"Ichiru, please don't fight Rido," I begged the silver-haired vampire hunter for the millionth time. "All that's going to do is hurt me and kill you."

"So why did you fight him?" Ichiru looked down at me with his lavender eyes. "Didn't you think I was worried?"

"I..." I looked at the ground, trying to come up with something. All I did was hit a blank.

"I'll be fine," Ichiru promised again. "I have a plan. Just promise me you'll keep your distance from Rido. You almost got killed."

"You have to promise something as well then," I stared up at him defiantly.

"What is that?"

"Promise me you'll come back to me." It was a stupid promise I knew, but I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. I just wanted something to cling to. Something to reassure me Ichiru will be fine.

"I'll try my best," Ichiru replied amusedly. "But you have to keep your promise."

"I promise," I replied hesitantly. "I'll stay away from Rido." Something told me it wasn't going to happen, whether I could help it or not.

"I'll trust you," Ichiru's arm tightened around me. "I think we should go down now. It's getting windier."

As we left the rooftop, I never knew what exactly was going to happen.

~~~~

The academy looked somewhat bleak and desolate as Ichiru and I came out of the main building. No one saw us surprisingly, despite Ichiru being a hunted criminal. The Day Class wouldn't understand though.

"I suppose you'll want to go to the Moon Dorm now," Ichiru glanced at me as we walked alongside one another. "To go and see Yuuki and all."

"Maybe," I replied, shrugging. "Does it really matter?"

"I-" Ichiru's answer broke off as something hit me in the back, knocking me onto the ground. "Saki!"

A senseless howl rang through the air as a maddened, distorted man ran at Ichiru, his fingers like claws and his eyes popping as veins twisted his face.

"Get away!" Ichiru leapt back. I didn't know if he was talking to the Level E or me. I decided to pretend it was the Level E.

The metallic flash of a blade sliced through the air shone in the sun as Ichiru slashed at the Level E. As soon as the blade cut into the shoulder of the vampire, it disintegrated into dust, a grey, cloudy mess.

"What was that?" I stared at the heap of dust in front of us.

"A Level E," Ichiru replied, his voice hard. "Don't tell me-"

"I know what he is," I interrupted him. "But why would a Level E turn up in the academ - Oh."

"Oh, is right," Ichiru grimaced. "We have to warn the headmaster."

~~~

"I want the Day Class evacuated through the emergency route," Kaien's authoritive voice ordered. "With vampires attacking the academy, we have to get them to safety." When Ichiru and I had reached the headmaster's office, Zero was already there, reporting vampire attacks. We weren't the only ones it seemed.

"I'll go," Seiren spoke up, her quiet, but no-nonsense voice telling us she had made her choice.

Vampires had attacked the academy and everyone knew who was behind it. It was a matter of time before we would have vampires around every corner and behind every tree. Kaien, Yagari, Zero, Ruka, Akatsuki, Hanabusa, Senri, Rima, and previously Seiren, along with me were in the headmaster's office. Kaname, Yuuki, Takuma, and Ichiru were nowhere to be seen. Shortly after we reached the office, Ichiru had disappeared, leaving me behind.

It was a tight fit in the room, but everyone was too preoccupied with the situation at hand to care. All the other Night Class students were outside, keeping watch and destroying the occasional vampire. We would probably be joining them soon. Sentries around the Sun and Moon Dorm were probably being instructed by Seiren to evacuate the Day Class right now.

"Does the Association have word of this?" Kaien looked at Yagari.

"I don't know," Yagari replied gruffly. "I haven't gotten any messages implying they know about this."

"Does it matter?" Zero growled. "Why don't we just tell them so we can get these bloodsuckers out of this academy."

"It's not that simple I'm afraid," Kaien turned to Zero. "It's something which you shouldn't know."

"Being here makes me sick," Zero muttered, casting a mutinous glance at all the Night Class students in the room. Including me. "I'm leaving."

The door slammed shut as he left the room in a huff. Less than five minutes after Zero had left, the door opened once again, and Seiren stood there, her face calm and composed, but traces of tensions tightened the features of her face.

"The emergency route is blocked," she reported. "The Day students are still in their dorms however."

"Get them all into the auditorium," Kaien responded after a few minutes of thought. "And secure the building." In response to the order, Seiren turned heel and left the room.

"I suppose there's nothing else to do," Kaien sighed, resting his chin on his hands. "You'll have to go out and try to stop the vampires."

"We can do that," Ruka replied confidently, her voice calm as her eyes steeled. One by one everyone agreed with the, not so tactful, plan. I ducked my head, trying to avoid everyone's gaze. How was I supposed to fight? I couldn't take down a vampire alone.

As everyone filed out of the room, I picked up my silver bow and quiver on a chair next to me and followed them out of the room. As I came into the hallway, everyone else was already agitated.

"Blood," Ruka muttered. "Someone's been attacked." Everyone was edgy, some of them tasting the air, while I stiffened in fear. Someone had been attacked. It couldn't be Ichiru could it?

Gunshots sounded outside and everyone ran to the window, peering through. There was no sign of a fight, but it was clear that someone was fighting a vampire. Or vampires.

"We have to get down there," Ruka ordered everyone. "Go! There are more vampires coming." She was right. Through the window, I could see the front gate of the academy in the distance, dark shapes darting through. I got the feeling those shapes probably weren't reinforcements from the Hunter Association.

With a start, I realised everyone had gone, some of the Night Class still disappearing around the corner as they headed down to fight. The corridor was pretty much deserted, and in the emptiness, I realised how scared I was.

I was scared of fighting.

I was scared of Rido and his servants.

I was scared that Ichiru was hurt.

Ichiru.

The sudden realisation struck me so suddenly I gasped aloud. Where was he? The smell of blood raised hairs on my neck as I began to imagine all the events that could have happened. I had to find him.

Beginning to run, I tasted the air, trying to follow the smell of blood. As the scent got stronger, so did something else. I frowned. The blood didn't smell right, almost like it was a mix.

A mix.

The cooler air of the outside surrounded me as I ran out of the main building. Despite being under attack, it looked strangely deserted.

A snarl sounded behind me. At the sound of it, I turned, to come face to face with a vampire. A Level E. Just my lucky day.

"Let me drink your blood," it barely gave me any time to react as it lunged for me, teeth bared as its clawed hands tried the grab my throat.

"Stay away!" I screamed out instinctively, slashing an arrow through the air. The metal-tipped point made contact across the Level E's chest, but only scratched the surface, tearing the dingy clothes it wore slightly. The Level E retreated slightly, backing away a few steps before advancing on me again.

"Bad girl," it grinned crookedly. "Now give me blood."

"S-stay back," I slashed the air in front of me with the silver arrow, backing away. "Don't come near me."

"Scary," it bared its fangs in a crazed smile. "But I'm more scary."

"She told you to stay away!" Someone roared as something whizzed past my head, hitting the Level E in the head. The Level E exploded into a pile of grainy dust as I turned to greet my rescuer.

"I thought I taught you how to shoot," was the first thing Yagari said as he reached me. "That arrow is not a sword."

"Uh, sorry," I avoided his eyes. "Thanks for saving me?"

"Learn to use that bow properly," Yagari replied, ignoring my thanks. "Don't make me embarassed."

"Sorry," I apologised again. "I'll try."

"Hmph," Yagari turned to view the surroundings. "You should go find Rido."

"Me?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Me? Your student who can't use the bow and arrow properly and wields an arrow like a sword?"

"I told you to learn didn't I?" Yagari retorted. "Now hurry up and go. I can sense more vampires coming." As though in response, bushes rustled as figures stepped out, looking plain, but there expressions quickly distorted into madness.

"Go!" Yagari unslung his rifle from his shoulder, beginning to aim at the vampires. "I can hold them."

"I know you can hold them," I muttered, being to run, following the smell of blood once again. "The question is, can I hold Rido?" There was no answer of course, except for the nagging voice in the back of my mind. Setting my jaw, I continued running, trying to concentrate on following the trail.

~~~~~

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I last updated and I guess there's not much of an excuse for that XD Sorry. The main reason I updated was because I'm going on camp for five days in a couple of days. Hope you don't kill me XD Anyway, so did you like that chapter? I sure hope you did. It's reaching the climax and I suppose that means the story's coming to an end.

Which sucks.

At least it means I could start writing a second book ^~^ So that's good right? I already have some ideas, but I'm still not sure. If you have any ideas, go ahead and message me or something - I would be happy to hear it.