A/N: Another chapter; find what lurks behind Yumiko's tight mask. This chapter was again, not beta-ed. I can't say I'm a major fan but it seemed like it needed to happen. Quite a few things are addressed such as the changed relationship between Yumiko and Zero, more of Yumiko's new lifestyle, her upbringing, her underlying passion, her fears, her loathings. I really hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as possible, it was a challenge to write and I hope to achieve some honest feedback. Thank you!
Disclaimer: Vampire Knight; not mine, kaygreatbye.
Chapter 7: Hating You
The following days of the week continued in an exhausted blur for Yumiko as she lumbered on the academy grounds that night. The days and nights collided together unpleasantly for the new guardian who had achieved little to no sleep over the course of a few days. Stifling a yawn, Yumiko kept her heavy eyes open for wandering Day Class students, two of which she had already caught and sent to their dorms.
Her mind was blank as she continued to maunder. She was to patrol the northern part of the campus, which consisted of the back gardens, recreational hall, and courtyards up to the Moon Dorms. A thought which continuously seemed to venture in the back of her mind was how on earth her fellow guardians were to live such a tired and exhausted life style for so long. Yumiko, not used to an erratic and obscure sleeping pattern, struggled greatly with settling into a new routine. Lack there of. Whenever she had a moment to spare, it was spent sleeping. Unlike her fellow guards, she remained awake during her classes, though, had one free period which allowed her dreamless sleep in the privacy of her own dorm for forty-five blissful minutes.
Her steps became heavier as her muscles ached in exhaustion. She groaned and rubbed her aching head , blurring her vision in the process. Yumiko's bright blue eyes were hooded and glazed with tiredness and she found herself walking off the designated path to a nearby tree, hidden along the pathway.
The branches disappeared into nothingness underneath the dark sky. Yumiko sat down on the grass, her muscles easing as they formed a mold in the damp green floor. Surely, Yumiko was able to drift off to sleep.
Her laughter rung throughout the air, as Yumiko chased the little girl across the park. She had soft blonde hair and dark blue eyes, complimenting her round childish face. The girl could not have been more than five or six years old, she had a bright smile, little gaps being seen in between her teeth.
"Mimi- chan, come catch me!" She would yell playfully before taking off in another direction. Her older sister would let a gentle smile graze her lips as she would scoop down and take the girl in her arms.
"Now that I've got you, what're you going to do?" She would ask her in a kind, gentle voice, reserved particularly for her baby sister. She looked upon her fondly, though she knew that this was highly discouraged in the world of hunters. Training had taught her 'never become attached; it will lead to your down fall.' She grew up independently, with distant parent figures who treated her as an adult and forced her down the path of Vampire Hunting at a young age. She was a mere seven year old when she commenced her training, most girls did not begin until the age of eleven. However, having the influential and pressuring parents she had, Yumiko was equal with all the boys who trained with her. . .equal, if not better.
Hunting had not originally been in her mentality. For years Yumiko was unaware of what her parents did as a profession. Only that they left early in the morning, and came back late at night in time for dinner. The world of vampires, hunters, and Level E's did not exist to her for six blissful years.
"I'm a princess! I can do anything I want!" The girl suddenly replied stubbornly, snapping Yumiko out of her pensive mood. She stared up in mock defiance at the ' princess' only to find the girl erupting into a fluffy cloud of bubbly giggles at her royal- like ways. Though, with the change of wind, the laughter stopped. It was soon replaced by quiet sobbing as Yumiko searched her surroundings for the source of sadness. Her eyes seemed frantic in her search, and while looking over her shoulder, she felt a warm substance drip onto her bare shoulder.
Looking down, she saw nothing but a contrasting red droplet against her fair skin. Her eyes widened. Setting the girl down she raised her hands up her lips and pulled them down slowly. Against the pale complexion of her hands, and along her long elegant fingers she saw the sickening sight of blood. She wanted to scream out in horror, cry from insanity and run away from her little angel. Looking down, the girls white dress was stained red, and more tears fell from her young eyes and she collapsed on the ground.
Dead.
Yumiko fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself, she attempted to control her shaking. It was gradually becoming more an more violent. . .
What had she done?
"Yumi!" She heard as she suddenly woke up from her nightmare. She looked around frantically, her chest heaving up and down as her bright blue eyes stood open and alert. Her startled gaze was met with that of Zero's blank stare. Curiosity shone at her through his amethyst eyes as she quickly diverted her glance from his observant orbs. Her face felt hot from the animosity of her dream turn nightmare.
Zero's hand was on her shoulder, he had shaken her awake after finding her laying beneath a tree. His intention was not to scare her, but instead, tell her to go to her dorm to rest. He tightened his gaze on her, her hands were shaking subtly though it subsided quickly, he could tell that she had seen a terrible site from the back of her eyelids. The rosy color drained itself from her cheeks as she pulled her stoic mask on.
" Thank you, for waking me up," she said flatly, as she stood up.
"Why don't you go to your dorm?" Offered Zero, Yumiko nodded once and began to walk away. Zero however, caught her hand before she was out of range.
"Zero…?" Whispered Yumiko in a soft voice.
"Yumi, they… they never go away ," he told her. He peered directly at her face, into her blue eyes which soon took interest in the dirt ground beneath their feet.
"Never?"
"Never." Her eyes met his, disturbing swirls filled her bright irises. She pursed her lips lightly forming a thin petal pink line. She took an audibly deep breath and met his gaze again, only this time she stood triumphantly with determination.
"I won't let it beat me," she said clearly, not a quiver in her voice. She was referring to her transformation. I won't let it beat me, I am stronger than any vampire, whether it is within me our outside my form. I will not go without a standing fight. Being a vampire - will hinder me from nothing. The voice in her thoughts sounded determined and strong, something Yumiko was even surprised at. The more she pondered of it, the more she saw the truth in her words. She won't be beaten down, not even if her world came crashing around.
"I won't Yumiko, I know. Kuran gave you his blood," he said stepping towards her. "You won't turn into a Level E." He finished the sentence with a sadness, internally flinching at the thought of Yumiko becoming the deranged, blood crazed, demonized being that was a Level E vampire. He let go of her hand, and in a swift turn began walking away as though he dismissed her.
Oh Zero… Yumiko thought to herself. What lays beneath your surface? You were once so kind and so open, now you're like a hardened rock. I know, we hunters, are trained to be emotionless. ' No attachments' they say. But we all have one… Her thoughts flashed vibrantly back to the young blond child from her nightmare. All she seemed to remember was the dimming effect death had on the small girls blue eyes. Yumiko squeezed her eyes shut, in an attempt to rid herself of the ghastly image. Maybe you're right in not having a connection. Maybe it is my weakness Zero. But it is what keeps me sane, and. . .happy.
Yumiko turned on the spot and began her walk to the Day Class dorms. Thoughts swirled around her head concerning Zero and herself, two human- hunters turned vampires. I've lost you, huh Zero. We used to be so close .It left a dull aching pain in her chest which she was quickly able to force down and subside. She hated feeling like this. Vulnerable, emotional, sad, weak.
She hated how it was the effects of one person who made her feel like this. Who tore down her well built walls of apathy which she had taken years to perfect. Yumiko walked up the stairs to her room, her legs beginning to feel the familiar heaviness they had prior to her nightmare. It never seemed to leave her, the thoughts of killing someone she loved dearly.
Unlocking her door, Yumiko successfully arrived at her destination. After what seemed like hundreds of stairs, she found her way to her bland dorm. It was bland indeed, uniform to that of any other student apart from the fact that it held a single occupier. Yumiko had no objections to sharing a room with someone, initially. But the Headmaster Cross gave her , her own room claiming there to be an odd number of girls. However, now that she was a vampire she wouldn't have it any other way considering the fact that the existence of vampires remained a secret from all the Day Class members with the exceptions of herself, Zero, and Yuuki.
Taking no time to change out of her black uniform, Yumiko climbed into bed, the exhaustion she had experienced before hand returning to her full blast. She gazed at the picture she kept beside her bed, on the table. It was cliché, she knew, keeping a family photo so close by. It was inevitable. After moving across the country at the demands of the Hunters Association Yumiko's immediate family was all she had. They never stayed in a place too long to make friendship bonds with the community around them, leaving Yumiko, her mother, father, and little sister Mai, to themselves.
Mai , she thought with a sigh as she stared at the little blondes face in the photograph. She seemed to beam up at Yumiko as she held her close to her chest. Yumiko's parents were active hunters until the current when her mother retired from the association. Yumiko was in charge of Mai. Raising her as a newborn child up to the age of six. It left an abundant amount of responsibility on the developing teenager, though she accepted it, feeling that it would help her understand responsibilities in the future.
Mai, over the years, became less of a responsibility and more of a pleasure. She was Yumiko's personal sunshine, oblivious to the horrors of the world, naïve about everything around her, yet she would smile and beam upon the earth all day. Yumiko couldn't help but feel the slight tug at her lips as she stared at Mai's face, her innocent, beautiful face.
"I'll never let anything happen to you Mai, you'll always be safe with me," she whispered aloud in the darkness. Her voice was laced with a burning passion, one which seemed to be long forgotten in her wall of shut emotions. But shortly after she hated the fact that she was steadily becoming more and more emotional. She had remained a stoic figure for so long, but being at the academy was slowly beginning to change her. She loathed it, and decided to fight the change which was being brought upon her.
She hated being emotional, it led to fear and irrational thought. She hated feeling weak, she hated feeling helpless, she hated allowing her emotions to get in the way of rational thought. She hated … feeling .