Chapter 2 ~ The Vampires ~
" Vampires..."
" Sorry Hikari, I will tell you more later, first I have to get these boys back." Ray broke the silence in the air and gave a smile to Hikari.
" Come on let's go!" Daichi took Jun and walked off, followed by Ray.
" Wait! Where're we going? " Hikari asked as she catched up with the boys.
The group entered into the forest outside the academy and soon they arrived at a little cottage-liked house.
" Such a peaceful place..."
" KAEDE-SAN WE ARE BACK!! " Daichi and Jun shouted and ran towards the house. Not before long, a woman came out together with a group of children behind her.
" AH!! IT'S RAY!!! " The children widened their expressions and rushed over to Ray's side.
*BANG*
" OUCH! Akira, what did you do that for??" Daichi yelled and held his hands on his head.
" Daichi, you troubled Ray-sama again right?" Akira gave Daichi an annoyed look. While the two were bickering with one another, the woman walked towards Ray and welcomed him.
" Ray-sama, it's been long since you visited these children. You're not hurt are you?" The woman asked while trying to calm the children down.
" Kaede-san, I'm back..." Ray softened his looks.
" Who is this woman? She looks so kind and beautiful.. Just like a mother... Mother..."
Hikari stopped her thoughts when the word "mother" came into her mind.
" Ray-sama, who is this young lady over there? " Kaede turned and faced Hikari.
" Oh, she was attacked by a Level E just now. " Ray calmly answered, but it caused everyone else to pause into silence.
" Well, then I think it will better if we all go in and have a rest. " Kaede replied and led the rest into the house.
" Level E..." Hikari recalled what happened before, as she she shut her eyes, the fangs and red eyes appeared once more.
" Hikari-san, here's your drink." Kaede touched Hikari's shoulder and passed her a cup of hot lemonade.
" Ah, thank you very much..." Hikari received the drink and watched Kaede as she went to her seat.
" Kaede-san, how do you know where I am... You can't see right? Your eyes..."
" Don't worry Hikari-san, I'm not blind..this is..." Kaede's sentence was broke when Ray came down.
" Ray-sama, please have a seat."
" Hikari, so do you want to know more about us? " Right after Ray sat down, his eyes focused onto Hikari.
" Right! Please tell me! " Hikari looked back and became more serious.
" Ray-sama..." Kaede faced the two of them and looked quite worried.
" Firstly Hikari, these is an orphanage."
" Orphanage?"
" Yes, an orphanage to vampire children who have lost their parents. Kaede is the caretaker." Ray looked at Kaede.
" So... Kaede and the rest of the children are vampires too? "
" Yes... Hikari-san. I'm obliged to do whatever Ray-sama says.."
" Do whatever Ray says... Is he such a great person? "
" The one who attacked you just now was formerly a human Hikari.. However he had turned into a vampire who cannot control his lust for blood, what will await him is only death or he will suffer his whole life.." Ray clutched his hands together as he explained.
" Level E ? "
" Yes, those vampires under that level has no way back anymore, unless they are granted the blood of a pureblooded vampire. " Kaede added on.
" Pureblooded vampire.." Hikari started to understand and was even getting more curious about her present situation.
" That's right!! Ray-sama is a pureblooded vampire!~ " Akira suddenly jumped behind Hikari.
" Why must we tell this human sister everything? " Daichi yawned as he came down together with Jun and Akira.
" Daichi-kun! " Kaede gave Daichi an angry look.
" Sorry..." Daichi apologised as he scratched his head.
" Ray is a pureblood.. No wonder he is so strong... He even saved me just now from that vicious vampire..." Hikari blushed a little as she looked towards Ray.
" The most powerful of all vampires and the ones who will lead us are the purebloods, follow are the nobles and then the normal ones. Human vampires and Level E vampires are right down the pyramid.. Those human vampires who reaches the Level E stage will be eliminated by hunters or the nobles."
" Kaede-san is right, Hikari the special class students like you feared are all vampires of noble class. However we are there to study under the peace treaty between us vampires and the chairman, so you don't have to worry.." Ray gave a warm smile and the whole atmosphere was lightened.
" I see..." Hikari's doubts were almost all cleared and she felt a sudden relief.
" And yes, this is kept a secret Hikari, the people in the Day class do not know about our eixstence. So you have to.."
" Keep it a secret right? " Hikari feeling more better, finished the sentence for Ray.
" Yes..." Ray and Hikari looked at one another which caused the children to be quite interested.
" Hikari onee-san... Do you like Ray-sama? " Akira came beside Hikari and asked.
" H..How..Can ..That..Be...!" Hikari blushed as she answered.
" Really?? Then I will say first! Ray-sama is Akira-chan's. Teehee I will marry Ray-sama when I grow up! " Akira hugged Ray and giggled.
" Akira!!! Don't hug Ray like that!! " Daichi shouted and the orphanage was filled with warmth.
" Like Ray... Perhaps it's true after all..." Hikari held her hand to her chest and looked at Ray.
" Onee-san..Thank you for just now.." Jun pulled Hikari's shirt and smiled at her.
" Jun-kun must have like you, he don't really speak alot to outsiders." Kaede cleared the table as she speaked.
" Really?..." Hikari closed her eyes for a moment.
" Well then, I will take Hikari home. Kaede I'll leave the rest to you." Ray took Hikari out as he bid farewell.
" Yes Ray-sama...Take care the both of you." Kaede bowed and replied.
The four of them stood outside the orphanage until Ray and Hikari were out of side.
" Kaede-san, Ray-sama seems to like Hikari onee-san is it? " Akira asked.
" I have that feeling too..." Daichi added on and Jun nodded.
" Well children, time will tell everything... Their journey has just begun..." Kaede then took the children back in. Night has already arrived.
" Ray-sama has been out too long.. Do you think he is..."
" Rikku, don't worry too much. Come relax and sit down." Subaru assured.
" That's right... He'll be back soon." Takumi added on.
" That's easy for you guys to say... It's wierd that Ray has been out for so long..."
" Aries is right! I'm worried.." Rikku blushed as she looked out of the window.
" Yoichi and Reiko what do your think? " Takumi turned around and asked.
" Ray-sama will be alright, he always is..." Yoichi yawned and grabbed a chocolate stick.
" I agree with Yoichi. " Reiko answered and took one chocolate stick from Yoichi.
" Shin... Do you think it has something to do with Hikari? " Raien walked to another corner and questioned Shin.
" Maybe... Ray-sama..." Shin held his hands to his hair and brushed them off.
" You're worried too right? "
" OF COURSE!! That's without a doubt!" Shin back to his energetic self again, replied his cousin.
*DOOR OPENS*
" Miyuki, Mizuki welcome back." Aries welcomed two young ladies as they entered the class.
" Everyone don't worry, Ray-sama will be back soon.." Mizuki's words calmed everyone down.
" Then where's Ray-sama!? " Rikku and Shin both asked at the same time.
" Well he is..."
" Onee-san..." Miyuki stopped Mizuki.
" Everyone, let's get back to business. This time and hour is in favour of us..." Aries pushed up her spectacles and reminded the others of their duties.
A Storm was imminent as the thunder roared. With one flash of the lightning in the sky, the Special class students were not in the classroom anymore.
" There... Seiichiro's sensei's house! " Hikari clapped her hands and was overjoyed that they had reached at last.
" Riyu-kun.. Where're you going?" Seiichiro's voice was heard by Hikari and Ray.
" Sensei, something is not right. Hitomi-san, she..."
" I know you are worried, I have send people to search for her, she will be back soon." Seiichiro assured Riyu.
" Sensei I don't think there's a need for that anymore."
" AHH! Ray-kun!! Hikari-chan!!" Seiichiro was surprised to see the both of them suddenly appearing from no where.
" Sensei... I'm sorry but I'm back.." Hikari bowed and aplogised.
" It's fine that the both of you are fine.. Riyu? " Seiichiro looked back and saw Riyu's eyes filled with much anger looking at Ray.
" Vampire! Why are you here!? " Riyu pointed his gun at Ray and shouted at him.
" Stop it!! Don't shoot!! He was the one who saved me! Please don't!" Hikari rushed in front of Ray and blocked Riyu.
Riyu was surprised by Hikari's reaction and could not pull the trigger.
" It's okay Hikari, you don't have to..." Ray placed his hands on Hikari shoulders.
" Riyu-kun let's not get into a fight alright? "
Upon hearing what Seiichiro said, Riyu lowered his gun and went into the house.
" Ray-kun, it's going to rain, do you need an umbrella? "
" I'm fine sensei thank you, and I'm sorry to cause Riyu to be so agitated.. I guess he hate us afterall.."
" Ray-kun don't say that... I have to thank you for saving Hikari from whatever..." Seiichiro smiled.
" Ray-sama..." Hikari looked at Ray, feeling abit worried about what had happened awhile ago.
" Hikari, You can just call me Ray..." Ray kissed Hikari's hand and disappeared into the dark night.
" Ray..." Hikari murmured to herself.
" Hikari, let's hear that story of yours later shall we? "
Hikari and Seiichiro went into the house and not before long, the rain started pouring down.
" I see, so you know about their existence already.." Seiichiro became quite solemn while he had a talk with Hikari.
" Yes.. About the peace treaty and everything.."
" I'm sorry to keep this from you Hikari-chan, but it must be kept as a secret from the Day class people.."
" Ah I know..I'm sorry as well..." Hikari stared down and noticed that her wound was already gone.
" Sensei, why are there Level E vampires in the school's vacinity? "
" Level E? " Seiichiro became worried after hearing Hikari's question.
" Sensei..." Riyu came down from the stairs and looked at Seiichiro.
" You two go have a rest already, I will deal with the Level E problem...Come on let's go.." Seiichiro pushed Hikari and Riyu up the stairs and returned to his thoughts.
" This is bad..."
" I'm sorry about just now." Hikari feeling abit guilty, apologised to Riyu.
Riyu looked at Hikari from his back and returned to his room.
" Wait! Why?? Have I done something wrong?? Why are you so cold to me? " Hikari stopped Riyu and grabbed on to his shirt.
" Why? I have nothing to say.. And I'm not trying to be cold to you.." Riyu held Hikari hands and pulled them off his shirt slowly.
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" Hurry!! Let's go before class starts!! "
" Not again..." Hikari watched the scene where the Day class girls rushed to see the special class students.
" Hikari-chan!! Good morning!! " Misaki held Hikari both hands and spun around in joy.
" Good morning Misaki, Izumi, Reiya.."
" Good morning." Izumi and Reiya both greeted.
" KYYAAA They are here!!! "
The four girls went and joined the other girls and soon enough the special class students came out of their domitory.
" Hikari...So you're interested afterall, so who is your favourite?? " Misaki asked eagerly.
" Not really..."
" Misaki...stop..."
" Good morning young ladies!~ Do work hard!!" Shin greeted and the Day class girls were all enticed by the special class students grand entrance.
" Hikari-chan do you know, only those who are almost good at anything are able to join that special class...How I wish I can be talented as well..." Misaki sighed.
" If Misaki knows the truth, I don't think she will want to..."
" NOW NOW HIKARI!!! It's your chance to see who's your favourite!! Here you go!! " Misaki pushed Hikari to the front.
" Wa...Wait!! " Because of the crowd, Hikari nearly fell onto the ground.
" Are you alright Hikari?"
A familiar voice was heard, Hikari opened her eyes and saw Ray holding her. The rest of the girls could not believe their eyes, even the Special class students.
" R...Ray!"
" How dare you call Ray-sama in this way! " Rikku came to the front and scolded Hikari.
" I'm sorry..." Hikari was feeling scared as all eyes were on her.
" Rikku, don't be mad.."
" But Ray-sama...She.."
" Class is starting, let's go Rikku." Aries took Rikku's hands and took Rikku with her.
" We better leave or else Riyu-kun will..." Some of the Day class girls started mumbling to one another and went back to class.
" Shin, are you alright? Let's go too." Raien tapped Shin on his head.
" Oh..yes let's go.." Shin looked back at Ray and Hikari before returning to the class.
" Hikari-chan us too.." Misaki held her hand out .
Hikari started to walk towards her friend but felt a slight pull on her arms.
" Hikari, I'm glad you call me by that way... Thank you..." Ray touched Hikari's face, causing her unable to move.
" Hitomi-san!"
" Riyu-kun!"
" Riyu-kun you're here..." Reiya was happy to see Riyu, but was taken away by Izumi and Misaki.
" Kanzaki senpai..." Riyu and Ray both faced each other.
" Well I should get going, see you later Hikari..." Ray walked off together with Mizuki.
" Ah yes..." Hikari answered.
" Hitomi-san come with me.."
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" Are you sure Seiichiro? " Voices from the Chairman's office were heard.
" Riyu-kun, why are we here? " Hikari stopped outside of the office.
" There's someone inside whom you will want to meet. Come let's go."
Riyu opened the door and to Hikari's surprise, she saw her aunt Kaoru inside.
" Aunt Kaoru!!" Hikari ran into Kaoru's arms.
" How have you been Hikari? " Kaoru smiled at her niece.
" What is that? " Hikari moved away from Kaoru's arms and pointed at a old wooden box on the desk.
" Sensei don't tell me you're..."
" Riyu-kun calm down... As we know, Hikari has already found out about the secret of the academy, and was even attacked by a Level E, of course she will need protection.."
" Wai...wait..Seiichiro...Did you just say that my Hikari is attacked by a LEVEL E!!!!???"
" ....Kaoru, calm down...AHH!!"
" Aunt Kaoru I'm fine already... It's not Sensei's fault either.."
" Hikari..." Kaoru returned to her normal self after giving Seiichiro a beating.
" So You're planning to give her the Artemis? " Riyu asked.
" Yes... We have to... Hirashi please."
" I understand.." Chairman Cross opened the wooden box and inside was a silver rod.
" Am I going to use that?"
" Yes Hikari, and together with Riyu, you will be guardians of the school. This is an anti-vampire weapon, which now belongs to you."
Hikari stepped forward and reached out her hands to hold the artemis rod.
" Are you sure? " Riyu stopped Hikari.
" Riyu is right! Hikari may not be suitable! The others who had touched this rod after Yuki Kuran were all rejected and..."
" Kaoru-san please calm down... We need Hikari's help.."
" Kaoru, Hirashi is right. I can see that the rod is not going to reject her. Upon Hikari-chan's arrival, artemis has been reacting strongly."
The three turned facing Hikari and Riyu, Kaoru was still scared that Hikari would end up like those who tried before but failed and was paralyzed for their whole life.
" Aunt Kaoru, Sensei, Chairman Cross... I want to try... I want to protect those I love, I don't want to hide anymore."
Riyu was amazed by Hikari's strength and gave a smile.
" Then, together... I will help you Hikari..." Riyu placed his hands on top of Hikari's. Hikari hands moved closer to the artemis and finally held on to it. The artemis gave out a strong bright beam and came to normal again.
" I...I did it.." Hikari held on to the rod. The rest of them in the room were all relieved and congratulated Hikari.
" You did well..." Riyu walked out of the room.
" Riyu-kun... He called my name just now... Perhaps we can get along..."
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" Something is not right..."
The Special class students started feeling uneasy as they could feel an evil aura nearby.
" Ray-sama..."
" Let's go... And welcome this enemy of ours"
" Yes, Ray-sama." The special class students bowed.
" Riyu-kun what's wrong? " Hikari and Riyu were on their way back to class when Riyu stopped.
" Go without me first! "
" Hey!! Wait!!" Hikari followed Riyu and ran off.
" Kaoru, this feeling..."
" Yes, I'll go Seiichiro!"
" Wait.. This is the time to see both the bloody rose and artemis rod strength Kaoru."
" Seiichiro... You... IDIOT! My Hikari will be in trouble!!" Kaoru hit Seiichiro and rushed off.
" You don't have to hit me..."
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" Ray look! " Subaru shouted and directed the group's attention to where the problem was.
" Level E?? That many?? How can that be? " Takumi was shocked by the number of level E vampires they saw.
" Let's go! "
The group Jumped off the building and confronted the level E vampires, at the same moment Riyu and Hikari had arrived as well.
" Level E..." Hikari was stunned by the large number of vampires.
" Hikari watched out!! " Riyu leaped forward and shot down a vampire from behind Hikari.
" The day class people.." Raien turned back and saw both Hikari and Riyu joining in the fight.
" Yoichi your back..." Reiko bit her finger, pulling out a blood whip from it and attacked the vampire coming down on Yoichi.
" Ah.. Thank you..."
" You're welcome, stop yawning..." Reiko sighed.
" Why are they here? " Shin asked annoyingly.
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" Seiichiro if you want to help hurry up! "
" I know..."
Out of the sudden, Kaoru was knocked back by an invisible wall, Seiichiro immediately held her and the both of them fell to the ground.
" This is strange, but Kaoru you should know we have been going the correct way but we still end up in the same corridor. "
" An illusion?.." Karou clutched her fingers together as they were trapped in this maze.
" A vampire's doing..." Seiichiro adjusted his spectacles.
" Right... There should be some weak spot Seiichiro. "
" Anyway we must get out of here first, here hold my hand.."
" This way!!" Kaoru stood up and went off herself.
" WAIT KAORU!!!"
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" This should be the last of them."
" Should we help the two of them? " Subaru asked.
" Go Subaru!" Aries pushed him forward and the two of them went over.
" By the way where's Ray-sama? " Shin asked.
" In exchange for the present, let time stop now...." Subaru took out an alchemy book and unleashed a time-stopping spell onto his targeted field, the vampires surrounding Hikari and Riyu stopped moving.
" There it's up to you now. "
" Hikari..." Riyu looked at Hikari and then released his trigger.
Hikari tightened her grip onto the artemis rod and swung it onto the level E vampire, hitting him right on the face and electrifying him.
" I'm glad Aunt Kaoru did teached me some fighting skills..."
" Good job you two...But that's because I'm..." Before Subaru finished his line, Aries knocked him on his stomach.
" We shall leave first.." Aries then smiled and pulled Subaru away.
" Riyu...are you alright? "
" Yes...I'm just wondering why has the level E number increase so much. "
" I see... Don't worry! I'm here to help you Riyu! " Hikari smiled.
" Riyu? Not Riyu-kun anymore?"
" I guess by calling you Riyu will make us closer you see...well..."
" Okay..."
Riyu and Hikari joined the special class members and went to look for Ray.
" Ray-sama!! "
" Shin... I see that Riyu and Hikari are alright... I'm glad "
" Y..Yes! Thanks for your concern " Hikari blushed and bowed down.
" Why are we here Ray-sama? " Rikku asked.
" Ray-sama, that sound." Mizuki cut into Rikku's question, there was a groaning sound coming out from the forest.
A figure was stumbling towards them and when it enter the bright light the group was shocked to see a Level E vampire being tortured in this way.. He was coughing out blood and slowly reaching his hands to touch Ray, but his action was stopped by Shin and Raien.
" Kanzaki...." That vampire spoke his last word and his body burst opened turning into sand.
" This was what happen before..." Hikari stared at the ragged shirt left behind by that vampire.
" Our enemies have finally shown themselves..." Ray looked towards the sky as he spoke.
" Enemies..." Hikari repeated and held on to her artemis rod.
" Hikari!!! Are you okay??" Kaoru and Seiichiro came running.
" Aunt Kaoru, Sensei!"
" Ray-kun, there's an outsider vampire here in the campus right? " Seiichiro turned to Ray with a serious look.
" Yes.. Don't worry but I'll check on it. This vampire seems to be targeting me though.."
" Aunt Kaoru, are you alright? " Hikari held on to Kaoru's arms and asked.
" I'm alright Hikari, we managed to escape from that vampire's trap after you destroyed those Level E..." Kaoru answered back stroking Hikari's hair.
" Sensei..."
" I know Riyu, okay everyone let's go..Classes are still on! " Seiichiro gave Riyu an assuring look.
" Ray aren't you leaving? " Takumi stopped and turned to Ray.
" I will catch up later, don't worry Mizuki will be here with me.."
" Ray-sama..." Rikku was worried but left with the others.
" There is going to be a problem. Why is my job getting more difficult..." Seiichiro sighed as he walked,
" It's your fault to be a teacher." Kaoru answered with an annoyed look.
While the two were bickering and walking away, Hikari paused and looked back at Ray's direction.
" Hikari? " Riyu stopped as well and stood beside Hikari.
" I'm sorry, it's nothing.." Hikari looked to the ground, trying to hide away from Riyu.
" Riyu... What are you going to from now on?..."
" Why do you ask? "
" You know.. That vampire causing all this mess.."
" Then I will have to eliminate it... That's my job... " Riyu shut his eyes and walked away.
" Riyu!.. " Hikari chased after Riyu and left the scene, however she can't forget what Ray had said before.
" Ray... What enemies? "
" Ray-sama they are gone." Mizuki reported.
" I see, well then let's be our way as well. "
" Yes, Ray-sama. "
Ray and Mizuki both left the spot, the remains of the vampire on the ground was blown into the air by the soft wind. A new enemy and a new challenge had finally arrived..
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" Eirika-sama, I'm so sorr..sorry.. Pl..Please..NO!!!! " Screams were heard and then died down.
" Useless creatures, I don't want to waste my energy on you vampires..." A young lady licked her fingers and then chuckled.
" Not bad Ray Kanzaki... I will be your first nightmare..."
END OF CHAPTER 2