Title: Visitors from the Future

Genre: General/Romance/Friendship

Rating:T

Pairings: Zero/Kaname

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Vampire Knights. It belongs to Hino Matsuri - I only borrow the characters from the series and use it in my own fic. However, I do own the three original characters featured in this story.

Author's Notes: Sorry that my last chapter is a little short, but well ... Anyway, Kaname had it all wrong XD Takuma's interested in knowing more about Akane, not because of him harboring any romantic feelings for the girl ... but because, he thought Akane reminded him a little too much of himself prior to his finding out his being related to Akane XD Now that he knew of his relationship with Akane, he just wanted to show his concern for the girl ... but then again, guess it can't be helped ... with Kaname not knowing anything about their relationship :P

In this chapter, Yagari accidentally let it slips to Zero that Shizuka Hiou was still alive during the midst of his rants. On the other hand, Takuma's plan to get friendly with Zero was temporary put on hold due to his grand-father's impending visit to the school. Thus, he ended up focusing his attention upon Akane instead.

---

Chapter 10 - The arrival of Ichijo Asato, Part 1

Yagari Touga muttered to himself relentlessly under his breath, as he made his way back towards Kaien Cross living quarters. He had arrived at the school with every intention to check on his former disciple's condition, and then probably let it slip to his student that the pureblood whom was responsible for his family's tragical end was still very much alive out there. However, what did he end up chancing upon when he finally did locate his former disciple on campus?

He end up finding his once favorite student attempting to suck a female student's blood, and not just any random student - a vampire student's blood. Then, a certain pureblood going by the name of Kuran had decided to step into the picture by holding his former disciple in a deadly possessive manner. Next, he found himself staring into the face of a young vampire child that reminded him strongly of how his disciple had looked several years ago before the tragedy of 'Kiryuu' Clan occurred.

Following which, he was clued in on the fact that the kids whom were calling his disciple 'Daddy' had been time-travelers from the future; after making use of the taboo spell of 'Time-Vortex' which belongs to the clan of the Fujiwara. When being pressed for the details of how the kids had ended up using a spell which belongs to the clan of the Fujiwara, his disciple finally had it in mind to reveal to him of just how related the 'Kiryuu' was to the 'Fujiwara'.

To think that he had been friends with the 'Kiryuus' for such a long period of time, and yet his disciple's father had not even bothered to let him in on the fact that the kids' mother had been a Fujiwara prior to the marriage? Yagari had no idea what was worst, being kept in the dark by his friend and disciples for nearly over twenty years on the issue of their being related to his arch-nemesis or the fact that his once favorite student was not only fraternizing with the vampires, and would eventually sleep with one in the near future.

Because Yagari had been too overwhelm by the recent events that had transpired over the past twenty four hours or sorts, he failed to realize that no matter how soft his voice had been or how his intention was to only rant as a form of venting his frustration - Zero would still be able to catch them. Seeing as his former disciple's vampire traits has already been awaken, and among them includes the sensitive and keen sense of hearing.

"Master Touga ... What do you mean by that woman was still alive? " Zero asked, pausing in his steps as he stared at his master with intent.

"You heard me ... Of course, I'm referring to that pureblood woman whom wiped your family out and the very same person whom bite you ... " Yagari Touga said, as he avoided looking at his disciple in the eyes. For he had no idea whether he could looked at Zero, and still keep himself away from the urge to kill the former.

With that, the veteran hunter turned on his heels and left for the exit of the academy. Ignoring the ex-hunter's questions from behind, he had every intention to visit a bar in town and perhaps tried to get himself wasted so that he might take his mind off this entire baffling situation. On the other hand, Zero merely stared after his master's departing figure numbly.

Somehow, Zero simply had no idea of how he should be reacting to this particular piece of news. Logically, he should probably be bristling with anger at the mere mention of Shizuka Hiou's existence, but funnily enough he felt nothing but sheer numbness. Alright, he supposed if the said pureblood was standing in front of him ... he might be able to react somewhat agitatedly to the former's presence. However, this does not seems to be the case at this point of time.

After all, his master was merely letting him in on the fact that Shizuka Hiou was still alive, undead somewhere out there and probably Ichiru would be too. If his twin was still alive, not killed by the pureblood after the former had taken him away following his being bitten and left behind alone to rot on the front porch of his family residence.

"Honestly, what did master expect me to do by telling me something like this now? Does he expect me to just head out there seeking revenge on Shizuka Hiou, without knowing just where exactly the former had hidden herself from public eyes? " Zero muttered aloud to himself, as he frowned over the recent information which his master had just dumped upon him and expect him to soak it in like a sponge.

Shaking his head at the notion, Zero decided that he will dwell on the issue at another point of time or when Shizuka decided to show herself in front of his presence. Until then, there was nothing that he could have done except to stand around and wait for things to happen.

---

When Akane woke, she was genuinely surprised to find herself lying atop of her bed. Since, she had no recollections of her shifting herself away from the front of her study desk and made her way to the bed. Then how did she ended up waking on her bed and was currently on the verge of smothering Subaru by using the poor boy as her bolster.

"... I hate to say this when you've just awaken ... but damn it, Akane let go of me ... I need to BREATHE! " Subaru Kiryuu had all but shouted into the eardrums of the disoriented girl, upon realizing that the girl had awoken on her own and thus would not be biting his head off for trying to wake her so that he could actually breathe.

Akane blinked twice to rid the sleep away from her eyes, before realizing that Subaru was actually suffocating in her crushing hug. Hurriedly, the disoriented girl let go of her adopted sibling abruptly while shooting the former an apologetic look.

"See ... this is why you shouldn't be sleeping here last night ... Certainly, you would know I'm bound to smother you like a bolster once I get too comfortable on the bed. " Akane commented, as she tried desperately to keep herself from flushing in embarrassment.

Subaru Kiryuu fought the urge to roll his eyes at his elder sister, as he shrugged out his response. "Well ... I do know the risk involved ... but still, I asked for it ... so I'd no one else to blame but myself. Then again, I doubt I would be smothered by you if Father had not came in last night and moved you away from the desk. "

Upon Subaru's statement, Akane froze in the midst of combing through the tangles in her hair using her fingers as she turned towards her adopted brother in shock. "What?! You mean, Kaname-sama was in here last night? "

Subaru nodded, as he too started to comb a finger through his hair that had been messed up during his sleep.

"When?! Why wasn't I aware of that?" Akane asked, still stunned by the fact that Kaname Kuran had came into her room at some point of time, late last night and she took no notice of the former's presence.

"For heaven's sake ... you slept like the 'dead'. Certainly, you won't be able to realize that Father had been in here at all!" Subaru responded, as heaved himself off the bed and had every intention to head back to the room of his father to get himself ready for the day.

"... " It took Akane several minutes to shake herself out from her stupor-like mode and sprang into action, going about her morning routine swiftly. For she had every intention to arrive at the dining hall of the Moon Dormitory, in time to collect her breakfast tray before the kitchen crew members disappeared somewhere to have their well-deserved rest.

Not that, Akane would have any problem with the idea of preparing her own meals over the weekends; but she was just plain lazy to do so. It was one thing to be cooking for herself back in her own time period, and totally another while she was stuck here in the past. At least, while she had been in her own time she was residing within the Sun Dormitory and the students residing in the Sun Dorms often took their meals at the school cafeteria.

However, the menu over at the school cafeteria had remained the same over the whole year and honestly, Akane felt sick and tired of the same menu that was being served all the time that she had actually requested to be joining the night-class members for meals. Seeing as it was practically Ichijo Asami, her best friend whom was leading the night-class back in her own time and in addition to the fact that she just happened to be the adopted daughter of Kaname Kuran. Akane had no problem gaining free access to the kitchen of the Moon Dormitory whenever she felt like it.

Now even while the kitchen would still be opened up for her usage should she felt the desire to cook something for herself, during her period of stay here in the past - since Kaname probably would not have a problem with that. Akane still felt uneasy, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the kitchen crew working in the Moon Dormitory were different from those whom work in the very same kitchen back in her own time. Secondly, there was also the issue of the opinions of the rest of the night-class members.

Although, the majority of the night-class members had been told of the fact that they have three time-travelers living together with them in the Moon Dormitory. Among them included the future twin sons of their pureblood leader, and a distant relative of Kiryuu Zero whom was later adopted by Kaname Kuran as a daughter. Still, it did not changed the fact that Akane simply does not feel comfortable being surrounded by the night-class members. Aside from the usual group that always seemed to be following her future adopted 'Father' around the place, since those members she knew and some had even knew her since she was still in diapers.

It was bad enough to have the common class vampires of the night-class debating on the special arrangements which Kaname had made on her behalf to the kitchen crew, the last thing she needs right now was to have the pureblood giving her the permission to roam and use the kitchen freely as though she owns the place.

Back in her own time, she would have no problem behaving in such manners because practically everyone in the Moon Dormitory had knew and accepted the idea of the name 'Kiryuu' being tied to the name of their pureblood leader 'Kuran' since decades ago. Having her name being 'Kiryuu Akane', and in addition to her being the best friend of Ichijo Asami whom was the President of the Moon Dormitory in her time, nobody within the said dormitory had any problem with regards to her free access and usage of the facilities within their vicinity.

Here though, things were different. For there would be no Ichijo Asami to help her fend off any potential trouble-makers, granted her cousin Takuma would be around and most probably would helped her out, if the situation comes around. Still, it would be different as nobody aside from themselves knew of their relationship with one another. The last thing that she required now was to have the members of the night-class misunderstanding Takuma's intention of helping her in a romantically sense.

---

"Ichijo-sama, the books which you ordered have just arrived ... Do you need me to bring them upstairs for you? " The maid of the Moon Dormitory, asked as she noticed the approaching figure of Takuma Ichijo.

"... " Takuma stared at the pile of books which the maid held on hand, and sweat dropped. Did he really ordered this many books from the online catalog? Why did he not remembered anything of it? Taking a latest volume of his favorite manga, he told the maid to help bring the rest of the books up to his room.

When he noticed that the maid was still hanging around, he asked. "Is anything else the matter?"

The maid hesitated for a second, before responding. "Is Kaname-sama available now? I've an urgent permission slip for him to sign ... "

"What kind of permission slip? "

"A guest whom intended to stay over-night here at the dormitory, send someone over just now with that request. " The maid answered, as she handed over the request slip to the Vice-President of the Dormitory.

"I'll sign them on his behalf then, the President's still busy attending to other important matters on hand. " Takuma Ichijo responded, as he took his pen out ready to sign the permission slip.

Being the Vice-President of the Dormitory, it was within his authority to grant permission for any sorts of activities or requests for using their dormitory facilities. However, seeing as Kaname was always the one attending to such matters; people had a tendency to forget his role as the Vice-President. Hence, the only time that people actually remembered him was when Kaname was either away or pre-occupied.

Taking the request slip from the maid, Takuma scanned through the content of the page while he signed his name at the end of the slip granting the permission for the guest's over-night stay request. Half-way through, his eyes caught sight of the familiar name which belongs to be his grand-father - Ichijo Asato, and he froze.

"What ...?! Why is /HE/ coming over now?! "

"... Huh? No idea, would you perhaps like to give them a call and check things out - yourself? " The maid asked, as she diverted her glance towards the direction where the telephone of the dormitory was stationed.

"No ... that's fine ..." Takuma responded, as he turned immediately on his heels to depart from the foyer and made a bee-line for his friends' rooms instead.

Ironically, the first room he dash into and entered just happened to be the room of Akatsuki Kain and Aidou Hanabusa. Both vampires were apparently on the verge of dozing off, and Aidou threw him a look of annoyance as he announced to them in a near panic attack that his grand-father was coming over that night.

"Damn it, Takuma! Are you even a vampire at all?! Why are you so energetic in the morning?! How I wish you could be like the vampire in that manga which you lend me earlier on ... One whom would simply turned into dust upon being subjected and exposed to sun-light." Aidou Hanabusa complained, as he hide his face into the middle of his pillow as he tried to ignore the morning rays that shone through the window panes of his room, when the Vice-President had pulled the curtains of his room windows' wide open.

"How I wish I could just disappeared into nothing but sheer dust too ..." Takuma muttered under his breath, as he plastered himself to the panes of the windows' to his friend's room.

"So what if your grand-father is coming?!... Takuma, I honestly don't see the reason behind your fussing ... I know he's scary and you are afraid of him to a certain extent but still, there's no need for your reaction to be this exaggerated right? Besides, he's part of the Vampire Council, and if the Hunter's association can send their envoy over for an inspection check. I don't see the reason why his being the 'HEAD' of the 'Vampire Council' can't do the same thing himself ... " This coming from Akatsuki Kain, whom peered at the blond Vice-President through his sleepy eyes.

"... I know ... but of all the possible timings, why now?! Certainly, the two of you could see where I'm coming from ... With my grand-father coming over tonight, how could we possibly hide Akane and the twins' from his sighting range?! " Takuma responded, distress apparent in his voice.

Not to forget his own inner fear for his grand-father, and topping it off altogether - he now had to take Akane's feelings into consideration too. He could only hoped Akane can refrain herself from killing off his grand-father, in public. Perhaps, he can try to send Akane off to bed earlier tonight? Then again, Akane's suspicion would be roused if he were to do that ... So what can he do to prevent the two of them from encountering one another?!

"... No idea, maybe you want to talk with Akane or Kaname-sama? Surely, they will be able to ease your doubts; worries or whatever it is that was bothering you so much ... " Akatsuki suggested, wishing very much that the Vice-President would simply leave them alone to sleep off their fatigue and stop bothering them.

"... I guess ... " Takuma murmured to himself, as he made a move to leave the room. However, half-way across the room he was hit by a pillow coming from Aidou Hanabusa's direction. When he turned towards the former with an inquiring look on his features, he was met up by an irritated growl from the fellow vampire seeking his cooperation to draw the curtains before leaving.

"Sorry, I forgot ... " Takuma mumbled out an apology as he went back to the windows and draw the curtains back down, before departing from his friends' room.

"Damn, I wonder how Shiki can survive the idea of living together with him ... " Aidou muttered aloud, as Takuma Ichijo left the room.

"... Aidou, enough ... just sleep, will you? Besides, Shiki's more tolerant to the idea of sun-light because of the nature of his job as a model. " Akatsuki Kain said to his irate cousin, as his cousin's whine was starting to get on his nerves too.

---

"Akane's obviously out, so that left me with the only option available - I'll have to go to Kaname ... let's hope whatever business he had to deal with had been smoothly resolved. The last thing which I felt like doing was to add on further to his troubles ..." Takuma thought, as he sighed aloud while making his way over to the pureblood's room.

"Uncle Takuma? Are you here to look for my father? " Subaru Kiryuu asked, as he met the green-eyed blond vampire just outside of the pureblood's door.

"Aa ... Subaru ... Yes, I'm here to see your father ... Do you mind letting me in? " Takuma responded, forcing a smile towards the direction of the boy despite his inner turmoil.

"Sure, why not ... " Subaru shrugged, as he pushed open the door and walked right in; without even bothering to knock on the door.

"Father ... Uncle Takuma's here to see you ... " Subaru's voice rang out loud and clear within the walls of Kaname Kuran's room, before making his way to the bathroom and get himself ready for the day. Akira, on the other hand, was still asleep on the pureblood's large Queen-size canopy bed.

A few seconds later, the pureblood was seen beckoning for Takuma to enter the privacy of the 'study'. Takuma could only hoped that he was not intruding the former in the midst of going over another business proposal from the company which is in charge of the mass production and distribution of the blood tablets which Kaname and the rest of the nobles had came up with during the start of the whole pacifism campaign and the founding of Cross Academy.

"Takuma, is anything the matter? You seemed to be rather distress over something ... to me ..." Kaname said, mentally noting his friend's unnatural and tense posture.

"... Something's came up ... apparently, my grand-father had decided to pay us a visit tonight ... and ..."

"We can't let him discover or notice the existence of Akane and the twins ... am I right to say that? " Kaname finished the hanging statement for his distressed friend.

"Well ... yeah, something like that ... " Takuma finished, lamely.

"... That's indeed a problem, the last thing which I need now was to have Ichiou finding out about their existence as well ..."

At this point of time, Subaru's voice cuts into the midst of their conversation and said. "It's not us that you should worry about, it's Akane. After all, we could simply be send off to 'Daddy' for the night ... and most probably be asked to spend the night over at the Chairman. "

"... Subaru, why aren't you in bed yet?" Kaname asked, frowning.

"Certainly, you are not asking me to go back to bed after just waking up? " Subaru shot back in return, looking at his 'Father' expectantly.

"... Now why would Akane be a problem? I'm aware that she had many charms and spells which she could be using to mask her heritage as a vampire, combined with her being a day-class student ... we could easily pass her off as one of the school guardians. " Kaname voiced his doubts aloud, as he ignored his son's remarks and glanced over to his friend for a response instead.

"... " Takuma tensed, unsure if he should reveal the reason behind Akane's immense dislike of his grand-father to his pureblood friend and leader. If he did, he would have to face Akane's wrath later for the girl had specifically warned him off against the idea of revealing the information to anyone else, randomly. However, if he was to keep the information to himself and away from his friend's knowledge he feared that Kaname would indeed send Akane out to welcome his grand-father under the disguise of being a school guardian.

"Well ... Takuma, I'm still waiting for your response ... " Kaname prompted, and figured that there must be indeed something which his friend knew about Akane, and was not telling him.

"Takuma ... I'm warning you, don't you dare to let it slip! " Akane's voice cuts in, warningly before Takuma could cave into Kaname's questioning.

Turning her eyes towards Subaru, Akane told the boy to head off to the dining hall and collect her breakfast tray on her behalf. Once she was affirmed that the boy was no longer in hearing range, she turned her attention back to the awaiting pureblood and said.

"I apologized for interrupting the midst of your conversation, however ... seeing as the topic of conversation involved me ... I don't see any reason for me to remain watching and listening in silence. "

"Akane ... " Takuma started, only to have the girl cutting him off.

"Takuma, /No/. Do not let anyone else knows about /that/! I do not wish to complicate things further ... " Akane said, determinedly and resolutely.

"... "

"Akane, I was told that you would have a problem with Ichiou's arrival ... Was there a specific reason why? " Kaname questioned, using his voice of authority as he did so.

" ... Yes, there is ... However, I do not wish to reveal the true nature of that particular reason. Let's just says that I'm not particular fond of the idea and prospect of having to deal with him ... but should you desire for me to meet him, then I will. After all, it is within a noble's responsibility to heed the words of a pureblood ... so ... "

"In other words, you will do as I say - if I choose to issue an order or make a demand ... " Kaname finished the sentence on Akane's behalf, simply and quietly.

Akane shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant but the tension in her body language betrayed her true feelings to the whole situation. Standing by the side of the female vampire, Takuma Ichijo mentally noted the slight clench of Akane's fists as they both awaited for the pureblood's final verdict.

'Looks like, I'm not the only one with a problem on emotional aspect when it comes down to the inevitable meeting with Ichiou ...' Kaname thought, as he noted the way Akane had tensed visibly over the notion of meeting the prominent figure of Ichijo Asato.

"Never mind, I'm sure Yuuki and Kiryuu will be able to handle their roles as the school guardians' well enough for tonight. There would be no need for Akane to be joining them, but ... she would still be required to be on her best behavior if she were to chance upon Ichiou within the walls of the dormitory, during the period of his visit. Is that clear? " Kaname told his friend, Takuma but his eyes was centered upon the tense vampire girl while he said the words.

Both Takuma and Akane nodded to his words, before removing themselves from his presence. While Takuma heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed visibly, Akane's still tense from the knowledge of the impending arrival of Ichijo Asato.

"Akane? Are you alright? " Takuma asked, once they were out of the pureblood's sighting range.

Akane nodded, but still did not speak. For she did not trust herself with words, she should have known. By coming this far back in time, it would be inevitable for her to meet up with Ichijo Asato - at least once. Despite the blood relations which they shared with one another, Akane could never quite managed to think of that hypocrite as her grand-father. It was a good thing that by the time, she had been born - the said vampire was already dead so she would not be required to have any form of interaction with the former.

Takuma sighed, it was obvious that Akane was still affected by the news of his grand-father's impending visit. Well, at least Kaname did not expect the girl to be welcoming his grand-father's arrival out front together with the rest of the night-class.

"... Takuma, have the maids send up all my meals for the rest of the day. I would be keeping myself isolated in my room, lest I lashes out at anyone during the midst of /HIS/ presence. " Akane said, as she turned on her heels and headed back for the privacy of her room.

"... " Takuma nodded, despite knowing that Akane would not be able to see his response with her back facing him. Then again, the girl was making a request not asking a question. Therefore, whether or not did he respond to her request would not matters.

Nodding towards Subaru whom was making his way back up the stairs with Akane's breakfast tray nicely balanced on his palms, Takuma made his way down the stairs with every intention of locating the maids working in their dormitory and informing them of Akane's situation.

---

Hours had passes by since the news of Ichijo Asato's impending arrival was dropped upon the residents of the Moon Dormitory. The information had also been relayed to the school guardians', as well as the Chairman. Lessons for the night-class have been canceled, for the whole population of the night-class would have to remain behind at the Moon Dormitory to welcome the grand-father of their Vice-President; as well as the 'Head' of the Vampire Council.

Akane, meanwhile, was still hiding herself away in the privacy of her room. Her agitation with regards to Ichijo Asato's arrival had caused her to snap three of her pencils in stress and frustration. She was suddenly thankful that she was not Akira, for otherwise most of her things would have been tarnished beyond the status of repairing when it comes down to the time for Ichijo Asato to leave the academy grounds.

Takuma Ichijo, on the other hand, was distracted. His eyes was constantly flickering between the front door of the Moon Dormitory and the staircase of the dormitory. It was not that he was anticipating his pureblood's friend arrival, but because he was worried about how Akane was faring upstairs, alone. He had no doubt that the girl would be frustrated and edgy, the last time he had went up to the girl's room and check on the former. He was just in time to witness how Akane's stationery had broke from the sheer amount of agitation rolling off the girl's aura.

It might have been easier for Akane to manage with the twins around to distract her from destroying her own belongings in the room, but unfortunately - the twins had been send over to the Chairman's place following Akira's awakening from his slumber. For it would simply not do for them to be spotted by his grand-father, and Kiryuu had been told specifically to keep the twins occupied so that they would not wandered off by themselves.

For Zero Kiryuu, the said guardian was now getting himself ready for the night's duty. Keeping his eyes upon the twins' and keeping their attention occupied so that they would not be wandering off by themselves, would be his utmost important mission for tonight. However, before that he would need to head off and joined Yuuki in the task of welcoming the 'Head' of the Vampire Council - Ichijo Asato, to the school.

During which period of time, the twins would be left under the care of the Chairman. Now he only hoped his adopted father have the ability to keep the twins in line, and not to have them manipulated him into taking his attention off them. A quick glance at the clock in his room notified him of the impending timing scheduled for Ichijo Asato's arrival, tightening his school tie and fastening them up to his collar properly. Zero set off for the gate of the school.

This must be the first time ever he made such an effort to dress himself up in his school uniform properly, but he had no choice. The Chairman had demanded for him to at least made an effort in looking presentable while in the said vampire's presence, for Ichijo Asato was too much of a prominent figure in both the humans; hunters and vampires society to be simply cast aside like a 'nobody'.

In the human world, Ichijo Asato had founded and set up the company known to the general public as the 'Ichijo's Entreprise' dealing majority with international trade in courier and cargo shipping, and recently seemed to have expanded into the fields of telecommunications as well. Within the vampire society, he was otherwise known as Ichiou - the 'Head' to the Vampire Council, and one of the oldest and prominent figure in the society. Whereas, in the hunters' world - the former was well-known for his crafty ways of handling matters to be wriggling himself out of trouble, whenever something bad happened. Hence, another reason to add on to his master's immense hatred and detest for vampires in general.

"Zero?! Zero, are you in there?! The Chairman told us to hurry, the 'Head' of the Vampire Council is bound to be arriving soon! " Yuuki's impatient call for his attention sounded just outside his door, snapped him out of his reverie.

"Alright ... I'm coming, cease your incessant yelling ... Its' getting on my nerves ... " Zero shouted back at the impatient female guardian, from his position in front of his wardrobe's mirror.

With that said, Zero walked over to his room's door and pulled it open before stepping out. Almost immediately, he caught sight of his friend's stunned expression and frowned.

"What?! Why are you staring at me - like that?!"

Yuuki Cross shakes her head rapidly in response, "No ... no ... I'm just surprised to see you look so ... tidy, yes ... tidy's the word ... "

Zero merely rolled his eyes at his friend's words, before muttering out a response of annoyance. "Well, the Chairman demanded for me to look /presentable/ tonight ... and he threaten to cut off my weekly allowance if I choose not to heed his words, tonight ... "

"Eh?!" Yuuki blinked up at her friend, stupidly. However, before she could asked for an elaboration from her friend, she noticed that Zero had already started walking and was quite a distance away from her now.

On the other hand, it was not that Zero had any qualm about having his weekly allowance being cut off entirely. In fact, he probably would not cared for a slightest bit whether the Chairman was giving him any before. However, the miserable sum of weekly allowance would matters a lot to him these days, especially with Akane and the twins around. Since, through his observation, he realized that Akane had felt no guilt about spending his money claiming that it would eventually be hers' one of these days.

With a sigh, Zero continued to walk towards the front of the school gate, not caring if Yuuki would be able to keep up with his strides. After all, he was too deep in his thoughts to have noticed that the speed in his steps had gradually increased until it was one that already exceeded the speed range of a typical and normal human-being. It was not until he heard Yuuki's voice complaining that he was walking too fast, did he noticed that he was already approaching the gate of the school.

Forcing himself to a stop before he could found himself colliding with the approaching members of the night-class, Zero was hardly surprised to find himself staring up into the face of one Kaname Kuran.

"... Kiryuu ... " Kaname Kuran greeted with a polite nod of his head.

"... Kuran ... " Zero responded, his tone equally subdued and miraculously enough, actually came out sounding polite.

The group of vampires stared on in shock, and the same could be said for Yuuki whom had finally caught up to her vampire friend. With the sheer exception of Takuma, whom was shifting his gaze between the two with a knowing look in his eyes. The former knew for certain that there was now something different between the pureblood and the silver-haired guardian. For this was the first time, whereby the two of them had actually behaved polite in one another's presence without the twins being around.

However, there was no time for them to be musing over the duo's lack of hostility towards one another's presence for the sound of an approaching car, signaled to them that the infamous Ichijo Asato had finally arrived.

~ to be continued~

Date started: 12/05/09

Date completed: 14/05/09

Date edited: 14/05/09