Chapter Twenty-Two

~Your POV~

You, Ichijo and Yuuki walked up the stairs to the academy. Ichijo was carrying Yuuki up as she was still getting her strength back. Trying to get the chains off her in the forest you found out you had powers to melt metal. You had fire powers like Kain. Where her chains were there were bruises that were starting to fade away. You got to the top of the stairs and found Yagari at the top. He looked to you all and as you passed him he stopped you.

"You." He called out and you all stopped looking back to him confused to who he was talking about.

"Who?" Ichijo asked for confirmation.

"Elissa Kuran. Come with me." He ordered and Ichijo narrowed his eyes stopping you as you walked towards Yagari.

"Why?" Ichijo asked and Yagari tightened his grip on his shotgun.

"It's okay, he's a friend of my father. He wouldn't hurt us... At least not without good reason. I'll be fine, take Yuuki to my father." You told Ichijo and he nodded turning and walking away from you and Yagari.

You walked over to Yagari, "Heard you got yourself a new accessory." He told you and you nodded showing him the relic attacked to you.

"Trust me, it wasn't optional." You sighed as Yagari inspected it.

"There's a spell to get it off." He stated and you looked at him wide-eyed. You were shocked he said it so quickly and out of the blue. He gave you hope.

"Well let's get it off." You said eagerly and he sighed.

"Unfortunately I don't know it, the spell book containing the spell for the relic was stolen from the association. We've been tracking it down. The group of vampires that was paid to steal it was hired by Sara Shirabuki. I have an understanding you had a run in with her a while back." He explained and you were taken back.

"Sara? No, you must be mistaken. She's a pureblood and I don't think there's anything dangerous about her. She's a very kind person."

"Kid, I'm just telling you what I know-"

"Then you're wrong."

"Kid, I'm never wrong. I take my work seriously, Kaien asked me to look into this on a personal matter. It just so happened I owe you kids for saving my ass when everything went to hell here. I got the same information from different sources. I'm not wrong about this."

"Who are these sources then?"

"Different hunters, including Zero and Tara."

"Why would Zero take orders from you? I know you were his teacher back when he was younger but-"

"Did your old man not tell you? Not even Kiryuu?" He asked and you looked at him raising an eyebrow, "I'm the new head of the Hunters Association. Kaien got offered it first but turned it down for the academy. I got told I was the only other person who could do it-"

"Oh, uhm, congratulations on that then. I wasn't aware of that. But they're right, you are the only other person that's equally skilled as my father." You smiled at him and he sighed.

"Look, Kid, don't waste your time with that pureblood. If you know where she lives go get that book. Once you get ahold of it, come to the association and request for me personally. Make sure you bring Kiryuu or your old man though. If Tara isn't around they won't let a vampire in." He said and you nodded.

"Okay, thank you." You thanked him sincerely and he nodded.

"If I were you, I'd get moving quickly. The relic moves fast once it's started. And I know it's started. Don't waste time bargaining for the book, take it back forcefully if you need to." He said his piece and started walking down the stairs of the academy. You let out a sigh and made way for your fathers office.

You soon arrived, seeing Ichijo on the sofa with Yuuki. You walked inside checking on Yuuki.

"Kaname, Zero, Aidou, it's about time. We need to talk," Kaien stated and turned around to everyone from looking out the window, "All of us."

You looked to the doorway to find Kaname, Zero and Aidou. Kaname saw Yuuki and immediately checked on her with Zero. Aidou came to your side as he was generally yours and Yuuki's guard.

Zero gave you a hug after seeing Yuuki was alright, "I knew you'd be able to find her." He told you, his voice full of emotions. You could tell he was trying to hold back tears but he was proud of you too. You hugged him back sighing contently.

"You both did well to find her." Kaname praised you as well. You pulled away from Zero as Ichijo asked a question to him.

"Zero, did you catch up with Senri?" His voice was concerned and you looked to Zero for the answer. You wanted to know he was alright too.

"I did, Quentin wasn't too happy with me when I barged into his office. I had every faith that Elissa and Ichijo would find Yuuki. Senri was inside with Quentin, let's just say we make a good team." Zero chuckled and the door opened again.

"We subdued Quentin. He's in the association as we speak." Senri explained and you felt a sudden relief come off you.

"Wait, you both subdued him? In the Senate building?" Kaien asked as he locked eyes with the two. Ichijo was giving Senri a hug with a sincere smile on his face. Senri and Ichijo were very close, they were like best friends since the Rido incident. Since that, it had brought everyone closer together.

"Don't you both think that is a little bit odd? Didn't anyone come in to fight for Quentin?" Kaname asked knowing where Kaien was coming from.

"All that did met the bloody rose." Zero stated and Kaname narrowed his eyes at Zero. You took a moment to process what he had said and what Kaname did next.

Kaname was so quick in getting to Zero, he grabbed Zero by the collar and slammed him into the wall. "You idiot! That's exactly what he wanted! Quentin has tricks up his sleeve, when he took Elissa from our grasps did you learn nothing?!" Kaname yelled at Zero, everyone was watching the scene play out.

"Kaname not in my office please! Let my son go!" Kaien exclaimed and Kaname complied with Kaien's wishes. "Zero, you killed Senate vampires.." Kaien sighed.

"They're going to come after him aren't they?" You asked barely audible. Kaname gave you a comforting hug.

"Most likely." He whispered to you and you sighed.

"Zero, we'll protect you-" You turned to where Zero was and saw he wasn't there any longer. Breaking out from Kaname's grasp you walked out of the office and the building trying to find Zero. You called out his name and he was nowhere to be found. You groaned agitated.

"It's a bit late to be out on your own don't you think?" You heard a familiar voice and looked to your right to find none other than Sara herself.

You smiled at her thinking this was your chance to try and play her. "I was looking for a friend. How are you Sara? I'm glad to see you again after the ball." You responded and she came up to you giving you a hug which you accepted.

"I knew we would be fast friends, I'm well. And you?"

"Oh, I'm well too. I wanted to thank you once again for the ball. I did appreciate you helping me out back then."

"Don't worry about it. Us girls have to stick together right?" She laughed and you chuckled.

"Right," You smiled at her and she smiled back, "So what brings you to the academy so late?"

"Oh! I wanted to enrol, would that be possible do you think? Everyone loves it here and I'd love to be apart of something so big. Kaien is doing wonders with bringing two worlds together in peace. I support it so much!"

"Oh, I see. I'm not sure we have the space Sara.. I'm so sorry I would have enjoyed having you here with us." You denied knowing full well there was space.

"Oh, I guess I came too late then... don't worry about it we can still be friends regardless!"

"Of course we can!"

"Do you want to come back to mine for some tea?" She offered and you nodded.

"Of course, I'll just have to inform Kaname-"

"I'll come with you." You heard Zero's voice and a wave of relief came over you. You looked over to the left to find him stood there watching you both. You nodded at him and he came to your side.

"I don't believe we've met." Sara smiled and you nodded.

"Right, Sara this is Zero Kiryuu. Zero, this is Sara Shirabuki." You introduced them knowing full well that he knew who she was.

You all started walking to the gates and to her car she had waiting. This was your chance to get that bracelet off.

And you were taking it.

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