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Chapter 11~ Raining Fire
"What are you all talking about?" Ruka demanded, gazing from me to the Sorin to Rhyl and back.
"How much do they know?" Rhyl asked darkly, reaching for his sword handle.
"Enough to keep them from being targets." I shot a sharp glare at the vampire and he stiffened for a moment before dropping his stance.
"Ariao?" Hanabusa's eyes darkened slightly as he looked at the two who had moved to my side.
"They are my royal guard." I said slowly to the group around me. "My second-in-command, Sorin. And my healer, Rhyl." I looked at Kaname whose gaze was tinted crimson. "Although I did intend to only find out about my father, Cross Academy also served as a place where I could recover and hide for a time."
"So what exactly are we dealing with now?" Kaname's voice had an edge of ice.
"The group that has currently surrounded the academy has been after me since my mother's death. Who they really are is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you."
"We have reason to believe that they are after anyone baring Rido's blood." Rhyl said, looking around the room.
"We have to warn Headmaster Cross. The school's about to become a battleground." Kaname said, getting to his feet. "Takuma, see to it." The vice president bowed in acceptance. "Class is dismissed for now. I suggest you all head to the dorms as quick as you can."
As I turned to head out of the classroom, Hanabusa grabbed my hand lightly. "Ariao, wait. I know that look in your eyes. Don't put yourself in danger needlessly." I was about to make a sharp reply, but the worried look in his ice blue eyes had me holding back the words. I went over and held him tightly, burying my face in his shoulder for a moment. I felt Hanabusa kiss the top of my head, then pull back. I looked at him and his lips met mine. When he pulled back again, he still looked worried, but there was also a darker light in the depths of his eyes.
"I'll be fine. Promise." I said before pulling away. As I turned away, I felt the tears build up and spill over.
"He's your lover?" Sorin asked me quietly once we were out of the classroom. I couldn't trust myself to speak so I nodded.
"You intend to hand yourself over." Rhyl said, a tint of sorrow in his voice.
"There's no other choice. Cross Academy will be destroyed unless I do something." I choked out, looking at my ocarina. I headed for the Moon Dorm, quickly climbing the stairs that led to the rooftop, Rhyl and Sorin no more than a couple of steps behind me.
One last song won't hurt. I thought, settling down. Closing my eyes, I began to play.
Hanabusa paused near the gate to the Moon Dorm. Reality disappeared, replaced by a vision of the Cross Academy building, stones glittering in the morning sunlight. The tone changed a bit and the scene changed to one of sunset outside the Moon Dorm, he could almost hear the day class students screaming right beside him. Then it became a more mysterious feel, reflecting the air that hung around the Moon Dorm. The last note sang of a brighter promise for the academy, where humans and vampires really did get along.
"That song. She's never played it before now…does that mean that she's…." Terror hit him and he sprinted for the stairs that would take him up to the rooftop. At the top of the stairs, he saw Sorin and Rhyl, but both stood aside for him before he could say a word.
When I finished, I saw Hanabusa come up the steps and looked away.
"Ariao, that song…you're not planning to give in are you?" Hanabusa's voice was full of hurt.
"I have to! This academy is going to be destroyed unless I hand myself over to these vampires. Too many innocent lives are at stake this time." Hanabusa put one arm around my shoulders and held me close. I was terrified at what I knew I had to do, but we both knew that my mind was made up.
"You're not going alone. I'm coming with you." Hanabusa said into my hair. I could feel him trembling with tension and fear, but he did a good job of hiding it from his voice. "I almost felt like I would lose you once. I'm not doing that again."
"Hanabusa." I closed my eyes and leaned into him. For just a moment, it was nice to have a sliver of peace.
We stayed like that until the moon was halfway through the sky when an explosion sounded not too far off. I opened my eyes and jumped to my feet just as Sorin and Rhyl dashed up.
"Lady Ariao, Lord Hanabusa." Rhyl looked us over, relief crossing his amber eyes when he saw neither of us were wounded.
"Where did that come from?" Hanabusa asked, keeping one arm around my waist. I was glad of his support right now.
"Sounded like it came from the main gate." Sorin said tensely, pulling out a pair of tiny binoculars from under his cloak. Striding over, I watched him look out towards the direction of the main gate and he let out a soft curse. "They're storming the grounds on this side." He slowly swiveled, taking in the entire grounds. "They've taken the whole area already and coming fast."
Fires were already springing up around the grounds, slowly creeping closer to Cross Academy and the Moon Dorm. I watched in mounting horror as wave after wave of Level E vampires began to slide into view, eyes burning crimson like the flames.
"The second battle for Cross Academy has begun." I said, more to myself. And everything is falling into place. My visions are beginning to show my where the truth lies. I only hope this isn't the end for Cross Academy. I thought, leaning against Hanabusa as he held me tightly against his side.