HY: Don't own VK. Thanks for your support this far, minna! Was hoping to get a chappie last month, but uni was crazy, not having time to write and writer's block didn't help either. Tsk...the good ol' days of fast writing and uploading.

# CHAPTER 15

"Is that all you have on Namura, Seiren?" asked Kaname, stroking his chin in contemplation. Seiren had reported the exact same things Toga Yagari had investigated weeks ago, except that the older vampire was interested in horticulture and that many years back he had been a frequent traveler around the world. Typical…

"Hai, Kaname-sama. That was what I managed to find out," answered Seiren.

It's too clean a profile…mused Kaname. Even Haruka was a good vampire, but he still had his dark side…The side of him when he fell in love with his own sister, Juuri and inadvertently caused Rido to go after them, murdering the real Kaname in revenge and awakening me, Kazuo Kuran to take Kaname's place…His brow furrowed at the thought. Why was he thinking of that right now?

"Kaname-sama, would you like me to continue investigating President Namura?" asked Seiren when she saw his expression, thinking that he was displeased with her results.

"No, Seiren, I'm pleased with your work. Thank you. You may leave now." Kaname gave her a smile, reassuring her. Only after she had left he went back into his thoughts.

If…If I were to put aside my suspicions on this President Namura, then I would say that Seiran would have to watch out for the hunters who aren't happy.

Knowing how radical they are…An image of an unruly, rude silver haired teen and his one eyed sensei crossed his mind.

…I won't be surprised if they started doing something which can possibly hurt Seiran…

The one eyed hunter scowled. Everyday had been mainly investigations of the Orchid copycat murders, which to his utmost chagrin was similar to the previous problem he had when he was snooping into that President Namura's profile and past. Nada leads. Zilch. Thankfully nothing had occurred so far, no Level Es had lost their lives yet, when he'd been faithfully patrolling the streets…

Now I understand how Tamaji must have felt…Knowing that the murderer would strike at any time, and yet not knowing when, or how to catch the murderer. But at least he knew it was a pureblood and he read up on some leads.

Right now, I'm uncertain if the murderer is a vampire or a hunter. But he knows about Seiran…that's the thing I'm worried about. How many enemies does she unknowingly have…? It should be close to none, since she only transformed into a vampire…about a few months ago?

I'd understand if the murderer is a vampire, but if the murderer is a hunter, how could he have known Seiran is actually a vampire by birth? Then…the problem lies in her parents…? Her parents had enemies who know about Seiran's existence and want to bring her down?

He pulled out Tamaji's old files of the Orchid Murders where his late colleague had investigated Seiran's parents.

Akiro and Tsukino Kaede

Class A nobles

Both were in textile business. Marketed fabrics around Japan, Korea, France…

The one eyed hunter skimmed through the rest of the Kaede's job description, having no interest in whatever he was reading as it was unimportant to the case, but due to necessary documentation, all details had to be added. He wondered why the H.A regulations couldn't keep case descriptions short and precise…?

Killed on 28th August by the Orchid Murderer, leaving adopted child Seiran – human (?)

On the next page was Seiran's details as a hunter which he already knew, so he ignored it. There had been no mention on the female pureblood having any living relatives. Yeah…since the Murderer took all of 'em out except Aidou Hanabusa and Takuma Ichijou. He didn't know why Namura's name popped up in his mind as well but like he'd reasoned way back, Kuroumura would have gotten to Namura. The Aidou family was very loyal to Kaname, and while the Ichijou family had sided the Vampire Council Kuran had taken out…could Kuran, or the Kuran family be at loggerheads with Seiran's family?

No, that's not possible too…The Kaedes were very low profile and from everything I'd read they were the peaceful type like the Kurans…They were very much unlike their crazed ancestor who lusted for blood spilling…There lies the problem. I don't have the vampires' data, everything I've read so far was written or reported by hunters. What if there was another side to the story? Something all of us don't really know…?

Kill…had been the command and the puppet eagerly obliged, his heart singing for blood to be shed. And so he had killed, a family to be exact. Luck was on his side as he spotted three of them walking back from a late hour convenience store, doing the typical last minute grocery shopping. The husband and wife had smiled at him, all friendly while the daughter merely looked at him curiously. Stupid fools…And then their friendly smiles had transformed into abject horror when he'd calmly pointed his weapon at their hearts, sneered, "Goodbye…filth…"

Three muted and swift movements turned them into dust, too swift for them to register what had happened to their lives, or even cry out for help although they hadn't left the store far behind.

Never be friendly with strangers…don't people always say that…? thought the murderer mockingly as he left his mark and hurried away. His keen senses had registered someone approaching. His Master wouldn't be pleased if he got caught so easily and he wanted to serve his master as long as he could.

"Zero…Zero…wake up, Zero…"

Soft touches on his face and he mhmmed, enjoying the feel but he was tired, couldn't the person touching his face let him sleep instead…?

"Zero, wake up, it's cold out here. You'll catch a cold…"

Hot breath whispered into his ear, sending delicious shivers down his spine.

Was it cold? He didn't notice at all. In fact, he was very comfortable where he was at the moment…

Thuck!

Zero's eyes shot open. "What the hell – ?" he swore out loud as his vision swam into focus. His leg had jerked to the side due to a kick. His purple eyes glowered when he saw Hanabusa Aidou with a similar expression on his face.

Then Idol senpai looked away before bowing and saying, "I'm sorry, Seiran-san. It was the only way to wake him up. If you must punish me for being rude, I am willing to accept."

Zero looked to his left when he saw Seiran beside him but without her blazer…because she had put it on him.

"It's alright, Aidou-kun. Thank you for your help, it wasn't necessary to escort me to the Sun Dorm after classes, you know. I'm supposed to be patrolling too. Good night, have a good rest," she kindly dismissed her distant cousin.

"Yes, Seiran-san." Another bow and another glare in Zero's direction before the noble vampire headed back to his own dorm.

Seiran's breath was released in a hiss when she was spun into Zero's arms as he place her blazer on her shoulders before adding his own. "Zero, what are you doing?" she asked.

"How long have you been cold?" Zero grit out. This…this had never happened before, not even when he first started patrolling. How the hell could I have fallen asleep during patrol? He recalled himself feeling really sluggish as he was walking near the boundaries of Cross Academy when his brain had told him to take a short nap, he'd finished his patrol, it was too far from the Sun Dorms. A short nap wouldn't harm…

"We just finished classes, Zero. Not long. And I'm not cold, have your blazer back." Seiran unsheathed the larger Day Class blazer from her body and made Zero wear it, buttoning it up just to seal the warmth around his body. "Let's get back to our room?" she added as her fingers laced onto his left hand.

"I'm sorry…This never happened before…I was just so tired and I don't know why! It won't happen again!"

"There's always a first time for everything, Zero…There's nothing to apologise for either. Probably it's your body getting used to the new term with more homework…," before she playfully added – just to make Zero get off the topic, "Even if my blazer couldn't cover all of you, it covered most of you…"

A faint rosy hue stained his cheeks as he enjoyed the feeling of her smaller hand in his.

Seiran herself was content she managed to make Zero forget about the entire issue.

"Seiran-san…isn't that…Kiryuu-kun over there?" Aidou hesitantly asked as he was accompanying Seiran on her way back to the Sun Dorms. Although Seiran had originally insisted she was used to walking alone as a Prefect, she eventually gave in to Aidou's request because he really wanted to, and it had been fun talking to him about his own inventions as a child. Then when the baby curl-haired vampire spotted the other prefect…

Seiran's eyes enlarged. What on earth was Zero doing there? Slumped like that? His steady heartbeats told her that he was asleep and she giggled inwardly as both Aidou and she made their way to him.

Zero stirred slightly when a gentle draft passed by them and Seiran, pressing her finger to her lips indicating for Aidou to remain silent, had removed her blazer to drape it onto Zero's chest.

"Seiran-san, aren't you going to wake him up?" Aidou whispered, shocked at the pureblood's actions of putting Zero ahead of herself. He immediately removed his own blazer, offering it to her but she declined firmly.

"It's alright, Aidou. Thank you for your kind thoughts." She replied to his second statement but not the first.

Aidou reluctantly understood Seiran's wishes. He had seen it in the way Kaname treated Yuuki as well when she was still Miss Prefect.

They stood there, looking at the sleeping prefect for some time as minutes ticked past.

Seiran didn't know why she liked looking at Zero being in dreamland but it made her feel tranquil. "Aidou-kun, it's getting late, you should return to your dorm," she said but he stubbornly shook his head.

Honestly, nobles and their loyalties…she thought, feeling amused and exasperated at Aidou's stubbornness. So she bent forward and began calling for Zero to wake up and stroking his cheek at the same time. Aidou looked elsewhere, giving Seiran her privacy.

Aidou hadn't been able to tolerate it when Zero still hadn't stirred with Seiran's attempts of rousing him slowly. And he had the audacity to sleep for more than thirty minutes already! So he kicked the sleeping boy's leg.

The impetuous vampire was on his way to the room he shared with Kain when he heard his name being called. "Aidou…"

"Kaname-sama…" Immediately he latched into explanation. "I'm sorry for returning late. I was walking Seiran-san back and we bumped into Kiryuu-kun sleeping outside, at the academy walls…"

"It's alright, you didn't return late. Good night, Aidou." Kaname was leaning on the door to his room.

"Good night, Kaname-sama. Have a good rest," Aidou repeated Seiran's words as a small feeling of pride surged in him at the fact he was serving three purebloods.

Kiryuu sleeping outside? As far as Kaname knew, the boy he disliked had been an excellent Prefect, even if he had an intolerable attitude. He would never do something like this…

Earlier on he espied Zero's master leaving Cross Academy with a grave look on the latter's face. He concluded Toga Yagari was on another case…but what was with that expression on his face? There had been fear, denial…It wasn't any of Kaname's business but didn't Sensei Yagari have that similar expression on his face when he handed Seiran Tamaji's testament…?

Lesson no. 16 : If you're going to take a nap, at least do it in a comfortable place :D

HY : No, I haven't been following VK for awhile now, but I know "Kaname ancestor" flashbacks were definitely in one of those chappies. I don't know the ancestor's name and storyline, so I've taken a few liberties :) Tell me your thoughts!