Bloody Petals

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sun was about to set and everything was slowly being engulfed by darkness. The bright orb's almost crimson rays were painting everything with an equally perfect crimson color.

Six men stood inside a room of a private building, oblivious of the beautiful scene outside their glass window.

"You know very well that things had gotten out of hand. The conflict between The Hunter's Association and the Vampire Council is reaching its maximum and a war is about to break. This is a very dangerous mission for you, Zero Kiryuu-kun. Are you sure you don't want anyone's company? Even though you're from the Elite Force... being alone is still..." An old man with menacing ash-colored eyes said. He was sitting in his office, with two seemingly strong bodyguards by his sides, while talking to a young hunter with silver hair and amethyst eyes. The hunter was standing in front of him together with two other men by his sides. He, however, didn't look offended or scared by what he just heard.

It's true that he was from the Elite Force, the special group of hunters who had far exceeded other hunters and was allowed to move on their own even without the Hunter's Association's permission, or make important decisions by themselves if the situation required it. They were highly praised and looked up to by other hunters and were considered to be the secret, and the strongest, fighters who could even fight on their own against dozens of noble vampires. Some older members of the Elite Force were Zero's master, Yagari Toga, and the chairman of the school where Zero would be transferred, Kaien Cross.

"I understand the risk, Mr. President." Zero answered in a cool tone, the one he always used when talking to other hunters. "My decision to take the mission alone remains. While it is good that I will have company, the risk of being found out is also higher if I have a partner."

The old man smiled in a satisfied manner, as if the young hunter's answer was what he was hoping for in the first place. "Well, I expect good results from you, the very best hunter among his age group, and also someone who even exceeds many of the older hunters in the Elite Force. Kiryuu-kun, you don't have to give me satisfactory results immediately. You can just observe everything for a while. Well, that's it. Good luck with your mission. And don't forget–"

"I understand." Kiryuu bowed, cutting the old man from his words. "Mission is everything. Life is nothing before it." The old man nodded in satisfaction again.

Zero bowed again before he turned around together with his two companions and left the room without making any sound. All of them were so used to walking and moving very quietly because of their profession, and no one would even question it inside their headquarter. Since every hunter had a vampire blood in them because of the curse they got from their ancestors, they too sometimes moved or attacked in a very vampire-like manner, like walking very silently or having a very keen hearing and sight, though those abilities were still nowhere before real vampire senses.

"Are you really sure about your decision, kid?" Yagari, Zero's master who was with him in the room, asked quietly. "Spying on the enemy is a very dangerous mission, even if you will be put in the so-called day class which is different from the night class where those bloodsuckers are."

"You worry too much, master." Zero sighed. He knew his master was just worried about him and all. But he still wanted his master to acknowledge him as a young hunter who had accomplished many dangerous missions and not simply a mere kid who could only rely on his master to survive.

"I don't know, kid. I just have a very bad feeling about this." Yagari brought out a stick of cigarette and put it in his mouth. He lit it with his lighter and looked at Zero again. "Be careful. And remember,–"