The Tribulations of Cross Academy
by Jacklynnfrost
Disclaimer: Vampire Knight © 2005 by Hino Matsuri
Eight
"I can't believe we did it." Maria gushes, looking over all the finalized plans for the festival. "It's happening this week and everything is in order!" She's practically humming with energy. We had humans and vampires coming together to celebrate a basically meaningless holiday. There would be people dressed up, dancing, food and games. It was something I never really experienced before.
I get to have fun. I get to show Kaname that it's alright to relax sometimes. He wouldn't though. He says he wants me to be more like him, but I don't know if I can be cruel or emotionless. I want to be stronger, just so Kaname will share his burden. He takes on double the tense preparedness so I don't have to, so I could have a normal childhood, or, as normal as it could be.
I still knew Rido was out there biding his time, planning his move just like Kaname and I. As long as Rido was alive, Kaname is chained. As long as Kaname is trapped, so am I.
It made my resolve to kill Rido all the stronger. Kaname had his childhood stolen by the very uncle who wanted to steal me. I could never let that happen. Not because of what Rido planned to do with me... but what my absence would do to my dear Kaname. He would turn over from my gentle love to his darker side. The resentful side he hid. He even tried for years to hide it from me.
I have only recently been able to see just how deep Kaname is. He has so many sides... and not all of them are good.
"Earth to Yuki!" Maria said, waving her hands in front of my face. We were in my bedroom and my gaze wandered to my bookshelf. Something was different, it distracted me and I lost what I was going to say to Maria mid-thought. The photo of my parents had been moved, which is odd.
"Did you..." I trailed off. Maria only comes in here when I am with her. She couldn't have moved it. Maybe Kaname had? "Sorry. I zone sometimes. What did you say?" She didn't seem put out and shrugs, moving on to another topic instead of the festival's schedule.
"It doesn't matter, I just remember something really important. The boy in our club, Finley," it seemed like she struggled to remember his name, "asked me if you would be interested in going to the festival with him. I told him about Kaname though. So you dont have to worry about him making a move with your big jealous protector around. Kaname might have killed him." She giggled while I denied it. I had told her about his jealousy of my new friend, her, but then I thought about it. If he reacted like that to a friend, how would he react to a guy who had a crush on me?
Then I laughed. Yeah, he might have wanted to kill him. That would be bad. Especially since most of the Festival planning was done while away from Kaname, so my new human friends didn't get to see me with him. It was one of the only times Kaname allowed me so far from him and on my own.
Good thing Maria told him I wasn't interested.
"Well, I need to drink something before I go to bed. See you in class tonite. Try to get some sleep, you have dark circles under your eyes." Maria starts packing up her notes and books. I help, holding open her bag. She was my closest friend but I still couldn't tell her a majority of the things going on in my world.
Our plans for Rido.
My lack of power until puberty is over.
Kaname and I's blooming relationship.
Most of my memories and knowledge about purebloods.
Really, our relationship is just based on neither of us being capable in vampire society, her because she was ill and me because Kaname let me run free instead of structured like most vampire children. Even Aido, who is very lax and had a father who loved him, grew up with very strict nannies to teach him all about the vampire world. It was just Kaname and Sieren for me.
"Thanks for hanging out with me for a little while." I tell her, hoping that what I can offer to her is enough. I liked her, I hoped that she liked what we had too. She smiles, taking her bag from my hands as she gives the floor space she was working on a once over.
"Oh please, I like you. You are the first friend I've had in... well ever. Vampires are so... stuffy. I even like our human friends better. They don't hide so much." She gives me a quick little hug I half return before she leaves. I instantly felt guilty. I was hiding quite a bit from her.
Maybe next time I could share a memory with her. One about Aido. He used to tutor me when I was a child. Kaname didn't enjoy going over the histories so much since they brought him strange dreams of his life before he was my brother. It never lasted long. Aido had got very upset with me and Kaname didn't appreciate my tears.
It wasn't really Aido's fault.
I was around nine. Since I was confined to the Kuran property having a guest was literally the most exciting thing in my world. Aido came once a week, and I remember being excited because he usually brought a friend and we played after his lessons sometimes.
He'd come alone this time, with a large stack of books he was balancing. He was just tall enough to see over the top as he made his way to our study. I followed, forgetting to let Kaname know that Aido had arrived. It was just that Aido usually never brought more than one or two books. What could possibly be so important to have that many?
"Aido?" I asked, plopping down in my seat as he see's me for the first time today. He stops his stacking, bowing low and welcoming me as he normally does. 'Good morning, Kuran Princess'. I hated being called Kuran. I called him Aido though, and I knew his first name was Hanabusa. He hadn't invited me to call him that.
"Just Yuki please." I told him, but Kaname didn't agree so it was an uphill battle. As a child what I said didn't matter as much as what Kaname said. I knew that, but still made my voice clear.
Aido continued stacking his books before he remembered about my homework. "Please retrieve your essay." It was an opinion paper on the state of our vampire council. I didn't think highly of them. Most had backed Rido when he had told them about my parent's hidden treasure. Me.
So I scurried off, taking the steps two at a time.
My essay was wrinkled and shoved in one of my research books. It was a paper outlining the pitfalls of our council. The rules they followed and the blind faith that all purebloods were correct. I had many citations, many examples and I was very proud of my work. I just hoped that Aido Sr. never read it. He believed very strongly in the council, he was even a part of it.
I thought him a bit naive.
Kaname proofed it for me, he was very pleased. He smiled, one I hadn't seen in months, and told me "your eyes see much, my love". I still broke out in grins whenever I thought of it, so I was grinning ear to ear as I rushed to give Aido my completed work. I even past Seiren with that big grin, her eyebrow rose as a question but I was too excited to answer it.
Imagine Seiren's surprise then, when a moment later I rushed past her mere moments later with tears rushing down my face. Aido hadn't even got past the title. 'The Vampire Councils Many Drawbacks.'
I went to my hiding spot, locking my bedroom door behind me as I depressed my presence, opening my window and scurrying up the side of the house to the roof. I was to the other side in a moment, climbing down the siding again and entering the dining hall. No one would see me since they were busy in the kitchen.
A moment later I was in the hall of remembrance, facing the portrait of my parents wedding. I stopped just for a moment, then continued down to the end of the hall, pushing open the false door to the crypt room. The room with Kaname's true body. I crept behind it, pushing my back to the cool marble.
I wasn't surprised when a moment later, one of Kaname's dark hounds that always patrolled the property nudged my face. His cold wet nose forced my leaking eyes open. He wanted to know what had happened but I just pulled him close, laying him on top of me in a protective manor. Kaname-wolf licked at my face as I held on to his neck for dear life.
Hm. Perhaps that memory gave too much away. I would have to pick a different one. One where I don't write about my feelings on the vampire council or talk about me crying. A pure blood is never supposed to show their weaknesses.
I don't want to show Aido in a bad light either. For a month Kaname took over my classes again until Aido actually graded my paper and spoke to Kaname about it.
It was a bad memory, now that I think about it. Yet, I still smiled about it. I was a silly child.
Of course, a year later I wanted nothing to do with Aido-sr. I still refuse to call him Uncle Aido, even though growing up for five years I loved him dearly. Always rushed to give him hugs, but no more after what he did when Kaname came of age. I didn't like him after that, but still acted respectful for Kaname's sake.
Stupid Aido Sr and his stupid idea.
The sun was coming up so I grab Bunny-Chan, snuggling up on my bed to sleep. I hope Kaname is feeling better. He'd been buried in his research for the last two nights. He didn't even go to class yesternight. We had gotten our exams back. Almost no one passed, the whole, having vampire hunters at teachers hasn't quite worked out.
Even Aido seemed like a great teacher in hindsight. Compared to now, and overall.
.vk After Class .vk
Kaname skipped again. I walked alone, back to the moon dormitory. I could have walked with my friends but I didn't want to. I was finding that Kaname's 'always watching' approach to be preferable to being involved in everything. Vampires lives were kind of... long and boring. Just gossip and human-sneering.
I sighed quietly.
My foul mood came from Kaname's absence and his intense 'do not disturb' vibe he was sending around his room. I was going to break through that today. My determined steps faltered as neared the dorm though.
Zero was outside the front door, which meant Ichiru was waiting inside. Showing the other vampires that they needed to respect the Kiryu brothers is important. Now is a great opportunity. I bowed slightly to Zero, his eyes only widened for a second before he turned away.
Alright, opportunity wasted, now the nobles will see him as disrespectful. I entered before everyone else, closing my eyes for a long while before I proceed to go upstairs. Still toward Kaname. Ichiru is leaving his room as I reach the hallway for his room.
"Yuki!" He smiles, rushing up to hug me. "I was just taking to Kaname. Go easy on the guy, yeah?" Ichiru is gone a moment later and I shake my head at him. I just missed him. So, I grabbed my school book from my pack, threw my bag in my room and entered Kaname's.
We meet eyes, I smile and he doesn't.
I find a spot far enough away but still within seeing distance and I make myself comfortable. I open my book and start on chapter seven. It was boring on purpose but I didn't want to fail again, although I don't believe that these grades count toward anything in my life. Except my pride, of course.
We don't speak, but I do look up when Kaname crinkles a paper, or jots something down furiously. I will wait until he is used to me being here before I interrupt him. He never seemed to notice me though. He was so focused and I was content being close to him. It was when the sun started to rise that I realized I would be sleeping here too. I would not be leaving. So, I tucked myself into the chair and folded my hands over my book as I lazily drifted away, watching Kaname work.
I knew he was working on something important. Either his research on reversing humans made vampires back into humans, or a way to get over his blood bond with Rido.
The gentle lull of sleep pulls me under. I didn't sleep long before Kaname is scooping me up. I cling, tucking my face against his. He doesn't return me to my room, instead, I am positioned in his lap as he goes over his findings again. I stretch out, tucking myself in again and finding sleep easy.
At least he is comforted by me.
.vk
I wasn't surprised to see I was still in Kaname's lap when night came. I didn't move though, just reached for the book closest to him and started to learn about blood tablets production. Strange. Kaname usually didn't get involved in this. I still read on though.
The time for class came and I didn't move from my spot. No one knocked and I heard the door close as a finality of me not attending today. My first skipped class. It felt good, a bit rebellious and naughty. I shifted in my seat, arching forward to take up a bit of Kaname's desk. Blood tablets were synthetic blood and the long term tests of most older brands have come back with very few ill side effects but newer versions are still appearing.
Some from sources that are questionable.
Did Kaname think that the blood tablets being distributed today were bad? Or is he trying to find a way to make blood tablets widely available? Something that could stop the turned vampires from dropping to level E. Is that something that is possible? I wish I knew more about biology. I did have a biology text in my room. I couldn't leave though, or Kaname will not welcome me back.
It was that moment that a nose was pressed to my hair. He inhaled and his right hand stopped writing, the note book farther up on the table to accommodate his longer reach. His left hand flipped the book over he was using to save his spot. I hurriedly folded a corner of my text to save my spot.
"As your guardian, should I punish you for skipping class?" I blushed at his hushed words in my ear. His hand coming down my hair to collect it, and brush it over my shoulder. His nose dipped to my neck. He must be hungry. He's abstained for years. Just the few days I've been without him my throat had been burning. I can't imagine Kaname's pain.
I arch for him, letting him have me if he wants me. He would never bite, but when I am hurt, he always suck at the wound. I finger the pages of my book, making sure to papercut my finger at just the right angle. Kaname stiffens, his throat making a deep yearning noise. I hold it up, resting my palm on my collar as his warm tongue laps at the little drop. He sucks ever so slightly to get what he can from the wound before it's healed.
"At least let me feed me." I whisper, eyeing the envelope cutter but Kaname did not release my finger. He stood, his eyes squeezed closed probably savoring the little drops he did manage to get.
"Come on a picnic with me." He said. "Like a date." He smiles, opening his eyes. They sparkled lightly. He was in a good mood. I wouldnt waste it.
"Yes." I follow his lead. Wide eyed and excited. He stands, pulling me close and inhaling before shooing me. "Go change. I will meet you downstairs."
I rush and I hear him chuckle after me. I am only a little sad i missed his face light up but more happy that I managed to cheer him up. I made him happy. I ransacked my drawers. pulling out jeans, dresses and shirts before i find what I want. My rose skirt. The very one Kaname bought me when he traveled to germany. I paired it with my white undershirt and a jacket.
I didnt want to go overboard but still wanted to freshen up. I went to my mirror to finger comb my hair and check my face. vampires didn't need much upkeep and I looked alright.
It wasn't until I reached for the door knob that I started to feel nervous. Was I ready for this? Could I leave my childish things behind? This will be my first date. Kind of. I could do much more for that, especially for Kaname's well being.
I hope for kissing.
Now or never. I left my room determined to walk like a lady. Slow and precise as I made my way down the steps. Kaname wasn't here. I looked in the common room. I peeked outside then went to his room...
Did kaname stand me up on purpose? Was this his plan?
Instead I sat on the chair closest to the door and waited. My faith much greater than my doubt. It was only a few minutes wait before he returned. A basket on his hand and a blanket over his shoulder.
As a child I held his hand often. A way to stay by his side for safety and love. Now as he reached his hand for mine I felt something else. Possession. I wanted his hand in mine because I belonged with my one true love.
Because being with kaname is the reason my heart beats.
We walked to the back door, heading for the woods quietly enjoying the night. It was peaceful out here. "I wish it was sunny." I muttered.
"The only vampire that adores the sun." Kaname smiled as he looked down at me. "My sweet Yuki." He squeezed my hand before letting go. I took the basket as he unfolded the blanket flat in the little clearing.
Kaname fixed the corners just right before sitting on the edge and lying on his back. He patted his hand beside him. I sat the basket down as that same nervousness spiked.
Its silly. I have laid with Kaname over and over but now... anything could happen. What if he kisses me or smells my sensual reaction to his body on mine? He had jeans on and a dark shirt that rode up just enough to see his little dip to his navel.
When I took too long one of Kaname's eyes opened to stare at me. I smirked knowing he was worried and making fun of my hesitation.
I didn't wear shoes unless I was made to, so I climbed up the blanket to watch the stars next to my Kaname. No worries about trailing dirt with me. I tucked myself close as Kaname took a deep breath.
We watches the stars. They shone as dark clouds passed over with lazy motions. We stayed quiet. Kaname had not relaxed in ages so when he tucked closer, his head finding my heart I played with the end strands of his hair absently.
He actually drifted. I hummed to him. The same song my father would hum to me and the one Kaname hummed when I became ill.
He was struggling with something. He would share eventually but for now I did what I could. Just being there for him.
