[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 in particular who opted to stay out of the limelight for the time being.  A recluse she was, a ghost that haunted the hallowed halls of fair Seiko.  The students only knew of her name and the prestigious reputation she upheld as Headmistress of one of the most illustrious schools in Japan.  Neither saw her face, except for a chosen few, and it were those chosen few she awaited.

Hibana sat in her plush office chair facing out the large bay window, a soft smile curling her plump red lips.  It was going to be another fine year, not just for her or the academy, but...for Requiem.  She had just seized the drug market from the Colombians, all thanks to her assassins, the infamous Class Noir, killing off all the major cartel bosses in what would be known as the Summer of Blood.  The hits spread across the news like wildfire, cartels blaming one another for the senseless deaths.  War errupted between them, and Requiem, now more powerful than ever, was there to reap the rewards.

She sighed pleasantly, partaking of the chalice of bittersweet Italian wine she held between her dainty fingers, humming along to the melody of Meiko Kaji's [i]Flower of Carnage[/i] playing softly with a few pops and clicks from an old record player.  Music these days just didn't have the soul like the seventies in her opinion.  She laughed taking another sip of wine.  Then, there was a knock on the door.

[color=ec008c]~"Enter."~[/color]  She called.  The door swung open quietly to reveal a sharply dressed man standing firm in the doorway.  As per usual, his face, at least half of it, was obscured by the bandana he wore.

[color=ed1c24]"Forgive the intrusion, Natsume-Sama, but Class Noir has arrived."[/color]  Gracious as ever to his mistress, the man bowed, his voice gruff and calloused.

Hibana smiled, [color=ec008c]~"Very well, Azuma-San.  Have them report to my office as soon as the opening ceremony is over.  I expect good reports from the missions we assigned while they were on break."~[/color]  They had to realize they weren't ordinary school children.  They were the hand that held the killing blade of Requiem.  While most of the kids were probably off on some boring vacation trip, the students of Class Noir were scattered all across the globe...with blood on their hands.

[color=ed1c24]"Yes, Natsume-Sama.  As you command."[/color]  Azuma bowed again, turning and leaving the office.

New year....new blood.