A/N: Hey everyone~ a new day, a new chapter.
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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 7 - Starting From Scratch
It had been a few days since Ichijou's party and as it was a weekend, Yori, Yuuki and I were all planning on going into town for a break.
I was just finishing getting dressed into casual clothing - my blue jeans, a dark purple high collared shirt, my usual boots and my scarf - when there was a knock at my door.
Odd. It was pretty early on a Sunday for anyone to be up yet - were Yuki and Yori early?
Opening the door, I was surprised to find a cake box with a card sitting on top just outside my door. Closing it behind me and brought the box inside my room, placing it on my desk as I opened the card.
Oh, it's a thank you card from Ichijou for the manga volumes! Apparently while he hadn't read the series before, he found it interesting and was going to order some more volumes. Also, inside the cake box was, you guessed it, four pieces of Ichijou's birthday cake.
At the memory of the sugary goodness, I almost drooled... but I was able to summon enough will power to hide the box on the top shelf of my wardrobe before my friends got here. It's too early for cake - well, that and I didn't particularly want to share...
What? I can be selfish if I want to! It- it's cake! Ichijou's cake!
DON'T JUDGE ME.
"Maya-chan~!" sang Yuuki's voice from the hallway.
"Coming!" I replied, quickly pulling my boots on and closing the wardrobe tight.
Anyone asks, I give the usual excuse.
The cake is a lie.
Unlike our last trip into town, this one was fairly uneventful. All of us got a much needed break - including Zero who decided to just tag along at the last minute.
Seriously, he just showed up at the academy gates like we weren't planning on it being a girls day out - when he knew perfectly well that we were. We even ended up going for Shio ramen like he wanted to before - after I got my watermelon and the girls got their parfaits, mind you.
Such a quiet, peaceful, boring day.
I absolutely loved it.
Uneventful, except for, you know, Katsumi-sensei the academy's nurse, apparently being a freaking vampire hunter.
Yeah, she comes back from that sudden mysterious trip she's been on for the last week, has the Chairman call me to his office and then announces that she's going to be training me.
What.
... yeah, I'm about as lost as you are.
"So I hear Kiryuu is teaching you to shoot?" Katsumi asked.
The... nurse, was standing there in tight fitting dark leggings and shirt, a fitted leather jacket that reached her thighs and had a broadsword strapped to her back, as well as a handgun that was just smaller than the Bloody Rose holstered just underneath her chest. Her long dark hair was tied up in a long braid that ended mid way down her back and her dark blue eyes were hardened as opposed to their usual concern.
She also had what looked like a couple of inscribed daggers tucked into each shin-high boot... but I had decided not to ask, seeing as the woman was currently holding a dao - that's just a fancy term for that curved sword you see in the Prince of Persia game.
Yes. I'm female and played video games. And I watched Farscape, Firefly, Stargate, Dragon Ball Z and a bunch of other shows I'll never be able to watch now.
Thanks for reminding me - that last bit was sarcasm, by the way. I keep forgetting this is only text.
Now where was I...?
Academy nurse is a Vampire Hunter. Right. Stay focused.
... how didn't I notice this before?!
"Yeah" I replied, turning to look down the range.
"Think fast"
"Wha-"
I blinked, blinked, and one second she was across the room, and the next she had one of those knives at my throat.
"We'll need to work on your speed, stamina and reflexes" she analyzed, eyes watching me. They flickered down and then back to my face "good try, though"
What...? I looked down, my right hand was hovering over my pocket where I kept my gun. Huh.
"Here, try this" Katsumi began, retracting the knife and walking over to the table by the door. She picked something up and then turned around to reveal a leather gun holster "it'll be easier to reach your gun, just remember not to close up your blazer all the way when you're wearing your uniform"
I thanked her, then she showed me how to strap it around my upper torso and make it almost invisible under my blazer.
"I would teach you swordsmanship, but currently all I have is my broadsword and dao, and we don't have any where near the time needed for me to get your strength up to par enough to even hold them properly" she continued, turning to retrieve something else from the table "I'll be able to get you something lighter in a few weeks, but for now you'll just have to make do with guns and knives"
At her beckoning, I followed her over to see a small range of weapons spread across the table. As I looked over them, Katsumi picked up a pistol and a magazine sitting next to it "this is .38 caliber Colt semi-automatic pistol" she explained, moving over towards the shooting range "it carries eight rounds in a detachable box magazine, has a muzzle velocity of over three hundred and eighty metres per second, and an effective range of twenty three metres"
As she spoke, she loaded the magazine and pulled back the slider "while the .45 is more effective and reliable, this one has less of a recoil and is less likely to go flying or hit yourself with it when you fire and lose your grip"
Flicking off the safety, she fired the entire clip into the paper target at the end of the range, adjusting her aim only once.
My jaw dropped. Whoa.
"Four to the head, four to the heart" Katsumi said, then ejected the empty magazine and turned to me "your turn"
Nodding, I nervously moved to take her place at the top of the range. She showed me how to reload and use the safety, then after correcting my stance, she made me fire magazine after magazine until she was satisfied that I was used to the recoil.
No aiming, just firing down the range.
By the time I put down the pistol, my arms hurt and my hands were numb from the recoil, they were shaking as I rubbed them together, trying to get the feeling back.
Meanwhile, Katsumi was pulling the pistol apart. When she was finished, there were at least forty something pieces on the table.
She explained what every piece did and then demonstrated how to piece it back together.
Then she made me pull it apart and put it back together.
I couldn't do it.
By the twelfth try, I was so frustrated I almost threw the pieces across the room, all Katsumi did was stand there with her arms crossed and watch me struggle. I didn't even notice the Chairman come in to check on us and deliver food.
That was lunch time.
I'd been at this since last night, almost twelve stupid hours, and I still can't do it.
It was the little pieces I got stuck on, there were at least eight little metal bars that looked almost exactly the same - and the woman that was supposed to be teaching me just refused to let me look at any instructions.
When I finally thought I got it, she told me to test fire it, only for me to discover a few 'extra' pieces still on the table. Those god damn little bars.
Without saying anything, I disassembled the pistol and tried again.
I don't know how long after that I was still doing it, but by the time I got it, the bread from sandwiches was stale, but I didn't care.
I could construct a .38 calibre semi-automatic Colt pistol all on my own. Correctly.
I ate those sandwiches like they were chocolate.
The rest of the week saw me excused from prefect patrol duties to practice at the gun range with Katsumi. We'd finished the 'second stage' and now she was helping me to improve my accuracy and reflexes.
In other words, whenever I was at the gun range, she would suddenly pull a gun or knife on me to see both how fast I reacted and what I did.
She also taught me how to properly clean all the disassembled parts and was currently getting me into the habit of doing so daily as the .38 had a bad habit of building up lead residue in the barrel.
I could tell Zero was annoyed - not only had I be going AWOL from patrols, I'd been skipping lunch and self-study periods as well, Katsumi was basically monopolizing all my 'free time' to go to the gun range, including before and after school - and while Yuuki told me she was just upset that every time she saw me I smelt like gunpowder, even I could tell she just missed me. Though if I asked her, she just protested that it was Yori that missed me... she really is a bad liar.
"So what are we doing at Moons Dorms?" I asked, covering my mouth as a yawn escaped.
"An important guest is staying at the Moon Dorms and the Chairman asked us to formally greet him" Yuuki informed me.
"In other words, another bloodsucker is on campus"
I rolled my eyes in Zero's direction as my thoughts wandered to who it might be... um, that Ichiou guy? Ichijou's grandfather? Yeah, I think it's him.
Oooo what should I do? From what I remembered, it's a pretty brief encounter. Do I want to make any kind of impression?
Hmm... maybe not. He is the head of the Vampire Council, and I really don't want any of their attention...
Okay, so it's decided. Just be nice and respectful. And smile.
The door to the Moon Dormitory opened as we approached and Ichijou 'Ichiou' Asato was in the doorway with his grandson standing behind him. They looked like they were speaking, but of course airhead Yuuki interrupted.
"Cross Academy is peaceful!"
I almost facepalmed. Really, Yuuki. You have no freaking tact. Or timing. You have really shitty timing.
"Yuuki-chan? Maya-chan?" of course I was standing behind her. Zero can be all mysterious and hide behind the door if he wants, but I'm standing by my air-headed friend, thank you.
Also Ichijou is so freaking cute~ and I can't see him from over there.
"Tha- that's why... Chairman Cross said to make a contribution this time too..." she stuttered, and saluted. I suppressed a sigh. "Um... you're Ichijou-senpai's grandfather, right?"
A polite smile on my face, I nodded my head slightly in greeting "welcome to Cross Academy, Ichiou-sama"
His eyes flickered over me briefly before landing on Zero as he stepped into view "we'll bring you to the Chairman's office" the teen added.
"Never mind..." Ichiou sighed, and turned to leave.
Kaname chose that moment to show up, to add a little parting gesture no doubt. God I hate politics.
"I'll be looking forward to our next meeting"
"Me as well. Now I must be leaving" No you won't - cause I'm pretty sure the next time they meet is when Kaname trashes/massacres the Vampire Council and Ichiou's killed by his own grandson.
Yeah. Ouch.
After that, we escorted Ichiou to the Chairman's office and then off campus where a car was waiting at the Academy gates... also, I could feel his eyes watching us almost the whole time. It was really creepy.
I would honestly rather he ignored us like I was expecting him too.
It was another couple of weeks before Katsumi was finally satisfied with my progress enough to let me go back on patrol.
Multiple gunshots and firing residue filled the air, the muzzle flare from my pistol reflecting off the ballistic goggles protecting my glasses.
I didn't blink or flinch much anymore when I fired. Which was good, because that meant I was more likely to hit what I was aiming at.
We'd also started on moving targets a few days ago and Katsumi was steadily increasing the speed of the targets dancing back and forth at the bottom of the range.
It was barely anywhere near the speed vampires moved at, but actually hitting a moving target was an accomplishment, she said.
When I came to the gun range that morning to practice before classes as we normally did, she mentioned something about Zero going on a job for the Hunter's Association.
Which is why I skipped classes and am now stalking Zero into town.
Shut up. I'm in disguise, I'm wearing casual clothing! Granted it my was usual with just an added beanie cap, but hey. At least I'm not like Yuuki... who is just running around in her school uniform - really Yuuki. You suck at following people. You have no stealth.
A gunshot went off inside the large building the Level E was hiding in - Zero? Is it over already?
Pulling the hood of my grey hoodie over my head, I took a moment to make sure my gun was easily accessible - I always wear my shoulder holster now and carry both my .38 and the smaller gun Zero gave me - before moving quietly forward to enter through a window.
Annoying as it was, I didn't want to draw attention yet- god damn it!
"Yuuki!" I called, appearing beside her with my .38 drawn and pointed at the vampire sitting at the top of the staircase.
"Maya-chan?!" she looked shocked - whether to see me, or to see me with a gun, I don't know. Actually, does she know I've been learning to fight?
... I'll have to ask her later.
"Oh~ the hunter's companions?" he wondered out loud, his voice doubled, showing his descent clearly.
"You intend to take away my dessert from me?" he asked. I narrowed my eyes, so this is monster that's been kidnapping and draining teenage girls...
Shiki-?
"You're in the way" Shiki Senri said as he pushed me aside, my eyes widened as he bit his index finger and revealed his power - a blood whip elongating from his finger tip.
His weapon caused damage to wall and stairwell as the Level E jumped around, avoiding his attacks and then escaping off into the building.
Yuuki ran off with Artemis drawn "Yuuki!" I called "oh for fuck's sake..."
"You go find her, we'll deal with the Level E" Tooya Rima said.
"Do what you like, I'm only here for my friends" I replied, civility out the window,and with gun still in hand I ran off after Yuuki.
I was pissed. Pissed that Yuuki wasn't listening to me, and that Zero went out on his own after what happened with the last Level E he faced. In turn, my care of social skills and rank dropped to zilch.
The clattering of metal hitting the ground made me speed up, running towards the sound. The Level E had broken through the floor and had Yuuki's ankle- I fired.
What... I didn't even register bringing up my gun and aiming.
My breathing still heavy from all the running, the smell of fresh gunpowder was drifting across my senses as the vampire jerked away from Yuuki, clutching his bleeding arm and screaming as he threw himself from the hole.
Blood was splattered over the floor around the vampire, and having been released, Yuuki scrambled away to retrieve Artemis.
... I shot someone.
Sure, it was a crazy vampire attacking my friend, but still. I fucking shot someone.
A hand placed itself over the barrel of gun, gently taking it from my shaking hands - shaking? Why am I shaking?
I looked up with wide eyes to see Zero standing in front of me. When did he-? I- I must've been in shock or something.
Behind him, the Level E was nothing but a pile of ash. Zero must've finished him off while I was zoned out...
I was still staring at the ash, when Yuuki took my hand and led me from that place. I closed my eyes as we walked, and when I opened them again I was staring up at the trees around the abandoned building, following a strange feeling of being watched...
... in one of the trees was a black crow with red eyes. I narrowed my eyes.
Kurenai Maria.
Hello, Hiou Shizuka.
End Chapter
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