Title: To Stand Against the Sun
Genre: romance, drama
Rating: M for language, violence, and sexual themes
Pairings: JohanXJudai (spiritshipping); very, very mild ManjoumeXJudai (rivalshipping); other minor pairings
Summary: Judai Yuki was not expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen when he moved to live with his Dad in Copenhagen, Denmark. But this where his life truly begins. There he meets Johan Andersen, a mysterious and captivating student at his new high school. Judai soon discovers that Johan is hiding a secret, after he impossibly saves his life from a van with his super-human strength and speed. Judai is determined to unravel his secret, but the truth is more terrifying than he realized. Johan is a vampire. Any normal person would just keep away from him, but Johan and Judai have fallen passionately and unconditionally in love with each other. And so begins their forbidden relationship between a human and a vampire. But the young lovers soon discover that their troubles are only just about to begin.
Me: Next chapter is up!
Lucy: Judai has learned that Johan is a vampire, and now he is coming to terms with that fact! But he doesn't seem to be having any problems with it, so this could be good for him.
Me: What will happen now?
Lucy: Read on to find out what will happen!
Chapter Ten: Interrogation
It was very hard in the morning to argue with the side of me that was positive that last night was all just a dream. Logic wasn't on my side, or common sense. I clung to the parts that I couldn't have imagined- like his scent. I was sure I could have never dreamed that smell- the smell that was like that of the gods- up on my own.
The conversation between my Logical side and my Hopeful side; basically the fight that I had with myself deep inside my mind; that reigned supreme in my mind last night went a little something like this.
Logical Judai: There's no way that happened! Vampires don't exist! It's a scientific impossibility!
Hopeful Judai: But what if it was the truth? It would make so much sense! All the things that he did; rescuing us from the van, knowing when we were in danger; how could he have known that if he wasn't some sort of supernatural creature?
Logical Judai: Supernatural nothing! He just got very lucky!
Hopeful Judai: But what about his smell? There is no way that we dreamed that up! It's too unreal for us to have dreamed up!
Logical Judai: Oh, shut up!
Hopeful Judai: No, you shut up!
Logical Judai: Don't use my words and fling them back at me!
Hopeful Judai: Don't start bashing my hopes and dreams, you scientific failure!
Logical Judai: I don't even know you anymore!
It was foggy and dark outside my window when I finally woke up, and when the logical side of me and the hopeful side of me had stopped battling. Only someone like me could get in a fight with themselves and lose so bad(1). The sky was perfectly dark, the sun nowhere to be found, it was perfect. Johan had no reason to not be in school today. I dressed in my heavy clothes, remembering that I didn't have a jacket. Further proof that my memory was real. Ha! Take that, logic and common sense!
When I got downstairs, Nerigon was gone again- I was running later than I realized. I swallowed a granola bar in three bites, nearly choking, chased it down with milk straight from the carton, and then hurried to the door. Hopefully the rain would hold off until I could find Rei and get my hoodie back from her.
It was unusually foggy; the air was almost smoky with it. The mist was ice cold where it clung to the exposed skin on my face and neck. I couldn't wait to get the heat going in my truck. It was such a thick fog that I was a few feet down the driveway before I realized there was a car in it; a silver car. My heart thudded, stuttered, and then picked up again in double time.
I couldn't see where he came from, but suddenly, he was there, pulling the passenger door open for me.
"Do you want to ride with me today?" he asked, amused by my expression as he caught me by surprise yet again. There was uncertainty in his voice. He was really giving me a choice- I was free to refuse, and part of him hoped for that. It was a vain hope.
"Yes, thank you," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
As I stepped into the warm car, I noticed Johan's tan jacket was slung over the headrest of the passenger seat. The door closed behind me, and sooner than should be possible, he was sitting next to me, starting the car.
"I brought the jacket for you. I didn't want you to get sick." His voice was guarded. I noticed that he wore no jacket himself, just a light gray V neck shirt with long sleeves. Again, the fabric clung to his perfectly muscled torso. It was a fabulous tribute to his face that it managed to keep me from looking at his body.
"I'm not that delicate, Johan," I said, but I pulled the jacket onto my lap, pushing my arms through the too-long sleeves, curious to see if the scent was as good as I remembered. It was better.
"Aren't you?" he contradicted, his voice so low I wasn't sure he meant for me to hear.
We drove through the fog-covered streets, always too fast, feeling awkward. Well, I was, at least. Last night, all the walls were down… almost all. I didn't know if we were still being as candid today. It left me tongue-tied. I waited for him to speak before I said anything, to see if the walls had been put back up.
He turned to smirk at me. "What, no twenty questions today, Judai?"
"Do my questions bother you?" I asked.
"Not as much as your reactions do." He looked like he was trying to joke with me, but there was something hidden behind his eyes. I couldn't be sure.
I frowned. "Do I react that badly?"
He shook his head. "No, that's the problem. You take everything so coolly. It's unnatural. It makes me wonder what you're really thinking about when I tell you these things, Judai."
"I always tell you what I'm really thinking."
"You edit," he accused.
"Not a lot."
"Enough to drive me to the brink of insanity."
"Trust me, you don't want to hear it," I mumbled almost whispered. As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. The pain in my voice was very faint, faint enough that I hoped he didn't notice it.
He didn't respond, and I wondered if I had ruined the mood. His face was unreadable as we drove into the school parking lot. Something suddenly occurred to me, something that I should have noticed right off the bat.
"Where's the rest of your family?" I asked.
I was more than glad to be alone with him, but I had suddenly remembered that when I had seen him coming to school so many times ago, his car was always full. His brother Jim was always in the front next to him, and his two sisters and other brother were always in the backseat in the exact same spots all the time. Alice in the middle, Fubuki to her left, Asuka to her right.
"They took Asuka's car." He shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red convertible with the top up. "Ostentatious, isn't it?"
"Uh, wow," I breathed. "Um, Johan? If she owns that, why does she ride with you? Not that your car isn't awesome and shiny or anything, it's just that people would kill to have a car like Asuka's."
"Like I said, it stands out. We try to blend in."
"You do not succeed." I laughed and shook my head as we got out of the car. I wasn't late anymore; his lunatic driving had gotten me to school in plenty of time. "So, why did Asuka drive to school today if it's more conspicuous?"
"Hadn't you noticed? I'm breaking all the rules now."
He met me at the front of the car, staying very close to my side as we walked onto campus. I wanted to close that little distance somehow, but I was afraid that he wouldn't like me to, so I resisted my urge and walked beside him.
"Why do you all have cars like that?" I asked. "If you're looking for privacy?"
"An indulgence," he said with a wide smile. "We all like to drive fast."
"That figures," I muttered.
Under the shelter of the cafeteria roof's overhang, Rei was waiting, her eyes about to pop out of their sockets. Over her arm, God bless her, was my crimson hoodie. When she saw me looking at her, a devious smile played with the corners of her lips. I was in soooooo much trouble.
"Hey, Rei," I said when we were a few feet away. "Thanks for remembering to bring my hoodie." She handed me my hoodie, which I noticed had been washed, without saying a word. Her eyes were locked on Johan.
"Good morning, Miss Saotome," Johan said politely.
It wasn't his fault that his voice was so irresistible. Or what his eyes were capable of.
"Uh… hi." She shifted her wide eyes to me, trying to gather her jumbled thoughts. "Well, I guess I'll see you in Math." She gave me the same devilish look, and I knew that I was never going to hear the end of it. I suppressed a loud sigh. What on earth was I going to tell her about what had happened last night?
She walked away after I said I'd see her in Math, pausing twice to peek over her shoulder at us. Her lips turned into yet another smirk, and then she ran too class. I exhaled with relief as soon as she was out of earshot.
"What are you going to tell her?" Johan murmured.
"Hey, I thought you couldn't read my mind!" I hissed softly.
"I can't," he said, startled. Then understanding brightened his honey emerald eyes. The green was around his pupil today, the edges a bright gold. "However, I can read hers- she'll be waiting to ambush you in class."
I groaned as I pulled off his tan jacket- trying to remember the scent of it as I did so- and handed it to him, replacing it with my snuggly bright red hoodie. Johan folded his jacket over his arm and peered after Rei, who'd been swallowed by the crowd.
"So what are you going to tell her?"
"Some assistance?" I begged. "What exactly does she want to know?"
He shook his head, grinning wickedly. "Now that's not fair, Judai."
"No, you not sharing what you know- that's not fair!"
He deliberated for a moment as we walked. We stopped outside the door to my first class. "She wants to know if we're secretly dating. And she wants to know how you feel about me," he said after a moment.
"Yikes. What should I say?" I tried to be as innocent as possible.
People were passing us, probably staring, but I paid them no mind. I could hear the majority of girls- most of them very popular, and one of them was Seika, I could recognize her voice- complaining that it was so unfair that I was getting all of Johan's attention. Some of the boys seemed jealous as well. Were they jealous that I had Johan's attention or were they jealous that Johan- flawless and perfect Johan- had my attention?
"Hmmm." He paused to catch a stray lock of hair that was escaping the twist on the back of my neck and wound it back into place. My heart sputtered hyperactively. "I suppose you could say yes to the first… if you don't mind- it's easier than any other explanation."
"I don't mind," I said faintly.
"As for her other question… well, I'll be listening to hear the answer to that one myself." One side of his mouth pulled up into my favorite uneven smile. I couldn't catch my breath long enough to respond to that remark. He turned with a smile and walked away. "I'll see you at lunch," he called over his shoulder.
Three people walking in the door stopped to stare at me.
I hurried into class, flushed and irritated. He was such a cheater. Now I was even more worried about what I was going to say to Rei. I sat at my usual seat, slamming my bag down in aggravation. How dare Johan not tell me what she was truly thinking so that I could give her the best answer for it!
"Morning, Judai!" Kenzan called from the seat next to me.
Hayato was sitting right beside me on my other side. "How was Greve Strand?" I looked up to see an odd, almost resigned look on his face.
"It was…" There was no honest way to sum it up. "Great." I finished lamely. "Rei picked out a really nice dress for the dance, Hayato. I think you're going to be happy. I made sure to get her a dress that didn't make her look like an endangered species. You should have seen this one green dress they had there. All goofy and with neon green fur on the hem- ugh."
"Did she say anything about Monday night?" he asked, his eyes brightened.
I smiled at the turn the conversation had taken. "She said she had a really good time," I assured him. I saw the expression on his face light up instantly, as if he had just found out that he had won the lottery.
"She did?" he asked.
"Most definitely."
The teacher called the class to order then, asking us to turn in our papers. English and then Government passed in a blur, while I worried about how to explain things to Rei and agonized over whether Johan would really be listening to what I said through the medium of Rei's thoughts. How very inconvenient his little gift could be- when it wasn't saving my life.
The thick fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour, but the day was still dark with low, oppressing clouds. I smiled up at the sky. It was as if God had smiled down on me today. He had made it foggy so that Johan would be able to stay the entire day, and I loved Him for that even more than I already did, if that were even possible.
Johan was right, of course. As I walked into Math, Rei was sitting in the back row, literally bouncing out of her seat with aggravation. I slowly went to sit by her, trying to tell myself that it would be better to get it over with as soon as possible. Her brown eyes were lit; she was not going to let me go without some details.
"Tell me everything!" she demanded before I was in my seat.
"What do you want to know?" I stalled.
"What happened?"
"He bought me dinner and then drove me home, Rei."
Her eyes narrowed, and I could see that there was some doubt in her expression. I was gripped by sudden fear. Did she think that we did something else? Oh my God, Rei! Seriously? I would never do anything like what you're thinking!
"How did you get home so fast?" she asked.
I exhaled with relief. So she didn't think that we… did it. "He drives like a maniac. It was horrifying. My life flashed before my eyes!" I was a bit dramatic, but I hoped he heard that. His driving was terrifying!
"Was it like a date- did you tell him to meet you there?"
I hadn't thought about that. "No, Rei- I was very surprised to see him in Greve Strand at all. Like I said, I got lost and just happened to run into him." It wasn't a complete lie- I was lost, and he did find me when I hadn't know that he was there, so that counts as running into him.
Her lips drew into a thin line of disappointment at the honesty in my voice. "But he picked you up from school," she probed with a grin.
"Yes- that was a surprise, too. He noticed I didn't have a jacket last night," I explained.
"Are you going out again?
"That depends. He offered to drive me to Dragor on Saturday because he doesn't think my truck can make it- does that count?" I flinched when I saw her brown eyes flare to life again. I wished I hadn't asked.
"Yes!" she smiled.
"Well, then. The answer's yes."
She giggled into her hands to keep the teacher from hearing her. "Johan Andersen." She said it as if he was a prize to be won. "You're so damn lucky, Judai! Everyone would kill to be you right now."
"I know," I smiled.
"Have you two made out yet?" she asked slyly.
My eyes must have doubled in size, because she laughed. "W-what?"
"I'll take that as a resounding 'no'," she chuckled. "What did you guys talk about?" She pushed for more information in a whisper as the teacher came by to see what she was laughing about. She made up some story and when he was gone, her attention turned back to me. I saw that she wanted some details, and she wanted them now.
"Lots of stuff," I answered. "I can't remember a lot of it."
She groaned. "That sucks," she murmured. "I so wanted to hear what you guys talked about, but oh well. At least you had a good time. How was dinner- what did you guys do there?"
"Uh, we ate, like most people do, and oh! I got one," I smiled at her, trying not to chuckle at the thought of what I had just said. "You should have seen this waitress flirting with him- it was way over the top. But he didn't pay any attention to her at all." I smiled when I finished. Let Johan make what he could of that, if the cheating little eavesdropper was still listening, of course.
"That's great!" she said. "He must really like you."
"I think he does, but I'm not sure," I said. "He's very unreadable."
Rei flashed me an approving smile. "I'm so amazed that you're brave enough to be alone with him. He's so intimidating. I mean, his eyes are just so... How can you look into his eyes and not get paralyzed? It's like he's a gorgon or something!" She made a face that made me know that she was thinking of the way he had stunned her last night and this morning.
"I do have some issues focusing when I'm around him," I admitted.
"At least you admit it," she laughed.
She then started rambling on about how gorgeous and god-like Johan was. Though she was right, she said it as if his looks excused any flaws he had to him. Which, in her book, probably did.
"There's a lot more to him than people think," I said.
"Like what?"
I wished I hadn't said anything. I wished it almost as much as I had wished that Johan was joking about listening to our conversation. I could see the curious look in Rei's brown eyes.
"I can't explain it," I admitted. "but he's even more unbelievable behind the face."
The vampire who wanted to be good- who ran around saving my life whenever I needed it. Was I the only one he had saved? Had there been a bunch of others before me? Johan acted as if I was the first human who he had ever been close to. I stared at the front of the room and let the small thoughts of Johan run through my mind.
"Is that even possible?" she asked. "He's already as close to a god as they come."
I smiled and said nothing. I acted as if I was listening to the teacher's lecture. He looked over to see if I was focusing, and then went back to his lecture when he determined that I was paying attention.
"So, you like him?" she asked.
"Yes."
"A lot?"
"Yes," I blushed.
Rei was fed up with the same answer. "How much do you like him?"
"Way more than I should," I answered in a hushed whisper. "More than he likes me, I'm sure. But I don't see what I can do about that." I gave a heavy sigh and leaned my head down on my desk.
Rei didn't bother me for the rest of class.
We spent the walk to Spanish talking about the upcoming test. Rei spoke to me in Spanish, and I was happy that I understood most of it. She had seemed to forget all about our previous conversation. Then we talked about her crush on Hayato. She asked me to tell her everything that she knew about him so that she could know some more on him. I wouldn't have dragged it out as long as I did if I wasn't afraid of the subject returning to my feelings for Johan.
And then the bell for lunch rang. As I jumped from my seat, shoving my books into my backpack, my smile must have tipped Rei off, because she smiled like the wicked witch of the west.
"You're not sitting with us today?" she guessed.
"I don't think so." I wasn't certain whether or not Johan was going to mysterious disappear again.
But outside the door to our Spanish class, leaning against the wall- looking more like a Greek god than any single person should- Johan was waiting for me patiently. Rei took one look, smirked at me, and then skipped past Johan.
"See ya, Judai!" she called.
I laughed softly. Her voice said it all. I might have to unplug my phone tonight.
"Hello." Johan's tone was amused and irritated at the same time. He had been listening. It was obvious.
I couldn't think of anything to say ecept "hi". Johan didn't speak- probably biding his time. It was a quiet walk to the cafeteria. He took my hand in his without warning. I tried my hardest not to jump. His hand was cold but comforting. He clenched my hand tight, as if he was letting the whole world know that he had claimed me. I tried to keep my heart from breaking through my ribcage.
Walking with Johan was like the first day of school again; everyone stared.
He led the way into the line, still not speaking, though his eyes returned to my face every few seconds. His expression was again unreadable. It seemed to me that irritation was winning over amusement, and that hurt. Was he irritated with me? I looked down and played with the zipper of my jacket, trying not to lock eyes with him.
He stepped up to the counter and filled the tray with food.
"You are not eating that much," I said.
"Most of it's for you," he said, not looking at me, but I thought I could see him smiling.
I stared at the massive mountain of food with my mouth agape. He led the way to the same place we'd sat at one time before. From the other side of the long table, a group of seniors stared at us in amusement. I blushed. Johan seemed oblivious; he was staring only at me. I should have been flattered, and I was.
"Here you go," he said, pushing the tray to me.
"I'm curious," I said as I picked up a small piece of cake, turning it around in my hands before taking a bite. "as to what you would do if someone dared you to eat normal human food."
He chuckled. "Always curious." He reached down and snatched a piece of pizza off the tray and snapped at it with his teeth. He wrenched off a huge chunk, chewed it a bit longer than necessary, and then he swallowed it. He opened his mouth to show me that he had swallowed it all. I stared on in shock, my eyes wide.
He turned to me with a grin.
"If someone dared you to eat sand, you could, right?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.
I wrinkled my nose and looked at my tray. "I did once," I admitted. I watched as his eyes widened and he stared at me. "It was a dare. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
He laughed. "Why am I not surprised?" Something over my shoulder seemed to interest him. He handed the pizza to me. "Rei's watching every single thing I do. She wants to make sure I treat you right. She'll explain it to you later." The mention of Rei brought back the irritation in his eyes, so I was relieved that he wasn't mad at me.
I bit into the pizza and looked away.
"The waitress was pretty?" he asked casually. I nodded slowly, shocked that he really hadn't noticed. "I wasn't paying attention. I had too much on my mind to care for mortal women."
"Poor girl," I joked.
Johan refused to be distracted. "Something you said to Rei... well, it bothers me." He glanced up under his lashes with troubled eyes. "I warned you I would be listening."
I huffed and looked away. "I'm not surprised you heard something you didn't like. I warned you that you might not like what I thought."
"You did," he agreed. "You aren't precisely right, though. I do want to know what you're thiking- everything. I just wish... that you wouldn't think some of those things."
"Gee," I said. "What a distinction."
"That's not the point," he scowled.
"Then what?"
We were inclined toward each other across the table. He had his white hands folded under his chin; mine were clasped before me. I had to remind myself that we were in a public and very crowded lunchroom, with probably many curious eyes on us. It was so easy to get wrapped up in our own private little bubble.
"Do you truly believe that you care for me more than I do for you?" he murmured, leaning closer to me, dark eyes piercing.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Are you going to answer my question?" he asked.
"Yup."
"Yes, you're going to answer, ot yes, you really think that?" Johan sounded truly irritated; I was having fun.
"Yup, I really think that." I kept my eyes on the table. I kept on imagining what it would be like if the table came to life. Strange fantasy, I know, but I had fun with it. The silence dragged on. I refused to be the first one to break the silence. I started to imagine dancing pink elephants, and I wondered if I was truly losing my mind. Silence did that to me.
After a while, he whispered, "You're so wrong, Judai."
"Am I?" I asked, glancing up to see that his eyes were gentle. "You can't know that for sure." I shook my head slowly, though my heart beat with a strange longing; as if I wanted to believe that his words were true.
"And what makes you think that?" His liquid topaz-and-emerald eyes were penetrating, trying desperately to draw the truth from me.
I stared back, trying in spite of his face to find some way to explain. As I searched for the words, I could see that he was geting impatient; anxious due to mu silence, he started to scowl. I lifted my hand to my throat and held a finger out. "Let me think," I insisted. His expression went soft, now that he was satisfied that I would answer. I dropped my hand to the table and clasped them together. I rolled my eyes to he right, as if trying to remember.
"Hmmm, aside from the obvious..." I hesitated a moment. "Not sure, really. I mean, I can't read minds- but to me, it sometimes seems like you're trying to say goodbye when you say something else."
That was he best I could come up with.
"Hmm, reasonable," he whispered. And there was the anguish again, surfacing as he confirmed my fear. "That's where you're wrong, though," he became to explain, but then his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by 'the obvious'?"
I sighed and brushed my hair back. "Well, look at me,"I said, which was unneccessary, as he already was. "I'm totally plain. If it weren't for the near-death experiences and being so clusmy, I'd be just like everyone else. No one special. Someone totally ordinary. And then look at you," I waved my hand in his direction. "You're like a god- better than a god actually."
His eyes flashed angrily for a moment, then he tried to hide it. "You don't see yourself well at all, do you? You're right on about the bad things, but you obviously didn't notice what every female, and male, at this school was thinking when they saw you."
I blinked, shocked. "That can't be right."
"Trust me on this, Judai- you are the opposite of ordinary."
My embarrassmen was much stronger than my pleasure at the look that flashed across his face. I quickly thought of my last argument.
"But you keep seeming like you're saying goodbye to me," I pointed out.
"Don't you see? That's exactly what proves me right. I care the most, because I can do it," he said. He shook his head, seeming to struggle with the inner thought. "If leaving is the right thing to do, the thing that will keep you safe, hen I'll hurt myself to keep from hurting you. I'll protect you, Judai, no matter how bad I'm hurt."
I glared; it made him laugh. "And you doubt that I would do the same."
"You'd never have to make the choice."
"Ha! That's what you think!"
Johan ignored this. His devious smile returned, and my heart almost stopped. "Of course, keeping you safe is starting to feel like a full-ime job that requires my constant presence."
"Oh, that's ridiculous. No one has tried to do away with me today," I reminded him, thankful for the change in subject. If I had to, I suppose I would be able to throw myself in harm's way to keep him near, but I quickly banished this thought before he could see my expression. It was a thought that would get me in trouble if he knew.
"Yet," he added with a grin.
"Yet," I agreed; I would have disagreed, but I wanted him to be use to my disasters.
"I have another question."
"Fire away."
"Do you really have to go to Dragor this Saturday, or was that an excuse to get out of an unwanted date with your admirers?"
I made a face at the memory of how many times I had been asked to go to the dance. I had lost count. "You know, I'm still pissed at you for that whole thing you did in the parking lot," I said. He grinned at that. "It's your fault he thnks he's going to prom with me."
Johan waved his hand. "Oh, he would've found a way to ask you without me doing that- I really just wanted to see your face." He laughed.
I would have decked him if heis laughter wasn't so damn alluring.
"If I'd asked you to go with me, would you have turned me down?" he asked. His voice sounded completely curious.
"Probably not," I said with a swift shake of the head. "But I would have canceled later- faked an illness or tripped down the stairs and sprained my ankle or something along those lines."
He looked confused. "Why?"
I shook my head pitifully. "You obviously have never seen me in a gym class before. I thought you might understand without me saying anything on the subject." I sniffed sadly and turned my head away.
"You're referring to the fact that you can't walk a flat surface without going down face-first?"
"Yup. I'm famour for that. My dad calls 'em 'Yuki-Trips'," I said.
"That wouldn't be an issue." He gave me a smile, I thought I was going to burst from the heat that shot to my cheeks. "It's all in the leading." He could see that I was about to argue, but he cut me off. "But you never told me- are you resolved on going to Dragor, or do you mind if we do something differet?"
I liked the "we" part. "Hell, I open to alternatives, but I wanna drive."
He frowned. "Why?"
"Well, mostly because I told Nerigon that I was going to Dragor, and I told him I would be going alone. If he asked again, I won't lie, but I doubt he will ask me again, and leaving my truck at home would just arouse some suspicion. Oh, and further more, this is just a little thing that really isn't an issue to bring into further argument- your driving his horrifying!"
Johan raised an eyebrow. "My driving is horrifying?"
"Yup."
He rolled his shimmering eyes. :Of all the things about me that should frighten you, it's my driving." He shook his head in disgust. "Won't you tell your father that you're spending the day with me?" There was a strange way about how he asked this.
"If he asks again, I'll tell him," I said. "What are we gonna do, anyway?"
"The weather will be nice, so I'll be staying out of the public eye for a while... and you can stay with me, if you wish to." Again, he was leaving me with a choice. I could tell that part of him wanted me to refuse.
"You'll show me that thing about the sun?" I asked, eager.
He smiled. "Yes." He paused a moment. "But if you don't want to be... alone with me, I'd still rather you not go to Dragor alone. I shudder at the thought of what could happen to you in a city that large." He gave a theatrical shudder just to humor me.
I blushed angrily. "I'll have you know that I am perfectly capable of surviving in a city Dragor's size! I lived in Ribe, you know!"
"But apparently," he interrupted me. "your number wasn't up in Ribe."
I couldn't argue with that fact, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of being right. Not this time. "As it happens, I don't mind being alone with you, Johan."
"I know," Johan said, voice dark. "You should still tell Nerigon you're coming with me."
"Why?"
His eyes were suddenly fierce, the eyes of a hunter. "To give me some incentive to bring you back."
I gulped, but after a moment of thought, I was sure. "I'll take my chances."
He exhaled angrily.
"Let's talk about something else," I suggested. He gave a small 'hmph', still annoyed. I glanced around us, making sure we were well out of any hearing distance. As I cast my eyes around the room, I caught the eyes of Johan's adopted sister, Alice, staring at me. The others were looking at Johan with strange looks. Jim was the only one smiling. I couldn't tell if Alice was; her arm was covering her mouth. I looked away, back to Johan, and said the first thing to pop into my mind. "Why did you go to the mountains last weekend... to hunt? Nerigon said it's not a good place because of all the bears."
Johan stared at me like I was missing something obvious.
"What?" I gasped, and he smirked. "Bears aren't in season right now," I snapped to hide my shock.
"If you read the carefully, the laws only cover hunting with weapons," he said. He watched my face with growing enjoyment as I let that sink in; he was having too much fun screwing with my mind, since he couldn't read it.
"Seriously? Bears?" I repeated.
"Grizzly is Jim's favorite, but he can't find many here." His voice was calm, but he was watching for a freakout.
"Huh." I took another bite of food and choked it down. I took a long drink of Coke and sighed. "What's your favorite?" I asked after a moment. "Is it the same as Jim's, or is there some sort of difference in your bear preferances?"
He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Mountain lion."
"That's not a bear," I pouted.
He chuckled. "Look who finally learned their animals." I frowned but let that insult slide. "Of course," he said with a shrug. "we have to be careful not to impact the environment with injudicious hunting. We try to focus on areas with an overpopulation of predators- ranging as far away as we need. Sure, there's always lesser animals- herbivores and such- but where's the fun in that?" He smiled teasingly.
"Where indeed," I mumbled, taking another bite of pizza.
"Early spring is Jim's favorite time to hunt because the bears are just coming out of hibernation- it makes them all the more irritable."
"Nothin' better than a pissed off grizzly," I said offhandedly.
Johan chuckled and leaned forward. "Please tell me what you're really thinking, Judai?" he asked. His voice was so alluring and calming that I had no choice but to try to answer him.
"Trying to picture it," I said. "How do you hunt with no weapons?"
"Oh, we have weapons." He cracked his knuckles and flashed his teeth. I fought back a shudder. "Just not the kind that humans consider using if they wish to take down something much larger than them. If you've ever seen a bear attack on television, you sould be able to picture what Jim looks like when he hunts quite well."
I couldn't stop the next shiver that ran through me. I turned and looked in Jim's direction. The bands of muscle that wrapped his arms and torso seemed all the more wicked to me.
Johan followed my gaze and laughed. I shivered again.
"Are you like a bear, too?" I asked.
I could picture Jim charging at another animal like a bear, but it was harder to see Johan doing it. I just couldn't picture him- perfect, god-like Johan Andersen- charging forward like a grizzly bear.
"More of a lion, so they tell me," he answered.
"Oh." I sighed silently. That was much easier to picture. But it was still hard. "Is that something I might get to see some time?"
"Absolutely not!" His face turned whiter than usual, and his eyes were suddenly furious. I leaned back, stunned and- though I'll never admit it to him aloud- frightened by his reaction. He leaned back as well, folding his arms tightly across his chest, as if he were trying to crush himself. I let myself lean forward with a soft sigh.
"Too scary for me?" I asked.
"If that were it, I'd take you out tonight," he said, his voice wicked. "You need a healthy dose of fear."
"Then what's up?" I asked.
He glared at me for the longest time and then sighed. He was on his feet in a quick moment. "I'll tell you later. Now come, we'll be late." I glanced atround to see that he was right and that the cafeteria was nearly vacant. I jumped up and grabbed my backpack from the back of my chair with a soft sigh and a smile.
"Later then," I said. He nodded. I wouldn't forget it.
Me: Okay, so we have learned of Johan's feeding habits, and we will learn more on him in the next chapter, so look forward to it! (1) True that, Judai! True that!
Lucy: What will happen next?
Me: And to all of you who notice that Judai is always the uke in my stories, I will be writing a story soon in which Judai is the seme, just to try it out and see what happens!
Lucy: Please review and we shall update soon!