HY : Hello, minna! Apologies for the late chapter once more. I seriously can't find the time to write my stories properly with piles of assessments and all. And I just realised one thing *sweatdrop at my obliviousness* that all my asterisks marking the "change in perspectives, etc" hasn't appeared at all in the series, and what you've been reading has been blobs of words. I'll try to find the time to fix the older chapters (fingers crossed), but will try working on newer and more interesting chapters.

I think this will turn out to be quite a long story because it has a quite a number of twists I'm trying to "untwist". But thank you for your support once more!

CHAPTER 12

Seiran bowed respectfully to the audience when she entered the meeting room of the Hunters' Association. It had been a three hour wait for her outside the waiting area, but she filled it up with scribbling her opinions on her latest assignment for Drug Mechanisms & Chemical Inventions' class – an essay on how local anaesthetics worked and what chemical structures the anaesthetic molecules contained which gave them their properties. When she arrived with Kaien Cross, Toga Yagari and Kaname, she was the only one required to wait while the three men entered the conference room for the meeting – simply because her issue was the last one on the meeting agenda…probably done on purpose. It was a good thing she masked her pureblood aura, otherwise the hunters would not be too receptive of her when they knew who she actually was. Already she had been treated like dirt as a trainee hunter, what more if they found out she was a vampire?

Her eyes widened slightly when she realized who else had entered the other doors of the room – President Namura. At the corner of her eye, she noted that Kaname eyed the noble vampire with some interest while Sensei Yagari's facial expression was harder to read but she sensed that he didn't quite like the presence of the newly arrived vampire.

"President Namura-san," she acknowledged, bowing to him as well, containing herself from wrinkling her nose at the overpowering perfume that he wore as well. Apparently some of the members in the hunters' council shared the same opinion with her and glared at President Namura.

"Kaede-san," he replied with a disarming smile and she forced herself to maintain the smile on her face. She still wasn't used to all the unnecessary attention from the vampire society because of her invention.

"We invited Namura-san because he was the one who endorsed your products and marketed them," explained one of the council members whom Seiran didn't recognize.

"I hope I haven't troubled you then, President. I apologise for all the trouble," she spoke.

"Not at all, Kaede-san. It is my pleasure to assist you since I was the one responsible for the manufacture of your product as well." Again came that smile and Seiran wondered why she thought it was creepy – as if the President wanted to eat her up...

"Seiran Kaede, we'd like to know why you invented those tablets, but first, we shall start with the issues your blood tablets have caused," stated the new President of the Hunter Association, Kyou Yamashita in rather dry tones.

"Very well, President Yamashita-san," Seiran answered with another smile, understanding that the president disliked the long-windedness of the meeting as well. The look on Kaname's face affirmed her thoughts. The Kuran pureblood himself was merely putting on an air of interest.

You have no idea, Seiran…he sent his unamused thoughts. Maybe you should attend the next time, as a pureblood…

Thanks, but no thanks. I can guess how it went, Kaname. They were babbling about nothing worth discussing, harping on the same issue over and over…Seiran knew some of the council members since they were so proud of the fact that they held high positions. Wayu's father and his colleagues. She settled down in the seat prepared for her, directly facing the President of the H.A.

The issues raised were the same things President Namura, Chairman Cross, Sensei Yagari and Kaname had told her…so she zoned out, mimicking Kaname's feigned look of interest – it was tiring having to wait earlier, and now having to wait again for mindless droning of idiots actually looking out for their own self interests…Her senses only returned when the president of Ryuushuu Pharmaceuticals was required to speak on why he, an aristocrat vampire had decided to market a creation which would help Level Es, considering Level Es themselves were considered the humiliation of the arrogant vampire society and were supposed to be exterminated.

At least now I can get some bloody answers…after waiting for more than three damn hours listening to total bullshit…thought the one eyed hunter rather brusquely.

"Well, if that is what Kaede-san wishes for the Level Es, why should we stop her? It is a gracious move on her part as she dismisses her status and helps those lesser than her. If Kuran-sama did not oppose, why should we vampires oppose as well?" President Namura suavely answered.

Great…now he supports the issue and drags Kuran's name into it. Typical…Wanting to buy Kuran's favour? wondered Yagari.

Kaname's eyes narrowed for a millisecond at the president's answer. He didn't like the way the older vampire was supporting Seiran innocuously. It reminded him of the hypocritical manner Asato Ichijou behaved whenever he was around him. The majority of the vampires were extremely insincere in their assistance, which was why he wanted Seiran to learn how to control vampires beneath her status. This vampire has some designs on her…He would have to keep an eye on Seiran's safety. Something about President Namura wasn't quite right…

Chairman Cross who had been silent the entire time shot Seiran an apologetic look before he asked President Namura, "Of all the other candidates who had promising inventions, why did you award it to Seiran?"

"The some of the other candidates previously had been winners of this award, while the others although shortlisted, I felt lacking in certain aspects. Kaede-san's creation was rather revolutionary, so she very much deserved it.

Seiran turned her gaze elsewhere so that she wouldn't have to look at the president's face simply to avoid his smile.

"It was an invention which took only a few months and it is now being marketed nationally before eventually ending up in the international market. Most research usually takes a longer period of time, how sure are we of its effectiveness in controlling those Level Es?" asked Youji Wayu, trying not to scowl at the older vampire.

"I think you forgot the fact that we vampires have the capability to work much faster than ordinary humans, so obviously our research is completed much faster. And besides,those tablets can also be taken by all vampires from purebloods to Level Es." President Namura's smile this time was forced, he was straining against something…probably the urge to wrangle the impudent hunter.

President Yamashita held a hand up stopping any more questions. "It's now time to ask Seiran about her own invention. What do you have to say about it?"

Finally…after four hours, thirty seven minutes and six seconds… "I know most hunters dislike this invention but I still hold on to my belief that what I created was not a mistake…"

"How can it not be a mistake? You created something for monsters plaguing our town, injuring innocents!" interrupted another council member, glaring at her.

Oh…or are you pissed off that I destroyed yet another route of income for you? wondered Seiran darkly as she tried not to glare at the man.

"You are not to interrupt, Kozaki-san!" President Yamashita's voice was hard. Here's one of the troublemakers. A tumour to be destroyed. "Continue, Kaede."

This time Seiran dropped all reasoning to be polite. "It was out of beneficence. Just tell me one thing, sirs…," her voice was dripping with sarcasm, "If one day your family, your loved ones ever get turned into a Level E, would you be able to terminate their lives if they were the ones injuring innocents…? Can you possibly take out your weapons and kill them because it is your duty to do so?"

There was absolute silence as no one spoke, the Hunters' Council members shocked by her words.

"If you are able to do such a thing, I will stop giving my blood tablets to the Level Es," Seiran resolutely finished.

In the end, the blood tablets issue was closed because none of the council members could say anything.

"Thank you for your assistance, President Namura-san. I truly appreciate it," spoke Seiran, bowing to him when they were outside at the waiting area.

"It was a small matter, Kaede-san. I am glad your work has no obstacles and am sure your efforts will bear more fruit in the future."

"It's getting late, Seiran. We have to return to the academy otherwise you'll miss classes tomorrow." Chairman Cross stepped nearer Seiran, breaking up the conversation between the young pureblood and the company president.

"Do keep up the good work, Kaede-san. The company would be very honoured if you join us in the future…"

"I'll think about it." Seiran bowed again before she left.

Would you be able to terminate their lives if they were the ones injuring innocents…?

Kaname's eyes flickered towards Seiran when they were sitting in the BMW, courtesy of Kaname. Toga Yagari was seated in the passenger's seat next to the driver while Kaien Cross was sitting beside Seiran, opposite Kaname and he was sleeping on her shoulder. Seiran's eyes were also closed, but Kaname knew she wasn't asleep.

Why did she say that? Kaname ran his fingers through his hair. She'd unwittingly done it again – make him recall an old painful memory…A tearful apology…Life ebbing out…Stop it, Kuran! It's in the past! Think of Yuuki…only her…The most precious girl in the world to you…Only Yuuki…

But he had to know…

"Seiran…," his voice was a whisper, not wanting to wake the chairman up.

"Yes?" She still had her eyes shut, but he knew she had her attention on him.

"What made you talk about terminating your loved one's life if he or she ever turned into a Level E?" He forced himself to remain calm, waiting for her answer, wondering if she knew...His senses were alert, just to see if she was lying when she answered.

Seiran was silent. Should I tell Kaname about that woman…? I can't consider her a loved one, I hardly know who she was or is…No, maybe I'll ask Kaname when I have some answers to myself. "Kaname, you knew all they really wanted was to continue their source of income from killing Level Es. So I had to make it personal. If it were their family, they couldn't do it…"

She's telling the truth…Kaname didn't know if he felt relieved that Seiran wasn't implying anything else. So he asked, "If it was you…what would you do, Seiran? As a hunter and a pureblood you still have to eliminate that unstable Level E…"

The Kaede pureblood looked directly into Kaname's eyes. "I would try to treat the Level E. If that attempt fails…then I'll have to end that person's life. And…" She hesitated, because she knew her actions were taboo as a hunter, but as a pureblood…

"And?" Kaname prodded.

"I'll hunt down the pureblood that turned the person I loved into a Level E."

And I'll demand the reasons that pureblood turned an innocent into a Level E…If the reason was merely out of bloodlust, I won't hesitate in terminating the vampire's life – even if it's a pureblood…

"What about you, Kaname? How would you act?"

Lesson no. 13 : Be weary of those who are nice to you simply because of your status.