a/n: plays sinnerman*

[A Detour to Memory Lane]

Naomi was not a morning person, but after the traumatizing events from the night; Naomi had woken up to crack of dawn. The sun rolling up a sapphire sky, she needed air. Out of Cross Academy air. She swung her legs off her bed and quickly changed into casual clothes. Naomi looked at herself in the mirror, her clothes quickly reminded her of who she was last year. Her ripped tights under black high waisted shorts with a dark green sweater tucked in, and with a breath she slipped on her worn down tennis shoes.

Naomi tooka glance at Asuna, still slepping soundly, She'll cover for me. With that, Naomi grabbed some cash and pocketed it.

Naomi quietly closed the door behind her as she made light steps out of the dorms, and for some odd reason, she took her time walking towards the gates of the Academy. She could climb over, but Naomi was never athletic; she had always relied on her intellect to get her out of problems. Or she just ignored it until went away, but the truth is clear now... Naomi knowing the night class secret was never going to go away and no matter how much she wants to stay out of it, she couldn't. They will not let her.

Naomi took in a deep breath and grabbed the bobby pin she stuck between her sleeve.

CLICK!

She opened the gate and slipped through.

Maybe, if I don't come back they'll just expel me. Naomi thought, Or maybe they'll just send someone to come and get me and possibly wipe my memory.

Naomi shivered at the thought. To mess with someones mind is just wrong.

She walked leisurely as it was dawn, no one would be awake at this time. She took in the sight of trees and tried ease her mind... It didn't work. Naomi closed her eyes and began to hum a song... it didn't work. She opened her eyes and looked up to sky to see if she can make out shapes in the clouds... it didn't work.

Naomi groaned, she needed a real distraction. Luckily for her, Naomi knew just the person in town who'd help her get her mind of things that go bumb in the night.

The town isn't far now, Naomi thought. She took a turn as she finally stepped into town.

Naomi spared a glance at the clock tower and took note of the time; 6:08 a.m.

Cross Academy Day classes don't start till 8:20 a.m., Naomi tapped her chin as she walked into the one place in town that was open 24/7: a coffee shop.

Naomi let the coffee beans overwhelm her senses as she smiled and sat down in a booth.

She heard footsteps come towards her, "Shouldn't you be at school, Naomi?"

Naomi smiled at the man, "I needed a break, Tanaka."

Tanaka's eyes narrowed, "You shouldn't be wasting that scholarship you got." He grabbed cup and poured coffee in it, "You have a chance to get an amazing education." He set the cup down on the table as he sat across her.

"I'm not wasting it." Naomi picked up her cup and sipped her coffee, "I'm top of my class."

Tanaka clicked his tongue, "You keep sneaking out and they'll expel you. Do you really want to go back to Yosagami?"

Naomi pursed her lips, "I did fine in Yosagami." She sipped coffee again.

"Maybe," The bell chimed as another costumer came in, "but you were vicious person back in Yosagami High." Tanaka got up from his seat, "I'd hate to see you turn back into that person."

Naomi cringed as she saw him tend to the other customer.

"I'll go back before classes start, Tanaka." Naomi said, "I just wanted a cup of coffee."

Tanaka gave her nod as he poured a cup of coffee to the other customer.

Naomi blew air at her hot coffee and stared at the man who walked in, He's peculiar. She took in his appearance, dark hair with blue eyes and an eye patch... I wonder what happened to his eye. Naomi shook her head and looked at her drink instead. It's rude to stare.

"You better hurry up, Nao, and get to Cross Academy." Tanaka barked.

Naomi glared at him and looked at clock in the shop, "It's barely 6:20!" She huffed, "I have more than enough time."

"Yeah, and I know you," Tanaka grabbed the phone near the edge of kitchen, "You don't wake up this early unless you're up to no good!"

Naomi scoffed dramatically, "I would never!" She then smiled sweetly.

"That coffee you're drinking is on the house so hurry up and finish it up, kid, before I change my mind."

Naomi stuck her tongue out and drank the rest in one gulp. She got up from her seat and dramatically waved at Tanaka, "Alright, I know when I'm not wanted." She let out a fake sob.

"I better not hear that you're in town!"

Naomi laughed, "Good to see you, too, Tanaka!" She walked out of the small shop.

("She goes to Cross Academy?"

"Yeah, the little devil probably won't go back."

"Why not?" He lit ciggerate.

"I've known that kid since she was little, Naomi doesn't come here unless she wants to hide from something or be found."

"Rich parents?"

"Nah, Yagari, she's clever kid. She got in with a scholarship, God knows her parents can't afford that school." Tanaka lit a cigarette with him, "She's a bright kid, she just doesn't make rational decisions sometimes."

"Doesn't every teenager?" Yagari laughed.

"That's the thing Yagari, most teenagers party... This one goes after killers and adulters." Tanaka shook his head, "Last year, she'd come here all the time with papers and articles, if I had known she was investigating a murder! I would've called the police myself!"

"Did she find out who it was?"

"Yeah, she did, but Naomi was fourteen years old! She shouldn't be investigating murders!"

Yagari nodded in response.

"Do me favor will you?" Tanaka put out his cigarette, "Knowing her she won't go back until the next day, so keep an eye on her." He walked back into kitchen and brewed more coffee, "Kid got a knack of getting herself in trouble."

"Vampire trouble?"

"No, but honestly the way she runs around at night in this town... I'm surprised she hasn't."

Yagari let out a puff of smoke, "I'll keep an eye on her.")

Naomi frowned, unbeknownst to her of the conversation happening in the coffee shop, as she walked away from the shop, As if I'm going back. Fortunately, for Naomi, banter with Tanaka wasn't her only method of distraction. This town had two schools: Private Cross Academy and Public Yosagami High. In other words, she had friends and acquaintances to waste her time with.

Who should I go pay visit to... Maybe, the foreign exchange student Veronica Tamez or maybe my childhood friend, Yuuto Suzuki? Naomi scanned her surroundings and decided, "Veronica, she's closer."

She quickly made her way through the small streets and smiled, Naomi hadn't seen Veronica in a while. She missed her snobby personality.

Naomi knocked on the door gently. She wasn't worried about being caught as the building was for foreign exchange students; A big building with many rooms that houses any foreigner who studies at Yosagami High. There weren't that many, Veronica was currently the only one.

A girl with light medium skin opened the door.

Naomi smiled, "Wanna skip school, Ronnie?"

"You're a terrible influence, you know that?" Veronica smiled back and hugged, Naomi.

"Is that a yes..?" Naomi hugged her back.

Veronica let her in and they walked straight into her room, "Tell me everything about Cross Academy?" She wiggled ger eyebrows, "Any cute boys?"

"No," Naomi laughed, "But I did make friends."

"Well, I sure do hope so. You've been there for a few months now."

Naomi put two fingers up, "I made two friends and even though one is currently pissed at me, I consider them my best friends."

Veronica gasped and jockingly grasped at her chest, "And me?"

"You are my best friend out of school grounds and it makes sense, since you've seen my nasty side last year when we were both attending Yosagami High." Naomi laid down on her bed.

Veronica sighed, "Oh, I remember..." then laughed, "you were cruel, vindictive, even... You had dirt on everyone."

"Is it weird that I kind of miss it?" Naomi asked.

"No, I think it's normal."

Yosagami High seems like a dream now, compared to having vampires in the same school.

Veronica laid down next to her, "You seem different now, Nao, is something wrong?"

Naomi turned to look at Veronica, "Honestly, I came here for a distraction. So much has being going on back at the Academy that I just needed a break."

"You didn't answer my question... Is something wrong?"

"I can't tell you."

Veronica raised her eyebrows, "Must be a hell of a thing."

"You have no idea." Naomi sighed.

Veronica clapped her hands loudly, "It's far too gloomy in here!" She sprang up from the bed and pointed playfully at Naomi, "There's a party tonight at Yuuto's house!" She wiggled her eyebrows, "And we are going!"

Naomi raised her eyebrow, "It's like 7 a.m., Ronnie."

Veronica raised her hand, "I am aware of that, thank you. I will make breakfast and we will gossip about anything and everything." She raised her voice, "Then we will watch a few programs and eat lunch! And finally!" She now had both hands pointing at her, "We will change and go to that party and you are going rip that bitch, Yina, apart!"

Naomi raised her body off the bed and said, "I completely forgot about, Yina."

"She needs to be ripped apart."

Naomi smirked, "If memory serves me right, she always needs to be ripped apart."

"You in the mood to cause some chaos tonight?" Veronica shimmed her shoulders.

Naomi smirk widen, "Once more, for old times sake."

a/n: no vampires, i know, but my girl needed a break.*