∆ Clock Strikes EIGHT

'We're transferring you to the morning school.'

The principal was a thin man in his forties with slicked back neat black hair. He was at least 180cm tall and his voice was firm and clear. He has that overwhelming confidence as he spoke.

Gin-sensei was standing beside Koyuki. He dropped his head. Koyuki stared at the principal, her face showed more sadness than surprise. Her heart fell as she heard the news.

Without waiting for a response, the principal continued, 'I got to know that you were admitted to the ICU a few days ago. Attending night school would degrade your health. I'm transferring you for your own good. Do you have any objections, Akaito-san?'

Koyuki took a deep breath. 'Did Dr. Kubota tell you about this?' she questioned, her voice low.

The man behind the desk nodded once.

'I'm going to die anyway, what's the point trying to help me?' she asked again then as if realization hit, she shook her head. 'I'm sorry... You're just trying to help. I understand your decision, principal.'

With that, she bowed deeply and together with Gin-sensei they exited the office. Koyuki held in a sob as Gin-sensei closed the door behind them. She gritted her teeth as hard as she could.

'Akaito-san, I'm really sorry,' Gin-sensei spoke. 'I've tried to persuade him...'

She shook her head slowly. 'Thank you, Sensei.' Then left. Gin-sensei sighed, frowning.

-

Koyuki made her way to the back of the school. Transferring means... I can't meet Shuu! Uh, that reminds me—how am I going to tell him about this? Oh but wait, he would probably brush it off with a, "There's nothing you can do about it" or anything of that sort. Does he even take this relationship seriously? Would he even care? I might just not tell him anything.

She sighed and leaned against the wall. Ah... this is so annoying! Frowning, she withdrew her phone and dialed Kazuma's number. Her friend answered the call almost immediately.

'Koyuki...!'

'First of all, no, don't search for me. I need to calm down. Second, I know Gin-sensei knows I will be skipping class. Third, I'll get transferred to the morning school. Fourth, any questions you have, we can discuss it later at home.' She quickly said.

Kazuma sighed exasperatedly. 'I hate you but okay.'

Koyuki cut off the call and sat down. Her heart clenched as she remembered the principal's words. It didn't stop hurting so she winced and clutched her shirt. She tried to breathe properly but the pain worsened.

Panting, she dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. I forgot to bring the meds... Dr. Kubota is so going to kill me. Koyuki opened her mouth and inhaled. Nothing changed and she groaned.

'Whoa! Are you okay?'

She gasped and sat up, looking at the person. Unfamiliar. He has messy blonde hair, yellow eyes, and pale skin. His outfit was ridiculous. 'Who are you?!' she asked and struggled to stand up but it came to no avail.

'Leonardo.' He replied curtly then grabbed her arms, helping her.

'Leonardo?' Koyuki frowned then her legs weakened once again.

'What's wrong?' Leonardo asked, concerned. She then couldn't feel her legs. Her breathing patterns ragged and she was losing consciousness.

Koyuki went limp in his arms. Leonardo's eyes widened then he quickly healed her. Warm sensation flowed through her body, and slowly the girl regained her senses. Her eyes fluttered open.

'Are you okay?' Leonardo muttered.

Koyuki's eyes widened when she saw him and she tried to get away. 'I-I'm fine, thank you!' she panicked.

'Why are you so scared?' Leonardo queried and let her scurry off him.

'You came out of nowhere... and you were searching for m—' she stopped herself. Oops.

'Oh so you were awake.' Leonardo chuckled. Koyuki gulped inaudibly and looked away.

'Why were you searching for me?' she asked.

'Reasons...' he answered. 'By the way, are you sick or something?'

Koyuki inhaled sharply. 'Heart disease.' She said quietly.

'Come back with me.' Leonardo's words made Koyuki frown at him.

'You were the one calling me from the forest, right?'

'Yeah.'

'Sure. Let's go.'

Leonardo flinched then turned to her. 'Seriously?'

She was about to nod when suddenly a water barrier or some sort appeared between Leonardo and Koyuki. Leonardo frowned and backed away, pointing both of his palms towards the barrier and a matching fire barrier distinguished both barriers. Koyuki gaped as she was thrown back slightly.

'Get away from her!'

Shuu! Koyuki's eyes lit up when she saw him walking towards them. Leonardo clicked his tongue and dodged another water attack from Shuu with his fire barriers then as fast as lightning, he grabbed Koyuki's arm.

Before Shuu could do anything, both of them disappeared. He cursed.

-

Location: Achira no Sekai [The Underworld]

Leonardo and Koyuki fell to the ground. Of course, the human girl was already unconscious. A travel from The Mundane World to The Underworld will knock out any humans. Leonardo groaned and sat up, his head in his hand.

'God damn it that Sakamaki brat, he knew about this too fast.' He sighed then focused on the girl.

'Cyril.' Leonardo spoke and his servant appeared beside him.

'Leonardo-sama, I strictly warned you...!' Cyril trailed off then sighed exasperatedly. 'Nagging you is futile.'

'I had to bring her over,' Leonardo smiled. 'I missed her so much. But you have to treat her first.'

Cyril picked up the girl lying on the floor then nodded. 'Sir.' Then disappeared. Leonardo smirked.

'You brought a human over, Leo?' a surprised voice echoed.

The blonde stood and faced the window. 'Arthur, I didn't know you forgot how to knock.' He raised a brow.

Arthur Daze was Leonardo's best friend and because he often fought alongside him, he was called the Slayer of the Sky. In a fight, Leonardo would take care of the ground, and Arthur would take care of the sky. Arthur has that charming bluish purple eyes and his smug smile made him look like a fugitive. A good-looking one at that...

Arthur folded his arms across his chest. 'I pity Cyril for having to put up with you, you stubborn shit.' He said.

'Well I pity my self for having to put up with you.' Leonardo replied.

'I have no idea why people always think we're getting along. I've been dreaming to kill you since before I was born.' Arthur clicked his tongue.

Leonardo smirked.

'Okay, back to work,' Arthur disappeared and appeared on the bed. 'Another Berserk escaped the sealed prison and ran off somewhere.'

'How many does it make now?' Leonardo sat on the same bed and leaned his elbow on his thigh before resting his chin on his palm.

'Three of them and none has been found. What in the world could this mean?'

'Did the Demons cause this?'

'What I'd like to know, too,' Arthur shrugged. 'But I saw some of them at the crime scene investigating, so I guess it's not safe to assume the Demons are behind all these.'

'True, vampires aren't all good either, we might have a traitor among us.'

'Have you talked to Kino about this?'

'No, Kino's not in his manor.'

'I sense a war coming our way.' Arthur sighed. Leonardo kept quiet.

-

'What in the seventh—' Koyuki stopped herself as she glanced around the fancy room.

'Are you awake, Koyuki-sama?' a voice spoke.

She flinched and turned to her left. 'Who are you?'

'I am Cyril, Leonardo's right man. He asked me to accompany you until you come around. Do you need anything? Water, perhaps?' Cyril queried.

Koyuki thought for a moment, contemplating whether it was safe to ask for anything. Eventually, she agreed to herself to take the risk. 'May I have a glass of water, please?'

Cyril nodded. 'As you wish.' Without moving from his spot, a glass of water appeared on his hand and he handed it to her.

She gaped and took it. 'Well... thanks.'

She half expected the water to be normal so she didn't get too surprised when the water was actually normal. Finishing it, she handed the glass to Cyril. 'Thank you.' She bowed her head.

'You're most certainly welcome.' Cyril replied and disappeared.

Koyuki frowned. They sure disappear and appear like it's normal...

Someone knocked on the door. She turned her head and stared at the door. 'Y-Yes?' she cursed herself for stuttering. Leonardo walked in and waved at her.

'Do you feel better?' he asked.

'Is this the Underworld? It's pretty much like in the Human World.' She commented.

Leonardo chuckled. 'Then, what?' he appeared on the bed beside her and sat cross-legged. 'Did you expect some kind of blazing fire surrounding you 24/7?'

Koyuki shrugged. 'I did.'

'And you agreed to come with me?'

'Well if you're searching for me and has been calling for me since back then, I would know you wouldn't want to hurt me... yet... if your aim were to kill me, you would've done it from the start.'

'Clever girl.' He smiled softly.

'Aren't you and Shuu of the same species. Why would you two fight?'

Leonardo tilted his head, perhaps thinking. 'Maybe because of our different ranks...?'

'I don't think Shuu would be minding those stuffs.'

'You sure defend him a lot.'

The girl blushed and averted her gaze. 'Whatever. Why were you calling me here?'

One part of her was cursing her for trusting someone easily—like, Leonardo's a vampire! She didn't know why she followed him there. Her instinct was yelling her to go like crazy. Her instinct was telling her that she was in the wrong place—like the Human World wasn't the place for her. Having little trust in her instinct, she wanted to know more about vampires. She felt like she had a special connection towards them. Following Leonardo would be the very first step to find out.

'I can't tell you that,' he shook his head. 'But now that you're here, would you like to take a look around? I'll ask Cyril to escort you.'

Koyuki thought for a moment. 'I'll go but you don't have to call him. I'll be fine alone. If I get lost, it is still your mansion, am I not right?'

Leonardo giggled. 'I like you.'

Koyuki flinched and her face went hot. That was the first time someone ever said they liked me!

'Have fun, then.' He stood, bowed, and disappeared.

Yosh! To the library we go then!

-

Location: The Mundane World

Shuu was sitting up on the sofa instead of lying down. His mind wasn't in peace, he was thinking why Koyuki agreed to follow Leonardo and why would Leonardo want her to come back with him. It was all too weird.

Suddenly, a strong smell hit his sense. The smell of a human, a different kind of human... it kind of smells like lavender... Cordelia? Impossible. He made his way to the door and disappeared.

When he reached the living room, a light blonde girl was sprawled on the floor, scared to death. He was the last one to arrive at the scene, it seemed. Oh right, Karl Heinz mentioned about a human girl coming to the house as a bride... can't kill her though. As usual, the bride would be chased and faint due to extreme fear. Shuu wasn't interested even a little bit towards the bride while Ayato kept on and on about the girl called Yui or something being his one and only, and stuffs.

Once again, Shuu found himself in the library, searching for books related to The Underworld. Suddenly the door was opened. He turned his head and saw Yui creeping her way inside, probably didn't notice him behind a shelf.

'What are you doing here?' he spoke as the girl walked past him without noticing a presence.

Yui yelped in surprise and spun to him. 'S-Shuu-kun!'

Shuu waited for her response.

'I was just looking around. I didn't think you'd be here,' she approached him. 'Are you interested in books, Shuu-kun?'

'No, I don't. Reiji does.'

She tilted her head. 'Then what are you doing here?'

'That's none of your business.'

'Oh...' she looked down. 'I was just asking.'

He averted his focus back on the book he was holding. Yui left his spot and out of the library. Humans are annoying no matter how you look at it.

**** WRAPPED ****

A/N: It's been so long since I've written a full chapter. Truth be told it really saddens me that I have lesser and lesser time for writing despite it being my hobby/interest.

University life sure is terrifying in a lot of ways. Lots of love for Shuu my baby.

I miss you guys Wattpadians a lot! See you in the next chapter!

Love, Ryuuki

By my leave, mortals