Author's note: WOW, so I'm so bad at updating… Sorry it's taken so long.
In all honestly I got so busy that I totally forgot about the story… And now I'm pretty much over my Vampire Knight obsession… but I'll try finishing this off because I hate leaving it so undeveloped. Who knows, maybe I'll get re-inspired and decide to drag it on, lol…
Disclaimer: Vampire Knight belongs to Matsuri Hino.
Ruka closed the door and slid down onto the carpet. Was it just her, or was she starting to remember how things were before Kaname-san had come into their lives?
She travelled quietly into the kitchen. Kain had his back to her and was preparing something on the kitchen counter. She moved to the fridge and got out a jug of green cordial, placed it on the bench beside him.
Kain didn't flinch at all, infact he acted like she wasn't even there...
She felt so guilty. Ruka knew exactly how he felt about her, what he must be going through right now. It was the same way she'd felt after Kaname had taken her blood… Used, worn and fooled around with. That pain… which she never wanted to feel again… she had inflicted it upon somebody else… Not to mention how rude she'd been… She owed Akatsuki everything.
"I had a weird dream…" She said uncomfortably.
Ruka noticed Kain slightly flinch, but he still continued to chop up vegetables.
"About when we were young… Just You, Hanabusa and Me."
Kain stop chopping and looked up. "Oh… really?"
Ruka nodded. "You probably don't remember… but did Hanabusa and me ever have a running race?"
Kain smirked amusingly, "Yeah, but it was more like a warfare campaign."
"He… cheated…" Ruka frowned softly.
Kain looked down at her wistfully. She was acting kind of… different… He almost felt like her self-important attitude had been replaced by her childhood innocence… not that she didn't act overconfident back then… but she was more… chaste and authentic.
"Are you… uh feeling okay?" He asked her suspiciously.
"Yeah, I just… you know. I kinda forgot about those times. The fact that we all grew up together."
Ruka watched Kain, as he looked at her confusingly. He obviously knew something was going on because she never had actually talked freely about something that didn't revolve around Kaname.
"But… I'm sorry." She whispered to the floor.
Kain frowned at her. "Sorry… sorry about what?"
"I'm sorry… that I can't return your feelings."
Kain felt his stomach drop as a dull pain starting aching in his ribs. It's not like he didn't know it all along… but having her say it out loud like that… Well it didn't make it any easier.
"I know." He said stiffly, turning away from her to continue preparing the food. Kain was sure that eye contact right now would be too awkward, even for him.
But the conversation didn't continue because he heard Ruka leave his side and go off in search of a drinking glass. He could feel himself slowly relaxing once more.
The silence continued amongst them for a good ten minutes.
Kain made himself busy by bustling around the kitchen, looking for any and every kind of utensil that generally made him appear occupied.
He got the slightest impression that Ruka had been constantly opening her mouth at an attempt to continue their earlier conversation, but always closed it soon after.
However after taking a long and unnecessary twenty minutes to prepare a small meal, Kain knew he couldn't avoid the subject anymore.
Ruka took a plate and sat down at the petite sized dining room table, looking up reproachfully in his direction.
For a split second he thought about grabbing his plate and making a run for it… but he was sure that any indication of fast movement would cause his wound to lash out a whole new meaning of pain and suffering upon his already aching body.
Reluctantly, Kain retrieved his plate and sat down opposite her, purposely avoiding all eye contact.
"Akatsuki." Ruka said cautiously.
He half ignored her, throwing a nod of acknowledgement in her presence.
"I just think you need to understand that-" Ruka continued.
"It's fine. You don't need to explain anything." Kain replied shortly.
However after glancing at her hurt expression, he sighed apologetically.
"I've always known you'd never feel the same way about me, and I'm okay with that. I've accepted it for a long time now." He told her.
She nodded sadly, that same childhood innocence taking over her features.
And Kain couldn't help but admire. The way her soft dirty blonde hair fell down either side of her face… framing her features tenderly. Her dusky rose eyes filled with concern and sadness… over him. Her beautiful perfect face was momentarily concerned for him… not Kaname, but him.
Kain felt a rush of warmth surge over him, leaving him feeling kind of giddy and disorientated… but in a good way.
"Honestly, I've always kind of pictured you as a brother… or cousin. Someone I could have a close friendship with. Like family."
Great. Warm surge gone. Replaced with icy glaciers and maddening images of… Hanabusa stabbing him in the back with… something… cold, sharp and evil.
He forced himself to smile to some extent, but was afraid it might have come across as a grimace.
But Ruka hadn't seemed to notice, she just continued eating peacefully.
They ate the rest of the meal in silence, but it wasn't what you'd call awkward.
It was more like they'd both come to some unvoiced arrangement that small talk wasn't needed anymore, that they could just be comfortable.
It was then that Kain decided to make it as awkward for her as it had been for him before.
"How are you feeling… after… feeding?"
Ruka shot an accusing glance at him, as if he just asked about something that was forbidden.
"Fine." She replied in a small, curt voice.
Kain watched her suspiciously. He knew Hanabusa wouldn't be back for at least another day or so. Which was something they both were probably thinking about right now… that she'd need another feed.
"Ruka… When the urges come forth again-" Kain begun.
"No, I'll be fine. I can survive." She replied in that same small, curt voice.
She was tracing her plate with the fork robotically.
Kain sighed with annoyance.
It wasn't like her feeding off him was a picnic in the park for him either. He just recently discovered how very disturbed he was, how much he yearned to give her his blood.
It's not like he hadn't received someone else's blood willingly over the years… he'd had heaps of weird… experiences… Was giving blood to someone any different?
But when the object of your undying affection clung herself desperately to you, how exactly would you handle it?
Ruka suddenly stood up and snatched her plate from the table. Kain watched her warily, thinking for a split second that she was just about ready to smash the plate across his face. But she walked over to the sink and dropped her plate inside with a loud clatter, then excused herself from the room.
When the time came, Ruka knew she'd have to depend on Akatsuki again. He was right. Hanabusa wouldn't be back for a little while and she would start to become, once again, dangerously ravenous.
Sighing desolately, she pulled her legs closer and wrapped her arms around her knees. She'd retreated back to the confine of her little room.
How could she be comfortable talking about that again with Akatsuki? And she definitely didn't want to 'use' him again like that.
There was nothing she could really do except for avoiding him. That would make it easier to control her urges and evade his accusations of her hunger's inevitable state.
Yes, that's exactly what she'd do.
It'd been hours since Ruka had returned to her room. Most of the night actually. How long had Hanabusa been gone… 3… 4 days? Kain wasn't keeping count. He was just happy his wound wasn't exactly life threatening anymore. In a week it'd be completely healed…
He had already read 3 novels from the shelves and planted himself on the couch that directly overlooked Ruka's door in hopes of catching her sneaking out. But no such luck.
He yawned softly, stretching out his arms above his head. Time to sleep soon, the light of dawn was creeping along the horizon.
Kain had to admit he was a little worried. He knew what it was like to try go on for long periods of time without blood tablets and it wasn't fun. Ruka's stubbornness wasn't really helping their situation… It was only a little blood…
He reached down under his shirt and felt his wound. It had actually started to heal pretty quickly; he didn't even need the bandages anymore. Which was lucky because the smell of blood lingering around the cottage had definitely brought certain events forward.
Disappointedly, Kain abandoned his post and made his way to the bedroom. He was sure that a good sleep would cure his slight queasiness. Obviously receiving too much excitement had taken its toll in the last couple of days…
Another very slow day passed as Kain was struggling to fight a battle within whether or not to bash down her door. He was positive that Ruka was torturing herself by ignoring her natural urges and reducing herself to imprisonment.
Not having blood pills for that amount of time was dangerous… but when she'd finally given in to temptation by taking his blood… Ruka had entered a whole new ballpark.
She actually tasted real blood again. Become drunk off its gratification. There was no way in hell that she could resist the urges to that. Not unless we had blood pills in stock, which would at the very least deduce her urges a little bit.
While spending most of his day either in the kitchen or striding impatiently outside her door back and forth, Kain now sat on the couch again with a new novel.
Kain scoffed as he re-read the title. New World: Desperate for the taste. How ironic.
But he wasn't far into his novel until he heard the faint creak of a door opening. Startled, he quickly glanced up from his book and caught two pairs of blood red eyes boring into him through the darkness. He immediately leapt off the cough in time for Ruka to slowly slide herself out into the brightly lit living room. Her eyes still wore that oh so familiar blood red, her expression completely unreadable.
"I don't want to talk…" Came a soft yet harsh whisper from her lips.
Ruka took a few steps forward but eventually stumbled onto the couch. She grasped the arm for support. Kain immediately leapt forward and pulled her into a sitting position next to him. Ruka rest her head tiredly against his shoulder.
"I… don't understand why I need… so much…" She began to whimper.
But Kain just silenced her with a whisper. "It's fine… it's what we are and how we live. Why would we ever change that?"
Ruka looked up into his face, her blood red eyes burning. "I… I know its selfish but… Akatsuki… I need more of your blood."
He simply nodded and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I'd do anything for you."
Kain knew their previous experience would be too hard for Ruka this time, position wise. She was considerably weaker and needed to lie down… Oh god, was this gonna be hard…
He lay Ruka down upon the couch and lowered himself down upon her.
"A-Akatsuki!" Sung out Ruka's anxious voice, as if she was forcing her last bit of energy into making it sound more like a warning.
"Just drink." He answered her flatly.
She peered up at him apprehensively, despite the yearning blood thirst.
After what seemed a short contemplation, Ruka gave in and reached her delicate arms up around his neck, piercing in her fangs. Kain immediately felt that rush surge through his body. Except it was about ten times worse than their last time. Not the rush, of course.
That was better. But their situation… worse.
He now lay on top of his unrequited love… how was he supposed to get through this?
Kain grasped the sides of the couch, seriously hoping he could hold on long enough to act sensible… to not take advantage. Because all he had to do was kiss her… behind her ear, on her neck and then down to the collarbone… AH!
Stop it you idiot. Stop working yourself up… He allowed himself a mental slap across the face.
But he was quickly spared. A loud bang erupted from the side of the house, as if something large and heavy had been roughly thrown against it.
They both immediately sprung up off the couch, glancing towards the noise.
"What… was…?" Ruka started to speak.
The loud bang erupted again. If possible louder this time. Ruka hastily grabbed hold of Kain's arm. She was slightly shaking.
Kain still felt a little dizzy from earlier so going out to scout the sounds wasn't ideal. He couldn't risk injuring himself again and leaving Ruka so vulnerable.
The bang erupted again; it was near the front door this time…
"Akatsuki… I think they found us." Ruka managed to cry out. She was now completely concealed behind Kain, as if contemplating whether or not to use him as a shield.
"Just stay behind me and you'll be fine." Kain said. It was a lie. She wouldn't be fine.
Once they burst in they'd kill Kain instantly leaving her no time for an escape. Then she'd be next. He felt fury flair up inside; the thought of anyone hurting her made him want to strike out at anyone… or anything.
Maybe he still had enough strength to soar a flame or two into their path… but that'd risk blazing up the house and they'd both be fried to crisps. No, he had to fight. Give her some time for a getaway.
"Ruka listen to me. When I say so, you have to run. As fast as possible, don't look back. Do you understand me?"
She appeared from behind him wearing an alarmed expression.
"What? What are you talking about? What are you going to do?"
"Anything I can."
Her expression didn't falter.
"I'm not leaving you here." She finally managed to utter.
Suddenly the door was thrust open. Actually that was an understatement. The door was blown wildly off its hinges and slammed forcefully against the opposite wall.
Kain braced himself, Ruka positioned behind peering out fearfully.
But there stood a man with pale blue eyes, not red. He was crouched down on his feet as if originally trying to pick at the door lock. He had sandy blonde hair and wore a dusty leather chocolate brown trench coat with dark faded jeans complete with tan boots.
Kain couldn't even imagine the looks himself and Ruka had planted all over their faces.
The man stood up quickly and brushed some dust off his coat. He stepped inside cautiously while glancing up at them briefly and did a double take as if only noticing them for the first time.
They all turned quickly to their right as a loud groan sounded from underneath the propelled front door. A level E vampire burst from beneath it, snarling viciously around the room.
However the blonde man was too fast. He sped over and snapped it's neck before either Kain or Ruka could blink twice.
"Hurry up, they're in here!" Called a familiar voice from outside.
Hanabusa quickly entered the house, alert and ready. He spotted Kain and Ruka across the room and sighed with relief.
"What the hell is going on?" Ruka called out from behind Kain. She slowly glanced over at the other blonde man who was now sticking some kind of object into the dead vampire sprawled out on the floorboards.
"Oh, this is my Uncle Takagi." Hanabusa motioned towards the man bent over the body.
Back facing them, Uncle Takagi threw a hurried wave towards them.
Hanabusa moved closer towards them.
"Apparently something weird is going on with the E level vamps. So you're lucky I went for help." He said haughtily. He gave Kain a quick look over. "You look… better."
Kain felt himself blush slightly at the knowing 'one eye-brow raised' look Hanabusa gave him.
But Ruka butted in. "I don't understand. Did the vampires track us here?"
It was Uncle Takagi that intruded this time. "We thought so, because of the wound Hanabusa described. But from the healthy look of your friend here… " He pointed towards Kain. "I'm not so sure. Something else is happening here."
"We?" Asked Ruka.
"Yeah, I came with a whole group." Hanabusa chimed in. "There were a lot of people interested actually…" He looked a little confused himself.
"First things first. Let's just get back." Uncle Takagi said cautiously. He gazed uncertainly at Kain. "And see what's what with that wound of yours."
