Chapter 12

"Friends"

I felt like everyone was staring at me. I'd just gotten back from the hunt and the rest of the night students were just getting back from class and mingling in the lobby. I had to pass by them all to get back to my room so I could wash off the grime from earlier. I could hear them talking as I walked up the stairs, I'm sure it's probably about me…

I got cut off right as I turned the corner to my room by the one and only Souen Ruka. Shit, our lessons. I had completely forgotten I had them and she looked pissed. She stood in front of me with her arms crossed. "I hope you are grabbing a notebook and not planning on flunking."

"I was going to shower and meet you down there." I lied, hoping it was convincing enough.

"Hmm… alright then, but be quick." And she stepped to the side to let me pass by with an affronted long on her face. With my night ruined, I showered quickly, grabbed a note book, and headed back down towards the library to face the next hour-or-so of insults.

There were only a few students left in the foyer at this time of day, but I could still feel their gaze as I walked past. I opened the library door once again to see Souen already set up at the table with a diagram of what looked like the hierarchy of vampires. "You sure took your time."

"I'm sorry my shower made you have to wait for me." I remarked sarcastically. If she looked bitchy before, it was nothing compared to how she looked at me after that. "Shall we?" I spoke in a dull tone.

"Todays lesson is on 'How to address someone of higher status than you'. I believe you are familiar with this chart." And she motioned to the diagram. "How can I not?"

She ignored my comment, focusing on continuing what she was going to say. "As an ex-human who has yet to stabilize, the only one on this list you are above are the Level E, something you are bound to become sooner or later."

Ouch.

"When it comes to those higher than yourself, there are rules to how you have to act. It's this that you don't seem to understand." She emphasized. "Your actions don't just show who you are, but are a reflection on the whole class now, and of Kaname-sama. Speaking of Kaname-sama, we shall begin with Purebloods. The purebloods will always be the highest class and you must respect them even over the council itself. You cannot speak up against a pureblood, they have every right to put you in your place."

I won't bore you with the rest of what she said but basically it was a bunch of:

"Don't say shit when council is here."

"Don't expect anything I have to say, to matter."

"Be quiet and listen to them."

Pretty straight forward stuff.

"Honestly, it's not rocket science Kiryuu. These are all things you should know already."

"Oh sure, I know all of this, I just don't want to conform to you vampires."

"You are a vampire too, remember." I flinched a little at that. "These rules apply to you just as much as they apply to me." She stated this in an exasperated tone, clearly over with this conversation. "Even Hunters have roles they need to play. Not even they can get away with talking back to purebloods."

Hmm. I kind of see her point. NO! Don't think like that!

"Can I go yet?" I was so ready to just stand and leave. "Whatever. You can go. Don't forget tomorrow's lesson. Just because you are a hunter doesn't mean you can skip out on a punishment set by a pureblood." And with that, I got up and left.

At breakfast the next morning, Ichijou was, once again, staring at me from the next table over. I looked back at my, now empty, plate. I picked it up and walked over to place my dirty dishes in the stack near the kitchen. "Kiryuu-kun!" I sighed as I turned to see Ichijou almost directly behind me with his own plate. He looked away from me as he spoke, "I got a message from the headmaster, he wants to see some of us in his office."

"Who does he want to see?" And why? But I didn't voice that question.

"It seems he'd like to speak with you, Senri, and Rima. I'm to be there in Kaname's stead."

It must be about my hunt. But, why couldn't he have just asked us about it that night?

"I see, when does he want us there?" Hopefully I can miss out on some class time.

"Oh, as soon as you are ready. The other two are waiting in the foyer."

"Fine, let's go." I started walking as he hurriedly placed his own plate and followed me out the door.

The walk to Cross's office was awkwardly quiet but god knows I'm not gonna be the one to start a conversation with these people. As we opened the door to his office, the first thing I see is Yuki, looking worried.

Should I be worried? Is this not about my hunt?

"Ahh, thank you for bringing them Ichijou-kun. Please have a seat everyone." He gestured to the seats in front of his desk. I remained standing but I did step closer. "It has come to my attention that Zero-kun has been, oh how do I say this… bullied by some of the other night students."

"Eeeh?! Bullied? By who?" Ichijou almost shrieked.

I have a bad feeling about this…

"Don't play dumb with me Ichijou-kun! I know that he isn't a very likable person when you first meet him,-" Ouch. "-but that's no excuse to bully someone!"

"I thought we were friends!" He really did shriek this time, and it was directed at me. Everyone looked towards me and then back to Ichijou who had the beginnings of tears in his eyes. Shiki and Touya both looked confused as to why they were even here.

Cross interjects, "Ichijou-kun, you don't have to put a charade"

"He's not." Shiki finally spoke, clearly bothered by the accusations against Ichijou.

"I didn't even know that you were —" Shiki slapped a hand over his mouth to stop him from talking.

I decided that now was probably good time to speak up. "I think this whole situation is a big misunderstanding."

"Is this about recent events?" Shiki actually spoke this time. Lowering his hand.

Ichijou tilted his head. "Is it because you guys went on a hunt? Kiryuu, were they mean to you?"

"It's not-" but I was cut off by Touya.

"Us? He was Mr. I'm-A-Cool-Hunter-And-Don't-Need-Help!" I furrowed my brow at that.

"Takuma… it's to do with OTHER recent events." Shiki emphasised.

Ichijou looked serious now. "…Senri, did you start bullying him cause I walk-" Shiki once again, slapped his hand onto Ichijou's mouth. Preventing him from talking.

"They're not bullying me." I said, but that didn't seem to convince Cross.

"Let me be the judge of that." He replied. "Ichijou-kun. Please, continue. Where were you walking?"

Shiki let out a sigh. "Takuma walked in on Zero tenderizing his meat." Touya's eyes widened while Yuki and Cross just looked confused.

"He walked in on him cooking?" I raised my hand to my face, shaking my head.

"Beating up John?" Shiki kept trying to explain with his weird hints, only, they backfired because Cross didn't seem to understand.

"You were in a fight?"

Shiki tried again. "Being alone!"

"Oh!" Yuki exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands.

"But, he's always alone."

"Walking in on someone constitutes as bullying?" Ichijou looked genuinely hurt. I shook my head at that.

"Headmaster, I completely misread the situation!" Cried Yuki.

Cross, still confused, spoke up, "I don't even understand the situation."

But before Shiki could come up with another terrible hint, I decided to just be blunt. "He walked in on me jacking off."

Then there was silence.

"Or rather... I was about to..."

"I didn't even know that's what you were doing! I swear! I didn't mean to be a bully!" Shiki smiled at Ichijou when he yelled.

"Can I leave? I don't want to hear this." Touya's face was flushed. "Can I?" I added. God knows that's all I want to do right now.

Cross gave an awkward cough, clearly embarrassed. "This is some sort of misunderstanding."

Ichijou got on his knees in front of me. "Please, forgive me! I'm not a horrible person or peeping Tom!" I stepped backwards a bit. Ichijou's constant pleading set my teeth on edge. It was time to assess the damage of my Night Class career. If I didn't accept Ichijou's apology, he'd probably follow on his knees with a tear-stained face. Funny as it would be to watch him walk on his knees, it'd draw unintentional eyes and I'd also have to deal with Shiki. Chances are, I've already ruined that avenue of, what seemed like, forced friendship. Still… Yagari's words came to mind. "Try not to make them hate you. You live with them now. You need to be, as much as I hate to say it, nice to them."

Ugh, I can't believe I'm about to do this.

"Fine." I answered Ichijou.

"Fine what?" Shiki questioned further. I glared at him before looking down at Ichijou.

"I accept that you're stupid enough to not know what you walked in to and that this was all a big misunderstanding and that you're not a bully." I looked to Cross with a curt nod and moved to leave the room.

"Wait, Kiryuu. I'm coming too." Touya exited behind me. As we walked, I could hear laughter coming from the office.

AN: I had some trouble with this chapter. I had to get a lot of help from my friend EmoPissass again. She really is a life saver. We do nothing but talk about our stories so she really helps with plot ideas. Go read her story Plotting and its (in the works) sequel Planning if you are interested in a ZeroxAkatsuki angst fest.