Chapter 2

"The shield"

AU: phew, second chapter is fixed now. This one had a few more mistakes than the last one, but much more has been changed besides that. As always, please let me know what you like or don't like about it, and maybe even make some suggestions.


It was about 7pm when Chairman came to get me from my room. I was ready to go to that god forsaken dorm, so he walked me over to the moon dorms where Kuran Kaname was patiently awaiting the arrival of his newest classmate.

"It's nice to see you on time for once, Kiryuu-kun, even if Cross had to bring you here himself." He had such a smug face and I just wanted was to get this over and done with. I wanted to just stay in my new room away from them all of them and their 'better than thou' bullshit.

"So, where am I staying?" Was my brusque reply. I wasn't going to make this easy for any of them. I plan on causing some chaos for forcing me to endure their company, if you could even call it that.

"You'll be staying down the hall from me, next to Takuma and Shiki, so I can keep an eye on you."

Next to Ichijou? He kind of bothers me. He's way to happy and bright for a vampire. I don't trust it. Shiki seems alright though, as long as he keeps out of my way.

"Shall we head in?"

"Let's just get this over with."

Chairman Cross then decided that now was the perfect time for an impromptu, and unwanted, goodbye hug. I was more focused on Kuran and what he was doing, so I had no time to duck or dodge his hug. It was warm sure, but it was maybe too warm from all of his blankets and shawls. He looks weaker than actually he is too; the hug was far tighter than it should have been.

"My cute son! Yuki and I will miss you at our get-togethers!"

"You mean your inedible breakfast?" I finally managed to push him off me after a few moments of breathlessness. Kuran was probably looking quite smug then, the pompous ass that he is.

I said goodbye to the chairman and grudgingly followed Kuran into the dorms where I would spend the rest of my school life.

We went up the flight of stairs in the main foyer and down a wide corridor. I've been here previously for room inspections but never cared to actually have a look around. I saw Ichijou and Shiki's room first and knew that around the next corner was Kuran's room. We stopped short of the bend as we came to my assigned room. Kuran threw me the key, I caught it effortlessly by the way.

"Kiryuu, I want to explain something and I want you to listen very carefully. There is only one reason you are even alive today, one reason why I didn't just kill you for harming Yuki, and that is Yuki herself. If you weren't such an important person to her, then I would have no qualms in destroying you." He over-exaggerated the word important. "The only reason I have let you stay that close to her, was because you are her shield. You will protect her, not because she or I asked you to, but because you must. Because it is all you can do for her. Because you owe her everything after what you took from her." We stood there for a moment, just glaring at one another. I was getting tired of everything and just wanted him to leave, it seems he wasn't keen on staying either because he soon broke our eye contact and turned to leave.

"Takuma will be around later to give you a tour of the dorms. Class is cancelled tonight so you can have the night to get settled." He threw the comment over his shoulder and closed the door behind him.

It was quiet now and I finally got a good look at where I will be staying from now on. The ceiling was high and the room was large, much larger than my room back at the sun dorms. I had a queen size bed, a walk-in wardrobe, a medium dark wood desk with a desk chair, a bookcase and another door that I assume opens into an ensuite. I even had a small lounge chair with a coffee table in front of it for if I had guests, fat chance that would happen though.

It looks like a comfortable place to read though.

Everything was bigger, classier than what I had back in my old dorm. Though, I bet Kuran's is ten times bigger. This is probably the smallest room in the entire dorm. Not that I care, my old room was the size of a shoe box compared to this.

I took my time placing my belongings away while I waited for Ichijou to collect me for the tour. I didn't have much, a random assortment of clothes Yuki bought for me, my toiletries, a photo of my parents with Ichiru and I that I placed in the bedside table drawer, and a few other things like books and school supplies. I only really had the bare essentials. I didn't like to carry too much in case I needed to leave one day. It's a habit I picked up from Shishou. Yuki thinks it's just silly.


I was sitting on my new bed reading one of the books I found in the bookcase, It was some fantasy novel I've never heard of before, when a knocking came from my door.

It must be Ichijou, he'd be here to take me on the tour of the dorms.

My assumption was correct. Ichijou stood outside my room with a wide smile on his face and a short brunette next to him.

"Have you settled in well Kiryuu-kun? Are you ready to go? I'm assuming Kaname told you why we are here."

"I've settled in as well as I could, and I'm ready, though he didn't say anything about Shiki being here also."

"Is that a bad thing?" I shook my head no, but I was pretty sure Shiki looked uncomfortable next to him. Is Ichijou forcing him along so he isn't alone with me?

With that said and done, we start by going past all the other dorm rooms, all the while Ichijou was commenting on which room belongs to who. Then we move to go downstairs to the foyer. The rest of Kuran's inner circle were on the lounges there, chatting away about random boring vampire politics or something. Though as soon as we stepped close to them they all stopped talking and turned to face us.

"Well, well, well, look at what we have here. Who would've thought that the hunter we all know and love was crying vampire all along?" It was Aidou, as usual.

"I may be a vampire, but I'm still a hunter, so you'd better watch yourself, Aidou-senpai" I hissed.

"How dare you threaten one of us! You're just a level D. You have no right to speak to us like that!" Spat Souen.

She really pisses me off.

Before I could retort Ichijou stepped between us all, hoping to stop the fight before a real one began.

"This is pointless! We will be living with each other from now on whether you like it or not. We should be civil with one another." I actually agree with him but I can't stand people like them. "I'll be civil if they are, but if one of them steps over the line, that's it." I knew I was acting childish, but I didn't care.

I don't need to take this shit. I've got enough problems to deal with already.

I stormed off with Ichijou slowly catching up. Shiki must have stayed behind with the others.

"Wait! You don't know where everything is yet!" Ichijou exclaimed.

"What else do I need to know?" I was a bit curt with him, the others set me off so I wasn't in the best mindset to deal with a happy person. "sorry" I apologised. "I tend to lose my temper around others, could you tell me what we are going to see next?" I was a tiny little bit calmer now that I was away from the group and he looked pleased that I was cooperating and told me to follow him.

He took me through the kitchens and dining room first, they were large enough to accommodate a dorm bigger than this one and the kitchen itself was a masterpiece.

Man, if some of the day class students could see this... there'd be riots for equal living space.

I then followed him to the library and games room. I wonder who even uses the games room? There were also some labs and study rooms for various things. By the time we finished it was only lunch. I wasn't hungry so I just made my way back to my room.

Maybe I'll read something to pass the time?

I continued that book from earlier, sitting on the lounge with my feet resting on the rim of the coffee table. It seems that I got pretty into the book because before I knew it, Ichijou had knocked on my door letting me know that dinner was ready.

"I'll be down in a minute" I called back.

I knew there'd be some anger towards me tonight. I want to appear unaffected to whatever they have to say, so I took a minute to correct my appearance and reinforce the walls around my emotions. I didn't want to appear weak in front of any of them, especially Kuran and his groupies.

With that all sorted, I left my room and headed downstairs towards the dining room.