Kaien Cross stood before her, explaining the rules of the academy. She was strictly forbidden to roam around after hours and would be forced to wear the school uniform, unless special circumstances, like a dance, arose.

Suzume groaned inwardly. The uniform was going to be the hardest part. She preferred pants to skirts and especially despised stockings. She would have preferred a different school, a different academy. But she was stuck here. No other schools would allow late transfers, and Suzume had been desperate.

She was desperate to get away from everything. Leaving her past in a shroud of forged papers that Chairman Cross had sifted through was her goal. If there was one thing she learned from being trained as a vampire hunter, it was that she must always complete her goals.

She shook her long, blonde curls, trying to rid her thoughts of everything before right then. Suzume had escaped successfully, but she feared they would come looking for her. If they did find her, they would kill her in the decree that she was a traitor.

"Ah! My daughter Yuuki!" Chairman Cross grinned, his eyes squinting shut at his happiness. "Yuuki! We have a late transfer from your grade! Please guide her through normal routine!" He danced around as he said this, an awfully cheery man for keeping such a dangerous secret.

Suzume already knew about the vampires. To anyone else, the brochure on the academy explaining the classes believed the Night Class to be a place for geniuses. Parents were probably harassing their children into doing their best, into being their smartest, just to get into the elite class. Suzume figured that the children themselves wanted in the class just to be near the alluring monsters.

Yuuki bowed. "Hello, welcome to Cross Academy." She beamed, sweet and innocent like a child. To Suzume, Yuuki's light nature was tangible, which made her smile.

She bowed in return. "I am Suzume Sato. Please feel free to call me Suzume. When I lived in America, my friends called me Suzie. You could call me that too, if you like." She smiled politely and bowed again.

That was her cover up. She had been living in America with her mother and father until they sent her to her grandparents. Her grandparents wanted their granddaughter to have an excellent education, so they sent her to Cross Academy.

There were more details to her story, but Suzume had it all memorized within her mind, prepared to use whatever she could to fit in, to not stand out. Suzume wasn't sure where she was going to go from here, but Cross Academy was simply a temporary stop.

Then, a familiar looking boy stepped in. He was extremely tall with this white, silvery colored hair.

"Kiryuu-kun!" Chairman Cross sang, stretching his arms wide to hug his the angry looking boy. He ran at him and Kiryuu simply sidestepped, a frown obscuring his face. Charman Cross ran into the door with a bang.

Suzume then remembered his face, albeit a much younger and happier version. He had been at meetings, an apprentice to one of the best hunters the Council had. Suzume definitely remembered Zero. When her older brother had been alive, they had been friends.

But she especially remembered Ichiru, Zero's younger brother. How could she forget him? Simply the thought of Ichiru made her heart beat faster, her breath quicken. His hunting abilities were less than his brother's, but she never cared. When she was little, before the pureblood attacked the Kiryuu's, Ichiru had promised Suzume, "I will always love only you. Only you."

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard at the thought of her dead brother and the memories of Ichiru. Clenching her fists, she tried not to dwell on anything else.

Yuuki then introduced Zero to Suzume. "Zero, this is Suzume Sato, a late transfer."

Not looking at her, he grunted, "Pretty late, isn't she?"

"She was living in America," Yuuki replied, turning to Suzume with shining eyes. "Please tell us about America!" She appeared genuinely excited.

But Chairman Cross stepped in. "Some other time, perhaps." There was a red mark on his forehead that Suzume couldn't help staring at as he rubbed it. "I need you to begin patrol. The Day Class classes are about to end. Zero, if you will escort Ms. Sato to her room. She will need your strength to carry her belongings."

"Yes!" Yuuki bowed, a determined look set on her young face as she dashed out of Chairman Cross's office.

Zero, with a sort of dark and loathing air about him, bent down and shouldered her bags and belongings, exiting the office as well. She trailed behind him silently.

As they walked, the only sound was the thick, echoing taps of their footsteps. A setting sun let orange and pink colors sift into the hallways through the wide windows. Staring out the windows as she walked, Suzume glimpsed tall green trees, billowing grasses, and a courtyard with a fountain.

She felt uncomfortable at the academy. Something was amiss in the air, and she could tell that it wasn't just the scent of vampires. Suzume could sense a plot boiling beneath the floors and behind the walls.

Suddenly, Zero stopped. Suzume nearly ran into Zero's back, but managed to halt in time. She immediately noticed his stiff back and could hear a low growl coming from the pit of his stomach.

Stepping to the side of him, Suzume glimpsed what had upset him. She took a step back as she saw who stood before her. Kaname Kuran, flanked by two other vampires. Suzume hadn't known such a powerful pureblood was there, and she instantly wished she had. Kaname was a threat. He made a point to remember hunters, though nonchalantly. But it wasn't just that possibility. It was vampire hunter common sense that all purebloods always had their own secretive agendas. They were completely untrustworthy and dangerous. Not to mention they were illegal to kill, even if you could manage that.

Kaname's eyes swept over Zero with distaste, but when they reached Suzume, they stayed a second longer than she would have liked. She tried to act confused and innocent, making her eyes dart from Zero to Kaname in an anxious way.

"What are you doing here?" Zero asked coldly, his eyes narrowed.

Kaname replied diplomatically, "I am here to discuss certain things with the Chairman. And what are you doing, Zero? Not terrorizing this lovely young lady I suppose?"

"Shut up, Kuran," he hissed.

The female vampire with bored looking eyes stepped forward, but Kaname silently signaled her back. Suzume noted that, realizing she was his body guard. The other vampire on his right had fiery orange hair and stared at her with curious, penetrating eyes.

She shifted, her fingers itching for some kind of weapon, some kind of defense. She reminded herself that she had to be normal. She had to act normal.

Kaname then approached Suzume. "Hello. Are you a late transfer by chance?"

Suzume instinctively tensed as he approached, and she noticed that he noticed. Forcing herself to relax, she smiled, "Yes." Suzume was reluctant to give him her name. Her last name was fake of course, but she didn't want to risk it,

Kaname returned her smile, replying with, "I am Kaname Kuran, welcome to the academy."

She bowed, remaining silent, unwilling to give her own name. She blew a sigh of relief when Kaname walked past without another word, his guard following behind him. However, the orange haired vampire hesitated. He took a few steps forward and paused, bowing slightly.

"I am Akatsuki. Kain Akatsuki." His smoldering eyes remained on her, making her feel uncomfortable, almost exposed. His face was perfectly chiseled, sculpted by an angel.

It was part one of Suzume's training not to be absorbed by their looks. She inhaled sharply in attempt to keep control of herself. Yet, she couldn't talk. Her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth.

"And your name?" His voice was as smooth and sweet as caramel.

Zero, who was apparently fed up, snorted and stalked off. He seemed ready to leave Suzume there whether she followed or not.

"Your name?" Akatsuki looked hungry for it.

She simply bowed quickly. "Sorry, senpai! I must go." And she dashed down the hall after Zero, who had nearly disappeared.

"Wait!" she heard him call after her. Ignoring him, she caught up with Zero, partially annoyed that he would leave like that.

Her roommate's name was Anzu Miyagi. She had black hair cropped to her chin and bright, wild eyes. Her thin lips appeared to be always in a mischievous smirk, and Suzume immediately had the impression that Anzu would be one to chase after the vampires.

When Zero left, she was glad to be rid of someone so closely tied to her past, so closely tied to her first love.

"Here. I will help you unpack. I would give you a tour of the academy, but that will have to wait for tomorrow." She grinned as she took some of Suzume's spare uniforms and regular clothes and hanged them in the closet.

"Thank you." While Anzu had her back turned, Suzume quickly hid her vampire hunter's gun and emergency knife under her mattress. Just as Anzu turned back around, Suzume managed to hide the ammo under the bed.

Anzu ranted on about the school. "I love it here. I can't wait to show you the Night Class boys! They are positively gorgeous!" She giggled and clapped her hands excitedly.

"Yeah.. I read about the Night Class in the brochure. I think I met three of them outside of the Chairman's office. Are their uniforms white?" She figured nothing would hurt in a little casual conversation. She had to make friends, though she didn't plan to stay at the academy for very long. Suzume knew she would be living a life of a refugee, and she believed that if someone, anyone, remembered her, her life wasn't incomplete.

Anzu's blue eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh!" She jumped on Suzume's bed, excited and intrigued. "Who?"

Suzume slid her suitcase and extra bags beneath her bed. "I believe one was called Kaname Kuran. The other was named Kain Akatsuki. There was a female, but she didn't introduce herself."

Anzu squealed and jumped up and down. "Oooo! Don't you think Kaname-senpai is so mysterious and refined? He's so polite and perfect! And Wild! You met Wild! Something about him seems so dangerous, it makes most of the girls go crazy!" She giggled, holding her stomach, her cheeks pink, her eyes glistening.

Suzume forced herself to smile, forced herself to hop onto the bed and appear curious. "Yeah! I know. But they do seem kind of scary and intimidating."

Anzu then got quiet. Glancing around quickly, she lowered her voice, "Some of my other friends and I were planning to sneak out tonight and go to the Night Dorms."

Suzume's body immediately tensed, realizing her first impression of Anzu had been correct. Wild and too curious for her own good. One to actually chase down the vampires.

"What do you plan to do at the Night Dorms?" she tried to conceal the alarm in her voice. She was afraid for Anzu and her friends and was angered with Chairman Cross. How could he allow such monsters be so close to innocent, attention deprived girls? To Suzume, it seemed Cross was dangling the rabbit right in front of the tiger.

Anzu shrugged. "Sneak around, take some pictures, maybe. They'll probably be in class." She grinned. "Maybe steal some memorabilia. Do you want to come?"

She clenched her fist. This was a complicated decision. It was obvious enough that nothing would stop Anzu from going, especially not a new student. "But isn't it against the rules?" she asked tentatively, not wanting to place herself in the position to get in trouble at the new school or to be near the vampires.

Anzu rolled her eyes. "Oh! Don't be chicken! I know Zero Kiryuu is a little scary, but Yuuki is harmless. We simply have to be smart and stick to the shadows. I know these grounds inside and out, we'll be fine. So, are you in?"

Suzume knew it would be wrong to let the girls go by themselves without protection, and she new that being a new student put her in a place with no power and with pressure to follow the crowd. Though Suzume wasn't a follower, she knew it would be wrong to go against the vampire hunter reason and let the girls roam alone.

The night was cool and smelled of pine trees and dew. A light breeze shifted through the girls' hair as the group of four, including Suzume, huddled around the shadows. Anzu, the apparent leader, was busy mapping out a plan on how they would get to the Moon Dorms and what to do if anyone saw the prefects.

Suzume tilted to the side, just to feel the cold metal handle of her gun specially made to critically injure or, if with just the right aim, kill vampires. She hadn't thought she'd be needing her weapon so soon, but feeling it beneath her fingertips calmed her racing heart.

Suzume wasn't one to break rules exactly. That was why it was so hard for her to runaway. But she had to. It was the only way she could save her own life, which was all that she had since her brother died.

Anzu nodded. "Alright. Let's go. Remember to stay close and in groups of two. Suzume will stay by me. Everyone ready?" A chorus of nods responded. "Let's go!" Anzu's eyes twinkled in jubilance. "Follow my lead!" And, on swift toes, she dashed off into the trees.

The girls darted after, Suzume ignoring Anzu's words and hovering towards the back of the group.

As she ran, holding back her agility so she wouldn't surpass the other panting girls, the grasses tickled her legs through her stockings, the wind whipping at her hair. Her eyes were circumspect, ready for movement within the darkness, ready to get caught.

They were quiet, the only noise was the ruffling of their skirts against their legs. One of the girls, whose name Suzume couldn't remember, tripped and fell. It was then that there was a noise.

Anzu and the other female took off, abandoning Suzume and the fallen girl. Suzume grabbed her and lugged her behind a bush. The girl almost cried out, but Suzume clamped her hand on her mouth. When she the girl shook her hand off, she pointed to her gashed knee. It looked very deep to Suzume. She placed her finger on her lips and peered over the top of the bushes.

It was Yuuki. She twirled around and around, muttering something about Zero. She had a staff in her hand and was scanning the brush fervently.

Suzume ducked down, pursing her lips. She knew the vampires wouldn't be far off now that blood had penetrated the air. They had only a few minutes until the vampires would arrive, and she knew that Yuuki would take the injured girl to the infirmary quickly. It was the only way she could protect her identity and this young girl's blood.

Looking into the scared girls eyes, she whispered, "I'm sorry." The girl's eyes widened as she shook her head repeatedly.

Staying low, Suzume snuck around a tree, finding a rock on the ground and throwing it at the bush. Yuuki reacted swiftly, jumping over the bush, seeing the crying, wounded girl. Yuuki looked around, fright shining in her eyes as she aided the girl in retreating back into the safety of the school.

She waited until the two of them were out of sight before she began jogging in the direction she saw the other two go, praying that the girl she had abandoned wouldn't rat her out. Hopefully she would have as bad as a memory as Suzume's when it came to names.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck rose on end. Shivers coursed through her spine. An unnatural wind flew by her, sending her skirt flying up. Suzume dug her heels into the ground and stopped, hearting pounding against her ribs. She extended her hand towards her thigh, ready to whip out the gun if it was needed.

And she prayed it wasn't.

"It is you." He appeared in a blink of an eye, right in front of her. "But I don't believe it's your blood I smell." Kain Akatsuki's hair was tousled, some strands fell into his face as he spoke.

She took a step back, tense.

"No. Don't go that way," he spoke fast. "The others are there, searching for the blood. I recognized your scent and followed."

"What do you want?" her voice shook more than what she had wanted it to. The thought of more vampires was unnerving. Suzume had never taken on anything more than a simple Level E, and that had been only twice. But these were nobles. Many nobles, and she couldn't kill them.

Kain's eyes looked over her head. Reaching out his long, graceful fingers, he whispered fiercely, "Come with me."

She shook her head. "I can't trust you."

He frowned, growling. "You are going to have to."

Her senses were screaming at her in incoherent words. She was confused, unsure. Swallowing hard, she forced her hand out. His cool fingers wrapped around her wrist. Next thing she knew, Kain was cradling her, dashing across the school grounds. She closed her eyes against the passing colors, feeling Kain's cold, hard skin beneath her fingers.

Then, everything suddenly stopped, sending Suzume's balance off as Kain gently lowered her to the ground. She sat there a minute, blinking and breathing. When she had finally regained her vision and stability, she scrambled up and away from Kain.

He twirled something around his finger. "This…is surprising."

Suzume's hand flew to her thigh. Her gun was gone. "Give it back!" she shouted without thinking. Her gun had become her life. It was her shield among a dark world she couldn't escape.

Kain seemed to be pondering silently as he scrutinized the specialized weapon. "I thought your reaction toward us was odd when I first met you. There was no adoration, no lustfulness. I couldn't read your expression at all. Something about you gave me chill bumps the first time I saw you. Now I realize I had mistaken the feeling. My senses were only warning me you were a hunter." He tossed the gun at her.

Suzume reached out and caught it, gripping the familiar metal in a reunion. "I am not sorry to disappoint you." She tucked the gun back in its place. "And I don't mean any harm."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Then why are you here?"

Keeping a level tone, she replied, "This school is merely a stepping block. I promise you, I will not stay long. It is entirely within my plan to leave as soon as possible."

"That's an awfully vague answer, isn't it?" Kain's eyes narrowed.

She slowly backed away. "We all have our own reasons to run."

His expression then changed as a thought flashed across his face. His eyes softened as he sighed tiredly. "I think you can make a strong ally. You see, there is this very large, very real chess game Kaname-sama is playing. I don't know all the rules, reasons, or even pieces, but I believe you can help if you are on our side."

"I don't pick sides with vampires," she growled and then ran into the night.