A/N:
serena83: That would be a long road and for that Jane's too rational mind has to come out of survival mode first. But there would be romantic moments in the mean time I guess, and revelations, and adventure, and a fight, and sci-fi(?) . Hope you enjoy the ride. Thanks for your support.
"Come here." What?
"Stop spacing out and come here," Kaname impatiently motioned to the place beside him. Right, he was calling for some time. To think I could fall asleep among vampires. Just the tension and sleeplessness of the last few days catching up. It was definitely not because I felt safer.
"We are nearing the Academy," he said, "I don't want the Night Class stirred from the scent of your blood. You need a bandage."
"Uh…oh! Thanks, but I would like to do that myself. It's not bleeding." It was awkward talking about the bite with him, since he was the one responsible.
"Of course, it's not. I took care of that. Why? Did you feel gross?" I shivered remembering the tongue swipe. However, I did not rise to the bait. I was not Zero Kiryu.
"It's alright Miss Jane, let me help you", Takuma was beside me with a smile that was just like the vice-dorm-president.
"That will be enough Takuma", Kaname was holding Ichijo's hand that was on my neck moments ago, "We are at Cross Academy's steps, we need to get going".
"Of course, Kaname." Takuma backed off and out of the car.
Kaname always interpreted Ichijo's kindness as a misguided effort to be close to powerful blood, didn't he? He did describe Takuma's closeness to the pureblood Sara this way.
I snatched the bandage, put it on the bite wound and got out of the car. I was daunted by the number of steps I was looking at. My limbs were kind of frozen and not used to the rigor, or the early morning chill was getting to me.
Away from the city, the tranquil air, the silence accentuated by birds' chirping and the smell of grass gave a sense of peace to this place that one could almost forget the presence of the vampires here. This place could be my sanctuary, couldn't it? That would depend on my next move of course – if I would be a prisoner or a guest here.
To sum it up, my fate from now on was in Kaname's hand and I did not like it a bit, especially since I had no way of influencing his decision about my life…or may be, I had.
The first course of action was to prevent Kaname from killing me whether for getting power by consuming my heart Shizuka-style or to prevent said power getting into the hands of his enemies. Wait, that was an exaggeration, wasn't it? He was not a cold-hearted killer, right? Oh, who was I kidding? Yes, he was capable of great love, but said love was only reserved for Yuki and I must not forget that he had an active part in the Kiryu family massacre.
So, if I did not want to put my life at Kaname's mercy, I would need to take action. The best I could do at the moment was appeal to Keien Cross's ideal of pacifism. I could also befriend Yuki Cross, surely Kaname wouldn't want to explain the dead body of her friend to his dear Yuki! But that would have to wait for now.
"Hope the Chairman doesn't mind the early hour" Takuma was chirpy as usual, as if the confrontation earlier didn't happen.
"We are not going to the Chairman"
"We are not?" I couldn't help. My plan was in jeopardy and Kaname raised a brow from a few steps down.
"Err…I mean you were talking about the headmaster of this famous school, weren't you? It's just, I have always wanted to study at such a premier institution and since I am living here and all, I would like to meet the Chairman".
If Kaname wanted to dispose of me shortly, he wouldn't agree to it. If he wanted me alive for some time on the other hand, this was a reasonable request to allow.
The walk towards the chairman's home was weighing on my limbs more so because of the excitement of the last one day which was finally having its toll now that there was no imminent danger. But the urgent task of persuading the legendary hunter kept me alert. My freedom if not my life depended on it.
The plan was to not antagonize Kaname Kuran before Cross since I was not sure about the extent of trust between them. The chairman was in on the secret of Yuki but he sure didn't know Kaname's plan for Zero or that he was the Kuran ancestor. All that plan went for a toss however.
"Miss Jane, you don't seem to be of school going age." Why, thank you for saying the obvious Mr. Cross. But there was more to come.
"Why you seem to be older than Kaname-kun here. Since when Kaname-kun is going after older women, hmm?" Did he just wiggle his eyebrows at Kaname?
After my fervent appeal for protection consisting of human rights, ideals of pacifism, quest for knowledge all calculated to touch a chord, this was an anti-climactic response. The jolly headmaster was a hard nut to crack. In fact the jolliness was to throw off more serious people I was finding out.
"Mr. Cross you are fussing over minor details," I said. "Besides, the night class doesn't even require an age bar since the course is mainly research. Why I can even teach if that will earn me a place at your house."
The former hunter was still looking at Kaname who was seated across the desk from him right beside me. Apparently, the earlier probe was for him. Kaname didn't raise to the bait.
"Headmaster Cross, I am ok with her studying or teaching here," Kaname drawled. "But she will be in the night class within my sight and live in the Moon dorm"
"But she is a human," Cross protested, "and she is right, as a hunter I should give her asylum if her version of events are correct."
I was elated. "Exactly, there must be some law where abducting a human for the purpose of sucking her blood is illegal, right?" I said.
Kaname's eyes flashed. He bent forward toward Cross, his claws lengthening and breaking the surface of the desk, and whispered, "She is a 'calix sanguinis' and according to the agreement after the 2nd Vampire-Hunter War, she is under vampire jurisprudence even if she is human."
The chairman's eyebrows were in danger of being lost in his hair.
His eyes had compassion and pity when he looked at me. Oh no, if even Cross can't help me than no one can. In fact, I had no legal recourse.
"Why don't we let her stay here, Kaname Kun?" he said finally. "You are right, as a hunter, I have no say in this matter but we are building a new world, aren't we? A world your mother envisioned. A world where vampires and humans could openly co-exist."
He looked Kaname in the eye. "And to that end, drinking human blood is prohibited in the academy."
Kaname looked like he was slapped. "You know I have no desire of anyone but 'her'. Very well, do whatever you want. But she cannot fall into the hands of the senate, Chairman Cross." His eyes flashed. "She will be in the night class and will need my permission and a bodyguard to go outside the academy." So saying Kaname got up.
"As you say Kaname Kun, as you say." But Kaname did not wait to listen.
xxx
In the chairman's guestroom that day, my ruminations were interrupted by the chairman's daughter who brought my breakfast. The room was austere and the walls devoid of any fixture, as if waiting to be filled by the thoughts of the occupant. The bed was the sole furniture apart from the dresser. The large window by the foot of the bed overlooking the lush grounds were its only redeeming feature. It was then when I was trying to reorient myself to my new situation that she appeared.
"Miss Jane, you did not appear for breakfast, so I brought it here. I am Yuki by the way."
After last night's ordeal, the food looked appealing. I reached for the glass of milk and… couldn't pick it up. My hands were shaking.
Yuki sat by the bed, took my hands in her lap and said, "You are shaking Miss Jane. You know you are safe in this academy right?"
I looked at her. Such earnest eyes, so similar yet nothing like Kaname. "What were you told?" I asked.
"Only that bad vampires are after you and Kaname saved you and brought you here. Something similar happened to me 10 years ago. Kaname saved me and brought me here. He will protect you too, have faith, Miss Jane."
Such naïve trust. She had no idea that the greatest threat was from Kaname Kuran himself. But then Kaname would actually save her, and so would Zero, and the chairman and the night class. No one had anything to gain by saving this Jane Doe and apparently had many uses for her.
For a moment I resented Yuki, then I hated myself for hating her. I have friends and family who would do anything for me, I din't have to envy this tragic orphan. I just had to figure out a way to get back to them, my family. To that end I had only myself to rely on. After all, even if Kaname did not want to save me, I blackmailed him into saving me. No matter how ill advised that turned out to be, I was still alive. With newfound determination, I concentrated on the plan.
"Say Yuki, can you give me a tour of the academy? This will be such a good time to know each other as well."
#
Over the next week, I was afraid of Kaname's attention but that turned out be unnecessary. Kaname stringently avoided me. However, I had no illusion that I wasn't watched. At least I was alive and not in immediate danger… hopefully.
However, it was not lost on me that as much unpredictable as Kaname was, outside his protection my life would be in danger. This academy suited my purpose anyway. For one, this was the only place here, I had some 'prior' knowledge about and might as well prove useful in 'researching' my 'situation'.
It was noon and the day was particularly hot. So, I was surprised to find a night class student intruding my 'research time' at the school library. Okay, it's not much of a research when you can't read the language, which is creepy if you could speak it fluently but could't remember when you learnt it! Fortunately, the laws of mathematics were the same regardless of language. Which was why I was reading a math book when the vampire found me in the library.
"If it isn't the resident 'Calix Sanguinis'. But the question is, why you aren't with lord Kaname."
The blond had a speculating look in his blue eyes as he sat down opposite me and snatched the book I was reading.
"And you are?"
"Aido. Call me Hanabusa. And you must be Jane. I can call you Jane, right?"
"Sure. Though considering I am going to teach you mathematics, I think professor would be better."
"Oh, is that why you were reading elementary mathematics?" I colored immediately. I was trying to decipher the number system from the unfamiliar symbols in the book and thank god! It was decimal system.
"You do know night class is an advance research class, right?" I did not like the condescending tone.
"You will be surprised what more you could learn". He seemed unconvinced. "So, Jane", he said pointedly refusing to use 'professor', "Where are you from? Why didn't we know about you before?"
Trust nosy Aido to ask the difficult questions! I knew "immigrant" would not cover my origins for long. Immigrant from where would have to be answered.
"What do you mean? We just met. Why would you know of me 'before'?"
"You know what I mean," he said. "'Calix Sanguinis' cannot be hidden easily. To have no trace of your existence before the Shiki Mansion incident…as if someone took a lot of effort to keep it hidden…someone powerful…someone pureblood maybe?"
He was behind me in a blink and had his hand by my neck parting the high collared neck of the shirt I was wearing.
"Tell me Jane, are you in league with someone else when lord Kaname's mark adorn your neck?" he whispered in my ear.
That cur, how dare he? Biting me against my will wasn't enough, 'he' had to mark me like livestock and now he sends his lackey to interrogate me? He didn't have the decency to come himself? What happened to –'I will know your truth soon enough' posture?
I caught the offensive hand and pulled Aido to my face.
"And why are you touching what belongs to Kaname? You couldn't want this blood, could you?"
Aido snatched away his hand like he was burned.
He threw a glance at my neck and grew further agitated.
"No no no, don't misunderstand" he pleaded, "I don't want your blood. In fact, you shouldn't give it to anyone but lord Kaname. I just overheard the dorm president and vice president talking and was curious enough to pay a visit. Your blood belongs to Kaname and no one else. Please excuse me".
And he was out of the library at vampire speed.
So he wasn't sent by Kaname. Only nosy Aido getting his nose where it doesn't belong. Figures, considering Kaname wouldn't want to identify the 'Calix Sanguinis' to potential competition, though the fact that he had one, was by now probably known by every vampire owing to the Shiki mansion fiasco.
What could I say? I was dreading the introduction to my new students.
A/N: I am a new writer and reviews are the only means for me to know if I am doing something right or wrong. Hence, please let me know in reviews so I can correct myself at the early stages of the story. They are also the only motivations that make me give the effort over the weekend after a grueling week at work. R&R please.
