DFA: Umm... Well, Bell's is happy that you guys like her chapter... but she's still in hiding... and I'm all alone, because I sent the 'actors' on holiday... Please review!! =3 Oh, and I was high for the first time last night...
Chapter Three: Danger
-No POV-
Knock, knock…
Takuma knocked on the wooden door twice. To him, it was like a daily routine ever since he entered the school. And he was always together with Kaname when they 'dropped in' to see the Chairman.
"Come in." Kaien called out, his tone filled with weariness. He was not as enthusiastic as usual.
Takuma followed Kaname into the Chairman's office, closing the door behind them. They were surprised to see the worn-out look of the Chairman – he was massaging his temples, and there were dark bags under his eyes – knowing well that he was usually a ball of energy. A very large ball.
A heavy, tense atmosphere hung over the entire room. Two deaths: one of a lone hermit and another of a girl student of the Day Class.
It wouldn't be so mystifying if only there were clues of any sorts, fang marks, or something. Then, they could easily rule out whether the murderer was a vampire or a human.
There wasn't a pool of blood around the corpse, not a single drop of it. What made the murder seem more eerie was the fact that there were no signs of struggle, fight or any of that. Not even a gunshot, or a bruised neck! It was as if the victim went into a heart attack after being in a state of shock.
Now they had to wait for the autopsy report, to find out whether there was any internal organ bleeding which led to the deaths. Although it was highly unlikely that two of them died at almost the same time.
"Ah, Kaname and Ichijo. I was wondering what time will both of you pay me a visit today." The Chairman smiled gently at them and gestured them to sit on the chairs that were empty.
In another chair, Nakano Ayumi was sitting there, her golden eyes wide, looking more afraid and shocked than ever. She quickly covered up the emotions, and gave each of them a curt nod as a greeting.
Kaien pointed at Ayumi, "This is Nakano Ayumi. I believe you've met her before." Both Kaname and Takuma nodded while Takuma just stared at the girl, wondering what she was doing in the Chairman's office.
"She says that she wants to help with the investigating… Though she insists only in the day, 'cause she refuses to do anything at night. What a kind soul, giving a helpful hand in this case." Kaien smiled sweetly at the girl, and she looked as though she was being tortured by that smile.
Kaname shook his head, "No, I will not allow that. It's much too dangerous for a girl like her wandering around the school, weak and vulnerable. We cannot take such risk."
She raised an eyebrow, "And it isn't dangerous for you? We're about the same age, Kaname-sama." Her tone mocked Kaname at the suffix. His eyes narrowed.
"I am much stronger for my age than you give credit for, girl." Kaname said dangerously, his eyes became darker. Ayumi let out a short peal of laughter and everyone froze in their seats, even the Pureblood Prince. Her wind-chime laughter, though with an edge of arrogance, was beautiful and terrifyingly bewitching. Takuma thought she should laugh like this more often… although it might lead to the fact that all guys would drool over her.
"Right. Anyway, I will not be alone, so don't worry." She smiled angelically, and Takuma wanted to shout, "Yes! You can go!"
Kaname said, with much authority, "Still, my answer is no, Nakano Ayumi. It really is too dangerous for a girl like you."
"A girl like me?" she queried. "Are you being sexist or something? Besides, you're not the Chairman, and I don't need your permission to be on this case."
Takuma said nothing, secretly wishing she wasn't so bold. With that temper of his, Kaname might snap easily and she will get hurt. It wasn't something Takuma want to happen. He found himself thinking that he might stand up against the Dorm Leader if things end up with the possibility of Ayumi getting hurt.
Kaname glared at her, "I'm not a sexist. Trust me, you're not as strong as I am."
Ayumi stared back at him, and said in a flat voice, "We are no different, Kuran Kaname."
Kaname clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth would break if he were to be human. His hands tightened into fists, and he narrowed his eyes. Ayumi glared back at him without flinching.
Her eyes flashed red for one single instant, so fast that if he'd blinked, he would've missed it. Takuma jumped, but they became golden once more.
"Ah…" the Chairman looked back and forth between the two, who were in a heated argument. "Ayumi, why don't you head back to class? Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid there's really nothing that you can do at the moment."
She bit her lip, and let out a sigh of resignation.
"Well then. But if you ever need any help, please do tell me. I, too, am much stronger than I look, especially at–" She suddenly winced and her eyes darted towards the door, "Never mind. Just look for me when you need assistance, Chairman. I'll take my leave now. Goodbye."
Still somewhat cringing from something, she turned around and danced to the door gracefully and slipped outside. Takuma's gaze followed her every elegant movement until she was out of sight. She's beautiful… She's gorgeousl… She's amazingly enchanting… Her movements… They were so ballet-like…
Kaname sighed and commented, "What a headstrong, reckless girl."
"I agree." Takuma murmured but he was thinking it in a good way. He thought a girl having such personalities was fascinating, one to his own liking.
Kaien took off his glasses for a moment and rubbed his face, "According to her records, and her brother's, their parents were killed when they started to walk. They suffered a terrible past. So, don't blame them for whatever character they've developed into without the guidance of any adult Anyway, we'll need to keep an eye on her brother though," He added with a frown, "It seems that he's becoming more and more like Zero."
"Low grades?" Takuma suggested with a smile.
"Bad temper, and that too," Kaien replied. "He picked up quite a number of fights on the first day of class." He then joked, "We might need to build some missile-proof walls around the two of them. Our Day class students are extremely… friendly."
Takuma played with his fingers and bit his lip, trying to refrain himself from laughing. Which male in the right mind wouldn't throw himself towards Nakano Ayumi and try to win her heart? But then, he didn't like Ayumi just for her beauty – he was intrigued by the mysterious side of her, the side she seemed to cover up every day.
Kaname smiled.
Kaien looked at Kaname, "Oh yes. Any leads?"
Kaname sighed in frustration. "No, not yet. Anyway, I've asked six trustable Night Class students to take turns patrolling the campus day and night, in alternate shifts, and of course, to search for clues. Takuma is one of them."
"The same six who investigated the case of the girl who didn't remember a thing the last time?" the Chairman asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Ah, I see. Well, you may return to your dorm then, Kaname and Ichijo. Thanks for the help."
Kaname stood and smiled, leaving the room with Takuma close behind.
--
That night…
A young common vampire walked silently through the trees. His grey eyes were filled with complete boredom. He thoughts he heard some movements behind the dark green leaves. He looked up then shook his head. Illusions, he thought. He sighed and continued trudging through the woods.
The huntress waited, sleek even in a standstill motion. Her eyes trained on the young vampire below, as she waited motionless, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Moonlight shone onto her ivory, inhumanly pale face. It gave darker grey highlights on her hair, turning her smooth limbs into pearls. Her ripped nightgown fluttered slightly in the soft wind as she leaned forward, waiting precisely for the right moment to pounce. Unable to help herself, she let out a soft snarl as she tensed.
The common vampire looked up and his screams were muffled by the sound of animosity.
--
Two days later…
Another homicide.
This time, it looked as though an animal had ripped the body apart. Dried blood was everywhere and the corpse was gaping open, revealing her internal organs, her ribs, and other things that should've been left unknown.
It was gross, even to a vampire.
Kaien convinced the horrified students that a wild animal was roaming around that area and they would try to hunt it down as soon as possible. Meanwhile, all the students were constricted to their respective dorms and classes, with the supervision of the two Guardians and several Night Class students.
Let's just say the students weren't quite happy with the new curfews, though they had to obey for the sake of their own safety.
Kaname was sure it was the doing of a vampire – a crazed Level E to be exact. But somehow, he couldn't sense the vampire's presence. So he assumed the vampire wasn't around in the day, but came back at night, to hunt…
Anyhow, during the nights where murders were conducted, he could sense the dim light of a strange presence, one he wasn't familiar with, even with his years of wisdom, adding those in the past, before he was resurrected.
He couldn't place that feeling anywhere. It was like a crazed pureblood's presence, only so much more different. And it was really hard and tiring to sense it. He had to concentrate really hard just to catch a glimpse of the presence before the murder happened.
And two nights before, the murderer had attacked an envoy from the Vampire Council, or what was left of it after the death of the top two leaders. Takuma was sent to investigate the site, but he was let down when he found nothing out of place, just, ashes…
A low, furious voice broke his train of thoughts as he was snapped back to reality. He followed the sound and made it in time just to see Nakano Kanaye slapped his sister hard across her tear-streaked face, leaving a red hand mark.
Takuma felt a twist in his stomach and he wanted so badly to replace Ayumi, to be the one who received the slap. The monster side of him wanted to punch Kanaye again and again for hurting this innocent girl.
A look of confusion crossed his face when he saw Ayumi accepted Kanaye's scolding like a puppy who was punished after being caught chewing on his master's pair of favorite slippers. He thought the stubborn Ayumi would stand up for herself instead of standing there, letting the brother treat her harshly.
Takuma didn't want to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help it but overheard a few words in between, but none of it made sense. Kanaye was speaking way too fast, even for a mere human.
"…better controlled… Why did you… slip? … -cil is mad… now… one more chance… make use of it…"
Suddenly, as if he sensed that Takuma was listening to their conversation, he stiffened and whirled around. Ayumi followed his gaze and caught sight of flustered Takuma standing near the hallway.
Kanaye let out a low growl and demanded, "What are you doing there? Don't you know there's something called privacy?"
Takuma shrugged, "I just happened to pass by and saw you hitting your sister, and was con-" he broke off when Ayumi shuddered and whirled around. Her heels kicked up the dust as she bolted down the hallway, and out of the building, faster than what deemed possible for a human.
"Ayumi!" Kanaye yelled after his sister while Takuma just ran after her, afraid that she'll hurt herself at the speed that she was taking. Please, don't trip! Please don't do anything rash or stupid! Wait for me, Ayumi!
The scorching sunlight beat down onto him, but he pressed on, clenching his jaw and ignoring the pain that was inflicted upon him. Footsteps closed behind told him that Kanaye was following close behind.
He quickened his pace when he realized the girl was amazingly fast for a human, she was really swift in her movements. She squeezed through the students and darted into the woods. Cursing under his breath, something he seldom did, Takuma pushed past the Day Class students, ignoring the stares and silently hoping that no one would start chasing after him, especially the girls.
He did, however, hear some jealous mumblings among the girls as they realized he was chasing after the girl, Nakano Ayumi.
Once in the trees, Takuma saw that the girl increased her speed, which was something rather impossible. Man, she's fast. And now, she's going even faster… A human girl she is, and the vampire here is already gasping for air. She can easily break the Olympic world record.
He could hear her brother's footsteps increase and become fainter until nothing could be heard. Yes! Finally got rid of him.
Suddenly, Kanaye was in front of him in a flash, his eyes were filled with rage, his hands gripping Takuma's shoulders with painful force.
"How – you – I –" the Vice President gasped.
"Don't you dare go any further," Kanaye snarled.
"She's crying, you moron!" Takuma snapped, breathing hard from his run. "It's your fault. Can't you at least be a little worried, with the wild animal running around and all? She's in danger!"
Kanaye ignored Takuma's reasoning, "Ayumi can very well take care of herself. She's not in any danger, I can assure you that. The only danger here is you." He spat out with venom. His eyes narrowed into slits, something he always seemed to do, and instantly felt a flash of fear. He swallowed hard, wondering if he knew the secret of the Night Class.
Takuma said as calmly as he could, "I'm just a student, just like any one of you. What danger could come from a human like me?"
Kanaye growled; even making animalistic voices like that, his voice was still alluring and seductive. "I know what you are. Don't play dumb with me." He whispered and proceeded to the direction his sister ran off to.
Takuma was left standing, dumbfounded and confused, all alone. His back hit a tree behind him and he slid into sitting position, his eyes wide as he tried to process his jumbled thoughts.
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