Chapter seventeen: Blood Star

"I heard from a little bird that you solved the riddle," Yagari-sama grinned unenthusiastically as he took a seat next to me.

"I don't think Zero would appreciate being called a bird," I replied coolly, not taking my eyes off my history book.

We were in the library and I was finishing homework because Kiren wouldn't leave me in peace. If I tried to do homework in my room, she would hover around me and ask me every few seconds if I needed anything. I know she's just trying to help me, but it got irritating and distractive.

"So…what's the answer?" he asked impatiently.

"What? You don't want to go somewhere private first?" I questioned him with an arched eyebrow.

"Nah, it's not that dangerous to talk about here," he waved me off.

I dropped the book onto the table gently. "Okay, well the first line 'silent shadow stalking' means death because death will always follow you and 'sly slithering serpent' is disease. I read up that people believed Hermes was the God of medicine and he used to have a staff that snakes would wrap themselves around. So I figured it'd be the opposite."

I paused to take a breather.

" 'Skeptical straying spirit' is obviously betrayal and 'Shivering sick skeletons' is loneliness because people aren't meant to be alone…I learned that the hard way," I rolled my eyes, remembering my mother's words when we argued. " 'Sadistic smiling scelerat' represents villains and I'm going to have loads of them, and 'Survive sinister surprises' which represents life because life just loves to throw random chaos at you. 'Solarise sorcery' means to expose the supernatural."

There was a pause of silence.

"And?" he asked.

"And all of these represent fears that I have to overcome in order to survive," I replied.

Another pause of silence caused me to hold in my breath nervously. And then he started to clap.

"Job well done Serena, you're on your way!" he said with a crooked smile and I exhaled quickly in relief.

"Oh thank God 'cause I was sure that I was wrong and that I wouldn't-"

"Now I have one more thing to tell you before Zero starts to train you," he interrupted, causing me to frown.

Did he know? How could he know? He doesn't live in my head! Or can he read minds?

I blinked a few times. "Err…okay…"

"One more thing I want you to ponder about," he said, getting up from his chair. "Is it sinful to kill someone who kills?"

That stupid question!

My eyes bulged and I dropped my book, which landed on my foot and the crash landing caused me to howl. It was a seven hundred pages thick book---you'd be howling too. He watched me bounce around and seethe with amusement on his face until he checked his watch and decided it was time for him to leave.

Was it sinful to kill someone who kills?

"So you passed," he mumbled, his school jacket was hung over his shoulder in an I-don't-care way and he was chewing on a toothpick.

"Fabulous, isn't it? So when do I start?" I asked, sounding eager.

He glanced over his shoulder to peer at me and smirked. "Right now if you want. We're done with classes."

"But don't you have to help Yuuki?" I questioned, referring to the time of the 'exchange'.

"She can handle the horde of fan girls," he answered with a monotone voice.

"You keep saying that but it doesn't reassure me…" I narrowed my eyes in annoyance. "I know what those girls are like…"

"And so do I," he stated calmly and he sighed. "Follow me."

I folded my arms over my chest, debating whether or not I should wait for Kiren to show up so I could walk back with her to our room, but Zero seemed to be impatient today.

"Are you coming or what?" he inquired.

I frowned. "I'll be right back. Wait for me here."

He scowled. "Where are you going?"

I turned around to go back to the usual meeting place where I waited for Kiren, answering him sarcastically, "Going to walk Kiren back to our room."

He rolled his eyes. "Then I'll be here."

I didn't hear what he said last since I was already gone, waiting for Kiren to show up and when she did I smiled.

She waved, yawning at the same time. "I'm so tired."

"Yea, I hear you. But hey, Zero and I need to…settle some things so I'll be away for a little bit," I told her, not really knowing what exactly to say to her.

She blinked, appearing concerned. "Are you still in trouble with hitting Asura-san? You know, you really did overreact."

I scowled and exhaled loudly, blowing my bangs out of my eyes. "Yea, I know."

"Well I hope you're not being severely punished for it," she frowned with concern, pausing in front of our new bedroom door. "I'll see you later then, okay? Don't give Kiryuu-kun any attitude."

I nodded but didn't promise her anything and left before she could make me. Even though I wasn't being timed, I wanted to start my training as soon as possible. I wasn't excited about it, but I wanted to defend others and myself.

That wasn't wrong, was it?

"That was quick," Zero muttered under his breath as he spotted me. "Are you that eager to kill?"

"Oh sure, I can't wait to see blood all over the place," I scoffed.

He led me to the stables, steering clear of all the horses except for a white one, which was trying its best to grab his attention.

"Looks like someone fancies you," I joked, watching the horse nibble his hair. "You two engaged?"

He ignored me, handing me a…what the hell is this?

Upon seeing my curious face, I heard him snort. "That was known as a Morning Star back in the medieval days. We've tinkered with it enough to call it Blood Star."

"We? Blood star? What? Does it shoot out blood?" I asked him, waving the weapon carefully. It was three-foot long club made of steel and at the end of it was a ball with menacing spikes. I was guessing that it weighed twenty to thirty pounds…maybe more.

"The Hunter's Association," he answered grouchily. "And no, do you see anything that shoots out stuff?"

I studied it. "Then what exactly is it?"

"A spiked club obviously," he rolled his eyes.

I growled. "I knew that from its appearance, but what does it do? You said the Hunter's Association tinkered with it."

"It can be used to crush skulls and bones, and if you manage to control its swing and force, you could create a crater if you wanted to," he replied casually, stepping outside and I followed.

My eyes widened to size of airplanes. "Seriously? That much damage?"

He shot me a serious glare. "But you have to control it."

I frowned, narrowing my eyes in confusion. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you have to control it."

"Be more specific, Sherlock," I snapped.

"Try hitting a tree with it," he suggested.

I looked at him skeptically, but turned to face a random tree and I swung it as I used to swing my baseball bat. I heard a loud crack and watched as the Blood Star left a brutal mark on the tree's base, nearly sawing right through it. I glanced at Zero to his reaction and to my disappointment, he appeared as if he didn't care.

"Okay…"

"I chose this weapon for you specifically because you have skills in softball. In softball, you train for power. You need grip strength, lower body power, and a strong arm to throw. You need to be able to run fast and jump on the bases. This weapon requires great arm strength because you're going to have to swing it. It's a close hand to hand combat," he explained, staring intensely into my eyes. "The spikes were made to go through armor, but because we've adjusted the weapon to serve for annihilating vampires, it is powerful enough to create craters."

All I could utter was, "Sweet."

"Sweet? Perhaps, but you have to control it," he stated.

"You keep saying that, but what the hell are you talking about?"

"You have to control your emotions. That's where the Morning Star and the Blood Star differ. The blow of the explosion matches your strongest emotion. Since you have…a lot of anger issues…your most prominent emotion that the Blood Star will sense is rage and the explosion that will come after you strike will be massive," Zero frowned at me. "So learn to control your temper. Strike too hard and you'll kill yourself in the process within the explosion."

"You have to make judgments of how hard you want to strike and where in the body you want to strike," he informed me, continuing.

I made a face. "Ah damn. Concentration was never my forte. You're asking me to do a lot of work, you know?"

"I know," he snorted. "But you're capable of it. As shown with your schoolwork."

"What's my schoolwork have to do with this?"

"At first you took your time with completing it, but when you actually focused…you aced all of your topics. Did you not notice how well you scored when you forced yourself to do your make up work?" he inquired, making me feel edgy.

Did he know that I only managed to get all of that stupid work done just because I didn't want to think about Jade?

"I was just using schoolwork as a distraction," I mumbled.

"Probably, but it did show me that you could concentrate."

"You gave her a weapon?" I heard a familiar masculine voice and found Mr. Bunny staring at me with new fear.

"Aidou…you're supposed to be in class," Zero said sharply but Mr. Bunny ignored him, his eyes too focused on the Blood Star in my hands, and that's when a thought occurred to me…

"Oh Mr. Bunny…" I giggled, sounding insane and I'm pretty sure my eyes were big with a hint of menace. "Guess what?"

He eyed me suspiciously, folding his arms in a childish way that suited him perfectly. "I don't want to know, do I?"

Zero rolled his eyes, pushing himself off of the wall and took a seat next to a tree. I suddenly swung the metal Blood Star over my head and held it in batting position, my eyes containing an alarming glint in them.

"COME HERE YOU FAG! I FINALLY HAVE THE TOOL TO TURN YOU INTO A GIRL!"

His eyes comically turned into rounded plates and he dodged my first swing at his head, screaming, "ARE YOU INSANE?"

I laughed sinisterly at him as he dodged all of my attempts to change his gender.

"Stupid question." I heard Zero mutter as he watched the two of us running around.

"STOP RUNNING YOU FUCKER! THIS IS FOR ALL THOSE TIMES YOU SAID I WAS TOO WEAK TO KILL YOU!" I shouted, swinging my bat and was only an inch off from hammering him right on the skull. I lost my grip on the steel weapon the fifth time I tried to hit him and it flew out of my hands, striking a tree instead.

"Oh fuck."

I heard a snap and a deafening crack followed it, and I watched as the first row of trees shatter into halves.

Zero stared indifferently at the newly deformed row of trees and then he shot me stern glare. "Self-control, you idiot."

"Be careful of where you're swinging that stupid thing!" Mr. Bunny snapped. "You could have crushed my skull!"

I smirked devilishly, ignoring Zero. "But that's the whole point of this weapon! Smashing shit!"

He turned to fiercely glare at the prefect. "What the hell were you thinking when you provided her with a weapon? DOES THE TERM 'PSYCHO BITCH' PROCESS INSIDE THAT VOID SKULL OF YOURS?"

"If she wants to defend herself from vampires and end her mother's life, then she'll need it," Zero answered without missing a beat, his face void of any emotions.

I twitched censoriously with those words. End my mother's life…isn't there a flowery way of saying it? Like save Mom from dying a horrible death at a hunter's hands? Couldn't he have phrased it better? Damn it.

"Fontana," Zero grumbled to me. "Go find the Blood Star."

Oh right. I didn't even see where it landed.

I heard Mr. Bunny shriek as I turned to search for it.

"BLOOD STAR? YOU GAVE HER THE DAMN BLOOD STAR?"

I giggled madly to myself as I went on my searching spree, discovering the weapon of mass destruction laying inside a hole it created within the ground. I picked up the staff and the spikes disappeared inside the ball, becoming just a staff with a giant steel ball.

"Zero! The spikes are gone!" I shouted, returning to his location.

"That's normal. When it's not being used, the spikes are stored away inside the ball," he explained tiredly, as if he was getting annoyed with me.

Mr. Bunny had his arms folded over his chest and a pout on his face. "I can't believe you're going to become a hunter."

I rolled my eyes. "There only three people I'm hunting."

Zero shot me a glare. "I thought this was for your mother?"

"And I wasn't lying," I reassured him, smirking. "But I'm most likely going to attack Mr. Tampon and torture Mr. Bunny here for shits and giggles."

Zero sighed, placing his arms behind his head tiredly but he seemed to have approved of my statement.

"That's not funny," Mr. Bunny scowled, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Not for you anyway," I grinned. "So, what else is there I have to do?"

"You're training will include suicides, wall sits, push-ups and loads of laps," Zero smirked as my jaw dropped.

I groaned. "You're not serious, are you? I have to go through that kind of training again? Why?"

Zero opened one eye to look at me. "You went through this kind of training as a softball player. I didn't think this would be so hard for you."

"It is! That's why I quit!"

"And gained so much weight," Mr. Bunny mumbled.

"Do you have a death wish, you damn Rapid Rabbit?" I growled at him, holding the Blood Star in a swinging position.

"This will prepare you. You need to regain your arm strength to what it used to be, you need to be faster, and your reflexes need to be sharper," Zero insisted. "Starting now. Go ahead and do ten laps."

I groaned again as I realized he wasn't kidding and dropped the Blood Star onto the ground as I began my laps around the Academy.

I heard Mr. Bunny chuckle as I left. "This will be fun to watch."

"I believe it's time for you to hear the good news," Yagari-sama greeted me soberly as he sat next to me again in the same spot at the library.

The library was gradually becoming my new home because of Kiren, who was driving me insane with her numerous questions. She kept asking me if I was okay, if I needed food, if I needed help, if I needed…anything. A part of me felt horrible of leaving her out in the dark. After all she's done for me, I felt that she should know of what was going on with me, and know the existence of vampires. However, the other part of me wanted to keep to her safe. I wanted to keep my distance from her so my enemies wouldn't target her. Yet I knew that while I was keeping her safe, I was also breaking her heart. I could tell she was…lonely. And it bothered me.

I eyed the advanced hunter suspiciously. "What now? Is Jade awake?"

"Oh your buddy? Not yet. Sorry."

"No harm done," I shrugged, feeling slightly relieved since I still didn't feel like facing him. "So?"

"You're going to be a prefect," he said bluntly.

I immediately froze up and stopped what I was doing.

"You're shitting me," I swore in English.

"I…am not," he said uncertainly, probably confused about the 'shitting' part. "My former pupil believes that becoming a prefect will help you control you temper, so he suggested to the Chairman and the Chairman agreed."

I groaned, rolling my neck and I heard it pop. "You can't be serious. Are you sure?"

"Positive," Yagari-sama answered.

"How the hell is this good news? You--I mean--they think that becoming a prefect will help control my temper?" I seethed.

"Your hair is starting to stick up," he smirked, changing the topic. "If you're not happy with their decision, then talk to them. I'm just the messenger. Besides, isn't it time to have a chat with your father?" he asked, both of his eyebrows arched at me.

I inhaled deeply, tempted to breathe out through my nose like an outraged dragon and forced myself to smile again.

"Stop giving me that sinister smile and go talk to him. I'm sure you're absolutely dying to."

"Oh, someone is going to die," I muttered viciously with an unusual perky voice and stood up.

Me? A prefect?

Buwahahahahaha.

Lots of people were going to die.

He made me wait twenty minutes.

Twenty-effin'-minutes.

By the time I was actually in the room I couldn't even talk straight. I wasn't forming any proper sentences and I was switching back and forth between the two languages I knew.

"Well," he said abnormally cheerfully, ignoring my frantic shouting and disapproving growls. "I think you should start by sitting down."

I glared but plopped myself onto a comfortable red leather chair that he had taken out of his room while I was…venting.

"So you're unhappy with becoming a prefect," he stated calmly.

"Unhappy? Unhappy? Are you fucking serious?" I snapped, my eyes nearly popping out of my head. "You haven't seen me in eleven years and all you've done is avoid me. You left me to believe that you were either dead or with some other women, but then I find out you ADOPTED another girl to replace me and now you're not even going to ask me whether I want to be a prefect! You're just assigning me to it! AND DID YOU THINK I WAS GOING TO BE JUST FRIGGIN' PEACHY WITH ALL OF IT?"

There was a pause of silence before he finally looked at me in the eye and I saw deep regret reflected in his eyes.

My eyes. I just realized we had the same colored eyes.

"I know I've made…a lot of mistakes, Serena. What human being hasn't? I know I cannot repair any of the damage. I can only apologize and hope that one day you'll forgive me," the Chairman said softly, all of his previous childish characteristics gone.

"What were you trying to accomplish when you created this place?" I asked, finally able to pop the question. "Were you trying to bring Damon back? Stop feeling guilty about his death?"

He leaned back into his seat, folding his hands on top of his lap in a thoughtful way. "I wanted harmony for both sides. As a hunter, I've seen so much bloodshed and I wanted to end that. I didn't want to see another child murdered. Another family destroyed—whether it be vampire or human."

He stopped talking for a couple of seconds, and then he leaned forward, propping his elbows on top of the office desk.

"As you know, not many vampires, or humans for that matter, agree with me. What do you think, Serena? Do you believe that vampires and humans can get along?"

"You want my opinion?" I inquired, an eyebrow arched quizzically at him and he nodded. "Why?"

"It's important that I have your opinion…you are my family."

I bit my tongue to keep from exploding. "Family? I'm your family? Hahahaha! You don't have a right to call me family. You lost that privilege a long time ago. Besides, it's not like you expect me to inherit your ideas and run the school for you after you're gone."

"Well…I haven't thought that far ahead, but maybe? I just…want your opinion. Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" he inquired, staring profoundly at me.

"No," I snorted.

"Explain why."

"The way you have this Academy set up is wrong. You say you want humans and vampires to live in harmony, but you don't have in them in harmony," I frowned, explaining myself further as I saw his confusion. "You have the humans living within an illusion that they're safe here. They don't know that the vampires exist, and therefore it becomes a problem should a vampire ever accidentally expose him or herself because you'd have to pull a few strings to make sure their memories are erased or distorted. This doesn't create a peaceful environment."

"You're implying that I should reveal the Night Class's identity to the Morning Class?" he frowned. "But that would create an uproar."

"If we have an uproar then it means that we're obviously not meant to live in harmony with vampires," I declared. "However, I don't think every human student will reject a vampire. I mean look at Yuuki Cross. She doesn't seem to mind Zero and the rest of them."

"Yuuki Cross is a pure blood vampire, Serena."

I blinked, visibly shocked and my temper was gaining strength again. "A pureblood? You replaced me with a effin' pureblood?"

"Her brother is the one who brought her to me. I was to keep her safe," he said. "I didn't adopt her to replace you. I adopted her because I owed her mother…"

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to dig too deep into the past. What's done is done. "That doesn't change the fact that you left."

"And I've already apologized for it," he countered.

I stared at him before continuing. "In any case, I think what you're doing is wrong. The students should be aware of their presence. It's wrong to keep them in the dark—no pun intended."

He seemed to smile at me. "I think you'll make a great prefect."

I slammed my hands flat on the table. "Absolutely not! I already have enough on my plate!"

"And I think this will help you," he said, eying his cracking desk.

"How the hell is adding more responsibility onto my shoulders going to help me?" I snapped.

"You'll be around more vampires and see what they're really like at night," he replied.

"I know what they're like. You had me trapped within their stupid dorms, remember?" I growled. "And I've seen plenty by looking at Jade. I still have memories of the Skylar family too, for your information."

"Ah yes, but you were trapped in your room. You have yet to meet the other vampires," he sighed. "Not all of them want you dead, Serena."

"No, just the really powerful, BAD ones," I snarled. "Absolutely nothing to worry about!"

"I also wanted to mention something else," he said, once again ignoring my hysterical outburst. I think he had a lot of practice before and after he married Mom.

I narrowed my eyes dangerously. "What?"

"Mister…what did you call him…Tampon? Lovely nickname I must say," he grinned, "He'll be talking to you soon."

I smirked; surprised that he didn't reprimand me for insulting the other hunter. "Great, so I can finally kill him now that I'm walking. Know any places I can bury him?"

"No, but I'm sure the Night Class would."

I sighed and leaned back into the comfortable chair, taking a break to digest everything that was said.

"So I have no choice but to become a prefect?" I glared at him.

"Nope," he answered bluntly, shoveling paper to his left.

"Not even the slightest?" I pouted.

"Nope," he repeated.

"You do realize that the fan girls are going to die, right?"

He smirked impishly. "Self control, remember? Try not to lose your temper."

"Bite me," I scowled.

"I'll pass. I hear that you've been bitten a few times already," he frowned. "Anything else you want to discuss?"

I drummed my fingers on his desk, glowering at him.

Oh we had shit loads to talk about, but I only wanted to mention one more subject. "Yea."

"What is it?" he asked, curious.

"How do you feel about Mom?" I questioned, suddenly analyzing his every move to see if he still had feelings for her.

He blinked and I could see he was putting up mental barriers to hide himself. His jaw tightened and his eyes drooped.

"I…don't know."

"Liar," I retorted quickly.

He sighed. "No, that is the truth. Seeing her with…Mr. Tampon…"

I suddenly found myself grinning. "The fact that you don't like him either indicates that you still love her."

"Don't Serena," he frowned.

"Don't what?" I returned the frown. "Don't play match maker between my parents? Don't torture the hunter? What?"

It was his turn to scowl. "You got your mischievousness from her."

"I don't know about that. You have a very…childish side to you. Mom's just a slut."

He glared at me and he looked tempted to slap me, but we both knew he lost that right a long time ago.

"Don't call her that."

"I just did."

"Serena Fontana Cross!"

"I ain't a part of the Cross family! You made sure of that!" I hissed, getting up from my chair.

"Where are you going?" he shouted as I headed for the door.

I smirked evilly at him. "I have things to do, Chairman Cross. The 'exchange' is just about to happen."

I closed the door behind him but I could hear him ask out loud what an exchange was. I made a note to myself to explain to him that my ex-roommate coined it.

Right now I had fan girls to beat up.

"He made you a prefect?" Kiren asked me in disbelief and I forced myself not to roll my eyes.

"For the umpteenth time Kiren, yes, he made me a prefect."

"Why? I thought your punishment for what you did to Asura-chan was settled by Zero four days ago!" she asked.

"Yea, well, it's additional punishment," I said, walking up to meet Yuuki and Zero who were already prepared for the havoc 'exchange'.

This ought to be interesting.

Yuuki handed me the badge that indicated I was a new prefect, slipping it onto my arm until it fit perfectly around my forearm.

"Now all we have to do is-" Yuuki started to explain.

"Keep them from raping the va—ahem, I mean the Night Class students," I quickly corrected myself as I stared at Kiren. "Don't worry, I won't cause a massacre."

"Somehow I don't feel reassured," she mumbled under her breath and I inwardly laughed because I honestly didn't know if I could keep that promise.

Yuuki and Zero led me to the front gates where the Night Class students would soon emerge from, and I caught attention immediately. I heard a lot of whispers among the female population, most of them were wondering what the hell was I doing and I was asking myself the same question in my head.

"Ladies and…ladies," Yuuki nervously chuckled. "Fontana Serena is our new prefect, please treat her nicely."

I snorted in response to her last sentence and the screaming began as soon as the gates were opened to reveal the Night Class. Most of the students avoided me, knowing I wouldn't hesitate to strike them and they nearly trampled all over the female pureblood.

It was something I had yet to understand.

I hated Kaname because he reeked of pureblood, but Yuuki didn't bring out the hunter in me when I was around her. I didn't distrust her like I distrusted her brother. Funny how they're engaged…must be some vampire thing.

I removed the Blood Star from my back where I had slung it since I was too lazy to carry it and used the staff to force the students to back off. I made sure the spikes remained inside the ball. I watched the Night Class more carefully, making sure they didn't come in contact with the female humans even though I believed that most of them deserved to die. I mean…why not? If they were stupid enough to approach them in such a disrespectful manner then they should be drained dry.

"Hey! Fontana! Demon girl! GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

I knew that hysterical, feminine voice from anywhere.

"Shizune if you don't get back off, I will hit you!" I growled and my words stirred a riot.

"That's not right!" One girl shouted.

"A prefect shouldn't be allowed to abuse her students!"

"Isn't that against the rules?" I heard one question.

"You have no right to tell us what to do!"

"You just want to keep them all to yourself!"

With each shouting and objection, I could sense myself become more agitated.

Control, Serena. Self control.

"You're a selfish demon!"

"I want to see Idol-senpai!"

I grinded my teeth together to keep myself from bitching at them.

Keep yourself in control.

"You're not my superior!" Shizune yelled, managing to get pass me and that struck my last nerve.

"ATSUKO SHIZUNE!" I bellowed, twirling the staff above me. "GET BACK WHERE YOU BELONG!"

I smacked Shizune on the back of her head somewhat gently, but she howled in pain.

"YOU BITCH!" I heard someone scream and she climbed onto my back.

I knew who it was just by the smell that emitted from her body. I balanced myself, putting most of my weight on my thighs so I could hold her up and then swung the staff so that the ball part would hit her back. I heard Miss Skunk yelp and she slid off of me.

By now there was a riot.

I could see Zero standing guard around the Night Class, probably thinking that the vampires might view this as an opportunity to take a bite out of someone and Yuuki was keeping the other half of the female population calm on her side.

Oh fuck this shit.

With anger pulsing in my veins and my hair sticking up dangerously in absurd directions, I spun the Blood Star in front of me. "ALL RIGHT YOU WHORES, SLUTS, SKANKS AND RAPISTS! MOVE AWAY!" I screamed, sounding yet again insane. "I AM SO TIRED OF YOUR PATHETIC ATTEMPTS TO GET NEAR THEM!"

I don't know if it was the menacing glare I had in my eyes or the fact that the Night Class had somehow managed to get by the unstable female crowd unnoticed that made them all shut up. I heard them complain about how they weren't able to get a hold of their beloved and so on, but they spread out and headed to their dorms. I sighed in relief, allowing the Blood Star droop down on my back.

Zero cornered me, clearly dissatisfied with my behavior. "You fail."

"Shut up," I countered.

"Well, you have this whole semester," Yuuki smiled. "You'll get it one day."

I shrugged. "Whatever. What do we do now?"

"Separate. Normally Zero covers north and I cover south, but since you're here…you take south and I'll take north with Zero," Yuuki told me with a big smile. "If you have any problems-"

"I'll cut myself," I joked, giving her a lopsided grin. "Both of you will be able to smell my blood."

Zero's eyes reduced to tiny slits, immediately disapproving. "That's really not a good idea."

"Yea, I know I'll be towing in more trouble, but what other quiet way of grabbing your attention is there? I mean it would be obvious that I was in trouble if you smelled my blood. Even it the injury was the size of an atom," I teased, but I was being serious at the same time because I knew it was true. "And quite frankly, I'm not the screaming type. If there's going to be fight, then I'm going to fight."

"I don't doubt that." He continued to frown, clearly not pleased with my recent trigger-happy moment.

Yuuki shrugged. "I think it's okay. The vampires here obey Kaname-sama so it shouldn't be a problem. Kaname-sama knows what you smell like now."

A part of me wanted to shiver and the other part of me wanted to go hunt him down and beat the crap out of him—haha, as if that could happen. In any case, I didn't like the idea that he knew what I smelled like. It made me feel like I was suddenly the prey instead of the predator and if I tried to get away from him he would always be able to find me. I didn't approve of drastic switch of roles at all.

I decided to change topic for my sake. "Let me get this straight. You're engaged to him and yet you still call him sama?"

She shrugged again. "Old habit."

I nodded, heading out as I spoke. "Well, I'll see you guys later than. I'm off to watch over the south side."

"That's fine…but you're going the wrong way," Yuuki snickered, pointing the exact opposite direction. "You're watching them."

I paled a little, realizing that the south side of the Academy was where the vampires slept and I stared at her in surprise.

"I thought it would be better to force you to watch the vampires since…you nearly killed the humans just a few moments ago," she laughed, sounding a bit nervous and she rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry?"

I sighed heavily and groaned. "It's fine. I understand."

She immediately perked up. "Okay! We'll see you at dawn then if nothing goes wrong!"

Nothing goes wrong…that'll be the day…

I waved at her as she began to leave—Zero was already ahead of her. "Sure thing."

As the experienced prefects left me alone with my charge, I began to stomp my way to the vampire nest and muttered under my breath about how stupid this was. I was so preoccupied with my thoughts on how to survive the night without being bitten, or eaten for that matter, that I didn't even notice the guardsman who looked too old to be a guardsman.

"Who are you?" he interrupted my thoughts, startling me back into reality with his gravely voice.

I was tempted to give him a hysterical, evil eye. "I'm the new prefect."

"Great," he mumbled under his breath, sounding none-too-happy but didn't make a move to bother me and allowed me to pass.

"Yea," I said, not knowing what else to say and continued my lovely march to the nest.

If I hear so much as a peep, I will strike without warning.

"What the hell are you doing here?" A familiar voice questioned me rudely, and true to my word, I took out the Blood Star and swung repeatedly.

"Serena! Stop! SERENA! IT'S JUST ME!" an outraged blonde haired villain shouted, looking quite bruised now.

I stopped in mid-swing to actually glance at my poor victim. "Mr. Bunny?"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" he bellowed, rubbing his arms and forehead.

I frowned. "I could ask you the same damn thing. Are you skipping class again?"

"OBVIOUSLY!" he snapped. "NOW WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

I scowled, returning the Blood Star on my back within its sling. "I was made a prefect and given the lovely duty to babysit this half of the Academy."

He groaned loudly but made no response...probably too busy thinking about how he was going to kill the Chairman and make it seem like it was an accident.

"Why are you skipping class...again...?" I asked, scowling.

If he hadn't had spooked me, he wouldn't be in such pain. If he had been in class at all, then he wouldn't have spooked me.

Stupid rabit.

He shot me a glare. "I was actually going to go look for you."

"Why?" I asked curiously and I could have sworn I saw a hint of blush on his cheeks.

"Well I...err...I wanted to..."

"Some time this century would be nice," I interrupted, causing him to scowl furiously.

"I wanted to take you out," he declared.

"Out? Out where?" I blinked, confused.

He shuffled his feet, a clear unusual and uncharacteristic thing to do. Since when was the playboy shy?

"It was meant for your birthday but you were too injured to be moved so I waited, and it worked out because it's not really ruined," he answered quickly, avoiding my eyes and staring at the ground.

I was having a really hard time accepting his new, shy behavior. Maybe he was an imposter.

I hit him on the head to make sure he was who he appeared to be and was awarded with a loud yelp and a seething glare.

"WOMAN! IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO THEN SAY SO! THERE'S NO NEED TO HIT ME! I CAN HANDLE A REJECTION QUITE WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU INCONSIDERATE, ANNOYING VERMIN!" he shouted, suddenly a lot taller than he was a few seconds ago and I felt satisfied with his reaction.

Yep. It was definitely him.

I absently, and somewhat nervously, played with my hair, suddenly very...unsure of myself. "Well, I don't think I can go today. It's my first day of prefect duty and I don't think I have those benefits of skipping just yet."

He nodded, understanding. "I know so I was going to ask your parents for permission first."

I laughed nervously. "You make this sound like a date."

He smiled but didn't make his usual retort and that made my stomach do a funny flip.

"I'll see you later, Serena," he said too casually, ruffling my hair as he left.

I couldn't help but turn around to watch him leave, feeling incredibly stupid.

This...is very strange...

And the feeling in my stomach wasn't exactly helping me either. Damn that bunny.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVv

I finally updated! After so much crap I had to do!! I have yet to be in one location for more than a week (has been traveling nonstop and almost all over the east side of the USA).

I'm going to tell you right now that this fiction will probably not follow all of the manga's storyline sadly (I swear if Takuma dies I'm going to stop reading) because it keeps changing and I don't what to expect...And yes, I remember that this was my attempt at romance and Serena is finally realizing she has a crush on him....it only took me seventeen chapters lol.

The Blood Star/Holy Sprinkler/ Morning star....interesting weapon. I was focusing on her softball skills...

I realized that if you are going to manage people, you need a lot of patience and self control (I was going for Resident Assisstant for the dorm life). And lets face it, Serena needs to practice in order to control her temper and I figured becoming a prefect would be the best thing since she has to manage the worst kind of girls.

Fan girls. -shudder- and I must say they're something. I went out to watch Twilight and ran into a crowd of them...it was Vampire Knight all over again and I was afraid to say anything negative about the movie (and the book) 'cause I knew they would eat me alive -laughs-.

Anyway, if you have any questions, concerns, complaints, requests...etc. Feel free.