Vale of Avalon

Chapter One

Disclaimer: Really, if I owned or made any profit off Vampire Knight or this story, would it be published on Fanfiction? I don't honestly know why I bother with these things...

The ones who suck people's life blood,

beasts who take on a human shape.

That is... a vampire.

People must not go near vampires.

If they go near them, they will be captured by those eyes.

"Kyaa! Wild-senpai!"

"Idol-senpai! How are you today?"

Aidou released a debonair chuckle. "Konbanwa, pretty ladies! I hope none of you girls will catch a cold for waiting out here in this chilly weather. Can you forgive me for taking so long to come out?"

"KYAAAH!!! Mochiron!!"

I sighed lightly, nibbling on my bottom lip. If the girls had any sense at all, they wouldn't even bother standing around in this mob just to wet themselves over the Night Class boys. I couldn't even use the argument that they were silly freshmen - half were in the same year as myself (juniors) or even seniors. But honestly, what sort of idiot would freeze outside in the middle of January just for a glimpse at the handsome men?

...Me, apparently.

I shifted awkwardly, hunching behind the frenzied teens. At least the tightly-packed cabal was successful as a mass heater; even the occasional prod or accidental elbow in the ribs kept me on my toes and distracted from the weather. Call me crazy, but even I wasn't inhuman enough to deny this routine. It wasn't that I was particularly meek or unwilling to go against the crowd - conformity wasn't high on my priorities. It was just...

Takuma was so cute!

No, maybe 'cute' wasn't the right word. He was older than me (at least, I thought so. What grade were those Night Class students in, anyway?), complaisant, sweet, smart...but could I actually say even that much? All the day class referred to the nocturnal shift as 'senpai', but how old were they; what year, exactly? They were all known to be exceptional, understood by us day-dwellers as the elite of the student body. Could we really know that, though? All we had to go by were the assumptions and rumors made during this brief passing period. The only thing I could be positive of was the fact that Takuma -and all the rest of them- was completely gorgeous.

And that was enough for most of the female population.

"Oei! Get back! You can't go any farther!"

My gaze left the lean blond boy, shifting over to the tiny girl drowning against the huddle of her piers. I was quite impressed with Yuuki's dedication: for someone so petite, her spirit still managed to hold off a herd of insane spectators.

I winced, coughing to the side sheepishly and rubbing my coated arm. I kept forgetting that, by being here, I was forced to include myself in that group. Maybe I wasn't as enthusiastic in the worship, but my teeth were still chattering as I watched on.

"Yuuki..."

I wasn't sure how I had picked up on the husked voice from under all the pitched twittering, but Kaname's advance was enough of a tip-off as to the offender. He came to a controlled halt, gazing down at the freshman girl with suffocating eyes. Even from this distance, I could feel my own knees beginning to buckle (he wasn't exactly an ogre, that Kuran.) How was Yuuki still standing so calmly? I could only imagine if Takuma were to accost me like like, singling me from a gargantuan throng of attractive girls. There would most definitely be more of an extreme reaction than lingering blushes and tremulous tones.

"K-Kaname-senpai..." Yuuki's voice stuttered softly. Even in her nerves, the calm intrepidity of her words was more than I could ever muster.

My breath faltered, eyes squinting just to make sure I was seeing things right. The way they were looking at one another... it was like the stare of lovers! The enamor was easily visible between the two, attraction practically setting sparks off. Kaname-senpai and Yuuki...could it really be true? I had noticed it before, of course: Kaname had always made some sort of effort to approach the Kurosu girl on most days. However, the sheer shock of it all was hitting me full blast, realization intensified. How? When had they gotten the chance to become so close? Why was she so lucky?!

Of course - she was a prefect. She and that scary young man I had never officially met. The idea had always seemed queer to me: two mere prefects to control this sycophant crowd? It didn't seem to make any sense from my perspective. And, judging by Yuuki's increasing nap-attacks in the classroom (or so I've heard - news travels fast around the school, even between grade levels, as long as it concerned the Night Class and the two living barricades separating them from us), it should have been obvious to anyone that the teens were overwhelmed. I wondered if it was as simple as asking the chairman to become one of Yuuki's fellows. Could I simply stroll into his office and offer my assistance? I didn't see why not - it wasn't such a clandestine position. My only point against the suggestion was the reality that no one had ever done it before, to my knowledge. If the girls were so desperate to become closer to the mysteriously devilish boys, why didn't they just join the Disciplinary Committee? It was easy access; no restraint.

The obvious answer made me snort. Duh - the chairman, or Yuuki at the very least, would know the females' reputation better than anyone. He would see straight through such a flagrant tactic. But still, what if? It wasn't all too risky a endeavor: the worst that could happen was I would be politely turned away - I didn't see a problem with asking. My intent was pure enough, and it was all in the approach. I would go and see the chairman right after the Night Class were locked away in their lessons and propose the idea. 'Yuuki needs her rest,' I would point out to the caring father, 'and the more help she has, the more time would be freed for her school work, sleep, and family bonding time.' I wouldn't have great trouble in taking charge of the girls and Takuma would be sure to notice my addition and loyalty to the job; I would guard him with my life, if it came down to it! Yuuki, weak and weary in her fatigue, could certainly use the cover. I had never been a problem for her during any of these gatherings - I wouldn't doubt if she had never noticed me at all, my reserved nature instantly overshadowed by the more forward huntings of the others. Chairman Kurosu just couldn't deny me!

It was brilliant, playing off the man's most sensitive yearning. How could he reject a young woman so dutifully looking out for his beloved daughter's best interest and offering more opportunities for family visits?

Oh, I was starting to sound like some type of conniving villain, wasn't I? No, I assure you it isn't like that! I really did care for Yuuki's health, mind you, and that was truly one of the driving aspects of my upcoming interview. The proximity to Takuma was simply an added holiday bonus.

'Takuma and I,' I thought, eyes longingly glued to Kaname and Yuuki, '...could be just like them...'

"Uhm, Miss?"

A gentle finger prodded at my arm, forcing my bodily reaction to overthrow wants of eavesdropping. My attention veered from the possibly flirting pair into emerald green eyes.

Emerald eyes? ...And blond hair...?

Ichijou Takuma grinned down at me, lily-pad orbs glittering like a real-life lake.

I stopped breathing. Apparently, aphasia was a common side-effect when dealing with the Nigh Class. All girls lost the use and understanding of words?

"Oh, you're alright then! Thank goodness! I was a bit worried since you were just standing way over here by yourself with a strange look on your face."

I forced my lids to blink, keeping them closed to hold back from getting distracted by him; I tried to focus on his meaning rather than silken voice. He had said something about being worried for me, hadn't he? He noticed!

...Because I had been standing off to the side by myself with a strange look on my face...

Like combustive chemicals, my eyes snapped open, gasp the volume of a rocket launch (the cloud of smoke made from my breath meeting the frigid air made a perfect fume effect of the machine as well.) Takuma startled back, surely frightened at the sudden spasm. Darting my neck to each corner of the clearing, I swiftly realized that the surrounding land was barren within a ten meter radius, the crowd of girls having drifted over in pursuit of a frolicking Hanabusa. How long ago had it been since they had served as my protective veil? Was I exposed for so long as to caught even Takuma's attention? With my 'strange' expression?

He called me strange!

I felt like crying. Why had I been such a dork? I should have stayed watchful over my own cover, not spied on others' private relations! What had I been thinking? We were supposed to meet as I held off his dangerous admirers and he singled me out to profess his appreciation; not here, like this! It could have been hour, for all I knew, since I had been poised here, fiddling and fantasizing in my lonesome. No wonder Takuma had come up to me - he though I was crazy! Without any companions! A desperate harpy! Like them - the fan girls!

"M-miss? Please, don't look so troubled! Is there anything I can do to help?"

I couldn't suppress a whimper (or was it a more of a crazed moan?) at his generous offer, the nurturing hand he had placed at my shoulder almost sending my hormones through the roof. He cautioned at the noise, inching his arm away and face scrunched up in careful confusion. Teeth stabbed my lower lip, eyelids crashing closed and face pivoting to the opposite side. He was just so good! Too good. Such chivalric ways were barely escaping extinction during these current pop-culture days. It really wasn't any wonder where my attraction had come from: the boy was comparable to the gods, for heaven's sake! How could I possibly justify being in his presence? Did I deserve his care? Was I worthy of his worry?

...No! Or course not! I shouldn't be claiming even a moment of his attention!

"I promise, I don't mind at all! There's no need to be making such a fuss. Tell me what's wrong - pretty girls shouldn't be so discontent."

My heart stalled as those words left his mouth, blood freezing in my veins in a way that made me certain he was aware of the fluid's jolt. What was it he had said? Did he just call me...

It was pure instinct that drove me to look back up, finding his eyes and catching the delusional fever. I was utterly lost in the limitless depths, not a shade out of place or sparkle left untwinkling in those rounded oculars. He visually relaxed as I came out from the traumatized stupor, a smile gracing his rosen lips and aura almost literally glowing a brilliant gold. His mouth opened, forming mute words that passed straight through my unhearing ears. Lord, his hand was back on my elbow! Was that the reason for that rushing 'whoosh!' sound blocking out his voice? But I wanted to hear him, too! Why was my body reacting in such a way? I didn't want Takuma to be pushed aside at a time like this - he was actually here speaking with me. Caressing me, even! I hadn't meant it to be serious when I awed at Yuuki's bravery when compared to mine in this situation. Heaven couldn't have provided more ecstacy.

"Ichijou."

Our heads snapped -as one, dare I say it- towards the source of the interruption, finding Kaname standing (as expressive as a statue, like he always seemed to be when not uniting with the female prefect) a ways up the dirt path leading to the classrooms, eyes intimidating in their piercing stare. Each of the other white-clad Night Class students flanked his steps, their Dorm Leader's lingering attention leading their interest over to Takuma and I. And, continuously watching out for the objects of their affection, the Day Class girls had traced their focus onto us as well. Soon enough, every eye within the gathering seemed to be drilling into my skull.

I reddened under all of the attention, fists clenching nervously. I wasn't particularly found of the spotlight, even less so when I was caught in such a vulnerable position. It just had to have happened that very moment, hadn't it? Kaname couldn't have kept his nose lowered for even a few seconds more? Who knows what that time could have brought?! What if my hearing was just about to kick back in to life? What if Takuma had been about to say something life changing? What if he was one breath away from bending down and...well...

"Ichijou, you know we can't stay. Hurry up."

I, even in this petrified state, noted the undertone of a double-meaning in Kaname's words of warning. Takuma obviously understood both interpretations instantly, releasing my arms like our connection had been nothing more than platonic and sending one last, dazzling smile down my way.

"Ja ne, Miss. Take care."

Three heart beats (and a parting pat on the head for myself) later, the group of beautiful students were making their way into the distance, Takuma having easily caught up and chatting animatedly with the powerful man to his right. My brain remained in a stunned silence, not quiet making sense of those final happenings. The Night Class had left - I knew that much. But Takuma had been here, holding my shoulders, talking to me.

I would have jumped off the tower had I been on it - I felt as though I could fly with elation, heart already soaring.

By the time my instincts had kicked in and allowed my eyes to blink, the Night Class was nothing more than a faded speck in the distance. The world rushed back into realistic time and sound with a cinematic snap, my lungs jumping as though struck by lightening. I sucked in air, rather ungraceful in the process, but thought nothing of my appearance. Takuma -THE Ichijou Takuma, vice-president of the renowned Night Class and one of the most eligible bachelor's on campus, had just been standing right in front of me and conversing. Never before outside of my dreams had anything so thrilling come close happening! It was stupid, I know, getting so worked up over a boy and his surely chaste touches, but...

Could you blame me, really?! I could die! It didn't matter how it had happened - it did. Maybe the circumstances could have been more appealing on my part (I would have rather not have him think of me as a mentally unstable, friendless and needy young woman) but it had gotten him to come over! Would he feel compelled to check up on me again? If I came back tomorrow afternoon, would he walk up to me, grinning and asking how I've been?

I certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to see.

I felt my lips curling up, teeth fully exposed in my moment of euphoria. It wasn't until minutes after the nocturnal group had disappeared into the castle-like building did I find it in me to turn away, almost instantly pulsing at a hunched form in the center of the clearing.

Yuuki sat in the middle of the dirt path, breathing heavily and muttering what I could only assume to be angry profanities under her breath. I raised a brow, questioning her abnormal behavior. Was wrangling the girls really so tiresome?

Blinking dubiously, I twitched my lips to the side, sauntering up to her without a second thought. It was odd how abruptly both my personality and esteem changed depending on my comapany - if this had been a Night Class member curled up in the road, I probably would have frozen in my steps and mentally sped through every possible outcome to my approach until the day was spent, delirious and panicking all the while. Here with my kouhai, a complete stranger - there as no hesitance at all.

Or maybe it was gender in general? I couldn't deny that typically any male, whether diurnal or not, stimulated some form of a character change in me. It was a simple diagnosis: boys made me nervous. They didn't even have to be so angelic in appearance as Takuma - the basic gist of it was, as vulgar as it sounds, that any of the testosteroned and penis-bearing sex triggered a surging rage in my personality. I was lucky enough to channel that chemical unbalance in fidgets and discomfort rather than confident action, however. Frankly, I'd rather be this awkward self of mine than one of those flinging fangirls. I got the feeling that anyone would be less hesitant to engage themselves with someone like me than a girl they could count on to jump them at any moment.

Well, at least the people I would be willing to become close to. But maybe that was just my wishful way of thinking?

The lopsided smirk curling onto my face became twinged with amusement as I ceased my journey, stopping and waiting patiently for the mumbling girl to let go of her dark grumbles and notice my approach. She remained seated, fingers digging into the dirt to aid in releasing that not-so-pent-up hostility. Eventually, with one last willowing exhale, the younger girl promptly grunted, lifted herself to her feet, turned, and screamed.

I flinched at the pitch oif her cry, cowering back as her hands clamped over her mouth to shut out the noise emmiting. I settled as her chest heaved, unique bownish-red eyes wide and getting over a fearful shock. I giggled under my breath, finding this entire situation rather funny for some reason. She calmed enough to lower her arms, respiration stabling and eyes falling into a narrow.

"Senpai! What are you still doing out here? It's almost dark - curfew will be any minute!"

My smile vanished, face curious. Had I really been out here day-dreaming for so long?

Yuuki released a sigh, slumping forward as the air left her. I squinted, emotions replaced with a sense of guilt and pity for the girl. I suppose it was too much responsibility for only one person (or was it two? Where was the other boy, anyway?) to bear. I had heard a rumor that they even had nightly patrolling duties - it was no wonder they were always falling asleep in class! When did they find the time to sleep? Chairman Kurosu had to be crazy the hold such a heavy burden over these children.

I had to help them. It wasn't about Takuma anymore - it was simple inhumane to allow this schedule to continue for the two kouhai. This was a matter of child labor laws! I could almost guarentee it wasn't legal -or healthy- for the Chairman to require this kind of load for full-time students. It was a point I'd have to bring up in our meeting...

Mind resolved, I decided then and there that tonight was the night. I would go and see the Chairman right now, this instant. It was non-negotiable. Bring it on.

"Etou, senpai...?"

My throat hitched. I had spaced out again, hadn't I?

"Yuuki," I addressed the girl authoritatively, quickly covering up my fault. She straightened, shoulders pulling back as she gave her -albeit suspicious- attention. "Shouldn't there have been someone else here to help you?"

With that matter pointed out her face altered considerably, taking on the same irate aura that had plagued her minutes ago. It became no doubt to me that her own side-track had everything to do with the missing guardian in question.

"Zero ditched me again," she seethed, seeming to growl more to herself than me as she glared off into the distance with clenched fists. "He does this all the time! If he shows up all all, it's almost always late..."

I frowned, wishing the boy was here so he could take the full effect of my scowl. The jerk, leaving this kind of chaos dumped on a girl to deal with. What was he thinking? The selfish little brat!

As ill as my feelings towards the boy (what kind of name was 'Zero' anyway? It just reeked 'delinquent') I couldn't help but swell with hope. If the second prefect was as bad as Yuuki was saying, it made my job all the more easier; with this sort of evidence backing up my proposition to become a disciplinary member, the incompetence show by the male only gave me an upper edge. How horribly could I really compare to a person like that? Perhaps it wasn't about joining the crew, but replacing one of the current members? I'd leave it open as a second options. Either way, that boy was going to get some sense beaten into him. He needed to learn some of those gentlemanly traits from the Night Class, honestly. I made a mental note to pencil in a confrontation with him eventually as well.

But first...

"Ja, Yuuki," I dismissed airily, holding up a hand as I spun on the spot and began my stomping march towards the chairman's office. I barely took notice of her perplexed farewell, my mind charged and focused on only one thing.

"No?" I gasped, flabbergasted. Chairman Kurosu shook his head, expression sullen.

"No," he confirmed, brow creasing lightly at my dumbfounded face. I couldn't believe it - I couldn't even comprehend this! It was like he knew the answer before I had even presented my argument: it had been a 'no' from the start. Why? I just didn't understand!

The older man sighed lightly, the silent exhale long and backed with thought. As easily as he crushed my hopes, at least he was feeling guilty about it.

"I'm sorry," he began, seeming to choose each words carefully while his tone gave away little more than a soupçon of regret. "...but adding a new student to perform the guardian duties is just out of the question at this time. Please understand that this isn't only based on my choice; it's in your best interest."

My eyebrows furrowed, sharp tongue countering back before I could think the words through. "In my best interest? How could rejecting me be 'in my best interest'? From what I've seen, Yuuki's more or less alone out there! It's not like I'm asking to join the Night Class - I just want to help Yuuki tame the trouble that surrounds them!" My face sunk, eyes tendering with some helpless emotion. "I don't get why you're refusing that..."

Chairman Kurosu held our stare, his golden gaze hard and penetrating. I nearly gulped, not knowing what sort of subliminal message he was trying to convey in the connection. Why was it such a big deal? He acted as if it were my life at stake with these prefect duties. If he could risk Yuuki, his own adopted daughter, with those dangers, then why was I any different? I was fully capable - I could help! Did he doubt my reliability or worth?

The tensed moment broke as he closed his eyes, head tilting downward and chin resting to his knuckles. "My decision stands, Enrai-san. You don't give Zero enough credit - he's more involved in this than you think, no matter how rough around the edges. Nevertheless, you will not be joining Yuuki and Zero as a guardian."

My jaw clenched, teeth grinding in a mixture of anger and devastating defeat. This wasn't fair at all! He had no right! 'In my best interest!' What the hell was that?! Somehow this wasn't about boys or helping - this was discrimination. There was no reason to deny my application. I deserved the truth, at the very least. This intransigent 'in my best interest' wouldn't be enough to cut it and settle my mind.

"There is much more behind the prefect duties and responsibilities than you could ever understand, Eden."

The quintessence of his timing was undeniable. My face snapped upwards, our eyes joining focus with chilling intensity. I barely breathed, body only focusing on figuring out this arcane chain of events. There was something going on here, something bigger than I had originally guessed. What kind of justification was this? His words made it sound like we were in some kind of horror story. Using my first name like that and sounding so serious? This couldn't have been a joke, right?

My spine bristled, chills slithering along my arms and leaving goose-bumps along my skin. The expression carved into the man's face suddenly seemed so saturnine. He had aged twenty years right before my very eyes, it seemed. I choked on air, teeth sinking into my lower lip. This was too much to process right now - I needed to be alone. He didn't want me as part of the team? Then fine. But whatever he was doing was crossing the line. Those haunting little hints he was dropping were getting to be a bit much. I had wanted answers, yes, but not to be backed into a corner.

I straightened my stance, contorting my face to mask any fear that might have been slipping into my visage. "I accept your judgment, Chairman Kurosu. Good night."

Kurosu Academy's founder and chairman had always struck me as an extremely agreeable person. He was exuberant, cheerful, and always looking out for the safety of his students. One thing that I could ever imagine him to be, however, was... scary. I was unnerved to turn my back on him as I brisked out of his office.

My back flattened against the closed door, chest heaving with deep inhales. Out of the room and alone in the darkened hallway, I felt just as claustrophobic and spooked as I has inside. With a single sentence, the Chairman had turned the entire school into some hellish graveyard waiting to attack. Evil eyes bore into me on all sides, ill-intent clouding up my path as far as I could see.

There was something strange going on here: things weren't right. That meeting back there, those words... it was begging me to exhume the reality. Whether Chairman Kurosu had been warning or coaxing me, I wasn't sure. If this had meant to frighten me away, I wasn't so sure it had had the desired effect. As eerie as it was, I felt compelled to follow through and discover whatever it was the founder was holding back. With those peculiar explanations and morose emotions, it seemed more like a part of him wanted me to go and find out. The man had flashed that trace right before my eyes and then shooed me away with his reverse psychology: dangling the bait and then hanking it away. He had planted the seed in my mind, and refused to give it water.

But if he wasn't willing to help me with that, I would just have to dig it up for myself. There had to be some sort of secret that was holding me back from the position. Mark my words - I would uncover the truth behind the hidden identity surrounding the prefects.

"Enrai Eden," Kurosu Kaien murmured, watching as the teen girl in question dashed out of the building toward her dorms. As the name escaped his lips he pursed the appendages, eyes narrowing.

"Your getting yourself into more than you can handle. Be careful, since you seem to find it necessary to get involved."

(A/N)Um, New Year, new story? Yay, Happy 2009!

First of all, I have to tell you guys that I'm no expert with Vampire Knight and might need a little help getting my facts straight for this first fic. I understand the basic story line well enough, but I haven't seen or read all the episodes and manga; some of my details might not be right or they could be missing/ignoring something important. For example, is Yuuki actually a freshman? That age matches up, but then she and Zero shouldn't really be in the same class since he's supposed to be a year older (not that it's such a big deal.) And what about the Night Class? Are grades ever mentioned for them? I'm sorry if my own ignorance is offensive to any fans DX

Musical Inspiration: (My Sweet) Eden by NICO Touches the Walls. Any wonder where I got the OC's name from?

Please tell me what you think or point out any flaws!