Recently got a review that made my day - err, night. I love you too, Hyuugaamore. :)

And wow, you guys are making me feel bad with all the lack of reviews and love. Especially considering I'm sick and forever alone... :(

Thirteenth Night: Painful Reminder

The two Purebloods stepped into class in sync, content and ethereal as they joined their group before the bell's ring. Ichigou mumbled something about being 'overly protective' as Seiren automatically walked to her master's side, face tranquil as ever.

"Ah, Kaname-sama, Yuuki-sama, good to see you two finally physically separated," Rima noted, twirling the ends of a light orange pigtail as she smirked.

Senri Shiki, her partner in crime, stuck strawberry pocky in his cousins' mouths, one who was furiously blushing and the other who merely grinned. That was new... "A gift to the couple." Rima elbowed him. Faking a cough, he added, "From Rima and I."

"Boom! Fifty bucks Aidou," Yori proclaimed, sticking out her hand.

Oh that mocking little- "Here," he said, grabbing cash and dropping it in her outstretched hand with a sour look upon his face. "Well, looks like Ruka has competition now..."

Ruka furrowed her brows, about to whack Hanabusa in his face.

"Don't frown, Ruka, you'll get wrinkles." The beauty widened her eyes, fretting over her forehead while Akatsuki stifled a smile.

Aidou grinned evilly in his cousin's direction, raising his brows in a 'go get her' sort of way.

Akatsuki almost burned the bastard.

"Oi, Yuuki-chan, will you sit by me?" Yori asked mischievously, grabbing her best friend's arm and dragging the Pureblood to her side. "Sorry Kaname-sempai, you've hogged her for far too long."

"Mmm." Ruka nodded in agreement. Neither Seiren nor Rima seemed overly interested in the girl world at the moment, and so were content continuing their original doings.

Aidou muttered, "Chicks."

Rima did both Yori and Ruka a favor by smacking the ice user upside the head.

The final bell rang then, calling for class to ensue. Toga walked in briskly as students dropped in their chosen seats. He was far more agitated than usual, a full out frown upon his forehead and a 'tch' awaiting release from his mouth.

He slammed his books on the desk in front of him, looking up at his vampire students with a groan ready to escape his lips.

The Hunter swallowed it back after some consideration. "You have a new student," he exasperated, voice pained at the idea of yet another vampire student.

She popped through the double doors, an odd smile gracing her pale lips. Maria Kurenai, as she introduced herself to the Night Class, was a quite short vampire – only about 4'11 in height – with silver-violet straight hair that went midway to her back, and grayish-lilac colored eyes. Her orbs were large, with long, thick lashes, but it seemed she kept them half closed quite often. She had the natural beauty that all vampires held, along with the pale skin, but appeared thin and frail, like a doll. Maria, who seemed to be anywhere from 16 to 17 years old, was a tiny thing, with a thick fringe that managed to hide two perfectly sculpted eyebrows, small mouth, little yet straight nose.

From her smell, the vampires in the room deducted her level – Noble.

While they all made their observations, she managed to float towards one of their leaders.

Papers danced with the air as Maria's knees made contact with the Pureblood's desk, leaning towards the figure who still sat, though slightly confounded.

And then Kurenai reached for the other girl's porcelain hands, bestowing each with an affectionate kiss, before pressing her lips against each of the Pureblood's cheeks.

Then she turned her head to the other Pureblood in the room, and said in his direction, "Her blood must taste sweet, eh, Kaname-sama?"

Tension piled in the room, and one in particular was especially pissed. "How dare you talk about such matters, and so disrespectfully, to our Dorm Leaders!"

Maria cocked her head to where the voice was coming from, just to see a fuming blond boy with cerulean eyes. One from the Aidou clan, she was sure. "A Guardian?" Paying him no more attention, she turned to one of Yuuki-sama's companions, eying her before listing her off as a Guardian, too.

Those would be Yuuki-sama's, now for the Kuran heir's...

She spotted the girl first, with her relaxed yet no-nonsense posture. The girl had pale lavender hair, as well as violet eyes, with hair cut just below the chin and bangs just above the brows. She was – probably – of average height, with strong, compact muscles, though it was all hard to truly know with her sitting down and fully clothed. Deadly and beautiful, and a Noble at that.

Maria proceeded to eye the other, to the girl's side, with his vampire-like pale complexion, bright green orbs, and semi-neat light blond hair. He was lean-built, as most male vampires, and cheerfully gorgeous.

They screamed of Guardians.

"Well aren't the two Guardians for Kaname-sama just adorable?" she exclaimed, then pointed their way. Surveying the rest of the bewildered class quickly, she called out any other couples she deemed cute.

No one bothered to stop her, though Yuuki ran her fingers through her thick hair and moaned quietly.

"Ah," Maria began after listing everyone off, "I wish my Ich-" Her hand flew to cover her lips, instantly stopping her mid-sentence.

Toga assessed the new one with suspicion. "Can we start the lesson now?"

"Yuuki-sama, will you give me a tour of the building?" Maria asked sweetly, grasping at the brunette's arm.

Yuuki gave her an apologetic smile, despite not understanding the girl, nor her actions. "I'm sorry, but after class I'll be busy." She scanned her surroundings, and her eyes caught a particular person. "Zero-kun!" she called, so he would notice. He came up, slightly aggravated. "Will you please give a tour to our new student?" She pointed at Kurenai, whose back was to the prefect.

Kiryuu grunted, which the Pureblood took as a yes.

She stalked off, and that's when Maria turned around.

Zero's eyes widened in shock and alarm.

She looked like that woman.

Maria let her lips slide into a knowing smirk.

Next Update: 10-13-12 (methinks)

NOTE! I've decided to grand the 199th reviewer (people do the 200th reviewer way too often) with the gift of choosing how they want the story to be updated within the span of a month. It might be three weeks considering how long (it'll probably be slow though...) reaching 199 is going to take. As long as the winner doesn't ask me to update every single day (I would probably commit seppuku if that were the case), anything's fair game. Every other day, every two days, every Monday and Thursday, every week, whatever...

(If someone's wondering how many chapters are left... 22, I believe.)

Let the games... Begin?

(Review?)