Author note: Okay, so here is the first Hanabusa/OC. Enjoy!
disclaimer: I own Tomoe, but not the series. I also own this story, though I make no profit.
chapter one
She was a conundrum he wasn't too sure of unraveling. True, he spent plenty of time with her. But that was all on Kaname-senpai's orders, of course!
Hanabusa huffed a breath, his fingertips idly clicking on the table he sat at, the glass making a satisfying but redundant noise as his nails clicked in a rhythm. Her room was as unremarkable as the beat of her heart. She hadn't bothered with any personal artifact to spice it up. No, this hunter could pack up and leave at a moments notice, and at times, she had. She always returned though after whatever mission the hunter society sent her on. Whether it lasted days or weeks.
Her last trip was two and a half weeks, from which she returned with broken ribs and fang marks in her neck. Hanabusa refused to recall the way his heart had felt, as though someone was squeezing the precious organ. He also ignored the way he felt whenever he saw those fang marks, three weeks later in the process of scarring over.
And to think Ruka had the audacity to taunt him over it! In his opinion the taunt was partially on his lord as well, seeing as it was he who ordered the blond aristocrat to watch over the hunter in their midst.
The vampires were gathered in the moon dorms opulent sitting room. There were other pockets of vampires, but the ones stationed around the couches and table were known to be Kaname's chosen. They were the aristocrats that had received personal invitation to join him at the academy and handled his business when it cropped up.
"Why the long face? I figured you'd be glad." Ruka met him with the taunt, hand on her slim hip and a small, devious smirk on her lips. "Or are you angry someone else tasted her?"
Icy eyes looked up at her. "Just what are you implying?"
Ruka clicked her tongue. "Not a thing. Except you've gotten very close to that hunter."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Hanabusa snapped in irritation. "Everything I do is for our Lord."
Akatsuki sighed, sensing yet another argument between the two. He wasn't sure exactly why. But whenever those two met, they enjoyed nothing more than taunting each other liberally until someone (mostly him or Kaname himself) made them stop.
Though there was truth to what Ruka said, Akatsuki could see it clearly. Ever since the hunter had come back from her last mission, Hanabusa had been even more wound than usual. He worked furiously at his studies, snapped easier than ever. And when he wasn't focused on something else, his eyes would glare holes at Tomoe during class. He wasn't even teasing the day class girls with as much vigor.
To the hunter's credit, she didn't comment. Merely kept up as she usually was, drifting between her duties as a student and as a guardian after class was over.
"Her blood… did smell tasty." The voice was a monotone though it had an immediate effect.
Ice blossomed from clawed fingers, arcing out in fine lines across the glass table. Hanabusa ignored it as he grit his teeth, dangerously close to shaking at the sudden onslaught of rage he felt.
Akatsuki gripped his cousin's shoulder. Seeing the situation rapidly falling, Takuma shut his manga with a puff of air releasing from the pages. He put on his usual smile and lightly tapped Senri on the head. The model was laid out on Takuma, head resting in his lap.
"Now, now Senri. You can't speak like that of a classmate."
Rima made a low sound in her throat. "Feeding time again." Casually she leaned forward and offered Senri two pocky sticks, for which the noble promptly opened his mouth, crunching away obliviously.
Meanwhile Hanabusa had forced his hand flat on the table, letting the ice evaporate. He released a deep breath, knowing his cousin watched him still.
"You alright?" He questioned.
Hanabusa didn't bother with an answer. He merely cocked his head in a gesture of assent.
"Though speaking bluntly, Hanabusa, it isn't a crime if you care for her." Takuma was giving him a warm look, his smile genuine.
Hanabusa blinked before he tsked. "I don't have any feelings for that hunter. Her very existence is to kill our kind! All I'm doing is following orders."
"Your 'orders'… weren't to have a mini fridge stocked in her room," Takuma commented.
"She was being annoying, going down to eat all the time." Hanabusa crossed his arms. "And she made weird messes in the kitchen."
"The maid cleans that up, not us," Ruka said smugly.
"Shut up!"
"Make me, pipsqueak!"
"And you don't complain when she wakes us up during the day coming and going," Rima said. She talked over Ruka and Hanabusa, thoughtfully chewing a stick.
"There wouldn't be a point. She can't exactly jump out a window every time she has a meeting or mission."
"Forget not complaining… you don't sleep easy anymore," Akatsuki murmured. Hanabusa sent him a dirty glare. "It's true. When she isn't here, you sleep roughly."
"I do not!"
"And I remember… hours before she came back bleeding. You said you had a bad feeling, and were in a foul mood." Senri shifted off Takuma, who crossed his legs afterwards.
Hanabusa felt all their eyes on him, shockingly not judging. Ruka spoke up. "Hanabusa… all I want to know is… is it just lust for her blood, or…"
The blond noble jerked up. "Shut up, shut up, shut up! You guys don't know what you're talking about!"
"Hanabusa."
The gathered vampires all jerked to attention. Hanabusa realized he had been shouting suddenly. His eye twitched as he made the connection that he must have disturbed his lord. His skin paled as he whipped around.
"Ah, Kaname." Takuma greeted calmly.
"L-Lord Kaname! I-I'm sorry if I disturbed you." Hanabusa bowed quickly.
The wine colored eyes studied him intently, the usual blank expression on the finely chiseled face of Kaname Kuran. Abruptly the pureblood turned on his heel, beginning to climb the stairs.
"I require a word with you alone, Hanabusa."
Hanabusa felt like his world cracked then and there. He slumped forward in depression, the air around him turning gloomy and dark.
"Hanabusa…" Akatsuki patted his back consolingly.
"Well, you probably shouldn't keep him waiting." Takuma watched as the other vampire went up the stairs, obviously thinking Kaname intended to punish him for something. Takuma sighed, popping open his manga again but not seeing the pictures.
"He's such a fool," Ruka muttered.
Akatsuki glanced up the stairs. "Take it easy on him."
"As if I could be so blasé about this. A hunter, do you understand what that means?" Her eyes were fierce. Underneath that though was worry for the vampire she had grown up with. This had her unnerved.
Takuma sighed again. "You know, vampires are mostly instinctual beings. Whatever it is that attracted him so much… we can't understand it and we can't stop it."
Ruka gave him an arch look. "So, what are you saying?"
"I think you know, Ruka."
Meanwhile the now depressed male was standing before his Lord Kaname. The pureblood had seated himself at his desk, hands laced to support his chin.
The minutes ticked by and silence reined in the closed off room. Hanabusa was moments away from hyperventilating, the eyes of the most important being to him too much.
"Lord Kaname, I apologize."
"For what?"
The noble froze, eyes drifting to the side. "Uh, for disturbing you, my Lord. I forgot myself for a moment."
Kaname leaned back, shifting enough so he could rest his cheek against his hand instead. "You didn't. I have something to tell you."
"My Lord?" Hanabusa snapped to attention, his aquamarine eyes landing solely on the being before him.
Kaname rustled for a moment in his desk and produced a letter. He dropped it on the wooden top so the seal was upwards, and Hanabusa felt his body stiffen. Another letter from the hunters association.
Hanabusa knew that the orders Kiryu received were given by the headmaster. They had a different set-up for Tomoe though. Since she had been placed in night class to "Monitor the vampires" it was too much effort to send orders to Cross, then to wait until night. No, when orders showed up they were to be handed out immediately. It was easiest for Lord Kaname to handle it. Of course, it had the added bonus of him being able to better observe the hunter in his midst.
"It says she is to go to handle a rogue level c vampire. There's even a passage about how her previous injuries should be healed over by now, thus making her capable of entering the field again. Go on, read it."
Hanabusa picked the letter up gingerly, his eyes scanning over the words. He again shoved aside the painful squeezing in his chest, refusing to acknowledge it as anything other than hunger pains.
Kaname observed how long fingers gripped the paper hard enough to crinkle it, and how eyes narrowed. He felt the mixture of emotions gripping the other vampire and knew the others were correct.
"She has already agreed to go." Hanabusa shot his eyes upwards. "She leaves later tonight, when her prefect duties are completed."
Hanabusa tossed the letter on the desk, his body trembling. "She isn't ready yet, the fool! Her ribs need a few more days at the minimal!"
"Hanabusa, you are shouting again."
The noble grit his teeth and looked to the side again. Both could hear the way his heart thudded against his chest, Hanabusa feeling each thump acutely as blood rushed to his ears.
"They do rely on her," Kaname continued. "Or they are trying to kill her."
"I won't-"
"Allow it? I expected as much." Kaname chuckled, a rare noise in his experience.
"My Lord I… you must have heard the rumors from the others. I assure you I have no feeling towards the hunter Tomoe Kurugi." Hanabusa forced the words from his mouth.
Kaname hummed in acknowledgment, but his eyes said he knew better. "You seem to think I'd be angry by it. Hanabusa…"
The vampire forced himself to look at Kaname again. "I mind it not. You are smart enough to know the risks involved. As is she. My only concern is whether a Kurugi can actually love another, let alone a vampire."
"Lord Kaname?"
"You don't know, then. It may be best to keep you in the dark awhile."
Hanabusa narrowed his eyes. "Lord Kana-"
"Vampires are beasts. And we fall in love rarely, and only once is it all consuming. Hanabusa, if you have been led to this, will anything truly stop you? You know… blood tablets have issues with you. Eventually, you will claim her; whether you want to admit anything now or not."
Hanabusa bit his tongue, savoring the rich iron taste of his blood. His lord spoke truly. Yet even now, his pride refused to lower itself to admit it. They all had to be wrong. He couldn't love a human, and a hunter at that! She would cut him to shreds with those damned chakras of hers if he even suggested it.
Still, he could admit he was possessive by nature and was… attached to her. He would unravel her secrets one way or the other. Whether intentional or not, he was determined now to discover what made his Lord Kaname so cryptic about the Kurugi family line.
And to imply that she might not be able to love him… Ha! Any woman, especially a human woman, would be helpless in the face of his charms. He was Hanabusa Aidou, after all! He had a legion of fan girls to prove his charm and looks were top of the line.
Kaname Kuran resisted a sigh, merely cocking a brow at the noble. If Hanabusa became any easier to manipulate he would have to take actions to keep the noble from annoying blunders.
He was all fired up now, determined to prove everyone wrong. It wasn't Hanabusa in love with the hunter… no, he would prove she loved him! and it would have the added bonus of keeping that annoying human male she liked to hang around with at bay. Hanabusa laughed darkly.
Ah, Taka Mori, how Hanabusa wanted to rip him to shreds. If he had his way he would have frozen the damned brat and then thrown him sky high so he shattered to bits on the way down.
"Lord Kaname! I have a request, please." He bowed low as he said it.
Kaname was giving him a blank look but inside he was trying not to laugh. Hanabusa was so very easy to read.
"Do what you need to do." It was the last thing Kaname said before he gestured Hanabusa from the room, who vanished hastily to his own.
Meanwhile, Tomoe had returned to the dorms. She halted in the door when she stumbled over a suitcase. It was a huge piece and she cocked a brow as she observed how… over the top it was. It looked as though it was stuffed to bursting, and was made with the finest material money could be wasted on.
She brushed it aside and made to move to the left around it only to realize something important. The whole entrance way was full of suitcases. Tomoe stood in the doorway a moment longer, confusion beating inside her brain and a niggling thought. There was a strong scent of lavender around the area and she felt a sweat drop form on her head at the thought she pushed away.
With effort she waded through the suitcases and went into the sitting room. Takuma took notice of her first but they all must have smelled her blood as she neared the place. Not to mention they had to have heard her. there was one suitcase in the hall that now laid on its side, burst open and looking a little dented. No way they hadn't heard her trip over that.
The scarier thing? It was full of her favorite candy of all things.
"Ah, Tomoe. All finished with your duties?" Takuma smiled pleasantly.
He was one of the vampires she couldn't get a read on. He smiled so genuinely, and he seemed so very human. If he were a regular human, she would be tempted to play with him. the other vampire who threw her off was…
"-Hey! Who knocked my case over! And how rude, they didn't even pick it up, just left it!"
Hanabusa stormed into the room, all the while continuing his rant. "Which one of you did it, huh?"
Tomoe raised her hand, waving it a little sarcastically. One of her smaller chakrams she kept on her arm as mock bracelets slid down when she did so. "That'd be me. Going on a trip? That's enough luggages for a month… and yes, Takuma, the grounds were as pleasantly boring as usual. Only thirteen fan girls this time out of bed and wandering, a new low record."
Hanabusa drew up short when he took her in. the white color of their uniform did wonders for her. She was tanned from being outdoors so much as a hunter, and the uniform enhanced the skin-tone amazingly.
Her ash colored hair was tugged into a messy bun. He hated the lack of even casual disarray to the lazy style and wanted nothing more than to yank it down and at the least braid it properly but he knew she would probably try to slice his fingers off.
She conversed so easily with Takuma. Then she turned to him and Hanabusa straightened, realizing he had been staring.
"So? Where are you headed to?" Her lips were tugged into a happy smile and he could almost ignore the thump to his chest.
He closed his eyes against her. He was an aristocratic vampire, and he had duties to his family and to his lord. He couldn't be disgraced by having a hunter as his chosen companion. His father would probably keel over and die if he announced it at dinner.
"Hmph! It's about time you showed up! I'm fed up of waiting."
Tomoe dropped her smile and shifted her stance. "Waiting for me? If this is about that weird purple concoction in the mini fridge you put in my room, I thought it was grape juice."
"No, it's nothing to do… with…" Hanabusa blinked, realizing what she said. "Ah! What did you do to my sample?"
Tomoe half shrugged, bringing her hands up to stretch above her head. "I tossed it down the drain. I needed the space for more Reese cups."
"That took me months to get exactly right! You… do you want to die?" He demanded angrily.
Akatsuki shook his head. "Hanabusa…"
Tomoe winked. "Awe, well sorry. How about a kiss in exchange?" Her finger caressed her lower lip enticingly.
Hanabusa drew up short with a growl. She was always so easily giving away her favors. Whether she really would wasn't clear to him, but the fact she even offered bothered him to no end. His eyes flashed dangerously red for a moment as anger roared inside but he leashed it quickly. Tomoe didn't even flinch, that damnable smirk on her lips.
"In any event, how long we're gone isn't something I can determine."
Tomoe blinked. "How long… we're gone? You think you're coming with me?"
"You aren't fully healed yet. Taking on a level C vampire would probably prove too much for you in this condition."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you implying I can't handle myself, Aidou?"
"I don't know many hunters who are so reckless as to get bitten-!" Hanabusa dodged to the left, barely a second before a chakra flew at his head.
"Hey! That could have killed me!"
Tomoe caught it when it rebounded to her, letting it slide down her arm to join the others. "I don't want to kill you, dear. Just seriously maim."
"Seriously maiming does not include chopping off my head!"
"That's your only concern?" Ruka added in.
"What a moron," Senri and Rima deadpanned.
"Now, now…" Takuma said consolingly. "In any event, you two, fighting won't solve a thing."
Tomoe clicked her tongue. "In any case… these fang marks were a one time mistake. The association told me there were only three level E vampires, not a bloody nest."
"Oh, that makes it so much better. You could have lost your life," Hanabusa muttered.
Tomoe studied him for a moment as did the others. It wasn't uncommon for Hanabusa to look scared or sad. It was in fact an everyday occurrence, since he was skilled at annoying Lord Kaname. But this… he looked as though the very idea wounded him.
Tomoe wasn't aware of the softening of her own features as she held a gaze with Hanabusa, but Takuma was and he grinned. The hunter shifted, shaking her head before she headed past Hanabusa.
"Well, whatever. I guess I can handle being the embarrassing hunter who hunts with a vampire every now and again."
Hanabusa felt something in his chest coil down and rest for a moment. He didn't understand it fully but he knew he would in time.
"Hanabusa, be careful," Akatsuki murmured.
His cousin blinked, awareness seeping into his mind again. He clicked his tongue, his head cocked arrogantly. "As if~! A lowly level C vampire is no match for me. I'm insulted you would think so."
"That isn't what I meant." The fire wielder looked at his cousin with his gaze hard. Hanabusa returned it levelly, before he chuckled.
"I know."
"Well, let's go." Tomoe had returned, a duffel bag slung casually over her shoulder. She had changed into clothes that were tight fitting, the denim shorts revealing too much thigh for Hanabusa's comfort. Her arms were covered by her throwing chakra; the two larger ones undoubtedly nestled in the duffel bag.
"You realize there isn't any way in hell you're bringing all that luggage."
He snorted. "Everything in there is completely necessary."
"Uh-huh, like what? Candy is nice, but it isn't exactly something we'll die without."
"Well, clothing obviously."
"A few outfits. Not your whole bloody closet!"
The noble humped. "And how would you know this is my whole closet?"
Tomoe settled a hand on her hip. "If you actually have more clothes than this then I'm asking your cousin to take away your credit cards."
"You wouldn't dare. Clothing is important to image. And image is everything!" He crossed his arms. "Not that I'd expect a human to understand that."
From the other room Akatsuki smacked his forehead into his palm. Takuma had a sweat drop going down his forehead as he sighed. Ruka snorted. The blond noble really was hopeless.
"Oooh, I'm going to remind you of this next time you crawl on your belly after something Kaname broke."
"Hey! How dare you address a pureblood without the proper respect? And I do not crawl!"
"That's not what I heard~!" Her voice was singsong.
Hanabusa growled but then he calmed dangerously. "You could never understand. The only reason we are here is Lord Kaname. Don't you dare insult him."
"I'm trembling," she mocked. "From suppressed laughter, you moron. God, you sound like some obsessed schoolgirl. I would know, seeing as they go psychotic for you blood suckers every evening."
"Shut up! You hate my kind so much, right?" He snapped.
"I'm a hunter."
"Sent to spy on us, believe me we all know that."
Her eyes turned cold. "I'd love to stay and have dumb, childish arguments with you, little baby, but I have a job to do. To kill a vampire who feeds mercilessly on human blood. A disgusting beast. With things like that hiding under your kinds genteel faces, how could I not despise every one of your kind?"
She spun on her heel and left the building. Hanabusa watched her confident walk away from the dorm, from him, and felt a niggle in his chest. Surely he wasn't feeling… guilt? He snarled, shoving it away.
Yes, there was no way he could love a human, let alone a hunter. The very idea was ridiculous.
"You think you're so clever, Tomoe Kurugi. But I'm going to unravel you until you are nothing but ashes to me."
With the words, he grasped a single suitcase and followed her, the door shutting behind him firmly.
Inside, the other nobles had wandered into the hall and were looking at the pile of suitcases left behind.
"They're both too hotheaded," Rima partially complained. It would have been better if she lost her monotone voice while doing so.
"Yes, the sooner those two realize their feelings the better." Takuma sighed.
"Wait… do we have to clean this mess up, then," Senri asked.
The gathered vampires looked at the messy floor and groaned.
End chapter
Author note: nothing really resolved here, just tension for Hanabusa on his feelings. Hope you all enjoyed! I will add more as I come up with scenes. Please, request certain scenes as well. I want to take as many requests as I can.
I may even make this a series eventually, if insiration smacks me.
Requests are currently open!