dance outside. Soon, she was so mesmerized by the view that when the front door opened in the periphery of her vision, it startled everyone. She blinked and reflexively turned her head toward it as her train of thought was interrupted.

A tall man entered the class room. He was wearing a beige-looking tailored suit, no tie. It was to no avail, though—his medium-length light brown hair was ruffled and messy. He was beautiful—a classical movies kind of beautiful, his fine features carrying a certain refinement you met so rarely these days, yet he was old, she guessed, thirty-something. Aura's gaze followed his confident, steady gait as he proceeded to the desk in front.

He slammed his book on the desk grabbing everyone's attention. "I will be your new Ethics teacher starting today," he said in a silky smooth voice, "Name is Toga Yagari."

Aura smiled involuntarily. Oh, please you can teach me anytime. He was standing so close Aura could catch his scent. He smelled of fresh pure human blood. So good.

From her spot Aura could tell that his right eye was covered which signaled he was blind in one eye, but she imagined they must be gray. Cold. Everything about him seemed cold. He looked annoyed as he glanced at his students impatiently. He was talking animatedly and he smiled at them, but his smile seemed forced, condescending. He looked bored and for some reason, Aura suddenly wondered if he new.

"Before we start I just want to say that... I know you are all vampires." he said finally.

There sound of hissing bounced off the walls. The room suddenly became cold as every pair of red eyes ignited on the lone human teacher.

He new their secret.

Aura had no idea what Kaname or the others would do to this situation, but of one thing she was fairly certain: Toga Yagari wasn't a normal teacher. Nope. And he definitely wasn't exactly here to teach vampires either.

"Toga Yagari? That is the name of the best vampire hunter alive. This guy is our Ethics teacher?" Ruka wasn't pleased.

"So, he's responsible for last night gun fire." Aidou growled.

"You all relax. There's no need to worry. Today I'm fully qualified and certified to be a legitimate teacher for this class." Yagari explained.

"You've come to spy on the night class haven't you?" Kaname said knowingly, turning the page of his book. "Or maybe, the real reason your here... is so you can kill us." He says in a dangerously low voice.

Aura swallowed. His words swirled in her brain.

"So, its you... Kaname Kuran." he smirked. Yagari looked up to find the pureblood leaning casually against the wall. "Regrettably my execution list is completely empty right now but if you find my lectures boring and you fall asleep in my class. I may very well add your name to it."

Everyone became alert and Ruka and Aidou were the first to react. "How dare you say that to Kaname-sama!" she yelled as if on cue.

Aura sighed, "Here we go..." she swore if Ruka said that sentence one more time she was going to ring that scrawny neck of hers.

"You got something to say to me?" Ruka sneered back at Aura.

"Ruka, just relax." Akatsuki tried to calm her down.

"I will try to be careful, teacher." Kaname mocked.

Yagari smirked while ignoring that last comment.

Every pair of uncertain eyes watched his every move as he went to grab something from inside his coat. Was it a gun? A knife perhaps? No it wasn't. Yagari pulled out a cigarette. "I hope you all don't mind if I have a smoke." he smiled knowingly as he noticed their relieved expressions, and lit the cigarette.

Aura watched fascinated as the smoke mingled with his breath, slowly releasing a smoke-filled breath. He leans back and takes a long draw off the white, burning cigarette in his hands, letting the smoke fill his lungs. He smiles. He puffs it out, leaving a dull, but delicious, burning sensation at the back of his throat.

"So, are there any questions?"

"Yeah, can I have a cigarette?" Aura asked the teacher.

...

It became quiet as every head turned in her direction. But Aura didn't care. All that mattered to her at that moment was her and that cigarette.

"Huh?" He looked confused. "Well, well, it looks like I've made a friend. Who might you be?" He turned to Aura with a disarming smile.

"Aura. Can I have my cigarette now?" she asked rather impatiently.

"Interesting. You smoke?"

Aura shrugged. "Yeah, it calms my nerves."

He chuckled, "Alright then. I don't see why not."

Aura liked this teacher right off the bat. He was human, let his students smoke in class. He was great.

"Need a light?" he asked, opening the lighter.

"Yes, please." Aura inhaled deeply and took a second to exhale and admire how perfectly the smoke traveled from her mouth up into the ceiling. It was heaven.

"Kaibara do you not understand who this is? You trust him?" Ruka said.

Aura nodded. "You are the people I can't trust" She turned around to face her as she leaned back in her chair. "If it's a cigarette I'll trust anybody." Aura said coolly.

"I really hate her," Ruka muttered.

"No need to worry. I didn't tamper with it if that's what you're all thinking" He couldn't stop smiling.

"Thank you for the smoke, by the way." Aura felt her lips churn into a smirk as she brought the cigarette back to her lips.

"Did you like it?"

"Very much."

"I'm glad. I'll remember you said that. I pay attention to the details." He leaned against the chalk board, arms crossed. He looked very relaxed. "Well then, that will be all. Class is dismiss-"

In a flash a sharp dagger shot out aiming at the teacher. Being a highly experience vampire hunter Yagari was ready to act as he readily shielded himself with little effort. It pierced clean through the book. "What a wonderful gift. You know I think I'll just keep this as a memento of the time I'll spend teaching vampires." Yagari said. And then he left.

Aura managed to finish up half of the cigarette before Aidou spoke, "Could you put that thing out?! You may be ok with it but some of us are not." Aidou demanded across the classroom. Aura turns quietly back to her cigarette. Instead of answering right away, she focuses intently on the glowing red stick before her, blinking apathetically as gray smoke curls away from her hand.

Shaking her head, Aura brings the cigarette steadily up to her mouth and takes a short drag. Aura exhales while she blew smoke into his face and said, "Make me." she dared him.

"That does it!" Aidou stood up ready to attack the lower class vampire before Akatsuki retrained him.

"Cut it out you two!"

Aura crossed her legs on the desk in a relaxed pose. "Whatever."

Okay tell me what you think.

P.s.

So guys I'm sorry this is so late, I thought I had posted it but I just saw it! I'm currently working on the next chapter and it's Gonna really pick up from there! Please be patient!

Thanks again to all my lovely review/followers.