"Chou, what are you doing?" Hanabusa asked, his face growing pale.

"What does it look like? I'm cutting off my hair," Chou muttered, using her knife to slice through her black hair that was tied up. Her hair now fell to her shoulders, her front bangs longer than her back hair.

"Why?" Yuuki asked.

"I eliminate those that are not needed," she answered, and then looked up at Ryuu who had snatched the knife away from her. He picked up a pair of scissors and began to cut Chou's hair, making the lengths even.

"The first thing you do when you wake up is to throw a needle at my head?" Ryuu smirked.

"I felt like it all of the sudden," she answered, letting him even out her hair. The door to the room suddenly opened and the whole room grew silent as Zero stepped in.

"Ah. It's Kiryuu," Chou turned her gaze to him with her eyes, not her head.

Ryuu put down the scissors and gathered up the clumps of hair, and then threw them in the trash bin. He, Yuuki, and Hanabusa edged out of the room, leaving the two of them alone. Chou glared at the others as they left. Traitors... what are they thinking?She thought.

An awkward silence fell as Chou and Zero just stared at each other. Finally, it was Chou who turned away first, tugging on her short hair.

"You woke up?" Zero asked.

"Yeah..." Chou muttered, then silence continued once more.

"Your hair... why did you cut it?" Zero said.

"I felt like it..."

"I heard... from Ryuu... that you're..."

"A half blood, I know," Chou growled, silence growing between them again.

"I bet you hate me now, don't you?" Chou asked.

Zero didn't say anything. Chou's back was turned to him so that she couldn't see his face.

"My plan was to kill you... and my father tried to murder you... and I lied to you..." Chou stammered.

"Was?" Zero muttered.

"I don't know why I stepped in front of you. I don't know why I let myself get stabbed by my father. I don't know why I don't want to kill you anymore. I don't know why it felt so painful when you walked away..." she blurted out, her voice shaking slightly.

"I-I-I... don't know... wh-why... I c-came back... t-thinking about... you..." Chou whispered.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped themselves around her, and Zero's warm breath approached her neck. Chou's breath quickened and she turned her head to face him.

"I... I don't know why, but I don't hate you," Zero muttered, planting a kiss on her lips.

Chou blinked rapidly, in surprise of his actions, and her own feelings, which were not of hate, but something warm. Zero finally let go of her, his cheeks flushed, and he hurriedly left the room. Chou just stared out into space, his kiss still felt on her lips, still having the feeling of his strong arms hugging her as if they were still there. He kissed me... He kissed me... that... kiss... HOLY CRAP!Chou thought, then her whole face turned a bright red.

A few minutes later, Ryuu, Hanabusa, and Yuuki stepped back into the room. Ryuu walked over to Chou who was out unconscious, her face incredibly relaxed.

"You look creepy like that... smiling in your sleep..." Ryuu stated, and then he turned to the others, "She fainted."

"No wonder... that... that was so romantic!" Yuuki squealed, shaking her head, her own cheeks red.

"Hm... that was worthwhile, peeping into the room just in time," Ryuu smirked, and then looked over at Hanabusa, who was unusually quiet, "Jealous?"

Hanabusa looked up, smiling, "No... I'm just... happy for her!"

"Now, all she needs to worry about..." Aidou continued.

"Is her father," Ryuu concluded, the shadows rising then pulling the blankets over Chou's relaxed, sleeping body.

"Hell's gates will unleash into her world," Ryuu muttered.

"Don't worry..." Yuuki smiled.

"She'll survive it," Hanabusa nodded.

Suzuki looked out the window from his ruined mansion, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Come... let me kill you, useless daughter... I'll be waiting..."

It was only the beginning of the true hunt for the pureblood.

Please review and feel free to ask questions to my OC's Chou or Ryuu! They will be answered in the next chapter!

I drew Chou! :D don't be too strict with my level of drawing, okay?

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