Disclaimer : Don't own VK except my OC.

# CHAPTER 14

What the hell is this? seethed Zero inwardly as he found a note stuffed in his right blazer pocket when he'd slipped his hands into them. He was on his way to call his girlfriend from the Chem lab.

If you ever harm Kaede-san, you'll be sorry. I won't hold back on you.

This was ludicrous. So…someone in Seiran's fan club had decided to threaten him, huh? Harm her? Why would I harm her? I love her, she's my girlfriend…He stopped short. Unless…someone knows about those…thoughts I've been having of her…? No, there's no possible way… He was healthy male boy, for heaven's sake! He was sure some of the boys in the Sun Dorm had some experience in those matters, but he swore he would not go overboard, he could control himself. Huh! Rest assured, whoever you are…he wryly thought, dismissing the note by throwing it into the dustbin.

"What are you so happy about?" he asked, the instant he met Seiran when he bumped into her halfway down the hall; she was heading for her Day Classes.

"Thanks for the breakfast, Zero," she quickly pecked his cheek, so fleetingly fast that he felt he imagined the entire thing.

"S-sure…But come on, it can't be breakfast alone, right?" he hurriedly joked, hiding his embarrassment. He knew she liked his fruit salad, so he made some for her that morning. But, what if someone caught them? Someone like any one of their teachers?

"I got an idea for designing hunter weapons at the lab," she spoke, barely able to conceal the excitement from her voice.

From vampire blood tablets to hunter weapons…Zero shook his head at her enthusiasm. Seriously, this girl never ceased to amaze him. Then he frowned. "Hunter weapons…?"

"I'm still working on some designs until I finally decide how I'll make the weapon…What's wrong, Zero?" Her hand landed on his arm, stopping their movements. Didn't you look amused when you heard I had a new idea? Why are you looking worried now?

"Seiran, it's barely what…two weeks after that meeting between the hunters and vampires, and you've thought of a design for hunters? What if it turns out to be like the blood tablets…?" he hushedly asked, not wanting to be a wet blanket and yet not wanting her to unknowingly create more enemies against her. Seiran had told him everything was alright at the meeting but when he asked his master, Sensei Yagari had told him that the matter had been closed merely because of what she said – her audience was unable to refute her statement, but it didn't mean that the Hunters Council had come to total acceptance.

"But what has my new hunters' weapon creation have got to do with those blood tablets?" she continued as they resumed their walking.

"You know the fuss the half of the H.A kicked up about your tablets although the vampire community accepted it. What happens if your new hunters' weapon causes a controversy amongst the vampires instead? They wouldn't like it since you're an aristocrat there and your invention is siding with the opposite party. It'll be the same thing like the H.A problem except the other party…," he explained. I know Seiran doesn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble and I know she's doing it purely out of the good in her heart…but I don't want her to get hurt…

A loving smile appeared on Seiran's features. "Zero, wow…I hadn't thought of my plans going that far in that direction, but what you said is true…" To the rest of the vampire world she was a 'noble', as well as it had been the status her parents were officially 'aristocrats'. And she had been training herself to control her pureblood aura ever since the gratitude ball which Takuma and Aidou threw for her. So far she'd succeeded, and when she asked Sensei Yagari why it was so – wouldn't hunters be able to detect her presence and yet he couldn't? – he had told her that it was very likely because she had been human her entire life until she turned seventeen. Unlike Yuuki who was a child vampire transformed into a human, and retransformed, Seiran had the advantage of being able to work on controlling her powers since she hadn't bred as a vampire, and hunters were good at control, that gave her an added advantage...

"Then why did you decide to make something for the hunters, anyway?" Zero didn't want her to get into another dilemma. Already a storm had brewed up in the H.A where she hadn't gotten her license, and because of her rejected applications a few times she was probably known as a failed trainee. Obviously the jerks who disliked her for being better than them at hunting would fuel the fire by saying she was sucking up to the vampires.

She shrugged. "I guess I wanted to be fair. I've already invented something for the vamps, why not something for the hunters?"

A sudden chuckle escaped Zero's lips. "Just because of that?" Such a simple reason?

"Remember I'm both, Zero. Like you are…It's just the concept of duality and for that reason I'm inventing something for the hunters. Just in case the vampires ask…" She shot him a cheeky look before she turned into the left corner, Zero's lips curled upwards as he followed her.

"Zero, don't worry about me. It's not like I don't prepare myself just in case anything happens…" She stopped, looking at him again, making him brake as well.

"I know…but when a lot of things have happened to you out of the blue and they're bad…it's bound to leave scars that will take time to heal." He was back to being serious, his tone quiet.

"I can handle it. I'll be fine." The resolute look on her face stopped him from continuing the topic further.

A few metres before reaching their class, she turned to him and quietly asked, "You think I inherited my parents' skills in all this inventing…?"

Zero enveloped his hand with hers, gave it a reassuring squeeze and nodded. "Yeah, you definitely did…And they would be very proud of you." It was at times like this when Seiran seemed to be 'normal' and needed reassurance instead of being the stoic, unemotional girl…uhm…boy she usually portrayed.

"Come, class awaits…" She reluctantly reminded him before her fingers slowly slipped away from his grasp. Zero followed her, a few metres behind before rearranging his emotions into the usual unapproachable look.

Thanks, Zero…Out of a sudden whim she sent him her thoughts, wondering if he could receive them since she could do so with Kaname…If Zero could read her thoughts, then maybe she could mentally communicate with other vampires as well…

Zero's shoe skidded on the marbled floor as he looked at her back. Did Seiran just…speak to him without actually speaking…? Uhmm…you're welcome…? Then he immediately asked, mentally as well, worried that the connection might be cut off. How is it we can communicate like this?

Because of our bond…during that time…

The silver haired teen ignored the stares of his classmates as he made his way to his seat at the back of the class. He was sure Shana Shie had said something about both Seiran and he. He mulled his girlfriend's thoughts of the bond.

Right…they had developed the bond when Kuran forced Seiran to drink from him when she had been severely injured. From the Hunter lessons he learnt, he thought that a blood bond was strengthened if vampires drank from each other occasionally – a vampire thing – but when he'd asked his girlfriend before about it, she shook her head.

"I'm not going to drink your blood, Zero, just because of what we learned as hunters…"

"Why…not?" he asked, surprised.

"Because I don't see the need to. I can control my bloodlust with my own tablets…"

But Zero knew Seiran didn't want to release his inner demons, the old wound which had permanently scarred him, if she really did it.

While waiting for the teacher to enter and teach History…Lord, such a boring subject…Zero's eyes began to close and soon he fell asleep.

Seiran felt the pulse of her boyfriend being slow and steady and she hid her smile. That Sleepy head! Sleeping Beauty…Good thing that Sensei Hajiro was the type who kept on droning on and on without noticing anything which happened in the back row. But she was worried how Zero would fare sort-of-alone in the Day Class if he had to do the nocturnal rounds by himself while she was busy with the Night Classes she had which ended at odd hours of the morning – which was occasionally too late for patrolling.

"Yagari…," began President Yamashita.

"Yes, Yamashita-san?" Yagari answered, looking at her. Yamashita had been the previous vice president who had always been working in the background and was rarely seen by other hunters as she was in the same league as the late Kyousuke Tamaji, Seiran's master. Due to that matter of being rarely seen – handling cases overseas – most hunters had also mistaken her for a male due to her name. Thus it had been somewhat of a surprise when the late president named her as his successor.

"I have learnt of a matter somewhat…," her mind searched of the right word to say, "…disconcerting regarding the previous case our late colleague Tamaji had been solely focusing on."

"Which previous case?" Yagari was curious as most hunters worked on a few cases simultaneously at a time.

"The Orchid Murders."

Some dark foreboding filled the male hunter's heart. "What about it, President?"

She pushed him a file she had been reading earlier, waiting to see his reaction on the matter.

Cautiously the one eyed hunter picked up the blue folder and skimmed through it before hissing. Surely this isn't real…?

Both Yamashita Kyou and Toga Yagari exchanged glances before he asked. "Is this true…?"

"I wish it wasn't."

"Why haven't any of the hunters said anything? Especially those who opposed the new blood tablets being supplied to those Level Es? Isn't this rather good news to them?" A torrent of questions poured from Yagari's mouth. After what Seiran has gone through…and how Tamaji sacrificed himself for her sake…

"I suspect the other hunters knew but kept silent about this…I found out from Suou-san when he was out patrolling during the early hours. You know how the exterminated Level Es emit a sort of stench when they're dusted?" she replied in quiet tones.

Yagari nodded. It was somewhat of an irony that the vampires not only had a cast system, when they died their dust would signify their status – pearl dust for purebloods, soft dust with varying fineness for the nobles to ordinary; A to D and coarse dirt which were Level Es. To top it off, exterminated Level Es' dust gave off an unpleasant smell for a few hours.

"Suou-san found the dust and he told me it seemed like the murder was done recently, and yet there wasn't any stench…I'm assuming Seiran's tablets did help that Level E…"

"It could have been an extermination of a Level E by some hunter who saw it going out of control despite the blood tablets…," he tried to reason but he understood where she was getting at.

It was possible that it was not just a simple occurrence. It could also be that someone was trying to hurt Seiran in a way that even with her creation, Level Es would still be killed regardless. However, because it was a one time occurrence…

"You seemed to have omitted one other major detail," Yamashita reminded. "The orchid left behind."

"It's a copy cat murder case…," he grudgingly concluded. He wanted to put his close friend and colleague's murder behind him – he couldn't help feeling that he failed Tamaji in not seeing the danger on the latter's life until it was too late.

"Yagari-san, Tamaji-san didn't regret his decision."

"I understand, President," muttered Zero's master.

"Well, the pros of this murder case – " Yagari blanched at the detached way his president was describing the case " – are that so far, one Level E has been murdered and it's only in this area and not international like the previous Orchid Murders. However the cons are that now innocent Level Es are being targeted and a recent wound may be reopened, Yagari." Indicating Seiran.

Did Seiran learn her debating skills from President Yamashita? Zero's master pondered, noting the similarities between his late colleague's charge and her. "What course of action would you like me to take, Yamashita-san? Should Seiran be told of this matter at this instance?"

"For now, I believe it wise that you investigate if there are any more murders around which aren't reported considering the sorry status of the Level Es. I would like to know if the orchid was just a coincidence so this will take some time…" She paused. "If there are definitely more murders with orchids around, then you will have to tell Seiran."

"But – " Seiran has already undergone such emotional ordeal!

"I've been thinking about it as well, how she has suffered. But she needs to be stronger now, considering her true self has awakened – "

Yagari's eyes shot up in surprise. She knows that Seiran is a pureblood? Then how is Seiran going to get her hunter's license?

" – I've already known, Yagari…You weren't the only one Tamaji told the truth to. I taught Seiran for awhile when she was younger… and I accept her for what she is because I know she won't abuse her new powers or anything of the sort." One of the very few female vampire hunter trainees too who are strong in carrying out the duties the male vampire hunters think is more suitable for themselves…

Ahh, so that explains the similarity…"Will you give her, her license then? She had worked hard for it…" He stopped suddenly, remembering Zero's position was also unstable due to Shizuka Hiou biting him and his descent to Level E problem.

"I'll consider Kiryuu-kun as well, don't worry. I've seen his file and he's a very promising trainee. However, I can probably only give them their actual licenses when they've graduated from the academy they're studying at..."

He breathed a sigh of relief. At least with Zero's determination, he would carry on the Kiryuu bloodline of hunters…hopefully…"Alright, if I get anymore information I will inform Seiran of this matter."

"As a matter of fact I would like Seiran and Kiryuu-kun to assist you in this investigation once we have confirmed our doubts. Based on their track records, I think they would compliment each other well as partners."

He hid a smirk as he nodded despite the gravity of the newest situation. Oh, President, if only you knew…

"Yagari…is Seiran showing any signs of distress? After what happened to her last year, she could be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder…"

That question truly surprised him. He looked back at all his interactions with the hunter pureblood and she seemed to be alright, strong, except that she was tired looking; but that could be her late night reading and researching. "She's fine, President."

President Yamashita nodded. That was good to hear. "Alright, Yagari, you may leave now. Thank you for your time."

"Hai, President-sama." He bowed and left, his features contorting into anxiety and worry again as he gripped the file tighter. I don't know if Seiran can take this piece of news. I know she's strong, but I'm worried that she may be keeping some problems to herself. Having been a hunter for years, he knew that there was no way any person could not be affected deeply by the death of someone dear to them despite her going on with her life as normally as she could. Right now this case will be my topmost priority. I can set aside my investigations on President Namura for awhile…

Lesson no. 15 : Even the strongest person we know actually need support from ones they love…

HY : I'm sorry for the late update. (-.-") I'll try to make monthly updates (which is a far, far cry from my sorta weekly updates with Twisted Fates – cries, "Why is uni life getting harder and harder?") Anyway, thank you all for your support and patience. Please share your thoughts on how this fic is going, thank you very much!