Chapter 12 ~ Hours After Aya's Last Part

"I'm so excited that I get to see Kashu again! It's been awhile. I hope she is doing well." I said, happily. Zelman glanced at me and smiled. Zelman's black car drove down the street faster and faster. Overhead, we could the large school from far away.

"I wish it was that simple but….it seems that Miss Isabella has been causing problems." Zelman sighed, and leaned against the side of the car door.

"What has she done?" I asked, surprised.

"We are nearly at Cross Academy, sir." The car driver's voice burst in our conversation.

"Good." Zelman said as he leaned back against his seat, and relaxed.

"What? I thought we were going to Ouran Academy." I asked, alarmed.

"No, we're going to Cross Academy." Zelman stared at me, strangely.

"What is Kashu doing there?" I asked, baffled.

"Miss Isabella suddenly left Ouran Academy and moved to Cross Academy. As Kyoya told me, she felt neglected." Zelman commented, as he stared out the window.

"Kashu…" I pondered about what she must be feeling and felt sad.

"Aya, please don't worry. You'll be there for Miss Isabella." Zelman smiled his usual charismatic smile. I knew the nice guy act was just a façade but it still made me feel better to hear his words.

"You're right." I smiled.

"Aya…" Zelman started but the driver cut him off.

"We have arrived at Cross Academy, Lord Zelman."

Zelman winced.

"Yes Zelman." I waited patiently for his words. Zelman's pained look became a smile. "Let's find my sister."

"Ok."

Our car pulled over in front of Cross Academy. As I gazed out of the window, I saw the magnificent buildings of Cross Academy and marveled at their beauty. The driver proceeded to get out and open the door on Zelman's side but Zelman let himself out instead. I reached for the door handle to let myself out but Zelman flung open my door. I crawled out of the car and followed Zelman to the large doors of the Academy. Suddenly, something caught my eye. Kyoya Ootori from the Ouran Host Club was leaning against the wall of the front. He was clearly in a sour mood and a large bluish bruise marked his cheek in the shape of a foot. This struck me as odd. I heard Zelman snicker a little beside me. I cautiously walked over to him, stopping abruptly when he glancing sharply over to me.

"You are the secondary guardian, Miss Aya, I presume?" He asked, coolly.

"Yes, I am." I answered.

"So you are Miss Isabella's older sister. Interesting." Kyoya said, in a low voice but then he smirked.

"Umm…Kyoya, are you okay?" I asked, softly.

"I'm fine." He said, sighing heavily.

"What happened?" I questioned, sympathetically.

"Miss Isabella beat him to a pulp." A familiar voice announced.

Kaoru Hitachiin strutted out from behind the corner of the entrance.

"Kyoya ran away from us after the battle between him and Miss Isabella. I guess he's sour because he was defeated."

He leaned up against the wall and glanced at me, smiling. He turned his eyes to Kyoya.

"I told you Senpai, that she wouldn't go quietly."

"Hi Kaoru, where's Hikaru?" I asked, eccentrically.

"He's with the Boss."

"The Boss?" I questioned, baffled. Suddenly, I remembered. "Oh, Tamaki!"

"You are Miss Aya, the older sister of Miss Isabella, right?" He asked, politely.

"Yes. I have come to see my sister." I declared.

"By the way, Miss Aya, how do you know who we are anyway? I don't recall anyone… even Zelman telling you about us." Kaoru looked at me with interest but also with confusion.

"Well…I…um…" I started.

"Obviously, she's seen the anime we were in…named after our club." Kyoya interrupted, harshly.

"Oh." Kaoru said. Kaoru seemed embarrassed and leaned up against the wall like he was trying to bury himself into the wall.

"Kaoru, it's okay. I didn't explain myself properly." I explained as I glared at Kyoya. Kaoru looked up and smiled at me softly. I smiled back.

"Are you here by yourself?" Kaoru asked, looking around me.

"No, I was here with Zelman." I said as I spun around. Zelman wasn't behind me.

"If you had noticed, he left while you two were chatting." Kyoya remarked. I glared at him.

"Kyoya, where is my sister?" I asked, irritated.

"How should I know? Mr. Kiryu is with her." Kyoya exclaimed.

"You mean, Zero. Could either of you two take me to my sister?" I looked back and forth between Kyoya and Kaoru. Kyoya shrugged lower against the wall.

"I'll take you, Miss Aya. I believe we can find them. Cross Academy is a little smaller than Ouran Academy." Kaoru said, smiling. Although, Kaoru had a mischievous side, he was remarkably friendly and polite. We went down the hallway Kaoru had just come from. We entered the elaborate academy unique style and searched the many rooms, scanning for Isabella or anyone for that matter. Many students resided in the Moon dorms. They were usually asleep at this hour but I figured they were aware of the approaching threat of Reality. We courteously passed them in the hallway though I occasionally smiled at them to ease the awkwardness I felt since I was now a vampire, exactly the same being as these fellow students. I trembled, shyly but continued after Kaoru who suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling him closely behind him. Out of nowhere, two students caught my eye. They were sitting among the stairs in the front room of the building, seemingly bored, popping sticks of chocolate pocky in their mouth. It was Rima Toya and Senri Shiki. They both wore their Night Class uniforms. Rima's light orange hair was tied up in pigtails with black ribbon. Shiki leaned against the stairs, brushing his mahogany hair back out of his face but then suddenly, Shiki's ice blue eyes glanced over at me. I stopped, alarming Kaoru for a moment but then pointed towards Rima and Shiki.

"One moment please." I told Kaoru quickly then wandered over to the stairs to greet Shiki and Rima. "Hello Shiki…Rima." I said, happily. They both seemed very tired and stared at me curiously.

"Hello." They both said, at nearly the same time.

"You are Miss Isabella's sister….?" Rima guessed, quietly.

"Yes, pleased to meet you." I said to Rima, respectfully.

"Same here." Rima said, gazing into my eyes. "Miss Aya, you are a vampire too." Her soft voice seemed full empathy. Rima's cerulean eyes were so strikingly beautiful and amazing that I felt myself not wanting to look away from them. Shiki munched on some pocky and stared at me, as if pondering my soul. He held out a little box of chocolate pocky out towards me, gesturing for me to take some. His face was expressionless and unreadable. I hesitated for a second but then leaned down, plucking a couple chocolate sticks from the box and nibbled on them. Rima looked away from me and continued to eat her chocolate stick. Shiki stared at Rima, interestingly, watching her eat.

"Aya." Zelman's voice echoed through my mind. I realized Zelman was behind me. "Aya, your sister is waiting." He whispered. I glanced at him, smiling, feeling a sense of excitement as I thought of Kashu. I faced Rima and Shiki.

"Thanks for the pocky. But I have to go see my sister now so take care." I smiled kindly and turned to Zelman.

"Miss Aya…"

I turned to the sound of Shiki's voice.

"You smell sweet."

His eyes burned into me like Zelman's but his gentle gaze was icy, not fiery.

Rima stared at Shiki. "I think you need another blood tablet, Shiki." Rima suggested.

"But chocolate doesn't taste good with blood." Shiki took a bite out of another pocky stick.

"Blood and Chocolate." I laughed. "You two are sweet."

Suddenly, Zelman began striding off without me. "Bye." I said. I ran off after Zelman. We walked down the hall until we come to the exit to the outside courtyard. We stood in the courtyard for a few minutes. I watched the entrance in front of us to the main building. A few times, I got distracted and looked at Zelman, interested in his facial expressions. Suddenly, the door opened and Kashu walked out with Zero Kiryu, who stood solemnly. Once she noticed me, she broke into a run.

"Aya!" She yelled, happily.

"Kashu!" I hollered.

The excitement I felt was nothing compared to anything else. I had Kashu back after so long. Just as we were about to embrace in a hug, the ground below us cracked, causing a loud crumbling noise that shot through our ears. I began to feel faint. Zelman caught me just before I hit the ground. I could barely make out the blurred figure of Kashu lying a few inches from me. Zero was beside her, helpless. I gazed up to meet Zelman's bright eyes glowering down on me from above.