Chapter Three – First Lesson

"Mai!" Naru called in his usual formal tone as he knocked on her door. Mai groaned in objection as she turned over and opened her eyes slowly. With a sigh she grabbed her dressing gown, pulling it on as she made her way through the darkness to the door. She turned the old fashioned key and pulled it open to see Naru already dressed in his uniform ready for class. Did he even try to get some sleep?

"What is it?" Mai moaned as she rubbed her eyes tiredly. Not used to sleeping during the day her stomach turned slightly from the sudden change. Naru crossed to her bedside lamp and switched it on, sitting on the edge of the bed as he looked across at her. He was a little concerned by her pale skin. She was groggy and unsteady on her feet, but then she'd clearly just woken up, so it was to be expected.

"Classes will begin soon, are you feeling well enough?" He asked, noticing how she was bent over ever so slightly, a habit he'd spotted whenever she felt ill. It wasn't only that she seemed to feel ill. What bothered him was that she looked ill too. Putting her grogginess aside, she was pale and the goose bumps on her legs told him she was cold too. Mai straightened slightly, her stomach still turning as she forced a smile, looking sheepish.

"I think I'll be alright if I don't eat anything." She replied as she went to her chair, where she'd left her uniform neatly folded as she usually did in her own home. "I just feel a little nauseous. It's probably from changing my sleeping pattern so suddenly." She added as she headed for her ensuite bathroom, turning on the light to see a modest sized white tiled room with a sink, toilet and bath with a shower above.

"If you don't feel well you should probably stay here." Naru's voice called through the closed door as Mai turned the shower on. She twisted the water dial until it was in the middle, not leaning towards either cold or hot, but somewhere balanced. While waiting she tugged off her dressing gown and nightdress, leaving them on the toilet with her uniform out of the way.

"I'll be fine!" She called back before stepping under the still slightly cold water, closing her eyes as the spray hit her face and ran down her delicately curved figure. She washed quickly and climbed out, rushing to pull on her uniform before returning to the bedroom, where Naru had already packed her bag for her. Her hair was still dripping as he turned to face her, watching as she tugged her brush through the short tresses.

"Mai, your skirt." Naru said stiffly, averting his eyes as she walked by the bed where he sat beside her bag. Mai paused with a quizzical expression as she looked down and then over her shoulder, blushing as she realised her a bit of her skirt had been tucked into her underwear at the back in her rush to get ready. She quickly pulled it out with an embarrassed 'thank you' before pulling on her neck ribbon and tying it securely. "If you feel ill then tell me and return to the dorm." Naru insisted as Mai slipped into her shoes and headed for the door.

"Naru, I'll be fine." She replied confidently as she tugged the handle, thinking she'd spoken too soon as the strange feeling hit her. The young blonde she had seen earlier paused to look at her as he walked by, his eyes a light shade of blue as they watched her slump against the doorframe. Her heart was pounding again as the terror crept up through her chest, but she still had no idea why.

"Are you feeling alright Miss?" The young blonde asked as he laid a light supporting hand on her shoulder. The foreign feeling increased, but it wasn't as harsh as when Kaname had touched her. His hand was gentle, the pressure almost soothing and familiar. Mai opened her eyes and looked up at the young man, who gently helped her find her feet. Mai found herself blushing slightly at his actions. He was a very handsome young man, as was Kaname, but she was more drawn to this one. He had an almost childish innocence in his features that Kaname lacked.

"Uh…Yes, thank you…uh?" Mai trailed off questioningly, the young man smiling shyly with an awkward air as he released her. His smile made him seem very open and sweet, something that reminded her a little of John and almost eased her anxious feelings. She noticed a slight pink tint rise to his cheeks as he realised he hadn't introduced himself.

"Ah! Ichijou Takuma, you may call me Ichijou." He replied to her unasked question, holding out his hand and shaking hers gently. His hand is cold…She thought as he gripped hers firmly, but with an underlying gentleness. Mai smiled brightly as Naru appeared beside her and put his arm around her shoulders, sending a cold glare at Ichijou while making Mai blush at their close contact.

"Um…My name is Mai Taniyama, and this is Kazuya Shibuya." She introduced brightly, feeling a little embarrassed by Naru's actions, especially as he pulled her closer. She wasn't sure whether he was acting his part or felt distrustful of the boy before them. Of course knowing Naru it's probably a bit of both…We do know my unease is being cause by the people here…

"I'm her boyfriend." Naru added in an almost harsh cold tone, Ichijou stepping back in understanding as another beautiful young man came towards them. This one looked older than the two she had seen so far. He was taller, well-built and had short reddish brown hair, and his eyes were revealed to be a light hazel as he glanced at Mai and Naru. He seemed quite dazed and disinterested as he approached, though he paused as he caught Ichijou's eye.

"Ah, Kain! These are the new students Lord Kaname told us about." Ichijou said with a smile as the young man paused and looked at the couple. His brow creased in disapproval, though of what Mai couldn't tell. He was certainly intimidating, so much so that Mai felt Naru's grip on her shoulder tighten slightly. The fact that Naru was unsettled made Mai more uneasy, though Kain would be imposing even if he wasn't part of their case. He was almost as tall as Lin, but as broad as Monk-san, and he was so stoic it was impossible to tell whether he was a delinquent or a model student.

"Kain Akatsuki." The redhead greeted in a deep gravelly voice, his hazel eyes fixing on Mai. At his words Mai got a stronger wave of that strange feeling and found herself swooning. Naru pulled her tightly against his side as her knees buckled. She could feel the room spinning as her chest ached under the pressure. It was almost painful. She could still feel Kain's eyes on her, but she couldn't focus on anything else, even as she felt Naru's arms adjust against her.

"Oh my! Perhaps I should fetch the doctor." Ichijou offered as Naru easily lifted Mai into his arms, his gentle voice laced with concern. Mai groaned slightly and closed her eyes as the feeling closed in around her so tightly that she almost couldn't breathe. Hearing her breaths grow shallow Naru held her closer. Mai barely registered that she was being cradled against Naru's chest, keeping her eyes tightly shut as the room lurched.

"No. I'll take her to the nurse's office." Naru replied with a glare, Ichijou nodding while Kain looked on bemused as Naru carried her away. Ichijou pulled Mai's bedroom door shut as they watched them go. Kain turned to see his younger cousin walking towards them, letting out a tired sigh as he paused beside them. He took in a deep breath as he looked around, the delicious scent filling his senses until his eyes took on a red tint.

"I thought I smelled humans. So, they've arrived." He observed as he leaned on the banister and looked down as the young dark haired teen carried the unconscious girl towards the front doors. "Why is Lord Kaname allowing this?" He wondered aloud as he ran his hand through his strawberry blonde locks, much like Kain's only lighter. Kain gave him an almost disapproving look as he noted the red tint in his cousin's eyes.

"He doesn't have a choice. Turning away these people would have raised questions among humans. This lot were rather…insistent…or so Lord Kaname says. I have a feeling something else is going on…We should all be careful." Ichijou replied nervously, Kain and Aido nodding their agreement. Knowing he wouldn't be able to last class with humans in the room Aido pulled a bottle of pills from his pocket and swallowed two of the white tablets. It didn't compare to the real thing, but it would do for now. "After class we'll meet in Lord Kaname's room. He'll tell us what to do." The blonde added confidently, the other two nodding their agreement.

"We'll be late." Kain warned as the rest of the Night Class filed out. Aido and Ichijou hurried to catch up, with taller redhead at their heels.


"Is she alright?" Naru asked worriedly as he sat on the empty bed beside Mai's cot while the young blonde nurse leaned over her. She looked into Mai's eyes with a penlight, her face a mask of concentration as she examined the young girl. "Nurse?" Naru added impatiently, though his face remained neutral. She was certainly breathing a little easier now, in fact her breathing had evened out as soon as they'd left the Moon Dorm.

"She fainted…She'll come round soon. What happened?" The nurse asked as she looked up at Naru, who sat on the edge of the bed with his legs crossed and a thoughtful look on his face. He couldn't her tell about the feelings Mai had, not everyone was so open to psychic powers after all. In the end he decided a simple clueless response would be best.

"I don't know...She just passed out." He replied, seemingly deeply troubled by Mai's condition. The nurse opened her mouth to speak when Mai groaned lightly and opened her pale brown eyes, seeming groggy as she looked around unfocused. The last thing she remembered was falling against Naru in the corridor. He'd lifted her up and then...I guess this is…the nurse's office?

"Miss Taniyama! Are you alright?" The young nurse asked in a gentle tone as she sat on the edge of the girl's bed, Mai sitting up slowly with a hand on her forehead. She had no idea who had spoken or who was with her, but she didn't recognise the feminine voice. On the plus side I don't feel dizzy anymore…

"I…think so…" Mai replied as she shook her head, clearing the fog that seemed to cloud her mind. "I just had a strange…feeling…I can't explain it. It was so strong I just couldn't stand it." She added almost apologetically as she swung her legs over the side of the bed to face Naru, staring at him meaningfully. He was about to respond when the door clicked to signal someone turning the handle. All eyes turned as it opened to admit Lin, who didn't seem surprised in the least.

"I thought I might find you here." He greeted as he closed the door, crossing the room to stand in front of Mai and looking down at her, his dark eyes examining her closely. Mai felt her cheeks heat under the intensity of his dark gaze. She rarely got Lin's direct attention, and he was more than a little intimidating at times. "Mr Shibuya, you should be in class right now. Run along." Lin ordered as he looked over his shoulder at Naru, who locked eyes with him for a few moments before nodding his agreement.

"Yes Sir." The teen replied obediently as he got to his feet and left, knowing that he was leaving Mai in good hands. To the honey-haired girl's disappointment Naru didn't look back as he walked out the door and her eyes quickly shifted to Lin. The tall stoic man glanced across at her as he leaned down to her eye level. One large hand reached out to caress her pale cheek lightly, his hand almost as cold as her skin.

"Nurse, I wonder if you might leave us for a while…There are things I need to discuss with Miss Taniyama." Lin continued as he turned to the young nurse, who looked at him in surprise, but the expression on his serious face left no room for argument. She bowed gracefully and left, swishing her long ponytail over her shoulder as she went. He waited a few moments, listening as the woman's footsteps retreated further up the corridor before returning his attention to Mai.

"As I thought. You're extremely sensitive to these beings." He began as he leaned over and looked into Mai's eyes. The young girl blushed at their closeness. His face was only inches from hers, his dark orbs so mesmerizing that she couldn't look away. His hands came up to capture either side of her face, his head leaning forward so that their foreheads touched lightly. His skin was surprisingly soft and warm against hers, and quite smooth. "Do as I say Mai. This should make you feel better for a while." He instructed, feeling Mai nod against his head, her cool skin brushing over his. "Good, now close your eyes and breathe deeply in and out." He ordered, watching as Mai's eyes closed, her breath lightly dancing across his lips. "Just keep your mind and senses open…No matter what you feel keep the connection open. Don't stop your breathing, open your eyes, or move." He added as he closed his dark eyes.

Mai listened, breathing deeply in and out as Lin had instructed. She could hear everything in the room around her. Her slow breaths, Lin's slightly longer breaths, the ticking of the clock, the creaking pipes, the patter of feet from somewhere outside, the wind in the grounds, and the rustling of fabric as Lin moved closer. I wonder what he's going to do…I can feel his breath on my lips. I've never been so close to a guy before! Am I supposed to be thinking? Should I quiet my thoughts? But I don't want to speak and interrupt whatever he's about to do…She thought, the blush still hot on her cheeks. She felt Lin chuckle lightly, her brow twitching as she fought the urge to open her eyes to see what he looked like smiling.

"Mai, your thoughts are loud." He chided gently, feeling her skin heat up again. She had only heard Lin laugh a couple of times. It really was a nice sound. "Mai, hush!" He instructed more seriously, the girl trying to clear all thoughts from her mind, but it was difficult. "Think of a white surface. Blank white, nothing else." He suggested, waiting as Mai focused on white, seeing white in her mind and nothing else, thinking no thoughts, just white. It was then that she felt something in her body, her senses automatically trying to push it away. "No, don't fight it." Lin sighed against her lips, Mai trying her best to rein in her defences. There was a feeling, a sort of tingle that ran through her body from her head right down to her fingertips and toes. "Alright, open your eyes." Lin said finally as he stepped back, leaving Mai feeling a little cold and alone without his closeness.

"What did you do?" She asked curiously, her brown eyes opening and looking up at him as he fixed a wooden pendent to a thin black string. He leaned down to put in round her neck, tying it securely at the back.

"I strengthened your supernatural resistance with my own, and this pendent will strengthen it further so you shouldn't feel anything but a faint tingle while in the presence of the Night Class." Lin replied as Mai looked down at the small circle of wood with a Chinese symbol carved into it. "We should get to class…I'll go first. You wait for five minutes and follow if the nurse gives you permission. If not, return to the dormitory and rest until tomorrow." He instructed. Mai nodded and lay down, feeling much better now that the strange feeling was completely gone for the moment. Lin waited until she was settled before heading into the corridor. The blonde nurse nodded politely as he passed and returned to the room.

"How are you feeling Miss Taniyama?" She asked with a kind smile as she stood over the young girl, who looked up with a wan smile of her own. The colour had now completely returned to her cheeks and her eyes were bright and alert. Looking at her it was hard to believe she had been so frail and pale just a few moments ago.

"I'm feeling much better now, thank you…I was thinking I might be able to go to class in a few minutes?" Mai said questioningly as the nurse felt her forehead. The skin was at a normal warm temperature and dry, not clammy in the slightest. She seemed alert and very much awake. It was a remarkable turnaround considering how ill she'd seemed before.

"Yes, but rest a few more minutes to be sure, and don't get up too quickly. If you feel dizziness or any other symptoms that make you think you might pass out then come back here, and make sure someone comes with you in case you collapse on the way." She instructed kindly. Mai nodded her agreement and the nurse went to sit at her desk, where she was filling out a report of some sort, probably about Mai to add to her records. Mai closed her eyes for a few moments before looking up at the white ceiling, her eyes tracing the flawless surface. Why are all ceilings so…boring? She wondered as she let her eyes wander across the room.

"Nurse, may I go now?" Mai asked as the clock passed five minutes. The nurse turned back to her, nodding in response and watching as Mai got to her feet and slowly headed to the door. She was steady on her feet and didn't seem about to collapse, so the nurse was content to let her leave.

"Don't forget to come back if you feel it coming on again." The young woman called as Mai opened the door, the petite teen turning back with a bright smile.

"I will, thank you very much." She replied with a bow as she closed the door and headed through the large mansion-like corridors of the building. The walls were all white-washed. The floor was a dark wood, matching the windowsills and frames, and every hallway looked the same. Damnit! I have no idea where I am! She thought worriedly as she looked around, the vast emptiness pressing in on her.

"Excuse me, are you lost?" A girl's voice asked kindly. Mai turned with a gasp to see another member of the Night Class, only this girl wore a black armband with a red line and pattern going around it. Her long dark hair cascaded down to her waist and her eyes were a deep, captivating shade of brown that shone with gentleness. Mai suddenly felt at ease as the girl approached with an easy smile.

"Yes, I'm sorry! I was in the nurse's office and it's my first day so I don't know where to go." Mai replied apologetically with a sheepish smile. The strange tingle that Lin had warned her about shot across her skin while the girl smiled assuringly, her demeanour both warm and kind.

"Please don't worry about it! I'm Yuuki Cross, pleased to meet you. You must be Miss Taniyama." The girl introduced brightly, Mai quickly shaking her head in objection to the formality.

"No please, just Mai." She insisted as the girl walked to her side and tugged her arm back down the corridor. Oh no! Was I really walking in the wrong direction? I'm so embarrassed!

"Then I'm just Yuuki." Yuuki replied with a smile, not keeping contact with Mai for too long. They walked down the corridor, turning at least three corners until they reached the right room, where Yuuki opened the door and stepped inside. "Pardon the intrusion, Miss Taniyama was a little lost." Yuuki excused warmly as she allowed Mai to step inside. The tingle she felt wasn't getting any worse at all, for which she was grateful since she was now surrounded by Night Class students.

"Thank you Miss Cross." Lin replied as he turned from the black board, where he had been teaching the class about different religions. He was focusing on China for the moment since he was Chinese and the class had had a lot of questions. "Miss Taniyama, please find a seat." He added as Yuuki left and closed the door. The rest of the students gazed at her almost menacingly as she made her way to the back of the class, where there was a seat at the desk beside Naru. The desks here seated two rather than one like her own school. Kaname and Ichijou were seated at the desk to their right and watched her as she passed. Naru shifted to the aisle so that Mai could take the window seat, effectively shielding her from view.

"Are you alright now?" He asked in a whisper as he pushed his book to the centre of the table for them to share. Mai nodded in response, but felt a little embarrassed since she didn't have any of her books or pens to work with. "Don't worry about the work. I've taken notes and you can borrow them when we get back to the dorm." He added. Great…Well, at least I'm not missing out on any school work while I'm here. She thought with a sigh, looking to the front of the class where Lin was still talking about China. She quickly found her attention riveted on him. She'd always been curious about Lin's home country, but she'd never had the confidence to just ask him about it.


"Alright, class dismissed." Lin said finally as he closed the book he was holding, heading to his desk as the Night Class gradually packed away their books. They got to their feet, stretching tiredly as conversations broke out. Mai looked out the window to see that the sky was just turning a pale orange across the distant hills. The fields were still in shadow, horses either standing with their noses in the morning grass or trotting around the meadow. It was so beautiful and peaceful. So different from Tokyo.

"Mai, come on." Naru murmured, his bag already packed as Mai got to her feet and stretched, enjoying the feeling as her shoulders and back loosened up. As she looked around the classroom she saw that the members of the Night Class were still at their desks. All of them had turned to look at Mai and Naru, and many of them looked silently menacing.

"Miss Taniyama, Mr Shibuya, would you wait a moment? It seems this would be the best opportunity to properly introduce you to the Night Class." Kaname said graciously as he got to his feet and headed to the front of the class, where Yuuki promptly entered, and a tall boy with almost platinum hair followed just behind. His violet eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of the two new students in the class, his gaze shifting to Kaname, who seemed to tell him something silently. "Ah! Yuuki, Kiriyu, just in time. We have two new students in the class, Mai Taniyama and Kazuya Shibuya. These are the prefects of the school. They patrol the grounds at night looking for Day Class students out of bed and they hold back the crowds as we come out in the evening. You'll understand tomorrow." He added with a smile as he indicated the pair who had just entered. "This is Yuuki Cross, and her duty partner, Zero Kiriyu. Both are in the Night Class but do their work in the dorm during the day since they have to stay awake all night." Kaname explained, Yuuki bowing and Zero nodding, his expression showing he was still on edge. "Why don't we all introduce ourselves? I'll start. My name is Kaname Kuran, but please call me Kaname. I'm head of the Night Class and President of the Moon Dorm, which is where we live during the day." He introduced, unnecessarily since Naru and Mai had met him earlier that day. He looked around to see who would go next, but since no one else stepped forward he turned to Yuuki with a slightly pleading expression.

"I'm Yuuki Cross, but you can call me Yuuki. I'm a prefect for the school and only recently transferred to the Night Class. Before that I was in the Day Class, but Zero and I found we were missing too many classes because we were so tired and never had time to get any work done, so we were transferred to the Night Class. I'm also the Chairman's adopted daughter, so it's not unusual to find me in his private house if you need me but can't find me." She added brightly, smiling in a friendly manner at Mai and Naru. He merely nodded while Mai offered a warm smile in response. Yuuki turned to Zero with one of her bright smiles, which she knew could get him to do anything for her, and had since they were young. Her thoughts were confirmed when Zero sighed in defeat with a slight smile of his own as he looked down at her with his tired violet eyes.

"Zero Kiriyu. Call me Kiriyu or Zero, I don't care. I'm basically the same as Yuuki. I've lived with the Chairman for four years, so I'm often at his place too." He said, his voice curiously both light and heavy as he spoke. It didn't have the rich texture of Kaname's voice or the gentleness of Ichijou's. He looked uncomfortable in front of the Night Class, though whether it was the attention or something between him and the students Mai couldn't say.

"Thank you both, now who's next?" Kaname asked after a few moments of silence, his dark eyes drifting across the faces of the Night Class. Mai slowly got to her feet, her heart racing in her chest. She had always hated doing things like this in school.

"Perhaps Nar-uh, Kazuya and I should go next? We are the new ones here after all." Mai offered with a smile that Kaname knew would have melted his heart had he not already been in love with Yuuki. Kaname nodded and the Night Class shifted in their seats to look back at Mai, who blushed and felt her knees shaking as she stood with all eyes upon her. "Um, I'm Mai Taniyama, but Mai is fine. I've just come here from a school near Shibuya, where Kazuya and I first met and I'm very much looking forward to making friends with all of you." Mai finished with a bright smile, Ichijou looking down at his feet at the last part while the other members of the Night Class glanced at each other to see the opinions of their friends.

"And you Mr. Shibuya?" Kaname encouraged as Mai sat down, her arms still shaking with adrenaline while her legs were slightly tired and tingly. Naru nodded and got to his feet almost reluctantly, though Mai didn't know why. He was usually quite confident, so she doubted it was nerves. Maybe he's worried the Night Class will sense something about his powers, though I'm not sure how they could…

"You already know my name, Kazuya Shibuya. Either Kazuya or Shibuya is fine. I'm Mai's partner of two years. We met at our last school, and we changed schools due to my family moving abroad. They wanted to put me in a boarding school so that they didn't have to worry about me so much, and Mai came with me." Naru stated. His expression was mostly neutral, though he took care to glare warningly at the boys of the Night Class. They found it fairly amusing that a human would threaten them so brazenly.

"Alright, how about you Ruka?" Kaname encouraged as he sat on the edge of Lin's desk and looked at the tall elegant young lady, who got to her feet with a nod and turned to the class from her place in the front row. Kaname had known he could count on Ruka if he asked, however he did find it unfair to take advantage of her feelings for him this way.

"Ruka Souen. I have no particular duties within the class, but do my best to keep things running smoothly, and I'll usually be found in my room or the living area." Ruka introduced, her voice strong and melodic, much more mature in tone than Yuuki's too. Her hair was long and thick, cascading down her shoulders in deep golden waves with her bangs shadowing her bright green eyes. She was a very beautiful woman and even Yuuki found herself blushing at her beauty sometimes.

"I'll speak." Kain's deep voice volunteered as he got to his feet. His desk was beside Ruka's so that they were almost sitting next to each other. "Kain Akatsuki. I like the violin." He stated before sitting down, Ruka's cheeks reddening as she glanced across at him. His hazel eyes met hers for a moment. Kaname looked around and nodded to Aido, who had his hand in the air patiently.

"Aido Hanabusa. I'm Kain's younger cousin and we both play the guitar, so if we disturb you please feel free to come and yell at us." He added with a grin, a few of the Night Class chuckling as he sat down. Mai, upon examining him, found him very similar to Kain, but he was shorter and of a smaller build, and his hair and eyes were just a few shades lighter. She shifted her gaze as the blonde girl beside Ruka got to her feet. Her hair was tied up in bunches, with two trails of hair loose on either side of her bangs, one side slightly longer than the other. It was a fairly gothic-punk style.

"Rima Touya. I prefer Rima. I work as a model in town with Shiki at the weekends." She said, before sitting down. Her voice was very calming and soft, not as melodic as Ruka's, more subtle and gentle than that. The dark haired boy sitting directly behind Rima was next on his feet. He seemed to be about the same height and build as Kaname, in fact the two looked very much alike except for a few facial features and the fact Shiki's hair was almost ebony rather than brown and was kept shorter.

"Shiki Senri. I enjoy martial arts, and I'm often in town at weekends with Rima. I also play the drums with my roommates Kain and Aido, and I'm Kaname's cousin." He added, leaving out the fact that Yuuki and Kaname were related. This was a well-kept secret since they were officially going out as far as the Day Class knew, and if they found out that they were brother and sister they would think it incestual and wrong. Plus the less people who knew about Yuuki the better, though it was hard to keep things secret from the council, and for all they knew there were spies who had already picked up on it.

"Seiren." A tall girl with short silver hair said simply before sitting down. Kaname smiled at her. Blunt and to the point as always. She never shared information unnecessarily and was sitting at the desk behind Kain and Aido, alone as usual. She took her body guard job very seriously. Mai had noticed the girl's voice, gentle but very hard and serious, so she guessed that reflected a little of her personality.

"Ichijou, it's just you now." Kaname said as he looked at the blonde boy at the back of the class, who got to his feet awkwardly and looked at the pair sitting across from him with a sheepish smile.

"Ichijou Takuma, but I prefer to be called Ichijou. I'm the vice president of the Moon Dorm and deputy of the Night Class. I assist Lord Kaname in his work, and I like to play the violin. I play mostly in the living area with Ruka. She's been playing a lot longer than I have and teaches me a few tricks." He added with a smile as he looked at her. Ruka nodded in response, still glancing at Kain every so often, her cheeks a little red as he looked over at her. Kaname got to his feet with a tired smile.

"Alright very good, now let us return to the dormitory. It will be morning very soon." He added, Mai looking out of the window to see the sun peering over the hills. The fields were flooded with the early morning light and most of the horses were up and about now. Mai turned back to the room and followed Naru as he headed to the door, his arm slipping around her waist lightly as they travelled through the corridors. Kaname and Yuuki held hands as they walked at the front with Zero just ahead. Seiren was walking a little behind Kaname, her eyes darting around the corridor warily. Next was Ruka, who walked just ahead of Kain and Aido, the pair in animated conversation as Rima and Shiki followed behind walking close together, whispering quietly and laughing.

"How are you feeling now?" Naru asked quietly as they walked a little behind everyone else, giving them space to talk without notice. Mai smiled assuringly at his question and tried to keep the blush from her cheeks at their closeness.

"I'm fine. Whatever Lin did it's working. He said something about strengthening my supernatural resistance…I didn't understand it all, but I only feel a tingling sensation when I'm near them now." Mai replied brightly, Naru nodding his understanding, obviously knowing more about what Lin had done than she did. She wondered briefly whether Naru had supernatural defences, or if he even needed them with his kind of powers. But that's not exactly something he'd talk about with me…

"You'll have to keep doing it…You'll know when it wears off. When you feel it happening tell me and I'll take you to Lin. I don't want you going alone, there's no telling when you might collapse again." Naru replied, Mai nodding and leaning into his embrace. If we're going to be going out while we're here I'm going to make the most of it. She thought as they continued walking. Naru didn't seem to notice her actions as they got outside into the morning air, the breeze fresh and cool on their faces. Ahh, there's nothing like fresh morning air! Wow…The air is really clean here. Mai thought as she took a deep breath, pausing to look up at the white clouds floating through the blue sky, continuing her way as Naru's hand pressed on the small of her back, urging her forward. Mai looked around as they walked down the path towards the dorms, trees on either side. The trees on the left stretched out into a large forest, which eventually stopped to become open fields, where the horses were kept.

"Naru, can I have your notes now?" Mai asked as they headed through the tall iron gates and up the path to the dorm, an old man in a cloak watching from an archway. He seemed to be a doorman, ticking off on a piece of paper as the students walked by, many of them nodding a good morning to him.

"Wait until we get to your room." Naru replied as they walked through the large double doors, the crowd of students growing as they entered the hall. Other Night Class students were milling about, the ones from other classes. They were slowly making their way to their rooms, or the living areas if they weren't tired. Mai allowed Naru to steer her towards the stairs, both of them ignoring the glares of the other students until they were inside Mai's room. Mai shut the door and leaned against it as Naru went to her bed and took his notebook out of his book bag.

"I wonder why the people of the Night Class seem so…hostile." Mai wondered aloud as she left the door and went to her bed, where she hopped and landed on her back. She looked up at the plain ceiling, which was gold where the sunlight was coming in through the open curtains. The bed was soft but firm beneath her as she relaxed into it, letting out a small sigh as she did so.

"Isn't it obvious? They're not like us…They're different somehow, and if you can feel that difference then there's a possibility that they can too…We need to tread carefully…" Naru replied simply as he stood at the side of her bed looking down at her, their eyes meeting as they looked at each other silently for a few moments. Mai could feel her cheeks heat as the silence stretched and Naru continued to look at her. "You really are naïve." He added eventually, Mai scowling up at him angrily, missing the smile that flickered across her boss's face.

"Naïve? How does that have anything to do with me missing the answer?" She demanded as she got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips, having to look up since Naru was about a head taller than her.

"So you'd prefer me to call you stupid?" He asked in an almost teasing tone, Mai's face turning slightly red as she glared up at him. Well done Mai, you walked right into that one! Why does he always bait me like this? She wondered as she watched him walk to the door. "Good night Mai. Get some sleep." He ordered as he opened the door and left. I hate him sometimes…She thought with a sigh and smiled as she looked at the closed door.