When A Stranger Comes;

Naomi awoke – no, not awake. She was in that room again, laying soundly on the bed. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up from the bed with a stretch.

She yawned, when did I doze off? She walked toward the window but did not see the man. She focused her hearing – there was no loud pounding at the entrance door; maybe he's gone...? At least, she hoped he was gone. It would certainly make her life easier.

Perhaps, now that he was gone, she could leave.

Naomi reached for the gold doorknob and the knob twisted, but something was wrong. Fear enveloped her. A sickening sensation plunged into her stomach as every instinct in her body told her not to open the door. She was safe inside this room and only in this room. Naomi didn't know how she knew, she just did.

Naomi stepped back and twisted the lock on the doorknob. She laid her palm against the door. She sensed it, a menacing force waiting to burst in; she wouldn't let it. No, she wouldn't let him inside.

Naomi heard a soft knock come from the other side. She quickly pulled her hand away.

"Must you keep me locked outside?" The man's voice was soothing, yet Naomi knew, it was not well-intended.

Naomi's voice trembled, "Yes."

"Don't be harsh," he said.

"Tell me your name and I'll considered opening the door." Naomi said boldly.

She heard him chuckle, "Open the door and I will tell you."

Naomi's bit her bottom lip, this is a dream. What's the worst thing that can happen? She grabbed the doorknob again, maybe... I'll finally know what he truly looks like and his name - Unless he's lying.

Naomi paused; It's funny, how fear latches on.

She let go and walked back toward the bed and sat down, "No, I don't think I will."

"As you wish, then I will do what I have been doing the past decade." He informed, "Chip away at the last line of defense my meddlesome brother gave you."

Brother? This psychopath has a brother.

Yes, Naomi, even insane vampires have families.

"Then," his voice no longer sweet and soothing, "there will be nowhere for you to hide from me."

"Latch on to someone else to destroy," Naomi sneered.

The man laughed, "Oh, I don't to destroy you, Naomi. I want to –"

A loud smack jolted Naomi awake with a gasp.

Yagari was standing in front of her desk. He had dropped his lecture book on top of her desk.

His eye was the same piercing ice blue that she remembered, "Did you enjoy your nap?"

Naomi grumbled, "Not really."

Just when I was going to get some answers.

Yagari rested his book against his shoulder, "I suggest you leave, before the Night Class arrives."

Naomi blinked lazily at him, and she looked around the classroom – there was no one. She turned her head towards the windows. The sun was lowering, and the moon would soon take its place.

Naomi nodded and quickly gathered her things, and for some reason, Yagari escorted her out. It only when she made out of Academic building, she realized it was because the Night class had arrived. She was grateful to a degree, she didn't know how to defend herself properly and Yagari was, obviously, being cautious. Yagari even slowed down to meet Naomi's shorter strides as they walked, they both refused to look at the Night Class. She hadn't noticed a new student had been admitted into the Night class.

A young girl with pale lavender hair was watching Naomi with veiled amusement.

"Ms. Nakamura," Kaname politely greeted her as he passed her, "Professor..."

Naomi didn't say anything. All she gave him as acknowledgement was a lazy nod. It was good, at least now, Kaname knew that they weren't friends and that they never will be. She was far too preoccupied with her own thoughts to care about the glares and sneers she was getting from the other vampires. She wasn't worried. Surely, they wouldn't try anything with a vampire hunter nearby.

The Night Class disappeared into the academic building, and Yagari only stopped after they were all inside to head back into the building. If any vampire wanted to talk to Naomi, they would have to go through him.

Naomi gulped; he'll come again. I should learn how to defend myself and who better to teach me than a vampire hunter?

"Wait, professor," Naomi called out to him.

Yagari tilted his head towards her, "What is it?"

Just ask him to teach you, she thought, you can't keep just swinging at nothing hoping that a hit will land.

"Can you –," Naomi started but then stopped.

Or I can ask, Zero.

Yagari sighed, "Asking for help doesn't come easy for you, does it?" He turned his head and waved his hand dismissively at her, "I'll teach you."

How did he know?

Naomi's eyes widened, "Really?"

"Ask Zero, where the shooting range is," Yagari said as he walked inside, "Meet me there tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp. Get there late and you'll run three miles."

"Wait, there's class tomorrow!" Naomi called out.

"I'll talk to the hermit," Yagari closed the door behind him.

Naomi smiled as she started to walk down the cobblestone path – she thought, this will take my mind off things, and I'll be up early enough not to deal with Asuna, and Haruto who's been trying to get me alone since yesterday.

She let out a breath, "Zero should be patrolling." She wandered a little bit off the path. Zero no doubt was somewhere in the forest waiting for unsuspecting Day Class students that decided today would be the day they would try to sneak out of their dorms.

It didn't take Naomi long to find him as he was lounging against a tree near the academic building.

Naomi smiled, "Hey Zero."

The fear she once had for him was gone. Maybe they were not friends, yet – but they were acquaintances.

"Shouldn't you be in your dorm?" he asked coolly.

"Anyway," Naomi dismissed his statement with a wave , "where's the shooting range?"

Zero sighed, "It's near the stables."

Naomi rolled eyes, "I need actual directions."

"This way," Zero huffed and pushed himself off the tree, "I'll take you."

Naomi fell in step behind him and followed him closely, so closely that when he stopped – she bumped her head on his back.

"Why aren't you walking?" she asked as she rubbed her forehead.

Naomi peeked her head over his arm and saw a petite girl wearing a Night class uniform; she's cute.

Naomi waved awkwardly; I haven't seen her before. Is she a new student?

The girl waved back with a meek smile, "Hello."

Naomi stepped around Zero to get a better look at her.

The smile the girl gave her was soft, "My name is Maria Kurenai," she grabbed Naomi's hand lovingly, "let's be friends."

Naomi ripped her hands away from Maria, "Let's not."

Maria's smile faltered, but she reached for Naomi's hands again. This time Zero stopped Maria in her tracks as he unchained his gun from his inside jacket pocket and pointed it point blank at Maria's forehead. Zero tugged at Naomi's shoulder, pulling her back against his chest.

The safety was off his gun; he's going to kill her.

"Zero," Naomi whispered, "calm down,"

Zero's knuckles were white as he clenched his hand around his gun and his other had a strong grip around her waist. His entire body was stiff and ready to kill, but Maria kept the soft smile on her face. There was no fear in her eyes as if she was enjoying his reaction.

Naomi gently pushed at his chest, "I'm pretty sure, murdering is against school policy." She tugged in his uniform jacket to try and get his attention, "Zero!"

Naomi pondered, should I slap him? She reached for Zero's extended arm and tried to pull it down, "Slow and steady."

"Stop!" Yuki yelled, "Zero!" She came running to defend Maria. She raised her arms and used her whole body to shield Maria.

With Yuki in the way Zero let Naomi push down his gun to his side; thank God, I just wanted to know where the shooting range was.

"You two are so kind," Maria said softly as she smiled at both girls.

Naomi shot Maria a glare and asked, "Why didn't you move? Most people would've."

Maria casted Naomi a shy expression, "I was shocked."

"You didn't look shocked," Naomi snapped; you looked like you were enjoying it.

Maria brought her hand to her chin and as she was about to say something, she was interrupted by Yuki's annoying voice, "This isn't her fault!"

Maria turned her attention towards Yuki, "Thank you, Yuki." She hugged Yuki, "I really like girls like you."

Maria glanced at Zero through Yuki's shoulders with a masked expression that Naomi couldn't read but one thought did pop up in her mind: creepy.

Yuki gently hugged her back, "It's alright." She let go of her, "You should head back to class, Maria."

Maria ever so slightly bowed, "Thank you again, Yuki," and went back to the set path to the academic building.

Yuki turned to them with her hands on her hips, "We need to make new students feel welcomed, not – "

Naomi frowned, "She shouldn't have been wandering the grounds at night anyway."

Yuki huffed, "Neither should you seeing as you're not a prefect."

Naomi crossed her arms, "I just need to know where the shooting range is." She lightly elbowed Zero in the stomach, "He was showing me the way."

Zero gripped Naomi's arm, "The shooting range is this way," he pulled her roughly behind him.

Naomi stared at him – she wanted to ask what was wrong, but she didn't want to overstep. She already knew too much about him. Things about his life that she really had no business being privy to because of Tanaka, yet she thought; since when do I care about other people's feelings?

Naomi asked harshly, "What's wrong with you?" She pulled her arm from his grip, "You just pulled your gun on her – why?"

Zero ran his hand through his silver hair but didn't answer.

Still, Naomi pressed on, "It's not like she was going to hurt me or you, so why?"

"She reminded me of that woman..." He said in a hushed tone.

Naomi raised an eyebrow, "What woman?"

His lavender eyes darkened into an expression Naomi was all too familiar with. This was hatred, loathing and, perhaps… fear?

Naomi's eyes widened. He didn't have to tell her; Naomi knew. The woman who had turned him into a vampire.

"Sorry." She smiled and pushed at his back to usher him forward, "Come on, lead the way."

That's the thing about fear, Naomi thought, it never goes away. It's always there, lingering in the shadows waiting for you to let your guard down.

"Why don't you come tomorrow? Yagari's teaching me how to defend myself at 8 in the morning." Naomi said, "Get your mind off it."

Zero gave her a rare smile, "Sure."