Disclaimer: Don't own VK.
A/N: Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone's wishes this year will come true. I'm sorry if I haven't replied your PMs/reviews since months ago as RL had been crazy for me and unfortunately this year it will be crazier as I have to work full time and study part time as well. I will do my best to update, although they are likely to be sporadic. But thank you all for your support, it means a lot to me!
# CHAPTER 22
"The tablets are completed," Seiran announced upon her arrival into the Chairman's office, Sensei Naro behind her. Yagari looked up from the pile of files he had in front of his table which blocked most people's views of what he was actually doing – reading the secret Hunters' Association documents on vampires. After seeing Seiran's action of burning the orchid with her power, he knew that she had understood some sort of message was delivered in that flower. She hadn't said anything but she had a dark look on her features.
Someone else is behind the murders. The copycat murderer is just a go-between. Otherwise random ex Level Es would not be killed. These Level Es have no other connections in common except that they take the blood tablets Seiran created. It's leading us nowhere…blast it!
Chairman Cross discreetly looked at a roughly planned schedule on his desk. Seiran had pushed herself to complete the blood tablets two days ahead of schedule. He caught Sensei Naro's eye and both the headmaster and the vampire noble exchanged concerned looks – clearly she hadn't been sleeping. In private the Chemistry lecturer had approached the headmaster of the academy to voice his concern about Seiran being an extremist simply because of some blood tablets? Kaien Cross had placated the worried vampire noble the best he could simply because he didn't know how to handle the matter either.
Zero stood up from the couch – he was having free study time – declaring, "We can get to work now."
"No, Zero, wait. I'll need Chairman's help, but not yours or Sensei Yagari's."
"Daddy will gladly give you all his help!"
Seiran forced a smile at almost being deaf at his 100 decibeled squeal. Yagari shook his head when Sensei Naro looked at the Chairman in astonishment – it must have been the noble vampire's first time seeing the head of the academy in a new light.
"You're not allowing us to go with you when you distribute the new tablets? Why?" the male prefect demanded, frowning. "With more people you can cover the vast area faster!"
His girlfriend nodded her head. "Yes, Zero, I know…But Sensei Yagari and you…don't quite fit." Her tone was apologetic.
The one eyed hunter leaned his head one side, trying to avoid from looking at his colleague who was practically sparkling when Seiran had asked for the Chairman's assistance in going around those deserted areas and the outskirts of town to pass the ex Level Es the tablets containing miniscule amounts of radioactive markers.
"How do we not quite fit? And you're bringing Sensei Naro!" Who is a vampire.
"That's because Sensei Naro helped me distribute them last time."
"Hey, brat, what she says goes. Look at yourself and me. Think we can handle giving out those tabs to those ex Level Es? Heck, they'd run away from us," grunted Toga Yagari. He now was marking 'Xs' on spots they found the piles of dust and the flowers. There was no pattern, only haphazard distances from the academy.
The male Prefect folded his arms. His master had a point. Apart from having strong auras as vampire hunters, Zero was sure no one wanted to face two usually sullen looking men. Looking at the hyper chairman, no one would imagine he used to be a feared hunter. And Cross had people skills, although they were quirky.
"If you insist, then each time when you go out in the evening to distribute those tablets, you'll agree to let me be the one patrolling at night outside the academy grounds." Zero shrugged at Seiran.
"I also think that getting back to your classes would be a good idea. Your lecturers have been asking about you. The vampires are more observant if something feels wrong." This time Cross was the one who spoke, his honey coloured eyes intent on the girl. Sensei Naro blinked again in shock at the changed mode of the headmaster.
The Kaede pureblood stilled. She knew her Night Class friends would soon be questioning her absence in class. Kaname had told them she was working on her blood tablets since the hunters at the H.A had kicked up a fuss. Too long a non-attendance for a 'light' excuse like that would raise eyebrows especially amongst the more perceptive type…like Aidou or even Takuma.
"Very well," she eventually agreed.
Seiran rapped on a wooden door in the second 'community' she visited so far. The place she was currently at was one of the homes in a small community on the outskirts of town – a group of ex Level Es regaining their 'normal' lives. Sensei Naro had suggested if the blood tablets were working properly to control their urges for blood, it wouldn't be too long before they fully returned to the human community and lived amongst their human counterparts.
A cautious face of a teenaged girl of about fourteen peeked at her from between the gaps of drawn curtains. Seiran curled her lips upwards, attempting to look friendly and approachable; there was no need to emit the tenseness she really felt inside about the whole matter.
The door creaked open, the girl's face lit up. "Seiran-san." She stood aside, allowing the redhead to enter. Chairman Cross and Sensei Naro opted to stay outside, feeling awkward.
"How have you been, Dana-chan?" Seiran enquired as she quickly scanned her surroundings – the furniture was in place, no claw marks on the wall nor any splatters of blood; indicating the younger girl was safe from descending into a crazy bloodthirsty vampire. Seeing how she is, I'll continue to fight those hunters from the H.A…I don't see what's the point of getting my license if I have to work with jerks like those!
"The medication has worked very well. Thank you so much," answered Dana, looking at Seiran with adoration – this was something Seiran still was not used to receiving from the public after living most of her life being mocked at by her old peers training to become vampire hunters.
"I've brought you a new batch of tablets. This time it contains a marker – "
"So that means the rumours are true then," Dana murmured.
Alarmed, Seiran demanded, "What rumours?" Someone has been spreading news on the murders?!
"Someone out there is killing people like…us."
"Who told you this?" Blue orbs narrowed. As far as Zero's sensei had told her, this case was confidential. Only President Yamashita, the hunter Suou and Sensei Yagari of the H.A knew about this.
"Keita who lives two doors down, overheard some hunters laughing about it."
Those bastards! "Did he tell you how they looked like?" If I can get some description, I can question them about how they know…
The younger girl shook her head regretfully. "He mentioned that they all wore the same cloaks which made it difficult to identify."
They're smart, covering their identities. Seiran's eyebrow twitched in agitation. "Please be careful then." She was close to revealing her actual pureblood aura at the rage she felt. Immediately she held out the box of new blood tablets to Dana.
"Please be careful yourself, Seiran-san." Dana's eyes never left hers. "Although you're an aristocrat fighting for our cause…you feel very much like a human."
"Kaname-kun, please take a seat," bade Kaien Cross when the Night Class Dorm Head appeared.
"Yes, Headmaster?" Something serious must have occurred with Seiran's distribution of the medicine.
"I was wondering if you understand the meaning of a 'vampire feeling very much like a human'." Kaname raised an eyebrow and the pony tailed ex hunter elaborated, "At one of the houses we visited, I overheard a female teen telling Seiran that, and since then Seiran had been in a pensive mood during the rest of the evening while distributing the new tablets. I'd like to hear your opinion about it, Kaname-kun, since you're the one with the most understanding of vampire matters."
"Not to sound biased, Headmaster, but when you speak of a vampire feeling very much like a human, Yuuki comes to mind," Kaname admitted although his curiosity was aroused as well by that phrase.
A chuckle escaped Cross' lips. "Yes, it does…And yet due to Seiran's circumstances of training as a vampire hunter, I'd say Yuuki had a more 'normal' human lifestyle until you awoke her. But if you set aside Yuuki and Seiran, what do you feel about such a vampire feeling like a human? Would it mean a vampire living a human lifestyle, or does it indicate emotions instead?"
"Our lifestyles are similar to humans, so there is no reason as to why that ex Level E would mention that…Perhaps it means a vampire who…despite knowing their role in vampire society, did not act like how a vampire of their status should have behaved." Kaname blinked once the words left his mouth. Deep down he was getting disturbed. What he uttered was making him remember her once more.
A pureblood who didn't accept her station in life, learning for freedom and something unattainable…
Those things which cost her dearly.
"Are you remembering something from Vampire History, Kaname-kun?" guessed Cross somewhat accurately that it was eerie.
"No, Headmaster. I was trying to recall if such a vampire has existed before in history," lied the Kuran pureblood.
"Do you remember if there's any then?"
"No – "
Yes. I erased her records in order to keep her memory pure.
" – but Seiran does come to mind this time, since Yuuki is adapting well to our society. Yuuki has accepted her true self, but I sensed Seiran is still struggling internally." Kaname tilted his head questioningly at the pouting face Chairman Cross was giving him. "Yes, what is it, Headmaster?"
"Why do you not call me Father-in-law since Yuuki is my daughter?" whined the ex hunter.
"…." Not that again…
You feel very much like a human.
Seiran released her breath as she looked at the ceiling of her room, unable to sleep. Didn't I live my entire life as a human until last year? Isn't that the reason why Dana-chan said that?
"Can't sleep?"
Zero's question shocked her; she thought he was fast asleep. "Zero…you can't sleep as well?"
"What's bothering you, Seiran?" Purple eyes glinted slightly in the glow of moonlight as he was facing her – he'd been watching her for quite some time. Oddly she hadn't noticed, her mind had to be preoccupied with something very deep.
"I'm overanalysing things like usual, Zero. Did I disturb you?" Her head turned to look at him.
"No. Just get some sleep. I know you're exhausted." Zero smiled at her.
"I will. 'Night, Zero." She closed her eyes.
What are you keeping inside, Seiran? His smile had been forced because he felt that he was being kept at arm's length. And it was beginning to irritate him.
Lesson no. 23 : Being bipolar certainly is alarming.