Chapter 14: Apprehension

Light is the hearts true essence…but darkness can still grow within it…
Birth…Life…Death…Repeat…

I stared at the person lying on the bed in front of me. He truly had gone too far this time. Enrique stood beside me, along with many other of the people in my castle. But still, out of all of them, Enrique, stood out the most. Most seemed angry, sad…upset just about summed up the mood. But Enrique…seemed…content…like he had completed something. Getting someone from our castle bedridden…I don't know how one could really call that an accomplishment….

Maybe I should recap on what happened today…after all…analyzing it would probably help me understand it more.

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"Welcome to Defense Class you bunch of wimps…" Johnny-sensei spat at us. He seems like a very angry man when he's not around Akemi-sensei.

I wonder why he's always angry…perhaps he's upset that he has to teach a bunch of girls, now that we accidentally got sent here…and that there are 8 transfers from the East Side school. But there are only eight of us attending his class right now, Kao-ri, Shura, Nikita, Loretta, Cameron, Rena, Cathy, and myself to be exact.

Unfortunately…there are also eight guys in our class too. Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate them or anything…and some of them are actually really nice but…it's really hard to learn to like someone if there's someone else that ruins your image.

"Excuse me Johnny-sensei…but will this class be anything like how gym class was?" Kao-ri asked.

"D'you play Mini War in Parker's class?"

"Yes we did, sir…" she answered back.

"It'll be something like that…" he grumbled "anyways…to warm you all up, 200 laps around the gym…"

"WHAT!?!" Cameron and Rena's jaws had hit the ground as soon as Johnny-sensei finished his sentence.

This was a fairly large classroom mind you.

"What's the matter? Can't handle that, ladies?" he sneered at us. Why does he hate us so much…?

Loretta clenched a fist in anger then began to run with some of the guys regardless of the fact that she'd never make 200 laps. Hell I know it, she knows it, all the guys know it…but…she keeps going…one could only admire her for that.

Nikita gave a small glare then tugged on Kao-ri's arm so that they could start their jog together. Kao-ri waved her away.

"Have a problem Nakedashi?" Johnny-sensei's eyes flashed with anger.

"Like Hell I do--"

Just as Brooklyn-san was running by, I watched in amusement, as he picked her up and continued running.

"That's an extra 200 for you Kingston!!!" Johnny-sensei yelled.

I then began my long run; before Johnny-sensei could notice that I was just standing there watching.

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After about, well I don't know how long, let's just say we didn't exactly do 200 laps. Guess he wanted us to save our strength.

"Ok now I'm going to pair each of you with a partner and--"

"Something like a tournament I suppose, McGregor?" Tala smirked at the rest of us.

"Very perceptive, Ivanov…winner doesn't have to do tonight's homework…and believe me you won't want to do tonight's homework,"

"What's our ho--" Naoko-san was quickly cut off by Johnny-sensei.

"Don't speak unless I address you, human," he snapped "homework tonight is and obstacle course around the school, you will write you name on the paper on the check points throughout the course…"

Some of the guys groaned in annoyance, knowing that they would actually have to do the obstacle course is they lost.

"I suggest that you give up now you wouldn't want to humiliate yourselves once I win…" Tala said snidely.

"Hey Sensei! What the hell are we supposed to use to fight a bunch of cocky paranormal bastards?" Shura asked snorting at Tala's rude comment.

"Ever use a sword before, Mikawatsu? No? Well you better start learning…"

Johnny-sensei snapped his fingers and a sword rack appeared out of the wall.

I've taken one fencing class in my life…but I highly doubt that it'll help me…

"You're welcome to use one of the swords on the rack…but otherwise…use your own powers against your opponent…"

Please Kami-sama…if you're listening…don't pair me with someone who will kill me…

"Here are the matches…and remember once your opponent falls from fatigue move onto the next person you see who also needs a partner…"

Fatigue…yeah…like these guys will give up if I just happen to trip…

"Kai Hiwatari versus Tala Ivanov…"

Ice blue eyes met Crimson Red as the two cast glares at each other.

"Shura Mikawatsu versus Max Mizuhara…"

Shura-san glanced at the happy-go-lucky blond and rolled her eyes.

"Kao-ri Nakedashi versus Brooklyn Kingston…"

"You've gotta be kidding me…" I heard Kao-ri-san whisper. I gave her a sympathetic glance then turned my attention back to Johnny-sensei.

"Bryan Kuznetstov versus Nikita Balkov…"

………

"Cameron Hikari versus Naoko Koshiba…"

………

"Spencer Nishov versus Loretta Mizuyah…"

………

"Rena Hiyama versus Wyatt Smithright…"

………

"Xylia Shiteru versus Enrique Giancarlo. Now get yourselves ready and in a place where you won't interfere with someone else's battle…"

"Ne, McGregor-sensei it'll be difficult if I'm up against Hiwatari…let's go outside…" Tala looked towards the window.

"Don't tell me how to run my class, Ivanov…but fine…everyone go outside…I'll meet you there…" He turned and walked into what looked like his office.

I walked over to the weapon rack to choose a sword…but what weapon could possibly protect me from cupid's arrow?

Running my hand over the hilts of the blades, I finally decided on one that had a fairly wide cutting edge. It was a little heavy but the weight wouldn't throw me off too much.

"They're beautiful ne? Johnny-sensei seems to really know how to take care of a blade…." Loretta-san spoke to me while choosing a blade of her own.

"Yeah…I guess…" I haven't had that much experience in battle…but Loretta seems to know what she's talking about…who am I to disagree?

We all walked out of the classroom and down the stairs that followed. The main castle was quite big and it was divided by floors that reminded me of a mall. Sort of like small quadrants that had a square in the middle so that you could see the floor below you.

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After finally making it to what was suitable "fighting grounds" for the Prince we broke off into our small groups.

"So I guess we just start huh?" Rena looked around at us.

"Ok then…on the count of three we start…one…Two…THREE!!!" Max counted off for us and the battles began.

I ran at Enrique hoping to catch him off guard with my sudden attack. Luckily I did and I managed to get the strap of his bow and the string seemed to break easily. Sadly a new string seemed to appear out of nowhere once the old one had broken.

Enrique having reacted to my attack grinned cheekily at me and jumped back a few steps then launched himself into the air with the utmost grace I had ever seen. Such grace could put a dancer to shame.

Suddenly a thought registered in my head and sunk into my mind as I realized.

I can't fly…

He took out an arrow from his quarrel and strung it to his bow. I noticed the tip of this particular arrow was not one made specifically for his job but rather for combat.

I stood frozen in my tracks.

How could I possibly avoid cupid's arrow?

I looked to my left, only to see Nikita punching an invisible foe in the face. To my right was Loretta somehow making knives protrude out of the ground. How…how are they doing that!? They were human last time I checked!!!

I looked up at Enrique and stared into his eyes. I could hear something…it…it was very faint…but I could still hear it. A voice. I strained my ears to comprehend what it was saying…or just to figure out who it was for that matter.

::I'll make my shot just a little to the right just to scare her…and then maybe she'll forfeit…I don't want to hurt her::

I could make out the voice clearly now…it was Enrique…I could…I washearing his thoughts…

But just as Enrique was about to let his arrow fly…I heard a voice cry out in pain.

I spun around and stared ahead of me. My eyes wide in horror.

He bit her…Brooklyn had bit Kao-ri-san…

::Mine…mine…mine…::

His thoughts made me sick.

"Brook!" Tala sounded enraged with his friend. He stormed up to the two, but Brooklyn jumped back.

"Stay away Tala, she's mine…" His eyes had narrowed to slits and were a bright scarlet, unlike his usual soft turquoise colored eyes.

"You stupid bastard let her go!!!" Tala's fist clenched in anger "she's a stupid human!!!"

He shot a gust of icy wind at his dark friend, but Brooklyn had merely evaded the attack.

Shura ran forward and grabbed Tala's arm. "Don't! Stop it you'll hurt them both!!!"

"Well what the hell should I do then woman!?! Do you have some hidden idea on how to subdue a vampire under blood lust!?!?!" he screamed at her.

Suddenly…the sound of rushing wind flew past my ear and I watched an arrow fly towards Brook, its soft gray color leaving a trail in the night sky.

Again I turned around and looked at Enrique, with utter confusion on my face. He smiled at me and pointed.

I looked back to see that the arrow had struck both of them, then disappeared just as soon as it had hit it's mark.

Both had fallen on the ground unconscious by then. And Johnny-sensei appeared right on time to take them to the Infirmary.

We didn't have homework that night...

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I stared down at Kao-ri again; Brooklyn has been tied up and locked in his room awaiting the punishment that the teachers are going to give him. Then again…maybe stopping the vampire from fully siring Kao-ri was his punishment …I had History earlier today…so I did learn a little.

Understanding had struck me like a ton of bricks just now. Enrique's arrows…not only bring love…but lessen or destroy it as well.

Brooklyn's thoughts…he was obse—no…he was in love with her…but… a wise person once told me…

Remember Xylia…too much love can be a bad thing…