6. Encounters
For the third time since they'd departed from the Moon dormitories Mitsuki found herself quickening her footsteps as Kain, leading them down a long, archaic styled bridge, lengthened his stride once more. The additional inch and half, though a minor change in length, made all the difference in the world as Mitsuki, remaining nearly a foot shorter than Kain, was forced into a brisk pace. Other than the sound of their hollow footsteps echoing along the cement, mingled with Mitsuki's short breaths, the trio remained otherwise silent. Despite Kain's efforts to get them to class on time, the long delays had cost him precious minutes and she'd become personally aware of his anxiety when he had reached over and nearly trapped her skirt between the door and the frame after slamming it behind her in haste.
"I'll be impressed if we can catch even the last bit of class," she had heard him mutter as he ushered them from the building with a curt sweep of his hand.
As they continued along Mitsuki watched him in concern, noticing the stiff upset in his shoulders. Though she understood the significance behind attending school, she questioned why Kain's attitude was so wrought with worry, his eyebrows narrowed in set determination. Escorting her to class had transformed into more of a duty than simple good will and Mitsuki could only wonder who was the one responsible for Kain's sullen attitude.
Nimble fingers slipped beneath her chin from behind and the warm touch cut through her puzzlement as Tsukutane appeared by her side. He didn't seem aware of the change in pace as his long legs maintained him easily along, and even if he had noticed, there was no sign that it bothered him. "Let me see for a moment – ah, no. Keep walking," he instructed, forcing her head gently to the side when she began to turn to him in question. His voice sounded thoughtful, like he were speaking more to himself. "I just have to check something." Awkwardly, Mitsuki did as she was told, watching Tsukutane stare at something fixedly on her person when she noticed something large loom out of the corner of her eye. Though it was still some distance away, Mitsuki was able to recognize what she presumed to be Cross Academy, the outline of its impressive structure etched by the rising moon. She moved her head just as Tsukutane released her and gazed at the building in wonderment.
The sheer size of it was almost overwhelming as Mitsuki let her eyes wander along the classic Gothic masonry. Towering columns and spirals surrounded the building, the stonework appearing black and foreboding as it reached high into the twilight. Delicate archways framed the floor to ceiling windows along each of the floors, allowing spectators from the inside a view of the expansive campus. As they continued to approach the school Mitsuki managed to pick out the slight figures of students as they passed along the translucent glass, their slender outlines ghosting in and out of view.
Her spectacle was abruptly cut short, Tsukutane tugging at the hem of her sleeve, as Kain led them beneath a small bell tower, ignoring the dour looking figure seated inside who, upon their arrival, began to tally their entrance on a pile of documents. The dark hood of his cloak hid his face from view and even when Mitsuki threw him a wandering gaze as they passed, he stooped lower, avoiding any chance of exposure.
When they arrived on the other side Mitsuki saw just how close they were to class and her chest tightened, anxious. Beside her Tsukutane was running a hand down the front of his uniform with a satisfied smile. Whatever he'd compared on her uniform to his had apparently pleased him.
"All set," he announced with a sigh and then looked at her, throwing his hands out in flourish, "I look like a complete student now." Contrast to Kain's rigid demeanor and Mitsuki's own nervousness, Tsukutane appeared completely relaxed, almost unconcerned about the prospects of school. His attitude was more suited for a picnic set on the brightest of days - not to a class that was completely foreign to them. The most pressing concern of his had arrived as a piece of metal and a streak of red silk, which, after a moment of fixed concentration, was now the tie resting comfortably beneath his chin.
When he received nothing more than a small smile from Mitsuki, his eyes lost some of their animation and flicked away to rest on the row of torches lined along the bridge's interior walls ."The amount of effort we put into trying to appear human always amazes me," Tsukutane commented to himself, noting the dull line of firelight. "How...amusing." In a sweeping gesture that spoke of no subtly, he waved a hand low in the air, his fingers curling smoothly toward him as if he could pull the fire to his breast. The wind stilled and about them came the delicate sound of breaking crystal, and suddenly the column of torch lights went out, casting the right side of the bridge into darkness.
The disturbance seemed to break Kain of his demanding pace as he stopped and turned to the pair. "Hey," he began but Mitsuki, aware Tsukutane's actions, was already resting a warning hand along his arm.
"Those are not intended for us," she insisted softly. "There might be Day time students roaming about."
He spared a brief smile toward the results of his actions, then looked at her. "At this hour, Mitsuki?" he replied calmly, turning a doubtful eye to her. "It's against protocol." Tsukutane moved his hand again, ready to douse the other side. He got halfway through the same motion, eying the left side of the bridge, when a voice cut through the air, halting Tsukutane's hand midway.
"So is using your powers on school ground unless instructed otherwise," it said, and then with deliberate force it added, "Kain."
The addressed vampire, unable to fully restrain the look of dismay that crossed his face as he recognized the voice, cast his eyes toward the exhausted torch lights. Immediately the wicks burned to life and the bridge returned to a balanced lighting, revealing two figures standing opposite the small group.
Mitsuki's breath caught as Kaname seeped into view, his dark eyes regarding them in solemn silence. The sight of him suddenly made Mitsuki greatly aware that, once again, she had no recollection of this morning's events nor of those in the previous nights. What had happened? It felt like a dim fog blocked any chance of recalling any memories before her introductions to Kain. Dimly, she remembered seeing Kaname atop a dully lit dais, a girl with honest brown eyes beside him, but when she tried to remember anything past that the images flooded together into one undistinguished blur that left her dizzy. Faint screams touched her mind, startling her.
It was only after a moment did she notice Ichijou standing behind Kaname, a slim clip board clasped to himself. It seemed he had been watching her, and when he finally caught her eye he gave her a slight smile. Mitsuki tilted her head in response - had there been a light of worry in his gaze, or had she been imagining it?
Tsukutane, unacquainted to either of them, lowered his hand slowly.
A tight breath drawn in by Kain caught Mitsuki's attention as she glanced at him. Though he held himself well, she saw how rigid his form had gone, every muscle in his body tight with tension. Occasionally his hands flexed into slow fists, tensing and relaxing methodically, as if the gesture calmed him. Comprehension filled her face as she realized who had been the reason for Kain's adamant behavior.
Realizing the depths of his mistake, Kain, with a sense of dread, stepped forward uneasily, eyes stealing to the floor to avoid Kaname's direct gaze. "Dorm Leader Kuran…" he began.
"You're late," the Pureblood stated flatly and the taller vampire visibly withdrew from the reprimand in his voice. "The second half of class is nearly over." Even though the volume of his voice was in speaking measures, it almost seemed to whip out and strike at Kain, the vicious lash forcing the other vampire to bend his head in submission. Tension fell on the vampires as Kaname glowered at Kain without remorse; though no breeze passed through, the flames beside them wavered unsteadily in unison, betraying the nerves of the condemned vampire. Ichijou, remaining silent, spared a remorseful gaze at his classmate while Tsukutane appeared to be measuring the pair in his own quiet thoughts. Then Mitsuki stepped forward.
"There was a delay."
Startled by her own words, she pressed the back of one hand to her mouth in disbelief, as if she could draw the outburst back in. But Kaname was already looking at her, and the imposing gaze forced her to continue. "I forgot my books upstairs," she managed to say, "and Kain-senpai went to retrieve them..." And a shadow, a frightening shadow.
She faltered at the small voice in her head and her words hung still in the air, suddenly seized by the intense look that entered Kaname's face. It was almost if he'd caught the following thought. Something tiny fluttered past him then, numbing her initial fear. Its soft pink hue was almost indiscernible even to her enhanced vision as Mitsuki, with some mild fascination, watched a single cherry blossom petal caress his cheek. No one seemed to notice the intrusion except her - and then, as it ebbed into nonexistence, she realized why.
The petal was a part of her past.
Something tugged inside her chest at the faint recognition, distracting her enough to finally look away from Kaname. Dully, she realized someone was speaking and pulling out of her reverie she turned to the voice. She didn't know at what time Kaname had shifted his gaze away.
"...partially my fault," Tsukutane was saying. Having remained decidedly unresponsive till now, he had a hand held up, the gesture nonchalant as if to signify his presence. "I encouraged for part of the delay when I ran into these two," he admitted. His luminescent green gaze roamed over the pair in curiosity as he spoke, and when he locked eyes with Kaname, he fought a wry twitch of amusement from surfacing. Tsukutane recognized him for what he was automatically.
Shaping his lips into a small 'O' of acknowledgment, he bent low at the waist briefly and then straightened. "I did not know one of such caliber stood before me," he mused, "Kaname Kuran." Although he had never met him in person nor seen a picture of Kaname Kuran, Tsukutane had been informed well enough before his arrival at Cross Academy to distinguish the vampire as a Pureblood. More specifically, Tsukutane had grown increasingly aware of the cold pressure surrounding him the instant the two had appeared; even now he could feel the strange fingers of power probing the surface of his skin, as if it were trying to measure the extent of his existence. The metaphysical touch was not the most pleasant of experiences and it made his lips tighten into a humorless grin.
The pressure tightened, irked by Tsukutane's expression.
"Kaname." It was Ichijou, stepping forward and laying a light hand on his companion. As the only one who had escaped the attention of the dogmatic Pureblood, Ichijou appeared mildly relaxed as he motioned with his free hand, the clip board still in possession. "Kain brought her as you asked," he reasoned gently, and briefly his gaze settled on Tsukutane before flicking away. "Along with another student." Kaname's eyes shifted to the blond vampire, and Ichijou felt him stiffen ever so slightly beneath his fingers. Then with a soft exhale audible only to Ichijou, he relaxed and Tsukutane felt the power slid from him like a receding wave.
Ichijou turned his attention to Kain, still standing somewhat stiffly with the leather texts in a steely grip. "Akatsuki-kun," Ichijou said as Kaname shrugged his hand away, "you can head to class now and catch what you can. I'll take Mitsuki's books." With a look of surprise that he quickly dismissed, Kain approached the blond Noble blood, handing over the bound books in slight gratification.
"Thank you." Ichijou smiled as Kain passed but whether it was due to the books or for taking care of his cousin or both, he didn't know, and gave a small nod of assurance. The last thing Mitsuki saw of Kain as he continued ahead was him lifting a large hand to scratch at his unruly, bright curls, his shoulders heaving with relief as the shadows took him.
Tsukutane was staring in the direction Kain had disappeared in, bending a long index finger and pressing it to his bottom lip. "He was starting to grow on me," he mused thoughtfully, mouth quirked to the side in a playful jest. Then his eyes, which were bright despite the dim lighting, flashed to Mitsuki. "Should we follow?" he asked and started after Kain but Ichijou held a hand before him, halting his progress of five steps.
"Unlike my cousin standing unobtrusively behind you, I'm afraid you're not a familiar face around here," the Noble blood observed lightly. "I have some questions for you, if you may." Ichijou beckoned for him to stand to the side, to which Tsukutane obliged after only a short pause. Despite Ichijou's calm proposition, Tsukutane detected something forced in his voice, something noticeably dark that so belied his pleasant nature it drew him short in partial confusion. Tsukutane looked to Mitsuki in question but found himself gazing at the backside of the Pureblood; he hadn' t even noticed Kaname move.
Mitsuki, who had been about to follow after Tsukutane, was abruptly pulled short in surprise when Kaname swept in front of her, intercepting himself between her and Tsukutane. "Kaname-senpai...?" she whispered, watching as he brushed a hand to the side, a motion that asked her to follow.
"I'll escort you the rest of the way, Mitsuki," he murmured in reply to her distant whisper. "It would be rude to leave a lady by herself, unattended." She hesitated, staring at him with bewildered eyes, and only after a slight nod did she start forward, gliding by Tsukutane. She tried catching his eye but Kaname, once more, interposed himself fluidly in the way, a dark wall that blocked any chance of reaching him. When she opened her mouth to protest, he touched a hand to the small of her back and obediently her eyes straightened onto the unfamiliar path before her, the thoughts sliding from her suddenly hollow mind like water.
As Kaname guided her along Mitsuki felt the velvety caress of a petal brush skirt across her cheek, and she bent her head and tried not to cry.
While Ichijou stood before him, Tsukutane reigned in his feelings of disbelief and bitterness, carefully masking his confusion into an expression of apathy as he watched Mitsuki and Kaname pass in silence. He had a distinct notion that there was a greater reason for Kaname's desire to attend Mitsuki's side, as if he'been waiting patiently to gain a moment of privacy with her. It wasn' t until the two had disappeared did Ichijou drop his hand, Tsukutane turning aside his head, his mouth working like he'd tasted something sour.
When he raised his eyes it was to find Ichijou advancing toward him, closing the distance that separated them, and although the pace appeared placate and restrained, Tsukutane noticed the hard glint in the Noble blood's eyes. 'Seems like my imagination was wrong,' Tsukutane determined with grim satisfaction as Ichijou stopped before him.
His voice was low and demanding, contrasting his mild looking appearance that seemed otherwise relaxed aside from the tightness in his jaw. "Why have you returned to Mitsuki, Tsukutane Koegi?"
A/N : I've added pictures of Mitsuki and Tsukutane on my profile. Mitsuki is spot on but I have to work on Tsukutane; I couldn't get his eyes right so I looked at a picture of Ikuto Tsukiyomi from Shugo Chara as a reference. The similarity in the eye shape bothers me so I'll have to work on that more. I apologize for the lack in shade and color; I've never been able to master those techniques. *sigh*