Eris: Time to enter Kaname-kun's heart! C:
Farewell. I'll meet with you again when the sky is clear."(KZ,AU)
Chapter 2: Among the bustling lights
The street stalls' advertisements unfurled as the night had peeked out of the corner; signalling the start of another one of those busy business times.
The narrow path was packed with people; boisterously laughing and checking the merchandise that the vendors were busily putting up for display. Adding to the noise was the repetitive honking of vehicles, whose drivers probably regretted choosing to go through this eventful area.
The sidewalks were indeed crammed already with booths of all sizes, and people dared to breach the roads; walking around as though everywhere was still a part of the pedestrian lane.
'What a chaotic and greatly disorganized place.'
The teenage brunette checked the university information map once again.
His dark, burgundy eyes reread the guide twice over.
Gate no. 8 is located in Freesia st., west from the Felipean Museum.
He hoped he had not been mistaken. He did come across the museum a long way back; and dutifully, he walked west. Hoping to see the large iron gates of the prestigious school, he was met instead with a rambunctious flea market. And the gates? God knows, it was lost in the crowd and structures a long, long time ago.
He'd been having nothing but run-ins with bad luck since this morning.
Lots of cancelled flights caused him to miss the transferee students' welcome luncheon. And when he arrived, his taxi driver, probably sensing that he was a newbie in the country, decided to drive him around to raise the number on his meter. Of course, Kaname was sharp enough to detect his modus, and soon enough he and the driver were in a heated clash of words.
'And now I'm here.'
He had been dropped off in an unfamiliar road not too long ago when he refused to pay the man the unjust fee flashing on the meter.
Deciding that his male pride of not asking for directions was not helping him one bit in his current bind, he rolled his brochure and stuffed it into his coat's large pocket. Everything was too tiring and he couldn't wait for this day to end.
He just needed to get to his temporary dormitory which so happened to be housed in the school campus.
"Excuse me; do you know where West University's gate no. 8 is located?" Kaname asked a group of ladies, lined up and clad-in dark-coloured cocktail dresses. They had been busy applying more make up to their faces on the sidewalk before he approached.
"Oh, well aren't you a handsome thing."
"Are you a student? That's so cute."
Kaname grew uncomfortably rigid and silent as the apparently skimpily-clad women began to crowd around him and began handling his clothing in a furtive manner.
"Hey."One whose lips were painted with an irkingly dark shade of red whispered into his ear. "Young one, want some action with someone experienced?" Another jabbed him lightly as she giggled with no restraint. "Come with us, it'll be our lil' secret."
Before he could turn them down as politely as he could manage, he was abruptly pulled away; and the women's calls were drowned out by loud music as he was led into a much brighter area where vendors were selling scarves and bracelets.
The one who saved him turned to face him, and angry lilac eyes bore into his.
"A skanky lady fingers your back pocket for your wallet, and all you do is dumbly look on?"
Kaname could only stare back at this stranger; unsure of what to reply to him despite the feeling of gratefulness brimming in his heart.
"You're kind of lewd-planning to take on all of them."
At this, the surprised teenage brunette shook his head at the straightforward comment, and as calmly as possible, explained the predicament that he was in.
"I just really need to settle into the dormitory." He said in finality after a long account of everything he went through throughout the day.
"Oh, so that's it. Besides, guy like you shouldn't need to pick up some whores. I'm sure the girls in the university will be happy to have you."
Kaname panicked a little. In such a short span of time, this other guy had managed to throw him off many times that he was beginning to forget how he had been pegged by his schoolmates as the 'ice prince' back in middle school. But this silverette; he was just so...so crude.
Crude and a little too frank.
But when the other slipped out a small, attractive smile, Kaname decided that this person wasn't such a bad guy.
"I was kidding." The boy turned away to scrutinize the vicinity. "This street turns into a flea market at night, just so you know. And along with that, the prostitutes hang around to victimize some curious meatheads. A lot of snatchers and pimps lurk these places too. Not a good place to be running around."
As careless as he did the first time, the silverette took a hold of Kaname's sleeve and led him through the noisy crowd.
"The gate is way behind those booths over there. The students only use it when it's daytime, cause at night, you get this mess. I'm a student there too; I'm Zero Kiryuu."
"Kaname Kuran, a transfer student." He curtly replied after staring a little too long at what he realized were lilac eyes. Exquisite colour. "What were you doing back here?"
"What's with the accusatory tone? Unlike you, I'm here for this." He held up a cage that Kaname had not noticed he'd been clutching in his other hand.
"Snapping turtle."
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"Yes, Please don't worry, I've settled down quite well in the apartment I moved into three weeks ago...Oh? Please leave her be; she can do as she pleases or else she'll rebel. The exams are coming up so I won't be able to call very often." He snapped the phone shut and breathed heavily after hearing a ton of complaint about his sister's ways of showing everyone at home how she disliked being apart from him.
"Your mom?"
Nodding, he observed the nearly-not-as-sullen-as-before look on Zero's face.
"Well you recovered quite fast."
"Quit it. You should've seen how it died. It just...turned over like a dead fish!" The silverette scowled before slumping inelegantly against the corner of a classroom.
"Well, it's better that way. The longer it might've lived, the greater the chances it could've nipped one of your fingers." Zero only rolled his eyes at another one of the brunette's lectures. Kaname didn't stop there though.
"Don't buy things you're going to regret."
"'I didn't regret it." Lilac eyes flashed in retaliation, before murmuring in an almost inaudible tone which Kaname managed to catch, still. "It was like a two-in-one kind of bargain anyway."
"Oh? I don't remember you striking a deal like that." A fine brow was raised. He was very sure of every little detail of their first meeting. You could call it anything, but for Kaname, the little bump-in with Zero was the only good thing that happened to him that day.
"I got you."
"huh?"
Confusion was an understatement. Who knew losing a damned pet could cause the other to spout nonsense.
"You."
Kaname watched as a teasing glimmer in the other's lilac eyes became evident.
"You were like a little lost puppy that tagged along with me that time."
"And I thought then, why not? Not a bad deal. I just had to pilfer you away from a bunch of ladies who wanted to abuse you." Zero let out a chuckle as he rubbed his fingers together; mocking the brunette about the time he was almost robbed of his wallet containing his passport, credit cards and cash.
But Kaname was too lost in a sudden eruption of an emotion; threading lightly through his nerves as he watched with new eyes, how the breeze gently caressed the lustrous silver tresses; or how bewitching lilac gems were when they were contrasted with pale skin.
And how the other's laughter rhythmically chimed with the loud beating of his heart.
Thudding; pounding like distant African drums as he remembered the innocent words spoken just a while ago.
I got you.
And then he realized how he would always, always belong to Zero from this point on,
Never mind that the other wasn't conscious of that fact.
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"It's fucking hot."
Yes.
You're hot.
"I think they should do something about our uniforms; they're too bulky for this country, see? Too many layers!"
Off with them, then.
Fuck.
Kaname wanted to die right now, or maybe at least calm himself down. This was not a healthy thing for someone to be thinking about; especially when you're a vigorous teenage male focusing all your hormones on another guy. Wrong. So wrong. He pinched his nose brutally as he convinced himself of this horrible fact.
Why, oh why.
He'd been skipping meals at night for a week just to lie down on his room's carpeted floor, thinking about how he had let it creep to him and then take him by surprise- chaining him to feelings that terrified him.
Why was there always a rush of fantastic emotions involved whenever they were together?
Heck, Zero could just be ranting nonstop and Kaname would skip all his classes just to hear his voice; to hear him share everything about the things he hated...more also about the things he liked.
He wanted to be able to hold an umbrella for him during a downpour, or wrap his jacket around the silverette's shoulders when the breeze became too cold.
He just wanted to be more for him, but at the same time, wanted to just stop being around him just as much. Well, maybe less of the latter...But he knew that emotions like these were fruitless and...and unacceptable.
Zero would flee away in disgust. He just knew. And having the other dislike him even just a bit would shatter him.
As much as it would hurt, he needed to find a way to make these feelings, no matter how wonderful they were, disappear. Heavens above, help him.
"...I like her."
As if a giant bolt of lightning skewered him from out of the blue, he flinched dramatically, causing the things from his desk to clatter to the ground.
"...What?"
"You're really going to make me repeat it?" The oblivious silverette huffed. "Fine, I like Ruka-chan, okay. And I'm a little troubled, because this is the first time I've ever felt this way about someone."
That makes two of us, Kaname thought bitterly.
"I think I should confess. What do you think?"
Dropping quickly to the floor, he gathered his fallen items; expertly hiding the effect this conversion had on him behind his bangs. Recollecting himself quickly, he responded as casually as possible.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Cause we're best friends?" Zero replied, already irritated that the other didn't see how dire in need of help he was.
"No we're not." Kaname gritted his teeth at the slip. Don't. He willed himself to crush the intense jealousy that arose in his heart.
"I'm kidding okay." He added in order to erase the wrinkle that was forming in between the other's eyebrows.
And then he mustered the best smile he could give, and the fakest one he'd ever made in his life.
"Give it your best shot."
'I hope you fail. I'd bet my limbs, my eyes, my everything.
Just for you to fail.'
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Now he had a reason to back away, and hope that he could bury these feelings that were impossible to reciprocate. Then maybe someday he could secretly look back and laugh about the very first time he fell in love...or better.
He would meet someone new who would make him realize that these weren't feelings of love but of curiosity.
But the sleepless nights of hoping for something to kindle between him and Zero were impossible to ignore. They were solid proof. His life had turned upside down and inside out all because of that one person.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I wasn't looking!" Too busy with his thoughts, he took in the fact that he had recently collided with another student-a female who looked terribly familiar.
He offered his hand, ignoring the tenseness of his extremities. Yes, he recognized her all too well. Zero had secretly gazed at her far too many times for Kaname not to memorize the lithe profile.
"It's alright, are you hurt anywhere?" he spoke, trying to maintain a little respect-Which he supposedly had none for this...this bitch.
"Oh...You're Kaname Kuran." Her eyes lit up in admiration as soon as she was back on her feet.
"...You know my name?" he asked, a little revolted inside. The way she said his name made him want to wash his ears down properly for an hour.
"How could I not?"She clasped her hands together in excitement, causing her soft brown curls to exaggeratedly bounce along with her. "I'm sorry if I'm crossing boundaries here, but I feel really lucky that I'm taking to the most popular guy in school right now."
"I wasn't aware that I've been labelled as such. Since you were the first to inform, thank you for letting me know...miss?"
He wanted to sneer right now. So the pretty little miss wanted to be around him. How uneventfully-eventful. He decided to play around for a while to diffuse the hatred he felt, and started by feigning unfamiliarity.
"Oh...oh! I'm Ruka Souen! And you are so modest. I'm sure my friends will be in awe of that bonus point." She twirled her pinky in her curls to highlight her most attractive feature.
"I've never heard of you, but a pleasure to meet you anyway."
Ruka raised her palms as if she was asking for forgiveness for what she was about to ask next.
"Okay I'm really crossing the line now! I'm hoping you've got some time later for some coffee...with me?"
A coffee date with her? Zero's crush?
As much as he wanted to fling her attention anywhere else other than his silverette, he could never do such an open betrayal.
He would never allow Zero to dislike him. Never.
Not when he still wanted that smile and that soft laughter. Not when he still wanted silver hair on brown, when Zero would lean down to see what he was reading during the times they would spend together, just basking in each other's silence.
Kaname could not let go of them. Not right now. He wasn't ready.
"No, I can't."
But he wasn't ready either for the silverette to be with another.
This was his chance to drive her away from Zero. If he couldn't openly steal her away, then he would find ways for the girl to do the work herself.
He would have to make use of psychology here. Leave hints here and there; make her follow him around like a pet on an imaginary leash. Yes, it would all be her doing.
To everyone's eyes, she would be the foolish girl trailing and pining after a man who had done nothing to earn her. But he would get her anyways. He would charm her without laying a finger on the vixen. And then dump her when he was sure that she would never go for a lesser man.
She would always remember him.
Remember Kaname Kuran, and how she had him once.
"I do library work at my spare time. If you come around when I'm not busy, I could say hi."
It starts with this. His first bait.
And she would take it.
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It was late at night when the brunette came over to visit. He noticed that the blinds on the dormitory room were closed and yet, there was a tiny light from the inside.
Insistently, he knocked on the painted oak door. But even as minutes passed, no one came to answer. Frustrated, Kaname jiggled the doorknob, surprised to find it yield and fling open.
It took quite some time for his eyes to adjust to the darkness; outlines of objects managed to be illuminated slightly by a lamp in the far corner.
"Something's wrong, isn't there?"
He winced as his voice pierced the silent atmosphere, and echoed on the bare walls.
But relief came to him when another voice echoed back.
"Rejection...hurts so much, believe me."
And there he was. Zero was hunched against the balcony's arc, his head buried in his arms as the moonlight painted his features, making the picture of him enigmatic.
How Kaname missed him, he didn't know.
"If it managed to get you so down, then I believe you." He responded as he approached his downhearted friend. Kneeling down beside him, he ran his hand on moonlight tresses, trying very hard to erase the sadness that had overtaken the other.
He never wanted this to happen.
But he was selfish, that he'd admit. He'd admit also that he could never entrust him to anyone else. The rejection may hurt, but who knows what other sort of pain she could cause the silverette in the future if they ended up together? That girl was too flimsy. She would never see Zero's value. No one could.
Except maybe him.
"Did you know...?"
Lilac eyes peeked from underneath his arms to gaze at burgundy ones.
"She turned me down because she admitted to having secret feelings for you, and would really like to have the chance to confess to you when she's ready."
"They're not a secret anymore, you know." Kaname affectionately flicked the other's nose.
So he succeeded.
Ruka would no longer bother Zero, now that she was caught by his trap.
And despite the guilt, his joy was more powerful; learning that he could keep the silverette a little longer beside him.
"Go for it."
He was struck by the words that left the other's mouth.
"...You want me to date her?"
Zero nodded solemnly, his eyes determinedly convincing his best friend.
"She's a nice girl. Perfect for you, even. You guys'll be great together." He patted Kaname's shoulder, but stopped, and narrowed his eyes, as if realizing something just now. "Or else, you've already set your eyes on someone else."
Kaname just froze; stunned that he might be on to him. But when he saw the other trying to fight down a smile, he relaxed and chuckled to incense the other.
"I tell you everything! What happened to our oath?"
"We don't have one."
"Then we'll make one."
"You recover too fast."
"It's called adaptation. I'll find someone else, you'll see. In a week, I'll be back on my feet."
This caused Kaname to go down from his high and inwardly frown.
So he had more enemies to take down.
He was sure from this point on he would be breaking even more hearts. And though his would take a regular beating too, it was only Zero's he'd be apologizing for every night, and he would justify his actions by thinking that if any girl out there really loved Zero back, then her will to be with him would be impenetrable.
That even his own feelings of love could not interfere.
And only when she'd come would Kaname yield and give Zero away.
But until then...
He watched as the light from the lamp reflected on the windowpane; flickering like the bustling lights from that long time ago.
A marketplace where he was lost and unsure of his decisions and his life.
And in this moment, with Zero huddled beside him; watching the sky display its dark tapestry, he was complete.
Until the day he would have to separate himself from the one he secretly loves.
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Doesn't seem like an ending, huh?
Which leads me to this decision:
One more chapter to go. C:
Back to the present.
RnR for love.
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Thanks for the past reviews guys; they're the only things that inspire me to never leave the VK fandom :))
