Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the Monogatari family, their friends and their stories not related to Harry Potter.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews….and this chapter is for TrinityLayne….well, the last paragraph is. And thanks for the chapter banner on my LJ!
Chapter 19
Lips
He felt his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach. Ayame closed his eyes and turned away from the door, leaning against the wall just in time to hear the door shut and lock itself. He slowly slid down the wall, legs folding up in front of him, arms resting at the wrist on his knees. He bowed his head slightly as if wishing it all to be a dream. The party was still going on. He could hear the music, laughter and myriad voices of conversation. Occasionally, someone would walk by and look down at him only briefly, just enough to realize it was one of the princes.
Then there was the slow clunk of someone's hard soled shoes on the floor. It was a slow rhythmic sound as if their approach was deliberate, yearning to be heard by Ayame. The almost hissing sound of someone tsking as they approached pulled Ayame's head up. Ayame stood, preparing for the confrontation he was sure would come.
Taka approached slowly, as if wanting to prolong the discomfort he knew his presence would bring. His lips twitched as if trying not to out right laugh, but finding delight in Ayame's misery. His tongue moved slowly over his slightly elongated and pointed eye tooth as his eyes drifted to the closed library door. A few young women passed by toward the party quickly, giggling along the way.
The muffled sound of wood scraping against a marble floor flooded Ayame's ears. He didn't need Taka there. Ayame did his best to hide his horror, his heartache, even though it felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest. He knew it was no use. Taka would know…if he decided to pay attention, Taka would feel it. And he was paying attention.
Taka turned his head slightly, a delighted glint in his eye.
"Aw," he said with an exaggerated pout on his lips. "Did your toy get taken away?"
Ayame chose to say nothing. I t wasn't necessary when Taka was in a feeling mood. His fists clenched at his sides. Would Rui be too upset if he hit Taka? Ultimately, Rui would forgive him.
Taka stilled suddenly. A smile graced his lips as he closed his eyes and inhaled the air as if smelling something so sweet. His tongue began toying almost too sensually with each eye tooth, running his tongue lovingly along his natural weapons as if he could taste something there just by smelling the air. His eyes slowly opened back up and his smile grew.
"He drinks from her like she is his own private delectable château. Are you left out here, Ayame-san, while your nephew devours your love from head to toe…tastingher…touching her?"
Taka stepped closer to Ayame by only a step. He stood in front of the library doors. Through the closed door they could both hear it…the soft feminine moans and Ayame could just see her in his mind biting her bottom lip trying to control herself. He closed his eyes for only a moment when Taka laughed.
"Tell me, Ayame-san. When your lips caress her skin, when your teeth sink into her perfect skin and her blood runs through your system, does she moan with such pleasure?"
The sound of the wood scraping against the marble floor seemed to grow louder in Ayame's ears. He was fighting with everything in him to not start anything with Taka, not now. But he had wanted to leave. He didn't want to hear those sensual sounds of hers…sounds Kuro produced. He didn't want to listen to his defeat. Taka raised one eyebrow as he turned to the library door and with a wicked smile he placed his palms flat on the doors.
It was like watching the man be taken somewhere else. He gasped suddenly, head thrown back as he started gasping for air. Ayame could see the sudden sheen of sweat on his forehead and watched his tongue move along his own lips. When Taka finally pulled his hands away, he looked at Ayame and smiled again.
"No. You, Ayame-san, have never made her feel like that."
He took another step closer to Ayame so he could be closer to his ear, to whisper the words that would send Ayame over the edge.
"Just think, Ayame-san. If Kuro-san had not arrived in time, that would be me making her moan in unmistakable pleasure, that would be me tasting the very thing you cannot. Those would be my lips caressing her skin…and it would be my name she cries out."
Ayame snapped. It was so fast any normal person would not have seen it. In an instant, Ayame had knocked Taka to the ground with a war cry that when it echoed into the party, reminded Rui of his heart wrenching cries at Orchid's death. It was the sound of hurt, of heartache, of pain.
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"This is so unlike you," Hermione said with a scowl on her face.
Harry looked up from his parchment in the library of Kuro's estate.
"Well, I'm sorry, Hermione, but I was a bit more concerned with you than I was my holiday work."
She smiled and shook her head.
"I would expect this out of Ron, but not you."
A snort sounded from near the window in the library. Hermione looked over at Draco playing with a small miniature broom similar to the one Lavender had given Ron. It zoomed around Draco as he looked up at Hermione.
"He was worried about you. Even I wouldn't go as far as to compare Boy Wonder to that Weasel."
From one of the shelves Chi looked up, a grin on his face as his eyes danced between the three, hoping for some entertainment. Hermione put her hands on her hips.
"Draco, please," she said. Then, she turned her head to look at Chi. "And sorry to disappoint, but there will be no blood shed over homework and name calling."
"Hermione-chan, Draco-san, Harry-san. Dinner is being served."
The three looked toward the door. Chloe was hobbling in. She had fallen during the party, twisting her ankle terribly. She wore no shoe on that foot and hobbled through the estate refusing to be put down by a simple injury.
Chi closed his book with a snap, his narrowed irritated eyes looking at the dark haired girl.
"Were you not told to stay off that foot?"
Chloe looked toward Chi surprised at his words.
"Yes, Chi-san, but I'm not really putting any weight on it."
He scowled, but whether it was at Chloe or himself, Hermione could not be sure. Either way, he looked displeased. With his next move, Hermione decided the scowl was at himself. Chi plopped the book down on a table with a thud and approached Chloe.
"Do not let your little imagination go wild with this, Chloe-chan. If you weren't such a klutz, I wouldn't have to do this."
Chi reached down and scooped Chloe up in his arms and exited the library for the dining room. Hermione followed behind them with Harry and Draco, giggling into her hand.
When Hermione entered the dining room, the world around her seemed to disappear. Kuro sat at the head of the table, eyes intensely watching Hermione. She stopped just inside the door, nibbling on her bottom lip, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. With the taste of Hermione's blood came the ability to withstand the sunlight. For days, Kuro took only what was necessary, living his daylight hours with Hermione and spending his nights next to her. He didn't want to think what would happen to him, what he would feel like once she returned to Hogwarts.
His eyes followed her and her eyes never left him as she walked to her seat next to him. Once she was tucked into her seat, she picked up her chopsticks, having become a pro in her time there with them.
"He'll never make it as Seeker," Harry said as if it were an obvious observation.
The sounds of Harry and Draco's debate about some Quidditch team floated down to Hermione, reminding her that she and Kuro were not alone in the dining room. Kuro watched her every move as she ate, fascinated with his memories. He watched the way her lips turned up in a smile at Harry and Draco's debate and his memories became focused on her lips. Taking a deep breath, he looked away, picking up his goblet.
"Friends now?"
Hermione smiled as both boys defiantly denied any friendship between them and then, continued with their debate as if Hermione's question were a normal part of the conversation. She shook her head and reached for her goblet.
The empty seat across from her seemed to scream out to her.
She took a sip of her juice and slowly sat the goblet down, eyes not leaving the void in front of her. It was haunting. She had not seen him since the party. The last time she saw Ayame he was being pulled off Taka. Rui held Ayame back, pain mirrored on Rui's face as he held him back against him asking him to calm down. Across from them, Karasu was holding Taka back, demanding that he not do this…not there…not then. She knew Ayame was still there. He was expected to escort her back to Hogwarts and to continue his guard of her. Not only that, but Hermione had noticed servants delivering food to his room. Still, an empty place setting sat across from her as if in hope Ayame would join them.
Her first look at Ayame, days after the party, was the night prior to her return to Hogwarts. Kuro had called a meeting in the throne room. Hermione stepped into the room with Harry and Draco, hovering in the back of the room. She leaned against the wall and looked over the room at large, noting who she knew that was there. Most of the room was ex-Death Eaters and vampires. She noticed Lupin right away.
"Remus is here," Hermione said sounding pleased at the sight of the werewolf as he approached them. The meeting had not started yet.
"I see you are all doing well," Remus said with a tired smile.
Hermione nodded and Harry immediately began talking to Remus about the upcoming meeting and what he could do to help. Hermione tuned them out as her eyes drifted over the room landing on the intense dark eyes staring at her hungrily. With a smile, her eyes drifted to Chi standing next to Kuro and then she noticed him. Her smile slipped from her face. Standing up on the platform with the other two princes was Ayame. She felt her heart plunge at the look of him. He reminded her of pictures she had seen of an addict going through withdrawals. His eyes darted madly around the room, his breathing seemed stilted and his face had become pale and sunken. And for all her intensive staring at him, he seemed to be avoiding the possibility of meeting her eyes.
Lupin walked away and the meeting began.
Kuro held up a vial of red liquid that reminded Hermione of blood.
"Those of you assigned to Hogwarts will be given this daily. Intensive study has shown that all vampires that drink this…potion…are able to stay out in the sunlight without repercussions…"
As the meeting continued, Hermione began to understand. The extra safety measures at Hogwarts were vampires…not just any vampires, but those under the rule of the Monogatari…those faithful to the Monogatari. The thought of vampires at the gates and throughout Hogwarts sent an odd chill down Hermione's spine. These weren't cursed vampires…these were true vampires. The thought that they were faithful to the ruling family was the only thing that kept the fear at bay. And that was the thought that comforted her as she drifted off to sleep for her last night at Kuro's estate for the holiday.
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Ayame stepped into the room and froze. If he had any color left to his complexion, it would have drained from his face, but as it was he had none. He was left with an empty shock. He stepped into the room to find Hermione pinned against the wall as Kuro took the taste he needed to escort her to the Hogwarts Express.
Kuro didn't like taking blood from Hermione like this. When he would argue against it, her excuse was always, "I offered." Not liking doing the taking didn't stop the thrill from the taste though. When he pulled away sooner than normal, Hermione squeaked in surprise. She felt Kuro smile against her neck.
"What is it, Ayame-san?"
With his low words, his tongue reached out and gently took what was left on her neck. At his words though, Hermione had looked over Kuro's shoulder to see Ayame standing there, his eyes a blank empty stare as if looking through her. Kuro gently lowered Hermione back to the ground.
"I think Ayame-san is saying it is time for us to go."
Hermione nodded her head, almost dreading the train ride with Ayame. When she was led out of the door by Kuro, she did not notice the way Ayame closed his eyes and gripped the doorframe with one hand as the sweet scent wafted from her freshly bitten wound.
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"Ayame, please!"
Hermione was half jogging to keep up with the cloaked vampire. Kuro saw her onto the platform and then had to leave for a meeting with Rui. Now, Hermione all but chased after Ayame with the vial of potion in her hand. Ayame looked straight ahead, doing his best to ignore her.
"Just take it." She was begging.
He stepped onto the Hogwarts Express. Her incessant begging was becoming tiresome and straining what nerves he had left. She reached out, fingers barely touching his hand in an attempt to reach out and grab him. That seemed to be the last straw. In a flash, Ayame had grabbed a hold of her wrist with one hand, backed her roughly against the wall of the train corridor and knocked the potion out of her other hand with his free hand.
The vial fell to the ground, breaking instantly. The scent of its contents drifted through his senses and he closed his eyes for a moment. Hermione was not going to quit.
"What are you doing? That would have allowed you to be in the light! What is wrong with you?"
She felt his hold on her tighten. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
"Do you have any idea, Mi-chan what the essence of that potion is? Do you?"
Her eyes were wide at his tone and all she could do was shake her head.
He leaned down, inhaling deeply before whispering against her neck.
"Your blood, Mi-chan." She felt his lips barely on her skin as if fighting the urge to bite her or kiss her. "If I must torture myself," he continued. "I'd rather take it from the source so I can hear her every moan and feel her every breath."
A couple Hufflepuff girls passed by, giggling. Ayame let go of Hermione and pointed toward the compartment Harry had gone in. She slowly entered the compartment only to be nearly tackled in a hug by a tall red head causing a hiss of disapproval from Ayame.
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Hermione felt relieved to walk through the doors of Hogwarts again. It felt as if she had been gone forever. She stepped through the doors between her two best friends with Ayame not far behind, keeping an eye on his Mi-chan, no matter how painful it was. The warmth of the castle engulfed her despite the two vampires that stood guard at the doors.
"Hermione Granger."
She looked up to see Lucius Malfoy standing there a mere two feet from her, his eyebrow quirked in curiosity, looking for some sort of reaction from her. Stepping out of the sunlight and into the confining walls of the castle, Ayame lowered the hood of his cloak to glare at Lucius as he stepped forward as if warning the blond man that she was not alone…she would never be alone.
Lucius' lips turned up in a slight snarl as his eyes landed on the vampire hovering in Hermione's shadow. He was the one that took that bracelet off, he was sure of it. His cold grey eyes stared at the vampire, imagining ways for his death to come about. Hermione, instinctively, took a step back toward Ayame, almost stepping on his toes.
"I'll see you soon enough…Hermione," Lucius said as he turned and walked off.
"Blimey, he gets scarier every day," Ron mumbled once Lucius disappeared.
Harry nodded his head in agreement, but Hermione said nothing in response.
"Did you hear?"
Harry shook his head at Ron's question and Hermione finally turned back to look at him.
"I heard Mum and Dad talking about it. Malfoy is teaching the DADA class. McGonagall offered him the position and he took it."
Hermione's mouth fell open. Lucius Malfoy teaching DADA? Harry looked horrified at the mere thought and Ayame looked…worried.
With everyone drifting into their own thoughts they wandered up toward Gryffindor Tower to unpack before dinner.
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Hermione couldn't walk down the corridors of Hogwarts without the irritating giggles of the female population. Why couldn't Ayame just stay hidden as he guarded her instead of insisting on being seen? And the girls that didn't giggle as they passed by, smiled at him and glared at her as if she were the devil incarnate come to corrupt them all.
With an air of irritation, she plopped down for breakfast the first day of classes. Ayame sat quietly next to her, having not said much since their return to Hogwarts. That simply added to her irritation. Harry and Ron both looked up over their breakfast and then looked at each other, both fearing what was coming based on her scowl.
"Something the matter, Hermione?"
Ron was glad Harry asked. He didn't want that evil glare turned to him. She sighed and took a sip of pumpkin juice. She sat her goblet down and cut her eyes toward Ayame.
"Just my day is starting horribly already. People aren't talking," she said putting a heavy accent on people as she turned to look at Ayame, but he continued to eat and stare straight ahead refusing to meet her eyes. "And the rest of the school is either giggly or full of glares. Immature if you ask me."
She sniffed as if put out and took a bite of her toast. Harry and Ron both sat there in silence looking between Hermione and her guard wondering what they were missing. They decided not to dwell on it as they went back to eating and discussing Quidditch.
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From the height of the head table, Lucius could see the majority of the school attending breakfast. His eyes often found Hermione and that was where they stayed, watching her every move. He watched the way her lips moved when she spoke to those two idiots she called friends. He remembered his lips moving over hers the same day that vampire took her from his house. His lips curled in disgust.
Vampires.
And she let that creature next to her touch her in ways she had not let him. That would change. He would make it so.
She turned in her talking and seemed to be saying something to Ayame, but he didn't react. Lucius' eyebrow rose slightly in wonderment of the situation. Was the vampire avoiding his own charge? Her eyes suddenly drifted up from her plate to the head table, finding Lucius' eyes. His lips slowly turned up in a semblance of a smile at her. Ayame looked up from his plate at her and followed her line of vision.
Lucius.
Feeling the anger and the intense desire to not only call her his, but to make sure Lucius knew to back off, Ayame smirked slowly as he turned back to Hermione. One hand slowly slid up her arm, resting gently on the side of her neck while he leaned in to whisper into her ear.
"Mi-chan," he whispered softly. "We must talk…privately."
Lucius' eyes narrowed as he watched Hermione's eyes widen and slowly nod her head. Ayame stood up and leaned down taking her bag, not letting go of the hand he had taken as he led her out of the Great Hall.
The moment the doors closed behind them, Ayame dropped her hand, dropped her bag at her feet and passed by her on his way down the corridor. With an indignant cry, she picked the heavy bag up, slinging it onto her shoulder as she stormed off after Ayame.
"Honestly! What was that all about?"
Ayame continued to walk with a swagger to his steps.
"You have Defense first, right?"
He was avoiding her question and, once again, Hermione found herself fighting to catch up to the vampire and desperately reaching out to try and stop him.
"Ayame! Stop!"
She reached out getting a grip of his wrist and pulling with all her might. Ayame stopped and turned around.
"Mi-chan, stop it. You made your choice."
She dropped his arm and just looked at him blinking, confused.
"My choice?"
Ayame looked around the corridor. Hermione observed him noticing how…hungry he looked.
"Yes, your choice. Kuro-san or me and you chose Kuro-san."
Hermione's mouth fell open in shock and outrage.
"I have chosen no one yet!"
Ayame's mouth turned up in a smirk as if his words would hurt her.
"Well, that's not what I saw."
Hermione's mouth formed an "o" of surprise.
"Y-you saw that."
Ayame nodded.
"Yes, and after Kuro-san closed the door, I heard what followed."
Hermione cocked her head, looking at him strangely.
"What do you mean by 'what followed?"
Ayame stepped forward with such a look of hurt and anger that Hermione took a step back. They continued on this path as Ayame spoke.
"I mean I heard you." He stepped forward, she stepped back.
"I heard ever moan." Another step forward and another stumbling step back.
"Are you denying that you let Kuro-san drink from you?"
He took another step forward and Hermione stepped back into the wall of an alcove. She shook her head no and looked down as if ashamed, red tinting her cheeks, nibbling on her bottom lip. Watching the way her lips moved was almost too distracting.
"Then you know what I heard afterward."
She shook her head vehemently and looked up at him.
"No, I don't know," she said with a stubborn angry tone. "Yes, I let Kuro bite me…again. I offered it! But then Chloe came through the other door, more like stumbled through, her foot twisted as she stumbled and she fell. How do you think she sprained her ankle? Chi stepped in behind her and apologized to us while calling Chloe 'baka.' Kuro told him it was okay, that we had to get back to the party and Chi stayed behind to take care of Chloe. Anything you heard after Kuro bit me was Chi and Chloe NOT me and Kuro."
With each word she spoke, Ayame's breathing became heavier. The moans were not Hermione and Kuro was not the cause. She looked so angry, red tinted cheeks, her own breath coming in quick succession as if she used all her energy to tell him it wasn't her. He felt his hands shaking…his withdrawal becoming almost too much. She was right there and he was so hungry…for her. And it wasn't her. He hadn't lost yet. He was still in the game and what good was playing the game if he didn't fight for it?
"A-Ayame?"
He watched the way her lips moved as they said his name. Suddenly, he reached out, grabbing Hermione, pulling her flush against him as his lips crashed down on her. Hermione found herself unable to pull away. Was this right? What about Kuro? She did say she had to make a choice and she had allowed Kuro to kiss her.
Ayame stumbled forward until they were against the wall again, tucked into the alcove, hidden from giggling and glaring little girls. He pulled his lips away, but did not pull away from Hermione. She felt his lips hovering above the crook of her neck and she could feel the soft movement as he spoke as if in pain.
"Mi-chan, you let Kuro-san…please, I need this. I need you…just a taste…please. It's torture."
Hermione said nothing. He felt her hand slide up into his hair and push him down the rest of the way, giving him the okay…physically telling him to go ahead…have a taste. As she gasped at the sudden feel of his mouth on her neck, he moaned longingly into her neck as the feeling of ecstasy flooded him with every sweet drop of her blood.
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Kuro sat in his throne like chair. Suddenly, inexplicably, he stood and threw a nearby table against the wall, splintering the wooden antique to pieces. Chi looked up with bright eyes of delight. Kuro looked out over the top of his eyes…anger boiling in his every fiber.
"Bring. Me. Ayame-san."
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Lucius stood by the chalkboard watching the students file in. Hermione was the first to leave the Great Hall so, he figured she would be the first to arrive, but she was not. She came in after everyone else, clothes slightly rumpled, breathing heavy as if she had just run to the classroom. Ayame followed behind, his eyes looking up at Lucius with an arrogant smirk as he wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. His coloring had improved since he left the Great Hall not long ago.
Lucius watched the way Ayame sat down next Hermione, turning to face her more…one leg behind her chair as if he could physically surround her. Despite Lucius' urge to kill that vampire where he sat, he began his lecture, his eyes often lingering on the young woman and her "guard." Hermione took notes diligently, only to be slightly taken aback when she would look up and see the smirk on Ayame's face.
Lucius tried to ignore it and he was doing pretty well.
Then his eyes fell back on Ayame who turned only slightly to see Lucius looking at him. With a smirk that should have been a warning, Ayame turned back to face Hermione. She glanced up from her parchment. Ayame's tongue very slowly moved across his lips, his eyes not leaving Hermione. Raising his hand up from the back of her chair he kissed his pinky as if telling Hermione that was her he was kissing, followed by a suggestive wink that left Hermione frozen in her chair.
"Miss Granger, detention!"
Next Chapter:
"No, Mi-chan. You have detention because your sweet Lucius doesn't want to share you," he said laughing as Hermione shoved his hand out of her face.
She rolled her eyes.
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard," she said turning back to her work.
Ayame watched her work for a moment, thoughts rolling around in his own mind. She ignored him, pulling her hair up off her neck and out of her face. Ayame reached out one finger, running it slowly up the back of her neck as he leaned into her.
"Don't try to be so mad, Mi-chan," he said, lips hovering over the crook of her neck. With a gentle kiss he continued. "I've had your blood recently. You forget I know what you are feeling for now…I know you like it."
I am ahead by two chapters on my LJ. So, on LJ you will find chapters 20 AND 21 posted…