Hello readers, I would like to apologize for the frankly obscene amount of time it took me to get around to typing and actually posting this rewrite of Dancing Feathers. To those that have read the previous and now look to this one as a replacement, thank you for taking your time to read this now. This story will be different in some ways, such as how it starts and some plot line. So be warned and prepared.

Mornings were awful.

If there was one thing Zero found himself hating more than the vampires at Cross Academy, it was mornings. Everything about them was awful. The was the sun rose and lashed it's rays through his flimsy curtains to penetrate his thin eyelids. Or the sound of birds screeching in 'beautiful song' for hours afterward. Worst of all though, maybe, would be the tiresome muttering of the Day Class students. Not that it ever stopped, but it certainly was the most annoying in the morning, next the when the classes switched, that is. Actually, Zero just found the Day Class irritating in general.

Rolling over on his mattress Zero threw an arm beyond the edge, not surprised at all when his long fingers brush the cold floor. Though it does work to rouse him from his state of half sleep. Blinking open one wisteria eye Zero was greeted with the bleary sight of long, porcelain colored feathers draped across the bed sheets and floor. Some going so far as to brush his door, flaring up against the obstacle in their path. Narrowing his eyes he turned his head in the other direction to observe the folded and scrunched mess of his other wing; spider feathers rumpled and going in every which direction.

Sighing, Zero wrenched himself up from his nest of sheets and pillows. Strong arms shaking slightly with lack of use over night and the abrupt wake up call forced upon them. Lips cracking open in a dramatic yawn Zero threw his legs over the edge of the bed; wings pulling and pushing mechanically into more comfortable positions as he went. When he was fully standing, albeit haphazardly, he took control of the muscles. The burn of lifting them and shaking the feathers into alignment is familiar, and he welcomes it as he pads across his room into the personal bathroom each Prefect has.

He skips taking a shower seeing as how he took one the night before, and instead focuses on brushing his teeth and shaking his tepid silver hair into a somewhat presentable look. Or, at least, enough to where Yuki won't try to run a comb through his hair the moment she sees him.

Once he deems himself good enough by his own standers, Zero sets to work on the tedious chore of wriggling into his academy uniform. Bending and shifting his wings in a few complicated motions until he's sure they won't be detectable to others. The last few pieces prove to be more difficult than usual to finish, and he spends close to ten minutes wrestling with his tie and buttons. The extra time, as it turns out, is enough to make him a few seconds late. These few seconds also seem to be all the more time Yuki is willing to give him before she decides she needs to intervene.

"Zero," she shouts. As if she doesn't then he won't be able to hear her. He's pretty sure the whole building can hear her. "Wake up! You can't keep missing all these classes. It's going to damage your grades!"

She resumes smacking her small fists into the thick wood of his door. Zero decides he's has enough and with no warning he wrenches the door open. Yuki's small fist already in motion thumping against his chest rather than the wood. He can barely feel it but Yuki still yelps, yanking her hand back to her side like she's been burned. She recovers quickly enough, though, and looks up to match Zero's lethal glare.

"Finally, Zero! I was beginning to think you'd died in there," she accuses.

"Well, at least that would've been better than having to deal with you," he mutters as he pushes past her small form. Heading for the door and not waiting a second to allow her to catch up.

Yuki gasps, "You don't need to be so rude, Zero!"

He huffs air through his teeth in favor of gracing her with as answer when she finally scampers up to walk beside him, her legs working to match his brisk pace. She must realize that he's not going to entertain her today, and folds her arms across her small chest, head down, and walks beside him.

Zero supposes he should feel bad but the quiet is a rare gift at Cross Academy. A gift he's not so easily willing to give up. Even for someone like Yuki,who he cares deeply for. Of course, that's something he'd never tel her.

As he expects, like every other class he brings himself to attend, today's are dull and achingly boring. The unfortunate students who are assigned to sit by him fidget under his dark, brooding aura. Only Yuki seems to be unaffected; talking animatedly and participating in class. Zero narrows his eyes at her back, finding her perky attitude annoying. He switches the fist his chin rests on and stretches his shoulders, wings cramped and stiff. Zero both loves and hates the extra limbs. They're a Kiryuu family trait, and Zero relishes having such an intimate connection to his deceased parents and brother*. Then, though, he hates them because they remind him of what he will never have again.

Not to mention only Headmaster Cross and Yuki know, Yuki having found out only recently. And the Day Class students are always looking for gossip or dirt in any form they can get it.

Zero passes the rest of class by staring at the clock above the door; simultaneously willing it to slow down and go faster. The faster it goes the sooner class is over. However that also means the sooner the classes switch, and the sooner he has to deal with the vampires, and worst of all, Kuran. He growls softly at his thoughts and pretends not to notice when a few students and teacher jump. Of course, at that moment the bell rings and Zero's own personal version of Hell begins.