Disclaimer: Vampire Knight belongs to Hino Matsuri

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Killing Instinct

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Sitting below a tree, enjoy the fresh air and letting the wind blows your hair in a hot day like this, is truly a paradise. Cross Nina is enjoying it all now, letting go all of her stress today. If she can scream, she will scream until her throat hurt. If she can punch something until it crashed apart, she will tear something in two. But she is not that stupid. Actually, she will do that, if she didn't make any trouble before. After that incident, she will... or we have to say: must... be a good girl for some times. At least until her father trust her once more. Until then, she has too kept a distance with Kurenai Maria.

Thinking about that silver haired girl makes her stomach ache. How could she attack her? She didn't even remember any of it. After the girl said those horrible things, Nina thought she has fainted. But the reality says the other thing: she attacked Kurenai Maria. There is a broken tree to proof it. Oh my! That broken tree is terrible! It shows her how bad her attack was! She has nothing to say. She was guilty, the culprit, not the victims as she always are. Not being a victim is not too fun at all. Well, who knows?

Now she hopes she will be a victim again so no one will blame on her and glares at her anymore. Being glared by her father who always act childishly was felt horrible.

Nina looks up, staring at the sunlight and the leaves above. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breathe. It's bad. She is skipping class. But being alone like this is better than in class and being glared by everyone. It's not yet happen, but she can be sure about it. She walks with Kaname along the corridors to chairman's room. Everyone was seeing on them that time. Everyone must have dirty thought on their mind now and they will not hesitate to talk it loudly in front of her to intimidate her. It's not like being bullied or being by herself is something new for her. It's just... very hard to keep calm and not kick someone when she is being mocked or rejected by something she was unsure had done.

"What a terrible day..." she murmured. "By the way..."

That memory stabs her mind suddenly. The flashback when Kaname sink her in his hugs. What was Kaname doing back then? As long as she can remembers, no one but Maria and her there. When did he come? And more importantly, how? Why he always appear in such a perfect moment, not only this time, but also the past events? He will always be there whenever she needs someone protect her or help her. Like he was... spying on her.

Nina shakes her head vigorously. It's not possible! Kuran Kaname, the pureblood prnce and the leader of the moon dorm spies on her? Like he doesn't have any more important work to do! He has to be busy! No time to think a mere girl like her! Yes, that's impossible! But then... is it just her imagination or Kaname does very gentle with her? The way he talks... the way he hugs her that time...

Wait a sec!

The memories of her nightmare today stab her mind like a dagger: the memories when a boy hugged her tightly and said sorry. The boy... Nina compares the boy in her mind and Kaname. Why they have similar dark hair? And the voice... the boy's voice is sure higher but sounds as cool as Kaname. Or it's just her wild hypothesis?

"You take my place."

A girl voice makes her turn into her right side quickly. There is a long-haired girl stands by her right side. The girl smile at her gently. Her lazuli eyes show nothing but genuine kindness in her heart. Her long hair lengthens and almost reaches her skirt.

"Airi, what are you doing here?" Nina asked confusedly.

"It's supposed to be me who asking you," Airi answered. "What are you doing? I usually sit here, on the place where you sit right now."

"Oh! Sorry!" Nina quickly moves aside, let her sit there, next to Nina. Airi nodded and sits there. God! Nina amazed when she saw her every movement. Everything about her is so girly. Unlike her, Airi is like a princess. Somehow, she envy this girl.

"It's so unusual to see you here, Nina. What's wrong?" Airi asked full of caring. Nina is not someone who can share her problem so easy with someone else, especially her friend, but somehow... with Airi, she feels more comfort. Quickly, she moves those thoughts. "No, I can't! I even don't know much about this girl yet! How could I trouble her with my problems?"

Nina tires to keep calm. "Are you skipping?" Nina accused her.

"It's break time, Nina." Airi answered. "It's me who supposed to ask you that. I didn't see you in class. Were you skipping?"

Nina blushes. For God's sake, she is a prefect! She is not supposed to doing this childish act! Today she was skipping class whereas she supposed to be a good example for everyone else! Besides, she is chairman's daughter after all! Uh-oh! She involved herself in a trouble again!

Nina coughed. "Even I can be a bastard sometimes!" she tried to cover her blushed face. She glared at Airi, her blushing is gone. "Are you troubled with that?"

Airi shook her head violently as if she afraid with Nina. Okay, this girl is a scared cat. Who knows? Nina calm herself down, tries not to makes this girl scared even more.

Nina pouted and they both are trapped in silence. Thanks to her loud voice, now Airi never speaks again. Nina looks at the girl, sees her read her textbook. Now she thinks about it. This girl is so beautiful and perfect. Why she like a quiet place like this to read a book? She befriend with Sayori, she knows it. But the fact she never see this girl before that met is disturbing too. Why this girl could was invisible? Is she a kind of ghost?

"You're not a ghost, are you?" Nina spoke her mind clearly. Airi turned to her with surprises.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm a human!" Airi said loudly. She is sounds angry, but even so Nina doesn't feel she is scary. Her princess behaviour has made her run out of charisma!

"Then why I never see you before?" Nina asked. "Why you're so invisible? You behave like an angel, perfect in everything I'm not, but why you like being here, all by yourself?" Nina spokes the entire question in her mind.

Being hit by many question at the same time makes Airi daze. Her mouth opens and her jaws drop. Nina doesn't seem want to pull her question. Why? She is deadly curious about it! She does not want to let the curiosity kill her. She admits that she doesn't remember all of her classmates. She has difficulty to remember any of them but at least she can feel something in her chest every time she faces a certain student. The feeling which said that this boy/girl is my classmates; she is this school's student too. But it's not work with Airi. She feels a strange feeling towards this girl, like this girl a foreigner. She is sure she never sees this girl's face before. But Yori get along with her. So Nina wants to know. Besides, this girl has the same opinion with her about Kurenai Maria while Yori isn't. This girl is not an ordinary girl, that's her belief.

"Um..." That's the only sound that came out of Airi's mouth.

"I didn't ask you to hear that um sound!" Nina snapped. Airi surprised to be snapped like that, but unlike before, now she can smile at Nina.

"I was invisible and like here all by myself, huh..." Airi looks up, stares at the leaves above her, just like what Nina did few minutes ago. She looks wanders, as if her soul left her body, wandering to somewhere place she can't reach. "I like being like that."

Nina's eyebrows rise a bit. "What do you mean?"

"Being too close to someone will only hurt my heart in the end." Airi murmured. "I'm tired of being disappointed."

Usually, Nina said "Disappointment is a common thing!" but this time, she isn't. Airi's expression when she said that, isn't ordinary disappointed expression, like if she is being disappointed once more, then she will crushes into pieces.

"Besides," Airi added. "I feel alone in the crowd as if I'm lost into some strange place full of strange people. It's loud around me, but it feels so quiet. So, instead of being alone in the crowd, I prefer being truly alone like this."

"Like being alone? Like the hell I will let you do that!" Nina pouted.

"Eh?" Airi surprised.

"Loneliness is painful you know?" Nina stares at her now. Their makes making a contact. "From now on, no matter what, I will be your friend. Whoever you are, whatever you are, we still befriend! Agree?" Nina gives her hand to Airi.

"But, Nina—

"No buts! Don't you trust me?" Slowly, Airi accepts Nina's hand. They're shaking hand for several times. Nina smiles at her when Airi just gives her a doubt smile. Nina knows that smile. That's just like her smile at the first time she met Yori. This girl is similar with her and she understands every of her words... every pain in those words. Nina understands it all because she used to feel the same too. But Nina never says it. She doesn't want to share her own problem with this girl. May be... she has consider this girl as her best friend, just like Sayori.

"Now, you're my best friend too, Airi!" Nina said. Who knows that this word and this promise will be reality in the future? Later, their bonds are getting stronger than they never expect.

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"So, someone has asked you to the ball?" Nina asked Airi as they walk along the corridor.

"Not yet." Airi answered without worry or any anxiety on her face, unlike the most girls in day class. Almost of them are screaming in pain as if the world is going to end when they realize they haven't partner to the ball yet.

"Don't you want someone in night class to ask you to go with him to the ball?" Nina asked again.

"Um... not really." Airi answered. "Actually, the night class... the boys like them isn't my type at all."

Well, it's surprising. "Then what kind is your type?"

"I don't know yet. I think I will know when I find it. One thing clear is..." Airi stopped for a while, "I want someone less shining."

"Less shining?"

"The night class... they're too shining, don't you think so?"

The mean in that sentence stab Nina, right to her heart like a dagger. "Y-you think they're not like human?"

Airi stares back at Nina with confused face. "I never say it. I said they were too shining. That's all."

It is the first time someone from day class beside her and Yori said that night class isn't interesting. And also the first time she hears a girl said that the night class seems weird... too shining, for summing up. Well, Nina concludes she has to watch Hazuki Airi very closely. This girl has extraordinary instinct, more than ordinary human.

Or else... she has known the secret...

Nina shook her head vigorously. It can't be true! She can't let it be true! She has to prevent it no matter what! But if this girl is already knew, she has to report it to her father. But for now, as long as she has no proof yet, she can only watch Airi. Then she walks together again.

"I heard that you attacked a night class student."

They stopped suddenly. Nina turns into a stone. She stares at Airi with shocked face. "You've heard that too?"

"Of course. You and Kaname were walking to chairman's room. Everyone saw it!" Airi said full with sympathy. Oh yes! Nina had forgotten that fact! "They are all talking about it today!"

It shocked Nina more, whereas she had expected this before. "The entire school... are talking about it?" Dark aura spread above her head. Finally her bad feelings become reality.

Airi sweat drops. "But If I may know, who was the student you attacked?"

Nina stares at her again, of course with frightening face. "Kurenai Maria-senpai."

Now Airi looks worry. "Did she hurt you? Did she do anything bad to you?" she asked almost in panic.

Now Nina confuses. First time, she sounds sympathy, and now full of worry. Moreover, she asked whether Kurenai Maria had done anything bad on her, not the otherwise.

"Did you suspect that Kurenai-senpai attacked me first?" Nina asked carefully.

"Yes. You're not someone who will attack the other on sight. You must have rational reason for it." Airi answered with full of enthusiasm. Now Nina feels a little bit relieved. At least, there is someone who believes on her. Yeah even she has to admit that some part of that accident was her mistake too.

"Thanks."

"No problem," Airi answered. "I also think Kurenai-senpai is scary." Yes, she heard that a while ago. "When you said that the students you attacked were her, I feel relieved. It must be her who started it all, does she?"

"Well, you can say so." Nina answered, can't hide her smile from Airi. "But my reaction isn't right either. I pushed her on a tree until the tree itself broke apart. Doesn't it scary?"

"I don't know you can be that strong." Believe or not, Airi looks like a curious kid now. "As long as I remember, you have acute asthma, that's why you often fainted in class and went to clinic, didn't you?"

"Indeed. I don't know either." Nina turns gloomy. She will never get used to be calm when her weakness was being mentioned by someone. Ever. Moreover, she never expect it would came from one of her few friends's mouth. "It looks like, I did it unconsciously. And then, there is something fills me inside... like... I wanted to kill her so badly."

When she realizes of what she is talking about, she covered her mouth with one hand. Nina turns to Airi, sees the girl's face. She gets a surprise on Airi's face. Oh God! She did it again. She talks about something scary with calm expression. Now Airi will be afraid of her too, just like her old friends.

"Nina, are you..."

"Nina!"

"Yuuki-senpai!" Nina and Airi said in unison.

After surprise for a while, Nina realizes something. "Yuuki-senpai, you're forbidden to hang out of your dorm in day time! Please get back to your dorm quickly!"

"Ah sorry for that. I have business here... with you." Yuuki said.

"Um... should I go?" Airi had taken her first step of leaving.

"No, it's not a private talk," Yuuki stopped Airi. "I just want to talk about the accident."

"Uh... that again." Nina thought annoyingly. She expected this pureblood will gave her another lecture like her father. "What do you want to talk about, Yuuki-senpai?"

Nina shocked when Kuran Yuuki suddenly grasps her shoulders with indescribable power. The pureblood girl stares at her intensively. Not scary of course, but full of worry. "Did Maria hurt you? Did she do something bad on you?"

Nina blinks to Airi. How could they ask the same question? Then she stares at Yuuki again. "No, she didn't."

"Even though everyone had warned her not to talk about blood or delicious smell or something like that here, she still talks about it. Even she did it in front of you! I'm sorry I didn't come so fast to stop it. I'm sorry for made you see it!" Yuuki bows before her, grasp her shoulder even more, and spoke in panic.

Nina gets something weird in that long explanation. "You... came? I didn't remember you come. When did you come?" Nina wandered. Yuuki replied her with confused expression.

"What? You didn't remember? I came right after you pushed Maria." Yuuki said.

"I only saw..." Nina remembered the moment when she woke up in Kaname's arms. She can't stop herself from blushed from top to toes. She feels her face hotter. Her cheeks become redder.

Then Yuuki releases her shoulders. She claps it. "I get it. I get it. I saw it too!" she said cheerfully.

It is making her redder even more. "You saw it?!"

"By the way," Yuuki changes the topic, "You didn't get scold by chairman and Kaname Onii-sama, did you?"

Her face back to normal again. "Actually... yes, I got it."

Yuuki put one of her hand on Nina's shoulder. "Don't think bad of them, okay? They scold you because they care about you."

Care. That word keeps repeating in Nina's head for several times. Kaien was angry at her because he cares about her. If her father didn't mad, didn't scold at her...

She even can't imagine how it would feels. No one will scold you; no one will care about you, just like... you're alone in this world.

Alone.

When she realizes, her eyes is full of tears. Nina quickly wipes her tears before it burst out and she end up cries in front of Yuuki-senpai and...

Ups. Nina already forgot about her presence here.

"You both are talking a great topic." Nina's head rigidly turns to Airi who smiles innocently. For God's sake! She really forgot this girl is still here with them. Now she heard those things. She must be heard about blood, delicious smell, and many others. Oh No! She has told about the night class's secret in front of an innocent girl of day class.

And Airi's memories will be erased soon!

"Y-you didn't really hear everything, did you?" Nina hoped the answer is 'no'.

"Of course I did hear everything. I am standing here, you know, watching like a shadow." Okay, now Nina is in danger. Although technically it was Yuuki's fault (she was the one who said those things though) it's her fault too to let a day class student heard those all. It's her job as guardian to protect the school's secret, and now she is failed. Yuuki is here so she will report this as soon as possible.

She has just got scolded from her father and now she will get another lecture? Two lectures in one day? Is this can be worse?

Airi laughed gently, like a noble. "You don't have to be that afraid, Nina," she said reassuringly. She smiles innocently. "I knew everything."

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Cliffy! I know, I get it. It's annoying. But I will update as soon as possible. BTW how was it? Are you curious about Airi? Who is her actually? Well, you'll find out eventually.

Okay, it's time to re:review

Demonwriters101: thanks for your review. Keep reading this story, okay?

Ugh... (T-T) It's the fewest review I've ever accepted. Did the previous chapter is boring or something? Sorry. I will try to improve my writing style! All right, see you again in next chapter!