"Will he be okay?" Yuki asked, concern clear in her reddish brown eyes.
"He'll be fine," her father soothed, placing his hands on either of her shoulders. "But he'll have to rest for a while. You should get some sleep as well. You've had a traumatic experience."
"But that wolf is still out there. It could run into town and-"
"Wolves avoid human populations, Yuki, and this one has as well. It'll be handled soon."
Sighing, the brunette nodded her head.
"Alright.. Let me know when Zero wakes up, please."
"Of course. Now off you go."
"Goodnight."
Kaien sighed and sat down in his chair behind his desk, setting his glasses aside as he stared out his large windows. So it wasn't a Level-E that was killing people, it was some sort of wolf. But, if what Yuki and the two Night Class students say is true, then it wasn't any ordinary animal. The vampire hunter gun had injured it when they only harm vampires, not to mention the size they described.
Something didn't set well with the ex-hunter. There was something that he was missing.
It was about a week later that Zero had fully recovered, and all things had returned to as they had been before. No new maulings were reported, or missing person's cases. All in all, it seemed that whatever that wolf was, it was done terrorizing small, close-by towns.
The silver-haired male was summoned to the headmaster's office during his first class. He had no idea why, unless it was about tracking the large, black wolf again. Either way, it wasn't long before he reached the large double doors.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked, opening the door without knocking.
"Ah, Zero! Please, come in!"
Standing in front of his desk was Yuki, and Kaien stood by the large window. The teen hesitated for a moment, unsure why his fellow Disciplinary Committee member was also present.
"I'm sure you're both wondering why I asked you here half-way through the school day," the blonde began. "The new Day Class student should be arriving any minute now. If you'll recall, Zero, I had you go over the paperwork a couple days ago to see if you would permit her to join."
"Right."
"I wanted you both to greet her at the gate! A new student deserves a warm welcome, don't you think?"
Zero could feel the irritation creep over him.
"Yuki can show her around by herself. Why do I have to be there?"
"Come on, Zero," said girl chastised. "It won't kill you to say hi at least."
"You go on ahead, Yuki," the blonde man said. "I need to address something with Zero."
"Huh? Uh, okay, Headmaster."
"Call me father," he sobbed before the double doors shut, signaling she had left before he even finished speaking.
As soon as he was sure the girl was far enough away, he let his childish persona drop and went straight to business.
"I want you to keep a close eye on this student. The Hunter's Association pressured me to allow her in with or without your approval." This caught the pale teen's attention. "I don't know what they're planning, but it can't be good."
"If that's the case, then why ask Yuki to be there?"
Sighing, Kaien fixed his glasses on his face.
"The new student will be staying in the Sun's female dormitories. Rules are still rules: no male students are allowed in the girls dorms," huffed the childish principle, waving a fist in the air.
A tick-mark formed on the teens head in annoyance at the man's antics. Without another word, Zero left the office. Yuki was waiting some ways down the hall. She had done her best to avoid being in hearing range so as not to eavesdrop.
"You ready?" the brunette asked, pushing off the wall she had been leaning on.
"Let's go," he grumbled, not happy with the news he had received. Did the Hunter's Society not trust him to resist his urges any longer? Or was there another reason for this student's transfer?
Yuki talked about her day as they made their way to the front gates, but the lavender-eyed boy ignored her ranting. He thought about the wolf and their encounter. Maybe she was here to hunt it after he had failed?
"We're here!"
The Cross girl's cheery words broke him out of his deep thinking, causing him to look up. The wrought iron fence in clear view, along with a sleek grey car. Standing on the outside of school grounds stood a girl roughly their age.
Her hair, which was so black that it looked to be tinted blue, was only partially put up with two strands framing either side of her sharp face with tufts hanging in front of her ears as well. Her almond-shaped eyes bore into their forms, just as bright and almost translucent as tree sap. She wore a tan shirt with a popped collar with a red tank top underneath. A small tooth poked out of the side of her frown like one would see from a displeased cat, and a thin, black cord was wrapped around her throat, not even an inch thick. A small, white square bandage was placed where her shoulder and neck met. It was only upon further inspection did Zero realize her narrowed gaze was on him, clear distaste apparent.
As the vehicle pulled away, leaving the blue jean-clad female with her luggage, she placed her hand on her hip in a rather sassy manner.
"Are you just going to stand there all day gawking?"
Her tone, like her visage, was harsh, like she had some grudge against the both of them. This made the two Disciplinary Committee members uncomfortable. Trying to dispel the tension, Yuki opened the gates and smiled, albeit nervously.
"O-of course! You must be Asae*! Right this way! There's so much to show you!"
"I'll pass," came the clipped reply. She raised a dismissive hand directed at the Cross girl as she walked past the two of them.
"Wait! You don't know where you'll be stayi-"
"I was shown a map of the grounds already. And, if I have any trouble, I'll just follow my gut." Upon the word 'gut', she vaguely gestured to her own face. "It's never failed me before. Send the paperwork to my room. Other than that, don't bother me."
With those parting words, the ravenette continued on, carrying her luggage without a problem in the direction of the Sun Dorms. The brunette and silver-haired teen were left to themselves, both stunned by her attitude and more-than-cold reception.
"She's colder than you are, Zero."
With a 'hmp', said hunter turned around and made his own way back to the main campus. Classes were almost over, and it would be time for them to head to the Moon Dormitories in order to keep the Day Class girls in check.
"Don't push!"
"Hey!"
"Alright, everyone! Step back! It's way past curfew for all you Day Class students, so turn around and go back to your dorms!"
Yuki stood in front of a large crowd of female students, all wearing the signature black uniform with white stripes. They were crowded in front of the other part of campus, the one that they were supposed to be banned from entering. Asae observed what was transpiring from a distance, curious.
"We can see what you're trying to do, Yuki. It's so obvious. You just want to keep all the Night Class students to yourself!"
"Yeah! You're taking advantage of the fact that you're the headmaster's daughter!"
"That's not true! I'm on the Disciplinary Committee!"
Suddenly, the wall of girls surged forward, startling the girl. She tried to push them all back, shouting a 'no' that went unheard by the throngs of students. The brunette gasped as the grandiose gates swung open.
"I'm.. too late aggaaainnn," she whined.
The ravenette watched as the females lined up on either side of the walkway, much calmer than they had been moments prior. Defeated, the single girl moved out of the way.
"Please proceed…"
The mob went back to chattering, seeming to be in awe of those who exited the Moon Dorms. Amber eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her relaxed position leaning against a tree suddenly stiffening.
"Good morning, girls!" greeted a blonde male. "I could hear you loud and clear from the dorms! You're all looking quite cute today!"
Yuki sulked.
"Oh, look. It's Idol, I mean, Aido!"
"Hhiiii!"
"Hanabusa," chided the orange one.
"Oh, relax! You're so stiff, Akatsuki!"
"Wild! Over here!"
"Hello, Akatsuki!"
The blue-eyed male pointed his finger towards the last girl who spoke like he was holding a gun and winked. This action made the amber-gazed girl want to roll her eyes.
'So childish..'
It made the teen faint dramatically, like it was something straight out of a sit-com.
"Oh.."
"I wanna be shot, too!"
The girls surged forward and surrounded the male, knocking poor Yuki over in the process to be completely ignored. At least, for the first few moments.
"Yuki. Is everything alright?"
One of the taller students clad in the inverse uniforms leaned down and offered a hand toward the Cross girl. He rested it on her shoulder when she didn't accept it, seeming to be in thought.
"I'm fine, Kaname."
"Thank you for all your help."
Y-yeah, sure," she stuttered before becoming aware of the malicious auras behind her. This made her stand up straight.
"That's what the Disciplinary Committee does!"
"When you act reserved like this, I feel a bit lonely."
"Uh, I'm sorry! But I guess it's because you're the one who came and saved my life that day, Kaname."
He placed his hand on her head and affectionately ruffled her hair as she blushed.
"Don't worry about that anymore. That was so long ago."
As soon as his hand traveled down to her cheek, someone grabbed his wrist and yanked it away.
"Zero!"
"Your class has begun, Kaname," he stated coolly. "You should go now."
He let the other male's wrist go.
"You're so scary," the brown eyed male mocked, walking away. "Mr. Disciplinary Committee."
"Uhm, Kaname.."
Two girls shyly approached the white clad students, one offering him a rose while the other held a blue envelope.
"Would you please accept this?.."
"Thank you."
"You all need to get back to your dorms right now!" shouted Zero.
The girls screamed and scampered off.
"Every day they're out here, screaming and throwing themselves at-"
He was interrupted by the teen punching his side repeatedly.
"Why are you acting cocky, you big jerk? You're late! It's our job as the Disciplinary Committee to set an example!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, I could say the same thing about you! You're so obvious, it's pathetic."
"Huh?"
"Listen, it's none of my business if you like that guy or not. But you do know, right?"
Sadly, she looked down at the ground.
"Oh, shut up.. Of course I know. I know that they're..."
"Why, hello there, Seiren."
"I will take that, Lord Kaname."
"Thank you."
Asae watched as the group of Night Class students walked away, nose wrinkled as she glared hatefully in their direction.
"Tsk… Nothing but bloody-"
'That they're… completely different from us.'
The rose seemed to shrivel up and decay in his hand before he passed it off to his associate.
"-vampires.."
'I'm well aware of that…'
*- 安佐恵 ～ Asae
Meaning: "安" is restful."佐" is help someone"恵" is blessed