4. MISS YOU
"Attention!" a man who was obviously human and ill at ease demanded all his students to be quiet but received an eerie silence that made me and him even more uneasy than before, only, my stomach churned for I was so nervous and ready to go back to the dorm with Isio now.
I heard an irritated sigh from Isio beside me then saw her reach over and pull out a book from under the rest, setting it before me and on page 93, then an ink pen appeared on the page too. I turned to her, giving her my most obvious desperate look I had but she just smiled back, sharing my sympathies.
"Page 93!" the man tried his hardest to at least pretend to not notice the sinister looks everyone was giving him, looks as if they were hungry.
"Pardon my imprudence, Mr. Kai, but, I believe we have a new student. Don't you think that she should be introduced first?" the smooth voice I heard belonged to the bold boy with light chestnut hair who had fingered my hair earlier before we had to walk over here.
My heart skipped a beat then spiked so loud to where I thought everyone else could hear the drumming,
Bah bum, bah bum, bah bum…
"Oh, we do?-oh, yes, we do," he cleared his throat then shifted his eyes to uneasily meet mine. "Would you…like to introduce yourself?"
I heard a small swift speaking group over in the corner as no one paid any mind to look back at me and stare like normal people would do. It's like they already knew enough to not bother to stare back at me.
Once I didn't answer right away like I should have, the boy who had brought up the idea decided to smirk back at me as everyone else stared blindly forward. "Uh-n-no, I beg to differ, please." I stuttered poorly.
The only boy looking back at me that once had a smirk now widened his malicious smile. "Why not? Humor us, please."
"I said, no thank you." I gave him a hard look that should have told him to shut up but I guess it didn't.
"So be it." he raised his eyebrows in disregard then turned back to the teacher.
The boy who made a comment earlier about how 'fun' parting the red sea of girls was leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head, face full of disappointment. "Isn't her name Kiryu something?" he said to no one in particular without even paying a glance my way.
I let a frustrated sigh, then stood up, smoothing out my skirt casually with a moderate frown. Only a few cocked their heads askew to look at me. "My name is Kiryu, Mizuki and this is my first time here at this school. Thank you." then I quickly sat back down in my chair, finally able to breathe somewhat normally.
"Anything else important that we need to know?" the boy leaning back in his chair said while rolling his eyes.
"Yes," I looked straight at him and he turned to face me, listening. I felt anger swell up along with impatience so I just had to say this, "Your warning is to stay clear of me when you have that kind of attitude in motion, for I will personally kick your ass, aristocrat." then I kicked a leg to his chair which was in front of me and to the left that sent him to the ground, barely catching himself before he completely fell. It was an adrenaline rush for the moment.
"Kiryu! There will be no violence in our academy." the teacher apparently didn't agree.
I heard the boy with light chestnut hair and a few others snicker delicately.
I composed my expression. "Yes sir. I apologize." out of the corner of my eye I saw the look the guy who I had knocked his chair over was giving me; surprise. I repressed a smile of self satisfaction; all aristocrats are the same.
"Page 93!" the professor called out again and this time we got to our studies.
Once Isio got me settled in my own room, I began to unpack my things that Kino had sent from master Yagari to my dorm. Isio walked in my door while knocking at the same time.
"Yes?" I turned to her, rolling over in a sitting position from being on my stomach.
"Um…what kind of person are you?"
"Uh…" I was taken aback; what did she mean? "I beg your pardon?"
"Well," she elegantly ran and plopped like a silhouette onto my bed, not ruffling the comforter when she did. "Are you a party girl?"
"Excuse-"
"I asked because there's a party tonight and I want you to come with me. Please?" she explained quickly.
"Oh, um…parties…socialization…I don't know," I cringed at the thought.
"Oh, come on! Do it for me! Please?" she hugged my arm, holding it to her chest and gave me her puckering lips and eyebrows of pleading.
"Well…" I looked outside at the darkness, judging that we had a long while to be out. "Where is it?"
She gave me a sinister grin.
I really liked her room; a lot of purple but I suppose she really liked purple, besides, purple is the color of royalty.
"Do you have anything to wear?" she asked me while digging in her own closet for something. I had a feeling that she was the 'fashion over comfort' type.
"Yeah, I guess; it would help me if I knew what kind of party it was."
"Oh, of course; it's my brother's birthday bash."
My head snapped up and my silver bangs that needed a trim fell into my face so I swung my head to the side to swipe them from my view. "Your brother? You have a brother?"
"Yeah-oh," she stopped digging and turned to me, hand over her mouth. "Oops, I suppose I haven't introduced you two properly yet, have I? I'm sorry, I'll do it as soon as we arrive." then she continued to look for an outfit.
"That's okay. Um…I'm going to go get dressed now." I sat up from her bed and walked out into the hall, down a few steps into my room, closed the door and began digging through my dressers for my most outrageous-looking attire I had, I want to see the look on all of their faces tonight.
I had no such luck; I picked out a black shirt with Dracula's knocker of himself on the front and the words "Beware; love never dies" on the back written in blood. My pants were regular jeans but with tears and they were the same color as the shirt.
I sighed sadly to myself and then left the room to reenter Isio's after knocking.
"Come in. How do I look?" she twirled and turned for me and I said simply;
"Good." her whole outfit was purple again, what else was I supposed to say?
"Whoa," she said to me, judging my outfit. "Why don't you add the dark eyeliner to top it all off?" she circled around me as I stood still with a grin on her flawless face.
"I don't wear makeup."
"Huh? At all?"
I shook my head.
"That's a little weird."
"Not at all." I answered simply.
"Well," she sighed, grimacing. "Let's go, or we'll be late and Izumi'll bite my head off." she walked past me toward the door, grabbing some kind of small purse.
Izumi? Have I heard that name before…?
"Are you coming?" she was waiting for me at the door to her room.
"Yeah, I guess I am."
Her stride was long, but of course mine was longer.
"Hey! Wait up!" she heaved, skipping a few steps to catch up.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should slow down." I slowed a few paces to match hers.
"Are you in a hurry or something?" she swallowed then heaved a breath again.
"No, my father was tall, I inherited that obviously." I smiled wistfully to the stone walkway beneath us, leading us into another courtyard.
"Oh…what else did you inherit?" she seemed interested now.
"Well, I also inherited his silver hair," I grabbed a strand and smiled, "and my mother's eyes were an ember, like mine." I gestured to my eyes too while walking along side her.
"Really? They look more of an orange-ish flame to me," she paused in front of me to push back my bangs to get a better look. I became a bit flustered. "Hmm…kind of unnatural looking, really." she smiled, letting go of my hair. "So who do you more resemble? Your mom or your dad?"
"Huh?" I didn't understand the question at first, then I mustered together my thoughts. "Oh…I don't know…probably my father." I scratched the back of my head uncomfortably. "He was tall-about six foot two whereas I am only five foot eleven, and we have the same color hair, mine's a little bit darker though and I'm lanky and willowy like him but yet I have my mother's brown eyes and gender…so…probably my dad." I laughed with little humor.
"Hmm…I look exactly like my mom but act nothing like neither of my parents. Now, Izumi looks like neither of our parents but acts just like our father except that he is just as sweet as our mother when it comes to his weak points." she seemed depressed just thinking about it.
"Huh," I couldn't think of much else to say.
"I don't want to be late-"
"Oh yeah, let's go." I grabbed her hand, pulling her along with my long stride, she was the one flustered this time.
I led her down a winding hallway that I had no clue to where it would lead me the right way or not, but luckily we ended up at a courtyard lit by smaller versions of Chinese lanterns all strung in the trees and solar lamps at either side of our stone-paved path.
There was a rustle in the leaves…I pulled out the 9 inch knife at the thigh-strap around my leg and pointed it at the intruders that approached us on either side.
"Whoa! Take it easy with that thing!" a young man with ember red hair lifted his hands in submission, taking a step back respectfully but the other on my right was frozen in shock; it was the aristocrat that I had nearly hurt in class earlier tonight.
"What are you doing sneaking up on us?" I asked cynically while putting the blade away. Isio was as stunned as the aristocrat on my right.
"We are the escorts, we have escorted everyone here so far…" he gave me a wry eye. "But I'm sorry, we don't like threatening vampires on our turf." he revealed his fangs in a smirk.
"Don't worry, I won't be much more trouble." I glanced toward the aristocrat who had hidden his reddening cheeks from me. I smiled at that. "Will you escort us?"
Isio was silent behind me.
"So be it," the young man with ember red hair outstretched a hand to me. "My name is Akiho, Ikuo and my companion here is Tomiichi, Ichiro."
I took his hand. "I am Kiryu, Mizuki. Nice to meet you." I glanced toward Ichiro's way, seeing him shy away.
"This way," Ikuo stepped backward and turned around in one motion to lead us to the party. Ichiro fell in behind.
"Why do you carry a dagger on you?" Isio hissed in my ear.
I absently answered; "Why not?" then returned to my normal long stride since Ikuo and I seemed to have the same kind.
We immediately arrived at the party, seeing many eyes turn to us, eyes of distaste or of boredom but I've learned that that's normal for them. I followed closely after Ikuo, wanting him to nearly hold me or conceal me from the frightening eyes of the other vampires; at least his eyes were kind.
Suddenly, a person jumped in front of me, engulfing me in an embrace. I reached for my knife, but stopped before I could draw the weapon on him. He let me go and gave me an enthusiastic smile when he backed away. His hair was long and of the darkest jet black that only covered one eye and his eyes were an icy blue.
"Welcome! You must be the new transfer student! My name is Hazuki, Zattsu. I hope you are enjoying your stay!" he was too happy to be a vampire.
I nearly glared despite my enthusiasm inside that there was such a thing as a giddy vampire. "Hello, I'm Kiryu, Mizuki. It's a charm." I took his hand, shaking it unenthusiastically.
He gasped and went awe-eyed like he was shaking the hand of his idol. "Jima! Did you hear that? She said it was a charm to meet me!" he shook my hand vigorously now as I took my gaze from him and placed it toward the direction he was looking when he said 'Jima'. I saw Isio's backside embracing someone, then she moved and I saw a young man with light chestnut hair that dangled in his eyes and dusty grey eyes with a lit cigarette in his mouth. I didn't even recall when Zattsu had let go of my hand, I was too busy staring at the young man that I had already knew.
"Mizuki!" Isio hissed down to me from the terrace. "Mizuki!" my attention snapped up to her now. "Come up here." she beckoned me with her hand.
My feet began to follow without an order, now climbing the marble stairs, ignoring all other gazes for the only one I noticed now was 'Izumi's'. I made it to the top and I pushed past a rosy sheer curtain to join next to Isio, just a foot or two away from Izumi who was sitting formally on the white marble bench with angels carved in the stable legs of the seat that could sit two.
"Mizuki,"
I pried my eyes from Izumi to look at Isio who was speaking,
"This is my brother Izumi, tonight is his birthday, I'm sorry I haven't introduced you two before, how stupid of me-"
"No, it's all right. I think Mizuki had her fill of me in class this morning. I wouldn't want to do anymore to set her off to kick my chair." he laughed a smooth, babbling brook laugh just like his sister's. I joined in, out of tune from the rest of the vampires.
"Heh, just don't piss me off, that's what does it." I warned with a soft tone, but he looked serious now.
"I'll keep that in mind." his seriousness and intense stare made me uneasy so I shifted my weight to another foot.
"So how old are you?"
"I'm seventeen."
"I'm so sorry that I didn't bring a present-" I kept shifting my weight.
"No, no. Don't worry about that." he scrutinized me. "Come sit next to me, you look uncomfortable standing." he gestured to the unclaimed seat next to him then took an intake of his cigarette.
"Um, no, I'm really okay…"
"Don't make me force you." his tone was playful yet sounded threatening to my ears.
I shook my head no.
He sighed. "Alright then…" he looked the other way and swiftly grabbed my arm, pulling me down onto his lap.
"Ack! Let me up! This isn't humorous, Izumi!" I struggled in his death-grip.
His body went rigid for a moment when I had said his name, then he let me plop next to him on the bench. I looked to Isio who looked absolutely stunned about what had just happened. I noticed that my surroundings were quiet too which made me feel like I had spoken much too loud.
"So what brought you to this?" he asked without looking at me, the cigarette lingering at his lips.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you here?" his voice sounded cold. What did I do?
I glowered, "Isio invited me. I can leave if you want." I stood, smoothing my pants. A tug at my sleeve.
"You don't have to, you just got here." he kept his face composed and his words neutral.
"No, that's all right." I escaped his grip, keeping my face composed as well as I began to walk back toward the stairs.
"Wait," I heard him take a step from his seat toward me then I felt his touch again on my bicep. "Hold on,"
"What?" I turned a little too furiously on him.
"Just stay for a while longer. Okay?"
"Why?"
"I'm sorry if my words sounded harsh." he hissed.
"Well I'm sorry that you're dense." I tried to run again but he held fast, yanking my arm with an amount of force that swung me back into his arms, our bodies curving within one another's.
"Stay…"
I had stayed for another hour when everyone had decided to leave all at once except for Isio and I.
"Hey," Isio wiped the sleepiness away from her eyes while she approached me who had been silent this whole time and Izumi who had been enjoying it all. "I'm going back to the dorm, be back soon, okay?" she turned away from me to walk back.
"Isio-"I tried to object her absence but Izumi covered my mouth with his hand that smelled of cigarettes and flowers.
"Wait."
He led me out into the back courtyard, passing many herb and flower gardens and fountains with angels half nude and half clothed angels holding each other; it was beautiful, I'll hand him that much.
"Why did you take me back here?" I asked.
I felt his hand intertwine with mine, squeezing it tight. "Don't you remember?" he gave me a radiant, moonlit smile then led me to a particular fountain that was the biggest and in the center of all the rest. It's sculpture was that of Venus de Milo and her armless glory with the fountain shooting water out calmly all around her that appeared white in the moonlight. He set me down on the rim of the concrete fountain as he jumped up onto it, elegantly picking a purple Datura flower from the vines climbing the statue, then he jumped back down to join me, but he stood instead. He handed me the flower.
I gazed at him skeptically then raised the plant to my nose to sniff but smelled nothing; the beautiful flower didn't have a scent.
"Don't eat it, now," he warned, lowering the flower from my face with a smirk. "Remember when we used to play here as children? I once saved your life when you ate this exact plant." he smiled victoriously, placing one foot up on the brim next to me.
I was confused and felt like my head was swimming. "We…know each other?" I looked up at him with questioning eyes.
"Yes…" he held the flower, his hands engulfing mine in his own. His face slowly neared mine. "Don't you remember? Your parents brought you here, just to visit-I suppose, and I was here, I had snuck in from outside to get a glimpse of the well-spoken-of Cross academy but I ended up meeting you…a scared little girl who was lonely at heart so I spoke to you…we became friends for the hours you had stayed here and I gave you a flower just like this one…" he gazed at the flower that was the only thing in between us. "But you accidentally consumed it and I had to find you a remedy before your parents found you all delusional."
I tried to accept all of this and process it before I went insane. So i stayed quiet.
"When your parents called you back to them, you begged me to go with you but I told you I couldn't, then you began to cry so I promised you a child's promise; 'we'll meet again, I promise you, Mizuki' but…we did meet-and here we are now, attending this same academy!" he laughed, stepping back to give me room.
It all made sense…the name 'Izumi' sounded so familiar to my ears, and the flower…I knew the name of it, and his face…I remember it…and him knowing my name…it all made sense!
"No way…but…" I looked up into his dusty eyes that stared back down at me with such remembrance and hope that I would remember.
He took my hands in his again and sighed casually.
"Izumi, I could swear that I remember you...I'm not sure, but your voice, your eyes, your name...I'm confused but it does kind of make sense."
His eyes brightened. "You remember?"
His eyes and stimulated expression made me want to be closer. I smiled then wrapped my arms around him in an embrace, squeezing him near me but the proximity wasn't enough…I wanted more…I pulled him closer but we tumbled off of the fountains edge and onto the ground.
"Ack!" that hurt. I rubbed my head then met his gaze that stared intently back at me from above. He was so close…and he neared me even more…and more until his lips brushed mine then pushed a little harder so that I was sure he was actually touching me. He quickly backed off, sitting back up onto his haunches and outstretching his hand for me to grab, like he knew that I would be unstable. I took it and he helped me to my feet.
We were both silent.
He spoke first, "I'm glad you remembered me." then he smiled, intertwining his hand in mine once again as we made our way back.
(I'm sorry if there are any grammar mistakes!)