The pair of hunters walked right into town, which had many people walking around and shopping in the various different stores. It wasn't packed, but it wasn't a ghost town either. Walking through the town now, Naomi was beginning to see how much the place changed compared to the last time she saw it and actually took the time to look around and enjoy the scenery around her. The only times she did come through here was when she came out to hunt for kills, finding Vampires running around and looking for food. Even trying to take a bite out of her as well. But they'd die before they could even get a fang on her skin. Looking around now, she felt more on edge than ever, knowing that some Vampires can blend in with the populace and manage to sneak a meal from time to time if they got the meal to break off from the more populated areas. Though, everything seemed normal and seemed like nothing was ever wrong in this place.
It made her suspicious on how such a town can be so quiet as if there was nothing wrong and nothing was happening in the shadows. These people have no idea what's going on at night, do they? They all think that it's peaceful in this small town… I wish I could say that was true. The unfortunate truth is that it's not, and evil lurks around every corner. The huntress thought to herself.
"This way, Naomi." Zero said as he glanced back at her, seeing that she really hadn't been paying attention. A growl escaped his lips "Naomi!" he shouted.
This snapped Naomi from her thoughts and she focused on Zero "Huh? What?" she replied.
Rolling his eyes, he sighed "Pay attention." he grabbed her wrist "C'mon, I don't like staying out here long." Zero began to drag her along.
Naomi raised her eyebrow "You know I can walk!" she shouted "You don't have to drag me like a doll or something!" she stumbled slightly, trying to keep up with him so she didn't fall.
"Well you move faster when I drag you." he retorted.
She narrowed her eyes and yanked her wrist from his hand "Well I can walk faster if that's what you want." with that, she began walking a little faster to keep by his side.
Naomi thought about the dream she had last night and who it consisted of. Mostly it was Vampires. Obvious ones like Aido, Kaname, Shiki… All the male vampires from the night class basically. But the one person who was in there, keeping her separated from those monsters...Was Zero. It wasn't that hard to tell with his lilac eyes and the silver hair behind the mask. If anything, he was the most obvious and the most person she felt comfortable with in that dream. Looking at Zero now, she decided to just have a nice chat. Make some conversation.
"Anyway, did you sleep okay?" Naomi asked.
This prompted Zero to stop in his tracks and blink "Are you okay? You never ask me that."
Naomi looked back at him and furrowed her eyebrows "Hey! At least im being nice! Don't ruin that! Now answer my question before I change my mind."
Zero slid his hands into his pockets and walked up next to her, the pair walking once again. "Fine."
"That's it? "Fine"?"
"What did you want me to say? Oh, sorry, I slept on some fluffy clouds and slept like a baby." he joked.
Naomi couldn't help but have a growing smile on her lips as she let out a light giggle. "Okay, I like that one better. See, that wasn't so hard now was it?"
Zero rolled his eyes and continued to walk, coming up to a building and pulling open a door for her "Just get inside."
Walking through the door, she looked around the place and realised that they were in a dry cleaners. "Cross wants us to pick up stuff from here?" what the heck were both her and Zero doing for cross? Just picking up his landry? Oh Cross was gonna hear it. Naomi wasn't his slave! She was a Student and a part-time Huntress. There had to be a reason why he sent both her and Zero out...But what the hell kind of reason would that be?
"Some clothes he sent here. From what I was told, it was suits." Zero said as he approached the counter and gave the man at the counter a name and paid for how much the cleaning was worth.
"Suits? I never seen him ever wear Suits. Since when does he even wear suits!?" she asked, more of a rhetorical question.
"Who knows. Maybe he plays dressup." he was handed the suits and Zero made his way out, Naomi following close behind.
"Good point. After all he does act like a child from time to time."
With a nod from Zero, he lead the way back out into the streets.
Dry Cleaning was done. Now what would Cross make them do next? Go shop for food? Pick up something at the Hunters Association? Go to the library for books? Naomi didn't know but she was sure it was something as silly as picking up Suits from the cleaners. "Where are we even going now, Zero?"
"Pick up a bag from some random shop." he simply said "We'll take a shortcut I suppose. It's not on this side of town." suddenly Zero turned down a random street and continued to walk. Soon enough he walked down an empty alley -with Naomi- where it looked pretty much abandoned. It was quiet and clearly away from the busier streets. No doubt that Level-E's would be sticking around an area such as this. Where they could look for the perfect prey all by their lonesome. Just as Naomi went to speak, however, she picked up a sudden noise and caused her to pull her guard up to the max, making her look around as Zero pulled out Bloody Rose.
That's when it happened.
A sudden vampire jumped out, a Level-E to be exact. Prompting Naomi to pull out her Bloody Thorn-same as Zero with Bloody Rose-, pointing it right towards the monstrosity that stood before the pair and ready to shoot before it started...Laughing? Why was it laughing? This somewhat worried Naomi because never did she ever run into a laughing vampire. For some reason though, she couldn't pull the trigger, as much as she hated vampires.
"What a Nice surprise seeing you again after so many years." he said "You have grown, Goddess." this monster even called her by the title that some had given her. "The last time I stalked you and your family, you were this tall." he lowered his hand and showed her how tall she had been when it seen her. "How's the family?" he smirked.
Naomi growled and moved toward him "Don't you dare mention my family!" she yelled, venom of hate dripping from her teeth.
"Why not? I heard they were pretty yummy. Oh, you forgot didn't you? Remember your dead father? I was there. I killed him and drank some of his delicious blood before getting out of your home. I wasn't going to be caught by the hunters. Not like my partner who's dead now. If they hadn't gotten there, I could have tasted your mother's blood too."
Zero didn't say anything but he had still been aiming his weapon at the vampire.
Naomi dashed for the monster, pulling her cloak off and reaching for her stake. Pulling it from where it sat and swiping the silver point right across his face. The scream of pain from him had been music to her ears. She took this opening to slash him a few more times and ending it with a roundhouse kick, sending him flying to a nearby wall. Naomi followed close behind, her expression hard, and looked ready to kill the enemy. No mercy. Merciless. "Nothing to say? Too bad, it's time for you to die." she said. Preparing for a nice stab through the heart. Looking at the face of the vampire, he seemed pretty pissed and decided to charge at her, his claws ready to scratch her up.
As he swiped, she dodged with ease. Watching as he missed with every swing of his hands. "We have a fighter." she taunted, swiping her stake across one of his hands, causing him to hiss in pain.
"You really are weak, Goddess. I thought you were stronger than this. Taunting also isn't fair play either now is it?" he quipped. "Are you playing with your food, is that it?" he asked, grinning as he swiped once again. "Don't worry, you'll have more coming for you!"
Naomi dropped her stake, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him towards her, her gun pointed right in his face and she pulled the trigger. Shooting him right through his head. The body slumped to the ground and the Huntress went for her stake to put it back in it's holder. Glancing over towards Zero, she seen that he seemed surprised at what he just witnessed. "Don't look at me like that. You're acting like you never seen another Huntress fight a Level E." leaning down towards the ground, she retrieved her cloak and put it back on, but left her hood down.
Zero scoffed and put his pistol away "Just how he made conversation with you like you were old buddies stunned me. Level Es only talk about how they want to eat you for dinner or something like that." he paused and thought for a moment "What did he mean by 'more coming for you'?"
Naomi replied "I don't know, and quite frankly I don't care." The vampire wasn't hard to deal with, it was just his constant taunting which bothered the huntress greatly. "Lets just get whatever else Cross wanted from here and go back to the school. I'm already sick of being here." she slipped her pistol back into the holster and waited for Zero to lead the way. Without any reply, he walked off and Naomi followed.
A duffle over one shoulder, a bag in the other, Naomi held both of these while Zero held the suits, and a couple of bags in his other hand. Cross only really needed them to go run out and get snacks and personal sized drinks. It was like he was hosting some sort of party for someone. Maybe a couple of people... Seeing as both her and Zero picked up some suits from the dry cleaners. Well whatever he was planning was not important to her and nor did she care. Though she may try to snatch one of the snack bags and stash it in her room to eat whenever she felt like it.
"Naomi, why don't we stop to eat?" Zero asked, looking back at her.
Naomi lifted her eyes and glanced at Zero "Eat what? Is there a place you know of here?"
Zero nodded "Yeah. I know a parlor that has some pretty good ice cream and simple things like fries and burgers."
Thinking about it, she slowly nodded "Sure we can eat there I guess." she looked at the sun and added "We have time."
Zero lead the way and as they approached the shop, he pulled the door open and walked in with Naomi. Instantly they were greeted by a waitress and brought over to a booth by the window where Naomi and Zero placed their bags on the inner side of the booth before sitting down. "My name is Kayla and I will be your server this evening. What would you like to drink?" she asked as she handed the pair menus to look at for dinner.
Naomi spoke first "Water." the waitress nodded and looked to Zero.
"I'll have a milkshake."
The waitress left and Naomi took this moment to glance out the window, her head resting on her hand where her arm had been propped up. The words that the vampire had gotten to her, "Don't worry, you'll have more coming for you." was there a bigger threat that Naomi didn't realise? Or was there something that HQ knew and she didn't? She'd have to check whenever she got the chance, because if HQ didn't know what was going on...Things could get a hell of a lot worse.
While Naomi lost herself in her thoughts, Zero was watching her. His lilac eyes running over every feature on her face, her Aqua blue eyes, the black hair that framed her face and the expression that sat on her face. Actually, she looked puzzled as if she was trying to figure something out. Leaning back against his seat, he crossed his arms and couldn't help but think of what she may be thinking about. No doubt it had to be about the encounter. The way she expressed her hatred for vampires was deeper than his. Zero hated vampires, but the way she sounded… It was far worse than hate. But he still couldn't figure out why. His family was taken away just as hers were. They both witnessed the gruesome scenes. Something was eating at her, and the silver-haired man couldn't figure it out.
The waitress returned with their drinks and proceeded to ask about their orders. Naomi ordered a chicken sandwich with fries while Zero got fries and a burger. Once Kayla had left, Zero watched Naomi go right back to the same position she was in just a minute ago. Looking out the window too, he spoke "You know you can talk to me." he said, not bothering to look at her.
Naomi turned her attention to the man in front of her and tilted her head slightly, watching as he looked out the window now, instead of looking right at her. "Talk to you about what?"
"Something is bothering you. Your expression is puzzled as if you're trying to figure something out." he stated.
Shoot, he caught her. Did she really show off that much emotion? "I was. Just Hunter stuff." she sat back and let out a soft sigh.
"Well I am a hunter, so it is my business too." Zero looked at her.
Naomi narrowed her eyes "So you want to know what i'm thinking about?"
"We were both there when everything went down, Naomi. What he said is bugging you, isn't it?"
"It's not!" she snapped back.
"Then why are you getting so defensive about it?" he pointed out, knowing he caught her.
"I…" was all that left her lips as she looked off to the side to avoid his gaze.
"My case is closed."
Naomi huffed and looked at him "Fine, I am bothered by it. How he spoke about my parents, how he… admitted to killing my father and actually was planning to go for my mother if the hunters didn't come…" she clenched her fists "The fact that he said that more would be coming for me… Does that mean that there is a bigger threat than anyone realises? Or is the Hunter's association hiding something bigger than we know from us? Hell, I don't know if they like telling me what the hell is going on."
Zero took in what she had to say and nodded "Well who knows, Naomi. He could have been bluffing about others coming for you."
"Yeah but he could also be telling the truth. No one knows because well...He's gone." she shrugged "Gone off to hell where he belongs."
"Right…" was all that left the Hunter's mouth as he looked off to see where their waitress was.
Sure enough she was approaching the table with both orders in both hands. She placed them down in front of the pair "Hope you enjoy your meal!" she said happily and walked off.
Both Naomi and Zero began to eat their dinners, eating some yummy fries, tossing the ketchup bottle back and forth to use, biting into the sandwiches they got and drinking their drinks. Most people would have seen this as a date but the Huntress didn't think that. In fact, she just thought that this was a simple outing for the pair to get away from the confines of the school and not feel like animals watching their prey around the clock. I think I might come back to this place sometime soon...The food here is pretty good. She thought to herself as she popped a fry into her mouth I also seen they had some sundaes, maybe I could get that next time i'm in town. Which would probably be soon since she made plans to go to HQ and have a little chat with her mentors. Especially Hanako.
Once the Huntress finished, she reached into a small pouch she carried with her and pulled out a couple of dollars. Before she could place the money on the table, Zero grasped her hand and she looked at him "Wha-? Zero let go of me. I'll pay for it, don't worry." he shook his head.
"No, I'll pay for it. Put your money back. I brought you here, so it's only fair."
You brought me to the town in general just because Cross wanted you to. She thought "No, I'll pay, Zero." she said, glaring at him.
"Naomi." he said.
"Zero." she replied.
"I'm not going to let you pay." he narrowed his eyes.
"And I'm not going to let you pay."
A few minutes passed and Zero was comically holding Naomi by her head, keeping her from getting closer to the cashier as she tried to get close and swing her arms about, but his arm was just too strong and too long. Just as everything was paid for, he let go and she stumbled forward, causing her to glare up at him "You're one pain in the ass, you know that?" he only gave her a grin and gathered their items, making her carry the suits and the snack bags while he carried the duffle and the heavier bags. The pair headed out and began walking towards the academy.
The pair made it back to Cross academy all in one piece, but their journey back had been the quietest one. Both content with the food they ate and the peaceful walk they had while making their way back. Just as they got up to the gate, Naomi stopped in her tracks and looked back towards the path that lead all the way into the town. The words that the vampire told her echoed within her mind "I heard they were pretty Yummy." these words made her angry because the only people she really had was her parents until she met Cross and Hanako. Naomi even became Hanako's "Daughter" for a time and Hanako tried to be a mother to the child. But the Huntress couldn't shake the feeling of her Life about to get worse in the days to come.
"Naomi, Are you coming?" Zero asked, seeming to have stopped his walk to catch her attention.
Naomi looked back towards Zero and nodded "Yeah. Sorry." with that, she followed him back to the academy. Walking through the gate and heading through the main building and moving towards the Sun Dorm gate to head to the Headmaster's residence.
They got through the Sun Dorm gate and were now walking into the Headmaster's residence where both were greeted by Cross himself and he happily took everything from the pair "Thank you for running out for me and getting these! These were so very important! And thank you for going out there with Zero, Naomi!" he launched at the Huntress for a hug but she backed off and caused him to crash to the ground "Naomi! Why do you do this to me!" he whined "I just wanted a hug!"
Naomi shook her head and looked off to the side "I'm sorry, Cross. I'm just really not in the mood for hugs right now." she seemed a little...off. Worried. Her expression said it all.
Cross suddenly went serious and he glanced at Zero "What did you do to her?"
Zero glared at him "I didn't do anything!" he snapped "We ran into some trouble out in town."
Cross raised his eyebrow and looked between the two "It was a vampire, wasn't it?" he asked before releasing a sigh "I was hoping you two didn't run into one. That's another sighting this week. The numbers have increased but we've been taking care of them and keeping them under control. Did you take care of it?"
"I did." Naomi said "He was… The other vampire that killed my father... " she faced the door "I'm going to my room. If you need me, you'll know where I am." with that said, she walked out and headed to her dorm.
Meanwhile Cross watched her leave before looking to Zero "Tell me what happened in detail. Usually she doesn't look so… Sad or worried after a successful kill." he lead Zero up to his office to talk.
AN: Hey guys! I'm back with a better chapter than the filler. I know this one is a little more… Chatty but I tried my best by making this work out well. As i'm revising these chapters, it's getting a little tougher, especially since how I ended the original story. If anything I'm going to have to push events farther just so it could make sense with the story itself. I hope you enjoyed and please, do leave a review! I love hearing back from my fellow readers. Especially those visitors out there! Don't be shy!