A/N: I swear none of the cannon characters will end up with the two OCs. There will be mentions of a slash/yaoi/same sex relations between two legally adult men. As per the rules there will be no graphic sex scenes. E-mail me at Gold_Eyes_And_Sakura yahoo . com for these scenes. The two OCs are not vampires, have no idea about them, are not related to any of the Cullens, and have no connection with them before this story begins. If you want to know more about the two OCs you can find out about them from here: http : // kiirynil . proboards . com /index . cgi ?board =now &action= display &thread=74 &page=1 Just take the spaces out. Any spelling mistakes are my fault and I've run this through Word so, there shouldn't be any, if there are tell me and I'll fix it ASAP.
Words: 3,055
Prompt: None I can think of, for once.
Disclaimer:If I owned the Twilight books I'd have said 'Forget the leak of Midnight Sun, I'm writing it anyway. Deal with it people.' I only own Mareo Miyamoto and his family, my friend Willow owns Akeno. She also has no clue I'm writing this right now, so deal with it if his personality changes a hair here and there as I get more input from her.
Forks was ablaze with gossip for weeks on end when new people moved to town. In such a small place where little happened new people meant new news and new news meant more gossip. Isn't that the way with small towns? It seems the average small town has more gossiping old birds than any other place in the world, Forks had to be in the top five of that unwritten list.
The latest occupants of the small town were two men. That in itself wasn't the cause for gossip, after all what's so special about two men? What did cause tongues to wag though was the age difference between the two. One man was older - middle-aged - while the other was no more than a senior in high school, if that. The two didn't look enough alike to be father and son, the home they bought only had one bedroom in it (or so said Jessica Stanley who's mother was the real estate agent in Forks). If that wasn't enough for the gossipers in town there was the fact that the younger of the two looked almost sickly with skin pale enough to rival the Cullen family's. However, the pair stayed to themselves, seeking no one out, but were quite nice when neighbors came over to welcome them or someone spoke to either of the pair on the street. There was something off about the pair of them, no matter how friendly and kind the older one was or how polite and quiet the younger was.
August fifteenth was a Wednesday and the first day of school for everyone in the small town of Forks. Even the teenagers were gossiping about what happened that summer and these new people. Some plotted on dating the new student, on befriending him, and less kind people targeted him already for a teacher's pet and a suck-up. At seven o'clock sharp, the students were still milling about the parking lot avoiding going into the dreaded Hell hole known as high school before they absolutely had to. A sharp black Lexus pulled up to the curb by the side of the school building, the windows were tinted so dark you couldn't see anyone inside the vehicle. It was a few moments before the new kid got out, slowly, reaching back inside to grab his back pack, before closing the door and waving as the car drove away.
The new student's name was Akeno Miyamoto. He was eighteen, and in his senior year of high school. Akeno, as his name implied, was Asian, Japanese to be exact and had the features of his native country. Black hair fell long, a little past his shoulders in waves, hiding a silver cross on a chain that dangled from his right ear. His eyes were a pale gray, lined in black, almond-shaped, and slightly slanted, revealing his mixed heritage. A slightly up-turned pug nose rested above a pair of pale, cupid's bow shaped lips that looked as though he often bit them. He was dressed modestly, dark blue jeans that were comfortably worn, black sneakers, a matching T-shirt of the same hue as his shoes, and a blue jean jacket that was obviously a size or two too large for him. Swinging his back pack over one shoulder and sticking the other into his pocket the quiet teenager walked past his staring peers and entered the school building, easily hearing the gossip beginning behind his back as soon as he past.
Entering the main building Akeno entered the office to be met by one Bella Swan behind the desk, helping the secretaries out for the day. "Hello," His voice was quiet and Bella found herself leaning forward to hear him better. "I'm Akeno Miyamoto, I was wondering about my schedule." He seemed withdrawn and quiet, it made Bella slightly jumpy. The only other people she'd met that were that quiet were the Cullens and the rogue vampires. A quick glance up showed her that Akeno's eyes were a pale gray and not the tell tale red or gold or even black of an unfed vampire. She let out a breath of relief and handed him his schedule.
"If you need any help," She locked eyes with the new student, who glanced away quickly, like a frightened rabbit who'd caught a fox staring. "Finding your classes or understanding the material or something. I'm free." She offered him a kind smile which Akeno hesitantly returned, though his eyes continued darting back and forth. "I remember when I was new and how overwhelming everything was." She offered, making sure that Akeno understood she was being nice, not pitying or wanting his attention.
"Ah," He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, hand that wasn't holding his schedule reaching into his pocket and toying with whatever was inside. "That would be nice, thank you very much, ma'am." He was overly polite and it made Bella's cheeks tint. "Do you know where," he glanced down at the paper. "Biology with Patterson is?" He spoke slowly as if having trouble reading the small, printed words on the paper in his hand.
Bella smiled indulgently at Akeno. "I can show you if you like. I have him first class as well." She paused and gestured to the paper. "If I may?" Akeno handed her the paper, withdrawing his hand as soon as she had a grasp of the paper, as if he was afraid of touching her. Pushing the worries out of her mind and masking the small frown on her face, Bella's brown eyes gazed down at the paper. "We have the same schedule. If you don't mind following me around all day, I can help you with class." She smiled at him again, trying to be friendly.
Akeno took the paper back and offered her a small, tired smile. "Ah, thank you very much. I'm Keno." The bell rang signaling the five minute passing period had begun.
"Bella, Bella Swan." Bella answered, picking up her own bag and leaving the protection that standing behind the desk had offered.
The pair left the office and walked to biology, Jessica, Angelia, and Mike finding their way to Bella's side and accosting Akeno with all kinds of questions.
"What's your name?"
"How old are you?"
"Where are you from?"
"Who's that guy you live with?"
"What's your name?"
"Why'd you come to Forks?"
"Do you know anyone yet?"
"Want to hang out at lunch?"
"What subjects do you like?"
"Have a girlfriend?"
Akeno seemed to withdraw farther into himself as more as their voices increased and the trio advanced around him. "I-I'm Keno." His voice was even quieter than it was when he'd spoken to Bella in the office and she had to strain to hear him, even though they were walking side-by-side. "I'm eighteen. I'm from Tokyo, Japan. His name is Mareo, he's my guardian. Mareo got a job in Port Angeles at a bank there. I just met Bella. I don't know. Creative writing and swimming. No and I'm not looking for a relationship." While Akeno answered all of the questions, he left details out and gave minimalistic answers, with the exception of the last question. His voice took on a harder tone that made Bella inch away from him, it appeared he wasn't going to take lightly anyone asking about his private life.
Upon reaching the biology class Bella sat at her usual table, waiting for Edward, while her friends separated to their own tables and Akeno had a word with Mr. Patterson. He sat at his own table, placing his back pack on the stool next to him, obviously wanting to ward off anyone sitting with him. Edward entered the room and offered Bella a smile, glancing at the new student, a frown marring his features. Bella recognized that look, it was the same one that he had given her when he couldn't read her mind. He sat down next to Bella and continued to stare at the new student for a few long moments. Akeno sank lower into his chair, though he didn't glance at Edward, he looked as if he was trying to make himself smaller in hopes of being ignored.
"Edward," Bella finally hissed, causing the vampire to break his unblinking golden gaze and look at her. "You're scaring him." The girl frowned at her boyfriend, reprimanding him.
Edward continued to frown. "He's the same as you, but its different." He spoke softly as Mr. Patterson called roll and began going over their semester syllabus. "With you its blank, with him its like swimming through darkness. Be careful." His lips barely moved when he spoke, hand flashing across the paper in front of him as he faithfully wrote down the key notes to what their biology teacher was saying. Bella wanted to snort and laugh and tell Edward how ridiculous he was being because Keno was as dangerous as a newborn kitten. She thought back to earlier that morning and the feeling Keno had given her before swallowing her statement and nodding slightly, turning her attention back onto Mr. Patterson.
Edward walked Bella and Keno to their next class - English. Edward was still frowning, Keno was still silent, shoulders hunched, and Bella was still confused, mulling over her thoughts. Angelia, Mike, and Jessica made up for the other three students' silent and strained behavior, though even they were more subdued than normal and Angelia kept repeating the same story. Edward dropped Bella off at the front door, just as the warning bell rang, placing a light kiss on her lips and reminding her quietly to be careful before disappearing to his own class.
Their teacher decided to open the class with a discussion on love, calling on students at random to give their personal definition of the word and their views on it. Bella was lucky enough to be chosen first. "Love's important," she started, thinking of Edward and everything they'd been through. "The most important thing in the world. Everyone needs to be loved and cared for. If they're not their life will never be complete." Her statements were short, but the belief behind them showed through.
Surprisingly Keno raised his hand and surprised the teacher called on him. "You don't need love," He started, voice as soft as always, though his own conviction was clear. It seemed he and Bella were quite the opposite of one another. "To survive. Love's a cheap emotion that makes you like someone when its more infatuation and lust than actual caring." He stared at the teacher as he spoke, though Bella was sure Keno was speaking to her directly. "No one can truly love someone more than themselves, we all have survival instincts and are selfish. You may die for your love, but you are not doing it for them, not really. You are doing it because they'll remember you forever more because of it. Look at Romeo and Juliet for example, they may be fictional, but everyone still sighs over their tragic love story." That was the most Bella had heard him speak, she frowned deeply, wondering what could cause the quiet and polite boy to be so jaded. Maybe his last girlfriend had broken his heart and that was why he was so adamant about not wanting to date anyone when Jessica asked him that morning.
After a mild silence their teacher called on someone else and the discussion picked up pace once more. Keno remained silent throughout the rest of the class, writing in a notebook that Bella glanced upon, but couldn't read. The page was full of symbols and caricatures, Japanese writing Bella realized. When the bell rang once more, signaling lunch for the seniors Bella packed her things up and moved out of the room, waiting by the door for Edward. As soon as Keno past the pair he stopped, frowning lightly. He pulled a slim white and pale blue phone from his pocket and answered it. He seemed shocked that someone was calling him, then his entire body seemed to tighten for a few moments before relaxing. He chatted for a few minutes in - what Bella presumed to be Japanese - before hanging up the phone and looking at Bella. "Ah, where is the parking lot from here? I've gotten lost and Mareo wants to take me out to lunch." His smile was bright and genuine for once. Mareo apparently made Keno's day with whatever they'd spoken about on the phone.
"I'll walk you." Edward offered politely. "I need to get my lunch out of my car anyway." He kissed Bella on the cheek. "I'll see you in the lunch room." Bella's brown eyes widened marginally, but she nodded her head and started off towards the cafeteria. Glancing back behind her she watched teh two walk away, Edwards looking like every muscle in his body was tensed and ready to spring, Keno looking just as uncomfortable and ready to run at the slightest sign of danger.
Neither spoke as Edward led Keno to the parking lot, the five foot seven Asian boy following two steps behind and to the right of Edward, head down. Edward watched Keno climb into the same Lexus that dropped him off that morning and then turned swiftly on his heel and walked back inside the building. While he couldn't read Keno's mind, he could read Mareo's, and something had to be done about the glimpse he'd gotten from the older man. He searched through the school, finding Alice's mind easily and sending her a message that they needed to return home now and have a talk. He listened to Alice's mental nod of approval before climbing into his car and waiting on his siblings to join him.
Once the four vampires were back in their home and lounging in the living room with everyone save Dr. Cullen present (due to work, though Esme called him and he said he would be home as soon as possible) Edward began to explain things. "Akeno Miyamoto is the new kid," This statement did not make the other vampires look anymore impressed. "His mind is like Bella's, I can't read his thoughts. While Bella's mind is just blank, Akeno's is similar to swimming through black tar: suffocating and tiring. Both Bella and I are suspicious of him and several of the students are uncomfortable, though he's nothing more than human. I walked him outside before lunch where he was meeting with his guardian." The last word was spat out, sounding more like a curse than a title.
"I could read that man's mind. He is sick, perverted, and disgusting. I doubt anything a rouge new-born could do would be worse than the things he's done or imagined doing. Akeno is a kidnapping victim." This caught the other's interest as head's snapped in Edward's direction, minds stopped wandering. "He's been brain-washed." Edward paused. "From what I gathered from Mareo's mind he's been that monster's prisoner for at least three years, if not more. He has Stockholm Syndrome and is completely loyal to Mareo and will not make a single decision unless he asks Mareo first." Mareo reminded Edward of the evil-doers he used to kill, when he still hunted human blood, bile rose in his throat as he continued to remember the flashes of what he'd picked up from Mareo's disturbed mind.
Jasper spoke first, tactical mind working. "There could be a problem with Akeno's medical records, since I'm an office aid after lunch. The school could be nice enough to even schedule an appointment with Dr. Cullen to give Akeno a physical. He wouldn't be able to return to school unless his medical records are up to date." Edward nodded his head, offering his brother a worried smile and incline of his head in a silent thanks.
While the Cullen coven was a family of vampires, that did not mean they would sit idly by and watch as someone suffered and they could do something about it. Forks was their territory and they would defend it against the darker things in life, whether that was rouge vampires, the Voltori, or human offenders. Edward had shown his courageous and knight-in-shining-armor complex once already in saving Bella from the gang of young men one night in Port Angeles. With that decided the vegetarian vampires returned to Edward's car and drove back to the school in time for Edward to tell Bella a very censored version of events before they were whirled away to their next class and events for an intervention were set in motion.
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW.
I need to know if just one person likes this as to whether or not I'll continue this. And the vampires will contain a more major role in the next chapters, after all this was just the set-up so to speak. If I don't care if you're flaming me or what, I just want reviews.