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Bloody nurse

Chapter 14

Yuuki kept her head down, eyes closed. She felt embarrassed admitting such a decadent thing to him. What would he think of her? How ridiculous she must seem to him, like an obsessed teenager playing at a vampire. Would he laugh? Would he order her out?

I really don't want to know.

Suddenly she felt his hold on her hips tighten. Would he actually throw her out?

Yuuki slowly lifted her eyes to his and gasped. Kaname's eyes once more shone bright red.

"Tell me, Yuuki," he said after several heartbeats, his voice deep. "Did you enjoy it?"

Yuuki blinked. That was not the reaction she expected. "I – I don't really remember…"

He leaned closer to her. "I do not believe that. Surely such an event would be imbedded in your mind." He ran his nose over her still damp hair. "Your first tasting…"

Yuuki gulped. "Technically, it wasn't a first." Words poured out of her due to her nervousness. "I've tasted my blood many times before, like whenever I got a papercut, or bit my tongue while chewing… I'm clumsy, so…" she trailed off.

She sensed Kaname smile into her neck. "That, you are." She felt him running his nose along her skin. "However, this time was different, was it not?"

Yuuki gulped again. What?

"You were drawn to it. Was it curiosity that prompted you to taste it yourself? After all, words can hardly describe the feeling of having the life essence run over your tongue and down your throat. Have you ever wondered?"

Yuuki nodded against his shoulder. Yes.

"Of course you have," he went on. "However, we never drink our own blood. That is a wasteful endeavour; it brings no satisfaction what so ever," he ended in a whisper, pulled the collar of her shirt to the side and softly kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder.

Yuuki shivered in response to his gentle but intimate ministrations.

"Kaname-sama, your eyes… Do you, um… Do you need another…drink?" She bit her lip and mentally groaned. That came out awkwardly but she really wanted to change the subject. She didn't want to analyse the kitchen incident at that very moment.

This time, Kaname chuckled. "Why, Yuuki, are you offering me something?" he taunted, flicking his tongue against her earlobe, making her jump. He pulled back, regarding her with half-lidded crimson eyes.

Yuuki frowned. "I'm offering you my help. You don't need to make it sound so…"

"So?" he echoed, trailing a hand along her thigh to the still exposed knee, sliding his fingers under the bunched up material of the pant leg.

"Naughty," she finished in the tiniest of voices, her eyes following the movement of his hand.

He slid the material back over her knee and let it drop freely to her ankle.

"But my dear Yuuki, a blood offering can become very…naughty," he said, gripping the backs of her knees.

Her frown deepened. Yuuki has had it with his intimidating ways. Her cheeks already felt like they'd still be burning well into the next week and she felt a spark of anger ignite with the heat somewhere deep inside of her.

"Is that so? Just how 'naughty' did it get in here a while back when you've spilt Aidou-sempai's and Ichijou-sempai's blood all over the carpet?" she said with mock interest in her voice.

"Yuuki," he warned, his grip on her legs once again tightening.

"Cause I'm just like them, you know? I want to help you, that's why I'm offering my blood! That's why I offered it last time. But then you went all weird and refused my help so I had to almost force feed it to you. And it did help you, you can't deny that, so I don't think that warrants this twisted way of punishment you've designed for me, by keeping me in constant embarrassment."

Oh, she was getting furious, completely missing that Kaname's eyes returned back to normal.

"You know what? Fine. I won't offer again, if just the idea of drinking my blood is so abhorrent to you. I'll go somewhere I'm needed and wanted – "

Suddenly she found her back pressed into the desk, both of her wrists shackled in an iron grip right by the sides of her head. She didn't even make a sound as her eyes widened at Kaname looming above her.

"You will do no such a thing," he growled at her from above.

"Let me up," she growled right back, not sure where her sudden courage came from, but not really giving a damn either.

"Have I not told you that your embarrassment is not what I seek?"

"Really doesn't seem like it."

"Have I not made it abundantly clear that I do not wish to see you fed upon by others?"

"That's not for you to decide!"

Kaname laughed shortly. "I remember your words, Yuuki, you said your blood has always belonged to me. Do you wish to revoke that claim?"

Yuuki said nothing because he was right about that. She merely turned her head to the side in silent defiance.

"It's mine. Therefore, I believe I do have a say in what happens to it. Never forget, Yuuki, I've tolerated Kiryuu's actions only because I know his rightful punishment would hurt you far more than him."

Her head snapped back towards him. "Zero deserves no punishment, he's suffered enough!"

"And subjected you to his suffering just as well."

"No, he hasn't!"

"I see two barely healed puncture wounds which tell a different story."

"No!" she struggled against his hold.

"He has no restrain and lacks manners. His bite, I'm sure, is painful and brutal. He knows nothing of the private ways of our kind, knows not how to give pleasure, only takes it. Quenches his thirst and disregards your own needs."

"That's not true!" She struggled with even more force. "You don't know him! You know nothing about him, you just assume! He always denies himself for as long as he can and always hates himself afterwards! If you could see him – "

"Yuuki."

" – you'd know he takes no pleasure from it! It's destroying him, no matter what I do, it's slowly destroying him but still he accepts my help, unlike another vampire I know!"

"Yuuki, enough."

"I know who Zero is and I accept it, but who are you?! You wanted my blood but then you literally threw me away! Easily accepted the help of others but not mine! You say you don't want to see me embarrassed yet you do everything in your power to make me feel that way! And don't accuse Zero of brutality while you're pinning me down with inhuman strength! Let go, let go!"

Kaname's eyes widened at her last remark and his grip on her wrists slackened instantly.

Yuuki, not expecting the sudden change, threw her hands to the sides of the desk with great force. Her right hand collided with Chairman's soup bowl and sent it flying across the space behind Kaname, where it shattered against the wall.

Hearing the sound, Yuuki ceased all her wild movement and slowly turned her head to the side to look at the spot on the desk that the bowl previously occupied. Seeing it empty made her eyes sting with the beginning of tears and her throat closed off with emotion. She sniffed.

She heard Kaname make a strangled sound somewhere above her and suddenly he was gently wounding his arms around her, lifting her back up into a sitting position, holding her pressed to his chest, her head tucked under his chin.

Yuuki let him because she had no more strength to argue or resist. Hearing one of her fond childhood memories shatter against the wall seemed to have sapped all of her willpower. She closed her eyes and softly inhaled Kaname's scent, which she would always keep connected to other childhood memories, of a time when nothing that Kaname did could make her angry, when there seemed to be no barriers between them, no awkwardness on her part; a time when she would have never thought this argument possible.

Kaname bent his head and spoke with his lips against her hair. "I never seem to do anything right where you're concerned, Yuuki. I try to keep my distance from you, but that hurts your feelings. I try to keep you close, but that embarrasses you. Tell me what you want me to do," he said gently, bringing his hand up and brushing it down her hair, repeatedly. "Tell me."

Yuuki opened her eyes, eyelashes still wet with her silent tears. "Let me help you," she said softly. She leaned back in his embrace and peered up at his pain filled eyes. "Promise me that if the need arises again, you'll let me help you and obediently drink my blood."

"Yuuki – "

"That's what I want."

Kaname searched her face with those wise wine coloured eyes, until his gaze dropped lower to the collar of her borrowed shirt, where her pulse beat fast but steadily.

"I can't think of you as a mere beverage, Yuuki," he finally said, almost sadly, lifting his hand and running his long fingers against the burgundy material.

Yuuki cleared her throat. "Then how about medicine?" she asked softly. "I could be your personal 'bloody' nurse," she half smiled, somewhat cheekily.

Kaname frowned and looked at her meaningfully. "Do not ever say that again, it sounds ridiculous."

"Please, Kaname-sama, I mean it."

"No, such title is unacceptable."

"I'm not talking about a title!" she exclaimed and slapped his shoulder impatiently. "Please, let me help. You saved me all those years ago and I've been indebted to you ever since. I won't ever be able to fully pay you back, but by finally being of some use to you… Being useful…" She looked down. "I've always wanted to be useful to you."

They were both silent for a couple of seconds, until Kaname brought his hand up again and tucked Yuuki's still slightly damp hair behind her ear.

"Remember this, Yuuki. I can be a very selfish man. Your offer, naturally, appeals to me; more so being an answer to one of my own deepest desires."

Yuuki's cheeks burnt hotter.

"However," he said, placing two fingers under her chin and tilting her head up to look at him, "the debt you speak of does not exist. I have never acknowledged it; therefore there is no need for any payment on your part. Knowing this…" He embraced her once again, placing his mouth right by her ear. "Does your offer still stand?"

Yuuki was surrounded by his scent once more, reminded of all the times he embraced her when she was a child. Gently. Carefully. Always answering her call and wishes. Never taking anything in return.

Kaname-sama? Selfish?

She closed her eyes. About time.

"Yes," she breathed her answer.

Kaname sighed into her ear. "Very well."

His arms around her tightened and he lifted her off of the desk and started walking leisurely.

Yuuki gasped and wrapped her legs around his waist in surprise. "Wha – Where are we going?"

"To the bedroom."

"What, n-now?" She tilted her head back to look at him, but his eyes stayed to the front. "Why the b-bedroom? I mean, it seems like an impractical place to…um, feed? That is…"

Kaname chuckled. "Believe me, Yuuki, it is very practical for what I have in mind."

Yuuki gaped like a fish out of water.

"You'll spend the night with me."

She choked on her own words and wasn't able to form a coherent response. Her brain seemed to have overheated and started to shut down. Meanwhile, Kaname took one of his hands off her back, opened the door leading to his bedchamber and entered.

He stopped right next to the large bed. Putting one arm under her bottom, he eased one knee onto the mattress and slowly lowered her down onto its centre. He braced one of his hands behind her and stayed looming over her, looking down into her wide glassy eyes.

He chuckled again. "Such an overly active imagination," he said, brushing the hair out of her eyes with the hand that wasn't supporting his weight. "Sleeping, Yuuki. You'll spend the night sleeping next to me."

Yuuki blinked up at him in confusion. "But you don't sleep at night," she said in a small dazed voice.

Kaname smiled and reached over to tuck the coverlet from under her legs. He pulled it up to her chest and settled down next to her, lying on his side, facing her.

Yuuki turned to her side, mirroring his position.

"Sleep, you must be exhausted."

She was. Her eyelids felt much heavier than usual, her cheeks still on fire. "There you go, embarrassing me again," she mumbled, letting her eyelids droop. "I should go back."

"It's still raining heavily outside."

"I'll just collect my things and let you get on with your night." But she made no move to do so. It was a comfortable bed.

Kaname brought up his hand and placed his palm against her burning cheek. Yuuki sighed at the feeling of his much cooler skin against hers. She let her eyes close completely.

She didn't see him frown.

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The next morning, Zero was pacing in front of Chairman's desk, wearing his school uniform.

"Zero-kun, I implore you, calm down," said the Chairman, elbows braced on the surface of the desk.

"This is the second time in three days she's gone missing! I'm going." He turned towards the door.

"We don't know for sure where – "

Zero whirled on him. "We don't? Are you blind?!"

The Chairman sighed. "Zero – "

"She didn't show up in class, and because Yori told me she didn't come back to the dorm yesterday, I went to her old bedroom, assuming she overslept again. I get there and her bed's made. She's nowhere to be found. What does that tell you, huh?" He raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I'm sure she's perfectly fine."

"If this is a repeat of last time – "

"Then we have nothing to worry about."

"She's been gone whole night! How could you not have noticed?"

"Because nothing was too much out of the ordinary. I didn't want my dear daughter to be out and about in such weather, and with you at the stables, I told her I'd oversee the parade myself. We said our early goodnights after dinner, like every other day. A bit later, I received a message informing me that the Night classes were cancelled for the night and I, frankly, felt relieved." The Chairman shivered as if imagining himself out in the rain last night.

Zero growled and absentmindedly walked towards the windows at the back of the office. He reached into his pocket and clenched his fist around the freshly ironed handkerchief. "I should have never gone to the stables."

The Chairman stood up and walked to his side. "I'm sure she's alright, Zero. Let's not overreact. Even if this were a repeat of last time – "

A knock at the door interrupted his sentence.

They both turned towards the sound and the Chairman said: "Come in."

The door opened and a solemn looking Ichijou entered the office.

The Chairman quickly grabbed Zero by the shoulder. "Now, Zero-kun, whatever Ichijou-san has to say, do not go breaking any more of my cabinets this time."

Ichijou closed the door behind him. "Chairman Cross," he said sadly in greeting.

"Whatever is the matter, Ichijou-san?"

Ichijou looked pained by the news he was about to deliver and Zero started to feel lightheaded with a sense of foreboding. "What happened to her?" he growled out.

"Yuuki…has fallen ill."

"…what?"

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A/N: This chapter would not have been possible without some butt-kicking reviews. Thank you.

Take care,

Matylda