Chapter 6

"Yuki's first level E"

AU: The last of the edits. I think.


"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" A voice said. It was almost sunrise and class had finished hours ago. I was still reading my book in the stables and hadn't noticed anyone come in. It was Kaito, he must be finishing his rounds. Yuki and I normally finished our patrol around the time the night class finished, so why is he still up?

"Aren't you?" I retorted.

"Well, not all the vamps are in their lair yet"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't be so uptight, I was joking. I was actually looking for you, Cross was sent a letter from the Association, they have a new assignment for you. They want it done tomorrow night. Here's the letter, and a note from Cross to Kuran letting you out of your lessons tomorrow." He handed me the letter and the slip of paper.

"Thanks." I replied. "Anyway, I should get back to my room, I didn't realise how early it was." I turned and walked away, leaving him at the stables as I head back to my 'lair' as he called it.

On my way in I noticed it was eerily quiet inside.

Everyone must be sleeping already. That's good, I won't have to see them until tonight.

With that, I snuck into my room quietly and had a quick read through Cross's note. Apparently, he wants me to pick him up a couple things while I'm out. Now I am starting to get tired so I started going about getting ready to sleep. I'm grateful that the rooms have blackout curtains, I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise.

The next night and before I ate, morning now, I guess, I read through the letter from HA. There is some level E terrorising the towns folk. Heading down to the kitchen, I decided to make myself some toast and walk into the dining room to hand Kuran the note from Cross.

"I see. Very well then, make sure to be back before curfew."

I nodded and headed back to my room to get everything ready for my hunt, mouth full of toast.

It was still early so the evening sun was not yet ready to set. I decided to do Cross's shopping first since the stores are still open. It's more of a market full of stalls really, but there are shops for specific things too. I collected what he wanted and by the end of it my arms were quite full. Not great when hunting, I'll have to dump them somewhere safe or something.

I placed the items near a stall where the elder salesman agreed to look after them for me and I took off in search for the aura I felt.

It had to be around here somewhere. I've followed the aura through various alleys and I'm close, I can feel it.

Suddenly, I smelt blood, familiar blood.

Yuki? What's she doing here? Who cares? She shouldn't be here, it's dangerous.

I followed the scent of her blood and as I got there, she was being attacked by the level E. It was charging at her but she had her weapon held up. I watched as it was about to slam into her. I was quicker than the E and got to her in time to moved Artemis to an angle so that the end hit it. It fell backwards to the ground with a thud.

Yuki finally noticed me then.

"Zero!"

I could hear passers-by wondering what the noise is. It's probably not a good idea to let the humans see this creature.

As I was reaching for my gun the E suddenly split into two and crumbled to dust. Two figures stood behind it. Ichijou and Shiki. Ichijou was sliding his katana back into its sheath as he began talking.

"Kaname-kun asked me to follow you, to make sure everything went alright."

"You didn't need to interfere."

"Well yes... but I thought I'd help out some and this also gave me a chance to ask you to come to my birthday party! It's tomorrow night!"

"What? Why?" I asked in confusion.

"Why? You ask? Because You are part of the night class now and because I can. Ooh! Also, Yuki-chan is welcome to come as well."

With that, the two of them turned and left. Ichijou was waving as he went.

"Yuki..." I turned to her, "did you follow me?"

"I was worried!" She exclaimed.

"I saw Zero-kun leaving the academy by himself and didn't know what he was doing! So… I followed to make sure you weren't running away..." She spoke as if she would be reprimanded. I sighed.

Oh Yuki... you're too nice sometimes. It's gonna get you hurt one day.

"Well, I'm not going anywhere so you don't have to follow me and get yourself hurt again. I swear, every time you come out to the town, you somehow manage to get yourself into tonnes of trouble..."

It was the truth. I wasn't going to run from the Academy and Yuki really does get hurt way too often.

We made our way back to the Academy, after thanking that kind salesman for keeping the shopping safe. There, I accompanied her to the nurse's office to get her cut looked at. After it was thoroughly cleaned and bandaged, I helped her walk back to the chairman's house and sat her down at the kitchen counter while I put the food away.

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked.

"I had a little something before crossover, but it wasn't much."

"Well, in that case, I'll make something. I'm kinda hungry now too."

I thought of what to make while tapping the counter. "How does curry sound?"

"Ooh. Yum! Yes please!"

Of course, she's happy about that... it's one of her favourites.

I set out making it as she sat, content to just watch me cook.