"Remind me again why he dragged me from my bed to come here..."
"It better be pretty damn important."
The Disciplinary trio loomed over the small round table, a haze of sleepiness emanating throughout the room. All three sat with tired eyes and gaping mouth, more annoyed at why they were awoken so early and called to the Headmaster's room. Even worse for Koneko, it was Kaname that woke her up and told her of the meeting. The kitten found herself screaming to high heaven for being woken after only two hours sleep. Whether it was fortunately or unfortunately, everyone was still awake to hear her cries of protest.
Heads turned hauntingly when the door swung open, and a delicious scent wafted into their nostrils. Koneko's nose seemed to twitch when she sniffed the air, and she could have sworn she heard the harmony of stomachs growling.
"Good morning, my darling Disciplinary students!~" None other than the Headmaster himself came sauntering through the door, dressed in an apron and oven mitts, carrying an array of food on a large tray. Placing them out around the table, he handed each of them chopsticks and flew away again, without so much of a second glance.
Koneko couldn't help but stare at the door from where he vanished, her eyes not moving from that singular spot. She only really moved when she heard Yuuki clear her throat.
"Uhm...I guess we should..dig in?" She suggested, glancing to both Koneko and Zero, both holding completely different expressions. Koneko was still as much in shock as she was previous, while Zero was just...well, Zero.
With a nod, Koneko picked up her chopsticks and targeted a piece of parsley, popping it into her mouth. "Hm...not bad." She mumbled, nodding her head.
"Glad you like it." A voice purred behind her, causing her to jump out of her skin. Turns out, Kaien Cross had made his way back into the room before she took a bite, and watched with anticipation how the blonde thought. "It's all home made!"
"So you're telling me he woke us at the crack of dawn for this?" Zero's dull tone rang through their ears as he held up a dumpling to his face. A grim expression was glued to his face, and Koneko could easily tell the poor guy needed more sleep.
Both girls seemed to appear more chipper, delicately picking at the food. "Well...calling it his own is a bit much.." Yuuki whispered while the Headmaster was out of the room, happily munching on a piece of carrot and not caring how unladylike she was acting for talking with her mouth full.
Koneko couldn't help but glance at the brunette as she ate, a simple 'how dense can you get?' look invading her shaded face. "That's not the point, Yuuki.." The other two answered in unison, and they both stared at each other for a moment.
As soon as Zero caught her looking in his direction, he was sent back to yesterday, the memory of her giving him the chocolate recollected in his brain, and he let a blush cross his pale cheeks. And he soon cursed at himself when he literally felt the heat coming from them.
"Say cheese!~" The headmaster's voice cooed from the doorway, and all three heads turned to see a flash. Only Zero was quick enough to block his face with the dumpling he held up only moments ago.
"What is with you today?" The albino hunter asked, slumping a little in his seat, desperate for at least another hour of sleep before class started. With the fact that he barely slept anymore due to his 'condition', surely the headmaster would be a little more considerate.
"Commemorative photo!" Kaien purred, hiding his face behind the rather large, old-fashion camera. His head rose as his grin widened, the photo printing off on the front. "Today you will start your duties not as guardians, of as official Disciplinary Committee members, making it a day to commemorate!" The photo finally dried and he held it up for the three to see.
"Eugh..." Koneko's voice rose, her head resting on the table. Though the picture wasn't that bad, it was still a little embarrassing. She only felt happy with it because her glasses were on. "So explain...what's all this about performing duties as Disciplinary Committee?" She asked, raising her head and slipping her forearm between her head and the table.
"I'm glad you asked, Koneko-chan." Another groan from the teen. "Because there is no school on a sunday, I would like all three of you to perform a dorm inspection for both dorms. I'll have you do the Night class later on today, and I'll have Koneko run over to tell them to get ready."
"Fat chance. I'm not running after food. I'll ask Seirin to deliver the message." With a snap of her fingers, Kaname's bodyguard was at the door, head bowed.
"What is it you need, Kitten-san?" She asked, the monotone voice seemingly echoing off the walls. The three looked at each other with a confused gaze. Kitten?
"Could you please inform Kaname that there will be a dorm inspection later today?" She asked, twirling her thumbs as her fingers laced together. A nod from Serin and she was gone in the blink of an eye. The room remained silent, and only Koneko continued to eat. It was only when she noticed even Kaien was now sat did she look up and tilt her head. "What is it?" She asked, looking all three of them in the eye. She was feeling only slightly uncomfortable with the staring.
"How did you call Seirin? And why did she call you Kitten?" Yuuki asked, hundreds of questions buzzing through her head.
"Kaname told Seirin specifically that she should answer my every beck and call. I just snap my fingers and she'll appear beside me. And to answer your second question, all of the Night class have nicknamed me Kitten. It's become a habit for them, even when I say I don't like it." The blond huffed, head back on the table. She was too tired for this. She hoped that she could sleep once this was done, and not have any stupid vampire disturbing her.
"Alright then, time to get to work. Koneko-chan, will you help me with the dishes? Yuuki and Zero, why don't you get some bags and a trolley? You'll probably need one." Kaien grinned, waving his hand as though it meant completely nothing at all.
A mumbled 'yes' was heard from the table, and Koneko raised her head as a symphony of groans escaped the two either side of her. She stood up, stacking up their plates and making her way to the kitchen with plates in hand. Silently, she was thankful the headmaster told her to wash up. She didn't really want to start with dorm inspections straight away. She had a feeling the Day class girls weren't all that welcoming to a girl, brand new to the school, sharing a dorm with the Night class.
A small sigh left her lips. A week. She would have loved to be in the Sun dorm for a week before having to be moved. Actually she would have preferred to stay in the Sun dorm altogether. Last night had been clear that only two didn't mind her presence there, and even though said two were the most important students, it still didn't sway anyone else's opinions of her.
Turning on the tap, she stood at the sink and let her head drop slightly, hair over her face. Her glasses seemed to slip down her face until they completely slid down and onto the floor. She didn't seem to mind right now. If Kaien showed up, she wouldn't care. After all, he knew her father, and they both suffered Aniridia together. Kaien would be used to it.
"Okay, Yuuki and Zero have gone to work. So let's get started with these dishes." The beaming voice of the headmaster rang through her ears, and she soon began to feel a headache coming on. Turning of the hot tap and squeezing a few drops of washing up liquid into the sink, she started work on the plates she carried in. Kaien entered soon with the rest of the dishes stacked up, and he began scraping the leftover food into the bin beside the door.
"So...has there been any trouble with the Night class since you've started moving in?" He asked casually, making Koneko tense slightly. Did he know about last night? She kept on scrubbing at the plate she was holding, letting out a small sigh. "No...not at all. Considering they don't like me and I don't like them, we're getting along so well." She replied rather dramatically, though she swore the headmaster never even noticed.
"Well that's nice to hear." He smiled softly, and once the dishes were clear of food, he popped them down beside Koneko as she grabbed for the second plate. "Koneko, please answer me truthfully. Would you ever be willing to try my pacifism? I know that your father doesn't fare well with my views...but what do you truly think about them?"
Koneko took a glance at the ex vampire hunter, and she bent down to pick up her glasses, sliding them down to the end of the counter. "I don't know really." She answered simply, the third plate now being cleaned. "I don't really like the thought of working side by side with vampires, but they have feelings...just like we do." Her mind went back to Takuma, when they first conversed and he seemed so very...human. "I guess...I would like to see it happen. Human and vampire working together. Sounds so damn far-fetched, but I think that's why it could work." She shrugged her shoulders, rather content with what she said.
It seemed that Kaien was happy with her phrasing and clapped his hands lightly before gripping a new drier towel to dry the newly cleaned dishes from their spot by Koneko's side. Drying them and putting them on the counter behind, he started putting them away while Koneko remained washing. "Well, Koneko, just to let you know that I want you to always feel welcome during your stay here. I'm sure Kaname wants that also." He picked up the towel again and started drying off the other dishes and utensils he had been cooking with.
"I believe he does, but I can't be sure yet." The girl never looked his way, but he knew she truly meant what she said. He could tell she was trying to get along with Kaname more than anyone. But he didn't know she had an ulterior motive for that. If she remained on Kaname's good side, everyone would have to respect her. No vampire could touch her. A smirk graced her face as she cleaned off the remaining bowl, stacking it with the others before letting the water out and drying her hands.
"Kaname is a good man, Koneko." Now that shocked her. The headmaster dropped the 'chan' without her telling him. Now she knew he was serious. "It is wise that you would remain friendly with him, but try not to cause any trouble with the others. Now, I'll handle the rest of this, you hurry and catch up to the others." His smile grew back again as he motioned to shoo her out of the room.
"Alright, alright, I'm going." She huffed, quickly grabbing her glasses before lazily waving her hand as she exited the kitchen. Kaien watched her go with that same goofy smile until she finally left, and a grim expression settled along his face.
"Oh, Koneko...I hope you know what you're doing..."
xx
"Surprise dorm inspection?"
"Very well then. Thank you so much, Seirin."
The bodyguard bowed towards her master as she relayed the message to the vampires still lingering in the lounge. After their long night of classes, not to mention the scolding every one of them had gotten from Kaname himself, they all decided to stay up and converse. Changing out of their uniforms and into something more comfortable, they all remained chatting amongst themselves until President Kuran arrived with Seirin to deliver the news.
"What a pain..." Ruka huffed, flicking her mousy brown hair behind her shoulder as she casually leaned against the stairs, cuddling into her fluffy pink dressing gown. "There's no predicting what the Headmaster will think of next."
"I don't mind." Senri ushered from the arm of the sofa, a small yawn escaping him. "I mean...It's not like I've got anything I don't want them to see." He pouted his lips upwards slightly, not exactly caring about the whole idea.
"True, but when it's spur of the moment, you can see what the norm for a place is really like." A new voice joined the fray, just before taking a sip of a watered-down blood tablet from his teacup.
"You mean like the underwear that you haven't picked up and are still laying on the floor, Takuma?"
A small blush flushed over Takuma's face at Senri's words, but he flooded it with a bright smile. "Oh those are fine! They are made from the finest silk you can buy and sewn by the best tailors in the world." The blond casually leaned back on the sofa, glancing over to Senri on his right. "Those briefs could be left anywhere and I still wouldn't be embarrassed."
"That's not the point..." Ruka grimaced, rather disgusted that Takuma could be such a slob sometimes, but alas, her comment was slightly drowned out by a rather loud yawn coming from Hanabusa's big open mouth. He kept it covered with his hand and then rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.
"What I want to know is what kind of things will the Disciplinary Committee confiscate?" Rima asked, only to get in on the conversation, casting a quick glance at Senri before taking a pocky stick from the box in her pocket.
"I doubt anything will be confiscated from here, Rima." Kaname reassured her, offering a soft smile. "Like Senri said, no one has anything to hide. At least...I hope no one has anything to hide." He added, just before Hanabusa ushered a yawn from his gaping mouth.
"Hanabusa..." A voice whispered in the blond's ear; a voice that could only belong to Kain Akatsuki. The ice Aristocrat turned his crystalline eyes towards his pyro cousin, a look that only enhanced the proof that Hanabusa was tired. With a huff, he stood and followed Akatsuki away from the rest of the group.
"What is it, Akatsuki?" He asked once they were out of earshot inside his room. He actually thought Akatsuki wanted to speak about what happened last night, but he really wasn't in the mood. "I'm really tired and over this already.." He whined, leaning against the wall next to his door.
As soon as he finished his sentence, Akatsuki's hands were beside his face, keeping him trapped at the wall. "Hanabusa, I won't tell anyone...but they go." His cousin muttered, keeping his amber eyes fixed on icy blue.
"Huh?" Now he was utterly confused. What was he talking about? "What goes?" He asked, a look of sheer confusion plastered against his face. Akatsuki only had to turn around and take in the scenary within the room to make his point.
If a total stranger had seen this room, they would dub Aidou Hanabusa as a hoarder. Everything lay in an organised mess, from ripped paper, pieces of shattered glass, pens, paintings with holes punched through, you name it and it was there. "Even junk can look menacing when it's lined up like this..."
At first, Hanabusa looked rather shocked at the idea of Akatsuki calling his collection 'junk', but it soon melted into a flash of anger. "What are you calling junk!?" He yelled, not thinking about anyone else being able to hear him. "I'll have you know that these are my precious collection of items that were sacrificed when Dorm President Kuran unleashes his powers!" A look of smug pride graced the handsome features of Aidou Hanabusa, while Akatsuki dug through the piles of tattered clothing to a table, where he glanced over the most peculiar items.
"You even got a fork he used..." He whispered moreso to himself than to his cousin. He tried to keep disbelief in his head, but the more he looked the more real it felt. He picked up said fork, which was bent ninety degrees in the middle. "Hanabusa, if the Dorm President sees this-" The fork was snatched from his hands as a fuming Aidou made his way over, the fork in his right hand.
"My collection only mirrors the respect I have for him! Wait..." His tone softened, to a possibly more suspicious tone. "You just want all these for yourself don't you?" He turned away from his cousin, ready to put the fork in a more 'safe' place, only to freeze in terror at who was stood in the doorway. None other than the Dorm President himself.
"Aidou...I'd like to speak to you about our dorm regulations." Hanabusa stood motionless, staring at Kaname's face with a look of both fear and recognition. It was the same smile that Koneko had on her face when she caught them all fighting with Zero. That could only mean one thing. Kaname was beyond displeased. "It appears that you need to be reminded of them."
Hanabusa managed to finally move, only taking small steps backwards past Akatsuki, who just so happened to be frozen with fright. He still remembered that gaze just as well as his cousin. "No, it's not what it looks like, Dorm President. These are just..." Just what? Hanabusa couldn't even think of the word to describe his collection without it seeming on the verge of 'obsessed'.
That smile was soon replaced by a knowing smirk, and the sudden sound of shattering glass emanated from above. It was only then did Akatsuki manage to move, turning his head towards Hanabusa, only to see he had collapsed to the ground.
No, not collapsed. More like he dived in order to catch the broken chandelier that once hung from his ceiling. "I can add these to my collection too..." He squeaked, his voice seeming to go higher with each word, almost like an excited child.
The episode soon died down as the threatening aura of Kuran Kaname hung like thick fog in the room. Smirk now gone from his lips, Kaname allowed Akatsuki to sneak out, knowing he had nothing to do with this, leaving Hanabusa all alone to feel the wrath of the Pureblood.
By the time Aidou had received the last of his punishment, the rest of the vampires had gone to bed. Save for Kain Akatsuki. Instead, he stood leaning against the wall by his room, awaiting Kaname to pass. Sooner than he thought, the brunette was making his way to his own room, his eyes landing on Akatsuki and smiling.
"I know this may sound rude, and I mean no ill will by this. But please...never pull that smile again." He ushered softly, not once looking up at the Pureblood when he said it.
Kaname stopped dead in his tracks at that point. "Oh? And why is that, Kain?" He asked, tilting his head ever so slightly.
Kain shrugged his shoulders a little, shuffling awkwardly as he thought over his words. "...Koneko pulled that face last night. We were all quite scared of her at that moment. That smile reminded me too much of her." The redhead whispered softly, wishing not to wake the others in mentioning the ill-tempered huntress.
Kaname could only chuckle at the notion, offering a soft smile of reassurance. "There is no need to worry. I do not plan on doing that again. As long as we all remain on our best behaviour. Koneko is far different from me, so please do not compare us to one other, Kain." He gave a simple nod of the head before entering his room. He watched Kain leave for his own room before he closed his own.
'So...Koneko can send fear running down their spines with just a smile...maybe she could be of use to me...' He thought to himself as he leaned on the door. A small chuckle left his lips as he moved forward, laying himself over his bed without bothering to change clothes. There was no real need.
His arm draped over his eyes as his mind cast to the Moon Dorm's kitten, wondering what she'd be doing right now. More than likely she'd be with Yuuki and Zero in the Sun Dorms. He silently wished she was here, mainly for some entertainment. Everyone here would do anything for him, no questions asked. But with Koneko, she was always resilient, not wanting touch or a simple smile. Everything he did seemed to offend her. Was it because he was a Pureblood?
These thoughts rang through his mind for a short while before he thought that some rest would do him some good.
Neeeeee~ such a boring chapter...I hated writing this one. So if it's really bad, please flame away. I don't do good if I don't like. DX
Next chapter should be a good one. Koneko inspects the Moon dorm alone...~ oooh~
Word Count: 3679