Thank you for the review. ---notice singular form. It would be nice to get more and it makes me write faster. I swear! ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own vampire knight or any of it's characters, and I'm certainly not getting paid for this.
He never stopped watching her. Tonight, her skin seemed to outline with an ethereal glow making her seem even farther away and completely untouchable. Her hair rested high in an up-do that managed to look messy yet still appropriate and proper. Tousled strands of light brown hair flowed over high cheek bones, framing profoundly sad eyes. He had always admired her wavy hair that contrasted so elegantly with a never ending calmness, like the still water of a pond being brushed by a soft breeze.
But with her hair up, it accentuated her long thin neck. He had spent most of the night unable to look away from it. The necklace was the killer. The thin gold chain hung at the base of her neck, settling gently over her collar bone. He pictured running his fingers along her vein to move it aside, just enough to make room for his mouth...
Kain forced himself to look away.
Instead he watched the purebloods. He was, after all, there to keep an eye on the new pureblood princess. Those had been Kaname's orders and Kain had no intention of disobeying them. Ruka was talking to her parents anyways.
He inwardly winced with compassion for her. Ruka's parents had always weighted her with persistent pressure. She was never good enough in their eyes and they were utter fools for thinking this way. Somehow, two seemingly intelligent people were entirely oblivious to the strength in her personality hiding under a perfect feminine exterior. As delicate as she appeared, Ruka could still withstand any emotional beating. The way she tolerated Kaname's feelings for Yuuki was proof enough.
His eyes wandered back to her despite his mind's commands. She seemed to be holding up fairly well under what was no doubt a full course of corrections and constant berating from her mother. Kain doubted anybody noticed the slight tension in her spine that she disguised with a demure smile.
"You should go save her." Aidou appeared beside him. "Look, her parents are interrogating her again."
Aidou was the only other person who knew about Kain's feelings for Ruka. It wasn't because they ever spoke about it. It was just because they had known each other for so long that sometimes they didn't need to speak to come to an understanding.
"She doesn't need to be saved, Hanabusa."
Aidou grinned, "That right there, cousin, is your problem with women. It's not whether they need to be saved. It's whether they want to."
Kain didn't bother to respond to this. Aidou's ongoing obsession with girls was a force that could never be stopped. Maybe that was part of the reason they had managed to stay so close throughout their lives, because they were complete opposites. Aidou was impulsive and outgoing while Kain was, well, patient and devoted, if nothing else.
Aidou began tapping his foot impatiently.
"Don't you have some place to be?" Kain asked. "I thought by now I would be making excuses for your disappearance."
"As a matter of fact, I do, but then I saw you standing over here sulking and staring at her like a puppy dog."
Kain scowled, "I don't stare at her like a puppy dog, and I would never treat her like some type of conquest."
"Hrmph whatever."
They both watched as Ruka's mother reached over and began pinching her cheeks.
Aidou checked his watch. "Well if you're just going to stand there, then I suppose I'll go save her myself."
And with that he walked away, sidestepping women who tried to stop him in hopes of attention.
Kain watched his cousin closely as he unabashedly flirted with Ruka's mother before grabbing Ruka by the wrist and dragging her to the dance floor. The two swung into a waltz that they had all learned as children.
Kain felt the heat of jealousy begin to steam inside him. It wasn't like it was the first time he had stood idly while Ruka dance with another vampire, but he could never trust a person like his cousin with her. There were unwritten rules between them. Ruka was off limits. Aidou knew that, but Kain was never sure if Aidou could resist the prospect of stirring up trouble.
Kain's eyes narrowed as he stared at Aidou's hand at the small of her back. At that moment he deeply wished he could burn off his cousin's fingers. Aidou was coming dangerously close to breaking the agreement they had made ages ago.
When they had been children, Aidou had come up with what he had announced was a great game in which they practiced kissing with Ruka. Aidou, of course, got to go first. Their faces had been barely an inch away before Kain had roughly grabbed Aidou by the collar and punched him in the nose.
Fortunately, vampire nobles didn't develop their special powers until puberty, because if the cousins had been able to use fire and ice, Kain probably would have scorched Aidou into ash. Instead, they had tussled on the ground until little Ruka dumped a bucket of water on them.
Even at such a young age, Kain had been shocked by the rage he had felt boiling in his chest at the mere thought of Aidou kissing Ruka.
This was something very few people knew about him. Yes, Kain was calm and patient, but when he did get angry, he exploded like a spark on dynamite.
The cousins didn't speak for a week after that, until another day in the sandbox when they decided it was time to have a serious discussion. Kain agreed not to ever tell on Aidou any time he got into trouble, and Aidou agreed to never touch Ruka. Like two little experienced diplomats debating a treaty, they determined that Aidou would have to be able to touch Ruka every once in awhile. So came to be the "two minute rule." He couldn't touch her for longer than two minutes.
Such a silly childish rule, but Kain had never gone back on their pact, and it prevented Ruka from ever coming between them.
The two dancing figures turned and Kain glared at his cousin's back. What game was this? Some ridiculous attempt to get a rise out of him? If so, it was working.
He began to count down from ten. If Aidou didn't separate from her in ten seconds he was going to go over there and remove him.
Some time between three and two, Kain caught sight of Ruka's face over his cousin's shoulder. She was smiling. Not the forced smile that she displayed to her parents and other guests, but a genuine curve of her mouth that lit up her eyes and made her impossibly more beautiful. Then she looked directly at him and their eyes met.
At that moment, all he wanted to do was walk over there and take her in his arms. He wanted to brush strands of hair away from her cheek and pull her body up against his. He wanted to bend his head down until their lips met and let is hand wander down her back. He wanted to part those soft lips with his tongue and explore the taste of her.
Kain barely contained a groan and leaned back against a pillar, grinding his head into the marble. He swallowed thickly in an attempt to force down an overpowering desire that caused a heavy thickening in his groin.
God, what was wrong with him? She was across the room, and he still felt like he could barely control himself.
With legs that felt like lead, he somehow managed to turn and walk away, just in time to catch Kaname lift a hand and motion for him to come to where he was standing with Yuuki.
Aidou was only dancing with her. Only dancing. He repeated it to himself as he went to hear Kaname's orders.
He had to practically push other vampires aside as he weaved through people to get to the pureblood couple. The vampire nobles were like vultures, each fighting for a piece of the new pureblood princess. It had been difficult for Yuuki to settle into this new life, but she held herself sturdy throughout the onslaught of imposing questions by the other guests.
It wasn't until he was standing next to the couple, that Kain noticed the way she was clinging onto Kaname's hand.
Kaname bent his head to speak into Kain's ear. "I have to go speak with the new elders. Stay with Yuuki until I return."
The new elders consisted of the most established and respected vampire's who had not been part of the council, including Aidou's father. No doubt, some would be difficult to convince that peace with the vampire hunters was a worthwhile goal.
Kain understood why Kaname didn't want Yuuki to be there to hear the atrocious comments they would make about humans. But his heart wasn't in it as he stood with Yuuki, making sure that none of the nearby guests had ulterior motives.
Instead his gaze wandered over the sea of noble guests, trying to catch another glimpse of the only vampire that was truly important to him. She wasn't where she had been dancing with Aidou. Where had she disappeared to?
"Kain-sempai," Yuuki's fingers wrapped around his sleeve as she smiled up at him innocently. "Thank you for staying with me."
The poor girl looked incredibly nervous, and he would never be forgiven if he left Kaname's most precious possession alone and surrounded by bloodthirsty nobles.
"Of course, Yuuki-sama." He nodded and stood confidently even though inwardly he felt defeated. Ruka was an independent woman and could easily take care of herself. For now he would follow orders and stay with the pureblood princess.
Later he would find her again. Later he would have to suppress his never ending desires.
I don't usually go back in time and retell from other perspectives, but I felt like I had to get into Kain's head a bit before I could move forward. The next chapters have more plot, I promise.
Anyways, hopefully this chapter didn't bore you? Let me know your thoughts.
