"Hi, guys," Ren beamed at us as though it was just a chance meeting on the street - despite the blood running down his face.

"What happened to you?" I blurted out, ready to catch him in case he suddenly fainted from blood loss.

"It's fine," Ren waved me away. "What are you two doing out here?"

"We're-" Zero stopped me mid-sentence.

"Are you really bleeding?" He scowled at the young teenager. "Who are you?"

"What are you taking about?" I turned back to Zero. "You can see the blood."

"Can you smell anything?" His question brought me to an alarming halt.

"You're right," I turned to Ren, my mouth slightly agape to catch any scents. Not a trace of blood.

"Wait, I can explain," Ren held up his hands, but Zero immediately had his hand in his coat.

'No gun,' I wanted to scream at him. 'Ereon has it!'

Zero stiffened slightly, but his hand remained in his coat. An intimidation method, I assumed.

"Explain then," Zero snarled. Looking at Zero's angry, hostile face, I realised the shadows under his eyes and his unkempt appearance. He had only been dragged out of captivity, with plenty of wounds and was already running all over the place, I realised. He really should be resting.

Not going around to burn off steam at other people.

What were they planning? I couldn't help but wonder. Kaien and the others all knew he was injured but they wanted him to walk to the association. Not to mention chase down Hana.

They could at least have left a car.

"It's my ability," Ren explained carefully, his hands still raised and his eyes watching Zero's hand. "I can mask myself, so people can't hear or smell me, but they can still see me."

What an ability.

"How come we can hear you then?" Zero challenged, his hand not moving from its position. Ren looked insulted.

"I can tinker with it as I want," he replied heatedly, his hands lowering slightly in his retort. "I would remove the mask but it would probably just bring Level Es rushing."

Zero hesitated. I imagined he wanted Ren to remove the mask, but didn't want to face any Level Es without Bloody Rose. Good judgement.

"Fine," Zero straightened, his hand returning to his side. "What do you want?"

"Nothing," Ren shrugged. "I just met you by chance."

"By-" I cut Zero off before he could start another argument.

"Do you know the way to the Hunter Association?" I asked him, stepping in front of Zero slightly.

"I can take you there if you want," Ren offered, his eyes lighting up beneath the layer of blood on his face. It was quite the gory sight I realised, looking at it carefully.

"You don't have to," I responded hurriedly. "Directions will do. Get yourself treated somewhere."

"Fine," Ren was quick to give in, for whatever reason. "Just go straight, turn right, then follow the main road until you can see the building in the distance. We're on the other side of the city to the association though."

What a tiring night.

"I can get you there quickly, though," Ren offered again, holding out a hand. "Just close your eyes and take my hands."

Neither me nor Zero moved.

Silence grew, but I didn't know why. Maybe because we had no idea how Ren was going to get us there faster.

"What are you planning to do?" Zero finally asked, his stance shifting as he eyed the teenager carefully.

"It's a secret," he winked, looking more like a cheeky troublemaker than a blood covered victim.

It looks kind of creepy.

"No thanks," Zero made to go past. "Let's go." He stepped past Ren, disappearing around the corner of the block, and leaving me at a loss of who to follow.

"Go after him," Ren grinned at me. "I'll find you two later."

It sounded ominous, but I took his suggestion and ran past Ren, following Zero's path.

Zero's silver-white head bobbed in front of me, and I slowed down, not sure what to do.

Why are you following him like a mouse anyway?

I groaned inwardly, beginning to question my decision to join Zero.

~~

We're here.

We're finally here.

I was tired. Very tired. Even staring up at the headquarters of the Hunter Association didn't eleviate my tiredness.

But we're here at least...right?

I followed Zero wearily, my feet plodding after him, feeling the soles of my feet burn with fatigue. The building's gate was wide open, luckily, and Zero had already gone under the gate, leaving just me.

One more step to g-

"Stop!" A shoulder rammed into my stomach, knocking the breath out of me and sending me flying a few metres back, and landing painfully on my back, while my bag flew off my shoulder to land on the ground with a thump. Silver hair blocked my vision, before it was quickly replaced with the sight of Zero standing in front of me.

"That's an anti-vampire gate," he scowled at me. "Don't you remember?"

"No," I replied honestly, not moving. The ground was more comfortable than I thought. The barely visible prongs of the bottom of the gate pointed downwards like a set of teeth ready to chomp down.

Ah, that gate.

"Actually, I remember now," I sat up slowly, remembering my unfortunate encounters with the gate previously. "You're not going to carry me are you?"

Zero's only reply was to step behind me, out of my sight. Before I could comment, his arms had already lifted me and I was dumped onto his shoulder, dangling over it like loose spaghetti.

This feels so nostalgic.

"Kaien should be in his office," Zero muttered, marching down the empty hallway, his footsteps thudding emptily on the wooden floor.

"You can put me down now," I pointed out. "We're past the gate."

"That's true," Zero released his hold on me without hesitation, and I tumbled to the ground, only managing fall face first.

Now that's also nostalgic.

"Is that necessary?" I grumbled, picking myself up.

"Don't be a princess," he replied dismissively. Unable to do anything except sulk, I huffed and followed him down the corridor, turning left as he did and up a flight of stairs.

Kaien was indeed in his office, and no one else was with him.

"Where's everyone else?" Zero asked, opening the door and stepping through without bothering to knock.

"Oh, you two took a while," Kaien remarked, glancing up from a sheet of paper in front of him. A shadow crossed his face as he observed our weary and battered figures. "Did something happen?"

"You left us a note telling us to return, on foot. Not to mention Hana's shop got attacked..." Zero's voice trailed off and I knew both of us remembered how that attack ended.

"Do you have the list though?" Kaien looked expectantly at the bag on my shoulder, and instinctively I reached up then paused.

"Didn't you have it?" My question was directed at Zero.

Zero opened his mouth to reply, then looking at me, and seeing no briefcase, both of us met each other's wide eyes.

Oh no.

"I thought you had it!" Zero's accusing tone ignited the sparks of a fight, and I responded in kind.

"Don't look at me, weren't you the one who told me to pack, all high and mighty. Shouldn't you have taken it?"

"You had the responsibility!"

"I was never told that. I just carried it since you couldn't be bothered!"

"But you-"

"Hey, you're the one who lost the list in the first place!"

"That was more than just a list, you've lost all our information!"

"Oh, so I lost the information? You were going to leave first and ditch me, but you didn't even take the case!"

"You said you were going to be part of the war and you can't even accept responsibility for that?!"

"Don't start using my own words against me-"

"Hold on a second," Kaien broke into our fight. By now, he had stood up, his hands on the desk as he eyed the two of us. "So, long story short, the two of you forgot to bring the case."

"He forgot," I muttered as Zero responded at the same time with, "she forgot."

"Whatever," Kaien ignored our response. "But where is the briefcase now?"

"Probably in my apartment," I responded. Zero remained silent.

"Well, it can't be helped, you two will have to go back for it," Kaien stated the obvious. Holding back a sigh, I nodded, seeing Zero nod as well out of the corner of my eye. "We can only hope that Ereon hasn't found it by any chance."

Ereon. The thought made me want to run as fast as I could back to my apartment. If Ereon got those notes, all hope would be lost.

Zero looked like he was having similar thoughts.

"Let's go," he ordered, almost running out of the room, as I followed him.

In front of the gate, Zero didn't hesitate to toss me over his shoulder as he strode out of the building. Outside, he set me down roughly, but set me down nonetheless.

Tell him we're on the verge of losing a war and he's willing to become a gentleman.

Wow.

"Surprise!" A hand appeared in my eyes and before I could react, I was thumped right in the middle of my face.

"Wha-" I heard Zero give a start as well. Wind began to blow in our faces, blinding us.

"Ren?" I thought I recognised the voice.

"We're here," I could have sworn I heard him say, before the wind stopped.

"How on earth-" Both Zero and I stared at the apartment in front of us. "What happened?"

"Ren?" I turned around, looking for the teenager. There was no one in sight.

"This is my apartment," I gaped once again at the building.

"This must be a dream," I heard Zero mutter next to me.

Unable to resist, I reached out and pinched his hand.

"Ow, what was-"

"It's not a dream," I informed him. "Somehow, we've gotten to the apartment."

In the blink of an eye, could I add?

"Let's go in," Zero shook his head, stepping forward to enter the apartment. "I hope it's not an ambush."

With that being said, I kept a wary eye as we walked up the stairs. Despite reaching my rooms without a problem, my neck prickled with uneasiness.

The night-time must have been getting to me.

"Do you know where in the apartment it is?" Zero turned to ask me in a low voice, as he prepared to open the door.

"It should be in the living room, by the kitchen table," I replied quietly.

He nodded, and began to open the door slowly, peering to look through the crack. I strained to see as well.

Through the crack, the room was pitch black and I could barely make out anything.

"I can sense a vampire," Zero muttered. "More than one. Maybe three."

I nodded, my hands gripped into fists. Then I realised with a start, that the two of us were pretty much defenseless. Zero had no gun, and I...I had my light, but I had only ever used them in combat once. Then an idea hit me.

"Zero," I stopped him from opening the door any further. "My bow and arrows are still in there. In my room. I'll go in first, and hold them off then you go in and grab them. We're helpless otherwise."

"You," Zero looked at me sceptically. "Hold them off?"

"Any other options?" I glared at him.

"Call for reinforcements."

Zero Kiryuu, absolute solo player, calling for reinforcements?!

"What if they left?" I hissed.

"We're blocking the exit."

"You plan on being a meat-barricade?"

Zero's silence was enough of an answer.

"Stand back."

Brushing past Zero, I gripped the handle, and grit my teeth as well, trying not to tremble.

Throwing the door open, I stepped into the room, tense and strung up.

Nothing happened.

No vampires? I frowned at the dark room, staring at the sofa where a vampire could be hiding behind, before casting my eyes at the kitchen. Nothing. Had Zero been wrong?

Glancing around, I saw the briefcase sitting on the kitchen table. I thought it was on the floor, but I guess I was wrong.

Taking another glance around me, I walked up to the table, and picked up the briefcase. It felt familiar and the handle was comfortable in my grasp.

That's when everything happened.

With a screech, something landed on my head, it's weight knocking me to the ground. Red eyes stared at me as an arm stretched up, ready to plunge a dagger in my head.

Releasing the briefcase, I twisted my arm up into an awkward position, my left palm facing my attacker's head and a spear of light shot out, piercing its skull.

With another shriek, the vampire disappeared into dust, the knife clattering to the ground.

I got up immediately, seeing a second pair of red eyes flutter downwards from the ceiling.

They had all been clinging to the ceiling like bats.

Unlike the first vampire, the second vampire watched me warily, its body angled in a defensive position. It was wary of me after seeing me destroy its comrade.

Just as well, I tried to calm my breathing, wiping my sweaty hands against my pants.

Focus.

Focus.

The vampire didn't move, so I took the opportunity to run forward, attacking first.

Snap.

Something sharp caught me around the waist and knocked me aside. With a strangled grunt of pain, I fell to the ground, wincing as what felt like barbed wire bite through my clothes, into my skin.

The vampire hissed as it approached me, its fangs baring as it raised the whip a second time, the barbs on it looking maliciously wicked in the dark.

This really feels like deja vu.

Slap!

The whip came down and I raised an arm, coating it with light to block the whip. Fortunately, the whip was stopped.

Unfortunately, it wrapped around my arm.

The vampire's eyes glowed brightly and before I could react, the whip jerked me up, sending me swinging around the room. With a mighty crash, I was sent flying into the wall, the whip still attached.

My arm began to lift again, and before I could be thrown again, I stretched out, sending a line of light to the kitchen bench, creating a hook to catch on the opposite edge of the table, stopping the motion.

I feel like spiderman.

The vampire was quick to respond and sent me hurtling in the direction of the kitchen bench instead. At least I knew where I was headed this time.

Twisting my body, I hit the edge of the kitchen bench feet first and crouched, springing out in the opposite direction, a small triangle of light appearing in my hand, which I used to slash the whip apart.

The whip around my arm fell to the ground as I flew through the air to the vampire, but the remainder of the whip snaked back out, aiming for my face as I reached the vampire.

Behind me, I heard Zero yell something. Did he not understand he was meant to sneak past? Swinging the dagger in a wide arc, I slashed the vampire through its middle, tumbling through thin air as it disappeared into dust.

Picking myself off the ground, I turned around to face Zero when something else hit me. I fell forward with a thump, my face hitting the floor painfully.

Before I could react, fangs bit my neck and I writhed in shock and pain.

"No!" I screamed out in fright, twisting and wriggling, trying to tear out of the vampire's hold. Its knees pressed against my back, pinning my down uncomfortably. "No-"

Thump. With a snarl, the vampire on top of me disappeared into nothingness, fine ash coating my back. An arrow clattered to the floor next to me.

Still panting heavily, I got up unsteadily, facing Zero. He held my bow and arrows in his hands, his eyes expressionless, only his slightly heaving chest a sign he had fought.

~~~

*hides behind sofa* So, umm, I know I haven't updated for a while *ducks flying utensils* okay, a long time, and I noticed by the comments you guys posted on my profile...and I feel really flattered you guys actually like the story to the point you look forward to updates :) And well, hopefully I will update more frequently - I swear I will try (I know I've been saying this the last couple of chapters, but well...)
I actually have a legit excuse this time though! My half-yearly exams are in a month so I have to prepare for those.
Other than that, hopefully I'll get more chapters up soon - I like writing fight scenes, so there's some motivation :)

~Evil_Incubator