I sincerely hope to keep the current pace of the updates.
"What?" Haruhi's face reddened. Her cheeks heated up, making her heart drum faster, and she looked so flustered that she covered her own face with her palm in embarrassment. "Give me a moment."
Turning off the phone, the poor commoner looked around panicked. She put on her shoes and, trying to fix up the scattered books and give the apartment a semblance of tidiness, ran for the door. Why did he come so late? What had happened? Why was she so excited? She walked out, and when the cold air whipped roughly against her face, bringing her back to her senses, she realized that she was wearing her pajamas. The blush on her face deepened, and she glowed furiously.
He was standing a few meters away. There was no one around, she couldn't even see his bodyguards. He glanced up at her slightly surprised but quickly schooled his features into a neutral expression. Haruhi cleaned her throat and, internally cursing herself for suddenly caring about something trivial like appearance, approached the young man. He was well dressed, and it was nice to see his slender form in something different other than the school uniform. Haruhi's confusion grew, as she realized that she was admiring his looks.
What was wrong with her?
His dark hair was groomed, his clothes were neat, he looked as charming as one could be, and his aesthetically pleasing, immaculate appearance made Haruhi feel even more conscious of her unkept and modest looks. Why did he need to be so clean and organized? It was almost unfair that she felt shy around him.
"I am sorry for an unexpected visit," he apologized politely with the most perfect bow. "I just wanted to see you. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."
He wanted to see her? Haruhi's mind suddenly went blank, the words escaped her thought, and she stood there, gaping like an idiot. She shifted uncertainly, and he, noticing her hesitation, smiled. "I have brought you fancy tuna. I thought you said you liked it."
He stretched a box towards her, and Haruhi clumsily accepted it. "Thank you, Kyoya-senpai," she mumbled, finally getting her voice back. "I apologize for my appearance," she mumbled more to herself, wondering if she even needed to apologize for looking like she just stepped out of the bed.
"You don't need to," his voice was warm and friendly, she didn't hear the hints of superiority that the rich and impeccably dressed students at Ouran used with her. "You look quite... cute, if I may say."
He smiled, and his sharp, long fangs were revealed, inciting a strange feeling in Haruhi.
"Would you want to come in?" she asked awkwardly, fidgeting the box of fancy tuna in her hands. He pushed the glasses on his nose and nodded, as if he was waiting for her invitation. Haruhi looked around to make sure there were no neighbors around, before letting Kyoya in. She didn't care, but there was no need to stir gossip in the neighborhood that she had young men visit her home at late hours.
When he walked in, and she closed the door behind them, she accidentally bumped against him. Her face was close to his chest, and she inhaled his consuming smell. The tiny hair on the back of her neck whisked up curiously, warm tickles spread inside her stomach, her breathing slowed, and she looked up at him startled. Kyoya-senpai's smell drove her mind to strange shores where the world seemed brighter, colored in warmer shades. She blinked and gulped audibly. Something warm was moving inside her, cherishing her nerves gently.
"Come in," she barely whispered, completely confused by what was happening to her.
Kyoya took out his shoes and put them aside politely. The floor was clean, and the house was generally very tidy, but his attention caught heap of books on the table and sofa. Haruhi must have been reading when he called her. She looked so flustered, and those rosy cheeks made his heart freeze, boiled his blood, evaporated his thoughts. Endorphin quickly moved in his bloodstream, clouding his thinking. Haruhi's pheromones coated his nostrils, and he inhaled sharply to keep her scent in his head. The scent of her delicious blood that soothed his hardened muscles.
He walked forward, accepting her invitation, and his eyes caught the title of the books on her table. They all were on biology and genetics. What was she doing on her spare time? He sat down, looking around, wondering if her father was home.
"Are you alone?" he asked surprised.
"Yes," she said. "Dad is at work."
"I am sorry," he apologized again. "If I knew I wouldn't disturb you. I assumed he would be home. It would have been nice to meet him and introduce myself."
"What for?" Haruhi panicked.
"We are friends, and it would have been nice if your father knew who you are friends with," Kyoya said with amusement, as if her reaction made him somehow happy.
"Oh," Haruhi sighed dumbly. And what did she even assume he would say?
"But mainly I came to talk to you about the incident at school and wanted to make sure you were alright," Kyoya confessed.
"Thank you for your concern, senpai," she mumbled. "I am alright. I am not made of glass or anything. I can handle myself."
He shifted away, wondering if he had offended her with his insistence. Her pearl-shaped eyes stared back at him with certain intensity that bore holes in his soul. If he were oblivious to what he felt, he would assume that he had a cardiac spasm, and his brain didn't get enough oxygen or blood. It was a shame to admit that he wanted her, and to his horror, in more than one way. His father came to mind, and he childishly felt triumphant inside that his heart fell for a common girl. The old man would have his head for this, but Kyoya didn't care.
There were lines he wasn't supposed to cross, he minded himself bitterly.
"After the incident I have thought over our arrangement," he said, uttering the last word with a bit of hesitation, "and I realize that you are putting yourself in a very vulnerable position by giving me your blood. It's very likely that Ayanakoji or some other student will eventually stumble upon us, and I can't accept that kind of burden to lay on your shoulders because of my own strangeness."
Haruhi opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head disapprovingly. "I can handle myself as well," he said with a smile.
"No," she said louder than she expected. "It's not about being able to handle yourself. Where are you going to get blood from? You said you had allergic reaction to the blood you were always having. Doesn't that mean that you won't be able to drink it? You can't starve yourself, because of some spoiled brat. And so what that she saw? Who cares what they would think?"
Her words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Her face had coloured a few shades darker, and there was passion and fire in her voice. Kyoya stared at her in complete disbelief. "I won't accept it," she said vehemently. "You are giving up because of nothing. Besides this arrangement was between me and you, and it's not your call. I should decide what to do with my own blood."
Her voice had undertones of panic and nervousness, as if the very idea of not sharing her blood with Kyoya-senpai, scared her. She shook her head, puzzled with her own behavior.
Kyoya looked even more startled, and he had tilted his head to get a better view of her face that looked absolutely adorable when she was angry like a little kitten, who has gotten her tail accidentally stepped on. The very comparison brought a smile to his lips, and he felt amused, but Haruhi's outburst was so strange that he didn't manage to utter any word. She had sat forward on the couch and was facing him. Kyoya's hurt fluttered, and the next thing he did, made his own mind go blank.
He leaned forward and pushed her against the pillows on the couch, pressing her back against the frame. Her eyes widened and so did his, because he was as surprised by his own incoherent actions.
"Senpai," she mumbled confused. "Are you hungry?"
He didn't hear what she said, because the blood in his body had ran to his head, and now he was feeling faint. Her scent overwhelmed and consumed his senses at once. He let out a low grunt, and his lips touched hers. They were warm and soft and strangely enveloping. Kyoya's body tensed, and he jerked forward, accidentally piercing his fangs into her flesh. She winced from sudden rough contact, and he retreated, horror in his eyes, and stared at her apologetically and confused.
"I am sorry."
She rubbed the puncture on her lip and then licked the blood that dripped from it. Raising her head, she looked at Kyoya. He looked so remorseful, and she suddenly felt the urge to hug him. What was going on with her?
"I..." she whispered and bent her head. She wanted to return that warm, tingly feelings she experienced when he planted his lips on hers.
Her senpai's body was warm, and she snuggled against him when she pressed her lips to his. She wondered what she was supposed to do. What were people doing when they were doing this? The mechanics of the kiss always looked strange for her whenever she would watch a film and the heroes kissed. His smell now was so close, her heart flipped around her chest, cold shivers passed through her spine, and her toes curled.
He wasn't moving. Was she doing something wrong? She pressed her lips harder, wondering if that was all she was supposed to do when suddenly he hugged her close, making her lightheaded with his embrace. His lips moved. She couldn't tell exactly how. Her eyes were shut close, and she didn't dare to open them. But the movement felt wet and soft. It was as if he rubbed his own lips over hers, and perhaps, that's what he did. Haruhi decided to imitate him. But before she could, he broke the kiss and looked at her, blinking his eyes.
There was an atypical fascination in those molten gray orbs, his lips were parted and slightly red. Both of them were flushed and looked at each other clumsily. Haruhi bent her legs and pressed them tightly against each other.
"You should not," she said, looking away. "We will find a place at school that nobody ever goes."
Then Kyoya realized that she was talking about her blood. His feelings were in a mess. He didn't understand what he was supposed to say. What one said in such situations? Did she kiss him intentionally? She looked back at him so innocently, he couldn't tell what she thought. He was sure though, she didn't feel the immense lust and rush he felt. He gulped. He needed to get away before he would do something stupid, or say something stupid.
"We can talk about this tomorrow," he said in raspy voice. "It's late I don't want to keep you from resting. You were already dressed for bed."
Haruhi blushed. "Alright," she said a little aggravated.
Bastard! Did he need really to point that out? Why was her heart beating like it was the end of the world? Was she supposed to say something about the kiss? Maybe, compliment him? What did people say after kissing? Renge-chan would know. And why did it feel so good? Would he mind if she kissed him again?
He stood up and polietely bowed. "Good night, Haruhi."
"Ah, you are already leaving?" she asked, coming back to her senses from her mental rambling.
"You want me to stay?"
"No!" she screamed so loudly she almost had woken up the entire neighborhood. "I am sorry, that sounded wrong. What I meant is that you don't have to stay."
Kyoya smiled cheerfully to her dismay and put on his shoes. "Good night, Haruhi," he said before leaving.
.
The sunlight had fallen in through her bedroom window, making her feel more lethargic than awake when she opened her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and tried to get used to the eye-piercing sunshine, prodding through the glass window. She shut her eyes tightly and grunted. God, she had such a terrible headache. Her body felt tender and sore, and she wondered if she didn't accidentally sleep-work the entire night.
"Ugh," she groaned, slipping on her house shoes and walking into the bathroom.
Her face hurt when she yawned, all of her muscles felt strained and weary, her spine was heavy and rigid, and she felt dizzy like she had eaten something foal. She rubbed her forehead, trying to sooth the growing sharp pain in her head. What had happened to her while she was asleep? She felt like a well-beaten dog. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, and every time the brush touched her gums, she felt an unpleasant burning sensation.
"I feel like my head is going to explode," she complained, walking into the kitchen where her father was pouring tea.
"What has happened?" Ranka looked at her with concerned face. "Are you sick?"
"I think it's nothing really," Haruhi sighed, regretting her earlier words―she didn't want her father to worry about her. "The school break is in three weeks, and you know... the final exams are making me feel―I guess―a little more exhausted than I would like."
Yes, it must have been all the recent extensive studying. The school year was ending, and she wanted to do well before moving to her second year. Spring vacation was close enough, and she could rest a little and do things she enjoyed to do. She cleaned her throat and sat down to have breakfast with her father. The freshly baked eggs, tea and jam were actually very tasty. Her father always burnt the toast, but today he managed well.
She smiled at him gently when she noticed his worried eyes. Her smile reassured him, and he smiled back at her, and they ate in silence. But the pain in Haruhi head didn't stop, if anything it grew, and she started to feel strange burning sensation in her legs. Her throat became dry and sore. She drunk a whole mug of tea and then even milk, but the dryness didn't go away.
The tingly, strange feeling started to run up her skin, and when she walked out, the early spring cold air didn't seem cold at all. She felt hot, as if her body was on fire. Her breathing grew hard when her muscles heated up even more. She felt like she was going to faint. It must have been her period. No, it couldn't have been that. But the burning feeling inside her didn't let go.
Even during the classes, Haruhi felt sick and slowly, she lost the perception of time or reality at all. Everything blended and felt foggy in her head. She didn't hear a word her teachers said, nor any of the things Renge-chan spoke about. She concentrated all her strength on breathing. There was something burning under her skin, something was heating up, making her lose her mind like she needed to relieve some kind of need she didn't know she had.
"Haruhi, where are you going?" Renge-chan called after her, but she didn't turn back. "What's going on with you today?"
She needed to be in an open room, felt too hot and the air was too thin inside. She couldn't breathe at all. She hurried to leave the classroom and walked down the stairs. The spring started with pleasant drizzle, and the snow was melting. Haruhi breathed in the soft air and tried to calm her blazing lungs. Her heart was getting wild as well, and her head was becoming heavier and heavier.
Her steps took her to the Ouran gardens. She wondered if she could walk back as her legs were starting to shake with each step she took. Black spots appeared in front of her eyes, and she knew that she was loosing her consciousness. Her vision was getting clouded. The light was graying and fading in front of her eyes. She stopped and leaned against the wall. If she fainted here, nobody would find her. She needed to get back to school, maybe go to the nurse's office.
She stepped forward, but her legs trembled, and she stumbled. She thought she was going to drop on the ground when she felt someone hands on her shoulders, keeping her up and then lifting her to her feet. She span around confused, and her glazed eyes met Ootori Kyoya's icy gaze. His scent suddenly touched her nostrils, and her head momentarily cooled as if it was hit by an arctic wind. He was cold and comforting.
"Haruhi?" he asked concerned. "Are you alright? You look like you are going to faint any moment."
"I am burning," she whimpered. "I am burning everywhere. It's too hot. I don't understand what is going on with me. Do I have a fever?"
Kyoya placed his palm on her forehead and shook his head. "I am not the best judge, but it doesn't appear you have any fever."
He tried to steady her, so she could stand on her own, but her legs wobbled, and she nearly fell, only to be embraced by Kyoya again. This time he didn't let go off her, he wrapped his hands around her waist and kept her still. Something was wrong with her.
"I'll take you to the nurse, and we can call for a doctor," he said tenderly. "You will be alright. It must be some flu you have caught."
"Wait," she suddenly protested. Kyoya stared at her with concern. "What if I am turning into a vampire. I wouldn't want the nurse to know."
"You are not turning into anything," Kyoya insisted. "Don't worry. But you need to be examined, so the doctor can give you medicine."
"I really am burning," she protested again and rubbed her neck in despair.
Her soft fragrance reached his smell receptors, and he froze in place. This wasn't right at all, she smelled a little different now. If before she smelt good enough to drive him mad, now this new smell it was... it was consuming, it was feasting upon his control, it was ardent, intense and overwhelming like a hurricane that wipes everything clean on it's way. He clenched his hands. No, he couldn't stand so close to her. But he couldn't fight his instincts either. And then he felt it, a strange blood-rush in her, as if she had just produced more blood than her body could contain and was getting higher blood pressure. This must have been why she was feeling tipsy and on the verge of fainting.
His body went tense against her, and he knew that she felt it too. She was pressed too close, too intimately against him. She must have felt it, if not the madness he was driven into by the smell of her aromatic blood, he would have been embarrassed and flustered.
"I think," Haruhi mumbled. "I think there is something under my skin. Something too warm. Maybe I should just cut off or I will burn myself."
Her trembling hands started a frantic search in her schoolbag. And then she looked up at him. "Your teeth," she said. "They are sharp enough. Cut into my neck."
"What?" he wanted to do nothing more than comply, but the rational part of his brain protested.
"Please," she said. "I can feel it. If you just cut into it. I am sure it will stop. I know it will stop. Just do it."
Haruhi's incoherent sentences touched his ears softly. She didn't understand what she was speaking. What had happened to her? What had happened to them?
"There," she said, pulling aside her jacket, exposing her creamy, soft neck. "Do it, please, senpai!"
He glimpsed at the soft curve of her neck, and his mind went blank. He pulled her closer, and his fangs gladly found their home in the tender flesh of Haruhi's neck. Kyoya's mind marveled, as her blood went into his mouth, his senses sang in mirth, his body relaxed and calmed. He licked her blood slowly and twirled his tongue to experience every facet of her taste. Her blood had always been fantastic, but now it made him mad with lust. He knew he could have drunk her all and not be sated. If heaven felt or tasted anything, this must have been it for Kyoya. The pain, the unhappiness of being what he was, the suffering of years suddenly seemed worth of the gulp of her blood he sampled in his mouth.
The drops of her delicious blood, her sweet fragrance that coated his rationality with thirst seemed to be all that mattered. And he sunk his fangs deeper, lapped the blood that oozed out of her veins. The sound of the wind reached him, but it seemed to be far away, the sound of her soft voice reached him, but he couldn't understand her words. He was too overwhelmed to understand anything at all. He brushed his lips on her skin to prevent the wound from clotting, so he could drink more.
Rationality abandoned his head, and all he was left with was her taste and scent. Gradually, his self-control came back, and he found himself horrified at what just happened, yet, he couldn't untangle himself from her neck, he couldn't let go of her body, and she was...she was relaxed, soft and soothing. Mastering all his will, Kyoya stepped away from her, without letting her go from his arms and with peculiar realization stared at Haruhi. He thought she would be distraught, scared but she looked content, happy even.
"It went away," she sighed. "The burning went away."
A/N-I am very nervous about this chapter, so please, tell me how I am doing. I hope it didn't turn too strange or rushed.