Eyes Red as Blood

A/N: Here is chapter 18. I know that there are spells in VK, but is there magic? Are they the same as powers? Hmm. Questions that need to be addressed….

I do not own Vampire Knight.

Fifteenth Night: Shelter

"I already told you. I cannot tell you where students go for vacation," Headmaster Cross sighed, rubbing his temples with fingers. He was hunched over his desk and willed for the girl to go away.

"Yes," Arisu placed her hand on the opposite side of the desk, signaling she was willing to wear him down, "but I need to know where Kai Koruya went!"

At this point Cross fell onto his desk tiredly, "I am not at liberty to tell you such information, Arisu. Please just go back to Kaname and figure something out." The girl could be as stubborn as Juri. When she didn't respond, the Chairman lifted his head to look at her curiously.

She was now pouting with her arms folded across her chest.

"Kaname asks too many questions whenever I talk to him," she confessed hopping to get some sympathy. She was determined not to leave until she had any type of information. Her eyes brightened in anticipation when she saw the Chairman's eyes soften as he straightened up in his chair.

"I still can't tell you anything." Her last shred of hope died; her head falling down in defeat. "But I'm willing to give you Mr. Koruya's contact number if you tell me why you are so anxious to find his son."

"How much do you know of my mother's relationship with the Koruya's?" She inquired testing the waters. She was considering what information to divulge and which to keep a secret.

The Headmaster lifted his hand to rub his chin as he carefully thought of his answer. "Hmm, let's see. I know that Juri got along really well with that family. She even had a schoolgirl crush on him when they first met. Of course, Haruka did well to squash it and any of Mr. Koruya's hopes." He glanced at Arisu and burst out laughing. Her expression was priceless. She looked at him with her mouth agape and eyes wide open. She blinked a couple of times to get her act together.

"Okay, that's an interesting story for another time."

"Ah, you saw through me, did you?"

"Naturally," Arisu replied, trying to mask the fact that his conniving plan might have actually worked. "But to answer your earlier question, I met Mr. Koruya at the soiree and he gave me a letter explaining how Kaname took me to him after what happened. I just… I guess I want to form a truce with Kai since Mr. Koruya asked me to look out for his him."

"I see," the Headmaster studied Arisu, trying to discern if she was telling the truth or not. She managed a partial truth truth, but kept the most sensitive portions of the letter's contents to herself. Not fully convinced but knowing that was all he was going to get out of her, he swiveled his chair around and used his hands to push himself to the file cabinets behind him. "As promised, I'll give you Mr. Koruya's contact information." Filling through the papers he stopped when he found what he was looking for. He pushed himself back to his desk using his legs. The Headmaster opened the file and wrote down the information onto a sticky note before turning back to Arisu who was beaming at him.

"I expect you to run this by Kaname first before you do anything." Her smile faltered for a second. "And, please stay out of trouble."

"Yes, of course, Headmaster. Thank you very much." She bowed and left his office.

Once alone, the ex-hunter pulled out a picture frame the bottom drawer of his desk and ran his hand over the glass of the frame. "Kurans sure are troublesome, aren't they, Juri?" The picture itself wasn't all that recent. And how could it have been? Juri was smiling care freely as she used to while Cross was looking away from the camera with a scowl on his face. Haruka, who was standing in the background of the picture, was glaring daggers at him because Juri's arm was draped around the then hunter's shoulders affectionately. This picture was the only memento the Headmaster had of the late Kurans, and it was one of his most treasured possessions.

"Hanabusa, have you talked to Arisu yet?" Kaname questioned as he flipped through the novel he was reading. They were all standing or sitting around in the common area.

Hanabusa looked up from his cell phone, "Yes."

"What did she say about the holidays then?"

Hanabusa looked confused. "Oh! I haven't asked her about that. Sorry, Kaname-sama."

"No, it's alright. I'll just ask her when she comes back."

"Speak of the devil," Rima noted when Arisu stepped in through the front door. Ruka, who was standing near Rima tending to the flowers, looked up at the orange haired girl with a mixture of shock and chastisement on her face. Rima just shrugged back in response.

"That's right, Rima," Arisu chuckled as she entered; winking at Rima who gave her a rare smile. "So, why were we conversing about me?" Arisu looked around the room, eyes falling on Kaname.

"Hanabusa has something to ask you," Kaname said, deflecting attention away from him, so he could continue his novel.

Hanabusa frowned in Kaname's direction, He just said he was going to ask her himself! A swift glance from Kaname made him quickly avert his gaze back to Arisu. She was just standing there, holding her right arm with her left hand behind her back, waiting for Hanabusa to say something. "Since today was technically the last night of school, I was wondering if you would like to come with us during the long vacation."

Kaname kept on reading while everyone else paid close attention to what Arisu would say.

"Where would we be going?" She kept her face from frowning because her current plans didn't factor the other vampires.

"To my house. Don't worry my parents will be out," Hanabusa hurriedly explained. She just stared at him, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I would like to go, but I have other things that I have to get to first." Arisu lifted a hand as she replied.

Kaname looked up momentarily, "Well, there you have it, Hanabusa. I won't be going either."

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," she mock glared at Kaname before continuing, "I don't think that I'll be taking long to finish what I need to, so I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to join you guys sometime later in the week... Kaname, you can go with Hanabusa and the others, and I'll join you later."

Satisfied with her answer, Hanabusa smiled and continued with what he was originally doing. Kaname wasn't at all convinced, however. He raised an eyebrow at her. A slight movement of his head indicated that he wanted to talk to her out of the other's earshot. The other vampires noticed and quickly pretended to be preoccupied with their own things. Sighing, Arisu stepped out of the common room, closely followed by Kaname.

"Let's talk in my dorm," Kaname spoke as he sidestepped in front of Arisu.

She sighed loudly this time, "Alright, Kaname." Did I really expect to get away with going somewhere without running it by him first? I guess the real question is how much does Kaname know. Arisu followed him, but she wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings, so when Kaname stopped in front of his dorm room, she toppled into him. Kaname frowned as held the door open for her. Arisu just tried to smile it off.

"What's this about going somewhere else for the first half of vacation?" Kaname prompted as he walked toward his desk chair. Placing the novel on top of his desk next to the chess board, he sat straight up in his chair. Arisu rolled her eyes at his rigid posture and hoped he wouldn't notice her nervousness. "Look at me in the eyes when you answer."

She audibly swallowed her saliva and brought herself to stare at Kaname straight in the eye as she replied, "I wanted to visit Reiko - you do remember her, right? Anyway, I wanted to visit her to catch up and ask her about Mr. Koruya, whom I met at the soiree."

Kaname intently looked at her even after she had finished talking. Never did she stutter or loose eye contact with him, so if she was lying she was doing a heck of a good job. "How long?"

"Uhm, I shouldn't take more than a week... Maybe…" Again, she wasn't technically lying because she did want to go visit Reiko again.

"Alright," Kaname said, reaching for his novel again.

"That's it?" Arisu was troubled, "You're not going to ask a million questions and try to come along with me?"

"No," he looked at her, "You came here out of your own accord, so you should be able to go back on your own. Besides, you would still go no matter what I said."

"Well, that's true… Uhm, I'm going to go write to Reiko and tell her. Thank you, Kaname!" She quickly escaped and Kaname was left by himself for a couple of seconds before the door opened. Arisu poked her head in, "Please, don't send Seirin after me as I imagine you will."

Kaname just looked back at her promising nothing as the door quietly closed again. He sighed, "Does she really think she's fooling anybody? Seirin."

"Yes, Kaname-sama?"

"I have a second job for you…"

I didn't think that it would be that easy, Arisu thought as she walked up the winding staircase to her room. Either way, I have to plan something for if he sends Seirin after me. As she turned the corner of the hallway into her room she noticed familiar faces. "Hello, Ruka, Rima," Arisu smiled as she walked towards them, "What brings you two here when you could be sleeping?"

"I'm not tired," Rima simply replied.

"You are a model, so you need to take care of your health," Arisu jokingly scolded. Rima looked away, hiding her laughter and embarrassment. It was one thing to have friends that knew you modeled and a completely different thing to have someone teasing you about being one.

"That's what I'm always telling her," Ruka huffed, crossing her arms in front of her. This time Rima rolled her eyes and exhaled while looking away from Ruka.

"Hey!" Arisu chuckled, "But really, is there anything I could help you two with?"

"Not really. Ruka just wanted to come be with you, but she was too shy to come alone," Rima quickly answered.

"Rima!"

"That's cute," Arisu smiled while Ruka blushed, "You two are welcome anytime. Do you want to come in?" Arisu opened the door and waited patiently outside for the two to respond.

"Pardon the intrusion," Ruka said quietly as she stepped into the room with Rima following. The dorm room smelled of Arisu and only her; an intoxicatingly sweet smell to vampires. It was the first time that anybody but she had gone in that room.

"I can open the windows it makes you more comfortable," Arisu motioned toward the two windows on the other side of the room after noticing how the girls visibly tensed. She knew Kaname had always kept a window open in his dorm whenever he called others in there.

"I'm fine," Rima replied turning facing Arisu.

Ruka hesitated for a bit before responding, "I'll be fine once I get used to it in a bit."

"Are you sure? I don't mind opening the windows to let the breeze in."

"Yes, we're sure. Thank you for your consideration." Ruka smiled at her.

"Okay. Feel free to sit anywhere you want. Would either of you like some water?" Arisu walked over to her desk where there was a small pitcher of water. Next to it was a single glass cup and blood tablets. Rima shook her head while Ruka politely declined, so Arisu poured herself a glass of water without putting a tablet in.

"You don't have to restrain yourself in front of us, Arisu-sama," Ruka interjected quietly this time. Arisu tilted her head in confusion. "I-I mean I haven't seen you take a blood tablet since you've arrived and –"

"That's what you were referring to! You don't have to worry over me regarding that," Arisu said walking towards her bed, "Come over here, sit with me so that I can explain." Arisu sat down in the middle of her bed while Rima and Ruka sat opposite of her at either corner of her bed. "Nice and cozy," Arisu smiled as she brought the glass of water to her lips, drinking before holding the glass cup close to her body. "Both of you know that I have the ability to completely turn into human?"

They nodded in response.

"Well, it's more of a spell that I can freely use, but it comes at a cost. Someone else's cost, but I'll touch upon that later. Because I can turn human, I also gain human characteristics. My scent changes slightly. My eye color changes to a chocolate brown. I lose the majority of my powers. In a way you could say I'm at my most vulnerable. However, I don't have the insatiable thirst looming over me, and I don't have to consume blood. Instead I can gain most of my energy, nutrients from human food. Ruka, you mentioned how you haven't seen me take blood tablet or feed since I've come here. You are entirely correct because as long as I can eat and gain the majority of the nutrients I need from human food, I will usually just do that. Blood tablets are just as appealing to me as they are to you."

"So you don't have to drink blood at all?"

Arisu qualified the question by tilting her head to the side, yes and no. "Because of my ability, I can go for longer periods of time without drinking blood or taking blood tablets, but I do have to feed once in a while so that I don't become addicted to the taste of blood once I begin feeding again."

"Addicted?"

"Hmm. How do I explain… Do you two remember the first time you drank blood?"

"For the most part," Rima replied, scrunching her nose.

"Drinking blood after not having done so after a considerably long time has the same effect. The thirst for blood becomes so great, but now there is a greater awareness of oneself and the powers which we possess. In short, there are more weapons in the arsenal that can be used to satisfy that thirst. If I'm not careful, I could go on a rampage because of my thirst."

"Has that ever happened?" Ruka asked.

"…Once, Kaname managed to stop me before things took a turn for the worst." It was also the first time I drank Kaname's blood. There was dead silence in response.

"What did you mean by 'someone else's cost'?" Rima curiously broke the silence.

"My mother had to give up half of her own life so that I could have this ability." Thinking about it now, she wondered how Kai had obtained his ability or if he had it since birth.

"Is that why… No, never mind," Ruka stopped herself from asking.

"Is that why my mother died?" Arisu finished in a normal tone of voice. Ruka looked at her with eyes wide, "Not entirely, but that is something I'd rather not discuss."

"Sorry."

Arisu managed to crack a smile at Ruka to put the older girl at ease. She wanted to be able to have someone other than Kaname to confide in. Ichiru had been there for her, but even then he didn't know everything. "Enough of this gloomy mood," Arisu placed the empty glass onto to the nightstand to her left, "Would you guys like to hear a story of when Kaname and I were little?"

Rima and Ruka nodded, interest shown brightly in their eyes, so Arisu begab her story.

"…And then he chased me all over the house trying to get back at me! Mother had to intervene because we had made such a mess of the whole house," Arisu smiled remembering, "Before she could stop us, we had made a little barricade behind the couch where we banded together against her."

"How old were you guys?" Rima asked, trying not to smile uncontrollably.

"I was four and Kaname was almost six."

"I cannot imagine Kaname-sama being such an active troublemaker," Ruka exclaimed.

"I know, right?" Arisu agreed. "I think I still have the album I was showing you guys last time." Arisu stood up to retrieve the album from the top drawer of her desk where she always kept it.

"Feel free to look through it," she said, handing it to the girls, "I have to write a letter to a friend, so I hope this provides of some entertainment in the meantime." She turned back around and slid into her chair, "I have a couple more if you guys finish looking through that one."

"Thank you," Ruka grinned back as she cracked open the album.

Arisu smiled as she took out a crisp white envelope with its complementary stationary paper. She wasn't fond of using such decorative paper, but the design was simple enough and elegant. Arisu began to write the letter.

Reiko,

I know I haven't kept in touch since I've come here, and I apologize for that. I guess it slipped my mind… Writing that only makes it even an even greater fault of mine. I hope you can forgive me.

The long holiday starts today for the Academy. I know this is short notice, but I would like to visit you. Actually, catching up with you isn't the only reason why I want to go back. I also have questions that I need you to answer. I will leave in two to three days if that's of any reconciliation for the short notice.

How is Ichi –

"Arisu-sama, who might this be?"

Arisu jumped a little. She had been so engrossed in her writing that she momentarily forgotten that the two girls were in her room.

"Let me see," Arisu said placing down the pen down on her desk. She walked over to Ruka who was now standing, holding the open album in her hands so that Arisu had a clear view of the picture. Arisu visibly tensed. How was she supposed to get out of this? Everyone's initials were written under the photo.

HK, JK, AK, KK, and YK.

3 November YYYY.

Ruka was pointing at the small girl in Juri's arms.

"That's… That was a distant family member of the Kurans," Arisu started off shakily.

"Was?"

Arisu's she held onto the bedpost for support, and quickly thought up a lie, "She was killed by one of my family's enemies one night."

"Oh, I am so sorry, Arisu-sama," Ruka instantly regretted having asked, "I didn't mean to bring up painful memories for you."

Rima stood next to Ruka looking apologetic as well.

"It's alright. Both of you please look up at me," Arisu said feeling a pang of guilt it her. The two girls genuinely expressed their concern for her, yet she deceived them. "It's true that that night holds a painful memory for me, but I would like to think that she isn't completely gone. I dearly miss her, but I also remember all the joyous times we spent together."

Rima and Ruka didn't catch the plain bit of truth that Arisu had just revealed to them. "Thank you for your generosity, Arisu-sama," Ruka stopped before continuing, "I sincerely offer you my condolences for your loss, and I think that we have meddled enough for one day." She said while nervously looking at Rima, "Right, Rima?"

The second girl just nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Arisu sighed, partly from relief and partly from the disappointment she felt in herself. She moved to open the door and held it opened for the girls to exit. The two slightly bowed before turning to leave. Just as they were leaving, Arisu reached out and stopped them by grabbing each of them by their hand. "You guys shouldn't trouble yourselves over what happened today." The girls stared back at her unsure of what to say, so Arisu just smiled and continued, "You both look cuter when you have a smile on your faces." The brunette giggled and winked before closing the door leaving the girls with their mouths wide open.

Arisu waited by the door until she heard the soft pitter of the retreating footsteps. She sighed again. How could she have been so careless to give them an album that had Yuki's picture in it? She took the album that had been left on her bed to her desk. Arisu flipped through the pages, and was glad that the two hadn't gone any further. A couple of pages later were some of the holiday and birthday pictures of the family. The room became too stuffy for Arisu. She had to get out.

Quickly she gathered her papers and pen into a small shoulder bag and darted out of the room. Left behind, open on the desk, was the photo album. It was open to the final picture the family had taken as a family on the twin's birthday. The day before their parents were killed.

"Arisu, if you are going out, don't be too long," Kaname said, walking to the common area just as Arisu rushed by, clearly heading to the exit of the dorms.

She faintly heard him but said nothing in return. All she wanted to do was get out. It felt so freeing to be outside, but she winced as her eyes adjusted to the light. She wasn't in her human form, but right now she didn't want to be. Arisu didn't want to be vulnerable, to feel helpless.

Heading out of the gate she was met with flocks of girls wandering about before classes started.

"Good morning, Arisu," came a chorus of girls and some boys. Arisu smiled politely and waved back at them though she didn't sop to talk with them like she usually would. She chose to walk past them in the direction of the courtyard. Her only reprieve was the shade cast on a bench by a tree. The sun light was just a small annoyance now. The courtyard was surprisingly quiet. The only one there was Arisu. Calmer now, she pulled out her things and went back to writing.

How is Ichi- Never mind. I'll ask him directly when I get there. I hope you are all doing well. Things over here are sometimes uneasy, but I'm glad I decided to come. You were right; Kaname did flip when I came to the Academy. Yuki, my sister, is fine for the most part except that she can't remember anything, but I'll tell you all bout that when I get there. It seems she has made great friends with another girl here, Sayori Wakaba. Yori is a delight. She's a bit more reserved than most, but I can tell she cares for Yuki.

Actually, I'm getting hungry, so I'll end this here and go look for food in the cafeteria.

See you soon,

Arisu Kuran

She folded the paper into thirds and placed it into an envelope.

"Ugh, I really hate to do this," she muttered to herself. She ran her thumb nail over her forefinger, slicing through the skin. A trickle of blood ran from the side of her finger into a small puddle. As soon as there was enough blood she licked her wound while a small deep red brown fox formed from the pool.

"You know, you should really be careful of where you do that," a voice came from behind her, "if you were to blow your cover, I'm sure Zero would be happy to shoot to kill. As would I."

"Then I would have to thank you for your concern," Arisu replied, turning her head toward the arching hallway, "Mr. Yagari."

The older man was walking toward her in his usal laid back manner.

"Don't mention it, kid," the vampire hunter replied, now standing in front of the bench where Arisu was sitting with the fox next to her. It emitted a menacing growl at how close Yagari was.

"I thought those things didn't have minds of their own," Yagari noted looking down at the fox familiar.

"Most of the time they don't because vampires think it a hassle to use more blood than necessary." Arisu turned to her familiar and patted its head, "It's alright. I'm almost entirely sure he won't hurt me."

The fox familiar lowered its head onto her lap, but remained watching Yagari.

"You don't?"

"Think it's a hassle? No. I prefer to have a companion, not a mindless servant." She stroked the head of the animal on her lap.

"Very… human of you," Yagari noted.

Arisu genuinely smiled, "Thank you."

"Don't forget what I told you," Yagari warned, walking away.

"I won't." She watched the hunter leave in the direction he had come from before turning to the small fox. "Alright, now that Mr. Hunter is gone, I need you to do something for me, please." It tilted its head as it sat up and looked up at her. "I would like you to take this to Reiko. If you are attacked, captured, or if you sense danger from anyone, destroy this letter." She looked into the eyes of her familiar to confirm it had understood. Arisu held the envelope up, and the fox took it in its mouth, waiting to be dismissed. Arisu pet its head one last time, "Have a safe trip."

With that her familiar jumped off the bench and ran off in the direction of the Academy gate. Arisu lost sight of the fox as it ducked into the shadows of the hallway in front of her. Now, time to get some food, she thought as she changed to her human form. When she stepped out into the sunlight, she felt warm aas opposed to the dull ache.

Revised: 3/18/20

A/N: Thanks for reading! And please review as I've found that reviews are great motivators!