Title
by Jacklynnfrost
Disclaimer: Vampire Knight © 2005 by Hino Matsuri
Three:
Toga Yagari called class to order.
It had been a week since Kaname said we'd have real classes with real exams. Chairman Cross had been ecstatic. We'd gone together to ask him since I missed Uncle Kaien. He was even teaching us 'Contemporary Society' four hours a week and 'Human Customs' two hours a week. Toga Yagari though was our main teacher. Sensai Yagari is starting to teach us the basic Ethics, Math, Science and History. Kaname didn't know of any vampires who taught so having vampire hunters that did, is lucky.
Sort of.
The other vampires in the night class were not impressed. They didn't want to learn, they had private tutors at home or their own parents taught them everything they needed to know. Now, a vampire hunter was basically babysitting them while I sat at attention ready to learn like a hopefully silly girl. Plus, I knew some of the other vampires had a very bloody history with Sensei Yagari.
Vampire hunters and vampires didn't mix well.
Things were tense and I felt ridiculous for actually caring. Even Sensei Yagari just read from the book in monotone. The changes from one class to the next were simply Yagari tossing the book over his shoulder and picking up another one. He's the complete opposite of Chairman Cross. Uncle Kaien gets so excited to explain stuff to me, since I'm the only one that asks questions.
Kaname followed my lead, even getting out a notebook and a pencil. He sat on the end now, and me beside him. If he stood by the window instead of sitting, I sat in the seat he was currently occupying. Toga Yagari sat down, kicked up his feet and started reading from the Ethics book aloud. Why I get my hopes up, I don't know. This is not what it is like in normal school. The other vampires didn't sit the way Kaname and I did, they stood, sat on desks and some on the window sill.
When Chairman Cross taught, it was far more interesting. I bit my lip and tapped my pencil, jotting down a few things that seemed important when Sensei Yogari would point something out or emphasize something. He could at least write something on the board. I didn't complain though, Kaname took what I said very seriously... A complaint could get someone in trouble with Kaname.
Someone over my head threw a knife at Sensei Yogari. He caught it with the book, the knife embedded in the cover having sliced all the way through. I didn't see that one coming. Kaname said nothing, not caring enough to intervene and Yogari excused himself.
"I'll be keeping this. A momento of my time teaching a class of vampires." He exited the room and my brother turned to me then.
"Are you upset?" A class had been ruined, our teacher left because of a student throwing a knife but I knew if I told him yes that the one who had thrown it would get punished by Kaname. I didn't want anyone to get punished.
"No. He was a rather drab teacher. I can read a book to myself..." It was a small complaint, if I said too much then Kaname would get Chairman Cross to find us a new teacher or teach more subjects when I didn't want him to. What I had now was more than I could have expected and I was very happy with everything Kaname did.
Just because some weren't happy with it or care for their jobs didn't mean I would let them get to me. I smiled at Kaname, moving my hand to slide against the back of his hand ever so slightly. I blushed but gazed out the window to attempt to hide my reaction. Just the barest of touches between us sent me into a tizzy.
Zero and Ichiru were out on the terrace outside of our classroom.
At least the night class guardians were doing their job diligently. The twins were patrolling around the building to keep the day class away and the night class inside. Kaname and I had talked about Zero. Chairman Cross had his brother tame Zero to guarantee that he wouldn't lose control but there were still risks. The Chairman swore that if he messed up Kaname would know about it immediately and new steps would be taken but until then, he had faith that Zero could fight his impending level E for a while longer.
Kaname trusted Chairman Cross, and I trusted Kaname.
The two siblings were fighting about something. The one with the purple tie and easy smile, Ichiru, stayed behind, sitting on the edge of the wall while Zero, the wild haired, glaring one stormed off. I turned back to Kaname, he was watching the two, too.
I had a feeling Kaname's plan involved them. Why else would he take such an interest in the twins. Kaname didn't care by nature. Not about anything, except me.
.vk Daytime .vk
Kaname was in the kitchen, filling a glass of water to put his blood tablet in. I snuck in after him, watching him. I didn't know why he refused to take from me since he also refused for me to drink anything except his blood. His uniform shirt is untucked, the front of his jacket unbuttoned and I wanted to place my body against his. So, I planned what I always did when I felt the urge to get closer to Kaname. I formed a sneak attack plan. My soft steps made no noise as I lunged.
I really shouldn't have bothered.
Kaname caught me mid air, he even had time to put his glass down so both his hands could hold me up by my waist. We were face to face like this and I sagged, disappointed in myself again. He got me every time but I wouldn't give up. Ruka walked in then, my face a perfect pout and Kaname looking bored, holding me up in the air. Ruka's brows lifted, her cheeks flushing, having walked in on us.
I knew Ruka liked Kaname more than she should. Before my existence had been known to the world, Ruka and Kaname had been friends. Her crush on him had started then. I would like to think that it didn't bother me, and most of the time it didn't, but from time to time when I'd catch her staring at Kaname I wanted to hurt her.
This didn't mean I ever would. I didn't blame Ruka for liking Kaname. Who wouldn't?
"Almost, sweetling." Kaname said, putting me down and collecting his cup off the table. He'd obviously expected it if he put his glass down in enough time to catch me before I landed on his back. What I would do if I ever reached my goal... I have no idea. I guess I would just hang from his shoulders amazed that I had actually snuck up on Kaname. Ruka was still frozen, mouth agape when Kaname glided out of the room.
"Almost isn't good enough." I followed after him, leaving the kitchen, feeling a bit like a duckling since I was always chasing behind. "Why do you drink the tablets? I can-" He turns, putting his finger on my lips to silence me... which of course makes me sour. I throw my hands up in frustration and storm away from him, climbing the stairs two at time to reach my bedroom to hide from Kaname.
Stupid, stupid Kaname. He gives me his blood, what is the big deal about taking mine? He's had it before! Not from him biting me but still. We can't even talk about it because he gets all dark and moody. He had to be starved. It's not like I wanted to hold out on him or torture him with me being so close and him not taking from me!
I was getting tired with the sun still climbing higher so I shuffled around my big room until I reached my dresser. Usually I stayed in my school clothes all day but I didn't want to get my skirt wrinkled. With it being white I already had to be careful not to drink from Kaname with it on. There wasn't much in here, most of the room was open space except for the couch with the game table in front of it. I didn't spend much time in here.
I prefered Kaname's room and the common area.
The walls were tall and white, my bed the biggest thing in here but I felt it was unnecessary for how small I am. Kaname say's I might always be this short, that I've stopped growing. I really don't hope I stopped. My breasts needed to be bigger, especially if I am fighting for Kaname's affections.
Before I laid down, having changed into my pajamas I slouch over to my bookshelf and look at my parents photos. There were only a few of the four of us together. Most of them were just three of us, one having to hold the camera, of course. Kaname had been easier to smile back then. He'd always been a worrier, a planner, but before he'd been happy. Now, he was mostly intense, serious.
My secret hope was to have fun here, with Kaname, not without him.
When my head hit the pillow, it wasn't long before I realized my mistake. I shouldn't have thought of the before time so close to sleeping. Dreams were influenced by your thoughts and now I was back there, a small child in a room with no windows, the very room I don't enter anymore in my own home. My parents were arguing, mom didn't want Kaname to go out there but our father already left, meeting our uncle head on, outside.
The problem isn't that I can't help, it's that I am everyone's weakness and the reason our Uncle Rido came in the first place. Kaname is going to go. I know it, so I grip his pant leg, my tiny fist hurting with the strength I put into my grip. It's all I can do, it's I can ever do. He always leaves and when the door closes I'm transported outside, the snow falling is slow, red and hazy. Rido's eyes are burning into me and Kaname can't stop.
He's ripping and tearing my Uncle to pieces unable to kill him because of their blood ties, because Rido owns Kaname. He hates it. Kaname had been trying to find a way out from under Rido's control since before I was born. He killed my brother to force Kaname to rise, and ever since the two have a bond that is not easily broken.
"Yuki!" My mother yells, she's rushing out the house, my dream in nonsensical order as she smiles before shattering her glowing bits turning to snow and settling in the earth with the other bodies of vampires strewn around the yard.
The council betrayed us. They wanted to know if I really existed. They got there answer but over half of them died, plus my parents. There heads had been filled with lies, lies they believed. Rido needed time to heal from Kaname's massive onslaught and in the end it was only Kaname and I left to carry on the Kuran name.
I tried to pull my dear brother off my uncle. I tugged, sang, cried and nothing worked. My father died all over again and Rido's eyes taunted me, his laugh surrounded me and Kaname wouldn't respond. He wouldn't move away from all the blood. My chest ached, my vision blurred and I hit my brother over and over to get him to respond.
"I need you! Please don't leave me too!" But I knew what was coming. He was cracking, the final signs before a pure blood shatters. My eyes close, Rido's voice echoing in my head, that I will be his if Kaname falls, that there is nothing between us now when I hear the shattering of glass, the last moments of my love.
The deaths of my parents were a small pain compared to Kaname's.
Gasping, I sat up in my bed, glaring at the sunlit room. That was very unsatisfying sleep but I've had that dream before. At least the window's are still in tact. Usually I break them. I slip from the bed, my nightgown bunching up but as I run for my door it falls back to its right and proper position. I'm in too much of a hurry to shut my own bedroom door.
Kain and Aido are in front of Kaname's door, they look like they might be arguing over something. When they spot me coming Aido tries to address me. I don't care if they are afraid to knock or enter Kaname's room. I'm not going to help right now. If I don't touch him, if I don't feel him against me I'll start to cry, fearing my uncle, fearing him because he can kill my brother... And my brother is unable to kill him.
I open Kaname's door, slipping inside and closing the door behind me. Kain and Aido can fight amongst themselves. Kaname is spread out on his couch, his left leg off the cushion, his shoe flat against the floor while the other leg is draped over the arm of the couch. His arm is folded over his face, the other gripping a piece of paper, hanging over the side.
He know's I'm here. There is a reason I can't sneak up on him. He is acutely aware of my location. I stand beside his bent leg, looking down at his covered, flat stomach. I want to lay on him, but I won't unless he tells me it's okay. He might be upset with me for running away from him before and I don't want to make it worse.
Kaname like's to punish me. It makes him feel better when I do something he disagrees with. Just seeing him makes my breath even out, the stinging in my eyes fade and I sigh, relieved. I hate it when our past trauma comes back. I hate seeing everything over again, feeling it and then watching Kaname slip between my fingers like he never existed.
Like Rido won.
"Come, Yuki." He says and I waste no time. I'm across his chest, gripping his shirt in my fists with my bare feet brushing against his ankle. The arm across his face drops to wrap around my torso bringing me closer just a fraction.
I smell him, its the same sweet blood and sunshine scent I remember from my childhood. Kaname was the first one I ever drank from. The first one to give me sustenance. He's powerful, more so than any other pureblood because he's an ancestor. He's so much older than everyone but doesn't remember much from before. He dreams of his past, like I dream of mine.
I worry about him forgetting about me. That the thousands of years from his before will dwarf the small amount of time he spent with me as my older brother.
"What's the first day you remember." I whisper, pressing my nose back and forth just below his left shoulder blade. His arm moves, rubbing me gently in a comforting way. I close my eyes to enjoy the sensation.
"The first day... I was holding your infant brother. He was dying." I knew the story, how Kaname became an infant. How Rido had been imprisoned for murdering my brother, how my parents adopted Kaname.
"How did you do it? Change into an infant, I mean." I wiggled closer, matching our hips up and stretching my hand out, letting go of his shirt. I wrapped my arm up, tangling it into his dark locks. They were darker than mine, even.
"I didn't, your brother did. That was his power. Since his life was draining with the last of his power he restarted me. He gave me a second chance. I think I was very miserable before, perhaps even a monster that had been forced to sleep through the centuries." I scoffed.
"You're only a monster some of the time." I tell him. Moving to balance on my elbows across his chest and smile down at him. I'm kidding of course. He arched an eyebrow at me, his lip twitching. "I'm glad you are you." I tell him, finding my old position I had held seconds ago so I can run my fingers through his hair.
"You don't yearn for your true brother?" He asks before saying. "I'm a crude imitation of who your brother would have been." I smile on him, kissing him there. "He could have helped all purebloods with his gift, given them all the same chance he gave me. To experience the world anew. Giving them all the will to live, again."
Yes, my dead brother could have done so much.
"Kaname." I tell him, feeling sleep start to tug at me again now that I felt safe and happy. "I only want you. Stop guilting yourself about it, Rido killed him, you were not a fault." His hand on my back paused and I kissed the same spot again too lazy to move my face. "Besides, I need you. So I can't be too upset about what happened. It brought you to me."
His hand started moving again and I knew he had listened.
Sleep was returning and I was almost there, with Kaname flipping through his papers over my head every so often, when a timid knock pulled me back to consciousness. I expected Kaname to move me or to tell the guests to go away. Instead he called for them to enter, to witness my brother and I being this familiar with one another.
"Kaname Senpai." Aido said and I pried my eyes open to watch him bow down very low while being followed by his cousin Kain. Aido must of have lost the argument I'd seen them have outside his door. When Aido rose he realized what he walked in on and his mouth fell open, his face breaking out in red. Kain smile. He enjoyed his cousins over the top reactions.
I smiled, Kaname didn't.
"We're so sorry to interrupt." Aido says. "It's not that important, it can surely wait until our walk to class this evening." Kain sighs, stepping around his cousin and facing the both of us.
"There is a rumor of the councilman Ichijo planning a visit to the moon dormitory. We thought you should know. Thank you for seeing us." He bows, turns towards his cousin and escorts him out as he mutters all kinds of crazy ramblings about purebloods and privacy violations. I even heard him say something about my night gown. Aido didn't have a brain to mouth filter like everyone else did. He just said whatever came to mind.
"Sleep, Yuki. Ichijo will visit, but not for a long while." His long fingers weave through my hair and follows it down my back sending shivers up my spine. I sigh, snuggle closer and close my eyes to get some restful sleep in my beloveds arms.