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I-Love-Trunks1: Thank you for your review!
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Chapter 4: The mystery
The sun was high in the sky and its bright light drew amber patterns on the clouds. Pure white birds flew over the houses, elegantly. In the pretty village of Masai, between Tokyo and Osaka, there was a country house surrounded by a very large rose garden; and in this large garden, one could hear the cries of two little five-year-old boys playing with water pistols, under the songs of cicadas.
"Ichiru, Zero, it's time for a snack," a female voice shouted in the distance.
At the sound of the voice, the two boys ran to the terrace where a slender young woman with long silver hair pulled back in a ponytail was sitting at a table with a basket of fruit and pastries.
- I love snack time, Mom!" cried little Zero.
The young woman smiled at her son and suggested that he sit down to enjoy the moment.
- I heard at school that vampires should be afraid of Hunters, who are they, mum?" Ichiru asked as he greedily bit into his apple.
The young mother frowned slightly and stared at her son
- Who told you that?" she asked skeptically. Ichiru shrugged and smiled innocently.
- We don't have to fear them Ichiru, they protect themselves from us because we often act instinctively.
- No," the little boy shouted, "it's the E-level vampires that are evil, not us pure-blooded vampires.
Ichiru stared at her, his eyes darkening slightly.
- You know ichiru, we can't fight our natural urges forever. Just as you can't help but miss snack time, it's the same way that E-level vampires can't help but drink human blood because they can't control their thirst.
- Why do these E-level vampires exist then?" Zero asked curiously as he finished his pineapple cake.
- Enough with the questions," a hoarse voice suddenly thundered.
The two boys turned sharply to meet the threatening gaze of their father standing in the doorway. Like their mother, he had long but silver hair. He was still wearing his trousers and shirt from the previous day, largely unbuttoned over his powerful, muscular torso.
- Finish your snack quickly and let your mother rest.
The boys looked away from their food.
- It's not fair, we have a right to know the truth about them," Zero huffed in frustration.
- You'll know when you grow up.
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Zero opened his eyes. His heart was pounding, his stomach was in knots, and his breathing was ragged. Not only was his forehead covered in sweat, but he was now sweating all over and shaking. He looked around and noticed that he was in his room. The room was obscur. Dark was everywhere, oozing out of every gap, seeping from the walls. The curtains were drawn. Yet he remembered not closing them.
What had happened?
How did he get here?
He tried to remember his day yesterday.
He had finished his reading in the library and then had decided to go to the one in the city centre to borrow the book he had found on vampires and hunters. Then he had walked down the street and ...
He couldn't remember anything.
The little notebook!
24 hours had passed, he could finally borrow the book. He got up hurriedly to go to the bathroom and take a shower. Then he dressed hurriedly and, without taking breakfast, rushed to the library.
The time for the truth had arrived. He was finally going to find out the secret about the existence of vampires and Hunters. He ran briskly through the school corridors to the library. When he got there, he went to the reception desk and it was with great surprise that he saw the lady waiting for him behind her desk with the little notebook in her hands.
"I've been waiting for you, here's your book," she said, holding out the bouquin to him.
It was with joy that the silver-haired man took the book from the old woman's hands. He thanked her quickly and then hurried to open the small book to continue reading.
There are five classes of vampires, organised according to the purity of their blood:
Level A, which includes only a minority of vampires. This class is for purebloods, never tainted by a single drop of human blood. These vampires have a special ability: by digging their fangs into the flesh of a human being, they turn him into a vampire.
Level B refers to the noble vampires of the aristocracy: they have fairly advanced powers but will never match those of purebloods.
Level C represents the majority of so-called normal vampires.
Level D is made up of vampires who were once human. There are very few of them: turning humans into vampires is unforgivable, and only a few Level A's are willing to do so.
Level E is the Level End. These are vampires who used to be human and who become bloodthirsty beasts. Unfortunately, every Level D is destined to become a Level E. Levels D and E are usually taken care of by Level Bs and rarely by purebloods. However, a Level E can be cured of his condition by drinking the blood of the vampire who transformed him: the Level E will then become a Level C vampire.
Sometimes vampires who have drunk the blood of their master - a pureblood - become full vampires, with one or more of the powers they have derived from the pure blood they have drunk
A war has raged for centuries between the vampires and the vampire hunters, but it seems that the vampire hunters only hunt those who are on their "list", those who were once human beings, level E vampires.
Zero closed the book with a frown. The part about the list of pureblooded families was gone. But he hadn't been dreaming yesterday, he had read that there were only eight pureblood families left.
Perhaps someone knew that he was trying to find out about the existence of vampires and Hunters. He hurried out and went to a place where he could be sure of being alone and it was in the garden of the academy that he found peace and quiet. He took his phone out of his pocket and made a call:
- Hallo announced the voice on the phone
- Hey old man, I have a question for you.
- I already told you that you have to call me Dad. Keep it up and I'll hang up!
Zero sighed in resignation.
- Dad, strange things are happening at this academy
- What do you mean? Have you been meeting ghosts?" he asked mockingly.
- I'm not kidding, or I wouldn't have called you. I'm not sure of my theory, but I found a book about the existence of vampires and hunters. The story seems so obvious and real.
There was a moment's silence, during which no sound disturbed the quiet of the conversation; but a few seconds had hardly passed when Togari said:
- You think that vampires exist and that there are vampires in your academy, don't you son?
- I couldn't have said it better, Old Man.
Togari laughed
- Don't call me old man again.
He hung up the phone and Zero angrily stuffed his mobile phone into his pocket.
The silver haired man didn't know what to think. He wasn't really sure that vampires existed since it was a book that said so. It could have been an author who had wanted to make money by telling this false story about the existence of vampires and Hunters. For the moment, he could not yet incriminate those students of the night class. Speaking of them, he saw two of the students of this class heading towards the exit of the academy. He was the guardian of this class so he had to ask them what they were doing outside. He rushed towards the two people, a boy with short pink hair and a girl with red hair.
- What are you doing in the middle of the day? You are not allowed out at this time of day.
The boy smiled mischievously. The young woman who accompanied him lowered her umbrella, which protected her from the sun's rays.
- We have a job in modelling and we sometimes have shoots like this, so could you, dear guardian, let us go? he asked with a long, sly smile.
- We have a waiver from the principal he added
Zero glared at the pink haired man. He knew that this student was making fun of him. How he hated the haughty looks of the night class.
- I'm not your father, so do what you want," the silver-haired man hissed as he turned to leave for his dormitory.
Sure he was a guardian but he didn't want to play the role of their parent as well. Besides, seeing the faces of those students in the night class made him sick. So he preferred to finish the conversation and go and rest. Luckily it was Saturday today and he didn't have class.
- Thank you for your permission, Master Kiryu," Shiki murmured.
At this sentence, Zero turned his head sharply and saw them no more. He had disappeared.
it was beginning to get on his nerves, all these mysteries. He had to find out the truth that everyone knew but him. But for the moment he had to gain strength by taking a good nap.
When he reached his room, he fell asleep in a few minutes.
Since the morning, the servants had been busy throughout the house, cleaning it from top to bottom to the point of driving the two little boys crazy.
"Mama, why have the servants been so restless since we woke up?" Zero asked worriedly.
He was reading a children's book on his parents' bed with his twin brother sitting next to him.
- We're having the Kuran family over today and I've asked them to tidy up the house to make them feel welcome," the twins' mother replied. The young woman was sitting in front of the dressing table in her room, brushing her long hair in front of the mirror on dresser.
- They are part of the eight pure-blooded vampire families and like us they are very powerful and have been our faithful allies since the creation of our clan the "Kiryu". Ichiru exclaimed with a smile.
He was a very intelligent child, affectionate, but with a violent character. Like his father, when he was angry, he was capable of passionate sulking.
- You know a lot, my boy, but now go and change your clothes to receive them, they'll be here soon," said their mother, who just wanted to interrupt this conversation.
The twins looked at her, annoyed, and without answering, they left, slamming the door. They couldn't stand their parent taking them for babies. Besides, they didn't like having people over to the house because they were very reserved and shy. In any case, they had no choice but to obey their parent. Their clothes for the evening were neatly folded and laid on their beds. Ichiru finished dressing first and asked his brother if he had much longer to go as he didn't want to be late.
- You can go ahead and I'll meet you afterwards" Zero replied as he put on his shoes.
His brother nodded and went outside.
Zero put on his second pair of leather shoes and took one last look in the mirror. He was wearing black shorts, a black and white striped shirt with a red silk scarf. His hair was pulled back, showing off his healthy pink cheeks and puckered lips. He took a long breath and left the room to return to his family.
He walked slowly down the corridor, not rushing. There was no need to hurry for this little reception. But he stopped when he saw a young boy coming towards him. The boy looked a little older than Zero, he had short brown hair and hazel eyes.
- Are you lost?" Zero asked the boy who had stopped in front of him, to stare intently.
- Yes, I'm looking for the toilets. Could you point me to it please?
He walked over to the silver haired boy with a warm smile. Standing in front of Zero, he slowly ran his hand over his cheek and looked at his beautiful violet eyes for a moment in amazement. Then he slowly pushed a strand of hair behind Zero's ear and said
- Now you're cuter that way.
- The toilet... Is... Down the hall, Zero answered embarrassed. His face had turned scarlet in a few moments.
- Thank you. My name is Kaname Kuran and what's your name?
Zero didn't know what to do. He was at a loss. This was the first time someone other than his twin brother had been so...close with him. He was so anxious.
- Zero Kiryu, whispered Zero in a barely audible voice that Kaname took a little closer to hear well.
- I'm pleased to meet you, Zero.
He moved his face closer to the silver haired boy's to break the distance between them and placed a soft kiss as light as a feather on Zero's forehead.
"You're very cute, Zero Kiryu.
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When Zero woke up, the sun was setting. He was no longer exhausted as he had been this morning and he smiled, as the nap he had just taken had been a blessing. He took his mobile phone from the bedside table and when he saw the time he pushed the duvet over him to put on his shoes. It was almost time for the night class. He had to get to Yuki to help her.
When he arrived, there were still those crazy excited girls around the path the night class was going to take and Yuki was still struggling to keep them back. Zero announced his presence with a dark look at the crowd and it worked because everyone had calmed down.
No need to shout, thought Zero.
The gate opened and the night class came out still led by their leader, Kaname. Zero looked away from them and instead looked up at the darkening sky. Kaname broke free from his group and came over to Yuki and with a fluid gesture handed him a white envelope sealed with red wax.
- What's this Kaname?" asked the young girl in surprise.
- It's an invitation to the reception we're holding tomorrow between the night class and the day class.
Suddenly the crowd of girls started screaming like zombies. Zero was irritated by all the screaming and turned to glare at the crazy girls standing behind him.
- Zero, be nice to my fans," Aido shouted, annoyed by the guardian's unpleasant behavior.
The silver-haired man ignored the blonde's remark and rolled his eyes.
- I'll look forward to seeing you guardians tomorrow," Kaname finished as he walked back to his comrades.
He did not fail to cast a long, soft, reassuring glance at zero, which annoyed a certain young blonde woman.
As they walked back to their classroom, Ruka, who was walking beside Kaname, asked:
"Master Kaname, why did you look so intensely at that guardian?" she said with a slight touch of jealousy.
" It's because he's very cute" Shiki instinctively replied while licking her candy.
Would you prefer a chapter every week but shorter? Or, a chapter every fortnight but longer?