[center][h1][u]CHAPTER 1[/u][/h1]
[i]"Lamb Among Wolves"[/i][/center]

	Nary a white cloud dotted the perfect blue sky on this quiet April morning, the sun shining ever so brightly and casting its rays over the sprawling meadows and rolling hills of the lovely countryside.  Though, on this particular day, the sun shined its brightest on a certain academic establishment, erected atop a hill overlooking the whole of the beautiful, vast countryside.

	Rising high towards the heavens, as if to defy the gods themselves, the illustrious stone towers stood tall and gallant over the entire campus, banners and tapestries waving amidst a cool breeze displaying the heraldry of the school, its seal, a black lion's head with two gilded swords crossing beneath it, set back against two broad stripes of gold and red.  Today, the sound of a bell could be heard chiming on the wind, its soft and pleasant tone echoing alongside the gentle patter of cherry blossom petals that seemed to hang in the air, spiraling and slowly twirling as they made their descent to the ground below. The start of cherry blossom season, the shining sun, the bell chime, all of these elements added up to one equation.  Yes, it was the beginning of another year for Seiko Academy.

	The black iron gates leading up to the academy's grounds, carefully manicured and maintained lawns and gardens dotted with several trees and pruned shrubbery, were wide open.  Groups of girls and boys, all wearing similar uniforms, could be seen sitting on the benches, laughing, socializing, greeting old friends and starting on the way to making new ones, all the while the campus-planted cherry blossoms had their petals blowing around in the wind, giving the air inside school grounds a charming atmosphere of pink.

	But while the mood was one of cheer, socializing, and warm greetings, there was one girl in particular who opted rather to stay out of the limelight.

	Nestled underneath quite tall and shady tree, the student known as Ayame or [i]Kage-san[/i] spent her school day as usual, quietly observing the others while clasping in her hands a book.  This time, it was a collection of writings from Greek philosophers, such as Socrates and Plato.  Even as the sun's rays basked and sizzled against her pale, ghostly complexion, the girl couldn't help but feel no warmth at all piercing her frail skin....skin marred with several cuts, several red and black scars, the grisly results of her line of work.  Luckily the sleeves on her uniform were long enough to obscure the ghastly abrasions, same for her black stockings.

	She sighed, her slender, steely fingers turning the page of her book, her dark eyelashes batting softly.

	Another year it seemed.  Wonder how this one would end?