Due to the current situation and Skylar's severe blood loss, Kaien decided to wait until later to interrogate me about the bite mark. As he hoisted Skylar up into his arms, he told me to meet him at his house after I cleaned up and changed into proper clothing. I was reluctant to leave Skylar alone, if only because I was scared of her condition, but I did as told.
Not wanting to deal with anymore stares or questions as to what happened, I slipped on one of my favorite button-ups and some faded jeans. I then proceeded to slip on my jacket, and as I ran out the hallway, I struggled to slip on my sneakers, hopping up and down on my foot. I-I gotta hurry! I knew, I just knew earlier that something bad had happened to Skylar and now… she was so low on blood she couldn't even stay awake. I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…
I should have stayed at the dorm. I shouldn't have acted out; I shouldn't have ran to school. I should have left the campus grounds.
But if I didn't run to the school I never would have gotten my memory back.
When I had that thought my body stopped moving. I froze mid-step at the entrance of the forest. If I didn't panic and run to the school I never would have encountered Kaname. I never would have gotten to see Ichijou again, to talk to him, to learn the truth about the Night Class and regain all my memories about them.
"I'm a terrible friend…"
I brought a hand up to my face, lips curling back as a sob tried to build up in the back of my throat. She was so badly hurt and I wasn't even there for her. I can't believe I- no. No. I'm heading over to Kaien's to fix that mistake. I wasn't able to be there for her when it happened; I'm going to be there for her as she recovers- and she will recover. Taking a deep breath, forcing myself to relax, I glared determinedly at the woods in front of me and stepped forward, making my way to Kaien's house.
…
Shiki had been laying on his back, attempting to nap on the couch, when the door opened and Ichijou walked into the room. A real smile was spread on his lips, soft and happy, green eyes warmer than they had been in what felt like forever to the redhead. Shiki turned his head with a look of indifference to observe the blond, watching with an odd feeling of relief blooming in his chest when he saw him.
Ichijou was humming. A good, genuine hum- the kind of hum one only does when they're extremely happy. Shiki was used to a lot of musical days from the blond, but this wasn't anything like those days. When Ichijou lifted his head and saw the redhead staring at him, his grin merely broadened and he squealed, dashing forward and tackling the redhead on the couch.
Shiki grunted, but didn't bother pushing the bubbly blond off of him. Ichijou sat up, shifting until he was straddling the model, and beamed down at him. Then, without any warning other than the huge smile on his face and the way his eyes brightened, he went into a full detailed explanation as to what happened after he and Irene had left the dorm. Shiki tried to pay attention, but he couldn't help but let his mind wander.
There's no doubt that there were going to be some furious people when Ichijou and Irene actually get together; a lot of women had their eyes on the blond- Vampire and Human alike. The poor girl had already been targeted multiple times, yet every time she just brushed it off and laughed… until the blond was mentioned or she recalled something and she would space out, growing deeply emotional and thrust into intense, unbearable pain as the memories tried to rush back.
It didn't bother Shiki at first- he had made himself into a doll with emotions and lived that way for the longest time- but after seeing how Ichijou was affected the first few days the redhead began to feel strange. He didn't remember the last time he raised his voice; if he ever did it had been a long time ago- way before his mother was driven insane.
The only time he could remember speaking up for something he wanted was when he first saw Rima- the girl at an acting audition. He walked up and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her along with him and demanding that she be his partner in the modeling set he was going to be doing. They were only little kids then.
I had yelled at Ichijou-San… I had tried to make Terrier-San speak with Ichijou-San.
Shiki wasn't sure why the events with his best friend and the Human girl had bothered him so greatly. He had things he liked and disliked, but he never acted out on them. Until now, when Ichijou's smile became forced and lacking… and Shiki saw Irene depressed and no longer her bubbly self.
The Hunter girl hadn't been around constantly during that time either- too busy scoping out who the attacker was for vengeance. Her anger had blinded her during that time. And that's not to mention the fact that Ferret Elizabeth was Night Class, constantly tutoring other students, so it wasn't as though she could go out of her way to comfort her friend either. Terrier Irene was alone.
And Ichijou's hunger just got worse.
Shiki was surprised when Terrier-San recognized him, but felt relieved when she mentioned Ichijou. So he questioned her, dragged her into town to the cafe they all once met at. She denied the cupcake Shiki offered even though she had eaten one when Ichijou asked her, and when her scent turned to that of fear…
It wasn't that she was scared of Shiki in general, but more so the memory of him and Ichijou. She blatantly ignored all the signs Shiki gave her about their race, of how they were Vampires, but after she regained her memories and Ichijou bit her… she didn't freak out. She accepted them and the Night Class for what they were.
And because of the way she acted, the words she said when the one model had attacked her, she had earned both his and Rima's respect. She didn't scream or cry, wailing about how she needed help, and instead responded to the situation and insults stubbornly. Irene was bubbly and obtuse, but she didn't take insults. It almost made sense as to why Ichijou was so fond of her. She was a very strange Human, with strange choices of friends, and wasn't nice to just anybody.
Rima and Shiki had started to like Irene after that, too, and gradually began to view her as a friend.
These two are so troublesome… Shiki sighed. They were destroying what Shiki worked so hard to protect, tearing down his wall ever so slowly. Ichijou stopped rambling, staring down at Shiki in concern when he heard the exhale. Opening his eyes, Shiki blinked and met the familiar green gaze. "...Hm?"
"...Is something the matter, Shiki?"
The model shook his head, ignoring his friend's concerned eyes. Ichijou pouted, reaching forward and brushing the bangs out of Shiki's face, before leaning down and wrapping his arms around him as best as he could in an effort to hug him. "...?"
"I'm so sorry, Shiki… but thank you- for everything. I've been a very selfish friend."
The model sighed and turned his head, too lazy to raise his arms and instead letting his forehead rest against Ichijou's shoulder. "Stop apologizing, Ichijou-San… just get some sleep."
"Yes, yes~!" Ichijou sang, voice soft and filled with relief. Ichijou nuzzled Shiki's hair for a short moment before he pulled away and got off of him, standing and waving as he headed towards his bedroom. "I'll see you later tonight then~ Sweet dreams, Shiki!"
Shiki tiredly watched as Ichijou closed the door behind him. The blond completely out of sight, the model shifted and turned on his side, looking into nothing as he closed his eyes. "Sweet dreams… Ichijou-San."
Even if his walls came down, even if Shiki slowly forgot how to be a doll… as long as Ichijou remained smiling he didn't really care.
…
I'm lost. I had thought I remembered the way, but everything was still such a jumble from when my memories came back to me it was hard to figure out which way led where. I found myself arriving at the Moon Dorms again instead of the Headmaster's house, and when I backtracked I found myself in the place where Aidou had attacked me the first time.
Takuma kept pulling on his ear whenever he tried to talk, I recalled, snorting at the memory and how irritated the shorter blond was. It was such a relief to know that Aidou had only been trying to drink my blood… if it was anything else I would probably still remain scared of him. Though I don't plan on going anywhere near him soon…
Even if I'm not scared of him anymore, I am quite uncomfortable at the thought of just being near him. I shivered, both from the idea and from the sudden gust of wind.
I knew something was weird about them, but I chose not to focus on it… what could I even say? "Hey, nice fangs you got there. Where'd you get them"?
I sighed, shaking my head. What was even the point in erasing my memories when I would just recall them, anyway? I understand Ichijou's reasoning, but what I don't get is why he needed my blood out of anyone else's. Him erasing my memories hurt both of us in the end and, if I hadn't remembered, what would have happened to him?
He said he was being driven mad… My fingers brushed against the marks on my neck, clear to see due to the lack of a band-aid and my boyishly short hair. I winced a little, the area still a little red and sore from being pierced. I love her to death, but did she seriously need to rip off the bandage? Now it hurts even more…
And speaking of love…
"I mean you had loved Upperclassman Ichijou… didn't you?"
Skylar claimed I had all the signs, that my stubborness in remembering him meant I had feelings for him. Sure, I liked Ichijou… but as a friend. Just because it hurt not having him in my life doesn't mean that I thought of him in that way. Right?
I avoid relationships like the plague; I'll help Skylar with hers, but I never would get in one myself. At least, I don't plan to. Even if I did like Takuma a-and… for some insane reason he felt the same… it wouldn't work. Vampires are immortal, right? My lifespan would just be a blink of an eye for him. He…
He cares for me as a friend right now, but after I'm dead and gone… he'll forget about me completely. I'll be old and crinkly and he won't want anything to do with me. Besides, wouldn't it be… like, forbidden to have a relationship between a Human and a Vampire? That's how it always is in the movies…
Why am I thinking about this? I mentally berated myself and looked up, leaning my head back as I stared up at the early morning sky and the moon that was just barely visible. I'm lost, I'm confused, and… and I don't even know my own heart anymore…
I looked around me, ignoring the lump trying to build up in my throat and stinging in my eyes.
I-I don't even know which way lead to the Headmaster's… This is pathetic. I can't believe I'm still so useless even after gaining my memories. Then again, I had been in the house the entire time I was ill and didn't really leave until after Ichijou took my memories away. Everything really does seem to lead back to him, doesn't it? I don't even think I knew how to get there in the first place…
The only places I had memorized the directions to were the school and the Dorms.
"A-Alright, let's try something else…" I'm going to spin around in a circle with my eyes closed and point in a random direction. "One, two… and a~ three!" Opening my eyes, I pointed in front of me with a grin and exclaimed, "That way!"
I marched off, singing random songs in my head to distract myself from the rustling bushes and tree branches, only to stop when I could actually hear footsteps. Footsteps… that were heading in my direction. I looked around in alarm, resisting the urge to panic, and completely lost in the forest… I burst out into a short run.
Unfortunately, I was still quite low on blood and didn't get very far without becoming dizzy. My breathing was a little difficult as well, but there wasn't much I could do for that at the current moment. "N-Not… Not Aidou-San…" I gasped, leaning against a tree for balance as I waited for what was following me to catch up. "D-Don't… Don't be Aidou-San…"
The tree branches rustled again- not from the wind, but from force hitting them. "Hey, you! Day Class!" A surprisingly familiar voice shouted, swinging from the branch and swinging mid-air with what looked to be a metal pole. "Go back to the dorms! You know you're not allowed outside until after the day starts!"
The girl landed in front of me, covered in scrapes and dirt, and pointed the weapon at me with determined eyes. Yuuki faltered when she saw me, wine-red eyes wide. I gaped, unable to believe what I was seeing, before I lunged. Yuuki yelped and dropped the rod she was holding when I tackled her, my arms wrapped firmly around her neck. "Yuuki-Chan~! It's been so long!"
"E-Eh? Ehhhh!? R-Ren-Chan, you remember!? Your neck!"
Oh, right. She's got a nice view of the bite now. I pulled away, bringing a hand up and resting it over the mark. "It's fine. Don't worry about it, Yuuki-Chan."
"Don't worry about it!? Ren-Chan, where did you get those!? Who-er, not that it was caused by a person because that's impossible! B-Because only Vampires could do that and Vampires don't really exist either, a-and-"
"Yuuki."
The girl stiffened, clamping her mouth shut as she stared me. I never thought about it before, but Yuuki and Zero were Kaien's children and prefects of the school. They're one of the only ones to be aware of the Night Class' identity… aren't they?
"I know, Yuuki-Chan… and I don't care."
"Y-You… don't?" Her voice went quiet, the girl seeming almost scared of me hating the Night Class. I shook my head at her.
"Nope. I have friends in the Night Class- I don't know about you, but I don't think it would be very friendly of me to start hating on them just because of something they can't control. It's fine~." I waved a hand, laughing. Man, seeing Yuuki really put me in a good mood. I don't even remember the last time I've spoken to her. "Besides, I made the person bite me. Don't worry about it. Now- I have a really important question for you."
Yuuki looked a little nervous when my voice turned serious. "O-Of course… wh-what is it?"
Placing my hands on her shoulders, I stared her right in the eyes and asked with a completely straight face, "...Can you lead me to your father's house?"
"...Eh?"
"...I'm supposed to meet him and Skylar there…"
The brunette paled greatly, surprising me with her sudden expression of horror. "S-Sky-Chan's not at the hospital anymore!? How!? Why!?"
I opened my mouth to explain, to tell her how Skylar broke in through the window, but wasn't given a chance when Yuuki grabbed my wrist and ran. I shrieked, struggling to keep up, and the more I ran the more lightheaded I became. It was only when my legs gave out from the intense throbbing in my skull and the black spots dancing around that Yuuki stopped, pulled back from the weight of me falling.
"R-Ren-Chan!"
I struggled to catch my breath, unmoving as I sat there and waited for my vision to return to normal. I could barely hear Yuuki as she panicked, partially deaf from the ringing in my ears. Before I knew it, Yuuki had slung one of my arms around her shoulder and hoisted me up onto my feet with astonishing strength, the petite girl dragging me along with an arm around my waist.
"-get you… Headmaster… rest-"
I don't… understand… what she's saying.
"-loss… Night… Ren-Chan-"
My eyes closed against my will, body still weak, and when I opened them again I was greeted with a blindingly painful light and an intense throbbing in my skull. I groaned, rolling onto my side, and attempted to sit up. A familiar scent hit my nose- a scent of vanilla and cooking food- and when I tried to get up my arms nearly gave out on me. I ended up on my knees and leaning against the armrest, looking around groggily to decipher my location.
This is… This is the living room, isn't it? Light peered in from the windows, the curtains pulled open, and brought immense light into the room. I'm having massive flashbacks right now…
Ignoring the memories of Ichijou standing beside a window, I focused on the soft humming I could hear coming from the kitchen. The humming stopped, and then there were two voices.
That's… Kaien and Yuuki, i-isn't it? Am I really at the Headmaster's house? I thought I was just in the forest… The pounding in my skull began to start again and I flinched, bringing a hand up and pressing it against my forehead. I-I was walking… and then… and then I saw Yuuki? Yeah. We ran and… and I guess I fainted again?
Of course I did. Dang it. Ugh.
Sliding off the couch, I stumbled over and wobbled to the kitchen, stopping occasionally when my vision would start to blacken. It took about two minutes, but I finally managed to get to the entryway and leaned against the frame, staring at Kaien as he cooked and Yuuki set plates on the table.
"Wh… Where's… Skylar?" I choked, voice oddly raspy. Kaien jumped, while Yuuki looked at me in surprise. Ladle is his hand and a kitten apron tied around his torso, Kaien was the first to recover from his surprise with a beaming smile.
"Ah~ Irene-Chan! Come in, come in! Take a seat! Breakfast is almost ready!" I didn't move, merely staring at him in confusion as the familiar sight began to burn itself into my mind. I glanced around, making sure I didn't miss anything, and frowned. Skylar was nowhere to be seen. "Rosemary-San is resting, Irene-Chan… so please, take a seat. You really need to eat."
I stood there in the doorway, staring at him contemplatively, before letting out a small sigh and walking over to one of the side chairs, pulling it out and sitting down. Setting the food he had made down the table, I started to pile up food on my plate upon the familiar sight of omelettes, rice, and bacon. I didn't really feel hungry, but I knew he was right on the fact that I did need to eat.
Though reluctant, I cut off some of the omelette and took a bite, chewing with a pout as I wanted to know where my friend was. Yuuki sat down next to me, eyes full of concern, and glanced at me. "S-Sky-Chan is in the guest room… so, you can visit her after if you want."
I looked at Yuuki, stomach growling in hunger as soon as the flavor touched my tongue, and I swallowed the bite I had taken. "The guest room? That's… down the hall, isn't it?"
I remember going back-and-forth from there and to the kitchen. I think it's on the… left? Next to the bathroom?
Slowing down my eating so not to throw up, I tried to savor the delicious taste of the headmaster's cooking. Homemade food was always the best food, and Kaien was quite the good cook. It made me wonder what Mira would say or do if she ever met him- actually, knowing her, she'd probably try to flirt with him. Gods, that'd be a sight.
...I miss home. I miss my siblings, I miss all three of my parents, heck- I miss Mira. I miss Eliza, too, but when was the last time we even spoke? Even though my memories have returned, it still feels like ages.
"So, Irene-Chan…" Kaien sat down at the table, filling up his own plate with food, and was in the middle of cutting his omelette when he looked at me and started speaking. Yuuki looked highly uncomfortable, fidgeting in her seat and awkwardly taking bites of her food. My mouth full of food, I looked up and blinked at the adult. "Where'd you get those marks on your neck?"
Ah. Okay. So that's what this is about. Figures. Finishing chewing and swallowing, I took a quick swig of water that Yuuki had been a dear and poured for me, and I stared at Kaien with a blank expression on my face. "Depends. Will you be mad?"
Though I was still scared of arguing, my confrontation with Kaname made me a little more courageous. If it was to protect a friend, or to get back a friend, I was determined. Kaien's eyes widened in surprise, the sandy blond clearly having not expected such a retort from me. A small smile spreading across his lips, he shook his head. "Of course not, Irene-Chan. I just want to know who did it. You clearly know…"
"Maybe. But it doesn't really matter, right?" I pulled my eyes away from his, picking some of the rice up with the chopsticks I was struggling to use. "It was mutual. The person wanted to, and I let them. It's not like I wasn't willing."
Kaien stared at me with a stern expression, frowning deeply upon seeing how stubborn I was being. Then, when it became clear I wasn't going to give him any information, he sighed. "Jeez… you're as hard to talk to as Kiryuu-Kun right now. I just want to help. Did the Night Class even explain anything to you? Or are you already aware about the hierarchy and the hunters?"
"The… The what?" I nearly dropped the chopsticks. "Hunters?"
Yuuki stood, chair scraping the ground loudly as she pushed it in, and quietly excused herself as she placed the plates in the sink and made to leave the room. I watched her in confusion, only turning away when her back vanished in the hallway and into the room on the left. Probably where Skylar was sleeping.
"Yes…" Kaien spoke again, effectively catching my attention. His expression was grave as he spoke. "Many many years ago, when Vampires were starting to appear, there was a young woman. She was a Pureblood- a Vampire among Vampires- who had the ability to turn others into Vampires. Instead of doing so, however, she began to rally against the other Purebloods and their army of turned Humans, and gave her blood to Humans. Sometimes it acted as poison, other times it acted as a blessing- giving those Humans the ability to kill Vampires. Those Humans became known as Hunters."
"V… Vampire Hunters?" I knew murder was common, but… to know that there was a group out there specifically to kill people like those that were in the Night Class was… frightening. "They- why would they want to kill them!? They're all so nice!" Rima and Shiki, Eliza and Ichijou… they've never done anything wrong. "Wh-Why would they-"
"Because not all Vampires are good ones, Irene-Chan." He closed his eyes, lowering his head and lacing his fingers together on the table. "When a Pureblood turns a Human into a Vampire, two things can happen to them. The first is that after being bitten, they will be given the blood of the one who turned them and they will become a normal Vampire. But if they are bitten and do not receive that blood, they… will succumb to bloodlust. They'll lose all sense of self and attack others without a thought... They'll become what we call a Level-E."
"L-Level… E?"
"The "End"."
Realization suddenly dawned on me and I brought a hand up to my neck, feeling the sore indents and recalling how some of the Night Class members called Ichijou "Lord Takuma". Was he- no. He would have told me! I had suspected he was higher up in whatever society he lived in, but… to think…
"Was the one who bit you Kaname-Kun?" Breath hitching in my throat, I looked up at Kaien with wide eyes and slowly shook my head.
"N-No, he- I never- n-no…"
"Then you won't be turning into a Vampire, Irene-Chan." Kaien looked mildly relieved at that, but not like it was surprising to hear that I wasn't the one Kaname had bit. "Nowadays, there are only a handful of Pureblood vampires left… and Kaname-Kun is one of them. Only he has the ability to turn you into a Vampire."
Heart nearly giving out in relief, I let out a breath. Kaien chuckled, but was soon cut off by a horrifically familiar voice.
"It's not polite to talk about others when they're in the room… Chairman Cross."
Standing there was the devil himself, white-and-black uniform on and his dark brown hair curling into his face. I froze in my seat, staring at him with alarm now that I had been told this new information. The Vampire of Vampires… a Pureblood. The way everyone treated him with such respect- even more so than Ichijou-was because he was practically their leader.
I had… I had yelled at him.
I yelled at Kaname. A man who could so-very easily drive me to the brink of insanity if he wanted. When he warned me about getting close to Ichijou- it was because he doubted I could handle being close to a Vampire. A Vampire that was his best friend. Dear gods what have I gotten myself into?
His garnet eyes stared down at me, intense and unbearable. I struggled to remain still underneath Kaname's terrifying gaze, heart racing so loud in my chest I could hear it threatening to give out from fear. My fingers dug into my knees, attempting to stop my hands from shaking. When the man spoke it was with a quiet voice, softly curious yet full of contempt. "You truly have no shame in bearing his mark so openly… do you, Terrier-San? I warned you of his intentions, of his nature, and yet you still cling so closely to him…"
"His mark?" Kaien echoed, turning his head sharply to stare at the Pureblood before looking down at me. "So it was Takuma-Kun who bit you?"
I flinched at Kaien's words and stood, bringing a hand up to my neck to hide the mark. Though I didn't necessarily care about it being shown before, I was starting to grow self-conscious about it now. "N-No! I'm not… I'm not saying who bit me. B-Besides, why do you care?" I shifted my attention from Kaien to Kaname, ignoring the way my voice cracked when I defended myself. "It's not like anyone else has seen it."
Taking a step forward, the tone in his voice darkened considerably. Kaien looked back-and-forth, wanting to stop the argument but not really wishing to get in the way of a Pureblood Vampire. I held my breath, standing my ground and refusing to blink as I met his threatening eyes. I wanted to run, to leave this room and vanish into nothingness, but I wasn't going to back down. I refused.
Too much was at stake.
"Anything involving Takuma is my business, Terrier-San," Kaname began calmly, narrowing his eyes, a shadow covering his expression as his bangs fell into his face, "and since you intend to remain close to him… that makes you someone of interest. Are you aware that Vampires can die from heartbreak?"
I started at that, looking up at him in surprise. What his words implied was a suggestion that Ichijou had feelings for me, but that couldn't be the case. I mean, I know I'm still confused over what I felt for him, but there's no way that he… would actually like me, right? There's no way.
"Wh… What does that have to do with anything?" I managed to speak up. Curiosity and denial was tearing away at me from inside my chest now and, though I knew I wouldn't really be satisfied unless Ichijou straight up said something to me, I wanted to know what this man was trying to me. "Why would he be heartbroken?"
"Because of your careless actions…" One second he was at the door, the next he was in front of me and I let out a small shriek as I stumbled back and fell into my chair, tipping it off balance and landing painfully on my back. I gasped and wheezed, and Kaien dashed to my aid in alarm.
"Kaname-Kun! Can't you see she's ill!?" Kaien glared up at him sternly, but Kaname blatantly ignored him in favor of staring down at me with glimmering red eyes.
"You claim he's a friend, that you care for him, but in the end you deny him… and dangle yourself in front him as if baiting him on. You let him drink your blood without knowing the meaning behind such an act, and let him shower you with such affection… Tell me, Terrier-San… just where does your heart lie? Or… do you even have one with how heartless you've been treating him?"
"H-Heartless…?" From my spot on the ground, I just stared at him dumbfounded. I had been described as many things in the past, but heartless was never one of them. And to think that it was this person out of everyone else who could have said it… well, it just angered me. A fire beginning to rage in my eyes, I pushed myself away from Kaien and stood, stepping closer to the Pureblood. Kaien protested loudly against my actions, but I ignored him. "You… You're calling me "heartless"!?"
I jabbed my finger against my chest as I spoke, the stitches in my palm stretching and threatening to rip as I moved my hands about as I talked.
"Who the hell do you think you are to go about calling me heartless!? If anyone's heartless here it's you, you… you… jerk-face!" Bastard. Moron. Hypocrite. Monster. "You erased my memories, you had someone come into my room in the middle of the night and physically attack me! I remembered nothing about Takuma o-or Shiki, or Rima, and Skylar was so furious with that, th-that she left me alone to h-hunt you down, a-and do you know what?"
I went silent, pausing as I waited for him to react or even given a sign that he was listening. Kaname just stared down at me, quiet and unmoving, and a mixed look of concern and solemnity was forming on Kaien's face.
"There was nothing. Everything- from day one and after- was gone. O-Okay? Everyone a-and anyone I knew here was gone because they were all connected to him, a-and with all of that gone, I… I couldn't. Okay? Th-This big massive… chunk of my memories was gone, a-and they weren't coming back, and I had no friends because they were gone and Skylar was missing, a-and if it weren't for Shiki I would have thrown myself out that goddamn window when I had the chance."
I breathed in shakily, tears falling without my consent as I glared coldly at him, lip curled back and teeth ground tightly together.
"S-So… don't you go calling me heartless. I only spoke to you once until you made Takuma remove the rest of my memories, and you decided to have someone attack me. You claimed it was helping, but it was only making things worse. You may be some otherworldly Vampire king, but you ain't no saint."
…
Yuuki had been checking on Skylar as she slept when she had heard shouting in the kitchen. It sounded like Irene, but there was a new voice alongside it. Leaving the room quietly, she had made it halfway down the hallway when she Irene yell about how she wanted to kill herself, how someone was made to attack her, and… how the person she was talking to was supposedly some Vampire King.
She didn't understand what was going on, so she got closer, leaning against the wall to listen as the conversation continued.
"Takuma said that you took my memories b-because being near me hurt him… but you keeping me away from him just made it worse. D-Dying from- from heartbreak? If I-If I had actually leapt out that window, whose fault would that have been? Just what is your problem with me!?"
Yuuki froze at those words, quickly connecting the dots together. Upperclassman Ichijou? I knew Ren-Chan had her memories erased because it was threatening the co-existence of the classes, but it was actually because of Upperclassman Ichijou? Who is she talking to?
It was only when the new voice spoke that Yuuki's heart nearly stopped beating, disbelief and shock hitting her hard. "Assuming I am to blame… when you are the one who refuses to give in? You have gained the trust, friendship, and even love from a Vampire… but you turn away from the truth continuously. Tell me; just what is there to benefit from such a constant state of doubt?"
No response. Irene didn't speak up again, dwelling in the silence that was defeat.
"I have no care for you... But for Takuma, who has always had an interest with humans and the time of day, has found one that shines brightly compared to the others that stick themselves to him… and yet she's so scared of the dark that she can't bring herself to take his hand. You are truly a pathetic existence."
"Kaname-Kun!"
Yuuki flinched at both her affection's cruel words and her foster father's sharp voice. She couldn't believe what she was hearing- there was no way Kaname would ever say something so mean. She knew he and Zero never got along, but he's never said anything so harsh and unforgiving to him. Why was he acting so mean towards to Irene?
"...not scared…"
Wait, what? Irene's voice was weak and barely audible. When she shouted, it was full of raw emotion.
"I'm not scared! I-I'm not… I'm not…"
"You are. You're scared of your pitiful heart and what Takuma causes you to feel. You're a coward."
He was speaking so coldly, but… was he actually trying to get her to realize something? Yuuki stepped away, feeling a little relieved at the thought. It was scary to think of the person she admired and liked being so harsh. It just wasn't the person she knew.
The man she knew was gentle and sweet, a little mysterious, and… so far out of her reach.
Letting out a breath, Yuuki nodded determinedly and headed back into the room, carefully covering Skylar with the blanket when the caramel-skinned girl gave a shiver.
…
I know I'm a coward. There was no reason why Kaname had to tell me that to get me to understand; I'm far from brave or strong. I wasn't like Skylar who, while she had her moments of shyness, was able to tackle a problem head on. I was a weak and scared little girl who was frightened of feelings close to the heart.
I fought for my memories; I pushed through the horrendous pain remembering brought because I desperate to have them back. To have Takuma back.
But it wasn't because I viewed him as a friend- it was because I viewed him as more than just a friend. He was someone I liked. Someone I wanted to be with, but would never allow myself to because of the uncertainty and fear that would come with approaching a relationship with him. Relationships rarely last, as seen with my parents and how they've divorced, and the amount of times my siblings had been abused or cheated on.
The amount of times Skylar had stalkers was pretty bad, too...
And I… was too scared to ever try a relationship. I didn't want to think about having feelings for someone and if I did I usually just suffocated those feelings until they dispersed. So what made Takuma any different? Why am I so desperate to keep him in my life when I was all to willing to snuff out any other feelings in past?
I don't understand it.
I shouldn't like him. I can't like him. I won't like him.
But I do. Skylar was right.
I love Ichijou Takuma.
And it was here, in the middle of an argument with the most powerful of Vampires, standing in the principal's kitchen, that I reached this realization. Strangling a cry that was welling up in the back of my throat, I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. "I hate you… I hate you so much…"
But I never wanted to fight with you. I never wanted to argue you. All I had ever wanted to do was apologize for yelling at you, but now… I had trouble trying to convince myself to forgive you. Opening my eyes and staring at the arrogant, calm Pureblood I tried to calm myself. To remind myself that violence and hatred never got anyone anywhere. I was supposed to be the voice of reason, to be the one that avoided arguments.
Until this moment, I've never been so mad at someone that I let my anger take control. I've always been able to control myself to some extent. And yet… I really wanted to grab hold of his hair and give it a good few yanks. Bastard.
"B-But can we… not keep doing this?" I choked out, resisting the intense urge to dig my nails into the palms of my hand. I really didn't want to rip open my stitches, but unfortunately I'm pretty sure my lip is already bleeding. I can't really feel much pain at the moment- there was too much adrenaline rushing through me. "C-Can't we just stop fighting… please?"
I don't want to hate him. He's friends with Takuma and Yuuki, so I really didn't want to have bad blood with him. However, his actions were making it very difficult for me to even think of being civil with him.
"Here I thought we were just having a conversation." Kaname responded, voice dripping with acid. Someone really didn't like me yelling at him. Taking a deep breath, I brought my hands up to my face and sighed. I was so done with everything. I just- I can't. Not anymore. I'm tired of all this bullcrap.
Turning my head away from Kaname to look at the headmaster, I asked, "M-May I… May I bring the rest of my food to the guest room? Please?"
"...Of course…" His voice was soft and quiet, almost as if he was uncertain of what he should say or do. I understand that feeling, at least. His expression then hardened as he turned his gaze onto Kaname, who remained unperturbed by the stare. "I need to have a talk with my other precious student, after all. Take all the food you want."
"Awesome. Thank you." Not really thinking about it, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. Kaien paused, startled by the action, before his eyes became more gentle and he smiled sadly, giving me a small pat on the back as I pulled away. Grabbing my plate and piling some more eggs and bacon on it, I stuck a piece of toast in my mouth as I walked passed the jerk that had started everything.
If it weren't for Ichijou and Yuuki liking him so much, I probably would have been totally okay with hating his existence.
Balancing the plate on my thigh as I raised my knee up, I opened the door and grabbed the plate before it or I could fall. I then closed the door behind me using my foot, walking it and standing there in silence as I gazed at the unconscious form of my best friend.
Skylar…
The tears started to well up again and I choked, Yuuki's head snapping up to look at me in alarm when I started crying again. Placing the plate down on a nearby nightstand, I made my way over and leaned down, hugging her as best as I could.
Please wake up… please. I need you. Please don't die. Please….
"Ren-Chan…" Yuuki murmured, saddened, before trying to take on an optimistic approach. "She'll wake up soon, I'm sure of it! S-So… don't be too upset, okay? She'll get through this!"
Yeah. Yeah, she will. Because she's strong.
Pulling away, I sniffled and stared down at her. Skylar was a force of nature and nothing can keep her down for long.
Right?
…
Furious by the conversation and what had happened, Kaien pulled the seat up and pushed it back into the table, glaring at the powerful being standing across the room from him. "Kaname-Kun… as much as I respect you and depend on your power to keep the other Night Class students in check… I will not tolerate you attacking my harmless Day Class students! It's bad enough you're always antagonizing Kiryuu-Kun, but now you're going after innocent little Irene-Chan? Everything she's been doing was for Takuma-Kun!"
"Was it?" Kaname asked quietly, leaning against the edge of the table and crossing his arms. "It was your idea to bring foreigners to Japan; to hope that they'd be able to help bridge the gap between our races. A Vampire, a Hunter, and a girl… with no knowledge of her father's past. Her blood is already tainted, and though it is only I who you shared this with… it is enough of a threat that with her denial she'd have ended up hurting Takuma rather than helping."
Staring at him for a long moment, Kaien let out a heavy sigh and leaned down, using the top of the chair for an armrest. "Maybe so, but… she's trying her best. You can't fault her for that; you shouldn't have scared her so much."
The Headmaster then paused, eyes flickering with curiosity as he raised his head and stared suspicious at the pureblood.
"Could it be… that you respect her?"
…
Yuuki let out a small yelp when she heard the sound of glass shattering. Irene froze mid-bite of her omelette and looked at the door, eyes red and puffy from all the tears she had been crying earlier. Yanking out the rod from underneath her skirt, Yuuki dashed out of the room without warning, heading to the kitchen with the intent to defeat whatever broke into the house.
What she saw when she arrived, however, was not what she was expecting.
"KANAME-KUN! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT BREAKING THINGS!? STOP BLOWING UP MY HOUSE!"
The headmaster screamed at the pureblood, waving a ladle around and trying his darndest to smack Kaname upside the head with it. The Vampire kept dodging, avoiding the hit with ease and only infuriating the sandy blond more.
"Do you have any idea how expensive it is to replace one window- let alone three!? Money isn't endless, you know! Stop breaking things! And stop moving!"
Yuuki slumped her shoulders, lowering the rod down to the ground and letting it give a small clack sound. "What even…?"
Kaname stopped moving and caught the ladle with his hand, Kaien pushing down with all his strength. The brunette looked over his shoulder and let a small smile grace his normally dark features, eyes lighting up ever so slightly at the sight of her. "Yuuki…"
Nearly dropping the rod, Yuuki stood up straight with flushed cheeks, suddenly embarrassed at the sound of him saying her name with such a smile. "U-Upperclassman Kaname…?" She had to play dumb. As long as she acts like she wasn't eavesdropping earlier there's no way he'll find out. "Um, w-what are you doing here?"
Twisting the ladle out of the headmaster's hands, he set it down on the table and walked forward, approaching the tiny girl and bringing a hand up to rest lightly upon her face. Yuuki stiffened at the touch, breath hitching in her throat when he leaned down so they were closer in height. "I wanted to speak with Chairman Cross… but I also wanted to see you. Have you been faring well?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was gibberish. "I-I-I'm…" Taking a deep breath, she paused. Then, Yuuki pulled away. Kaname stared down at her with a small frown, standing straight and meeting her gaze when she looked up at him. "What's going to happen to Zero…?"
Kaien stepped up at that point, taking over for Kaname. "We aren't sure yet, Yuuki… that's what we were going to be discussing. Why don't you head to class? Kaname-Kun…" He turned to look at his immortal friend, a dark expression crossing his friend's face. "Why don't you go back to the dorms? We can continue this later tonight."
"...Very well. Yuuki?"
"Y-Yes!?" The girl straightened her back again, alarmed. "Wh-What is it, Upperclassman Kaname?"
"Shall I walk you to your class?"
"A-Ah, n-no, th-that's- that's okay! I-I can manage!" Bringing an arm up, she placed a hand on her bicep. The rod clattered to the ground, though she didn't pay much notice. "I-I'm a prefect, after all! I can handle myself!"
His smile was a little sad then as he gazed down at her. "Yes… you're all grown up now, aren't you? Alright… seeing as you insist. But next time I'll be a little more selfish."
"E-Eh?"
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Kaname gave her a light push to turn her around. He picked up the rod she had dropped it handed it to her, and started to walk passed her- only pausing to smile at her once more. The burn on his hand from the Anti-Vampire weapon barely bothered him. "I hope you have a good day at school… Yuuki."
Kaname is... difficult. This whole chapter was... difficult. And even then it still seems kinda... meh. I dunno. I've rewritten it so many times I can't tell what's "good" or "bad" anymore XD