"Yuki? Are you in there? Earth to Yuki!"

"Huh?"

I turned to looked at Yori, who had been impatiently waving a hand in front of my face for the past five minutes. Yori sighed, and leaned back against the bench. The classroom was insanely quiet. I could hear everything, the whisper of the kids across the room, the creaking of the benches as the students settled against them, and Gouda-sensei's breathing, as he looked over previous work.

"Yeah, what is it Yori?"

Yori shook her head.

"You've been so out of it lately. When you're not sleeping in class, you're staring out the window with a really dreamy expression on your face."

Yori leaned towards me, her face bare centimeters from mine,

"So…who is he?"

I scooted away from her in shock. Damn it! If people weren't finding out what I was, they knew that I was seeing someone outside of school. For that matter who else knew? Aido did, Kaname did, apparently Yori did now, what about Zero, or the Headmaster?

Sighing, I pushed my books aside, no way would I be able to get out of this one.

"He's…just…. well you know, a normal guy. Nothing that would make him any different."

Except the wings. Not to mention those purple eyes. Can someone's eyes really be that deep of a purple? I wondered. Yori didn't look like she had bought what I had just said.

"C'mon Yuki. What's he like? Is he calm and quiet? Wild and reckless? What music does he like? Where's he from? What does he look like?"

"His name's Lucas. He has long black hair, about down to lower part of his back. As far as wild and reckless go, I'd say he's a little bit of that. I mean he's been in a few brawls here and there, but nothing too serious. I don't really know where he's from or his preferences. We haven't known each other that long."

I watched as my friend's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

"He's been in fights? Does your father know about this?"

"Nope. And you know what? That's half the fun."

Yori shook her head.

"You're going out with some bad boy, and your father doesn't know? Honestly Yuki, you might want to rethink this."

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever."

* * * * *

"Jesus, get the hell back! Hey no pushing! You over there, give me the camera! I just said no pushing damn it!"

I shouted. Once again, the Day Class girls were being overly rowdy, and causing a lot of commotion. I glanced behind me to see how Zero was holding up. As usual, they kept away from him like he had some sort of disease; they weren't trying to pull anything. Lucky. I thought. Why is he always the one who can make them do whatever he says? My thoughts however were cut short, when a certain blond someone who shall remain nameless, yanked me into the school building. I struggled out of my captor's grip, but it was no good.

"You should try being more assertive Yuki-chan. But I guess I should thank you, after all, you keep those girls at bay for us."

"Aido! Let me go! I need to get back! Before-"

"Before a certain someone gets here?"

"What?! No! I need to get before-"

The doors came open with a might thud. I turned to look at an annoyed Zero. He shot Aido a fiery glare.

"I'd appreciate it if you refrained from doing that vampire."

"Oh c'mon, the poor girl needs a break is all."

Rolling my eyes I shoved my way past both aristocrat, and former human.

"Look, you two can argue all you want, but I'm going out on patrol. See ya!"

I yelled back at them as I sprinted off into the fading glow of the setting sun. The bright red streaks clung to the campus, and set the trees ablaze with their beautiful color. I came to an abrupt stop at the gates. A sudden pang of longing filled my heart. I wanted to go beyond the locked gates. I wanted to open my cage and run out into the bright light that was always kept so far away from me. Covered in the shroud of darkness that hung over this academy. Night was beginning to fall, and the last dying rays of glory fell beneath the horizon, where they would rise yet again, come morning. I made a quick scan of the surrounding area. Nobody. Good. Without a single thought I leaped up, and cleared the gates in a single bound. The whole forest came crashing down on me. Every sight, every smell, every feel. I took it all in. A nearby river was bathed silver in the moon's glow. The entire forest was lit with the moon's pale iridescence . These are the colors of the night. Black, silver, bone white, mixed with red of blood. This is the world's true self. The only time when it is able to drop its cloak of peace and serenity and show it's true face. I thought was I gazed with wonder at the scene of beauty around me. I whipped around, darting my eyes left to right. Strange. I could've sworn I detected the presence of a vampire. I thought on confusion. Maybe I had been imagining things? Not likely. In fact it was damn near impossible. Boldly brandishing my Artemis Rod, I shouted out angrily;

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

My command was met by an eerie voice that trembled on the edge of insanity.

"You smell…so nice."

A Level E came charging out of the bushes. I heard a dull crack as the side of its face met my Artemis Rod. It yowled in pain as it went flying back. The thing sprung to its feet in a second with a cat like agility.

"Let…me…eat you up!"

Anger filled me. Hot blinding anger that pulsated through every nook and cranny of my mind. Twice a Level E had attacked me. No way in hell was this going to be the third time. I began to see red. Throwing my Artemis Rod to the side, I took a fighting stance as the Level E leapt at me once more. I could feel my nails becoming long claws. The Level E came within inches of my face. Faster than lightning I struck, my sharp claws raking down the front of the vile creature, turning it into four separate slices of former human flesh. I looked down at the place where the corpse had fallen. Now only dust remained, a fine silky white powder, that the sun would find and vaporize. I sighed. If I stay out here any longer, Zero will wonder where I've gone. I thought sadly. I looked down; a sudden sticky feeling on my right hand had aroused my attention. My whole hand, up to the first knuckle was covered in blood. Before I even knew what I was doing, I put the blood- stained hand up to my mouth and licked off some of the blood. I horrible bitter taste filled my mouth, along with a flat, ashen taste that made me want to puke. Ugh. This is what the blood of a Level E tastes like? No wonder other vampires look down on them. They taste absolutely disgusting! I thought as a wave of revulsion crept down my spine with an eager slowness, making me shudder.

I found a nearby stream where I could wash off the blood. I watched as the last of the red tendrils had drained off my hand, and down river to who knows where. As I lifted off into the sky I hoped with all my heart, that no one had smelled the blood. Nor would Zero smell it on me.

* * * * *

Toga Yagari's P.O.V

I walked endlessly on. Reports of an escaped Level E had gotten out, and the council had contacted me immediately, I suppose those old bats thought it was a reason to be frightened, but I though it was my duty, and besides it was a little bit fun killing those blood suckers, and getting a little of my stress out. I also got a bit of cash for my troubles, so everything worked out. I had been told that the vampire had broken free from an aristocrat, and had been heading a few miles northeast on foot. Right in the direction of that old retired twit's pacifist school. I hoped with all my heart, as I neared the sight, that the Level E mentioned was not Zero. I skirted the path, taking a long winding walk through the forest. I glanced down, to find broken growth and trampled grass. No two ways about it. That filthy thing had definitely come this way. The sound of running water found its way into my eardrums. It was strangely eerie. I gave it a sidelong look.

Huh that's odd. I thought. Parts of the water were a dark purple color. Quietly, so as not to disturb my prey if it was still lurking somewhere in this general area, I crept towards the river. What I saw unnerved me. Dark streams of blood had floated downstream, and it looked like there was more on its way. I glided on cat's feet as I went up the embankment. It's probably taken one of the students hostage. How's this for you pacifism Cross? I thought. This whole thing carried a tinge of irony. Another sound reached my ears, the sound of splashing. Concealing myself behind a thorn bush, I watched the river's edge. I could not believe my eyes. There was Yuki, the adopted daughter of that old man, squatting by the water, rinsing large quantities of blood from her hands. Quietly, turning around I saw what had been the means for such a thing. There lay a fine silvery dust, which had previously been a Level E. I frowned. How had she killed it? That flimsy rod she carried around wouldn't even cut butter, much less a body. A sudden flurry of motion caught my attention. I stared, transfixed as she unfurled delicate, yet beautiful black feathered wings. She scanned the area around her, and with a couple flaps of her wings, had soared off into the air. Hm. Looks like I'll have something new to report.