Spring had not yet fully thawed the earth. There was a crispness to the breeze, a sharpness of winter that still shivered bare skin, but a softness snuck in the air. A promise of growth and rebirth eagerly awaited the first sunny day to explode its green from the ground and turn the trees a soft pink. A surety that made the night of wondering around campus more bearable. This mingling of season, this sign of changing surroundings was particularly precious to Yuki Cross. It held potential for new. A guarantee that the cold would always be brushed away by a sweeter force.

She stopped to linger on the balcony of the science wing and took in a long, slow inhale.

"Mm," She hummed, "Cold air always smells better than warm." She turned to her companion, "Don't you think?"

Zero Kiryu came to a stop a few feet away and turned to her.

"No." he said plainly.

"You don't think there's a difference? It's like," She indulged in another breath, "Cleaner or something. Not as thick as summer air."

Her friend continued on, "It's all air Yuki."

"I disagree." She lingered a moment before breaking into a light jog to catch up to him.

"How are you feeling tonight?" She asked once she was back at his side.

His brow creased, "What do you mean?"

"You're face. It looks like you're trying to hide something."

Zero's eyes cut to her, but she peered up at him with a gentleness he only ever got from her. When he didn't answer, she pressed a bit more, "Are you getting hungry? Maybe after our rounds, you could-"

His eyes flickered forward again, "Stop."

"I'm just asking."

"Well, don't."

She stopped in her tracks, her voice hardening, "Zero. We made a deal, remember?"

He stopped but didn't look back, "I know."

"Well . . . You either tell me when you need me or I'll keep checking in until you do. Ok?"

"Yuki," He sighed and turned to half face her, "I'm tired. I just want to finish our rounds so I can go to sleep."

They hung there, meeting each other's gaze directly. Yuki dug into his lavender eyes, looking for a lie. A guard. A desire he was suppressing. She found none and finally let out a soft sigh.

"Ok. Let's go." They moved to head inside, "But you're sure you're ok?"

"Yeah."

"Ok."

Back at home, Yuki slipped from the bathroom freshly showered and tip-toed down the hall, trying not to wake anyone. Zero had locked himself in his room an hour ago and most likely passed out the moment he hit the bed. Just as she peeked her bedroom door open, a whisper from down the way made her jump.

"Oh, Yuki?"

She gasped and whipped around to find the headmaster lingering in his doorway in green pajamas, a steaming cup of tea in his hands. Yuki let out her breath, "Oh. Hi."

The headmaster chuckled, "Sorry to startle you."

"Uh-no that's ok. What are you doing up?"

"I was waiting for you to get back from rounds. I forgot to tell you we have a guest coming to visit the school tomorrow. Would you mind stopping by my office early to show her around before classes start."

Yuki's head tilted, "A guest?"

"Yes. Sorry for the short notice. Can you do it?"

It was a simple request. In fact, Yuki quite enjoyed being the one to show new people around.

She nodded, "Sure."

The headmaster smiled softly, "Thank you, Yuki. I really appreciate all you do around here."

She waved him off, "It's really nothing."

"It's not nothing. Thank you." He stepped into his room and moved to close the door, "Sweet dreams."

"Good night." She called before slipping into her room and crashing into bed.

The next morning, Yuki woke early and stepped outside before Zero could wake. She turned to the blazing pink sun barely breaking over the horizon and sucked in the fresh morning air. A gentle wind had blown in a warmth that yesterday lacked. It was definitely the start of a new season. It thawed her cheeks, and a soft smile found her face as she began the walk through the sleeping court yard.

She found herself pausing at the headmaster's office door a little after seven. The muffled voice of the headmaster whispered through the door crack, "You can stay as long as you would like. And if it comforts you to know, I am very happy to see you."

Yuki knocked tentatively before peeking the door open. Headmaster Cross called for her to enter as she poked her head in to find someone she did not expect standing by the window with her foster father.

Honestly, Yuki assumed 'guest' meant an old friend of Cross's. Perhaps a hunter stopping in for the day to see the progress Cross has made with his vampire/human cohabitation project. She was ready to spend her morning showing around some man at least twice her size. But she opened the door to see a girl. A young lady with hair like the night sky that fell blade straight over her thin shoulders. She was tall with an athletic build, but probably wasn't much older than Yuki herself. When she looked over her shoulder, Yuki got trapped in her silvery blue eyes. They were unlike any color Yuki had seen. Like ice shimmering in the sun. They made her breath catch in her throat.

"Good morning, Yuki," the headmaster began, and it shook Yuki from her trance. Cross turned back to the girl, gesturing to Yuki with one hand, "This is my daughter. I asked her to help you get comfortable this morning. She can show you around before we discuss this any further."

The girl glanced at him, and when she spoke, the deep huskiness of voice gave Yuki chills.

"Are you sure?"

"What's the worst that could happen?"

"That's what I'm asking."

Yuki slowly closed the door behind her. She couldn't stop studying the girl. She was kind of dressed like a hunter, heavy black boots and dark, formfitting pants. But her tucked-in, oversized t-shirt was certainly not fit for combat. And her eyes. A vampire, maybe. But nothing else about her suggested as much.

Cross handed the girl her black leather jacket and guided her to the door where Yuki was paralyzed.

"Yuki, this is Benathu Souka. A very dear friend of mine. She'll be staying with us for a few days."

An awkward pause hung between them. Yuki shook her head quickly as if to wake herself up and held out a hand, "Oh-uh-hi! It's nice to meet you."

Souka finished slipping her jacket on and took Yuki's hand, "Charmed."

Yuki glanced at the headmaster who gestured to the door with his head. She threw on a friendly smile, "I thought we could take a walk before my classes start."

"Sounds good." Souka stuffed her hands into her jacket pocket. The two girls made their way into the hall and as the headmaster closed his office door, the girl called, "I'm still mad at you, Kaien!"

He waved chipperly, a goofy smile crossing his face, "You'll be fine!"

"You should have said something to him!"

"Have fun!"

The door clicked shut and Souka let out a huff. The girls began their walk, and at first it was quiet. There seemed to be a tension surrounding the girl. She was walking with Yuki, but in her head she was somewhere else completely. After a moment, Yuki tried some small talk, her voice light and happy.

"So, um, what brings you to the school, Souka-san?"

Souka's eyes drifted over the campus, "Just passing through. Seeing old friends."

"That's so nice! How long have you known Headmaster Cross?"

"My whole life, pretty much. He knew my parents."

"Oh, were you're parents hunters?"

Her eyes cut to Yuki, like she had spilled some big secret. Yuki swallowed.

". . . Yes." Souka replied, looking Yuki up and down once before facing forward, "You know about that stuff?"

"Uh-yeah. The headmaster adopted me when my parents were killed by vampires. I've been kinda learning about the politics of all that lately."

"Messy, isn't it?"

An awkward chuckled left Yuki's throat, "Uh, yeah. But the headmaster's trying to fix it so . . ."

"Yeah," A soft smile found the girl's face, "Kaien's always been so optimistic. You gotta love him."

"I guess you do . . . So, uh, is this your first time seeing the school?"

Souka ran her fingers through her hair, "Yeah, I . . . was kind of away for a while. But, I'm back now so I thought I would come check the place out." She turned her attention to the building at their left. A hulking, dark building that was locked away from the rest of the campus with a huge iron gate that had been locked tightly for hours now.

"What's this?" She asked, pausing to look through the gate.

Yuki stopped at her side, "That's the night class dorms."

Souka cocked an eyebrow, "They're gated off?"

"Uh yeah," Yuki shrugged, "Some of the day class students find the night class students so attractive that uh . . . we were worried someone would get hurt."

Souka blinked before turning her attention back to the dark structure, "Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all."

The girl was even more mesmerizing in the warming sun. She had the most peculiar face. Smooth and creamy skin, full pink lips, and cheek bones you could cut yourself on. Her eyelashes must have gone on for miles. Yuki was staring again. This time Souka was the one to snap her out of it.

"So, how does all of that work?"

Yuki blinked, "Hm?"

"The day and night class."

". . . Oh! Uh-well-I um. It's like-" she stopped to take a breath, "I study with the day class. Their classes end in the afternoon. The night classes start at sunset. But because the day class never gets to see the night class, all of them crowd around the gate when the night class students come out to head to campus so they can see them."

Souka let out a laugh that sounded more like a song, "That's amazing. So, every day at sunset there is just this giant group of humans trying to get their hands on the vampires."

Yuki itched her head, "I guess you could say that."

"The humans are trying to get to the vampires! That's hilarious! It's like backwards."

"Backwards?"

"Yeah! Instead of the vampires hunting the humans, it's the humans sneaking around trying to get to the vampires. It's like the scary stories you hear as a kid but this time the monsters are being hunted."

Yuki thought for a moment, then looking up at the night class dorms looming over them, "I guess in a way . . ."

"So, what do you do when the crowd comes at sunset?"

"Oh, uh, the guardians come and keep the day class from getting too close."

"The vampires need protection?"

"Uh," Yuki chuckled, suddenly finding the whole think kind of silly, "Yeah, I guess."

"How many are there?"

"Just two. Me and my friend, Zero Kiryu."

Souka jolted up, as if the words gave her an electric shock. Her smile was suddenly gone, her lips parting a moment before she said, ". . . I'm sorry. What's his name?"

Yuki curled her hair behind her ear, "Kiryu. Zero. I'm sure you will meet him and I promise he isn't as scary as he looks."

Souka's eyes widened, her face becoming unreadable, ". . . Oh," She quickly turned away, her teeth grinding for a moment. There was a hesitation in her body language. A fidgety unsurity. Finally, she sucked in a breath and asked, "Um . . . You wouldn't happen to . . . know where he is?"

Yuki's weight shifted, "Zero?"

"Uh, yeah." She bit her lip, ". . . Because, you know, I . . . I would love to talk to the other, um . . . what is it? Guardian?"

No one had ever wanted to meet Zero before. This was definitely turning out to be a strange morning. Yuki glanced at her watch, "Uh . . . He's probably on his way to class. If we hurry, I'm sure we could catch him if you want." Souka nodded quickly. Yuki paused, her fingers twisting a strand of hair, "Uh . . . O-Ok. Let's go."

The girl followed at Yuki's heels, her pace urging Yuki to walk faster. Her demeanor had changed completely, from stand-offish and chill to quick and anxious in a moment. By the time they got to the humanities wing, Yuki was out of breath. She peeked into Zero's Lit Comp class, but there was no sign of him. She stepped back into the hall where Souka was tapping her foot.

"He's not here yet."

Souka was getting impatient, "You're sure this is where he should be."

"Yes. This is his first class of the day." Yuki wasn't sure what the urgency was, but Souka's antsiness was getting to her. Suddenly, she was just as desperate to find this boy as the strange girl was.

She stepped over to the window, opening it so she could look down at the campus from the second floor. The warm morning brought more students to the courtyard than usual, all of them grouped up and enjoying the morning before the late bell rang. Some were even sitting in the cold grass. Souka came to her side, "See him?"

She did. Yuki spotted the grumpy teen strolling through the center of the courtyard, hands in pockets and frown down like he was the embodiment of unhappiness. Her hand flew to him, pointing.

"There!" She shouted loud enough for Souka to hear, "With the silver hair. The tall guy. That's him."

Souka pressed herself against the glass, her eyes frantically flitting over the crowd. Yuki saw the girl spot him. Her face lit up like a firework explosion, like she had just seen the most precious thing in this life. The moment she saw him, her eyes glossed over with pure joy. Her heart was swelling in her chest, a darkness she didn't know she had been carrying suddenly lifted from her. Yuki could hear her take in a slow, shaking breath.

Suddenly, Souka grabbed the coat of Yuki's uniform and pulled her back inside, pushing her aside so she could lean out the window. She couldn't hold it in. The longing was bursting from her like a balloon that had been slowly filling with water for years. Now, it was too much too hold. She exploded.

Benathu's lips parted and she screamed louder than anyone had shouted before. It was so pure and desperate and forceful that it could have knocked an entire army to its back. She hadn't said his name in so long that when it finally flew from her throat it felt like calling for home.

"ZERO!"

The sound echoed off the ground, singing into the sky like a wish, like a spark set to flame. It silenced the whole courtyard. Zero came to a sharp halt. He knew that voice. He had heard it calling for him in his dreams. But this scream was much different from the horror he heard at night. It couldn't be.

His gaze flashed around wildly, looking for the source of the sound with little success.

"Oh for fucks sake." Benathu cursed under her breath. There was too much between them. But she could fix that. She put her knee on the windowsill, beginning to climb out the window. Yuki panicked, quickly trying to keep the girl from falling face first to her death, but Souka shook her off.

She balanced herself on a raised concrete foundation that separated the first floor from the second, her hand holding the window frame with a hard grip. With all she of her soul, she sucked in a big breath.

"ZERO!"

With much more desperation and breathlessness than the first. His name felt so good in her mouth. She felt as if she could stand there forever and just scream for him. There was a pain in her voice. A wound she had long been hiding and Yuki could hear it in her trembling breath. It was a sound that even made Yuki's eyes flood with tears.

Zero whipped around, his eyes locking on the crazy girl hanging off the second floor of the school, her long black hair dancing like ribbons in the breeze. He squinted at first, thinking his mind was playing some trick. It couldn't really be . . . But then the breeze found him, carrying on it a deep, dry sent he thought he would never have the honor of enjoying again. She smelled like easiness, like a safety he hadn't known for years. His books fell from his arm and tumbled into the soft ground.

Benathu couldn't stand the distance any longer. She let go of the window and fell with all the grace and ease of a hawk coming in for a landing, and her boots dug into the mud when she hit, leaving her completely unharmed. Yuki gasped and leaned out the window to watch her fall. Definitely a hunter.

Zero felt Souka hit the ground in his chest, her presence now undeniable. His jaw fell open as he watched her rise to a stance and whip her hair from her face. And then it was like magnets of opposite poles. Like a power outside of themselves yanked them together. Souka tore into a full sprint, the crowd quickly parting like the ocean to let her by.

Zero felt it too and recognizing her face as she grew closer only made his body ache. His feet began to move, slow at first, unsure, but quickly building to a jog. Souka leaped into the air and their bodies collided like asteroids fated to crash together and become one. He caught her with little effort, squeezing her frame to him as if they would never let go. He buried his nose into her hair and breathed in that smell he had missed so much, just to be sure it was really her.

Locking her arms around his neck, Souka burst into a fit of sobs, dry and breathless expressions of relief. In truth, Souka had only come to Cross Academy for this purpose, to finally be with Zero again, but nothing could have prepared her for seeing him grown. Seeing him alive. Touching him again was indescribable.

He lowered her to the ground and whispered, "I'm dreaming. . ."

She let out a chuckle, "You're not."

"This can't be real," He pulled away enough to look at her, his fingers reaching up to touch her wet cheeks, "Are you a ghost?"

His deep, soft whispers sent a shiver over her skin, and she pushed her face into his hands, "Boy, you know if I was a ghost, I would have started haunting you a long ass time ago."

The attitude that twisted her voice gave him all the evidence he needed, and when he spoke again, his voice was struggling to keep from breaking, "You were dead."

"You were dead!" She countered, forcing his arms back around her waist. He pulled her in until their foreheads touched and her eyes fell closed.

". . . I'm a . . ."

She cut him off, "I know . . ." then opened her eyes to meet his gaze directly, "Me too."

"Ben . . ."

"Zero . . ."

The heat of the rising sun broke over the top of the school, lighting the two in a shimmering glow that warmed the Earth and turned everything a bright gold.