A Detour Down Memory Lane;

The sun was barely kissing the night sky when Naomi woke up. She was not a morning person, but after last night, the soft dawn was a nice change of pace. She needed air – outside of Cross Academy air. She swung her legs off her bed, and quietly and quickly changed into casual clothes. Naomi gave herself a look over in the closet mirror. She huffed lightly; I look like I did last year. Everything was the same – the ripped tights, the black high-waisted shorts, the same dark green sweater she wore once to a party, all the way down to the old tennis shoes.

Naomi glanced at Asuna. She was still sleeping soundly; she'll cover for me, and with that, Naomi grabbed some cash and pocked it. She quietly closed the door behind her and made her way out of the Sun Dorms. Naomi took the long way to get to the entrance gates of the academy. It was dawn, so she had nothing to worry about. Both Yuki and Zero should be sleeping, but even if they weren't, Naomi doubted they were patrolling after what happened a few hours ago.

The entrance gates were easy to unlock. She remembered the first time she tried to sneak out to town, she thought she would have to climb the gates and she was never athletically inclined but after one minute of fiddling with the lock and the gate opening in record time, she didn't worry anymore. Naomi took in a breath and grabbed the bobby pin stuck in between her sleeve. It took her five seconds to unlock the gates – she had come a long way from the first time she did this. She slipped through easily.

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. She shivered at the thought, to mess with someone's mind is just wrong.

Naomi walked leisurely. It's not like anyone would be awake at this time so she took in the sight of the trees rustling lightly in the wind, and the sun slowly taking its place high up in the sky to try and ease her mind. It didn't work, so she started humming a song but that also didn't work. So instead, she looked up at the sky and tried to make out shapes in the clouds. Nope, none of it was working.

Naomi groaned she needed a real distraction. Luckily for her, she knew just the person in town who'd help her get her mind off the things that go bump in the night, but first, she needed a pick me up.

The town isn't far now, Naomi thought. A few more strides and a left turn and she stepped into town. She spared a glance at the clock tower and made a mental note of the time; 6:08 a.m.

Cross Academy Day Classes don't start till 8:20 a.m., Naomi tapped her chin and walked into the one place in town that was open 24/7: Tanaka's coffee shop. She needed to talk to him anyway.

The rich aroma of coffee beans overwhelmed her senses as she entered and sat down in a booth.

Tanaka walked up to her with a cup and a fresh pot of coffee, "Shouldn't you be at school, Naomi?"

Naomi tilted her head and smiled at him, "Shouldn't you be telling my business to Headmaster Cross and lying to me about the existence of vampires at the school I am currently attending?"

Tanaka paled, "What?"

Naomi mockingly mimicked his surprised face.

Tanaka sat across from her, "You broke into Cross's office, didn't you?"

"Yep," she said. "So, when were you going to tell me?"

"Never." He rubbed his forehead, "Why can't you just mind your business?" A scowl graced his features, "You got a scholarship and a chance to get an amazing education – to leave this town and you're wasting it." He set the cup down and filled it up with coffee.

"I'm not wasting it. I'm at the top of my class." Naomi picked up her cup and sipped her coffee, "So you just sent me on my way to a private school where vampires prowl the night, knowing my complete disregard for curfews."

"I was hoping you matured and would actually take your education seriously," Tanaka remarked. "You keep sneaking out and Cross will expel you. Do you really want to go back to Yosogami High?"

Naomi placed her cup down hard, "Enough." Tanaka changing the subject was pissing her off, "I was also at the top of my class at Yosogami and my school record was unblemished, which is how I got the 'chance to get an amazing education' in the first place, so what if I blackmailed and threatened people?" She crossed her arms, "None of that excuses you lying to me."

"You would've told Yuuto and Veronica," Tanaka scoffed, "then the entire town would've known by the end of the week."

"Maybe the town should know that there's a school housing vampires next to vulnerable high school students."

Tanaka frowned, "They live in this world too, Naomi. They deserve at least the chance not to hide from the world."

Naomi laughed, "Is that what Cross Academy is? A botched experiment for coexistence?"

He leaned back in his seat and stared at her, "You're far too cynical."

She shrugged, "No, I genuinely find it funny and impressive." She sipped her coffee to hide her smile, "I wish I was that delusional to dream that big."

"Naomi –"

Her smile widened, "How was Cross going introduce the Night Class in a couple of years?" She blew on her cup with a giggle, "Welcome class! To your right, you can meet your classmates that have the primal urge to rip into your jugular and suck your blood!"

"Naomi!" Tanaka exasperated, "That isn't funny."

"Yeah, it is."

Tanaka shook his head in disappointment, "You haven't changed at all. Still as cruel and rude as ever."

Naomi cringed a little at his tone, he was the one the lied to me. Not the other way around.

The bell chimed just as Naomi was going to give him another piece of her mind, but the customer coming in forced her mouth shut. There was no reason why an innocent paying customer should have to hear them fight.

Tanaka got from his seat, "I'd hate to see stay you this person."

Naomi kept drinking her coffee as she glared at him, "I just wanted a cup of coffee."

Tanaka sighed. He knew that face, he was going to have to talk to her later to smooth things over. He loved Naomi but she was extremely stubborn and petty. If he doesn't come to her first, she will not speak to him until he does. He poured coffee into the customer's cup.

Naomi blew again on her hot coffee and stared at the man who walked in, he's odd. She took in his appearance, dark hair, blue eyes, well eye, and an eye patch. Naomi gulped, the now, lukewarm coffee; I wonder what happened to him.

The man turned to look at her and while most people would've looked away from his hardened gaze – Naomi flashed him a grin.

"Hurry up and finish, Nao." Tanaka barked out, "Get back to Cross Academy."

Her glare returned, "You and I aren't done talking yet."

"We will talk later." He said, "I promise."

Naomi supposed he was being sincere, but he didn't have the right to order her around right now, "It's barely 6:20. I have more than enough time."

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

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

"That coffee you're drinking is on the house. Finish it up, before I change my mind and call your parents." Tanaka waved the phone as he started to dial.

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

He pointed at her with the phone, "I better not hear that you're in town."

Naomi laughed, "Good to see you too, Tanaka!" And with that, she walked out of the shop.

Tanaka sighed as he watched her go.

The man sitting in a booth tilted his head to look at him, "She goes to Cross Academy?"

"Yeah," Tanaka hung the phone up, "She probably won't head back today."

The customer lit a cigarette, "Why not?"

Tanaka grabbed the coffee pot and topped him off while he sat down across from him, "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?"

Tanaka rummaged through his pockets and took out a cigarette, "Nah, Yagari. She's a clever kid. She got in on a scholarship, God knows her parents can't afford it otherwise." He lit the cigarette with him, "She really is a bright kid, she just doesn't make rational decisions sometimes."

Yagari laughed with a puff of smoke, "Doesn't every teenager?"

"There's a difference," Tanaka blew out smoke, "Naomi's bad decision-making starts with her breaking into Cross's office and committing various petty crimes."

Yagari let out a hearty laugh, "She broke into the hermit's office!"

"Not funny!" Tanaka scolded, "She knows now."

Yagari leaned back in his seat, "It's not bad for her to know the situation she is in."

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

"Vampire trouble?"

"No." Tanaka said, "Not since she was little, but honestly the way she runs around at night in this town – I'm surprised she hasn't."

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

Naomi kicked a pebble into a wall, he better not think that just because he gave me a free coffee that, that would be the end of the 'vampire' conversation. She walked away from the coffee shop; as if I'm going back. Fortunately, for her, her banter with Tanaka wasn't her only method of distracting herself.

This town had two schools in total: Cross Academy and Yosogami High. It was time to visit some not-so-old friends and while she had many friends there were only two that she trusted: her childhood best friend Yuuto Suzuki and the foreign exchange student, Veronica Tamez.

Naomi assessed her surroundings, "Veronica's place is closer." She quickly made her way through the small streets and brightly lit alleyways. She smiled she hadn't seen Veronica in a while – Naomi will admit, she missed her snobby personality. She saw the foreign exchange building at a distance. The building housed foreign students that studied at Yosogami High. There weren't that many, Veronica was currently the only one.

Naomi slowed down when she arrived at the familiar building. She knocked on the door loudly. She was hoping it would wake Veronica up, it was 6:30 in the morning.

The door opened and Naomi saw her friend's familiar wide-eyed face.

Naomi grinned, "Wanna skip school, Ronnie?"

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

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

Veronica ushered her in, and they walked straight to her room, "So tell me everything about Cross Academy!" Veronica wiggled her 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, Asuna and Haruto," she added, "even though one of them is currently pissed at me."

Veronica gasped and jokingly grasped at her chest, "What about me and Yuuto?" She wiped a fake tear from her eyes, "We'll be replaced if you stay there long enough."

"You and Yuuto will never be replaced." Naomi laid down on her bed, "No offense to them, but you guys are my real best friends."

Veronica laughed, "Obvi." She stretched in front of a mirror, "So have you turned into an upstanding student now… or can I count on you tonight?"

Naomi smirked, "Hell yeah."

Veronica clapped her hands loudly, "There's a party at Yuuto's tonight," she pointed both her fingers at her, "and we are going!"

Naomi propped herself on her elbows, "Ronnie, it's like 7 a.m."

"I am aware of that, thank you." Veronica changed out her pajamas, "I will make breakfast and we will talk about everything that's been going on." She slipped into some random pair of jeans and a cotton shirt, "Then we'll go to Tanaka's," she winked at her, "you know he loves us."

Naomi shook her head, "No, he busted me this morning. He will not be happy to see me, unless it's to kick me back into Cross Academy."

"Well, shit!" Veronica said, "Then we'll stay here. Watch a few programs, eat lunch, and finally," she said dramatically, "we will change and go to the party!"

"Sound good to me."

Veronica smirked, "But you know what sounds even better?"

Naomi tilted her head in question.

"Putting Yina back in her place," Veronica said. "She's been too loud and bitchy since you left."

Naomi returned the mischievous smirk, "You got some dirt I can exploit?"

Veronica shimmied her shoulders, "You ready to cause some chaos tonight?"

Naomi's smirk widened, "Always am."