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 seems to be getting more comfortable with the fact that Johan's a vampire, and Johan seems to get that Judai's not scared of him, but where will this all lead?

Me: Please read if you wanna know!

Lucy: Enjoy it, guys!

Chapter Eleven: Complicated

As expected, everyone watched as we walked together to our Biology table. I noticed that Johan no longer angled the chair to sit as far from me as the desk would allow. In fact, he sat as close to me as he could get, our arms almost touching.

Mr. Daitokuji backed into the classroom just then- what amazing timing that ma has- pulling a heavy metal frame on wheels with an old TV and VCR on the top of it. A movie day- a lift from the work ethic. Mr. Daitokuji shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall to turn off the old lights.

And then, as the room went black, I was suddenly aware of Johan sitting less than an inch away from me. I was stunned by the unexpected feel of the electrical current surging through him. A crazy impulse to reach out and touch him, to feel his rock-hard skin in the darkness and see if the current truly was coming from him, nearly overwhelmed me. I crossed my arms tightly across my chest, my hads balling into fists. I shook my head, I was losing my mind.

The credits started rolling just then, lighting the room. My eyes, of their own accord, shifted to Johan. I smiled softly when I saw that his position was identical to mine- arms folded across his chest, hands bound tightly into fists. He was staring at me with his emerald-green gaze, and he let a small smile flutter across his lips when he locked eyes with me. I looked away as quickly as I could. One of my hands fell from its lock and hung at my side, swinging back and forth like a limp noodle.

Something cold stung my hand and made me jump.

Looking down, I saw Johan's hand latched tightly around mine. The muscles in his hand weren't flexing, so he wasn't trying nearly as hard as he could to hang onto my hand.

He lifted my hand to his chest, where his heart was, and place it there. I froze. He didn't have a heartbeat. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me, but it came as a bit of a shock. How could someone who looked and felt so real not have a real heartbeat? I tried not to let the fear slip on my face, but more importantly, I didn't want Johan to know that I hadn't felt his heart. I knew he wanted me to be afraid, but I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction, even if it was for my own good.(1)

I breathed a sigh of relief when Mr. Daitokuji flicked the light back on at the end of class. Johan released my hand, slowly, and I stretched my stiff fingers out in front of me. Johan chuckled.

"That was interesting," he said. His voice was dark and his eyes were cautious.

"Yup," was all I could manage.

"Shall we?" he asked, rising like a bird.

I groaned under my breath. Time for Gym. I stood with care, worried that my balance- or whatever the Hell it was that I had- would be affected by the strange electrical current I felt coming from Johan.

He walked beside me to my next class in silence and paused at the door; I turned to say goodbye. His expression startled me- he looked torn, almost pained, and so fiercly amazing that the urge to reach out and see if that same electric current moved through him came rushing back. My goodbye stuck in my throat and came out as a mangled breath of air.

He raised his hand, hesitant, conflict raging in his emerald and gold eyes, and then swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips, as carefully as he possibly could. He barely moved. His skin was as icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on me was surprisingly warm- like I had been burned and just wasn't feeling the pain yet.

He turned without a word and vanished down the hall.

I thought for a moment as he passed a window where a tiny strip of sun came peeking through the clouds that I saw a brief glimpse of white near his back, but he was gone too quickly for me to tell.

I walked into Gym lightheaded and wobbly. I drifted to the locker room, changing into a pair of shorts and a white T shirt. Reality came surging back when someone placed a racket in my hand. It wasn't heavy, but it felt very unsafe. I could see a few other students eyeing me as if I had been given a weapon of mass destruction- which, in my hands, it probably was. The couch ordered us to pair up.

Thankfully, some of Hayato's kindness still survived; he came to stand beside me.

"Want to be a team?" he asked.

"Thanks, Hayato- you don't have to do this." I smiled apologetically.

"Nah, it's cool. I'll steer clear of that weapon of yours," he smiled. Sometimes it was just too easy to like Hayato.

The game didn't go so smoothly. Somehow, by means I have no idea how to explain, I managed to crack myself on the head and hit Hayato in the arm on the same swing. I spent the rest of the class in the back corner of the court, the racket held safely behind my back. Despite being hit by me, Hayato was pretty good; he won three our of four games singlehandedly. He gave me a high five, which I didn't deserve, when the couch blew the whistle at the end of class.

"So," he said walking beside me.

"Yeah?"

"You and Andersen, huh?" His tone was soft, like he hated discussing the topic.

I froze, and a small amount of anger surged through me. Damn you, Rei! "That's none of your business, Hayato," I whispered. I clenched my fist and thought of all the wicked ways I was going to murder Rei when I saw her.

"I don't like it," he said.

"You don't have to," I said with a defensive edge to my voice.

"He looks at you like you're something to eat, Judai!" He turned on me with a glare.

I choked back the sudden wave of hysterical laughter that wanted to break through. I failed slightly, a soft giggle escaping my lips. Hayato turned and glared at me, wondering if I was laughing at him or not. I shook my head to assure him that I wasn't.

I dressed quickly, something stronger than butterflies battling it out in my stomach. I was wondering if Johan would be waiting or if he had already taken off. What if he was waiting and his family was there? I felt a wave of terror. Did they know that I knew their secret? What were they going to do to me if they knew that I knew their secret? I wasn't worried about Jim, who had given me a thumbs up, but the other three? I wasn't so sure on them.

By the time I walked out of the gym, I was just about ready to walk straight home without even looking toward the parking lot. But my worried were unnecessary. Johan was waiting, leaning against the wall of the gym alone, his family nowhere in sight. As I walked to his side, I felt a wave of sudden relief.

"Hi," I said with a grin.

"Hello," he said, his answering smile brilliant as always. "How was Gym?"

I frowned a bit. "Fine," I lied.

"I see." Johan was unconvinced, I could tell that much. His eyes shifted focus and looked over my shoulder, narrowing. I glanced behind me to see Hayato's back as he walked away toward his car.

"What?" I demanded.

His eyes slid back to me, still tight and dark. "Maeda's starting to piss me off."

I froze, the sudden calm of my previous good mood gone again. "You weren't..." Johan turned his expression to me, curious. "Tell me you weren't listening again." I was horror-struck.

"How's your head, Judai?" he asked innocently.

"You're unbelievable, Andersen!" I turned with a huff and stormed into the general direction of the parking lot, though I still hadn't ruled out walking home by this point.

"Judai, wait!"

He kept up with me easily.

"You're the one who said I'd never seen you in Gym- it made me curious." He didn't sound like he was trying to apologize, so I just huffed again, a bit louder this time to let him know my frustration, and continued to ignore him.

We walked in silence- a furious, embarrassed silence on my part- to his car. But I had to stop a few steps away- a crowd of people, all boys, were surrounding it. Then I realized they weren't surrounding the Volvo, they were actually circled around Asuka's red convertible, unmistakable lust in their eyes. None of them even looked as Johan slid between them to open his door. I climbed quickly into the passenger seat, still unoticed by the sea of boys.

"Ostentatious," he muttered.

"What kind of car is that?" I asked.

"An M3."

"Johan, I don't speak Car and Driver. Translate."

"It's a BMW." He rolled his eyes, not looking at me, trying to back out without hitting any of the boys surrounding Asuka's car.

I nodded- I'd heard of that one.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked as we backed out.

"Oh, big time."

He sighed dramatically. "Will you forgive me if I apologize?"

I considered it for a moment. "Maybe... if you mean it. And if you promise never to do it again. Then, if you do that, I may be perseuaded to forgive you." I frowned and stared at his ever-changing expression.

His eyes were suddenly dark again. "How about if I mean it, and I agree to let you drive on Saturday?"

"Deal." It was probably the best offer I'd get.

"Then I'm incredibly sorry I upset you, Judai." His eyes burned with intensity, meaning he was telling the truth- and then he flashed me a grin that made his expression turn playful without warning. "And I'll be on your doorstep bright and early Saturday morning, okay?"

I turned to stare at him. "And how will that help with the Nerigon situation if there's an unexplained Volvo sitting in the driveway?"

"Maybe he'll think Santa brought it early?"

"Ha ha."

He smiled and turned to me. "Don't worry- I wasn't planning on bringing a car."

"Then how the-"

He cut me off. "Don't worry about it, Judai. I'll be there, no car."

I let it go, since I had a more pressing question. "So, tell me, Johan, has it been later yet?"

He frowned. "I guess."

He stopped the car. I looked up, surprised, though I probably shouldn't have been. We were sitting out in front of Nerigon's house. It was easier to ride with Johan if I only looked when he stopped. Otherwise I might go into cardiac arrest. When I looked back at him, his eyes were locked on me, measuring and cautious.

"You want to know why you can't see me hunt?" He seemed solemn, but there was dark humor in his eyes.

"Well, I mostly want an explanation for your reaction," I said.

"Did I frighten you?"

"Nope," I lied.

He didn't believe me. "I apologize for scaring you." He smiled and I could see the humor in his eyes. Then his expression darkened, all traces of joking lost. "It was just the very thought of you being there, while we hunted, it..." He frowned and looked away. His jaw tightened and I thought he was going to bite through his lip.

"That would be bad?" I guessed.

He spoke through clenched teeth. "Most definitely."

"Because...?"

Johan took a deep breath and stared through the windshield at the thick, rolling clouds. As a bit of sun peeked through, I thought I was his eyes flash bright crimson, like the light of a hearth, but there was nothing there. They were still the same old emerald-and-topaz color that I had come to know and love.

"When my kind hunts," Johan spoke softly, unwillingly. "we give ourselves over to our senses... We're not able to think of what... or who... we're attacking, I guess is what I'm trying to say. Our sense of smell takes over the most. Judai, if you were anywhere near me when I lost control like that, I don't know what I'd..." He shook his head and covered his eyes with his pale hand. I resisted the urge to reach over and pat his shoulder to comfort him.

I expected the swift flash of his eyes to pick up my hidden emotions ad the reaction that followed. I wanted to give nothing away.

But our eyes held, and the silenced deepened- and changed. Something like the flickers of the electricity I'd felt this afternoon started to build up again as he gazed into my eyes. He reached a hand up, as if to pat me on the head, but he stopped. It wasn't until I saw his eyes widen that I realized I had forgotten to breathe. I took in a deep breath and coughed, covering my mouth with my hands.

"Ah, damn!" I groaned, glaring at the smirk he was trying to hide. "Friggen vampire! Keeping me from breathin'!"

Johan smiled softly and looked back out the windshield. "Judai, you're getting drunk off my presence, and that's not healthy for you. I think it's time you went inside."

I opened the door, and the sudden wave of cold managed to remind me that I needed to breathe to live. Afraid that my clumsiness would get the better of me, not just because of Johan's presence, but because I was a natural at the Yuki-Trip, I stepped carefully from the car and made sure to watch where I was stepping, as to not hit ice and go face-first, especially not with Johan watching. The whir of the automatic window on Johan's Volvo made me turn around.

"Judai?" he called, leaning forward with a faint smile on his lips.

"What's up?"

"Tomorrow, it's my turn."

"For what?"

His smile broaded, if that were even possible by this point. "To ask the questions, my silly boy."

And then he was gone, the silver car speeding down the street and disappearing around the corner. I smiled as I walked to the house, but then, with Johan out of sight, my clumsiness decided to find me a nice patch of black ice to go tumbling over(2).

"Wah!" I hit the ground, managing to save myself from hitting my face by using my hands.

Laying there o the ground, the only thing keeping me from being pissed at karma and at the forces of Fate that gave me such horrible balance was that it was clear that Johan wanted to see me tomorrow.

That night, he starred in my dreams again. This time, the atmosphere was different, and unlike the strange... uh... sex dream I'd had with him a few weeks back, this dream was calmer. We were standing by the ocean, the sun glittering. But sadly, whe I turned to see what Johan looked like in the sun, my alarm buzzed and I woke up.

I made certain to chuck the clock across the room.

When I fully woke up, I was groggy, but happy. I put on my red sweater and a pair of inescapable jeans, dreaming of sleeveless shirts and shorts, though it wouldn't be practical in the winter. Breakfast was simple; I ate cereal while Nerigon made eggs for himself. He maaged to do it without frying himself! I've never been so proud before!

"You going to the dance, Ju?" called Nerigon as he got ready for work.

"Nah, I'm heading to Dragor, remember?" I answered.

"Right. Going with anyone?" he asked.

I froze. Shit! I didn't want to admit to him that Johan had asked me to go, but I couldn't just lie to Nerigon. "Uh, possibly. A friend wants to go. He might change his mind, though." It wasn't lying, it was true.

"Oh, okay then."

Nerigon left then, with a goodbye wave, and then I went upstairs and brushed my teeth. As I heard the cruiser leave, it was mere seconds before I looked out and saw Johan's Volvo sitting in the driveway. I bounded down the stairs, careful not to take another Yuki-Trip, and then moved out the front door with the same amount of ease.

He waited in the car, not appearing to watch as I opened the front door and walked outside. I almost ran to his car, but suddenly stopped, a look of shock on my face.

He must've seen it; is expression became concerned.

He rolled down the window. "Judai?"

"Walk, don't run," I scolded myself, placing my foot forward gently.

Johan sighed and rolled is eyes. I walked to the passenger seat carefully and shyly opened it. He was smiling now, relaxed- and, as usual, as cute and as lovley as any Greek god.

"Good morning." His voice was soft and silky. "How are you?"

"Good, or, near to good, I guess," I said. "I almost took another spill."

Johan blinked. "Another?"

I flinched; no point in trying to lie now, Judai. "Uh... yeah, yesterday. Right after you turned the corner." As I expected, his expression flared and his hands tightened on the steering wheel.

But then he sighed and said, "You're so reckless."

"What'd you do last night?" I asked.

"Ah!" He chuckled and grinned evilly at me. "Not a chance. It's my day to ask questions."

"Right." I frowned and looked him up and down, waiting to see what question he was going to spring on me first. "So, what exactly do you want to know, Johan?"

He turned his gaze to me. "Favorite color, what is it?"

I blinked. "It changes."

He frowned and gave me a slightly confused frown. "It can?"

"Yeah, it's not a crime."

He exhaled, an unnessecary action for him, and looked at me again. "Okay then. What's your favorite color today?"

I tapped my chin in thought, though said action really doesn't help one with thought proccess. "I guess it's have to be red today. It usually is," I told him with a casual shrug.

Johan flinched and looked at me, his eyes glazed by slight fear. "Why red?"

I shrugged. "It's my usual favorite color. It reminds me of the sun and the color of the sand back in Ribe."

Johan exhaled again, this time in relief. "Oh, thank goodness," he whispered. I don't know if he meant for me to hear it, but I knew why he acted the way he did. He must've thought that I liked red because of the whole vampire thing. He must've thought that I was accomidating the whole "lust for blood" interest.

"We were at school by now.

He turned back to me as we pulled into a parking space.

"What are you playing in your CD player right now?" he asked.

"Uh, Three Days Grace, I think," I answered promptly.

Johan blinked in suprise, and then he tried to hide his smile.

It continued like that for the rest of the day. While he walked me to English, when he met me after Spanish, all through the lunch hour, he asked me little questions. Movies I liked, ones I didn't and why, the few places I'd been and where I wanted to go and why, books and manga that I liked and why I liked them- he was very interested in books.

I couldn't remember the last time I talked so much. I felt like I was boring him, but he always looked interested. Most of his questions were easy, but then he asked a few that made me blush, and he asked even more.

Such as the time when he asked me what my favorite gemstone was and I answered emerald without thinking. He'd been flinging questions at me at such a speed that I felt like I was at an interview. My face reddened because, until recently, my favorite gemstone had been a ruby, just on account of the fact that it was red. It was easy to remember why I liked the gemstone emerald now. Ruby was still one of my favorites, but it was neck and neck with emerald. And as usual, Johan wouldn't stop asking me why I was embarrassed.

"Tell me," he commanded.

"It matches your eyes," I answered with an agitated sigh. "Though it's neck and neck with ruby, my original favorite."

His pause was very short.

"What's your favorite flower?" he asked.

Biology was complicated, again. Johan continued to fire questions up until Mr. Daitokuji walked into the room. As he continued the lesson, I noticed that Johan moved to hold my hand again. His ice-cold hands made me shiver, but when he placed my hand near his heart again, I was shocked back by the lack of heartbeat I felt. Class continued, and when it finally ended, I saw that Johan had his eyes closed, still holding my hand to his chest, as if he hadn't noticed that class ended.

He let go of my hand and rose in silence, waiting for me.

We walked to gym in silence like before, and like yesterday, he reached out with the back of his hand and brushed across my cheek before he took off down the hall and vanished into the crowd.

Gym went by fast. Hayato joked with me, so I knew he had forgiven me.

When it ended, I changed slowly, wanting to give myself some time to prepare for Johan's questions. The pressure made me clumsier than most of my other days, but when I stumbled out the door, I smiled widely when I spotted him waiting for me. He grinned at my goofy grin and held out his hand for me to take.

His questions were different now, harder to answer quickly.

He wanted to know what I missed about Ribe, insisting on a few descriptions of the places I use to go and the friends I use to have. He seemed a bit shocked when I said I didn't have any friends in Ribe. We sat in front of Nerigon's house for hours, as the sky darkened and the air became as cold as Johan was.

"You done?" I asked when he paused suddenly.

"No, but your father will be home soon," he answered.

"Nerigon!" I suddenly remembered that my father would be home soon. I looked out the window at the dark sky and was shocked that so much time had passed since he'd started asking me questions. "What time is it?" I wondered out loud, still amazed by how much time had passed since we'd arrived outside my house.

"It's twilight," Johan murmured, looking out at the horizon.

"Is it?" I asked.

"Mm." He turned and locked eyes with me. "It's the safest time of day for us. The sun's not out, but the darkness hasn't truly arrived."

"I like night," I said. "Without it, there'd be no stars."

Johan laughed and looked back out the windshield. "Well, you'd better go. Nerigon'll be here soon, and I doubt you wanna explain why you're still out here with a boy, right?" His smile was playing, but it still made me blush.

He reached out to open my door, but stopped abruptly.

"Oh no..."

"What is it?" I looked over; his eyes were dark and his jaw was clenched.

He glanced at me for a quick moment. "Another problem," he said with a snarl in his voice.

He flung the car door open in a matter of minutes, almost wrenching it from its hinges. The flash of headlights came from behind us, and Johan gave it a wicked glare, one that would make weaker men start to tremble with fear. I looked. The car was black, one that looked familiar, but I don't remember when I'd seen it.

"Nerigon's coming," Johan whispered, still glaring at the black car.

I leaped out of the car, whispered a quick goodbye, and then turned to continue walking. Johab flashed me a concerned gaze, started to speak, and then sighed and revved the engine.

The Volvo was gone in a matter of seconds.

"Hey, Judai!" called a familiar voice from the little black car.

"Manjoume?" I asked, squinting through the rain.

Nerigon pulled into the driveway moments later, his lights shining on the car's occupants and me. Manjoume was already climbing out, his grin even visible in the darkness. The other man in the car was much older, and much more memorable- he had a wide-set face and long, wispy black hair thayt framed around his wrinkles. His black eyes shone on me, and the edges of a smile played with his lips when he looked back at his friend, my father. I knew this man, I'd know him anywhere. Jun Manjoume's father, Ulric Manjoume.

Ulric looked where Johan's Volvo had once been, narrowed his eyes, glanced at me, and then his eyes widened even farther. He seemed scared, no... he seemed horryfied. He was even shaking his head slowly.

Another problem, Johan had said.

Ulric stared at me with intense black eyes, his body shaking. Had Ulric recognized Johan so easily? Had he been able to tell what he was, that he wasn't human? Did he really know the stories about his ancestors and the vampires?

The look in his eyes was clear. Yes. He did.

Me: Uh-oh! Ulric Manjoume's knows about Johan! (1) I just had to add this scene, I wanted to make something like this happen! (2) Oh, Judai, you sweet, lovable klutz!

Lucy: But why exactly does he seem so freaked?

Me: And what will our poor klutzy Judai do now that he knows that Ulric knows what Johan is?

Lucy: Please review and we shall update soon!