Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the entire Monogatari family and friends and their stories.
A/N: Okay, sorry this took a while…computer problems….I have a new poll up asking your desired pairing for this story (not the story you want it to be, but the story it is) at this point. Also, the story of the Monogatari family I have said before will be four books. The first book is Kuro's story and the prologue has been posted and most recently the first official chapter on my LJ…the link is on my profile. Please read it and comment, anon comments are accepted.
Chapter 16
Wanting
Chi recognized the symptoms. He had seen the same thing in Kuro after tasting Hermione's blood. He also knew that if he tasted Hermione's blood he would not have the same reaction. Rui had already explained the effects of tasting the blood of the one you love. Chi watched Ayame; he was pale and excessively licked his lips as if trying to taste something not there. When they gathered in the large foyer to check everyone had returned safely, Ayame closed his eyes, looked away from Hermione and swallowed…hard. His chest heaved despite Ayame's desperate attempts to hide his sudden problem with catching his breath.
A delighted smile crossed Chi's lips and pleasure danced in his eyes. This meant two things.
Ayame had drunk from Hermione as if she were his chalice of yearning.
And Ayame had fallen for Hermione.
Chi's heart pounded at the knowledge of the fight to come…the anticipation of the blood that will flow. Chi pushed his glasses up his nose watching Ayame disappear up the stairs not long after Hermione was shown to her room.
Ayame lay in his bed, knowing that just on the other side of the wall Hermione lay sleeping. He reached a shaking hand out, placing his palm against the wall. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the wall next to his hand. She was right there. He could feel her. His heart pounded. He was only slightly better when she was near. The yearning didn't subside, it seemed to control him. He threw himself on the bed, begging himself to not give in…not again.
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It was a small gentle nudge, but enough to awaken her. Hermione's eyes fluttered open. The sun had not even risen in the sky yet, but this young woman stood by her bed gently nudging her awake. There was a soft lamp on by the desk. Hermione sat up slowly taking in the room and all its intricately carved, antique white furniture shadowed by the soft glow of the lamp. She loved the room the night before and loved it even more in the early morning. Her eyes refocused, shifting to the young woman who looked to be about her age. Hermione recognized her from the previous night. She had rushed for Chi upon his arrival, much to his chagrin.
"Kuro-san asked me to help you prepare for breakfast," Chloe said.
Hermione nodded, unsure what Chloe's position was for this family or in it.
"There is a meeting in the throne room before we eat. Rui wishes to meet you formally." Chloe's voice was muted slightly as she was rummaging through the clothes in the closet.
Hermione was just swinging her legs over the edge of the bed when Chloe emerged from the closet tossing a dress onto the bed. Hermione looked at the dress and just blinked. It wasn't overly fancy by any means, but it was…well, vintage was putting it in such a way as to be flattering. Hermione put the dress on and stared at herself in the mirror. It was an empire waist Regency style dress…right down to the low neckline. The sleeves were long with it being winter, which Hermione was thankful for. She fidgeted with the sleeve slightly, ensuring the marks on her wrist were covered. She didn't know why, but she thought it best if they were. That served to remind her though…remind her of the bruises on Ayame's face.
Chloe was standing near the door waiting for Hermione. Perhaps she knew why Ayame was bruised and who had done that to him. Hermione turned around.
"Chloe? Ayame was terribly bruised when he returned to me the other night. Who hit him?"
Chloe looked nervous for a moment as if she was unsure whether or not to tell. No one had told her not to, but obviously Ayame had not told Hermione. She glanced back at Hermione, watching her fidget with the bosom of her dress.
"K-Kuro-san hit Ayame-san."
Hermione's eyes widened and her cheeks suddenly flushed in anger.
"Whatever for!"
Hermione stepped forward, propelled by her desire to avenge Ayame for such an injustice and appalled that Kuro would do such a thing.
"Well," Chloe began. "The day Ayame-san touched you…the day Lucius-san had tried to kiss you?"
Hermione nodded her head letting Chloe know she knew exactly which day was being referenced…which event.
"Kuro-san knew. Ayame-san had overstepped his bounds. His job was to protect you, not to love you."
Chloe's explanation did nothing to calm Hermione. What right did Kuro have to hit someone for something so…petty…so out of his control?
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Kuro looked up when the doors open. Through the small gathering of people in the throne room, he could see her. The room grew quiet as they all realized Hermione had arrived. She stood just inside the door. Kuro's eyes swept over the dark blue toned dress she was wearing, his mouth becoming dry as he realized her chest was heaving, too pre-occupied to realize it was out of anger. His eyes rose up noting the flush upon her cheeks.
His eyes were deep, dark, and intense, never leaving her. He didn't even notice Ayame standing beside him, taking deep breaths and trying so hard not to look at the young woman. Hermione did not even acknowledge Rui standing by the throne-like chair. Her eyes did flicker to Ayame. The image of him leaning against those French doors looking ruffled, the image of his teeth suddenly sinking into her wrist, the image of the normally self-controlled Ayame so out of control as he gripped the back of the sofa, it all crossed her mind…dancing by. She squashed the sudden inexplicable guilt she felt down to consider later. The point was Kuro had hit another person for no real reason. Ayame had caused her no harm and she honestly didn't believe he ever would.
Kuro's eyes never left her. His own chest was heaving in the desire to have just one more taste, but refusing to give in. She was not simply some cup to drink from. His left hand remained in his pants pocket and his right hand rose up, his first two fingers together crooked slightly, beckoning her forward. Others in the room smiled; the way Kuro beckoned someone forward was so like Rui…just another family resemblance.
The corner of Hermione's lips turned up. If Harry had been there he could have warned Kuro about that smile. But no one was there to warn him…except Ayame and he was trying hard not to look at her. Her anger propelled her forward, quickly. She rushed through the small crowd of people, most expecting her to happily greet Kuro before being formally introduced to the King. The small crowd parted, allowing her through, her dress slightly dragging the floor from behind.
Kuro never saw it coming.
The moment she reached him, her fist flew forward making contact with his mouth, the one part of his face she could reach properly. A collective gasp was heard through the room as Kuro cried out in shock and pain almost simultaneous with Hermione's cry of pain. He reached up grabbing his mouth and checking for blood. Hermione glared at Kuro, holding her own wrist to her chest like a wounded animal.
"How dare you," she cried out to him.
Kuro looked at her, wiping the small bit of blood from the corner of his mouth, his own anger was tangible.
"He caused me no harm," she said rather heatedly and pointing to Ayame. "You can't go around hitting people without any real cause and expect me to say nothing."
"No real cause," Kuro said stepping forward, anger dancing in his eyes.
His hand reached out caressing the slight bite mark still visible on her neck before grabbing her by the back of her neck and pulling her closer. His grip was not so tight as to keep her from getting away, but enough to let her know to listen to what he had to say.
"His hands were on you. Unforgivable."
Her anger at him for believing he could hit Ayame just for touching her did not subside, not really. She was lost, however, in that passionate look in his eyes. Her heart started to pound wildly in her chest. There was an overwhelming feeling of being home…being safe even if Kuro was angry.
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Kuro cringed slightly as he brought the goblet roughly up to his lips. Across from him, Hermione had to remind herself to use her left hand to eat at least just for the day. Rui looked over the occupants of the breakfast table…all family by blood except for Chloe and Hermione. He ignored Chloe's tinkling giggle having grown accustomed to the young woman's temperament through out her life at the estate. Hanajima was patting her hand in a grandmotherly fashion of getting her to calm down. Despite the giggly girl next to him, Chi looked quite pleased as he watched the looks of contempt between Kuro and Ayame and the displeasure on Hermione's face.
Hermione's eyes traveled over the table taking in the plates and goblets and how different those Monogatari family members' goblets were. Though the goblets were of a dark shade it did not hide the knowledge that what they drank was of a dark shade of red. She watched Kuro from across the table bring the goblet up to his lips gentler than previously. He winced only slightly as the crystal touched his lips. He felt her eyes on him. His dark eyes shifted up, looking at her over the rim of the goblet.
Just a look from him could make her heart feel like it was about to pound out of her chest. Taking a sip of her juice she looked away, to the man on her right. The bruises on his face were fading, but it still reminded her that she could not give in just from a look from Kuro. He had to know…he had to learn one did not behave like this.
Kuro watched the way Hermione's eyes traveled over Ayame taking in every bump, every bruise that was caused by his hand. He slowly sat the goblet down.
"If you are so displeased with me…if you hate being near me this much, you are free to leave. There is still a week of school before your holiday officially begins. No one is keeping you here against your will."
Even Chloe's giggling stopped. Silence filled the room. Hermione's mouth opened slightly in shock and hurt. Kuro stood up and stalked toward the door only to stop and turn around.
"Lupin-san will be here around noon. I'll leave word that you are to return with him."
Kuro stepped out the door, letting it close on its own behind him.
Ayame took a chance and glanced over at Hermione. Her bottom lip quivered as she fought the tears that wanted to fall. The hand holding his chopsticks began to shake and he dropped the chopsticks into his plate, shoving his hands into his lap in a desperate attempt to prevent anyone from noticing. When Ayame looked up from the hands in his lap though, Rui was looking at him with a slight knowing smile. Hermione was already grabbing his hands from his lap, despite the tears that were beginning to fall.
"I'm fine," he deadpanned as he pulled his hand out of her hands and stood from the table.
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As the sun rose higher up into the air, though covered by the clouds that threatened snow, the house grew more and more silent as those of the Monogatari family fell into their slumbers.
"I think he's just hurt."
Rodolphus had been leaning in the doorway of the drawing room watching Hermione curl up on one side of the sofa, allowing the tears to flow freely now that she believed she was alone. His deep voice startled her. She turned, quickly wiping tears off her cheeks. The dark brown haired man looked like a slightly older version of his younger brother. Rodolphus stepped farther into the room, taking a seat in one of the arm chairs that looked to be from another time all together.
"Hurt? I think I hurt myself more than I hurt him," she said holding up her bandaged wrist.
Rodolphus chuckled warmly and steeped his fingers beneath his chin, elbows resting on the arms of the chair.
"I was told you were a brilliant witch," he laughed.
Hermione's mouth opened looking affronted and ready to verbally attack if necessary.
"Kuro has much on his plate," Rodolphus said. "Not only is he training for his position as future King, something a Prince must do, but he also carries the burden the Dark Lord left him…a burden he refused to take on. Instead, he chose to protect you and thus now has the burden of dealing with those Death Eaters not willing to change. A war is brewing, Miss Granger. On top of that he carries the burden of the family curse…one he must cure, one he's destined to cure. And then there is Ayame. The one he sent to watch over and protect you while he did what he is destined to do. He wasn't counting on the bitter Ayame falling for you…"
Hermione stood up out of her seat.
"Fall for me? Are you daft? Ayame has done nothing, but protect me and watch over me!"
Rodolphus stood up rather lazily, hands in his pockets as he looked down at Hermione with a slight smile of amusement.
"When Ayame returned, Kuro could smell you all over him. He knew, Miss Granger…he knew that Ayame had been entirely too close and could see the look in Ayame's eyes. You can not blame him for protecting what he felt was not Ayame's to play with…"
"I am not some object to possess," Hermione interrupted.
"No, you are not," Rodolphus continued. "Kuro knows this. He also watched the way you stood up for Ayame and the way you watched him at breakfast. He feels defeated, Miss Granger…feels he's already lost you to his bitter uncle."
Hermione was shaking her head when she heard the door open and the sound of footsteps on the marble floor. The footsteps paused only for a moment and she heard whispering before they started up again. Her eyes looked down to her feet. It was some of Kuro's men enlightening Lupin of his duty to return her to the castle of Hogwarts. When he appeared in the doorway looking as ragged as ever Hermione did not hold back.
"I'm not returning! Not yet!"
Lupin raised a curious brow.
"No, you are not," he said handing her a pile of books and parchment with the assignments for her last week of class before the holidays began.
"It is not yet safe," Lupin continued.
Hermione was silent as Lupin explained McGonagall's desire to up the protections on the castle. She listened more intently than she did any lesson as he explained that the Order was working with Kuro, though very few knew it. She bit her bottom lip as he explained the vampires ordered to watch the castle would be arriving that evening and the tension between the two sides of Death Eaters could be felt even within the wall of Hogwarts. Her heart fluttered when he explained the safest place for her right now was right where she was at…by Kuro's side.
It was with a new found determination that Hermione sat in the library working diligently on a Defense essay. Chloe was working her way through a pile of books that Chi had delivered back to the library in order to keep Chloe busy. She worked happily putting the books up. Curiosity was overwhelming Hermione about this girl and her connection to Chi and the rest of the family. Hermione finally looked up from her essay.
"Chloe, have you always lived at the estate?"
Hermione did not have to specify what estate. Chloe knew. She slowly turned around from a shelf and shook her head, holding one of the books tight against her chest.
"My family has always been friends with the Monogatari family."
Hermione looked at her waiting for more, knowing that was no answer to her question. Chloe looked at Hermione and cleared her throat.
"We lived in a wonderful house on a large piece of land outside of Cyprus Grove. Shadows were sent to kill us."
Hermione watched Chloe sit down, her forehead crinkled in confusion as the young woman looked across the table at her…Chloe's eyes clouded over leaving a dark shadow that still haunted her.
"Shadows?"
Chloe nodded slowly as if talking about them created the fear again…the fear she felt that night.
"They are the most fearsome things to behold," Chloe said. "They are the thing in which nightmares are born from."
Hermione took a deep breath, thankful she was not from the same world as this girl.
"I don't understand," Hermione said.
"Chi-san was sent to save me. I watched him from a closet I hid in. He fought the Shadows like a valiant knight…they fear him you know," she said, eyes sparkling in adoration for the vampire.
"When he opened the door of the closet I was hiding in, I'll never forget him wiping the blood from his mouth with the dark sleeve of his coat," Chloe went on.
Hermione's nose wrinkled slightly. She had a feeling the blood he was wiping in Chloe's glorified memory was not Chi's blood…more like leftovers.
"Well, he lifted me off the floor of the closet and into his arms. I'll never forget how safe I felt there…how at home…anyway…I've been under Rui-san's care ever since."
Hermione looked down at her parchment.
"How old were you, Chloe?"
Chloe looked back to Hermione.
"I was twelve."
The sudden sound of a book slamming shut in the library doorway made Hermione jump in her seat, turning to see who it was. Chi stood there, book in one hand, pushing his glasses up with the other and giving Chloe a look that clearly spoke of his displeasure with her telling such a tale. There was something in Chi's eyes though…something that made Hermione wonder exactly why he was displeased with Chloe rehashing the story of her life intertwining with his.
Chi said nothing, only glancing at Hermione for a moment as if to acknowledge her presence. He stepped through the room rather quickly, tossed the large book down of the table and grabbed Chloe by the wrist pulling her out of her seat and out of the room. Hermione wondered for a moment if she should say something. Chi didn't look happy. He wouldn't hurt her would he? The more she thought about it the more she realized that he would not hurt her, not physically. She had no doubt that Chloe spent many nights crying alone in her room because of Chi.
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It was dark. The moon hid behind snow threatening clouds and the wind whirled through the dormant trees filling the air with an eerie creaking sound of weakening wood. The entire group was hidden beneath warm cloaks, behind masks of the real Death Eaters…standing in a circle, representing the truth of Voldemort's words…willing to continue his work and currently taking orders from their true leader.
His words were soft, but laced with the shreds of his insanity.
"You will take her from that…vampire. I will punish her accordingly."
There was silence in the circle as they all listened, some smiling insanely in hopes of getting to at least watch the punishment. The tall figure of their leader stopped his pacing around the circle. His eyes peered from behind his black and silver mask, meeting Rabastan's eyes.
"You will return with her by any means necessary."
The task was set. The wars would begin.
The snow began to fall from the clouds…fluttering softly down to the earth around them.
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Hermione stood before the windows of the library watching the snow begin to flutter to the ground. Night had fallen and the darkness coupled with the soft light of the library allowed Kuro to see Hermione's reflection in the window. He could see his own reflection over her shoulder in the doorway. His hair was tied back samurai style as usual and his face held a scowl of displeasure. So many people revered him as the future king. Many more feared him. He saw himself as one of the curse…the price to pay for being a Monogatari. But this young woman?
To her, he was just a man.
Just a man…wanting the one thing he had no right to touch…no right to taint.
Still, standing there he couldn't help but to gravitate toward her. Everything in him made it so. From the moment her blood touched his lips he was addicted…he would be drawn to her like a man in a desert is drawn to water. His hand reached up cupping the dark cross that hung from his neck. It lessened the pain when she was not around. It didn't stop the ache…the realization that he should not be near her in such a way. He was a cursed man.
Hermione felt him when he entered the room. She couldn't explain it. It was an overwhelming feeling of comfort accompanied by a wave of emotion she couldn't quite identify with one specific word. Her eyes shifted from the snow to the scowling man's reflection behind her. She watched a million emotions seem to cross his features as he appeared to be fighting some internal war. He moved forward, toward her and she turned from the window willing to greet him, meet him halfway if need be. Her back was against the wall next to the window though. She was fascinated watching the way his tall form moved across the room toward her like some piece of him was fighting it, but losing.
When he reached her, his hand immediately splayed across the wall above her head, his head bowed, eyes closed and he took in deep breaths as if trying to control something clearly out of his control from the start. Hermione stood there, nestled against the wall…not like someone trying to get away, but like someone perfectly at home…willing to allow the invasion of personal space, inviting it even. It was like being in a cocoon of warmth. Her eyes slowly slid up the body that hovered above her, watching the way his chest moved with each deep breath beneath his shirt, and finally coming to a rest on his face, laced with the ache of wanting.
She bit her bottom lip watching him.
His eyes slowly opened. His smoldering dark eyes peered down at her as if he could devour her at any moment. Hermione's eyes couldn't leave him and for a moment she thought perhaps she wanted to be devoured. She took a deep breath as that thought rushed through her. Kuro's lips slowly began to turn up, a smirk of sorts, a smirk that told her he knew exactly what had just gone through her mind. His head cocked slightly to the side and with his smile not leaving his face, Kuro reached down and grabbed her arm, slowly pushing her sleeve up off her wrist with every intention of introducing this witch to what it was like to drink, not for a need of survival, but for a want…a desire.
That was when he saw it.
The distinct markings of one having been bitten.
The trace of another man.
The trace of what could only be one other man and no trace of the bracelet.
"The bracelet is gone," Kuro stated. "I planned to remove it before we ate dinner. How did you remove it?"
His eyes shifted from her wrist down to her face.
"I didn't remove it. Ayame did."
Kuro closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. His anger was not at Hermione and he did not want her thinking it was. It was imperative that he remained calm.
"It is silver, Hermione. How was he able to do so?"
His eyes were opened again searching for an answer.
"H-he bit me."
The words washed over Kuro. Ayame had bitten Hermione. He had taken blood from her veins. He closed his eyes hating the images that were flashing through his mind; reminders of Ayame's odd behavior since returning with Hermione. The way he refused to look at her, the way he constantly licked his lips, his ever growing pale complexion and the way he seemed to shake and yearn for something. Kuro dropped her arm, allowing it to fall back to her side.
She wasn't to blame.
She didn't know the implications.
She didn't know what it meant.
Kuro's hand reached out, fingertips gently caressing her chest as he moved his hand up over her collar bone, up her neck, and into her hair as he pulled her closer…nearly flush against him. He leaned down, his cheek nearly resting against hers and took a deep quavering breath.
"I shall return," he said into her ear.
She could feel his lips barely caress the skin of her ear lobe when he spoke and felt the deep timbre of his voice rumble through his chest to hers.
That was where he left her.
Standing by the window, knees weakening by the second.
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McGonagall watched the way the man paced about the room, the insane look that sparkled in his eye like a caged animal and she began to second guess her decision.
"You beckoned me here like some house elf to offer me a teaching position? Shouldn't you be searching for Herm…Miss Granger?"
McGonagall's eyes narrowed on the blond man that seemed nearly out of his mind.
"She is safe," Lupin said, finally speaking up from the corner of the room he stood in watching Lucius' odd behavior.
Lucius' grey eyes, wide and wild looking turned toward Lupin.
"What? How can she possibly be safe!"
Remus took a deep breath.
"Their methods may have been ill conceived, but their intentions should not be mistaken for something malicious. There is someone out there leading the Death Eaters…leading them to Hermione."
So, you know where she is, werewolf.
"Mister Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said. "We need more Order members as professors…more actual physical Order members…"
Order members indeed.
Lucius didn't catch everything the old hag was saying, lost in his own thoughts…in his own mind. With his hand in his pocket, he twirled the broken, blood stained bracelet.
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His laughter filled the room as he stood back up.
"Come on! Is that all you've got?"
Another hit and Ayame was on the ground again. Chi looked about ready to physically cheer in delight. He had been biding his time waiting for this. He pushed his glasses up his nose, eyes dancing between the two vampires.
"You dared to bite her?" Kuro's nostrils were flaring in anger.
From the ground Ayame smiled and ran his tongue over his lips.
"I did more than dare to," he said standing up so that he was face to face with Kuro. Ayame paused to observe every twitch of Kuro's face before smirking a bit as he continued. "You should have seen her, Kuro-san. The way her body was writhing against mine…the way she held onto me, fingertips gripping my bare flesh as if she were overwhelmed in total pleasure…"
Kuro could take no more and punched Ayame again, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"What are you doing?"
The sound of Hermione's screeching voice filled with horror and shock hit Kuro like a slap in the face. She rushed into the room and straight to Ayame. She knelt down by his side, gently checking for any injuries before turning a glare at Kuro. Why was he doing this? It hurt her to see him acting in such a way and it hurt him to see that look on her face. It felt as if he was being stabbed in the heart and the knife was twisted as Hermione helped Ayame stand up and led him from the room to clean his wounds. Chi watched this curiously. Ayame was never one to play the wounded animal and accept the help of others…especially that of an ordinary girl.
Kuro watched them leave the room, horrified, and heart broken. As they disappeared he sank down into the throne-like chair and leaning over, his head rested in his hands. He cried out in outrage. Chi couldn't get rid of the smile on his face if he tried. He stepped forward, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"You know," Chi said. "You might have an easier time of it if you stopped beating her favorite pet."
Kuro looked up at Chi…distaste on his face, baring his fangs as if ready to attack Chi if he said another word, but Chi was already on his way out of the room…laughing the entire way.
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Hermione was used to nights that were quiet. If she roamed any corridors they were abandoned as everyone else would be sleeping. Not here where she currently stayed. The entire house was awake. Dinner had been served where Hermione learned that Rui had returned to his kingdom and taken Chloe with him. The table was nothing more than a buffet of tension as Kuro sat at the head of the table. Hermione sat to his right and across from Hermione on Kuro's left was Ayame.
It was Kuro that caused her much distress.
She could see the look on his face and in his eyes when he looked between the two. It was as if Hermione could see him warring with himself…caught between his heart and some other family obligation to Ayame…she could see him letting go, not bothering to speak up. Kuro used to come to her at night at the summer house. She recognized the feeling when she was around him. He did everything he could to keep her safe…to get to her, just to be near her.
But she wasn't worth fighting for.
Her eyes slid down to her plate. It felt like a rock sat in her heart pulling it down toward her stomach. She remembered the conversation with Draco and how he recognized what she was feeling. She took a deep breath and picked up her goblet of juice, taking a sip, and wondering what was happening beyond the walls that surrounded her. She knew from what Lupin said with her "kidnapping" from Malfoy manor came a sudden intensified bout of tension and fighting amongst the two sects of Death Eaters. Lupin didn't say it, but Hermione knew very well what Lupin was trying to dance around telling her.
Another war had begun.
She tried to hide the shiver that went down her spine at that thought.
She nearly dropped her goblet when the dining room doors burst open and Rodolphus stood there with a couple of bloody men. Chi looked up, licking his lips and waiting for a reason for their condition and their disruption. Kuro glanced up calmly from his plate.
"Yes?"
"They are coming," Rodolphus said, panic coloring his voice. "They have begun gathering outside the grounds. They intend to take her," he said nodding his head to Hermione.
Kuro was out of his seat in a flash and pulling Hermione up by her elbow. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. He hated doing it. It felt like he was giving her up, but this is what he had to do. He had no choice. Who was he to cower safely in a room with Hermione while others fought to keep her safe? The moment he had her out of her seat, he kept pulling her, guiding her by her upper arm until he had basically pushed her into Ayame, who gasped for air at the sudden physical contact from her.
"Get her to her room and don't leave her side," Kuro demanded, eyes shifting to Hermione as if to get one last look before he rushed out the dining room door.
Ayame pulled her from the room behind Kuro, but instead of following Kuro toward the front doors, he pulled her toward the staircase. She kept glancing back, watching how his commanding figure turned from person to person giving orders and getting intelligence about the goings on outside the gates of the estate they were staying at. She stopped at the top of the stairs, her free hand resting on the balustrade and looking down at Kuro in the large foyer below. He had just sent someone off and felt her eyes on him…felt her still so near. His dark eyes moved up, meeting hers. She tried to smile at him, tried to let him know that she was worried about him and Kuro was temporarily lost in looking at her hovering in the darkness of the landing above until Ayame pulled her into the darkness of the landing and the corridor beyond.
As Ayame pulled her into her room she could hear curses hitting the exterior of the house, lighting up the windows as if someone had set off a whole mess of fireworks right outside. Hearing her startled squeak, Ayame walked toward the windows and went around shutting the drapes, subduing the brightness of the curses. When he was done, he turned to face her. Hermione stood near the door still, as if frightened to move closer into the room, closer to the windows and the lights of the curses. Ayame's eyes, so dark, seemed to devour her before he spoke.
"Their efforts are futile," he said with a slight snarl. "There is too much protection placed on this house…protection they do not understand…protection from my world."
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They would not get her.
He would not allow it.
He stood in the throne room and watched the windows light up in various colors like a Technicolor daylight. Did they really think they would be able to just walk into the estate? His job was to protect the family…his heart beat to protect her.
They would not get her.
His heart ached to touch her.
He sank down into the throne-like chair and held his head is his hands. When she was near he wanted nothing more than to reach out…to pull her to him, but something always seemed to stop him, to get in the way. It was like an invisible string that would pull him to her, but he fought it…fought the desire…fought the wanting.
As he watched the windows light up again his heart pounded against his chest reminding him just how alive he was and just what affect she had on him. And what had he done? He sent Ayame to keep her in her room safe. He really had no other choice.
The doors opened and Rodolphus walked in with Chi, who was wiping something red from the corner of his mouth.
"They are retreating," Chi said.
"For now," Rodolphus finished. "Their leader won't give up that easily."
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The lights had long since vanished from the drawn drapes. Ayame had long since left her room being told it was safe for now, the Death Eaters had retreated. Kuro still hadn't been up to see her though. She thought about leaving the confines of her room and roaming the house until she found him. She looked down. The night dress she found in her wardrobe was just as revealing up top, if not more so, as the dress she had to wear earlier. She was exhausted though and not sure she had the energy to dress again. The night had been frightening.
Part of her did not believe it when Lupin told her the fighting started upon her supposed kidnapping from Malfoy manor. She saw first hand that the Death Eaters were becoming increasingly desperate to get to her and she had yet to figure out why. Her heart pounded and guilt dug its nails into her very soul. She was causing yet another war it would seem. How could she? How could a bookworm cause such a thing? How many lives would be saved if she just handed herself over to them?
She sat on the end of her bed, arm wrapped around the bedpost and head leaning against the ancient looking wood.
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He lay splayed across his bed. Nothing but boxers adorned his body. He breathed heavily, eyes closed, sweat beginning to seep from his pores.
He moaned and ran his hand through his damp hair.
She was on the other side of the wall and he could still feel her as if she were just under his skin. Every shuddering breath he took was filled with the scent of her. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her on that sofa…saw her beneath him. He swallowed the lump in his throat. It was as if he could still taste her…the desire to taste her again building up even more.
He knew this would be a possibility. He knew his own heart and knew how heavily it beat with her around. He knew after just one taste he would yearn for more…he would live a life of wanting.
His eyes opened suddenly.
He launched himself off his bed and grabbed his jeans from the floor, pulling them up but only half zipping them and not bothering to button them before rushing from the room like a deprived alcoholic being offered the entire wine bottle.
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"Ayame!"
Hermione stood up at the shock of Ayame bursting through her door. His appearance was concerning…only half dressed and what was on him was only half done up on him, his chest rose and fell at such a quick succession that it concerned her and he had been sweating slightly coupled with his still damp hair from his shower. His eyes were wide and hungry. Hermione nibbled her lip as she stepped forward, temporarily forgetting how little she was wearing.
He rushed forward as if to grab her…as if to take what he wanted, but he didn't. He stopped not even an inch from her. His eyes swept over her face. In his memory he could still hear the news of the battle outside the estate…the news of the war and it starting with taking her from Malfoy Manor.
Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?
She could feel his breath tickling her skin and she shivered slightly. With each deep inhale of breath his bare chest brushed against her breasts. He closed his eyes and held his hands up and out slightly as if wanting to touch and her and yet fighting the desire. As he stepped forward, she stepped back keeping the same distance between them…as little as it was.
"Ayame, are you okay?"
Hermione was concerned. Never had she seen or heard of Ayame behaving in such a way. His eyes burned a path into her eyes. His hands moved up slightly, leaning against the wall Hermione hadn't realized she had backed up to. He bent down slightly, his nose just caressing hers as he tilted his head slightly only to stop and hover not even an inch from her lips. When he spoke she could feel his lips brushing hers slightly.
"Just a taste," he said so lowly she almost couldn't hear him.
The sound of his voice cracked as if to accentuate the wanting he felt. His heavily lidded eyes closed and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He moved forward, but shifted slightly to move closer to her neck, moving his nose across her neck and burying it into her hair as he whispered into her ear.
"So addicting, Mi-chan."
She heard him moan slightly as his lips gently caressed her neck. Her mind immediately began to wonder where Kuro was and why he wasn't here removing Ayame. Did he no longer care? Hermione closed her eyes. She was finding it hard to breathe.
"A-Ayame…p-please," she whispered and tried to swallow the increasing lump in her throat.
He simply moaned and seemed to deepen the kisses on her neck. She gasped slightly as his lips moved hungrily across the area Kuro had bitten her. Realizing this was not going to stop unless she stopped it, Hermione placed her hands on his bare chest and with a slight sigh she pushed Ayame as hard as she could.
"No, Ayame," she said rather forcefully as he stumbled back only slightly allowing her room to step forward.
His breathing did not subside when she tore him from her. It was worse. He could feel his entire body shaking…yearning. Just a taste. And the fire that danced in her eyes didn't help matters…it made them worse.
"You are not Kuro…you can never replace Kuro."
Her words were punctuated as if trying to hurt him enough to cause him to back off. Instead, Ayame smirked, reached his hand up to move his damp hair out of his face and then leaned back down trapping her between his arms against the wall again. His lips once again, so close that as he spoke they brushed against her own.
"Give me a week," he said before his lip crashed down on hers.
A/N: I apologize for the lack of much Lucius in this chapter, but honestly…he's not exactly hanging out with Kuro you know? Don't worry, he hasn't disappeared from the story or Hermione's life. Much more to come. grins evilly and sings "I know something you don't know"