Chapter 25: Messengers of the Crescent
Disclaimer: Vampire Knight, along with its characters and locations, belong to Matsuri Hino. Reiko Souma, her parents and people of her hometown and prior residence, Shourim Manti, and Schian'tlo (not an actual village on the U.S. Virgin Islands) belong to me.
Thank you to all who review! Your reviews are very helpful to me. :)
Note: This is my idea of a rewrite for how the invasion of the Academy should have really happened, spanning through several chapters. Of course, Reiko isn't an official character of the series, so this "rewrite" will obviously include her experiences.
Although this chapter will contain no lemons, this story is rated M for mature content not suitable for minors. I will always reiterate the need for you to go visit another age category if you're younger than the age of eighteen.
"I've already given my word that I no longer wish to awaken Souma-san, Manti-san. I intend to keep my word and keep her away from those who wish to use her for their selfish gain." Kaname leaned forward in the chair then. He looked directly at Shourim. "She needs to learn how to better control her emotions if you want to keep her safe from the Senate."
And from Ridō. As Reiko and Yagarī slept well into the morning, the Albino's mind was anything but at peace. A voice, the same male voice that she had heard long ago, seemingly inserted itself into her subconscious mind with a pair of dichromatic eyes: one icy blue, one brown as dirt.
"Your time as a human is quickly running out. Child of the night, I beckon you to come to me. Come, lend me your strength! We will paint the world red with the blood of our enemies together!" Splatters of blood filled her mind then. Images of people she knew and didn't know lay on the ground, their necks punctured as they had been drained of their crimson. "Raise one with your strength, your frailties absent-"
Reiko woke with a scream. Having rolled to Yagarī's left, she bolted up without realising that she was gripping the sheet beneath her hands rather tightly. "Just a nightmare...just a nightmare..." the woman muttered. Was it, though? A mixture of quickly-falling snow and rain with a thunderstorm raged outside, a reflection of her terrible fright from what she had seen and heard. "...I'll be all right..." But, she had seen so much blood!
Suddenly, Reiko was scrambling out of bed and hurrying to the private bathroom. Caring none about her being naked still, she held her hair away with one hand whilst vomiting into the toilet. Her appetite? Nonexistent. Who could possibly want to eat anything after what she had seen?
Waking to the sounds of one purging their stomach, Yagarī looked to his left to find Reiko not next to him. "Rei?!" He grabbed the blanket and hurried to the bathroom to find his girlfriend kneeling before the toilet. One hand rubbed her back whilst the other held her hair back for her. "What's happened?" Asking her if she was all right was pointless because it was obvious she wasn't right now.
"A...a nightmare..." she managed when she could speak. "...an awful one." Was it just a nightmare, though? "I'm not sure it was just that, though." When she was sure her stomach had settled, she let him wrap the blanket around her and guide her back to his bed. Rather than lie back down, however, Reiko shed the blanket to dress herself before grabbing her things. She didn't feel like staying still and waited for Yagarī to do the same before grabbing his hand.
The sudden grab surprised him. "Reiko, where are we-"
"To see Kaien-san," Reiko answered, knowing how that question would complete. She pointed at the windows with her free hand as she guided them towards the door. "Look back for a moment." The weather was brutal! Yagarī walked ahead to reach the door first and hurried them along once they were in the hallway.
Only to be stopped by Jade.
"This way. Hurry! Something's happening in the Sun Dormitory," he told the couple. Reiko stared, as did Yagarī. "This isn't the time to doubt me when there are hooded figures out there! Now come on!" The couple was still reluctant, but they looked at each other before nodding and letting go of the other's hand to run. Good thing Reiko had her weapons on her! They followed, thoughts of Sayori suddenly coming to her mind. Was her classmate and friend safe from whatever danger Jade had just alerted them to? Why the Sun Dormitory? All of these questions flooded the woman's mind as she continued to run.
Reiko soon found out what the transfer student was talking about when she saw the outside of the dormitory in question. The entire building was surrounded by figures in hooded black cloaks, just like...yes. She's seen them before. "It's you again..." the woman said as she slowed to a walk. She looked at each one. "...it's all right, Jade-san. I know them, and they mean no harm. Isn't that right, Messengers from the Crescent?" When Jade and Yagarī stopped, Reiko kept walking. "You come with another message; I come with a question. Which of us shall go first?"
The hooded figure standing closest to Reiko put their hands up. In doing so, she started to glow pink. "You are the child born in the peak of night during the waning crescent moon, born into a battle for your destiny. Listen well. We have come to protect the humans within this building from the danger looming close by." Reiko was still glowing pink. She wasn't moving whatsoever, and she was hearing the voice...in her mind.
"Danger looming...you mean at the old dormitory, don't you?" she asked. Admittedly, she was shivering. The weather her emotions had triggered were in no way beneficial to her health at all, and she was starting to feel it. Seeing it was Yagarī, who stepped forward to drape his suit jacket that he had shed, around her shoulders. "I really don't like how that feels whenever I hear about it..." Her stomach started to churn again. Oh no...no. Not now..! My stomach needs to calm down. Now. She placed her hands on her stomach and prayed to Fate silently that it would calm down.
When the hands came down, the glow vanished. "Within those walls dwells one who seeks not only you, but one who you host." One she hosts? What? Now she was confused. "Even now, you ail, but not because of the danger we come to provide our protection from."
She had absolutely no idea of what was going on. If not for the goings on at that old faculty dorm building, then what? She truly did not understand. All she knew was that she wasn't feeling well, and her boyfriend was standing beside her worriedly with his hand on her back. "Will...can my classmates attend their classes still?" Yes, they could. "Then I too...will attend every class." Although the figures were vanishing, they would still be present to watch over and protect, just as they had promised they would. "I must...we must go to the Headmaster, Tōga-kun."
Moving her hands away from her stomach, the woman looked to the hunter. The churning had stopped, at least for now. She kept the suit jacket on as she placed her hand on his arm. "Nintserest-san. You're to get ready for your classes," Yagarī told the young man, "thank you for notifying us." He then looked to Reiko. "We need to get you inside now before your condition worsens...let's go."
•–•–•–•
"Cross..!" Yagarī dispensed with the knocking and let himself in. Reiko had followed quietly, but after poking her head in first. How her boyfriend of a teacher could just walk in like this was beyond her. What about manners? "We've got a problem."
Reiko bowed her head once she was standing next to Yagarī in front of the Headmaster's desk. She felt bad about simply walking in without knocking. "Specifically, the Day Class...I've had a visitor." She filled in the Headmaster whilst accepting tea from him and sitting down. Herbal with vanilla. This should help settle her stomach. "The messenger's information is credible, and they've taken up remaining on the campus - invisible, that is - to lend their strength in protecting the Day Class students."
Kaien frowned, but from concern. A bin was quickly brought to Reiko when she started to feel ill again, and she set her mug of tea on the desk to make use of the bin. "Every single time I think of that dorm..." she said, sitting up once more. "...that's been happening since I woke up from that nightmare I told you about. Or vision..." Outside, the weather was finally starting to settle down some. "...Kaien-kun, I think that, for the time being, the curfew should be extended to send the students back to their dorms as soon as their classes are over and to remain inside."
"Is the danger that great that you think a measure really needs to be taken?" Kaien asked. Reiko nodded. "They won't like it, but what needs to be done, must be done." A sigh followed. "The curfew will be implemented right away." Yagarī had to leave to teach his first class of the day. He took his suit jacket back and gave Reiko's shoulder a gentle squeeze on his way out. "Your health..." Kaien started to say when the door had shut. He sat back down, having risen for a moment. "...Reiko-chan, are you sure it's just the current events that are causing your illness?"
Reiko shook her head. "No..." she admitted, "...I didn't tell Tōga-kun this, because I'm not sure what it means, but the messenger used phrases like 'one I host' and my ailing, 'but not because of the danger.'" Funny, Reiko's stomach didn't feel like revolting anymore. "I'm pretty sure it's not anything to be seriously concerned about...as long as I keep myself focused, I should be fine. Like informing the teachers of the curfew changes."
Somehow, I doubt it's what she thinks it is. Kaien started to write on a blank sheet of paper. When he had finished, he slid it across to Reiko. Then he wrote on a second sheet of paper. "That's the memo for you to show the instructors, should they need proof of the curfew change. Those who violate this will be suspended to their dorm rooms." The second sheet of paper was slid next to the first one. "This one is to excuse you from attending anymore of your classes. You're to complete the rest of your semester's work in my room and take your finals here." The look on Reiko's face prompted an explanation. "You and Kiryū-kun will be far too busy with your duties as Prefects over the next several days, but he will continue to attend his classes since he's more effective on the Day Class students."
As long as her health improved, Reiko was to focus on the outside during the day and remain paired with Yagarī throughout the rest of the day. Reiko needed to take a few days to rest, and the Headmaster wanted her to remain close by because she still wasn't completely out of the woods regarding the two Purebloods she had killed. At least Sayori would be able to visit her. Reiko wasn't in isolation...the Headmaster was simply taking a precaution.
"I understand," she said, taking the notes with her as she left the office.
•–•–•–•
"Souma-san...you're incredibly late." Reiko's professor wasn't cutting any slack. Madame Chū made a face as the Albino walked into the room with the two notes in hand, the latter having stopped back at her room just long enough to hide her Katana beneath her pillows. Her handle of a weapon remained in the pocket of her uniform, though. "Do you have any idea of how late you'll be staying for extra lessons today?"
Reiko sighed softly. "About that..." She showed the notes to her professor. "...I really am sorry to cause you to stop your lesson, Madame. Unfortunately, as you can see before you, I'm not here for class. I'm only here to perform my duties for the Headmaster, and then I'm to return to his office immediately following." She watched as the professor read over the notes. Then she handed them back to Reiko. "Allow me, please."
An unhappy professor glared at the student that now stood in front of the desk. Madame Chū was going to have more than a few words for the Headmaster later today.
"Ahem. May I have your attention, please?" Reiko spoke up. She held the folded notes in her hands in front of her and waited patiently. Once everybody was quiet and looking in her direction, the woman continued. "On behalf of Headmaster Kaien Cross, I'm here to announce an immediate change in curfew for all Day Class students. Effective immediately, following your final class for the day, students are to return directly to their dorm rooms. There will be no congregating outside of the Moon Dormitory in wait for the Night Class students indefinitely, and students are not permitted to leave the campus for any reason. This is for your safety, as well as for the safety of the disciplinary committee – Zero Kiryū, Yūki Cross, and myself – as well as Headmaster Cross, so that we can perform our duties to keep you safe. Any student who is in violation of this curfew will be suspended to their dorm room for a period of one to three days."
Cue the groans from the students. Stay inside, or be punished with suspension? The message had to get across somehow, and the reactions were a collective sign to Reiko that it had. Her work was finished here, so it was on to the next classroom she had to go. This was her duty alone. After all, Yūki was in Night Class territory now, and Zero was about as diplomatic as that horse in the stable was nice to everyone else.
Arriving at Yagarī's class just before it ended, Reiko started to feel nauseous all over again. She didn't understand. Why was she feeling this way? The woman hadn't eaten a single thing since last night, so it couldn't be food poisoning. Perhaps it was her not eating anything since then...she would have to find out after she was finished with making her rounds to each class. Fortunately, there was a two-hour gap between this class and the next one. Reiko could eat something then.
"Souma-san." Yagarī cast a concerned gaze in her direction as she stepped into the lecture hall. With a nod, Reiko approached the instructor's desk. The two notes were produced and passed over to him to read. "Read over the chapter in the next few minutes," the eyepatch-wearing teacher told the class. Then he turned to give Reiko his attention, his voice lowered. "You're not coming back this semester?" Reiko shook her head no at this. "And, the entire Day Class is now restricted indefinitely." Now the woman was nodding at this. The notes were returned to her. "A moment in the hallway, please?"
"Yes sir," Reiko said at last, and followed the tall man outside of the classroom. She waited for the door to shut before speaking. "The Headmaster is concerned about the source of my stomach bug being something else...not to mention the ongoing matters at hand we're currently dealing with. So, he's keeping me in his room indefinitely until everything calms down and having me complete the rest of my work in his office. That includes the finals I haven't already taken." By her recollection, there should only be one or two of those remaining. Otherwise, it was just her regular classwork that she needed to complete.
Yagarī gently touched the top of Reiko's head. Their eyes met then. "Whatever's causing the stomach bug, you'll recover soon enough. You always do." His hand moved away to rest in his jacket pocket. Thoughts of what the other causes could be tucked away for now. "Get the rest you need. I'll have this week's work ready and leave your last final with Cross-kun." Reiko nodded, one hand hovering in front of her stomach. Her nausea was gradually fading, but she didn't trust it to not fade sooner than later. Seeing the hand in front of her stomach, Yagarī made sure that nobody else was in the hallway. Then he did a rather un-Yagarī-like thing and gently pulled Reiko close to him, kissing the top of her head lightly. "Go eat some soup, or something. I'll break the news to the students," he murmured before letting go.
Reiko nodded. "You've got it." A grin followed, and the woman was off. This had been the last class for her to visit for now, so she had plenty of time to get some food at all.
To her surprise, the Headmaster had anticipated this. Upon her return to the office, there was a large pot of miso soup ready with a bowl and chopsticks at the front of his desk for Reiko. Yes, the Prefect was surprised. "Kaien-kun...how did you know?" she asked out of said surprise. With the two notes in hand, she set them down on the desk next to the bowl of soup and chopsticks.
The sandy-haired man smiled. For once, he didn't have that god-awful apron on that he usually wore whenever he was cooking or tending to his garden. "You're not feeling well, Reiko-chan. Soup and tea are two of the best things to help settle one's stomach." Two cups were filled with tea, one for Reiko and one for himself. "How did your professors take the news?" he asked.
"You know Yagarī-kun...understanding, but also worried. Most of the others were understanding, but Madame Chū was none too happy." Tiny drops slid down the back of Reiko's neck as she thought of the older woman's reaction. The first sip of tea was followed with, "Something tells me she'll be coming to you with her grievance at some point today."
More like at some point in the next few seconds. There was knocking at the door behind Reiko, and both she and Kaien looked in that direction. "You're not kidding..." He stood and walked to the door. When he opened it, sure enough, there was Madame Chū. Her glaring daggers were immediately focused on Reiko, who held her cup of tea in her hand. "...Madame Chū. You're right on time for Souma-san's lunch with me. Please, come join us~! We were discussing her academic plan for this week as well!"
"What is the meaning of this, Headmaster?" the stern woman demanded. "You're keeping her out of her classes for the rest of this semester to have lunch with you?!"
Kaien put up a hand calmly. "I assure you, that is not the case here. Souma-san's health has recently been called into question that she requires close supervision during her duties as a member of the disciplinary committee. She requires much rest when not performing those duties, as her guardian will verify upon his return...should you care to wait for him." He gestured his hand in Reiko's direction. The woman was quiet as she set down her cup and lifted her chopsticks...only for her stomach to feel like it was being punched. She was doing her absolute best to fight through the nausea as she lifted the bowl of soup to eat. A few bites of it was all she could get before she pulled the bin to her, and her professor looked on with concern.
"When did this start..?" Madame Chū queried, her tone suddenly softer. Seeing her student in this condition seemingly opened her eyes to a little bit of what had been keeping Reiko out of her classes from time to time, though she would never find out about the vampires making up the rest of the reason. This episode was brief, and Reiko was sitting up to eat more miso soup once more.
"This morning," Reiko spoke up. She continued to eat, slowly anyways, pausing to drink some tea in small sips. As Madame Chū and the Headmaster discussed the plan for the last week of the semester, Reiko's stomach settled, and she stood to join the two in their discussion. "My come and go nausea is also cause for concern in watching my anaemia for any setbacks, as well as my sleep schedule. From sitting in the front row of your lectures, I know full well that the very last thing you want is for me to space out again, start falling asleep during your lectures, or otherwise disrupt your class for any reason." Pink azalean hues met with stern hazel orbs as the younger woman spoke. "It's been long established that you're not fond of having me as your student, but these circumstances are things you'll have to accept and deal with regardless, as the Headmaster made perfectly clear to you and the rest of my professors."
If such was possible, then Reiko could have sworn to seeing smoke come from the professor's ears. "Simply have her work for the rest of the semester ready at your earliest convenience," Kaien said. He looked over at the professor first, and then to Reiko. She might not be feeling ill right now, but how long would it last? "I expect that to be before the end of today." Which brought the end to the meeting with Madame Chū leaving in a huff. "How are you feeling..?"
"I feel better now. Maybe this really is just a stomach bug," Reiko told the Headmaster.
•–•–•–•
Ridō smirked. He had been listening in on Reiko's conversation with the Headmaster. How very, very wrong you are...go on. Keep living in denial. Such a sinister smirk he wore as he sat back on his would-be throne. "When you least expect it..." He would be ready to snatch her away in a human's heartbeat.