(A/n: Congratulations to me for getting a first fic of mine (On here) to +100k words! And I promise more pairings aside from Twyle (Which is still taking it's time to officially happen), Cryutters, and Dristophe will happen soon, just continue to sit tight a liiiittle bit longer. I really appreciate those that are being patient for the pairings as well as for the reviews, faves, and follows I'd gotten back then. Please enjoy)

Chapter 29: Strategizing Is Never Simple

First class flows as normal, though in some classes, the teachers replaced their current lesson with talking with their students about the vampire hunter. Mr. DeLorne cared less about the approaching vampire hunter and he continued on with his lesson, which is having his students create their own study guide by writing down notes from their textbooks. He plans to give them a test at the end of this week.

Since none of the students brought their materials because it was unknown how long the meeting would last, they were allowed to go to their bedrooms and grab their stuff before attending their first class.

Tweek was able to find his notebooks and pencil case he had placed inside one of the drawers underneath his bed's bedstead, he didn't have the chance to search for them yesterday like he initially wanted to thanks to...

Tweek shakes his head, he shouldn't dwell on the fact that he's stuck in a bond anymore. It's no longer important. Getting confirmation on the humans' escape plan is. After he completes a sentence, Tweek decides to take a short break by skimming over the notes he wrote down. It's only been ten minutes into the first class, and yet he's already filled up two pages with information. He's a bit amazed at his note-taking speed, whenever he was required to do this back at his high school, his wondering mind would make it impossible for him to concentrate. He guesses his fear of Mr. DeLorne prevented him and his classmates from slacking off.

Tweek overhears conversations about the vampire hunter. He already knew about them ahead of time, the mysterious man from his dream was right. He wonders when the vampire hunter will appear here, and what Principal Brimestone will do to them when they arrive. Tweek gets back to taking notes so Mr. DeLorne doesn't yell at him, and the next thing he knows he's sitting next to Kyle on the bleachers in the gymnasium. The extra ten minutes didn't make a difference at all.

Coach McCormick's lesson involved them doing an activity outside, but since it's pouring down raining, he was forced to delay it until either the rain lets up or after the vampire hunter is taken down. Thus, today as well as the upcoming days are nothing but free periods for his students.

Trent never bothered Tweek and Kyle again since that pseudo-incident that happened yesterday. Luke said he erased everyone's memories of that moment, but whenever Trent looks or even glimpses at Kyle, he'd make a face of disdain and horror. It's like deep down he knows not to mess with Kyle despite not really knowing or in his case remembering why. However, his hatred towards him sometimes get the best of him. Guess his fear of Kyle - actually Luke - is making him act rationally.

"Did Kenny talk you last class?" Kyle asks Tweek.

Tweek shakes his head. "No." He was too busy making his study guide to talk to anyone.

"I see," Kyle hums, disappointed.

"Do you know why he's upset?" Tweek asks.

Kyle grimaces, yesterday's guilt resurfacing. "It's my fault. He...first, let's go to our room." Grabbing Tweek's hand, he transports them into their bedroom. He brings Tweek over to sit down on his bed, setting their stuff down behind them. "He confessed to having feelings for me yesterday," Kyle says in a low voice.

Tweek practically gapes at him. "O-oh..." He utters out, not knowing what else to say.

"Not only did I not know...but I also don't feel the same way about him," Kyle continues. "Even if I did, you and I are bonded." Tweek frowns at the reminder, he looks away towards the floor. "He waited too long, but I completely understand why. We've been friends since childhood, he didn't want to ruin the friendship we have. I wouldn't have hated him or thought he was disgusting, I just wouldn't have been able to reciprocate his feelings... "

No wonder Kenny distanced himself from Kyle, Tweek doesn't know for sure if Kenny is upset with him also. They rarely communicate with each other in Mr. DeLorne's class to begin with. "Well, the only thing we can do is wait for him to come back on his own. I've never liked anyone before, but I do know that having your feelings rejected hurts."

"Same," Kyle sighs. "That's why I was clueless about how he felt about me...I thought all those times he was just joking."

"I kept telling you that he wasn't sometimes, but noooo you didn't wanna believe me," Luke says.

"You can't blame me for not believing you when you joke and tease me too."

"...Fair point, but still! I was being serious those times."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Don't you 'yeah, yeah' me."

"Soooo...about our bond," Tweek brings up, breaking the silence.

"Hm? What about it?" Kyle inquires looking at him.

The pale-haired blonde starts fidgeting with his hands over his lap. "How...do you feel about it?"

Kyle blinks at him, surprised by the query. "I..."

"Be honest."

Kyle purses his lips. "I honestly don't know. It's not like we have to be intimate towards each other so I can't say that I hate it, but..."

"But you don't like me," Tweek mutters. He blinks in shock after realizing what he just said, he didn't mean to say that out loud.

"It's not that either."

Tweek directs his widened eyes at Kyle, whose pale cheeks are colored in a faint blush, and he's staring at the floor again. "S-so, you do...like me?" Tweek tried not to sound hopeful, but when Kyle shakes his head, he feels his heart grow heavy with sadness.

"Not in a romantic way." Of course he wouldn't like him like that, they still barely know each other. Tweek should be glad that he at least sees him as a friend if nothing else. "But since we're bonded," Kyle looks over at him again with an endearing small smile. "I'll naturally start developing feelings for you."

Tweek experiences the same fluttering feeling in his chest that night in the courtyard, he quickly averts his gaze. "Y-yeah, s-same here," he stutters.

"Oooo, good one, Kyle. Who knew you could be a decent flirt?"

Kyle loses his smile with the roll of his eyes. "From the way you sounded asking if I liked you, I'd figured you already liked me."

Tweek's blush darkens a little. "I-I do like you, b-but as a friend."

Kyle chuckles." Okay."

Tweek has never heard him chuckle before, he sounded really cute...

Clearing that thought with the shake of his head, Tweek decides to switch the topic. They talk about the vampire hunter, and how they feel about them until the bell rings for them to head to their third period.

*A Few Hours Later*

Once the bell rings ending fourth period, Stan and the rest of his classmates amble out of their Art class. Throughout the last period, Stan had been formulating ways to tell his friends how they'll be executing his escape plan. The first way was to be outright with it, he figured that beating around the bush wasn't going to be necessary. "We're gonna have the vampire hunter help get us outta here," was what he planned on telling them. But knowing Gregory, he'd probably disagree and spout multiple reasonings to back up his disagreement. And that's why Stan had to think up another way of escaping, and that was to sneak out while the vampire hunter and vampires were busy combatting each other.

They were still in Colorado and although he has a vague memory as to how they got here, they're just going to have to risk finding the nearest town or hitchhiking a ride there. Stan, for one, would rather not go about doing that, and he's sure the others wouldn't want to either, especially Gregory; he'd hate that idea even more. But despite Gregory most likely opposing to both of those ideas, Stan knows he'll go along with the first one. However, if he doesn't, then he'll be hitchhiking by himself.

Stan nearly laughs at the thought of the pompous jerk standing alone by the curb of the road with his thumb up and held out, only for the cars to drive straight past him as if he was invisible.

Stan reaches his shared bedroom, opening the door to see Vice, who's currently taking his blazer off. "How the heck are you always the first one in here?" Stan asks as he walks in closing the door halfway behind him. He goes over to his bed.

Vice merely responds with the shrug of his shoulders, then he grabs a book that's on his bed, and heads towards the door saying, "I'm going to the library, I'll be back before dinner."

Stan opens his mouth to tell him that his friends are coming over, but Vice is already gone. Stan lays his binder down on top of his nightstand and starts unbuttoning his blazer. Once he takes it off and folds it up as neatly as he can, he goes to deposit it into the dirty clothes basket in his bathroom. Returning to his bed, he removes his shoes then goes over to his and Gary's dresser to lay his tie on top of it. He goes back to his bed and sits down facing the closed door. "They better not had forgotten," he thinks narrowing his eyes. He made sure to remind Gregory in Mr. Edgewood's class.

"I know for Christ's sake, Stanley!" Gregory responded to him on their way to lunch. "You don't need to pester me about it."

There's a knock at the door a couple of minutes later. Stan tells them to come in, and they do so. Well, speak of the Devil. "Knew you'd be the first one here," Stan smirks.

Gregory just glares at him and sits down at the end of one of the beds opposite of Stan's on the other side of the room, crossing both his arms and leg over the other. The silence between them is awkward, but they don't seem fazed by it. They 'bask' in the silence for an additional few more minutes until the door opens, revealing Gary and Ike.

Stan frowns, getting impatient. "Where's Pip?"

Ike shrugs while he goes to sit down next to the bed Gregory is sitting on, which happens to be Gary's but he doesn't mention it as he follows him. He remains standing so he can take off the top garment of his uniform. "He's usually in the cafeteria, but I didn't see him in there," Ike says.

Stan heaves a sigh. "I'll just tell you guys then, fill Pip in for me if he doesn't show up." Ike nods his head that he will. Facing away from the door, Stan changes his sitting position to crisscross. "You all remember the meeting this morning, right?"

"We're not going to forget it in the span of just several hours," Gregory grouses.

"Aaanyway, we're gonna have the vampire hunter help get us outta here." There's silence as Stan's four friends let his candid plan sink into their brains. It's broken moments later by Gregory.

"Care to elaborate how?" He asks staring at Stan dubiously.

"How else?" Stan deadpans. "We tell them that we got tricked into coming here. They'll know that we aren't lying since we're the only humans in this place."

Ike frowns, doubtful. "You think it's gonna be that simple though? What if Principal Brimestone-" Three faint knocks at the door interrupt him. All eyes, except Gregory's, look towards the doorway as Stan tells the obvious individual that they can come in.

Hesitantly pushing the door forward is Pip, a shaken look on his face as he closes the door, and leans against it. "T-Tweek knows..."

His troubled statement only causes three pair of eyes to gape at him. "What?! How? Did you tell him?" Stan accuses angrily.

"No, I-"

"He was sitting behind us in the auditorium," Gregory says, gaining their attention. "He most likely overheard you telling us to meet here, and figured it's to discuss your escape plan."

"Shit..." Stan curses nervously. He was careless, but then he realizes something. "But how did he even know that we planned to escape?" He glares back at Pip. "Are you sure you didn't tell him?"

"I really didn't," Pip says softly. He didn't need to tell Tweek because he already knew, he had only confirmed it to him. Tweek had came up to him wanting to talk as they were leaving Mr. Thorn's classroom. They walked in search of an empty hallway, during that time Pip initially expected to talk about where their friendship lied. He still considered him a friend, and friends didn't leave each other behind. Pip was prepared to reveal to Tweek about Stan's plan to escape. But that thought changed the instant they entered a vacant hallway. Tweek didn't waste any time asking him if they were planning to escape from here. The look in his eyes were pleading, he really wanted it to not be true. Pip hated lying, Tweek probably knew this which was why he came to him to ask about their means to escape. So, he told him the truth, that they were indeed planning to do just that. Just remembering the sheer look of hopelessness on Tweek's face remains a constant pang in Pip's heart.

A sigh from Stan brings him out of the painful recollection. "Well, it doesn't really matter that he knows. He's a vampire now so he can't leave with us." Pip, Ike, and Gary frown sullenly at the fact, Pip deepening his frown when Stan informs him that they'll get help from the vampire hunter.

"That's...very risky," Pip says hesitantly.

"We have no other choice," Stan says. "Unless you have a better idea?"

Pip's lips form into a line. "I don't, but..." There's no guarantee the vampire hunter will even help them, but that's not what Pip is mostly worried about. "We'll be leaving Tweek here to be killed..."

"...Yeah, that's true..." Gary says. "He's still our friend-"

"Is he?" Stan interjects coldly. Then he sighs again after realizing how cruel he sounded. "Look, I also feel bad leaving without him, but like I said he's a vampire now. He can't return home even if he wanted to."

Pip can't believe what he just heard. He grits his teeth angrily. "Do you not realize how inconsiderate you sounded just now? So what if he's a vampire? He's going to be killed!"

Stan blinks, startled by his sudden outburst. "You're greatly underestimating vampires, Pip, and besides it's only one vampire hunter-"

"Which is why Pip said your plan is risky," Gregory says shaking his head. "The vampire hunter could get killed before we can even get their help." Pip didn't expect Gregory to back him up on this, but he's glad. Can always count on him to talk sense into people.

"If that does happen, then we can just escape while they're fighting each other," Stan tells them.

"And wander aimlessly through the woods?" Gregory scoffs amusedly.

"Do you have a better idea then?" Stan asks him irritably.

"Why would I when you're the one who said you were going to come up with an escape plan?" Gregory counter-asks.

Seems either Ike or Pip told him that. Stan pinches the bridge of his nose, grumbling under his breath. "God, you're so fucking annoying." He lowers his hand from his nose. "Look, we either get the vampire hunter to help us or we leave while everyone is distracted. I refuse to waste the opportunity."

While Ike and Gary appear conflicted, Pip, on the other hand, is very displeased. Gregory shakes his head again before standing up, his arms still crossed." Fine, we'll go along with either of your 'foolproof' plans," he says heading towards the door. Pip opens it for him, but he stops in the doorway, glancing back. "But don't be disappointed when they fail miserably." He departs to his own shared bedroom.

Pip just glares daggers at Stan before trailing after Gregory. Awkwardly, Ike takes his leave. Gary resumes taking off his uniform.

Sighing for the fourth time, Stan buries his face into the palms of his hands. He sure hopes things go smoothly...

/

After dinner, Michael orders all of the teachers and staff members to follow him to the conference room. One half of the students head back to their bedrooms while the other half go elsewhere to hang out.

It takes a few minutes for the group of adult vampires to near a pair of dark brown wooden doors. Michael pushes both doors open, and they all advance into the expansive room.

The Colonial stone walls are bare of any sort of decorations as well as windows. The only light source is a chandelier similar to the ones in the cafeteria. In the middle of the room is a very long table, just like the tables in the lunchroom, a silver tablecloth is lengthy enough to cover the table by itself. Over a dozen black chairs are tucked underneath each side of the table, a dark leather chair is at the far end of it. The vampires' feet pad silently across maroon wooden floorboards towards their seats, Michael being the last one to sit down in the leather chair, his two assistants sat themselves in the chairs on either side of him. More than seven chairs down the table are vacant. The doors close as if they're being shut by a non-physical force.

"Okay," Michael says as he leans forward putting his elbows on the table then clasping his hands together. "The whole purpose of this meeting was so you all could ask the questions you didn't get a chance to ask this morning or were left unanswered or both. So, who wants to go first?"

" 'ow long is zhis gonna take?" The rude query came from Christophe, who is still upset that he had to partake in this unnecessary discussion. He has better things to do than be here.

"Aww, are you mad that you aren't in your room cuddling with your boyfriend?" Henrietta coos teasingly.

"Zhat's none of your business, pervertir," Christophe retorts.

"How the hell does that make me a pervert when you two show your affection towards each other out on public display?" Henrietta points out in a deadpan. Damien lets out a sheepish laugh, knowing he's to blame for those moments.

"Focus, guys," Michael says. Henrietta smiles triumphantly at her comeback while Christophe slumps back against his chair, stuffing his hands inside his pants pockets. His fingers fiddle with a lighter and a pack of cigarettes in each. "To answer your question, Christophe, you all will leave once everyone has asked the question they've been wanting to get answers to."

Might as well just say it's lasting the whole night. "Well, can I step out to go smoke?"

"No. Any more questions?" Michael asks everyone else, ignoring Christophe flipping him off.

"Yes, I have one." The next one volunteering is Dr. Kero. "Do you have any more information on the vampire hunter? Such as their gender, current whereabouts or anything that'll benefit us?"

Michael frowns at his questions. "I'm afraid the only new info I have is their name." He leans back against the smooth leather of his chair. "It's Chris King, and based on that we know he's a guy. Later on this week, I might get more details about him." Some begin to worry as they start to voice out their concerns to one another.

"Since we don't have any good leads to go on, I suggest we come up with a plan." All voices silence themselves at that proposition, and look to the vampire who said it.

"You're absolutely right," Michael says with a small smile. "What do you have in mind, Mr. Akuma?"

The Asian man smirks. "It's simple really, we kill him the moment he sets foot into this building."

Michael closes his eyes with a chuckle. "I figured you'd say that so that's what we'll do. It shouldn't be too hard, we outnumber the guy anyway." He sits up. "Okay, the meeting's over, everyone can go now."

Christophe is the first to rise from his seat followed by Damien, and they begin walking out of the conference room. It takes a moment for the others to do the same, conversing along the way about Kurai's straightforward plan. Michael stops Henrietta and Luther from leaving, appearing stern as he says, "I got somethin' to tell you two, but we'll talk about it in my office."

"Jeez, just how far back is this damned academy?"

The teal-eyed vampire hunter has been walking in the woods for what he feels has been an hour. He left the hotel mid-morning, and had a bit of trouble remembering where Valentine Academy was located because the paper containing the directions was removed from his trench coat pocket. That wouldn't have happened if he hadn't forgot to take it out before he dropped his damp clothes out in the corridor. He felt he didn't need to worry about anyone daring to touch his belongings, this place was practically void of any humans. He then called the woman at the front desk, hoping a staff member was there to dry his clothes. He was very glad to have been told that a housekeeper was going to come by and take care of his clothes. He had time to realize he had forgotten something, but the only thing on his mind was sleeping, and for the first time in years he had a peaceful, nightmare-free slumber.

Recalling how comfortable the bed felt makes Chris yawn, he wishes he could've booked an additional day at that hotel, but alas, he has a job to do. Not only that, he wishes he still had the umbrella he'd gotten from the hotel.

Earlier while he was searching around for an entrance into the woods, he saw an old lady taking shelter from the downpour under a roof of a building near a bus stop. He gave her his parasol. She was disinclined to take it at first, but after much insistence from Chris, she took it and thanked him. Had he known it would still be raining heavily, well, he still would've given the elder his umbrella. He enjoys doing good deeds, which is why he would like to find the academy already and get rid of those vampires. He's been keeping an eye out for a large building, it's the last bit of information he remembers, and he has yet to spot it. Instead, he notices what appears to be a black shack house stationed a yard or two away. Upon a closer look, it's in very poor shape. However, he senses three vampires inside of it. How strange...But he doesn't have time to wonder about who's all in there. Just as he turns around, he feels three presences behind him. He sees the academy building in the distance.

"What the hell are doing all the way out here?"

Chris turns back around seeing three teenagers; the tallest one has black hair, the second tallest has brown hair, and the last one has blonde hair. Their white dress shirts with a button or two undone, and different colored undershirts, black pants, and matching colored dress shoes are getting drenched in the rain.

"They must be students of Valentine Academy," Chris thinks containing a smile.

"Don't be rude, he could be lost," the blonde assumes.

"I doubt it," says the brunette, sounding skeptical.

"Oh, but I am lost." The tone of Chris' voice was sinister. The three teens' senses go on high alert when they see his eyes brighten in a dull glow accompanied by an eerie smile spreading across his lips. "I came here to speak with the Principal, mind guiding me to his office?"

(A/n: I hope you enjoyed and the next chapter will be up soon)