A/N: Heyy another chapter update! Let me first start by saying I am so sorry for FFnet's fuck up bug that didn't allow readers to view any updates or even find stories for like a week. Even though there's nothing I can really do about it I still want to apologize because it was stressful, annoying, frustrating...it was a lot of things for both readers and authors. Hopefully, it's fixed for good now, I can't and won't make promises but I can hope it won't be a problem again for a while. There's a mountain of other issues that we've been trying to get ffnet to fix over the last couple years but they don't seem to actually care much about us ~aha~ it's lovely. To hopefully compensate for a little bit of that this chapter is a little longer than usual and packed with events! Anyway, out of that negative space, let's talk about what you're about to read! What do you think about the OC's? I know only one of them has been formally introduced (the second one is coming) but I assume you got some sort of half impression of the other as well. We know Zero isn't a huge fan of loud and egotistical beings so that should be an interesting relationship moving forward, Sayori will also appear more often from here on out and play a bigger role but her interactions so far will mostly be with Yuuki as per cannon. Other than that I hope everyone enjoys chapter 8 because it's gonna have a lot going on! ~Len
Ch. 8: Inner Monster
Lunchtime was the first time during the day Zero felt like he could breathe normally, having escaped the crowd of his classmates and making his way to the rooftops he sighed at the welcome silence. There was a twinge of guilt that surfaced in his head for leaving Yuuki behind somewhere in the masses but she was keen on making new friends so he doubted she was having too much trouble. He wanted to go home, he was tired of being introduced to new classes of people and he was equally tired of hearing about each teacher's syllabus or class plan. Was it so hard just to teach without giving them the rundown of every month they were to be there? The only way he saw something such as a syllabus being useful was if he was supposed to be gone and needed to know what assignments to turn in beforehand. Even in his solitude, the noise of the rest of the school penetrated his ears, he couldn't really get away from them and as much as he wanted to he doubted Kaname would be pleased if he skipped on his first day. Another ear-piercing shriek came from the schoolyard causing him to start, taking a glance through the fence he noted some girls being chased around by two boys. He couldn't really tell if they were enjoying themselves or not, any time he heard a scream like that usually meant bloodshed was around the corner. He hadn't been around level E's or mad vampires lately but he didn't forget. Returning to the bento that had been prepared for him before they left the dorms he did his best to once again tune out the outside noise. "Don't you ever want to go play with them?" his brother had once asked after witnessing Zero come back from the training grounds with their master. Other kids had offered for Zero to participate in their games after training but he always declined. "They're going to think you're a jerk you know, they already see us as weird." Ichiru furthered when he had said he'd rather go home or spend the remaining time in the library. Did it make him a jerk to not want to play around in the grass or stand around waiting for something to happen? He didn't think so, he just had other priorities and no one had reprimanded him for being the way he was.
"There you are, Zero. I was wondering what happened to you." Yuuki's voice caught his attention, turning he also noticed the vice president of their class standing with her. Wakaba Sayori seemed to have very little confidence to begin with but without the class president around she at least lifted her head from the ground. Zero gave the two a nod of acknowledgment which Yuuki took to mean he didn't mind if they joined him for lunch. He supposed he didn't, Yuuki could be nieve but she wasn't insufferable to be around and Sayori didn't seem to be inclined to make conversation which he wouldn't complain about by any means. "Yori-chan was telling me about what the classes will be like tomorrow, I guess it will be a new set of teachers but we still get homeroom and lunch at the same time. They call it a and b days or a box schedule." the younger informed with a smile on her face at retaining the information she was given.
"Um, Yuuki-chan, it's actually called a block schedule...not a box schedule." Sayori quietly corrected. Zero snorted in amusement as Yuuki flushed.
"Y-Yori was also saying that Reiko-chan seems to like you Zero, she wouldn't stop talking about you during the first part of lunch before she was pulled off to do class president things." Zero noted the way Sayori quickly looked around, as though worried Reiko would pop out of thin air, at Yuuki's comment and frowned slightly. He knew that girl was going to be a problem.
"She's annoying," he said it more to assure Sayori he wasn't going to talk to Reiko about what she said than anything but he supposed it wasn't a bad idea to state his opinions outright so no one got confused. The quiet girl looked at him, shock and confusion apparent in her wide-eyed expression. He wasn't sure if it was because this was the first time she heard him speak or because of what he said but shrugged it off and went back to his bento. The rest of the period was spent with Yuuki and Sayori, mainly Yuuki, talking about what they thought the year was going to be like and how they were going to become the best of friends.
"And when we're all in high school you'll have to come to Cross Academy with us Yori-chan!" she continued talking about where they lived and stories of Cross Kaien as the trio returned to their homeroom class. Sayori just hummed along, smiling at whatever the younger talked about. Most of the class hadn't returned yet so Zero made his way back to his desk to stare out the window once more, his head beginning to throb as commotion picked up.
'How much longer...' he sighed to himself, there were only two classes left but they were dragging on much longer than he remembered the first half of the day going. Resting his head on his arms, squeezing his eyes shut in an attempt to block out the pain, Zero waited for the obnoxious bell to go off signaling the beginning of yet another hour-long class. Eventually, he decided he needed a break and asked their sensei if he could use the lavatory during one of their classwork periods. She hummed kindly at him before returning to her grading. Zero vaguely noted the three boys following him in the hall, it only became obvious they were following him when they too walked into the bathroom. They were also from his class but he only remembered the name of one, Nikishida Toma, he had raven blue hair and cold yellow eyes that begged someone to challenge his apparent authority. Zero recognized him as the other person that had been staring at him in the classroom, the other two boys were more average looking. One that was significantly smaller than the other two with light hazel eyes and muddy brown hair and a bulky kid with blond hair and green eyes.
"Sooo...you're the new kid." Toma began seemingly casual, leaning against the bathroom door, a wicked smirk in his eye as he looked Zero up and down. Deciding against saying anything that would escalate the situation Zero gave him a half-shrug. "Kiryuu is your name, right? I heard that other girl yapping about how you guys live at a high school." another half-shrug was given as Zero dried off his hands, he would have made to leave if the blond one hadn't stepped forward and pushed him back a bit.
"Where are you going so soon? Don't you want to become friends?" he sneered at which Zero gave him a blank stare.
"No? What a shame...see if you were friends with us I would grant you some immunity around here. This school has a hierarchy system and I'm at the top with Reiko-chan, she apparently thinks fondly of you for some reason but don't let that go to your head." Toma stepped in again, getting way too close to Zero's face for any semblance of comfort. "You almost look the part, I'll give you that at least," he reached out to touch Zero's hair but the silverette stepped back caught the boy's wrist.
"Stop...don't touch me," he whispered out eventually, the trio needed to leave him alone, he could feel his control slipping. They were humans, he wasn't supposed to hurt humans, he needed out before something happened.
"What's the matter Kiiiryuu? Is it too loud for you in here? Are you seeensitive to noise?" Toma sneered, stepping forward and pushing the silverette closer against the bathroom wall as the two others snickered in the background. He shook his head, closing his eyes as another boy flicked his shoulder, then the third pushed him from the other side.
"Stop, you're going to get hurt," Zero spoke a little louder this time as his arm was pinned to the wall. He was ignored as they took turns touching or pushing him, laughing and taunting.
"What can a pale thing like you do? The only thing Reiko got right about you is that you're certainly something to stare at. I might even say you're pretty Kiryuu-chan. Are you sure you're even a boy?" the smirk on Toma's face was enough to make Zero want to fight back, show them what damage he could inflict on them. His free hand balling into a fist as his eyes narrowed. He could see each weak point on the boy in front of him, open kidneys, a punch to them would double him over followed by an elbow to the chin. Simple fighting tactics he knew better than the back of his hand.
'You have no idea. You're an oblivious, naive, and pathetic species.' the voice in his head was cold and unforgiving. The same one that spoke to him on missions, in front of level E's. Part of Zero knew he needed to suppress it, this wasn't a level E. This wasn't a life or death situation, he didn't need to hurt anyone to get out of here unharmed. He didn't hear what the bluenette said next, his mind going blank as an unfamiliar hand came in contact with his neck. He snapped. A flurry of successful strikes had the boy flying across the room until his back hit the stall door. The thud was loud enough to be heard from outside the bathroom he was sure but at this point, he didn't care.
"Toma!" one of the two remaining boys shouted out, speeding over to his hunched friend on the floor as the other turned to face Zero.
"You little bitch!" he snarled, he would have charged forward but Zero moved first. Grabbing the fist coming at him the silverette pulled the other forward until he stumbled, a solid elbow to the back sent him crashing onto the stone. Turning to the third boy, the shy follower of the other two he stalked forward, ready to attack.
"Stop it! Please don't hurt me!" Ichiru's voice sounded in his head making Zero stop, the boy in front of him cowering with his hands in front of his face reminded him of his little brother who was often picked on by other hunter children for being weak. Stepping back Zero glanced around the room, the stall door was off its hinges from the impact of Toma's body, the other boy looked like he was unconscious but thankfully there was no blood. He hadn't killed them. He sighed in relief until he realized that he could have and panic began to set in, freezing the blood in his veins. It wouldn't have taken much more power for him to snuff the life out of three twelve-year-old human children. He didn't belong here. He didn't belong among humans. Backing up to the door he fled, running through the halls until he found the nearest exit. Uncaring of any voices calling after him or reprimanding him for running in the building. He needed out.
'Can I even go back to the academy like this? This will get back to Cross, what will he say? What will he do? What will Takuma and Shiki think? And Kaname...' his heart nearly stopped at the thought of the pureblood finding out. Even if he understood Zero was a hunter he wouldn't forgive him for hurting humans, Yuuki was a human after all and he cared for her safety more than anything. What if he began to see Zero as dangerous towards humans? The questions kept coming as he ran from the campus, he wasn't sure where he was going, it was evening but he ran away from the town until he reached the safety of the forest. He knew there were probably a few level E's wandering around but he couldn't bring himself to leave. Sitting against a large looming evergreen the hunter pulled his knees to his chest and covered his ears. He wasn't sure what to do now. He wanted to go home but he was scared. Both of them and of himself.
Kaname waited outside the school gates for his two little moon rays so he could take them home at last. Takuma had joined him eager to see how their young hunter had done with a full day of normal school. Part of him was worried, he felt as though there was something off but he couldn't explain why or come up with a valid reason. Chalking up to being nervous for the boy for most of the evening until he couldn't help himself and asked the pureblood if he could come along. As he expected Yuuki was buried by the crowd of students, being as small as she was it was a miracle she didn't get trampled but he could hear her voice talking to someone so he assumed she was fine and kept a search for their other child...who was nowhere to be seen. Takuma frowned, brows creasing seeing as it wasn't like Zero could hide in a crowd even if he wanted to. The only logical explanation for not being able to find him was that he wasn't there. Glancing at his leader he could tell that Kaname had apparently noticed the same thing, wine eyes sweeping the crowd of children over and over again in search. "Should we go ask a teacher or staff member?"
"Let's wait for Yuuki first, she might know." Kaname replied, Takuma wanted to protest, doubting that if something had happened to Zero she would be told about it but he held his tongue until the young brunette reached them with both hers and Zero's bag in hand. "Yuuki, where is Zero?"
"Uumm he in our second to last period, he said he was going to the bathroom but he didn't come back." she explained looking at the ground, she was supposed to keep an eye on her foster brother and she didn't. She had no idea where he was.
"He's not in the school, apparently there was some trouble with three other boys in the bathroom, they're okay but I'd like to get his side of the story when we find him." Takuma voiced, Kaname hadn't realized he had left from the car but expected nothing less from his right hand especially when it came to Zero.
"Then I think it's best we head back to Cross and get the others to help us search, we don't know where or how far he would have gone." he decided, patting Yuuki on the head and telling her not to worry as the trio got in the car and made a quiet drive back to Cross. He wanted more details on what Takuma was talking about but he wouldn't ask them with Yuuki in the car for fear she would blame herself if something did happen with the hunter. They would talk later with the other night class members present, he was sure no one wanted to be left out of what was happening.
"He beat up another student?" Kain questioned, an eyebrow raising as Takuma was briefing the group on what he was told when he began asking about the silverette's whereabouts in the school.
"Two of them, not bad enough to be overly concerned about but bad enough to render one unconscious and the other unable to fight back. Both boys have a concussion, there was a third one present in the room as well but he wasn't harmed at all. I guess Zero didn't give a reason for that either because he was just as confused. Though the kid did say he knew Zero acted out of self-defense, he attempted to leave but the other two wouldn't let him and then it turned violent. We didn't get any specifics of what was said or done to provoke it, unfortunately." Takuma sighed, he wanted to believe Zero wouldn't ever willingly hurt a human, he was likely acting on instinct but being a hunter his fight response was a concern. A vampire child wouldn't have had any issues if he didn't use magic but a human was a different story, he assumed Zero knew that.
"But they're humans he should know he needs to have more control than that even if they are deplorable." Ruka stepped in, arms crossed, clearly displeased.
"We don't know what happened in there, this is still Zero, you have to push him hard enough as is just to get him to talk in sentences. I can't imagine they were going easy on him and he's never delt with humans before." Rima argued in the boy's defense. They just didn't know what happened.
"We can get the full story once we know he is safe and stable. Right now it's best we find him, we will split up and cover both the town and the outskirts. I don't care if this takes until morning, find him." Kaname ordered before they could talk any more on the subject, he wanted Zero to be safe and he knew there was a slim chance of that in the dead of night.
'It's getting colder.' the small hunter could see his breath, he supposed it was still considered winter. He had left his jacket in school, choosing not to wear the many layers of a school uniform was now a regretful decision as he again warmed his hands against his chest. He supposed he deserved this though, he had broken the one rule all hunters regardless of status were supposed to follow. It was inexcusable and if he were a part of the association he would be punished to a much worse degree than he was getting right now. 'I'm letting myself off easy.' he grimaced to no one.
"You're cold." the voice made him jump and look up into pale grey eyes. He recognized her as the shadow vampire that followed Kaname around but barely held a noticeable presence herself. "I'm Seiren," she continued taking off her own coat and handing it out to the boy. "Kaname-sama and the others are looking for you." Zero hung his head in understanding, of course they were, he wasn't going to escape them nor was he trying to really. He didn't deserve to be with them, he was dangerous. "Are you coming?" Seiren asked, giving up on trying to give her coat to the hunter. He didn't give her a response. Unknowing of what else to do she alerted whoever was closest to her location among the inner circle for some help. She wouldn't say but she was a bit relieved it happened to be Kaname instead of Ruka.
"Zero." the alpha vampire knelt down to the boy, he resisted the urge to touch him to see how cold he was or check for any possible wounds knowing full well there wouldn't be any. 'At least not physical ones.' he reminded himself.
"I hurt them..." the rough whisper reminded Kaname of the first few weeks of living with Zero, quiet and closed off. He didn't show it but there was no doubt in the pureblood's mind that the boy was anything but emotionally stable. Deciding to take the risk the vampire picked the silverette off the ground, he felt the boy stiffen but he didn't try to fight Kaname's hold on him.
"Let's go. We can talk when we get back. Seiren, alert the others they can return as well." the brunette was to the point and didn't give much of a hint as to how much trouble he was in but as Seiren left Kaname paused in their walk and looked at him. "You had us worried Zero, it's not safe out here even for you." he sighed, tucking the boy's head under his own before they continued on in silence.
'It's not me that's not safe...' Zero thought, closing his eyes at the wind pulled at his skin and tousled his hair.
A/N: Well that was quite fun, I decided to do an a/b school system since that's what I had starting in upper elementary to middle school (twelve is in that age range right? I think? Like 5th/6th grade? Forgive me if it's not, I am so bad with ages and school years and it's been a while since I myself was there) so if anyone doesn't understand that I apologize. I'm not super familiar with school systems globally. In the upcoming chapters, you will see a further shift in Zero's personality that I started here with his little "inner monster" voice and I hate to say it won't necessarily be a change for the better, again he's at that middle school-ish age and they're coined the "meanest age group" for a reason. While keeping that in mind, he won't be a huge ass but he's going to cause some trouble that probably won't be his fault most of the time. It's going to be fun to write either way, and I hope it'll be equally fun to read. We will also continue to see how the night class attempts to parent a rebellious hunter between seven of them...if that doesn't sound like chaos I don't know what does. As always thank you guys so much for being here, thank you to those that comment and review, follow and favorite my stuff I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Thank you for putting up with fanfiction's bullshit bugs XD and of course remember to always keep writing, keep reading and live creative. Until next time! ~Len
Oh! Side note! In my bio I now have social media accounts and links that you are welcome to message and follow if you need to contact me, want to know what's going on, what I'm writing in the future, plans, or want to get updates of anything going on. I'm not going to list them here but I figured I would mention it and you can go check it out if you wish! This is really useful if you're under guest status and I can't inbox you question responses or tell you if there is a bug going on, I'm not on top of it 24/7 but I'm pretty anal about replying so if I get a message you can bet I will answer within 24 hours maximum and probably closer to 2-3 minutes on average. Thank you again and that is all!