Vampire
by lightpathetic
"IS IT TRUE? Are you a vampire?"
Kaname paused for only a fraction of a second, too short a time to be detected by a human, but he had done so; all his dread coming to the surface in a minor panic. He'd told them the truth. It was the least he could have done after they'd seen their brother shot and later pass out, fighting for his life. Kaname'd confessed as he'd performed a quick but necessary surgical procedure on their unconscious sibling, as they'd watched in frantic concern. He didn't want to shut them from the room but he had controlled their reactions a bit to stop the inevitable hysteria. As Zero was stitched closed and bandaged, he could see they were more interested in their brother's healing than his own admissions. But now that they were rested and the hectic night had passed, Ichiru stood behind him asking for answers and Kaname was determined to give them... what they needed to know.
"Yes. I'm sorry I lied to you all."
Ichiru also paused and looked at the finished breakfast. Berry pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried beef sausages and potatoes, fresh toast with a pat of melting, freshly churned butter on top and coffee. Kaname had pulled out all the stops, even currently stirring a pot of porridge on the stove. Ichiru then realised he was starving. He hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, his appetite having understandably deserted him. Before he knew it, he was at his usual spot at the table and a plate appeared in front of him. Ichiru's eyes followed the long graceful arm to Kaname's face and the rueful smile there.
"You certainly don't behave like a vampire. At least not like the ones I've read about," Ichiru began, looking at his own hands where they were propped on the edge of the table. This vampire business explained Kaname's strange abilities, his strength. Ichiru felt stupid even though he had no reason to. No one could have guessed that Kaname was such a being. It was a story...!
"I'm the same person I was yesterday, Ichiru. You have no reason at all to fear me." Kaname said this last as he placed his slender, soft hand on Ichiru's larger, work-roughened ones. Ichiru stared at it for a while and then opened his own to clasp it. It was the same hand he'd kissed - or had tried to - for over three months now; the same person that looked at him with kindness if with a tinge of fear even Ichiru had noticed. Fear. Ichiru chuckled, remembering how the cart had been vaulted into the air and back towards the farm yesterday; how they'd sat confused as Kaname left them for a moment and circled the perimeter of the homestead before returning and dropping them, horses and all, at their doorstep. Why would Kaname even care what he thought? Unless, he did care altogether...
"I knew it, you know. I've always suspected." Ichiru smiled, letting go of the long fingers of Kaname's hand and reaching for a piece of toast and sausages in one movement. Kaname gritted his teeth but said nothing, only giving Ichiru a knowing look as if to say, "You'll get away with that now but not later", both knowing Ichiru should have waited for the others...
"Of course you did, Ichiru," Kaname answered, more than relieved. "Where's Yuuki?" He asked, frowning a little. She normally came down without too much fuss.
"She says she's not feeling well. I told her to stay home and rest. I'll just have to..." Ichiru's eyes widened in alarm as he rose to his feet. How could he have forgotten about the herd?! How could he have...?!
"I brought them home last night. I gave the dogs extra for being so good. I can't believe how well trained they are."
Ichiru relaxed, his relief evident.
"Trained?" Ichiru's brows furrowed a little. He didn't remember actually teaching them. They just seemed to know what to do. He didn't let this upset him too long though, as he returned to his seat, chewing on a succulent mouthful of sausage and pancake. He thought, as he did this, that he needed to beat anybody else to it and marry Kaname himself. Damn, he was a good catch...
"So, darling," Ichiru said, standing and approaching where Kaname stood stirring said porridge, "what do you do for blood?"
Kaname tensed, turning quickly to meet Ichiru's eyes with his own worried gaze. Why was he bringing this up? Was he going to reject him after all? He needn't have worried.
Ichiru merely noted the frightened look and parted lips and leaned in to kiss his impossibly perfect nose, unable to resist. He was so adorable... "Honey, relax. I just wanted you to know," Ichiru informed as he leaned his head to his right and stretched his neck, he thought, enticingly, "you have a very willing volunteer if you do need anything at all..."
Kaname's worried brow fell into a dirty, irate look as he switched his attention back to his porridge, seemingly too angry to speak. He extinguished the fire, and poured the simmering concoction into a bowl. Without another word, he pushed pass the grinning Ichiru and headed for the stairs, counting backwards from twenty under his breath. Some people didn't know how lucky they were...
"YUUKI? May I come in?"
Yuuki lifted her tear stained face from the pillow she was hugging and looked in alarm towards the door. Kaname! Yuuki hesitated, wondering what she should do. How did it go? Wasn't she safe unless she invited him in...?
"Are you afraid of me, Yuuki?" came the voice again, but soft, vulnerable. Kaname had decided to stop in as he'd heard her crying. He didn't think about the fact she would also have just found out about him and would be afraid of him. Kaname felt as if his heart would break. Not Yuuki...
Yuuki rolled over and looked at the door, not wanting to make a mistake but unable to take the hurt she'd heard in his voice. She stayed quiet, only to hear him move away from the door.
"Wait! Kaname!"
Yuuki sat up and threw her feet over the side of the bed, just as the door opened to the familiar beautiful face, looking upon her with concern. Yuuki smiled in relief. She couldn't believe she was afraid of Kaname!
"I'm sorry. Come in. Please."
Kaname stepped cautiously into the room, leaving the door ajar.
"Ichiru is downstairs tearing into the breakfast. You know how it is with his self-restraint..."
"I'm not hungry. I don't feel well."
"You don't have a fever. Are you in pain?"
"Yes. My head."
"Oh."
Kaname came over to the bed, moving carefully as if trying not to spook a high-strung filly.
"I can take care of the pain if you want me to," Kaname said simply. He didn't see any point in hiding these things anymore.
Yuuki's face fell and she looked away. Kaname moved to sit next to her.
"Your head isn't all that is hurting, is it?"
"I killed someone, Kaname. I'm going to... hell," Yuuki managed before dissolving into tears. Kaname fought his befuddlement and reached out to hold her, nestling her gently to his chest. He let her cry for a while, pushing the thoughts of Kara's first time out of his head as he remembered her licking her lips clean of her first blood and grinning happily at her father as if to say "I did it!" Somehow, Kaname didn't think that was an apt analogy for this situation... Dear Kara... Kaname shook his head as if to clear his mind and tried to remember the task at hand.
"What does hell mean to you, Yuuki?"
Yuuki paused at the thought of this strange creature not knowing what hell is. Odd sort of question...
"It's somewhere bad people go to burn forever, Kaname. Right after they pluck your eyes out and peel off your skin to feed them to the starving souls there." This last had been added by Ichiru when he'd caught her throwing stones at the chickens when she was three. It had stayed with her ever since.
"I see." Kaname barely saw at all. "So what you are really afraid of, is being a bad person?"
"But I am! You aren't supposed to kill people! I didn't mean to. I saw he was about to..."
"Shoot Zero. He intended to kill your brother, Yuuki. You saved his life."
"I know. But I just reacted. Maybe I should have just wounded him."
"Then he would have killed us all. You did the right thing. You saved us all by thinking quickly and acting on it. The way I see it, you are a hero not a bad person. He is the bad one, probably right now in hell having his skin eaten."
Kaname was being a tad tongue in cheek but was gratified when Yuuki appeared to be considering what he'd just said seriously.
"I keep seeing it, though," Yuuki whispered sadly, clinging to Kaname's shirt absently. "The blood and the way he looked at me. He'll always haunt me, Kaname. My dreams..."
"Yuuki," Kaname began, barely tolerant of this man making her so miserable, "do you want me to help you forget?"
Yuuki wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly. What did he mean...?
"Pardon me?"
Kaname made her look him in the eye. She shouldn't misunderstand.
"If you want me to, I can take away the memory. Ichiru seems to be handling his kill well, but if it is too much for you, I can make it go away."
"Make it go..." Yuuki repeated stupidly, blinking away her tears in confusion. Was he offering to erase her memory?!
"You can do that?! Is it because you are a vampire?" Yuuki was suddenly more interested in Kaname. Children: the attention span of a puppy in a cage of squirrels...
Kaname fidgeted uncomfortably. Now why had he said that?
"It is one of my powers, yes..."
"So they forget that you drink their blood? Wow! What's it like?"
"What?"
"To be a vampire?"
"I..." How does one answer such a question? "I don't know. It's... all I've known."
"What does blood taste like to you? I think it is a little disgusting."
"I think it's alright..." Kaname felt himself begin to sweat.
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
Kaname stiffened and really began to panic. Maybe he should force her to forget. Force them all to forget. It has worked so far in his life. Then he wouldn't have to answer these questions. Just reach in and... Kaname sighed, frustrated with himself. Put some effort into this, Kuran!
"Yuuki..." Kaname began seriously, trying to think of a way to explain his taste for people...
"I don't think so," Yuuki answered quickly, afraid she had annoyed her angel. "You don't behave like a vampire to me. You don't even have fangs..."
Yuuki reached up and poked her finger through Kaname's lips and rubbed the canine there. Kaname was caught a little off guard, not thinking she'd actually try to see them. What was it with these kids? Couldn't they sense danger if it bit them...?
Kaname shuddered as Yuuki's taste flooded his mouth. The sensation of her touch made his fangs react in reflex and he could feel them growing in preparation. Kaname disentangled himself quickly and got to his feet, but not before Yuuki saw the tell-tale lengthening...
"Wow...!" Yuuki's eyes were like saucers. She definitely wanted to see that again!
Kaname stood with his back to her as he heard her wonderment. She wouldn't think that way if she knew what it took for him to walk away...
"I'm going... to scheck on Zero. Let me know... if you wanth my help," Kaname said quickly and left, taking his steaming bowl of porridge with him and closing the door firmly behind him. He decided then and there to let Zero handle all the future heart to heart talks with his siblings. He'd never felt more out of his depth...
ZERO came to and saw a pair of large brown eyes looking at him interestedly.
"Good morning! How are you feeling? Any pain?"
Zero roused himself from his stupor and looked towards the windows.
"Damn!"
Zero rolled and tried to stick his feet over the side of the bed. He'd almost made it when his entire side began to pound wickedly.
"OOOHHHH! Shit..." Zero was robbed of his breath.
"Feels terrible, doesn't it? I took away some of the pain to let you sleep but maybe it was a mistake. You have major damage to your lungs, abdomen and stomach. You aren't going anywhere. And..." Kaname sniffed appreciatively, as if savouring a fragrant bouquet. "You've torn some stitches." What a morning this was turning out to be. It was as if fate was testing his forbearance.
"Make it..." Zero wheezed, sure he was burning up.
"I'm sorry?"
"...Make it stop, you son of a bitch..." Zero hardly dared to move. He started to pray to pass out.
"I want a promise. You will stay in bed for two weeks. No protests. If you break this promise, I will leave you in pain until everything heals. Did I mention I can be... sadistic?"
"...Alright! Please..."
Zero gasped as the sensation of searing torture left him. He was "pulled" up the bed and laid onto the plumped pillows, before a blanket covered him and tucked beneath him. Zero opened his eyes to see Kaname savouring his victory, a spoon dipping tentatively into a bowl of...
"Porridge?"
"Yes. I don't want to give you anything heavier. Open wide."
"I can manage..."
Zero's side began to ache again, as a cold look came over Kaname's face. Zero opened his mouth quickly.
"There. I put some wild-berries and sugar in it. Everything necessary for a healing boy..."
"Where are the others?"
Kaname paused to listen, then resumed confidently.
"Ichiru is checking on the chickens and Yuuki is washing up. I think she is going out after all..." Kaname felt proud of himself.
"What do you mean? Is she still upset?"
"Yes. Some nonsense about being bad and going to hell. Really, humans are crazy..."
"She's killed someone for the first time. I have to talk to her."
"I've done that already. That's why she is getting ready. I've told you not to move, Zero."
The door opened and Yuuki stuck her head in. All she had to see was Zero's irritated expression and she knew he would be alright. All of them had been bedridden with some injury or the other over the years. It was a hazard of their hard life, so Yuuki knew to give it time before she got worried. But she still came in and walked to Zero's side and kissed him on the cheek, darting a curious look in Kaname's direction. Kaname looked away towards the windows, again fidgeting...
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know. The pain comes and goes. Right now I am waiting for it to go." Kaname swung back to eye Zero warningly.
"Poor dear. You'll be fine, though. I can tell. You're in good hands."
"...Right..." Zero didn't quite agree. Yuuki kissed him again and turned to go. Zero almost sat up again.
"Wait! Are you alright?"
Yuuki looked from Zero to her shoes and then back to Zero. She nodded bravely.
"Yes. He would have killed you, so I did a good thing. It was just a bad thing to see..."
"Remember my promise to you, Yuuki," Kaname said, looking at her again. Yuuki raised her hand and walked away.
"If Ichiru can do it, so can I. It's the way things are out here. I'll see you both later."
Zero stared at the closed door for a while until a porridge laden spoon buzzed his lip.
"She's is a strong girl, Zero. You both did a good job."
"Yes. I wish Mother could see her..."
"She will. They both will."
Zero looked up at Kaname to see his beautiful face soft and gently encouraging and smiled at himself.
"I'm not an idiot, you know. Their being gone this long..."
"It could have been an overseas voyage. That can take months. Did they say where they were going?"
"They'd said to visit Mother's family. But they wouldn't have both gone if it would have taken this long..."
"Maybe the trip would have been dangerous and they wanted to support each other. I know I would never have let my wife go alone. But I would have gotten someone to look after you children..."
"There is no one we trusted. Mom wanted to get Dad's cousin but I was totally against it. I didn't like the way he looked at Yuuki."
"Really? Does he live near here?"
"No... Kaname!"
"I was just teasing." He wasn't entirely. He made a note to ask Yuuki about it later. "Here, eat this."
Zero opened his mouth and finally began to eat. Kaname worked in silence for a while until the bowl was empty. Zero laid back, eyes closed, savouring the immensely satisfying meal. He hadn't realised how hungry he was...
"They know I am a vampire."
Zero opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. Had he heard correctly?
"I told them last night. They seem to be taking it well…"
"That's because they think you are like the ones in the books. You drink a bit of blood and leave two tidy holes in the side of people's necks..."
"I suspected as much."
They were both silent for a while, Zero wondering if they were angry at him for keeping it from them, Kaname wondering if it would really be this easy.
"Don't tell them otherwise, Zero. Please."
"I wasn't going to. They don't need to know what happened in Venice."
"... Zero..."
"I'm tired. Let me sleep."
Kaname pursed his lips and debated trying to explain what had happened, but no matter how he turned it over in his mind, he would still be the villain. Kaname decided to let it die. He looked back to see Zero pretending to sleep, his lids fluttering tellingly.
"You know," Kaname said softly with a mischievous glint to his eyes, so as not to disturb a sleeper, but loud enough for anyone awake to hear, "I like that I have you all to myself during the day now. As I remember, we were well on our way to something memorable when we were interrupted..."
"Don't you dare touch me!" Zero shouted, his hands going up to fend Kaname off. "I don't know about vampires...!"
"We do it very much like humans do," Kaname insisted, threading his fingers teasingly into Zero's own and raising them to his lips. "I'm offering to show you..."
"I'd rather die than have sex with you! Let me go!"
Zero found himself free and a calm Kaname by the door. The brunette seemed to have lost a little of his amusement. He hadn't expected Zero to agree wholeheartedly, but the rejection still stung. Maybe he'd wanted it to happen more than he'd realised...
"I'm going to bed. But if you need me, just call. I'll hear you. I'll also hear... if you move. I suggest you don't."
Kaname then disappeared through the door with a bone-jarring slam, leaving a keyed up and totally suspicious Zero in his wake. Sleep?! When such danger lurked in the shadows?!
"NOBODY in town saw them, boss. Maybe they left that same night."
"Perhaps..."
Mr. Fernley returned to his seat without realising it, his depression consuming him. He reached for the now ever-present bottle of whiskey and poured it into the just as ever-present glass next to it, its transparency tarnished by the multiple fingerprints of hard use. Mr. Fernley was not coping well with the consistent vanishing of all his hopes at the Kiriyuu ranch. Yet, what really rankled was the fact no one believed him. They all thought he was a sour old man that couldn't get his hands on what he had desperately wanted: the Kiriyuu holdings. They refused to see that it had gotten much worse than that. That something evil was living there, probably killing all who ventured there. And when he'd finally gotten some people to listen to him...
"Sir, do you want us to check the next town?"
Gerald Fernley raised his head in a jerk as if roused from a deep, deep slumber, although he was still awake.
"What? Oh, no... There is no point. No point at all."
Gerald Fernley then threw back his head and laughed. Laughed so hard tears came to his eyes. Then he cried, long racking sobs making the men present uncomfortable at once. They left quietly, leaving their boss to his cares. After all, the man was still grieving... for his sons…
"YOU sure this is what you want, Miss?"
The young man tightened the knots on the young lady's bags after he had attached them to her side-saddle and looked up at her again. He'd tried to convey how bad an idea he thought this was, if only to cover his own cowardice at leaving her here. But he had heard rumours about this place. He would rather not venture onto it.
"Of course. Hand me my parasol."
The young man reached into the wagon and handed up the frilly, baby-blue confection. Sayori took it from him and opened it over her head.
"Thank you for your company this far, William. You better get back before dark."
"Miss..."
"Don't worry. I'm just going to my fiancé. This is his land. Nothing is going to happen to me here."
William swung back onto the seat of the wagon and watched as the baby-blue frock-attired, dainty young lady headed into the silent wild grassland before her. It seemed such an incongruity that William almost laughed at it. Except...
"People disappear..."
"I had a cousin. A good for nothing but..."
"Didn't you hear that Mr. Fernley? Near lost all his sons..."
"Don't do this!" William shouted, trying again. Nice young ladies didn't go alone to live with men. Her reputation as well as her life was at risk.
A baby-blue, frilly arm raised and waved resolutely behind her and William gave up, only watching until she was swallowed from sight by a gentle, lush, green rise of earth.
ZERO sat propped at the dining table, pale and drawn-looking but never happier. He was finally allowed out of bed. It had been three weeks of hell and he didn't mean the bout of fever during the second week. He hated lying still while everything happened around him. He had responsibilities. Commitments. And he needed to keep an eye on Kaname. Lord knows what he was up to...
"Zero are you sure...?" Yuuki began, not missing the dark circles under Zero's eyes.
"Yes! Dammit, where's dinner?!"
"So impatient. That illness should have taken a bit off the edges of that temper," Kaname wished, wistfully, even as he walked over with a large platter with two baked chickens, literally accompanied by bowls of roasted potatoes, ears of corn and steamed vegetables. The kids, quite used to Kaname's telekinetic powers by now, ignored the floating bowls and marvelled at the feast. Zero too, forgot his discomfort and felt his salivary glands tingle. Kaname laughed at the delight on their faces. These children were always appreciative. He never tired of trying to please them.
"I THINK I saw some wild pigs not too far away..."
"Wild pigs? Are you sure?" Ichiru asked, over a mouthful of baked chicken, but Zero nodded.
"In the hills. Father once showed one to me when we'd gone north to visit the Souens over a boundary dispute." Zero briefly wondered what happened to little Luca. His parents had tried to pair them off without too much luck... "It's miles away..." Zero stopped himself but Yuuki was quick.
"He probably flew there! He probably visits towns and things while we are all sleeping!"
Zero said nothing, only filling his fork but Ichiru noticed Zero's disquiet. Did Kaname go elsewhere for blood? Should he ask?
"I don't go very far, Yuuki. Just to the boundary of the land and a little beyond if I care to. There is nothing... mysterious or exciting at all about where I go at night," Kaname finished firmly, staring directly at Zero. He knew what he was thinking. There was no winning with Zero. He was always suspicious no matter what...
Kaname suddenly lifted his head and looked behind him, drawing air into his lungs. He could smell... it was...
"What is it, Kaname?"
Kaname debated saying nothing was wrong and just leaving for a quick meal. The pickings have been slim lately. But instead...
"…Someone is coming. A female."
"A girl? At this time of day?" Yuuki wondered as the other chairs scraped noisily and the men disappeared outside. They each had their own hopes for this particular event.
"It's Shizuka! I knew she would come!"
"Dream on, Ichiru. Which direction, Kaname?" Zero asked, even as he headed towards the southeast. The town lay in that direction. Kaname didn't stop him.
"She is just over the rise. Do you want me to go and get her?"
"NO!"
"NO!" The twin said in unison, urgently. Kaname smiled as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He had only been teasing.
"Yuuki! Come get Kaname!" Zero called, even as he limped quickly towards the grassy knoll, Ichiru was way ahead of him, having sprinted away in his eagerness. He paused at the top of the hill and squinted into the dark.
"Do you see anything?" Ichiru asked as Zero joined him.
"Of course. There's someone on a horse. You really should eat your vegetables."
"It's so dark. I should have brought a lamp..."
"Zero! Zero!"
Zero bounded forth down the hill towards the frantically waving girl.
"Sayori! SAYORII!"
Ichiru bit his lip in disappointment and turned away from the happy couple's noises. Someday... She'd promised...
"Is that the fiancée?" A deep voice asked to his right. Ichiru looked up to see Kaname with Yuuki in his arms watching the show below.
"Yes. Can't you tell by all the hollering?"
"Ichiru's jealous, Kaname. He gets short tempered when he jealous," Yuuki edified nonchalantly, still squinting into the night, completely missing the look on her adopted big brother's face as he watched the couple hug each other below them.
He's not the only one...
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but only Fernley and co are my characters. The others belong to "Vampire Knight"
rev 12032014
