Chapter Five - Warning
"Mai…Mai! Wake up!" Naru's voice called. But I feel so comfortable here…Mai thought as she lay on her side with her eyes closed, curled up peacefully as she slept. She felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Mai…" Naru's voice said again. Naru! Go away! I'm sleepy…Wait a minute, what's Naru doing here? She wondered as she opened her eyes and looked around in confusion. The sky was dark above where she lay on the roof, and Zero was gone too. What's going on? She wondered as she looked up at Naru, quite certain that she hadn't been asleep that long. Her body didn't feel stiff at all.
"Naru? What are you doing up here?" She asked in a daze. The young dark haired man was wearing his usual black trousers and turtle neck with his matching jacket worn neatly over the top. He looked down at her with a smile. Aren't we under cover? She thought groggily as she got to her feet, blushing at Naru's smile. I'm asleep again! She realised as she looked around to find the Moon Dorm surrounded by a dark haze while the rest of the grounds were clear.
"Mai, you have to be careful." Naru warned as she looked up at him, the black haze feeling familiar, sending tingles down her spine. That's it! This is the feeling I get from the Night Class students!
"Naru, are the students of the Night Class possessed or something?" She asked as Naru walked to the edge of the roof. Mai followed and peered over the edge, hardly able to believe she had climbed all the way up by herself. I must have been insane! She thought, knowing she would have broken a bone at the very least if she'd fallen.
"No, they're not possessed, but what do your senses tell you?" He asked as he put his hands in his pockets and looked out over the campus. Everything was so hazy and dark from the top of the Moon Dorm. Unnaturally dark. Mai looked up, seeing that though it was dark there were no stars. So it's not night…
"Um…It's hard to explain…They're not like us, I know that much…but at the same time I don't sense any evil. There's a strong hostility from some of them, but…they're not bad people…I can feel it." Mai replied with certainty as she raised her hand and touched her chest lightly, looking up at Naru with clarity in her eyes. She blushed as he smiled down at her, his blue eyes soft and warm as they always were in her dreams.
"Good. Pay attention to your instincts…Don't let anything anyone says change your mind, and stay on guard…Something's coming." He added in a grim tone as he looked out over the forest towards the town, where another shadow loomed. Mai got to her feet and looked at the shadow, which loomed over the town like a black shroud.
"Another one of them…" She said to herself as she looked at the shadow, a shiver running through her as she stared. But something's wrong! That shadow is darker…Does that mean it's evil? I can't tell from here…but I have a feeling I'll find out…
"Mai?" Zero called quietly as he touched the girl's arm, her light brown bangs falling into her eyes as she lay curled on her side sleeping peacefully. "Mai. Class will be starting soon…We should get ready." Zero continued as Mai stirred, sitting up with a small groan as she wiped her eyes sleepily. Zero smiled softly as he watched her waking up. She's really a lot like Yuuki…He thought warmly as he watched Mai's bright hazel eyes blink tiredly as she looked out at the horizon. Her movement ceased as she took in the deep pink of the sky over the Sun Dorm and main school building, shot with streaks of gold.
"It's beautiful!" She sighed aloud as she looked out, noticing students from the Day Class milling around at the Moon Dorm gates. "What's going on down there?" Mai asked curiously as she pointed to the small crowd. All of the students seemed to be young girls waiting impatiently for something. Mai heard a sigh as Zero got to his feet, looking down with his hands in his pockets, and an almost despairing expression.
"You'll see." He replied grimly as he headed to the tree, jumping onto the top branch and holding his hand out for Mai, who looked over the edge hesitantly. "Don't worry, I'll catch you." Zero assured with a soft smile, Mai blushing as she looked up at him. He had such certainty in his deep violet eyes that Mai couldn't doubt him, and reached her hand out before jumping. Her foot missed the branch as Zero grabbed her arm and Mai found herself dangling below him fearfully. He slowly pulled her up so that she could hook her foot onto the branch and stand up.
"Thanks." Mai said shakily as she looked down, Zero already hopping down to the next branch. Mai slowly made her way to the trunk, where she gingerly stepped down, gripping the rough bark as she lowered herself. Okay, where to next? She wondered as she looked down searchingly. Zero was already over halfway down as he moved through the branches like a cat, his violet eyes looking back up at her encouragingly.
"Just relax and climb, it's easy when you get the hang of it." He called over his shoulder as he dropped off the edge of the branch he was on, falling to the ground where he landed in a practiced crouch. Mai looked down, gripping the branch tightly as she noticed she was still up near the second floor. As she took a step forward her foot slipped. Her shin scraped painfully against the rough bark as she caught her balance, unable to get her feet firmly back on the wooden surface. "Mai!" Zero cried in alarm, grabbing her waist firmly as she slipped. Mai found herself pressed securely against Zero, that sweet scent getting stronger as his body stiffened. "You're bleeding." He stated without looking as Mai reeled in his arms. How did he get up here? He was on the ground! She thought as she looked up at him, finding his face turned away from her.
"Zero?" She asked worriedly as he tensed. His breathing was heavy, his face remaining firmly turned away from her. He gently placed her on her feet, still looking away from her as he gripped her hand.
"Climb down." He instructed, not watching as she climbed, his eyes a deep glaring crimson. Damnit! Calm down! You can't lose it! Not now! He cursed inwardly as he felt Mai's concerned eyes looking up at him. Damned blood lust! I don't have my pills! I have to calm down! Come on Zero! Get a grip! He ordered, his deep breaths slowly soothing his eyes to calm to a deep shade of violet, which would have to do for the time being. The sweet coppery scent of her blood was filling his senses, driving him crazy with hunger. She smells so sweet! He thought as his mouth watered, his stomach turning in something akin to disgust.
"Zero! Are you alright?" Mai called from the bottom of the tree, where she had just regained her footing. Zero tried to smile assuringly as he climbed down, but the scent of blood was getting stronger as he drew nearer to her, his fangs lengthening as he saw the red trail trickling down her leg. Mai followed his gaze. "Oh, it's just a scratch." She assured sheepishly, mistaking his inner battle for concern as he reached the bottom of the tree.
"Good. Inside. Quickly." He ordered, barely able to hold himself back from pinning her to the tree and biting into the soft pale skin of her neck. The veins were dark beneath the pale surface to his eyes, which he knew were blazing red as he walked ahead quickly. "I have to go in quickly. My duties start soon. Bye." He excused as he ran, Mai calling after him in confusion as he raced inside and up the stairs. He barely realised where he was until he ran into Yuuki, who almost fell back as he collided with her. He rested his hands on her shoulders as he panted for breath.
"Zero? Zero what's wrong?" She asked worriedly as Zero gripped her shoulders hard, his breaths coming in gasps. His head was bent to look down at floor, but at Yuuki's words he raised his chin to reveal sharp fangs cutting into his bottom lip and bright red eyes. "Kaname!" Yuuki cried as she pulled Zero into Kaname's room, which she'd just left. Kaname looked up from his desk, just buttoning up his night class jacket as Yuuki entered, lowering Zero to the floor beside the door.
"Kiriyu!" Kaname exclaimed as he took in the boy's appearance. His expression was one of starvation and agony as he reached up and pulled at his shirt, the black jacket falling down his shoulders in the process. Yuuki crouched down with her hands on Zero's shoulders, her grip keeping him back against the wall rather than lolling forward.
"Zero? Are you alright?" She asked, finding Zero was too far gone with lust to speak, though he controlled himself enough not to pull Yuuki closer and sink his fangs into her neck. Instead he gathered his strength and pushed her away, sending her back on her rear painfully. Yuuki winced from her place on the floor, an expression that would have made Kaname laugh on a normal day.
"Kiriyu, you haven't taken your blood pills today." Kaname observed as Zero clutched his hair and closed his eyes tightly. His fangs shortened a little as blood trickled down his chin from his lip. "An interesting way to calm your blood lust..." Kaname observed almost in amusement as he snapped open his pills and tipped two into a full glass of water. He crossed over to Zero and handed the glass to him. "You should always have your pills with you Kiriyu. You're only a class C vampire. You're a human vampire who has drunk the blood of his maker, and is therefore no longer at risk of dropping to level E. However since you weren't born a vampire the blood lust will always be stronger for you. It can hit at any time. You must be prepared." Kaname instructed as he crouched and put one hand on Zero's shoulder, the other helping him to raise the glass to his lips. Zero's eyes gradually dimmed and his fangs retracted as the red liquid trickled down his throat. "Was that enough for you Kiriyu?" Kaname asked, knowing that sometimes it took the boy three or four pills to calm his lust.
"Yes…Thank you Kuran." Zero replied as his breathing gradually levelled out, leaning his head back against the wall with his eyes closed. "And I know…I should've had my pills." He added as he opened his now tired violet eyes. He always felt strangely drained after a bout of blood lust.
"Then why aren't they with you?" Kaname asked as he got to his feet and grabbed his bag, Zero getting to his feet slowly at the same time. He leaned against the wall for a few moments waiting for his head to lose a little of the thickness that came with fatigue.
"I left them in my…other jacket." Zero replied, Kaname only now realising that Zero was in the wrong uniform. He didn't bother to ask why. He already knew. It was the only thing that reminded him of his humanity. He hadn't had any friends in the Day Class really, only Yuuki, who'd now returned to her pure blood form and didn't keep him connected to his humanity at all. It will be a long time before that boy comes to terms with his vampiric nature…Kaname thought as he watched Yuuki fussing over Zero, the old surge of jealously long gone as he watched the pair. He knew where Yuuki's heart lay, but he also knew she had a strong fraternal bond with Zero. He looked upon her as a little sister, always coming to her rescue and allowing her to manipulate him, while Yuuki saw him as a child sometimes or perhaps a little brother. She loved to fuss over him and make sure he was alright. It actually made Kaname smile now to watch the pair.
"Kaname, Zero and I have to go on duty now. Please keep the Night Class in the entrance hall until we're gone." Yuuki ordered, all business as she turned to Kaname, who picked up his book bag and walked over to her with a smile. That's my Yuuki, always keeping business separate from pleasure. He thought affectionately as Zero straightened his jacket.
"Of course Miss Prefect." Kaname replied almost teasingly as he looked down at her. Yuuki's cheeks reddened slightly as Kaname leaned down and kissed her lips gently, almost sighing into her softness as he drew back. "I'll see you down there." He added as he walked by, Zero and Yuuki heading to Zero's room so that he could grab his jacket and Bloody Rose gun to go on duty.
"You're sure you're alright now?" Yuuki asked worriedly as they travelled up the stairs to his room, which was on the next level up beside Shiki, Kain and Aido, who shared a room between them. Zero pushed his door open and went in, the room bare of any decoration except a picture of him and Yuuki, which had been taken at the beginning of their first year. Zero was looking sternly ahead in his casual clothes while Yuuki's dark haired head was peeking over his shoulder with a bright smile. He had more photos tucked away in a drawer somewhere, but this one had always been his favourite.
"I'm fine." Zero replied in an almost annoyed tone. The delectable scent of Mai's blood was still there, but very faint now. "Don't you smell it?" He asked, not needing to say what. Of course she had smelled it. She was a pure blood. Her senses were much more tuned than Zero's, but to his surprise Yuuki shook her head.
"I don't smell anything at all. I did a few minutes ago, but it was very faint." Yuuki replied as Zero hung his black jacket on the back of his desk chair, pulling on the almost pristine white one. The plastic box in his pocket rattled as the pills were disturbed. The noise made Zero grit his teeth slightly as he clipped the chain of the bloody rose to the inside of his jacket, securing the gun in the inside holster. It was ironic that a low level vampire such as he was allowed to continue carrying a gun that could kill vampires. He knew some members of the Night Class objected to it, but they'd been silenced by Kaname, who seemed to have taken a strange liking to him recently.
They now had an uneasy friendship, which Zero was still getting used to. It's strange…I remember…he tried to offer me friendship once before…He thought as he looked back to five years ago when he'd first moved in with Yuuki and the Chairman. Kaname had come to visit and in a fit of rage Zero had lashed out and stabbed his hand with a butter knife when Kaname had tried to be friendly. Even after he'd hurt the vampire Kaname had still been kind, with no sign of anger, resentment or malice in his eyes. The only time they'd actively butted heads was in the short time Zero had thought he had feelings for Yuuki.
"So I have weaker abilities and senses overall but a stronger sense of smell and blood lust?" Zero asked despairingly, Yuuki shrugging her delicate shoulders in a clueless manner as they headed for the door. She wasn't an expert in lower level vampires, and as the sound of chatter going on in the hall below rose to meet her ears she didn't really have time to contemplate it.
"I don't know…I'll ask Kaname later." Yuuki replied as they headed down the main staircase, Yuuki's posture straightening slightly as she prepared to take charge. "Okay everyone! Get ready to leave!" Yuuki called authoritatively as she and Zero made their way through the crowd and out the main doors.
"What's going on out there?" Mai wondered aloud as the Night Class filed out of the dorm and towards the gates, where she could see almost all the girls of the Day Class crammed around the tall wrought iron gates. Yuuki and Zero were holding the crowd back, though a few of the girls seemed content to stare up at Zero, who looked extremely uncomfortable with the attention.
"Kaname did say that we'd understand. I can't say I'm surprised. Girls are such emotional creatures, and in this case they're lusting after the best looking men." Naru replied as his blue eyes scanned the crowd of girls who had started screaming at the boys of the Night Class as they passed by. Kaname was smiling and nodding to a few of them and Aido was waving enthusiastically while the others seemed to ignore them, particularly Shiki, who walked along with Rima, the couple deep in discussion again.
"What do you mean by that?" Mai demanded as Naru pulled her against him, ignoring her scowl, as well as the cries of the Day Class. Mai tried to ignore the flutter that rose in her chest at their closeness, his scent drifting across to her as his hand rested on her hip.
"Can you really deny it with a flock of lust filled girls crowding around like this?" Naru retorted without his usual smugness, Mai looking around and giving up. He's right…I can't believe he's right! Mai thought, horrified by the way these girls were acting. Not even her friends had been this bad when they'd first laid eyes on Naru. Though they were pretty close…She added inwardly, a lot of the girls quieting down as they caught sight of Naru. It was the first time they'd been on display since their arrival, and Mai couldn't help the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Is that the new guy?" One girl asked in a loud whisper, Mai's eyes darting around the crowd nervously, worried that she may become the subject of some form of jealousy. She felt the hand on her hip squeeze ever so slightly in response to her tensing up, the feeling almost reassuring her as they walked along.
"Yeah, and that must be his girlfriend." Another added matter-of-factly, their gazes burning as they continued walking. How do the Night Class put up with this night after night? Mai wondered as she felt her knees shake nervously. It was almost like walking on a catwalk.
"Oh! He's so handsome!" Another piped up, which was something that Mai couldn't argue with. Walking next to him at that moment filled her with some sort of pride even though she secretly knew it was all an act. Sneaking a glance at Naru she could see him looking ahead with an expression of disinterest, though she knew he must be able to hear the stream of compliments.
"And she's really pretty!" Another exclaimed, causing a blush to colour Mai's cheeks in embarrassment and surprise. Since all the girls seemed intent on the boys Mai had expected animosity, not compliments. Maybe these girls aren't so bad after all…
"She's so lucky!" Another said longingly, and this sort of talk continued all the way up to the main building, where Yuuki and Zero shooed the girls away. Some of them were reluctant to let Zero go. Yuuki laughed in amusement as he glared at them, even that making them shriek excitedly.
"Stop laughing!" Mai heard Zero shout in annoyance, the girls finally letting him go and heading back to their dorm while Yuuki laughed loudly. Looking over her shoulder Mai could see Yuuki holding her ribs as she doubled over while Zero glared at her in annoyance.
"I wonder why the girls are acting like that…I mean…is there something that draws girls to these guys more than the boys in the Day Class?" Mai wondered as she and Naru walked slowly at the back of their group. They were unaware that the vampires ahead could hear every word they said as clearly as if they'd been standing right next to them. Naru looked across as her with a satisfied nod.
"Your deductive skills are improving. You're asking the right questions…Now we just have to find answers…We know they're different somehow, so it could be that that difference is what draws the girls to them." Naru suggested thoughtfully, Kain and Aido subtly glancing over their shoulders as they walked, not liking how accurate their thoughts were. They shifted their gazes to each other, sharing a look of mutual understanding as Mai and Naru continued.
"So…a lure? To prey on them somehow?" Mai asked warily, Naru looking thoughtful but ultimately shaking his head. Ichijou was as surprised as the rest of the Night Class to see that, and slowed his pace slightly to fall in beside Aido. The redheaded cousins seemed just as interested as he was to hear Naru's reasoning.
"No. If that were the case then the boys would be attracted to the girls of the Night Class. They'd all be surrounding the gates at night, and if they really wanted the girls then they'd pick out targets individually and there wouldn't be prefects to hold them back." Naru replied deductively, Mai holding up a hand in objection.
"Unless the Chairman is unaware of what the Night Class are." She pointed out, Naru nodding in agreement. Rima shared a small amused smile with Shiki. The Chairman did come across as incompetent sometimes. It was no wonder the human girl thought he could be deceived so easily.
"True, but something about the way he acts around Kaname Kuran tells me otherwise. He's completely at ease around him, as if they're equals. It's not the typical relationship between a teacher and student." Naru countered effectively, Mai nodding in defeat. It didn't bode well that whatever was going on was allowed, perhaps even encouraged, by the Chairman. But then it's only a bad thing if whatever's going on is really bad…Kaname paused slightly at their words. He hadn't realised his interactions with the Chairman had been read so easily. It seemed he'd given the humans too little credit.
"Then whatever it is happens unconsciously…They're all very beautiful, but there are normal people who possess beauty, so there's something more…Do you think it could be a…natural force of some sort? A spiritual energy, a sound or maybe a smell?" She suggested, remembering the sweet irresistible scent Zero gave off. Not even Naru's gentle scent affected her the way Zero's had. Aido gave an almost despairing look as Mai hit the proverbial nail on the head.
"It's possible. We'll have to look into it." Naru replied as they approached their classroom, the rest of their class already filing in ahead. Lin was standing patiently at the front of the room, a thick text book in his hand as the class settled down. Mai and Naru took their original seats by the window with Kaname and Ichijou across from them. Aido and Kain opted to sit at the desk in front of Mai and Naru, while Seiren and Ruka settled in front of Kaname, and Shiki was with Rima at the front.
"Alright, I'll be talking about the history of Europe this session." Lin began, writing instructions on the board while the class took notes quickly. Mai began to take a few notes, but something made her pause. Looking around she noticed something that disturbed her. Deciding to talk to Naru about it she took up a pencil.
Is it me or do the Night Class seem to be closing ranks on us tonight? Mai scribbled quickly, tapping Naru's foot gently to get his attention. The eyes of the Night Class shifted to them as they heard the dull thud. Aido just managed to peer back at the note, which was written on a scrap of paper between her and Naru. Aido looked at Kain meaningfully, Kain nodding his head very slightly to show he'd seen it too.
It seems that whatever they are they know we're different. Last night they were on edge. They didn't know who we were, but tonight they must have come up with a plan of some sort. Naru replied swiftly between taking notes, his eyes darting from the board to the page. Mai frowned slightly, still trying to keep track of Lin's lecture as she replied, but her attention had slipped at Naru's ominous reply.
But why sit so close? Don't they think it'll make us suspicious? Mai asked as she looked back at the board, scribbling with practiced ease, something she was accustomed to since she was SPR's secretary. Kaname noticed her practiced ease, though he wasn't surprised since he already knew who she was. He also knew Lin was with them, as were some other people from the Day Class, but those people were no threat to them. Not for now anyway.
Perhaps, but they must think it's worth the risk. If you thought people had come to spy on you wouldn't you let them know you were watching in some way? Naru questioned in response, Mai pausing as she considered a reply, looking around the class. The students seemed to have their full attention on Lin, but she could feel them watching her, a shiver running down her spine as well as the constant tingle.
Yes. She replied simply, glancing to the side at Naru, who had his eyes on her, probably thinking the same as she was. If they're onto us in some way how do we complete our case without raising their suspicions further or getting in trouble? Mai wondered as she looked back at Lin, who was busy lecturing, but still locked eyes with Naru for a moment.
