NDA:
I-Love-Trunks1: Thank you for your review! thanks for your encouragement it gave me the motivation to finish this chapter :)
Enjoy your reading!
Chapter 6 : The Reception - Part 2
In the office at the end of the corridor, the atmosphere was tense and uneasy, but silent. The room was lit by a zenithal lamp and two standing lamps, one on a rather simple wooden desk, the other on the floor, the foot of which reached man's height. Books covered a wall of shelves at the back. The lamps and the flames made the room very warm. Standing in front of the room's large window, his back stiff and his face tense, Kaien watched as Kaname sat behind his desk and, with a wave of his hand, indicated one of the chairs in front of him for Kaien to sit in.
The director's stern eyes met Kaname's brown ones, and he held his gaze with determination.
- Why don't you want things to happen naturally?
The dark-haired man looked at him with a wry smile and replied:
- He must not enter the scene yet.
A slight sneer appeared on the thin lips of the red-haired man.
- Have you forgotten the pact we signed?
- No. But if I see that this pact is not in line with my plans I will not respect it.
The dark-haired man got up from his chair and with a slow step, Kaname went to the window. He looked out at the forest. Then he turned to Kaien. The headmaster was there. Sitting before him. Determined. And without looking at the redhead he said:
- You know as well as I do what goes on in my world.
- Kaname what are you doing?
He raised his eyes to the sky and answered with an exasperating calm
- This doesn't concern you, Kaien, so don't worry.
He remained silent for a moment and then murmured in a gloomy voice
- I'm mostly worried that the balance between vampires and hunters is breaking down.
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To his surprise, the air was dry and rather warm, not stuffy or cold and damp as he might have expected at this depth. Togari observed the long corridor that stretched out in front of him. There were side passages leading off of it. With a deep breath, the man stepped into the dark passage. Keeping his hand against the wall, he timidly descended the first few steps, making sure he could always turn around if he came across something scary. He pushed the heavy wooden door in front of him and entered with a careful eye. In the darkness of the night lit by an oil lamp he held in his hand Togari scrupulously looked around the room so as not to miss any important information.
Togari sighed as he took in the size of the library.
Vampires didn't seem to like simple answers, he thought.
The investigation he'd started a few months ago had come a long way. Now he had to confirm his theories.
He looked at the books on the shelf. He stroked them with his fingertips, noting each one as he went. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but he hoped that if he kept an open mind, the right book would jump out at him. Togari had walked three labyrinthine aisles when he passed a row of books that looked particularly worn.
The Blood of Kings.
"Very interesting," the man muttered.
The room was still bathed in the thick darkness of the night. Warm under his goose feather duvet, Zero was still lying on his bed. Even if he didn't understand how he had managed to get to his room, he was still happy to be there. He didn't want to go back to that party even though he was a guard and his duty required him to go there.
He closed his eyes as he recounted everything that had happened to him since he joined the academy. The meeting with Yuki, the students of the Night class, the director and the strange phenomena surrounding these students in white uniforms. It all seemed absurd and yet he couldn't help but believe it.
His cell phone rang pulling him out of his thoughts. The silver-haired man sighed in annoyance before picking up the device.
" Who is it ? he asked
- You don't recognize your father's number anymore?
Zero abruptly got up from his bed as if awakened from sleep when he recognized the voice of the person behind the device.
- I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention to the number displayed on the screen.
- Are you having fun at this party?
The silver-haired man sighed in frustration before answering
- I'm not there anymore. I came home because I was tired.
- What's wrong with you son?
There was a long, almost unpleasant silence. Then Zero continued:
- How to say …. I often have very bad headaches, vague memories come to mind and I regularly have memory loss.
- When did it start?
- When we arrived in Japan. But since I've been in cross academy it's only gotten worse especially with all my theories about the existence of vampires and Hunters.
Togari's laugh sounded so loud that Zero had to remove the device from his ear.
- I told you not to get involved in these wacky stories. It's ridiculous !
- I know dad but…. I don't know why something makes me believe that.
- Zero, even if life means that we no longer speak to each other and that we are enemies, promise me that you will forgive me.
An incredulous silence at the end of which the silver-haired boy wanted to formulate a question but only managed to disarticulate a hesitant syllable
- I promise nothing Dad, he lets go in a voice full of sadness. But anyway, what are you talking about? This will never happen because I am and will always be grateful that you chose me to be your son.
- Beware of those you think are your friends.
- What ?
The line cut.
Zero was silent for a moment not knowing what to think. Why had his father told him that? What was he implying?
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The party was in full swing, people were starting to dance raising their arms to the sky. The orchestra played to a full house, the waiters twirled between the tables to serve the students, their eternal happy smiles screwed to their lips. After the departure of the headmaster and Kaname, the tension had gone down among the group of students of the night class. Now they were enjoying the party by dancing to the frenzied rhythm of the DJ's remixes. Akatsuki thought this was the perfect opportunity to take action, he gently dragged Takuma out of sight as he was talking with day class students in the back of the room.
- So how did it go with him? he asked him eagerly.
Takuma ran a hand through his fair hair while pouting slightly annoyed.
- Everything went as planned, but-
He paused to take a deep breath.
- It won't last long because soon he will come into action.
- Kaname takes care of everything, you don't have to worry about it, the redhead reassured him.
His face fell and a glint of sadness passed through his eyes.
- My grandfather is too unpredictable Akatsuki.
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There was a slight light in the room, the rays of the moon filtered through old shutters and absolute silence reigned inside. The silver haired boy was still lying in bed, his thoughts elsewhere. There was a knock on the door and he went with difficulty to open the door. Stood at the entrance Yuki, she looked at him worried
- You're fine Zero.
The named gave her a weak smile as if to reassure her
- Everything is fine Yuki, you don't have to worry.
- You know, you shouldn't feel obligated to be a guardian.
Controlling his annoyance, he replied, deceptively amiable:
- Since I tell you that it does not bother me.
She sighed and approached him.
- It makes me feel good that you are with me to watch over the academy.
Zero gave him a slight warm smile. Admittedly, he couldn't stand these students in the night class, but he had to admit that it kept him from getting bored.
- I have to go to bed said Yuki.
She waved at him before leaving the room.
Zero slammed the door shut before returning to bed, sighing in annoyance. Since he arrived here, he had been taken by big memory loss but what was certain is that he had to keep digging to know the truth.
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The guests had now deserted the establishment. In the amphitheater of the night class, Kaname had gathered everyone to ask them to restrict their outings in town but also their night walk inside the academy because nothing was right at the moment. He suspected something was going on in the vampire world. When he had finished his monologue, he asked them to return to their compartment. Ruka who had been waiting to be alone with Kaname, approached him and faced him:
- Why are you so interested in this Zero? he asked with a hint of undisguised jealousy
Kaname stared at her impassively before him.
- Just follow my orders.
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Two weeks later
Heart pounding, shortness of breath, aware of having narrowly escaped irreparable stupidity. He walked at top speed down the hallway to get as far away from his problem as possible. What madness to have agreed to help him! What had taken from her? How could he imagine kissing her…. He shook his head, trying to push the voice out of his mind. When he finally got outside, a breath of fresh air brushed his face. Having regained control of his sensations, he found his throat so dry following the strange event he had witnessed, that he had to swallow several times before managing to emit an intelligible sound.
"Why do I have such a sore throat?" he whispered.
Night had fallen, a night so dense that you couldn't see three steps away. The cool autumn wind blew its wet breath in his face. There, unaware of his surroundings, he strolled to the first tree before leaning against it painfully. Eyes half-closed, he huffed with a mixture of helplessness and resignation.
Zero !
The named suddenly opened his eyes. Yuki was kneeling next to him, her hair was unkempt, her black jacket and her shirt were slightly open letting out a sweet and suave perfume. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and looked up at him with teary eyes.
- I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have asked for your help.
Zero looked away from her, not knowing what to do with the way she was staring at him.
- It is nothing serious….
However, the dark-haired girl slowly advanced towards him without ceasing to stare at him.
- You were about to kiss me… Her voice sounded deeper and warmer.
Zero felt the noose tighten around his heart as she pressed herself against him, her stomach pressing against his, her breasts against his chest, pressing her lips to his neck. The silver-haired boy was breathing in a ragged and sharp way, as if he was afraid of himself, of what he was going to do. Panting, he pushed her away, suddenly very serious.
- Stop it, please.
Yuki looked up at him, surprised. She felt ashamed, as if her emotions were ultimately self-pity.
- Sorry, she breathed as if cornered.
She straightened up from the white-haired boy and with one hand, staring, she buttoned her shirt up to her neck, to look like a serious girl and lifted her slicked back hair.
- Zero have you ever heard of vampires? she asked in a barely audible voice.
The silver haired boy arched his eyebrows not expecting that question.
- Why are you asking me that?
She brushed aside his request with a quick wave of her hand.
- No nothing, it came out to me instantly.
Yuki straightened up completely from the boy and leaned back next to him.
- Before my arrival in this academy, I did not believe in the existence of these creatures of the night but since….
The brunette who had turned her head to look at him was watching him intently, but she was unable to interpret the expression on his face.
- But since….. he corrected himself, that I met you with that of the students of the night class, I begin to have doubts about them and I am sure that they exist. ..
- Zero….
In turn, he turned his head to stare at her.
- Please stop calling me that… I don't feel good waiting for that voice. It's like it makes me thirsty.
- Thirst ? repeated the young woman. Are you sure you are not sick?
She cautiously extended her hand towards him, but the silver-haired boy jerked her away.
- Do not come near me.
He jumped up, quickly readjusted his uniform and took a breath of fresh air.
- You should rest Ze-
Yuki stopped when she heard a loud noise coming from behind her.
- What was that ?
With these words, she abruptly stood up and put herself on guard.
- It's not by standing here that we'll know, said the boy.
He retrieved a branch from the ground and began to run at full speed between the trees of the park towards the direction of the sound. Instinctively he retreated, dodging just in time, an attack that passed very close to him. But during the altercation, he had been slightly injured in the arm, but this handicap did not alter his determination. He felt a force propelling him and he crashed heavily to the ground forming a large crater and throwing multiple pieces of branch debris.
They are two…
" Zero ! yelled Yuki who had appeared behind him.
- Stop shouting you'll wake up the whole dormitory and I'm fine, answered the silver-haired boy, recovering painfully.
- But I was so scared.
He growled in annoyance:
- Let's take care of getting these two intruders out of the establishment, we'll take care of the rest later.
Yuki nodded despite herself. She was so afraid for her comrade, he was about to fight with vampires that he thinks they are humans, without having a weapon. These vampires had most certainly come to bite the human students of the academy. How was she going to protect herself and her comrade? In addition, his father was absent.
Why don't the students of the night class come? she thought.
- Are you listening to me?" asked the silver-haired boy, wound up.
The girl snapped out of her thoughts.
- Yes.
- I said they were very fast so stay focused if you don't want to get beaten.
- To the right ! cried the boy.
He ran into the shadows. Suddenly he blocked an attack with his stick, then forced the opponent to retreat. Zero widened his eyes when he saw that this man had used his long nails to attack him and especially that he had fangs like those of vampires...
- You're scared, the man whispered.
The silver haired boy frowned. He must not flinch or this man would shoot him down. He turned his head violently when he heard Yuki's cries and he saw that she was lying on the ground. His blood boiled, a surge of anger rushed to his head and blinded him. No, not that ! Zero violently pushed the man away with his staff and ran towards Yuki with a high-pitched cry when a snowflake landed on his head and immediately melted. A sudden light erupted behind him. He turned around quickly and met the scarlet, almost somber gaze of this dark-haired man who was vigorously licking the blood that ran from his hands. Then, he advanced slowly but surely towards Zero who had remained motionless at the sight of the scene. The silver-haired boy was frozen in the freezing cold of the night, captured by the aura that the dark-haired man exuded. Arrived at the height of the young boy, he gives him a soft and warm smile as if to comfort him.
- Are you okay Zero? he asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
The silver-haired boy was hypnotized and captivated by the piercing gaze of the dark-haired man. He couldn't formulate a sentence.
Yuki.
He turned his head and he saw that she was with Takuma and Akatsuki. Reassured, he looked back at the dark-haired man.
So I was right, they were vampires.
Kaname held out her hand towards the silver haired boy but he pushed her away violently.
- Don't touch me, vampire! he hissed between his teeth angrily.
He patted his clothes and not without throwing a dark look at the dark-haired man, he left taking Yuki with him. He didn't want to stay a second longer in the presence of these creatures.
- Zero, you're hurting my arm.
The named released the brunette visibly very upset. He turned and faced her. Quickly he grabbed her by the shirt and pinned her against the tree trunk behind her.
- You knew they were vampires!
She looked at him in disbelief, saddened, and replied reluctantly
- Yes …
Zero snorted disdainfully and released her from his grasp to walk away. Yuki slid against the tree and added while shouting.
- But it was not against you, I had no choice.
This response angered the silver-haired boy even more as he violently kicked the branches to the ground. He hurried back to his room to think and above all to rest.
What a day !
Arrived in his room, he threw himself heavily into his bed and closed his eyes to go into the arms of Morpheus.
Master Kiryu...
Master Kiryu...
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The wind was blowing and the yellow leaves fluttered around us as the chestnuts fell at their feet. Akatsuki had taken the initiative to get rid of the corpses shortly after the two Day class students had left the scene.
"Master Kaname, how are ok?" hastened to ask Takuma who had seen the whole scene between him and Zero.
Kaname nodded reassuringly and reluctantly walked away.