Chapter 9

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Classes were already done by the time he finally left Kaien's office. Cradling Cerberus in his arms, Vincent quickly made his way along the path leading to the dorms, not wanting to be seen with his gun in his arms.

It had surprised him how familiar the gun was to him. As soon as he had lifted it, he knew exactly how to check the triple barrels, locking and relocking them, checking the aim of the scope, and checking the safety and trigger. It felt… right… in his hands, and the thought worried him.

He didn't know what he would need such a gun for- and it left him wondering even more what his past had been like. What he had been in his past, what he had done. So many questions that he didn't know would ever be answered, about his past, himself, about everything.

Approaching the gates, he realized the security guard was going to have a fit if he saw him with Cerberus. Thinking quickly, he unbuttoned his jacket, throwing it over his left shoulder, and hefting Cerberus into his left arm under the jacket, effectively hiding it. It wasn't the best cover- up, but hopefully it would work.

Which it did. The security guard gave him no trouble, just looked strangely at the sight of his jacket off- it was chilly, but he didn't say anything. He simply unlocked the door for Vincent, nodding as he thanked him. It was only polite, after all.

The dorms were warm, and served to get rid of the chill he had gotten after taking his coat off. Peering around the room, he was relieved to see none of the students around- he hoped they were all in the library. Vincent crept up the stairs quietly, creeping as silently as possible by the library when he heard voices in it.

"Somehow, I doubt that." Ruka. The girl who had smirked at his last name and mentioned something about tomorrow…

"We're just a study group anyway." A chuckle came after the statement, and Vincent heard that it was Takuma. Good. I think they're all in there. A part of him wondered what they were talking about in there, but pushing the feeling away, he continued on. It wasn't as if he could show up with a gun in his hand.

He made his way down the hall, fumbling one- handedly in his pockets for the key, feeling triumphant when he finally found it, pulling it out, and unlocking his door. Replacing the key, he walked inside, sighing in relief as he closed the door firmly.

Letting his jacket fall to the floor, he went over to his bed, sitting down heavily on it. He hadn't really realized how tired he was. He gazed down at the gun in his hands, running his fingers over the intricate carvings in the metal- the swirls and curlicues, and the three dog heads on each of the barrels.

Cerberus… he wondered what came first- the carving, or the idea with the name?

It wasn't loaded, but he clicked the safety on anyway, just to be safe, and getting up, knelt down to lift up the dust ruffle. He gently slid Cerberus under the bed, replacing the dust ruffle, smoothing it back into place.

Vincent stood up, absentmindedly brushing the dust off his uniform before looking down as he realized what he was doing. With a sigh, he reached up, unbuttoning the white vest and black shirt, sliding them off.

Stretching he reached back to rub his shoulders, his hands sliding between his shoulder blades to ease out any stiffness while rolling his shoulders. He froze though, when his hands brushed against a patch of skin that felt different than the rest of skin in texture, his sensitive fingertips picking up the difference.

Brows furrowing, he turned and strode over to the mirror across from his bed, facing away from it. He twisted his torso around in a flexible movement to see what was on his back, brushing his hair over his shoulder to get a better look.

Vincent's eyes widened as he saw the tattoo, trembling fingers coming up to brush against it.

A tattoo. When the hell had he gotten a tattoo? Was he even of a legal age to get one?

He frowned as he read the words written in a language he recognized as Latin. Some buried knowledge surfaced, and he instantly translated the words, mouthing them to himself. He understood the words, but recognized no meaning behind them.

"God, this sucks!" He turned back around, facing the right way, towards the mirror, and simply looked at himself.

Pale skin, bloodred eyes, and long black hair.

Just who am I…? I'm not even sure anymore-everything is gone.

For a brief moment, he felt envy towards the other students who could remember their childhood, their parents, their friends, before letting the emotion go with a sigh. There was no use getting angry over something like that. Still… he gave another look at his impassive face.

He closed his eyes, comparing them to the few men he'd seen, such as Kaien Cross, and the few Day Class males he had seen strolling around as he and his fellow students walked to class. They had all been some shade of blonde, or dark brunette, even a few redheads, and many with black hair. Although all the boy's hair was either shoulder length or shorter, not falling down their backs, like his own was.

The rest of the Night Class had pale skin, but it didn't look so odd on them, with their mostly light colored hair. Kaname was the one with the darkest hair out of the group, but still, his white skin seemed to fit him. On Vincent, it just seemed so… drastic. And red eyes… well, that was a given.

Of course, he wasn't the only one with oddly colored eyes… Thoughts of Zero's amethyst eyes flashed to mind, and he sneered at his reflection.

At least the prefect's eyes weren't the color of some monster or vampire out of a horror flick. They were actually a beautiful shade of purple, something only read about in fantasy stories, with fictional, idealized characters.

Leaning in closer, he poked at his cheekbones, stretching the skin. He hadn't really had time to examine his features before, not like this. His thin eyebrows furrowed as he pondered what he saw. How did others see him?

Closing his eyes, he brought up the faces of a few others in the Night Class. Akatsuki, Takuma, and Senri were the ones he thought of, and he mentally compared his features to theirs, before opening his eyes back up, and huffing. It was no use- not remembering anything except from a few days ago, when he woke up in the infirmary, didn't give him a whole lot of material to work with.

Determined, though, he crossed his arms, eyes raking over his body. He was thin, although didn't think he was scrawny. It just sounded too… demeaning. He wasn't muscular like Akatsuki was, but it didn't mean he was little. Perhaps… just willowy?

He nodded. Yes, since he couldn't think of a better word, that's what he'd refer to himself as. His eyes flicked up to his face again, and he just shook his head. Maybe… he'd ask Takuma what he thought-

A knock at the door startled him from his thoughts, and not wanting to get caught in front of the mirror, and without a shirt on no less, he threw himself towards where he had discarded his shirt, quickly donning it. "What is it?" he called, flicking the long strands of hair out of his collar.

A muffled voice came through the thick doors. "We noticed you didn't eat much, so I decided to bring you up a late morning- or early- meal."

Well, speak of the devil. He's wanted to ask Takuma something, and he appeared. Well, it was most likely Takuma, since the kind blonde had brought him up food before. Crossing over to the doors, he spoke as he opened them up. "Takuma! I'm glad you're here! I just wanted to ask… you… a question…" Vincent trailed off as he saw that it wasn't Takuma, but a certain brunette Dorm Leader instead, holding a plate. "Oh! I'm sorry!"

Kaname raised an eyebrow, noticing the ravenette's slightly disheveled state. "Were you expecting Takuma?"

"No!" Vincent said. "It's just... he brought me food up here last item, so I assumed that it was him." He frowned at the thought. "You guys don't have to keep bringing me up food; I won't waste away."

Kaname smiled, a thought occurring to him. "No, I don't expect you will. It will take more to kill you than that, since you survived a fall that would kill most others."

"Yes, I guess you're right."

There was a pause, and Kaname peered inside the room. "May I come in?"

"Oh!" Vincent stepped aside, holding the door open. "Of course."

Kaname stepped through the doorway, his eyes scanning the room to take in Vincent's room, pristine except for the jacket on the floor. Had Vincent just been getting undressed so he could sleep?" I'm sorry, was I disturbing you from your rest?"

"No." Vincent took the plate from Kaname's hands, going over to the table where he and Takuma had sat earlier.

"Are you sure? At the door, you were wanting to ask Takuma about something- may I enquire as to what it was?" he asked as he pulled out a chair to take a seat. He was curious about what Vincent needed to ask the blonde. He hadn't thought that they were that close.

Vincent paused in removing the top cover for the plate. He glanced down, and Kaname could see a faint tinge of pink coming to the other boy's cheeks. It made his curiosity flare up even further, and confused him. Was it something personal that he wanted to ask?

"I was curious… I wanted to ask Takuma how others saw me."

How others saw him? "What do you mean?"

Sighing, Vincent sat down, resting his head on his hands, elbows propped onto his knees. "Kaname- sama… I woke up just a few days ago, not knowing where I was, who I was, or much less what I sounded or looked like. I'm still not sure…" he trailed off, appearing to try to figure out how to word his next sentence. "Tonight, when that girl- Rozu-chan- gave me that rose… I want to know why." His gazed up at Kaname, slight confusion in his red eyes. "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"I think so." Well, he did. He could understand Vincent's insecurity, not remembering any interaction with people before the time that he woke up. He couldn't see himself as others saw him, as he had no way to compare.

Kaname sat back, crossing his legs. "You want to know… if others find you attractive?"

Vincent nodded, tilting his head. "I look in the mirror, and I see me." He smiled a bit wryly, and added, "Well, with the added bonus of creepy red eyes, but still," his brows drew together, "I don't know how other people judge one another. It must have been something that I lost in the fall."

Oh. He wanted to know if… Kaname nodded. "Let me help you, then." Without thinking, he leaned forward across the table, and cupped Vincent's face in his hands, before he could think it through. He froze, though, as he realized what he was doing. Shit… what if he takes offense…?

There was no sign that Vincent did find it offensive, just a small nod that gave Kaname enough reassurance to continue.

He examined Vincent's face intensely, turning it from side to side. Vincent was quiet, although he did get a bit pink in the cheeks from the close proximity. Poor boy- he didn't remember what close contact felt like either, Kaname would guess.

Taking his time to examine Vincent's face, he scanned his eyes over the large, slightly uptilted eyes- almost exotic-looking, he thought- high cheekbones, full lips, and pointed chin. Nodding once to himself, he drew back, releasing Vincent's face. "Don't doubt yourself, Vincent- you are attractive, more so than most people. Although, I have to say, you're more like Hanabusa in his looks- you're more pretty than traditionally handsome."

"I- what?"

"Your cheekbones are higher and sharper than those of normal men's, leaning more towards effeminate, along with your jawline and chin. The former is more slanted, lacking the squareness that many males possess, and your chin is pointed as well, instead of being square. It gives you a heart- shaped face, much like Hanabusa has- unfortunately, that face shape is most commonly found on females." His analysis was matter- of- fact, with no teasing whatsoever.

Vincent sat back, thinking about what Kaname had said. "So, I'm attractive in the female sense?"

"In a way, yes."

"Hn." Vincent didn't say anything more, simply leaned forward to uncover the plate, revealing some bacon and sausages.

"I hope they're to your liking." Vincent glanced up, a small smile crossing his face as he repeated what he had said to Takuma earlier.

"I can't remember if I do like them or not." Reaching out, he grasped one, brought it up to his mouth, and started eating. Kaname watched him, studying his features more closely. Just now, he had told Vincent what he thought, yes, but he hadn't really had time to get a good look.

His fingertips tingled as he remembered the smooth, soft feel of Vincent's skin, the warmth it had given off. His eyes narrowed as they roved across Vincent's face. After a few minutes, Kaname sat back, a disgruntled look on his face.

Vincent was… beautiful. One could tell that he was a male, but still. That beauty was still there. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he got a closer look, he realized it was true- and he had been blind not to notice it earlier. And for some reason, he found himself wanting to hold his face again, trace his fingers over Vincent's cheeks, his lips-

"Kaname?" He blinked and looked up, seeing Vincent just finishing off the last piece of bacon, wiping his hands clean on his napkin before dropping it back onto the plate. "I was wondering… could I study you in return?"

His eyes held only honest curiosity and innocence, with no underlying motive. At the thought of Vincent's hands on his face, he shivered slightly, but luckily, it went unnoticed by the ravenette. "I suppose..."

Vincent smiled, and now that he realized just how lovely Vincent was, and started truly paying attention, he felt his breath hitch at how it transformed his face. Standing up, Vincent came around the table, and stood in front of Kaname. He reached his hands out to grasp ahold of Kaname's face, much like Kaname had done to him.

The brunette's skin was smooth, with no uneven bumps marring it, Vincent found. Eyes drawing together in concentration, he ran his fingers over his face, pressing at a cheekbone, and tracing the line of his jaw.

"In regards to what you said about me earlier… I'd have to say that you're the opposite of me in some aspects," Vincent said quietly, concentrating. "Your chin is pointed like mine, but your jawline," he tapped the side of Kaname's jaw, "is straight and square. Your cheekbones aren't as pronounced as mine are," Vincent continued, comparing Kaname's face to his own in his mind's eye, "but they're wider, evening out your face. The eyes aren't as large as mine, but if they were, it would look odd. And, well," he gave a small laugh, "at least they're a normal color."

Kaname slid his eyes up Vincent's bent body to meet his exploring crimson ones. Vincent's hand drew away, but loath to get rid of the feeling of soft, gentle fingers on his face, he flashed his hand up and grabbed it, holding it in place.

Confusion bled into Vincent's eyes. "Kaname- sama?" Damn. He was going to ask about his actions- what was his excuse?

"There's no need to belittle your eyes, Vincent," Kaname said. "Personally, I find them to be a rather unique and lovely color." Well, it was true, after all. And if he leaned in and looked a little closer... he could see small, almost unnoticeable flecks of gold near the pupil, outlining it... They were entrancing.

Vincent was so close… at his proximity, his alluring smell was even stronger, and Kaname could see the pale curve of Vincent's neck, as if it were begging to be bitten. He felt his fangs begin to throb dully, and that snapped him out of the trance he had fallen into.

He cleared his throat, looking away from Vincent, who drew back, shaking his head as if to clear it.

What had that been about? The look in Kaname's eyes… it had almost been… hungry. The hand holding his loosened and Vincent reclaimed his hand, dropping it to his side. Did Kaname actually mean what he said about his eyes? Over the past few days he had thought they were unnatural, and odd. Kaname… he had called them lovely, though. Was it true?

Kaname didn't seem like one to lie, as polite and refined as he seemed. He smiled. "Thank you, Kaname- sama."

The brunette seemed to snap out of his thoughts. "For what?"

"For saying what you did about my eyes. And…earlier."

Kaname only hummed in response, sitting for a moment more before standing up, reaching over to gather Vincent's plate. "You're welcome, Vincent." Balancing the tray on his hand, he walked to the door, pausing before he opened it. "Vincent…"

"Yes, Kaname- sama?" Vincent was just turning to start unbuttoning his shirt once more, thinking Kaname was leaving. Apparently, he wanted to say something, though.

"You can drop the suffix- after all, in the state I found you in, and under the circumstances… you needn't be so formal with me." For some reason, it made him… displeased that Vincent felt the need to be so formal. He had found Vincent, carried him to the infirmary, had been the first one Vincent had seen after waking up. And… he wanted to hear his name without the formal suffix in the way.

It was odd thinking, he knew, but he couldn't help the way he felt. On some deeper level, he felt almost possessive of the boy he had found- perhaps it was just the primal instincts of the vampire, the beast inside of him, but he couldn't help the feelings from surfacing.

"…Kaname?" At the brunette's nod, Vincent smiled. "Alright."

It was nice, not having to be addressed so formally. All his life, as a pureblood, he had been pandered to, lavished with respect and fawning. The simple way Vincent treated him as a fellow student, a friend, without knowing his secret, or acting like the Day Class around him… it was refreshingly pleasant.

Even Yuuki, as dear to him as she was, was overly formal with him, as he had noticed in the evening.

Wait… Yuuki! Here he was, obsessing over the ravenette, when his mind should have been filled with thoughts of her! This Vincent was messing with his thoughts. He was thinking about Vincent's dark, delicious smell, his pale, long throat- Damn!

Why couldn't he be thinking of Yuuki?! He needed to leave, to think about these confusing feelings. "Vincent… well, I guess I should go. There's some… paperwork for me to do tonight, and I need to get it done."

"Oh!" Vincent turned to him, and Kaname's breath caught at the sigh t of seeing Vincent in a halfways unbuttoned shirt. "Alright. Thank you… Kaname, for both the food and your words tonight."

"You're welcome, Vincent." Damn, but it was hard to keep his eyes averted away from Vincent. "Goodbye." With that, he was out of the room, and into the hall, closing the door behind him. Letting out a deep breath, he reached up with his free hands to rub his temple.

What was wrong with him? "Why can't I keep my thoughts away from you…?" Kaname whispered to the empty hall, before gathering himself, and standing straight and impeccable once more, made his way down the hall.

Unknown to him, a chuckle was heard a few doors down, where a door was open just a crack, two eyes, each belonging to a different person peeked out. "Hear that? I think… that Kaname- sama is enamored with the little ravenette that he found."

"It would appear that way, wouldn't it, Taku?"

"Well, goddamn." Zero knelt in the woods, looking at the dent he had finally discovered after a few hours of wandering. He leaned over the person- sized pit, about 8 inches deep. There were no skid marks, or uneven displacement of the surrounding dirt- it was as if Vincent had fallen straight down from the sky.

Amethyst eyes wandering up, he searched the sky for any overhanging trees that the object of his thoughts could have fallen from. It was impossible, though- it was a clearing, and there were no trees or overhanging branches around the dent in the ground for yards.

An unnerved feeling settled in the pit of the prefect's stomach as he stood up, and walked around the dent, examining it from all sides. The force that Vincent must have had to hit the ground with to create this kind of dent… By all laws and rights of nature and physics, he should be dead.

And yet, he was here, the only memento of his fall a lack of memories, which also served to prevent anyone from knowing how this happened. And how he survived.

That was what baffled and disturbed Zero. Even a pureblood vampire wouldn't be able to walk away from this with no signs of injury.

Zero didn't doubt that Vincent had been here, however- his smell was all around and inside the dent, and even a little farther out, no doubt carried there by the dust motes that flew from the ground as he fell. Kuran's scent was here, too, and that made Zero narrow his eyes in suspicion. Was it simply coincidence that the pureblood's scent was here, where Vincent had fallen, and then later, the boy had turned up in the Night Class? And he and Kuran seemed close….

His eyes narrowed at the thought. The pureblood had a hand in this, he was certain- was involved in the mystery surrounding Vincent Valentine. And Cross…

He knew something, too. There was definitely something going on, and he wanted to know what.

Decision made, he nodded to himself and started to walk out of the woods, intent on getting back on patrol. He had lingered here long enough.

Still, he couldn't help but give a backwards glance at the spot where Vincent had fallen, shaking his head. Tomorrow night, he'd visit the Chairman, and if that yielded nothing, he'd just have to go see Kuran. Even if the thought of asking the pureblood for anything, even if it were as small as the answers to his questions nettled him, and made him grit his teeth.