Expressionist Beast
The Bittersweet Nightshade
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight. Matsuri Hino does.
Chapter 2. Entangled
For what it felt like ages, my frozen feet stuck still onto the granite ground, refusing to get away from the mystifying moment. And the most unfortunate thing of all, I seemed to not be able to control my own eyes since all it could do was staring at the man clad in black shirt just an inch away from me.
His pale skin, sculptured high cheek bones, and dark brown hair which has matching color with the eyes were unearthly flawless compared to those of humans'.
This person was familiar.
Too familiar.
"You've grown up," he said, took one step forward, and his shadow loomed over mine.
That queer statement snapped me back to reality while my face forming a deep scowl as an effort to show him the anger I'd kept hidden.
"Just how could you say that to a person you've just met, stranger?" I emphasized the word purposely, reassuring myself, even though I was actually devoid of confidence when it came to his identity.
What really bugged me was the fact that I couldn't make out where or when this man had appeared in my life, and honestly, if not for my own dignity, begging him for information to fulfill the curiosity growing inside of me would be on my top to-do list.
I was pretty sure I've seen him before.
.
His eyes.
.
His voice.
.
His . . . everything.
.
"No one says we've just met, little sister."
"Are you kidding me?"
The voice I let out was smothered with venom, however hard I tried to redeem it. I didn't have a single good solution for this one because on one hand, a tiny part of me wanted to believe everything this man said. On the other hand, the larger part of it gave a commonsensical explanation to our encounter: he was only a mere burglar lucky enough to be here and was attempting to fool me by babbling specious facts.
Of course, most people would opt the second probability. With that thought on mind, I pushed away the unnecessary predicament I'd had and screamed for help at the top of my lungs.
Oh boy, how wrong my act was.
"HELP! THEEEEERE IS A BUR―"
My mouth couldn't finish the sentence because of a large, muscular hand that had already covered it wholly, not leaving even the slightest ability for me to mutter a word. I cursed mentally and started to regret the impromptu decision I'd made.
Had I been smarter, I would've just punch him on the face without taking the value of his compelling beauty into consideration.
Forget about me knowing him.
He wasn't a burglar. He was just a pure pervert.
"Ferocious as ever."
I pierced him a deadly glare―well, as deadly as I could since it was hard to concentrate when such a guy's face was only millimeters away from yours―and struggled my left hand out from the grip of his.
He let out a chuckle. "If you want me to release you, promise me that you won't scream like that ever again, okay?"
You wish, I said inwardly, nodding in agreement on the outside.
To my astonishment, he did release my mouth and arm from his hands without suspicions; his eyes reflected pure belief towards me, so much that guilt took over me for a split second before I came back to my senses and ventured again, "GUAAARDS! THERE'S A PERVERT!"
"Ah, I should've predicted this. You're my beloved Yuuki after all," he said that as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, ignoring the whole situation. "But, no, I'm no pervert, for your information."
God. He knew my name.
And he called me his beloved.
How grosser could this be?
Seconds later, I took notice of some noises which I interpreted as footsteps coming near to my room, bringing myself to a more relaxed state. I threw him a triumphant smile and declared "I've got you" in a mocking tone, too oblivious of the things he might be able to do or what his true self was under the facade he wore, therefore, the next thing he did was far beyond my imagination and could be one of the things I would bear in mind my whole life, if not eternally.
"Or not."
Once he said it, he took my chin at the exact moment when his surroundings evolved into a menacing dark, murky aura with irregular forms that emitted a mystical yet eerie sensation, spreading from behind him out to his sides and little by little, swallowing his whole body down until the point where only his complexion was visible.
Suddenly the chilly night air didn't feel that chilly whatsoever.
"What the―"
"See you soon, Yuuki."
Then the balcony was left with the dumbfounded me after he dissolved into the darkness he'd created.
The mien I showed was telling: this girl was scared out of her wits.
A sound of bam echoed around the room followed by anxious yells that questioned about what had happened to me, what the scream was about, and I could faintly hear Dad's concerned voice from the outside, "Is she okay, Mitsuki?"
"I don't know . . . wait, there she is. Yuuki, are you okay? What ha―" My mom lifted her hands to take mine as she saw my petrified figure. "Are you okay? Hey, Hey, Yuuki! What happen? Yuuki!"
That was the last thing I heard before my vision went bleak, so bleak that it reminded me of the previous event that brought the term 'creepy' to a whole new level.
The same scene kept on repeating over and over again inside my head, albeit unconsciousness had taken my mind over.
The same scene that made me realize that this was no dream.
¤O¤O¤
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As I lifted my heavy lids, blistering sunlight that shone through the opened windows showered me mercilessly although like always, its magical energy managed to ease the headache I'd been having since yesterday. The events that took place last night was starting to take its toll on me when I passed out. I still remembered those big hands, giving my chin a featherlike caress as if it was so fragile that it would break any time and those glowing dark-maroon eyes―one of the many parts of him that wasn't excluded from the touch of mysteriousness. And the dream continued until the moment he disappeared, leaving the words he said hanging in the air.
See you soon, Yuuki.
The first time I heard that statement, I felt terrified. But the first time I let the words really sink in, a shiver ran down my spine in a good way. I didn't know his name, neither do I know his origin. But what I knew for sure, I was bizarrely attracted to him and actually wanted to meet him again despite the lingering fear in my heart.
This proved how my mind had gone totally insane.
"Now, not only am I a loner, but I'm also a nutcase," I muttered to no one. "Sweet."
The mood was getting darker and darker every second and I could tell it wasn't going to get any better if I didn't do something about it. I got up from the downy bed, adapted my vision to the light I was suddenly brought into, and took a look at the digital clock on the bedside table.
12.30 p.m.
"Damn it!"
I hurried from the room and stomped my way to the dining room, planning to throw on a rampage. The people I predicted to be there were enjoying their meal in full luxury which could be seen on their faces.
"Mom, Dad, what the heck are you doing here? Why didn't you tell the maids to wake me up?" I bawled. "School starts, like, five hours ago! Oh God, I can't believe this!"
Mom put down her fork and said in a calm, motherly voice, "Are you okay?"
I was taken aback by her reaction to my improper invasion, then when last night's event flashed back in my head, I cringed at her, "Eh, well, I'm quite okay. Not that okay, but an okay okay."
She smiled―such an occasion is very, very rare to occur―to me, inquiring, "Did something happen?"
Yeah, mom. An extremely handsome guy broke into my balcony last night and based on his explanation, he got there by flying. Oh, and by the way, I saw him disappearing into the dark with my own two eyes. Cool, huh?
I bet on my painting collection that as soon as I said that, I would be sent by my parents to an asylum immediately. And be locked in. Forever.
Instead, I told her the first thing that came up to my mind, "Uhm, you know, last night, when I was enjoying the night view, a cluster of bats attacked me out of the blue so uh, well―" I searched for the best word that fitted my feeling. "I freaked out."
"You . . . freaked out?"
I glanced at Dad who clearly didn't believe the dumb lie I made up and gulped the lump that started to rose in my throat. "That's right. You know, I hate bats so much that I can't even stand the sight of it."
His skeptical look has yet to be removed when he deadpanned, "You screamed something like . . . 'pervert', if I'm not mistaken, dear."
Really, I shouldn't underestimate a father's instinct. "No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
I glowered at him since this conversation had gone to a ridiculous one, not to mention childish. "Dad, just believe me already. I said I didn't!So, stop that annoying reply of yours already!"
It seemed that the tone I used before was a little bit too indecorous according to my mother's basic of manners because, she uttered, "Watch it, daughter." Then, with the skill of a topnotch actress, the emerald-eyed lady morphed back into her gentle side again. "If you say that then, fine. But she's true. You were really annoying, Kaien."
This was the first time I felt so grateful for having a mother like that. "Thanks, mom."
Dad was going to retort back but my mom's trademark, the deadly glare, shut him up almost right on cue. "Err, right. Let's switch the topic, okay?" He cleared his throat, definitely trying to get rid of the same thing that rose in my throat a moment ago. "We didn't wake you up because school didn't start five hours ago, Yuuki. It starts, like, five hours later. You're in the night class, remember?"
Uh, pardon?
Seeing my perplexing expression, he went on his explanation, "You chose the Art Section when I gave you the application, right? The Art Section, Music Section, and Acting Section classes are all held in the evening while the Normal Section classes―the one that your sister attends―start in the morning. Didn't I tell you this before?"
"No, you didn't, Dad!" I cried and deep down in my heart, had the urge to strangle his neck but of course that was an utter impossibility if a certain someone was there backing him up.
"Really?" He sounded unsure to my statement and realization hit him seconds later. "Oh! That's right! I asked Yori to tell you this last week because you were busy with your paintings. So she didn't tell you, after all?"
That girl was so doomed. "Nope."
"That means you haven't packed for anything, have you?"
I stared incredulously at him. "Why should I?"
"Because you're going to stay in a dorm, Yuuki," he stated ever so calmly.
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Really funny. Seriously, dad."
"I'm not joking."
"You are. Big time."
"I'm totally not, dear."
"You―"
Mom banged the table just hard enough to cause the tableware to rattle. "Stop it both of you, or else . . . "
That silenced me and my dad constantly. No need for second thoughts if I still planned to preserve my eardrums.
"Okay, so now, err, I'll just go upstairs," I stuttered awkwardly.
I was heading towards the stairs when mom called up, "Oh, and honey?"
Oh no. "Yes?"
"Don't forget to pack your clothes!"
I felt myself releasing the breath I'd been holding, "Of course, mom!"
¤O¤O¤
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The sun had long sunk behind the horizon by the time the limousine my dad and I were in arrived at the school. From the window, I could make out a protruding edifice standing all high and mightily on the far ground. The huge fifteen-storey building was designed modernly, shaped like a cuboid with a curving at the top, and composed mostly of black glass and steel. Every inch of it screamed impeccability and for a split second I was proud for having a father who basically owned everything here.
The school was surrounded by dense forest except for the north and the south gate, which gave the impression of tranquility. I hadn't even started the classes yet, but I already felt the excitement of being able to pour such a picturesque sight onto a canvas ringing inside my head.
With my own father as my guidance in this enormous school, I strolled down the lobby, which much to my surprise was vacant apart from a few janitors, and turned left to reach the headmaster's office. When the door was closed, I asked, "Where are the students, dad? I haven't seen one since I stepped into this school."
He looked uncertain before answering, as a deadly serious expression started to creep on his usual jovial face. "Well, Yuuki . . . before I explain that, there's something that I need to tell you."
His tone was kind of peculiar―too calm and soothing. And then suddenly it hit me. He was going to talk about that.
"Dad, is it about my past?" I whispered through my gritted teeth, unable to mask the grief in my tone.
His voice was smothered with anxiety when he said, "Yes. And please don't look at me like that. I've tried to tell you the truth these past four years since I gave you that photo, but I just couldn't." He stopped, trying to catch his breath. "I want us to be a real family, even if for just a short time. I want you to be happy."
"Just tell me the truth, dad!" I tried to sound angry and unaffected but I choked on the last word. Already, my stomach did one of its villainous somersaults.
Dad.
"You can't expect me to be happy since the day I saw that photo! Yes, I was young, but even a freaking blind grandmother could pick up the resemblance!"
There. The rage I'd been keeping these last couple of years was vented, but as I glanced up, meeting with a pair of moistened orbs, a stab of guilt attacked my conscience.
"Oh, don't you dare look at me like that! I'm the victim here!" I cried out in frustration, knowing that I'd be melted right away if dad kept on pulling out his famous puppy dog face.
An eerie silence occupied the tense atmosphere between us, then surprisingly, he broke it with a sigh. "Okay, I'm really, really sorry. I thought it would be better if you didn't know anything. I thought you couldn't be able to handle the truth, I was scared that you would break down, and I didn't want to lose you, Yuuki."
I gulped down. "So, what changed your mind?"
As if on cue, a knock came from the door.
Dad called up; an edge in his voice was discernible. "Come in."
I turned around to see who was the annoying intruder, and was shocked to such an extent to be faced with a certain someone.
Out of impulse, I screamed blue murder, "PERVERT!"
"Uh, Yuuki?" I heard dad said in confusion, deciding to ignore him.
The pervert reacted by smirking. "Long time no see, Kaien."
Oh, so now I'm the one who's being ignored?
"Yuuki?" Dad ventured once more, raising his voice a few notches, and that was when I snapped.
"What, dad? Do you happen to know this pervert in front of me?" I pointed my index finger at the lad.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'pervert'? You know, he is your―"
"Brother," my dad didn't have the opportunity to finish because the man who had just gained another title―rude bastard―from me cut him off, his smirk got wider, and the world crumbled down beneath my feet.
My brother is a pervert. And a rude bastard.
To be continued-
A/N:
I'm terribly sorry for the late update . . . okay, late is an understatement of the century (it's been a year ;P). High school and Wattpad can be a little . . . distracting, you know ;D I have these crazy tests piling up, awesome stories to read, and these ah-ma-ziing novels to buy, he he. So, deal with me, kay? ;D
And like always, review please.
Pretty please with a cherry on top? *Kaien's puppy dog face*