Minutiae (n.)

The small precise details that make one unique.


Zero resists the urge to sigh, comfortably propped up on his pillows inside of his room as he used a computer to check Cross Academy's yearly student budget for an upcoming festival.

The day class students too 'busy' with, and he quoted, 'beautiful~~~ so absolutely freaking cute~' Night Class to actually divide the activities properly leaving Zero to not only fill in as the Day Class president but also the Treasury, Secretary, and the Vice President.

Something that quite literally quadrupled Zero's already massive workload, honestly and the day class wondered why he despised a good ninety percent of the students. The hunter was helping for the simple reason that Cross was already constantly dealing with absolute bullshit from the Hunter Council, Vampire Council, worried parents, and ungrateful little brats.

Call it stupid but Zero refused to let Cross lose even more sleep over something so utterly ridiculous. He paused, breaking out of his thoughts when he heard a knock on his door.

Crossover had been completed over an hour ago, so when Zero flung the door open to reveal a hopeful looking blonde vampire clutching the only English book that the hunter had been able to find in the school library for the noble he was somehow not surprised.

Aido shifted uneasily as Zero stared, instead of slamming the door in his face like the vampire had suspected might one day happen for waking the day class student in the earlier hours of the morning, the other simply turned around and headed back towards his bed.

Aido noticed the hunter was dressed in a thin white after bath kimono ending just after his knees, pale china like skin only a shade brighter than the pure white kimono itself and long muscled legs ending with thin ankles and delicate feet.

The moonlight streaming through the open window was bouncing of slightly damp silver hair, and kimono that created the illusion that Zero was somehow glowing, high sharp cheekbones managed to cast shadows and long silver eyelashes framed by thinly wired golden colored glasses over cool lavender eyes seemed to attract the most attention against all the white.

Aido tried not to stare, he really did, instead, he tried to distract himself by looking around the room for seating knowing that he would find none in the plainly decorated room. Before hesitantly sitting on the edge of the bed he starts to read out loud in heavily accented English.

"T-The rose is the flower off" Aido frowns "–of those boln–" he reads.

"Born, born," Zero corrects gently.

The turquoise-eyed vampire can't find it in himself to mind the correction. Despite the other's general I-hate-your-entire-species attitude he was a surprisingly patient teacher.

The blonde repeats the word several times, and Zero continues to listen attentively. His nurturing instincts along with his vampiric one practically purring in the back of his mind as he watches the blonde read.

"In Joone and it is often called the keh–ween of flowers." Aido continued, "What does that word mean?"

"It means Queen in Japanese. A queen is a ruler, usually married to a king." Zero shifted leaning over Aido's shoulder.

The noble brightened, "Like whoever marries Kaname-sama." He muttered.

Zero lips thinned into a small line but he refrained from commenting, "If I remember correctly a rose is also the symbol of Kuran household." He murmured.

Aido's excited face seemed to light up the room, "So is that the reason they chose the rose because it's the queen of flowers?" He asked.

Zero blinked, "How am I supposed to know? You'd have to ask Kuran."

The other nodded before starting to read again, "Contained in the g–genus Rosa is many plants including fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, and cherries." Aido looked up questioningly.

"Peaches, plums, strawberries, and cherries are types of fruit"

"Ancient G–Greeks cultivated roses, not only because of their beauty but also to use for perfumes and med–i–sins–, medicines. Attar-of-roses is a yellowy-green oil taken from the base of rose petals before the buds open. It takes one and a half tons of fray–ger–ent petals to make just one pound of attar. Each–"

Aido's reading was interrupted by another knock on the door, Zero stood up walking towards the door and Aido used this time to read ahead.

"–color offers a distinct meaning: red, the lover's rose, signifies enduring passion. White; humility and innocence. Yellow; expressing friendship and joy. Pink; gratitude, appreciation, and admiration. Orange; enthusiasm and desire and white lilac and purple roses represent enchantment and love at first sight.

The primrose, bloom in early spring, offering a variety of form, size, and color. "I can't live without you" or "our love is eternal...–"

Aido paused feeling the sweet flower meaning hover over him, his mind flashing to the stoic hunter's face. Zero walked back into the room looking slightly exasperated. Ruka following closely after him.

Ruka had apparently noticed his presence and they exchanged brief nods. A familiar wave of understanding passing through the two. As she joined them on Zero's bed.

The blonde reached into his bag, pulling out the water bottle that he had designed for the hunter. Ruka, who was a much better liar than Aido was chose this time to explain.

"In thanks for Aido tutoring and my hair we wanted to give you this as a sign for or gratitude." The toffee haired noble stated.

Lavender eyes scanned the two, Aido tried not to fidget under the hunter's gaze and Ruka kept her face carefully blank. After a long moment of silence, Zero gave a slow nod before reaching out and grabbing their gift.

Taking a moment to admire the beautiful design of on the black tinted red plastic before leaning over to a small nightstand next to his bed, Zero pulled out a silver sharpie marker before scrawling his name onto the side of the black plastic before setting it down. The hunter didn't say anything, but both Ruka and Aido shared beaming smiles as soon as the other turned back to his work.

For a long time it was only Aido's steady voice, and Zero's gentle corrections, "Lavender purple is the color of royalty It represents refinement, grace, and elegance. Lavender holds a sacred place in nature, and with its violet flowers is often considered the most delicate and precious. Purple lilacs symbolize the first emotions of love."


Zero automatically woke up around an hour before crossover, gradually pulling himself out of his sleepy haze, two warm presences pressed against his sides, his glasses still on his face and the inability to move his arms and legs.

Two slumbering vampire nobles were curled around him. Zero took a moment to marvel what absolute children they both were and how much money he would make from the day class if he managed to take a picture of them sleeping like this.

Aido is laying on his side, one leg slung over Zero's and has his face buried in the hunter's own side effectively trapping the other's arm. The blonde was snoring ever so softly and his hair was sprawled up at odd angles.

Ruka was sleeping on her stomach her face buried in Zero's chest both of her legs intertwined with the hunter's own. The hunter also thought she might have been drooling but decided to discard that thought for the sake of his health.

Vampire instincts rumbled in the back of his head, 'Warm. Content. Safe. Good children. Sleep.'

Yet his hunter instincts told the opposite, 'Danger! Too close! Shoot! Not safe! Careless! Move!'

Zero had to restrain himself from doing so, he was a school guardian and the only one since Yuuki had turned into a bitchy vampire worthy of a terrible high school romance soap opera in another language, which made sense because no one could understand her when she started to get screechy like a banshee and being a school guardian meant not alarming other day class students in what was now approaching night class hours.

"Wake up." Zero stated, there was shuffling but both of them settled back down. The hunter's eye twitched, "You both have three seconds until I dump the both of you on the floor." He threatened.

No response came from either Ruka or Aido. Sighing Zero managed to untangle one of his arms. Taking a deep breath he pushed as hard as he could, legs flinging and off the bed.

Aido and Ruka's eyes both snapped open startled gasps erupting from the both of them as they were thrown onto the ground. Casually standing the hunter looked down at them,

"Ah, so the undead have finally risen from their slumber," Zero drawled sarcastically and before they were able to startle out of their rude awakening he added, "You have an hour before crossover. Get back to the moon dorms."

Ruka and Aido both nodded, looking slightly embarrassed over having fallen asleep before both left in a blur of speed. Zero allowed an amused half-smile to form.

'Children.' Zero thought. His instincts purred in agreement.


The rest of the day was eventful. During crossover both Ruka and Aido refused to look anywhere towards Zero's general direction and although this was common for Ruka, it was odd for Aido to not flirt with the female day class students.

If that wasn't attracting enough disappointment, throughout the entire thirty-second walk Shiki hadn't once taken his eyes off of the annoyed hunter.

Even Kuran had given Zero a half smile and nod as they passed. The brunette showing a small amount of gratitude from the events of the weekend. Yuuki, the ditzy headed bitch, had beamed at her brother whose arm she was half clutching onto mistakenly thinking the smile was for her.

Several fangirls held back curses, hate in their eyes as they tried to visually eviscerate the female pureblood vampire trainwreck heading full speed towards a nuclear power plant, waiting to happen who, of course, remained oblivious.

The day got even worse. The fangirls had noticed.

All Zero heard in class that moment was the insistent gossip and bickering that was getting completely out of hand. The hunter had left as soon as he was able to escape without being noticed by a noisy student or teacher. He had ended up going to White Lily's stable. The horse had greeted him with a soft stomp of her foot as he approached.

White Lily, unlike most animals, was not afraid of vampires. Or perhaps it was just Zero in general. Either way, the silvery white horse had never shown any discomfort with him.

Zero had quickly started to fall asleep, comfortable silence settled within the stable and the hunter's tense muscles began to relax.

Zero wasn't sure how much time had passed but when he opened his eyes Lily was stomping her hoof on the ground and tossing her head towards the entrance. The hunter followed her movements.

Senri Shiki stood in the doorway a black jacket clutched in his arms. The model was standing a good distance away. A wise move considering that many animals were uncomfortable with the vampire species as a whole.

"What is it Senri?" Zero sighed.

"I wanted to return your jacket," Shiki stated making sure to hide his nervousness.

The hunter apparently noticed anyway, because he raised a silver eyebrow, "Well, what are you waiting for come here. Lily won't hurt you."

The mahogany haired vampire hesitated before slowly entering the stable, pale blue eyes never leaving the beautiful gleaming silver horse. Shiki noticed that she was about eighteen hands (6ft), with thin and powerful long legs and eyes a pale shade of blue, even lighter than the aristocrat's own.

The horse seemed to stare at Shiki for a moment before tossing her head and stomping one of her front legs before trotting over to where he was. Zero was still laying on one of the haystacks, eyes half closed and hay getting tangled in silver strands.

White Lily circled Shiki for a moment before using her head to nudge him forward. Startled the noble stumbled slightly before he started walking to the hunter's sleeping spot.

By then Zero had stood up and Shiki shuffled closer. Now thoroughly amused the silverette took a step forward noting that although the noble's face was carefully blank.

"Thank you," Shiki stated head tilted towards the ground somehow managing to sound uninterested and embarrassed at the same time.

Zero sighed feeling the already familiar urging in the back of his head. Before the hunter could stop himself the corner of his lips tip upwards and he reaches up to pat the other's head in a semi-comforting manner.

Shiki had tensed up slightly, memories of his mother going from sweet and comforting to cruel and insane he had half expected the hunter to grab him by his hair. Instead Zero gently ruffles the mahogany locks.

Finally realizing what he was doing Zero allows his hand to drop. White Lily, never one to be forgotten nudged her head under the shorter male's arm. Shiki stared for a moment before slowly running his hand down the horse's neck.

Recognizing the absolute fascination in the other's eyes the hunter began to bark an order for the vampire to return to the moon dorms but before he could open his mouth Shiki had already blurted out a question. One which Zero found himself automatically answering thanks to his time spent tutoring Aido.

It's too late however because apparently, Shiki had taken it as a sign of Zero's approval.

Over the next several days Zero had found himself in the stables watching over Shiki and teaching him about horse care, who had started to appear right after crossover to visit White Lily. The horse seemed to enjoy the attention becoming fond of Shiki at a startlingly fast pace.

Zero couldn't help but think it was because they both spoiled each other rotten. Shiki seemed to adore Lily, constantly bringing her apples and carrots to feed on and the horse returned the favor by being completely calm whenever the hunter was instructing the other on how to ride.

It wasn't until Zero had gone on a patrol that he realized that the noble had been napping in the barn. The hunter had done it often enough that he realized it wasn't simply because the other was tired. A single silver eyebrow twitched as he gathered the mahogany-haired vampire in his arms.

Leaving Shiki on Zero's own bed he headed towards the kitchens taking a long sip of his newly given water bottle to calm his temper. With a mission in mind, the hunter stormed towards the kitchens. He had at least an hour before Aido and Ruka arrived.


As soon as Zero opened his door both Aido and Ruka had the sinking feeling that they were in trouble. The silverette's face was completely blank except for raging lavender eyes.

"Get inside," Zero commanded, giving them a look that they would both connect to worried and angry parents.

Both nobles stepped inside immediately spotting Shiki sitting on the bed shifting while trying not to look uncomfortable. Ruka and Aido sympathized, after all, over the past weeks, they had been subjected to the same awkward situations that the hunter seemed to bring on as easy as breathing.

Shiki had apparently noticed their presence because he was staring at them with confusion. The action was returned but no one said anything as Aido and Ruka both sat down next to their classmate.

Zero said nothing instead setting down three small pouches, each a different color, a light blue for Shiki, a turquoise colored one for Aido and a honey-gold one for Ruka.

"I don't know what's been going on in the night class lately but I do know that you three haven't been eating or sleeping properly and for some reason, you're finally fucking started to actually teenagers because all of you have evidently decided to jump on the emotional roller coaster." Zero breathed out.

The vampires sat in silence not knowing how to respond, the silverette continued voice calmer this time, "In those bags are small snacks, You will not live off of what's in there. You will, however, come to me whenever you either skip a meal or finish eating whatever I put in it. Understand?"

The nobles nodded in unison. Instinctually knowing better than to argue with the hunter. It wasn't long before Shiki started to nod off, Aido eventually opened his English book and Ruka began her independent study.


Kaname's eye twitched, staring down at hell in the form paperwork. Yuuki was talking about something that he couldn't be bothered with and the two things were both giving him a rather large headache.

Takuma was looking at him sympathetically making sure not to look at his friend in fear that Yuuki would start bitching at him. The blonde knew that Kaname was nearing his snapping point and the only reason the pureblood hadn't noticed his sister's recent behavior was due to the amount of stress the Vampire Council was putting on him.

The other nobles had taken to disappearing at random hours mostly whenever Kaname managed to send Yuuki away long enough for him to actually get anything done.

Ever since Kaname had turned his sister back into a pureblood, a rather large mistake on his childhood friend's part in Takuma's humble opinion, it seemed that Yuuki had decided that since she was engaged to her brother and therefore going to be the queen of all vampires that the rest of the rest of the night class was obligated to follow her orders.

Takuma had dearly wished to tell his leader of what his bitch of a fiance was doing but refrained. If only until the Vampire Council settled down and the paperwork lessened.

Until then Takuma would wait, he refused to let his friends down.


mono no aware n.

the pathos of things

the gentle wistfulness at the transience of things,

and the awareness of the sadness of existence.