Finding My Way

Chapter 5

After just one month at Cross Academy, the Night Class students invented the blood tablet, a substitute for blood that can simply be swallowed or dropped into water to dissolve and consume. Kaname told me a couple nights ago that Takuma Ichijo's grandfather would mass produce the blood tablets for the rest of the vampire community. This was a great accomplishment for the night class and one that helped legitimize Kaname's decision to lead the vampire youth here.

Takuma Ichijo is one of Kaname's closest friends—they almost seem like brothers—and also the Moon Dorm Vice President. So, essentially, Takuma is Kaname's second-in-command.

As I've gotten to know the other vampires, Takuma is one of my favorites. He's very down to earth and approachable, unlike some of the others. All of the female vampires essentially ignore me. One of them in particular, Ruka Souen, seems to hate me, but I have no idea why. The other two, Seiren and Rima Toya, just don't give me the time of day at all. Rima spends all her time with Senri Shiki, Takuma's brooding dark-haired and grey-eyed roommate. According to Kaname, Rima and Senri also work as models. They're both gorgeous and aloof, Rima has light orange hair that she styles in pigtails—that oddly enough work really well on her—and blue eyes. Seiren, from what I have gathered, is Kaname's unofficial bodyguard. She's with him most of the time and seems always ready to protect him. With short, pale violet hair and matching eyes, she's rather intimidating.

As I reflect over these things, I stand on my favorite balcony, which adjoins the window to where the Night Class students study and also provides me with an excellent view of the grounds. It's perfect, because I can make sure the Night Class students are attending class and also can survey the grounds really well.

Zero and I have gotten lax about our patrolling of the grounds. We now just usually keep to the balcony or walk through the grounds. As I predicted, during our training month, Zero has increasingly become more unreliable. What's with him?

I look in the window. I see Kaname's handsome face reading a book. Blushing a little, I look past him towards the other vampires. I see Ruka also looking at Kaname. With her long, wavy toffee colored hair and mocha colored eyes, she's beautiful. I've had a creeping suspicion that she's in love with Kaname, but that in no way explains why she acts the way she does towards me.

Seiren, of course, is sitting right next to Kaname. She never strays far from his side. But I've never gotten the sense that she's romantically interested in Kaname. It must be some sort of duty thing that I just don't understand.

In front of Kaname sits Takuma. Takuma is one of the tallest vampires, just coming a little shorter than Kaname. With light blonde hair that falls attractively over his green eyes, Takuma is a favorite among the Day Class girls.

I sigh. I wonder what the Day Class girls would really think if they knew that the beautiful Night Class students are vampires.

As if on cue, I hear rustling below me and I see the same two girls that have been giving me trouble all month. Ugh, they must be trying to get pictures again. Sighing once more, I hop up onto the balcony's ledge and spot a branch halfway between me and the ground. Even though it's quite a bit lower than me, I jump from the ledge and grab the branch to slow my fall before landing onto the ground. I run in the direction of the girls.

"It's past curfew! You shouldn't be out here!" I yell, annoyed by the girls' determination.

The girls are crouching down, one holding a camera. The one without the camera starts to stand, "What's the big deal—ow!" she cries out and loses her balance.

A chill runs down my spine. "Oh, no! Are you hurt?" I examine her more closely. Crap, she's bleeding. "You need to get back inside right away! It's not safe out here."