A/N: Hey everyone~ another chapter! Maya's fangirl tendencies make an appearance in this chapter... so this should be interesting since they mostly just further confuse herself about her feelings.
Enjoy reading! And please remember to follow, favourite and/or review!
Thanks so much to Sakure Heme, Guest,December 25th,blackcat711, fanfiction2010 and Eovin for taking the time to review, follow and/or favourite! I really love it!
*eats all the cookies*
Summary: Vampires are real. I attend Cross Academy, a school where the student body is populated by the human Day Class, and the vampire Night Class. This was all supposed to be fiction. A story I read for entertainment. But it's real. It's all real. SI, OC Insert.
Disclaimer: Everything to do with Vampire Knight is owned by Matsuri Hino. I only own my OC Maya.
Warning: this fanfiction includes dark themes, swearing, mentions of death, serious injury, murder and suicide.
Chapter 6 - The Party
So. This party sucks.
No pun intended. And no offense, Ichijou. But it just- it's just so... awkward? No, that's just because we're here. I wonder what it was like before we showed up? Probably a lot more fun. Yeah, let's go with that.
Also, the 'greeting' by Aidou and Kain was a bitch. Aidou wouldn't stop shooting glares at me as we walked - jeez, he can hold a grudge, eh?
Oh, and I think everyone here hates us! ... hear any of the sarcasm there?
Everyone's staring. It's so freaking awkward.
Wait, am I the only one feeling really awkward here?
Um, Zero looks ticked off, though that's normal for him, and really tense. Ummmm, Yuuki looks a little tense and apprehensive? Nope. I'm the only one's who feeling awkward.
I'm also pretty terrified, to be honest. Being in a nest of vampires and all... do vampires sense fear?
"Welcome! Yuuki-chan, Maya-chan, Kiryuu-kun!" Ichijou chirped, standing in front of a decked out buffet table. He's so happy! God, he's so cute!
RESTRAIN THE FANGIRL OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED WITHIN TEN FEET.
Mental warning heeded, I toned down the grin trying to tug it's way onto my face from ten watts down to about two.
"Tonight is my birthday party!" Ichijou continued "please enjoy yourselves!"
At his cue, I took a deep breath, let a normal smile slip onto my face and then whipped out my birthday gift.
Then, ignoring Zero's incredulous look, I responded to Ichijou's greeting in kind and presented him with the manga volumes I'd wrapped in dark green wrapping and a gold coloured ribbon - I would've done more, but the small town nearby has only so much to offer.
"We- we didn't come to play" Yuuki stuttered, and I pouted at her "we wanted to ask about today"
Yeah. I pouted. It happens!
Plus, it may have also been because Ichijou deflated a little at her words. Aw~ Ichijou.
Shut up, my inner fangirl is restrained.
"That is... why did you dispose of the Level E, even though you're both vampires?" she continued.
"They aren't the same as us" Aidou drawled airily as he passed them, moving towards the buffet table.
"That's why you came, Yuuki? I could've told you that" I put in, accepting a glass of champagne from Ichijou. What? Just because I don't drink, doesn't mean I should be rude! To be honest, I'm more partial to a sweet pink mascato wine, but that's just me.
"Then why didn't you say something earlier?" Zero growled.
"Because then we would've missed out on Ichijou's birthday party" I replied, trying to sound innocent. He was not fooled.
"Vampire society is ruled by a few purebloods and a handful of Noble Class vampires" Ichijou explained, sending me a quick appreciative smile as he moved to hand Yuuki a glass of champagne "those in the Night Class are all part of, or above, the Noble Class. Below that are the ordinary vampires, and then even lower are the vampires who were once human"
I averted my gaze from the conversation to stare down at my champagne, my smile faltering slightly.
Shiki Senri approached then, adding his own to the conversation "and the beings who have fallen out the ranks are... Level E"
"Vampires who were once human gradually begin to ignore reason, and will at some point inevitably end up a Level E. End, Destruction, and Ruin" Ichijou clarified.
By this point, my smile had become small and bitter as I stared into the liquid of the glass.
"Those born as vampires, and vampires who were once human, are completely different beings. I don't want you to put us together" Aidou finished.
"That's just cruel!" Yuuki protested "Level Es didn't become that way because they wanted to! To start with, it was you guys who-!"
My smile was gone now, my expression blank, and while my ears were listening to the conversation, my eyes were watching Zero's reaction from the corner of my eye.
"That is exactly why we must manage things" Ichijou promised "before they attack humans at random because of a hunger for blood"
"I ordered it"
My head turned along with everyone else's towards the pureblood standing by an elaborate lounge on an elevated ground floor veranda.
"For Ichijou and Shiki to go and hunt the Level E today" Kuran explained.
"It was you, Kaname-senpai?" Yuuki asked.
I almost sweatdropped. Yes, Yuuki. He just said that.
"Yuuki, to come to such a dangerous place just as you were told to by Ichijou..."
"I wanted to check personally" she replied.
"Personally, huh?" Kuran sighed "come over here... Yuuki, Matsumoto-kun and Kiryuu-kun"
I blinked. What.
Noooooooo~ I want to stay with Ichijou and the cake, and the presents, and-
My thoughts when interrupted when Zero grabbed my wrist and began pulling me behind Yuuki as she made her way towards the pureblood.
Awww...
"Yuuki, sit next to me" Kuran said "it's alright"
Normally, I'd object. But sitting next to Kuran is just about the safest place in the world for Yuuki. The vampires behind us began whispering to each other as Yuuki hesitated on the stairs.
"It's okay-" she insisted.
"Yuuki" That was all Kuran needed to say, and the blushing girl sat down next to him, stuttering an affirmative.
"Next to me is the safest place" Kuran murmured to her and as she looked out over the area she realized everyone was staring at her, Zero and I having taken to leaning on the railing surrounding the veranda.
I looked away as they continued their conversation, while I was sure Kuran knew everyone here could hear them perfectly fine, I had enough manners to at the very least give them an illusion of privacy.
"Um, I... have always been thinking that I have to thank you..." really not an appropriate time or place for that, dear.
"It is actually forbidden for them to be created... vampires who were once human" Kuran began, and I could see Zero listening more actively now. He didn't know this? What the hell did they teach trainee vampire hunters? I thought history would be important in a subject like that.
"However, long ago, in the background of history, when the battle between vampires and vampire hunters was at its worst... the side of the vampries made many humans into their own for use as military power"
Ah~ military. Something I'm at least a little more familiar with. Brief Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired vampire myth fascination aside, I'm a military brat through and through. That, and I always had a fascination with the inner workings of strategy and types of warfare...
"Since then, the Nobles and higher ranks have carried the responsibility of managing vampires who were once human" Kuran unraveled the bandage on Yuuki's arm from our latest vampire run in.
Come on, Kuran. Even I'm starting to get ansty- and now Zero's putting his own two cents worth in.
And holy shit, Kuran and Zero so close together all of a sudden almost gave me a freaking panic attack. Damn it, man. You've got to stop giving me those.
"Hunting vampires is the role of vampire hunters"
"Then why did you not kill that Level E before you today?"
Zero reacted as if he was burned. While I flinched at the low blow.
Don't listen. None of your business. Youalreadyknowwhattheyaresayinganyway.
"Zero!" I snapped as the shock and outrage rippled through the crowd of vampires watching on "what the hell?" I hissed "are you insane?!" my voice getting quieter and more pointed as I spoke.
Zero had pulled the Bloody Rose on Kuran's head.
You know, if I wasn't actually here, I would probably be considering the irony of the situation, because the last time I saw this I didn't know about the connection between Kaname and the gun.
That, and Seiren, Kaname's bodyguard, even though I was closer, had beaten me to Zero, her hand ready to take off his head.
Damn it, Zero. What the fuck.
Aidou - who I'm actually surprised has yet to threaten Zero for even being within ten feet of his precious pureblood - at the placating the thoughts of his apparant 'usual' threats of limb tearing... went on to tell everyone that Kaname is a pureblood.
Um, what? Doesn't everyone here already know tha- oh right, Yuuki doesn't remember.
... that's becoming kind of annoying.
Someone clapping suddenly drew everyone's attention "okay, everyone!" Ichijou began "today is my birthday, so we must celebrate properly for me! Yuuki-chan, Maya-chan and Kiryuu-kun are also my special guests!"
I'm one of his special guests? My deep frown disappeared and a smile began tugging at my face again.
Aww~ that's so nice~
Thankfully everyone calmed down after that. Yay~ party! Ichijou's birthday party!
If there was music, I would so be dancing right now.
Okay. Maybe not. I'd be too embarrassed.
So wrapped up in the festivities - okay, so it was mostly just Ichijou and the cake and the rest of the buffet table - it took me a while to even noticed Zero and Yuuki had even disappeared.
"It certainly is dull... when you compare it to real blood" Aidou sighed, taking a sip of his glass of red tablet water.
I nodded, humming in agreement as I took a bite of cake, chewed and then swallowed "I imagine it would be" I focused on my cake as I spoke, so I was unaware of Ichijou, Shiki and Aidou's stares "I mean, considering the tablets are basically just a combination of chemicals, powderized to give the same nutritional effect of real blood- huh, I guess they're kinda like vitamin tablets when I think about it. They taste bad, too" I ate another bit of cake, the sweet taste pushing away the memory of gross vitamin tablets.
"A vampire that was once human... sometimes there are dangerous ones as well, aren't there?"
"Hmm?" I looked up at Shiki, about to finish off eating my piece of actually pretty delicious cake.
"Ones that do not accept tablets..."
At his words, I froze. I'm forgetting something really important again... I glanced around for Zero... to find him nowhere to be seen. Or Yuuki.
... shit. Oh shit.
Kuran is so going to kill me.
Reluctantly placing my now empty plate and fork on the table, I turned to Ichijou "I'm sorry, Ichijou-senpai. But it looks there's something I need to attend to"
While looking a little put out, Ichijou understood, and even said he would have some cake sent over to my dorm room - see what I mean about cute - for later.
Thanking him and then apologizing again, I said goodbye and then ran off into darkness... only to realize once I was out of sight of the Moon Dorms, that I had no idea where that little pool place actually was.
Great... what was that.
A quiet whisper drifted on the air. So quiet I couldn't make out the words... is that- over there. It's coming from over there.
I turned to the right and ran off the path into the trees, following the whisper.
I know that voice. I know it. Where do I know it from?
A gunshot went off somewhere ahead me. Shit-!
I ran faster, breaking into a clearing, the pool to my left.
My eyes took in the situation as I pulled the pistol from my pocket.
Large shotgun.
Zero in the pool, bleeding.
Yuuki protecting Zero.
"Lower your gun" I growled.
"..."
"... you don't know me, Yagari-sensei. But I'm the kind of person who takes offense when someone aims a particularly large shotgun at her friends"
"You won't shoot"
"At this point, even I don't know if I'll shoot. But if you don't lower your weapon, then we'll all find out, won't we?"
His eyes moved from his target to look at me holding the pistol pointed at his head from a few feet away. They lingered on the pistol for a moment, before he spoke again "anti-vampire weapons don't work on humans, girl"
"You sure this is actually loaded with anti-vampire bullets?" I asked, his eyes widened slightly as I made a small finger movement and the gun in my hand clicked to signal it was loaded, my glare deepened "I won't ask again"
He moved the shotgun as if to fire it again and I would've pulled the trigger... if the Chairman hadn't picked that exact moment to show up.
WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU. I ALMOST FREAKING SHOT YAGARI.
"That's far enough!" Cross declared, temporarily confiscating Yagari's shotgun and my pistol. Damn it, I just got that.
"I came because I was worried! This why I hate vampire hunters!" he turned back to scold me "... and trigger happy probationary prefects"
"He was going to shoot!" I protested, my voice going all high and squeaky "what else was I supposed to do?!"
"We'll talk about this later"
"Tch" I grimaced, crossing my arms across my chest. Great...
"How long are you intending to leave a girl in such cold water?" Cross protested, attention now back on Yagari. Oh yeah, Yuuki and Zero are still the pool. Whoops... oh wait, never mind. They just got themselves out.
"Just who are you?" Yuuki asked.
"I am a vampire hunter and Zero's master from long ago" Yagari replied "isn't that right, Zero?"
"Yes" Zero admitted.
"As would be expected from that incompetent Chairman's daughter" Yagari scoffed "even though you were about to be bitten by Zero... you made me your enemy instead of Zero?"
He looked over at me "and you-"
"The only animosity I felt when I got here, was coming from you" I interrupted, glaring "of course I was going to take action against you. You were pointing a shotgun at my friends"
"... even though one of those 'friends' attacked you not too long ago?" he asked.
I hesitated, eyes narrowed, how did he-? "... like I said, you were the one with the gun"
"Leave this to me" Cross said "Yuuki, Maya, return to your dorm"
With one last worried glance at Zero's soaked back, Yuuki and I left the scene.
There would be no point in further arguing tonight.
Zero was missing from class the next day and he didn't show up for prefect duties either. It didn't worry me that much, considering I actually remembered the reason why. But it still worried me.
I didn't remember why it still worried me until I was on my way back to the Sun Dorms after patrol, when I ran into Yuuki.
She was coming from the direction of the Chairman's residence. I didn't notice until we were parting ways on the stairwell of the Sun Dorms, but the band aid was back on her neck and her hair was damp.
Yuuki gave him her blood. After everything I-
Kuran is going to fucking kill me.
Why do I always think that when something happens, you ask?
Because we all know he would, if it didn't upset Yuuki.
The moment I got back to my room and changed into my pjs, I collapsed on my bed, letting out something half way between a whimper and a sigh.
I don't know how much more of this I can take...
The next morning I woke up with a headache. Not as bad as those migraines I got when my memory came back, but still bloody annoying. It stayed with me all through breakfast, but by homeroom it was starting to fade and I began feeling better.
Slumped against my desk, I looked at the empty seat to my right... Zero was absent.
I wonder when he would come back to classes, he drank blood so his shoulder wound should've healed and his blood lust temporarily sated. So why wasn't he here? Was he still wallowing in guilt?
Oh, but this guilt would be different, wouldn't it... he's bitten both me and Yuuki now. Great...
Suddenly Yuuki stood up from her seat a few rows down "Yuuki-?" I blurted out, but she was already running from the room.
What the hell?
"Yagari-sensei's not coming?" whined a girl in the next row.
"Yeah, we've got self-study" replied her friend.
My eyes widened. Oh shit.
I bolted after Yuuki, barely able to keep her in sight with my lacking of acrobatic skills.
By the time I caught up to her, she was already at the door to Zero's room inside the Chairman's residence.
"Don't! Zero!" she yelled.
No!
Two gunshots rang out as I skidded to a stop behind the brunette.
"Zero..." I breathed out, a concerned look on my face.
"Has your desire to be killed by me gone away?" Yagari asked Zero.
He released the Bloody Rose, letting Zero, who was sitting on the floor, take it.
"Honestly... do you remember properly? That at the price of my right eye, I saved you? That you wouldn't make me regret it. That day, you made a stringent promise to me... looking at you now, I really thought about killing you"
"I don't remember saving a weak brat that wants to be put at ease so quickly" he sighed "struggle until you can no longer struggle! You just chose the life of one tied up... don't run away, Zero!" he ordered.
"Hey, girl" ... I raised an eyebrow, is he talking to me? "yes, you with the glasses" oh. That's a yes then.
"If he becomes reckless again, you stop him. Lax means are the root of injury. Without something like that gun sending them flying with a bullet, they won't stop completely... in contrast it's for his own good. After that, it's up to you"
"So when you shot Zero at the pool...?" Yuuki asked.
"If he wanted to, he could have finished it then with only one bullet" I interceded "it was almost point blank range, Yuuki. A trained vampire hunter missing at that range? It's impossible"
Yagari's eyes passed back to me "smart girl" he commented.
"I know how to do research" I shrugged.
He hummed a laugh - wow, really?! - then turned his attention back to Zero "Zero, that woman - it appears she is somehow alive"
"Woman...?" I murmured to myself.
Oh.
Hiou Shizuka.
I almost forgot about her.
Chapter End
A/N: Thanks for reading everyone! And thanks again for the reviews