Unpleasantville;

Naomi scrambled out of bed. She was too busy trying to stay awake that she hadn't realized what time it was. She changed into her Day Class uniform and ran out of the Sun Dorms while still slipping on her jacket.

Shit, shit, shit, she thought as she buttoned her uniform jacket all the way up, shit – I'm going to be late.

Naomi ran through the stables and didn't stop when Lily, the white horse stomped her hooves at her, but all of her running was in vain. When she got to the shooting range – she was already late.

"I can't," Naomi huffed, "believe," she grabbed her knees, "you actually," she let out a groan, "made me run three," another huff, "miles."

Yagari chuckled, "If that's what you want to call running."

Why did I wear my uniform for this?

Cause you're an idiot, that's why.

Naomi's breath hitched as laid down on the ground, she said, "I'm done. I don't want to do anything anymore."

"I told you not to be late," Yagari lit a cigarette.

"I was a minute late! A minute!" Naomi glared and pointed at the cigarette sticking out of his mouth, "It's like eleven in the morning!"

Yagari blew a puff of smoke in her face, "And you complained about having to run for an hour and then it took you two hours to run three miles."

Naomi whined.

"If you have energy to complain then you can train," Yagari said, "come on."

Naomi waved her hand at the smoke, "I hate everything."

I'm not getting up.

Yagari looked down on her with a lazy gaze, "You wanted to learn, didn't you?"

Naomi closed her eyes, "Yeah." She breathed in and rested her body on her elbows with a pout gracing her features.

He crouched down to her level, "Why do you want to do this, Naomi?"

Because some psychotic vampire is stalking me and is somehow invading my dreams.

Naomi looked away from him and pursed her lips, "Because" she hesitated before sighing, "a few nights ago I was walking with a friend through town and there was a vampire, and all I could do was run." She rested her hands on her knees, "I felt helpless, and I don't want to feel that way again."

Yagari nodded in understanding, "Come on, Zero's waiting for us."

Naomi smiled – she was glad Yagari didn't pry or ridicule her as to why she wanted to defend herself... he just understood. She stood up and followed Yagari into the gun range.

"I don't get why you want me to learn how to shoot a gun." Naomi took out Phthisis from her pocket, "The weapon I have is a butterfly knife."

Yagari ignored her as he held the door for her, he took out a small black pistol.

"Lesson number one:" Yagari puffed out smoke, "Keep your distance. Phthisis calls for close range combat." He said, "You are not ready for that."

Naomi frowned, "I've used it before just fine," she brushed past him, "and I hardly think I'm qualified enough to shoot a gun."

Yagari balanced the cigarette between his fingers, "Used? More like lucky." He pressed the bud of the cigarette against the brick wall, "Phthisis decays and melts the skin and cells of any vampire it comes in contact with. You could press the side of the blade against anyone and do damage that's hardly skill."

Naomi supposed he was right. Every hit that she landed on a vampire was based on luck. She walked inside and saw Zero with his gun raised as he faced the target across him. A loud gunshot resounded off the walls of the shooting range, and another and another and another. After the second gunshot Naomi had to put her fingers in her ears to cushion the sound.

"I'd get used to the sound," Yagari said.

Naomi grabbed the pistol from him. It seemed ordinary enough to her – not that she knew anything about guns, and she felt strange holding it. Never once in her life, did Naomi ever think she was going to hold a firearm, much less fire it. Yet, here she is, in a gun range learning how to.

This is to keep myself safe.

Yagari straightened his coat, "Zero can teach you the basics today."

Naomi's eyes widened, "Wait! Where are you going?" She called out to him, "I asked you for a reason! You know the vampire hunter with experience."

"I'm still a teacher, Naomi." With that said, Yagari left.

Naomi stood frozen to the spot with her mouth agape, she thought, I can't believe he made me run three miles and then left! I'm sweaty and sore, and now, I have to shoot a stupid gun! She gritted teeth together; this is by far the worst idea I've ever had, and then, stop, you're doing this because some psychopath is clearly after you.

"Ready?" Zero asked.

Naomi glared at Yagari's retreating figure but nodded.

She grumbled, "I can't believe he left."

She walked toward Zero.

Zero stepped back and let Naomi step in front of him. He put his own gun away in his holster and stood behind Naomi as he adjusted the pistol in her hand.

Zero instructed, "Act as if the gun is always loaded." He positioned one of her hands under the magazine and positioned her forefinger beside the trigger. "Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot." Zero kicked her legs gently apart, "Legs shoulder width apart."

Naomi positioned her legs correctly; I'm actually going to shoot a gun. Zero moved his thumb toward the safety with one swift movement it clicked down: he's also really close.

Naomi gulped, oh god...

Zero whispered above her, "Aim."

He moved the pistol a little higher.

He guided her finger into the trigger and with his on top of Naomi's, "Breathe and... "

They pulled the trigger together.

Naomi flinched back as the gunshot echoed in her ears. It was louder than before when Zero was shooting by himself. The sound reverberated in her mind. It was a dreadful sound, and she was sure if it wasn't for Zero's arms wrapped around her and hands holding the gun with her, she would've dropped it and would've collapsed.

Naomi's chest heaved as she let out a shaky breath, but Zero stayed firm behind her. His heartbeat steady against her erratic heart. She leaned into him and focused on his calm heartbeat. Zero waited for her breathing to calm down.

Naomi shook her head, keep it together. She steadied herself, she imagined those dreadful mismatched eyes on the target, go to hell.

This time she pulled the trigger herself. It landed straight between the eyes of the target.

Zero slowly pulled away from Naomi but still stayed near her just in case. She continued to do a few more rounds. The bullets were sporadic, some landed while others were nowhere near the target.

"That's enough," Zero said.

Naomi was shocked but at the same time relieved. She wasn't sure how much longer her eardrums would last if she kept going on like this. The ringing in her ears took its place, so Naomi put the gun down to her side with no resistance.

"I want to see what's over here," A girl's voice chimed outside the shooting range.

"You really can't be out here, Maria," said another voice, this one sounded deeper but had a light tone.

The door opened without warning and Naomi had no time to compose herself, but she recognized the pair of Night Class students. Still, she couldn't remember the blonde's name; Aido? No, that was the other blond with ice powers. This one was the -

Naomi cocked her head to the side, "Birthday boy?"

Ichijo smiled brightly, "Ah, Naomi, well we only met once." He slightly bowed and introduced himself again, "Takuma Ichijo."

"Right..." Naomi let her eyes drift from the handsome vampire in front of her to the other vampire in the room: Maria Kurenai, who smiled at her.

"I didn't catch your name last night, so it's Naomi..." Maria waited for Naomi to say something.

Naomi's eyes narrowed at her; I don't trust you.

"It's Nakamura," Naomi curtly answered.

Maria leaped enthusiastically at Naomi and hugged her tightly.

"Hey!" Naomi tried to push Maria off her but refused to let go.

Maria looked up at her and sickeningly sweetly she asked, "Why don't you show me around?"

Naomi snapped, "Get off me." She pushed roughly, "And how does never sound? Is never good for you?"

Maria frowned but still didn't let go of her as she whispered, "I bet your blood taste delicious."

A deafening gunshot echoed, and Maria leapt away from Naomi. Naomi didn't know when she raised her arm to shoot but she had. The bullet glistened white just a little aways from Maria's head.

Maria's face pulled into a awful scowl but quickly masked it with solemn look, "I don't think I'm very welcomed here."

Naomi aimed the pistol at her head this time.

Ichijo's eyes widened as he quickly and gently grabbed Maria's shoulder, he softly said, "We should head back to the Moon Dorms."

Ichijo smiled nervously as his eyes met Naomi's cold gaze and Zero's sharp glare.

Naomi sneered, "You mean where you should be."

Ichijo flinched, "I'm sorry about her behaviors she's still learning the academy's rules."

"Yes," Maria awkwardly fiddled with her skirt, "forgive me, Naomi."

Naomi hated how Maria said her name and if it came down to the choice of having either Maria or Kaname being able to call her by her first name, she would take Kaname any day.

"Do not call me by my first name, Kurenai," Naomi seethed.

Maria's eyes turned cold, but it was gone as quickly as it came, "Okay, Nakamura."

Zero was standing closely behind her. Naomi could see his silver gun out of the corner of her eye pointed dead center at Maria as he said, "Head back to your dorms, vampires."

Ichijo nodded, "Let's go, Maria." He led her out the gun range and closed the door quietly behind them.

Naomi's grip loosened on the pistol, but she headed back to the range and lined her sight towards the chest of the target; hit the mark.

Naomi squeezed the trigger as she let her ears accustomed to the cacophony of the bullet and saw the bullet go straight through the target's chest.