Chapter 8

The girls of cross academy were mingling as usual, waiting for the night class. Everyone was excited, everyone except Yuki. She thought about the previous day when Rose broke that level E's arms and how Zero shot him. A shudder ran through her body. She became so distracted that a group of girls easily started to push her over, that was until a strong hand stopped them.

"Are you ok Yuki? You should stop zoning out like that."

Yuki's eyes met with Rose and she wondered how someone so kind and caring, could turn into a stone faced hunter. "Oh, I'm ok. Thanks Rose!"

Rose smiled back "Don't you think they are easily excitable today?."

Zero sighed and remained at his place. "It's that stupid ball coming up."

Rose turned her head to the side and questioned. "Ball?"

But before she could get a response the night class steps out. They went past the screaming girls one by one. Suddenly the disciplinary committee felt a push and realized that they were being pushed across to the building. Yuki was the worst one out of the group. Rose saw as Hanabusa pulled Yuki inside the building to get away from the angry fangirls.

Rose quickly walked up,shooing the girls away and pulled open the door to save Yuki. She locked eyes with Kaname and then turned and grabbed her arm.

Later that night the disciplinary committee was making the rounds when Zero heard a sound in the bushes. He quickly pulled out his bloody rose and aimed it at the target, that was until Rose came out from the bush.

Zero sighed and put away his gun "You have to watch it. I might shoot you one of these days."

Rose shrugged and walked closer to him. "But then, there would be no sense of danger."

Zero shook his head at her comment. "You're insane."

She took pride in her answer and responded "Why, thank you. I try hard."

Zero couldn't help to give a little chuckle which made Rose's heart flutter. "Soooo….how are you Zero?"

Zero dropped his smile and answered straight. "Alright."

Rose placed her hands on her hips and questioned "Really? Don't give me that half assed response. Remember, we are in this together so if you are having a crappy day you should tell me. I am your blood donor after all. Are you thirsty?"

Zero didn't like the term blood donor and he sighed to himself. "It's just…..my tattoo is burning more than usual."

Rose's smile dropped at this and quickly followed up with "What do you mean burning more then usual?"

Zero rubbed the spot and answered "It's the spot where a pureblood bit me. It's more irritated then it usually is."

Rose turned away and realized that this was bad. Why was it reacting now? She turned back and pretended not to show her fear. "I'm sure it's fine. Also, you never answered my question before. Are you thirsty?"

Zero turned his head away in shame and Rose knew the answer before he could speak. "Zero, it's okay. You can tell me. Remember? Blood donor."

Zero's head turned to her as she stepped closer to him until they are inches apart. He smelled the blood pumping through her veins and realized that he was starving. "Don't call yourself that. Also...I don't need it."

But his actions said otherwise as he brought his mouth lower, towards her neck. Rose knew was wasn't going to bite her unless she made him feel no guilt. She lifted her head and whispered. "I'm a vampire Zero. The thing you hate most. I am not human, go ahead."

At those words Zero pierced his fangs into her skin and Rose had to catch her breath at the impact. She closed her eyes as she let him see into her, just a bit. His grip tightened when he saw a young Rose just like how she had described it. Smiling with a human, dancing at a ball, walking alone, and then being bitten. He felt her fear and pain and outside the illusion his hands slowly snaked around her waist, pulling her closer. Her saw a younger Kaname walk up to the almost dead human and whisper in her ear. "You poor thing. I know want you want it's ok."

Then he saw Kaname carry Rose away into a car. After that the vision stopped and it seemed like he was pushed out of the memory.

He slowly lifted his head from her neck and found Rose with her eyes closed, breathing heavily. As he looked in her eyes, she slowly opened them. "Sorry Zero but a girl has to have her secrets."

Zero wondering what that meant as he tried to get that image of a bloody broken Rose laying on the snow. He had felt her pain, her sense of disgust in herself. He seemed hypothesized by her eyes. He slowly reached his head closer to her face because it was calling to him. Rose remained frozen as he moved closer to her until they inches apart from each other. Then he moved even closer to touch a heat radiating off of her lips.

Suddenly a soft giggle could be heard and both Zero and Rose broke out of there trance. "Oh, I'm sorry I broke up the love birds."

Standing in front of them was a small girl who looked about twelve with pure white hair. Zero and Rose's eyes widened at realization.

Rose on the overhand was almost shaking at the sight. The girl noticed this and smiled "Did I scare you two? I'm sorry. My name is Maria Kureni."

Rose broke out of her trance and scoffed at the name "Maria Kureni? Interesting name."

Suddenly Yuki appeared from behind her and questioned "Maria! What happened to class?"

Maria ran her fingers through her hair and sighed "It seems I took my prank too far. Everyone hates me now."

Zero then reached into his pocket and pulled out his bloody rose and aimed it at her head awhile Rose placed her hand on her bow, ready responded immediately and step in between them.

"No! You can't shoot her! Why did you pull that gun on her for no reason?"

Rose took a step closer and muttered "Actually there is a pretty good reason."

Zero looked at the two and slowly pulled her weapon away. Yuki turned to the new night class student and smiled "Sorry about that these are the other disciplinary committee members, Rose And Zero, they are my partner's. They don't usually get this carried away."

Maria looked at the two and stated "Yes but I shouldn't be wandering around the grounds late at night, I apologize."

Then Maria placed a hand on Yuki's shoulder and whispered "Thank you so much for protecting me Yuki. You're nice, I like girls like see good girls like you, happen to taste especially delicious."

Rose couldn't stand to hear her anymore so she walked up and forcefully shoved Maria's hand off of Yuki. "How about you take you're own advice and leave the grounds."

Maria smiled at Rose's anger and leaned in closer. "You're so scary, I'm trembling."

Then she pulled away and said "Now don't fight"

Yuki followed after the vampire, hoping she wouldn't get into more trouble, leaving the two hunters alone. Rose was frozen to her spot and she watched the white haired girl disappear, but not before she turned her head and gave a twisted smile.

Hanabusa and Kain were sitting outside when Kain pulled out a tablet. "There doesn't seem to be anything suspicious with Maria. She's just a girl with a weak constitution."

Hanabusa looked out on the academy and sighed. "Hey, have you ever met that woman? The one that was on par with the Kuran line who ran away after going crazy? Shuzika Hio?"

Kain followed Hanabusa's gaze and shook her head "I've never met her. She disappeared after the incident with the Kiryu's. Why?"

Hanabusa turned away from the view and started to head back inside. "No reason. Let's not speak of her. It brings bad luck."

The next day Yuki noticed that Zero and Rose were on edge for some reason. They were like that ever since last night with Maria. She turned a corner and saw Rose with another day class looks nervous.

The male student played with his hands as her asked "Belcourt-san. Umm...I have been noticing you for awhile and I was wondering if...you wanted to go to the ball with me!"

Rose looked at the man blankly. Honestly she had no need for stupid things such as balls but she knew she couldn't say that to him. She put on her fake plastic smile and answered "Of, that is so sweet of you but I'm afraid someone else has asked me."

The male's smile dropped and he muttered. "Who asked you?"

Rose scrambled in her mind. She hadn't expected him to ask her that. Her eyes scanned around the room only to lay eyes on a family grumpy face. Oh boy he was going to kill her later.

Rose looked at the man again and smiled sadly "I'm afraid…."

But before she could answer she felt a hand snake around her waist. "I asked her."

She turned to find Hanabusa glued to her side. Rose tried to struggle away but the angry fangirls were coming closer. "Uhhh what he means is…."

Of course Hanabusa didn't miss a beat and pulled her closer. "No need to be embarrassed my love." Then he leaned forward the kissed her cheek.

The fangirls stormed up to them as Adiou slipped away from the crowd. Rose glared at the vampire and thought about all of the ways she could kills him.

Suddenly Zero stepped between them and stopped Hanabusa in his tracks. "Hanabusa. I would like to talk to you."

He led the vampire away as Rose turned to meet the angry glares behind her.

Yuki ran down the hall, running from the angry fangirls questioning her about Rose and Hanabusa. She saw an escape and jumped onto the railing to the second floor. She fell with a thud when she heard a familiar voice. "Looks like you're having a hard time also."

Yuki smiled at Takuma and questioned "What happened to Maria? Were you able to catch up with her?"

Takuma head his head in shame "Wellll….it seems while the day class girls were chasing me, she kinda slipped away."

Yuki also held her head in shame "It must be hard being the vice dorm president and having to deal with all of this. I can only imagine how hard Rose has it, since she doesn't have anyone like you."

Takuma gave a sympathetic smile but then turned serious. "I think if Kaname asked anyone else in the night class to do this then I believe they would do it as well. You see Yuki, a pureblood vampire has countless powers. One of those abilities is to make other vampires who aren't purebloods, obey them. But even through Kaname may seem pompous, he refuses to use his power in that way, in fact only a few follow that code. It really rare to see nowadays. So that's way I take on these tasks."

Yuki gave a comforting smile and stated "That's so nice of you."

Meanwhile, unnoticed, Rose was listening to the conversation in silence. She then ran her fingers through her hair and walked towards the woods, she had an appointment.

Rose walked into the woods until she felt another presence behind her. Without turning around, she spoke to it. "What are you doing here?"

The voice giggled and Rose turned around to find Maria smiling at her. "Rose, my Rose. It's so nice to see you again or should I say Isabelle? You always liked that name better."

Rose flinched at her old name and restated her question "What are you doing here?"

Maria's smile dropped and she answered. "Aww you're no fun now, so serious like Zero. Although I do love all of your hatred, it brings warmth in my heart."

Rose ignored her games and asked the same question "Why are you here?"

Maria rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine, I'll answer your question. I'm here for a reason, just like you. Don't think I don't know what you're up to, playing human."

Rose took a step closer and gritted her teeth. "If you're here for me then leave Zero alone. You have caused him enough pain."

Maria laughed and ran her began to circle her prey. "Here for you? Oh don't be so cocky. I came to see how my creation is doing. It's you're fault this happened in the first place, don't you remember?"

Rose took a step back and Maria noticed her falter. "But of course you think about that everyday don't you? Do you think about it when you stand beside him?, when you drink from him? That you caused his hatred, his pain…."

Rose had had enough of her talk and without thinking she screamed "enough!" and a large crack appeared in the earth below them. Maria smiled at this, she had gotten under her skin.

"Now now, you have to keep that under control. Who knows could've seen that? I guess you're going to have to explain an earthquake to the students"

Rose stepped away from what she had done as Maria turned away from her. "Well this was fun, just like old times. I'll see you later, Isabelle."

Then she skipped out of the forest leaving Rose alone. Rose slumped down by a tree and placed her head in her hands. What was she going to do?