Disclaimer: Vampire Knight belongs to Matsuri Hino and this work is not meant to make any profit of the franchise.
Author's note:
Hello everyone, and welcome to my first Vampire Knight fanfic. I hope to stay as true as possible to canon characters even with mine thrown in, but please let me know if I'm crossing the line too much. Hope everyone enjoys the reading and thank you very much in advance for any reviews/critiques.
May contain: Blood/Gore, MaleXMale pairings. The course of happenings may differ slightly from the anime/manga.
Chapter 1 – The Refugee from the Old Continent
Early that sunset, Yuuki was already scouting the academy grounds carefully, when Kaien called both her and Zero to his office. They were not sure what it was about. All they knew was that the chairman had asked them to be particularly wary of any sight or scent from students that should either be in bed or attending classes at that hour, regardless it was from the Day or Night Class.
In class, Kaname Kuran looked casually through the window. The others noticed, but no one dared to make any comments. Something was bound to come out, but at the moment, only Kaien was sure of what it was.
- Excuse me for the delay. I thought I had heard something in the garden. – asked Yuuki closing the office's door behind her.
Zero was already there.
Kaien gave her a smile and then sat behind his desk with a warm cup of cocoa between his hands.
- Aww, it's ok Yuuki-chan, daddy is proud that you work so hard.
Zero lowered his brow at the chairman's following giggle. He couldn't believe they were being distracted from their routine for all the cutesy lovey-dovey-father-thing… again.
As for Kaien, he didn't want to lose Zero's attention just yet, so he put his cup down and rested his glasses over the desk, talking in a slightly graver tone.
- But back to business, children. The reason why I asked you to be so attentive tonight was because we'll have a new guest coming to stay with us for a while. And for the time being, I'd like to keep it in as much secret as possible. No one, not even Kaname should know of it yet.
Zero raised an eyebrow.
- And for how long you want us to hide this person? That's not too doable with the "kyakya mob" around all the time. And what are we supposed to do with this guest of yours, take'em to the zoo?
For a moment there, the chairman returned to his whiny tone.
- Oh have a heart, Zero. He comes all the way from France.
Upon hearing that, Yuuki sounded excited.
- Really? Oh I love French things they're so romantic!
- They are, right? – Kaien agreed starting to dance around her, glad to have Yuuki's approval – I always wanted the Night Class to have an intercultural exchange, and this might seal one step further into my crusade for vampire/human cooperation!
Zero gritted his teeth in a bored frustration.
- Feh, so I'm assuming it's just another bloodsucker who thinks he is all that coming to the academy… I should have known what the fuss was all about.
The chairman stopped his dance abruptly.
- I'm afraid it's more delicate than that, Zero. – replied the chairman – This one is a refugee.
Yuuki's expression melted away into a sad one instead.
- A refugee… you mean that there's war where he comes from?
- Sadly. – Kaien nodded – I wasn't given many details in the letter, but from what I can see the situation has escalated to a point the Triad of European vampire princes isn't being able to deal with it.
At the young ones' puzzled look, the chairman began to explain while walking towards the window.
- The European system evolved in a different way from our own. By the time the Roman Empire fell, all vampires that lived in Europe were ruled by an absolute King, but the regime soon had become so despotic and unfair that a group of noblemen overthrew him and disposed of his family, abolishing the title permanently. Afterward, three knights, called Princes from then on, were chosen to rule three parts of the continent separately but compatibly with each other. They were also awarded new coats of arms and a number of knights of their own to keep peace throughout the new territories. My friend is one of their descendants.
Kaien then took an Atlas from his bookshelves and showed it to Zero and Yuuki.
- The Darcians were given the far Western territories, down to the Pyrenees and their totem is the dog. The Dartmoors control the British Isles and were awarded the lion as totem. Finally the far eastern Europe is mostly ruled by the Bathory household from Hungary, and their coat of arms features a dragon's teeth.
- What about central Europe? – asked Zero as he pointed the locations on the map – And Scandinavia or the Iberian Peninsula?
- Well, those are no man land. I was told those places are swarming with rebel, unbridled vampires that refuse the Triad's authority or any, for that matter. "Agitators" I was told.
- Like level E's, right?
- Some, yes. But something tells me the trouble lies in whoever is still sane enough to orchestrate these conflicts.
Suddenly, the office's door was opened brusquely.
Takuma Ichijou stormed into the room urgently, panting and with his brow lightly covered in sweat, quickly followed by Rima, both with visibly worried expressions on their faces.
- What's wrong, Takuma?
- Vampire attack, chairman. Down in the village!
Kaien got away from his desk walking towards them adopting a lot more serious posture.
- When did you know of this?
- We were still in class when Kaname detected it, Shiki, Kain, Aidou and Ruka are on their way.
But Zero, already pulling Bloody Rose out, went storming out between the two Night Class students.
- Out of my way! He's mine!
An uncomfortable silence floated in the office for a split second just before Kaien sighed.
- For one thing he is right, we don't have a moment to waste. Go on ahead, I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.
Not too long before these events occured in Cross Academy, something else a bit more shady was happening in a secluded alleyway down in the nearby small town.
- H-hey, what are you doing? Don't touch that. I told you I've never done this before...
A young boy dressed meekly in a classic kodona outfit complete with a newsboy cap seemed to be getting cornered by an older man sporting intentions that were revealing not to be very pure.
- Please, don't do anything bad to me, sir...
- Aww why acting so shy now? You were the one who made the suggestion. It's all your fault. Come on, I thought you'd like to be a big boy. – though he sounded disappointed he had a wicked grin in his lips.
- I do, it's just...
- Oh you smell so good... Isn't it past your bedtime, little boy? If you didn't want to do this you really shouldn't be hitting the bars this late. Come on, I want to see your pretty face...
He was too close, and the alcohol smell was starting to nauseate the boy. Even so, the man's frankness made him giggle.
- You really think so, sir? Then let me show you what I really can do.
The man gave him a bit more space so the boy could start removing the cap that partially hid his face, finally uncovering an unsightly dead eye, an empty orbit barely healed. Upon the man's scream in disgust, the slender boy took the opportunity to slash open his big stomach with a dagger he had concealed under his vest.
Though the wound wasn't too deep, it was bleeding profusely and now undeniably in danger, the victim, turned around in terror and started to run away, expecting to escape or at least to get to a hospital.
- You're mad!... You're mad! Help me! Someone help! I'm bleeding!
- Where are you going? You promised me a nice evening together. – said the boy.
He only gave the man enough time to run so he could put his eyepatch back on over his right orbit, and it wasn't nearly enough for the man to reach the end of the dark alleyway. Then the boy took the whip he kept hidden around his waist and quickly threw the tip around that man's neck, yanking it back forcefully causing the man to fall back loudly against the paved road.
- You shouldn't run off that way with a wound like that, you know? You'll bleed out faster, and we don't want that, do we?
There was a conveniently placed wooden structure just above them, between the buildings and the boy was able to jump agilely onto one of the logs, quickly letting himself fall down, elevating the man by the neck in the process, keeping him held by the thin leather strand as he hanged from it struggling viciously.
- Let's see how long you can take it, pig.
Luc started twisting the whip slightly, in hope the victim's vertebrae would start to split apart. Eventually he heard a soft disjointing sound.
- You can come out now master, it's done.
A dark, tall figure emerged from the wooden structure's shadows jumping down onto the road and glanced at the man that at the time could do nothing else but blink.
- Efficient as always, dear Luc.
The boy, however, was restless while holding the body up.
- Hurry up while the heart doesn't stop beating, please master. I made him drink a bit at the bar so the blood could stay a bit warmer.
- Ok fine. Just don't rush me, this isn't a particularly appetizing dinner. Though I won't say no to a cocktail.
And having said that he bit the man's wrist, feeling the warm blood flowing in, carefully, not to spill a single drop, just before the victim's eyes finally went blank.
- I'm sorry, it was all I could...
The vampire's voice cut in, in a slightly harsher tone.
- Well, try harder next time then. – he cleaned the border of his mouth with an handkerchief – However, I still find it fascinating. You just need to do a sexy voice and they follow you like kids after a bag of candy. It's as easy as that, can you believe it? Oh these child molesters...
That was how it worked for them. Feigning a slightly younger age, the valet would dress as a young escort or host and pick up and seduce anyone at a bar that seemed to point their fancy towards young boys and then he'd lure them somewhere the master was waiting for the immobilization and eventual killing to be done.
The expedient might seem absurdly vulgar for any well bred vampire, but truth was it actually worked, and that was well enough for them.
Then he glanced at the corpse Luc had finally dropped on the ground.
- But you're right, he surely stinks, and is not handsome in the least. Well, no point in staying, let's leave. This should keep me standing for a while longer.
Having said that, the vampire started to walk away from the alley and the servantboy followed having finished wrapping the black whip across his delicate torso. It was now his task to dispose of the body.
- Oh how I miss Versailles in the 1700's. – the vampire let a sigh out as they headed back - So many gorgeous, delicious youths. That was a proper buffet, trust me, Luc. And not shy at all, I believe they even taught me a thing or two once in a while.
He walked so relaxed along the street, and Luc was so composed beside him, no one would imagine the crime they had just committed. No one except the ones who could feel the recent scent of blood in their clothes.
- Hold it! – shouted out a voice behind them – You stay back! And don't move an inch!
It was Akatsuki Kain who was leading the group of four Night Class students.
The duo was odd enough. For the vicious crime they had just perpetrated, they didn't look like level E's. Both were well dressed, and the vampire's fine traits, ivory skin, auburn wavy hair and deep blue eyes surely denied he was in any way close to a level E's disfigured appearance.
The strangers turned around slowly.
- Why, it's a group of young vampires in school uniforms... – the master seemed surprised, but the servant made a sudden protective gesture adopting a defensive stance, intending to hold his ground between the two sides.
- Assassins? – Luc asked himself gritting his teeth.
- Let them talk, Jean-Luc, I want to know what this is all about. – said the master, curious after picking up their scent as vampires.
The students didn't lose their concentration for a moment, ready to attack if any low trick was to be played.
- We know you killed a man tonight and we've seen the corpse. Why did you do it?
The vampire stranger didn't altered his agreeable expression for a moment.
- Listen, children, if this territory is yours I'll be leaving now, I don't want any trouble, just passing through.
- I don't think we made ourselves clear! – Ruka intervened. She was about to tell how hunting humans was strictly forbidden in that area but Aidou, being boisterous as usual, steped forward and cut her off before she could continue.
- That's right! You should show some respect, I am Hanabusa Aidou, heir of the mighty Aidou Family!
- He couldn't care less about your name!
Now sure that an attack from the students would follow, Luc decided to be quick and attack first for the master's sake, charging against them with his dagger.
To protect his friends, Shiki quickly drew out his Blood Whip and deflected the boy's charge, forcing him to jump over them to avoid being hit. For someone who had never seen a Blood Whip before, Luc reacted quite fast, like a swallow in mid-flight, but the jump had obligated him to recover his breath for a moment and deal with his frustration for having missed.
Kain was still determined to solve the problem through conversation and pose a few more questions. Apparently they followed the blood track and found the killing site, being able to collect some clues. There were the marks on the high wooden structure, but only a few drops of blood on the ground. Nothing else.
- There were signs of hanging but none of strangulation. The victim was still alive when you drew blood from it. Why would you do that?
- Because death by suffocation is so much messier, don't you agree? All that spit and waste coming out from the mouth... it spoils anyone's appetite.
Aidou was nearly at the last drop of patience with him.
- You're still mocking us, aren't you, old man?
The stranger's expression turned into a stunningly grimmer one.
- Old?... You pick on me because you think me old?
Guided by Kaien's sense of smell, it didn't take much time until he and his students could hear the sounds of the skirmish that had broken out.
Despite some superficial wounds, the stranger was deflecting the attacks and grasps like a demon, using his bare hands and fangs, doing what he could to escape, trying to keep Luc on his tail, doing what they could to protect each other's back. They didn't go too far, however, having quickly stumbled upon Zero, who was pointing the Bloody Rose at him coldly.
- I'll blow you to hell, vampire!
For a moment the stranger was stopped in his tracks, and then he heard his servant being subdued by Aidou's ice and Shiki's whip, with Takuma's blade pointed at his face, but when the master saw four more silhouettes from behind Zero, he roared a warning and attacked the tallest one.
The two struggled before the students who didn't dare to interfere as they trusted the hunter's ability, but when the stranger suddenly gained the upper hand, almost crushing the chairman into a wall, ready to break his neck between his fangs, Kaien could finally take a look at his face.
- Astaroth!?...
The vampire let go of him immediately, taking a couple of steps back, looking slightly confused.
- Kaien... Cross.
The students stared in disbelief, but the re-encounter would prove to be the start of many problems.
...Continues...