Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the late update. I was planning to put this up one day before classes started but then I had to do some extra work before school and right from the first day of classes, there were already a lot of things to do and so this chapter had to wait before I could redo and edit everything. By the way, to clear up some misunderstandings, school in my place started at June 10.
I realize that even if this isn't all that connected that this chapter took quiet a jump. I hope you all don't mind. But I felt so move by Chapter 41 that all my procrastinations about writing this chapter flew out of the window, it was so moving (for lack of better word) that I love Kaname even more now.
Thank you for all who read and reviewed in the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this one as much! Do tell me if I'm making Kaname-sama too emotional or whatever, I don't want him to become out of character. ;
Disclaimer: Some conversation lines were taken from the manga itself.
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Chapter Five – Cantabile
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Kaname sometimes found life at the academy quite boring. In reality, he had many, many thing to do. All the paperwork from the council, making sure Aidou didn't cause any more mischief, bidding to the ideals of the chairman and of course, the most tiring of them all – in his opinion – keeping Yuuki safe.
There were, again, many things he had to do in the academy. Sometimes, even too many and it somewhat irked him. He wasn't one to abandon his duties but it didn't mean he doesn't allow himself to feel frustration. He would accomplish all he has to, those which he feels very strongly of first and then the others in random orders.
But sometimes, he wondered what it would be like if the world was perfectly still.
He thought about Yuuki then and wondered what she was up to at the moment. A dull throb started, just above his chest. It was such a horrid feeling, he thought in mild disgust as a frown formed on his lips, the feeling of loosing someone. His eyebrows furrowed together and his frown deepened, never again will he allow himself to feel this way, he told himself. He detested it, this bitterness threatening to choke him.
It would be such a good feeling to just lie down on somebody's lap, enjoying the warmth the night offered without having to think about the future.
He smiled rather bitterly at his own thoughts and he reached his fingers out to catch the air around him.
"Yuuki…" he sighed.
Since when did he start sounding so pathetic?
"Kaname-sama?" Ruka softly knocked on his door. "Class is about to start."
"Right…" he said, and listened as Ruka's footsteps died down the hallway.
He laid his left hand over his face and moved his legs to a more comfortable position on the sofa he was lying on. He closed his eyes for a few seconds before deciding that it was time to do yet another frustrating job.
Yuuki is going to work hard again today, he thought with childish amusement.
"Somehow or the other, you really are the only one…" he sighed and moved towards his desk, where his school book lay. He took of his plain white shirt and started wearing his uniform.
Just a few seconds every night, without you even remembering me, is it really worth it?
Shaking his head and made his way out of the room and down the stairs where he knew all the other night class students were waiting. Scanning through the number of students who waited for him, he realized that Ichijou and Shiki have yet returned.
Kaname smirked as he continued his way down with the usual charismatic aura about him, drawing everyone's gaze towards him.
Soon, he knew, they will hunt for him.
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"This horrible smell, I presume is you?"
Shiki Senri smirks – a very unusual quirk on his lips. "My, such harsh words of greeting my un-cute nephew."
Kaname looked at him in obvious disdain; he'd much rather welcome a physical battle with Rido than an immature banter of words.
"That state you left me in ten years ago," Rido's mismatched eyes glinted in the darkness. "It was rather mortifying, I must say." He shrugged, "That shapeless body took years to recover," he laughed humorlessly. "But I should thank the strong vitality of purebloods, it came rather handy."
The smirk on Shiki's lips widened, "It seems that a lot of things have happened." Rido fingered his son's short hair, "Even Shizuka disappeared, I wonder what happened to her?" he asked mockingly. "But she never has been obedient to me…" then he added in a lower voice, a tone meant to taunt. "Unlike this boy's mother."
Ichijou stiffened, ever so slightly and he watched as Kaname glanced at Shiki.
"I'm relieved you haven't changed uncle," Kaname paused and Takuma could feel the younger Kuran's power making the air around them sharper - dangerous. "I wouldn't need to hesitate to kill you."
Takuma's eyes widened as the cemented rooftop shook and a wave of what used to be the flooring came flying towards Shiki who made no attempt to defend himself.
"Stop Kaname!" he yelled out as he stepped in front on Shiki's body and the wave of earth - which oddly reminded him of a monster's open mouth - stopped just a few inches before him. Ichijou could feel his heart thumping loudly against his chest and a drop of sweat running down the side of his face. He never liked fighting.
"I won't allow you to hurt Shiki! I won't let him be the victim of you dispute!"
Kaname looked at him calmly, not even a little disappointed or shocked at his actions. "I guess this means you're on the council's side."
Takuma answered, with seriousness he ever showed in public. "Yes, you can think of it that way."
A soft mirthful laugh made Ichijou look behind him. Shiki - or rather Rido he reminded himself – pushed him aside and stepped forward. "How's that girl by the way? Has she been… freed from her dream?" he let out another short laugh, "When the happy dream turns into a nightmare," he said in a sing-song voice. "Those fangs will destroy her from the inside."
Kaname's eyes narrowed a flicker of anger in his eyes. "Rido," he said the name in a sharp voice he rarely used. "Don't think that I will let filth like you ever touch her." He stepped on the rooftop, with Seiren quietly behind him. Behind him, he could hear the last of Rido's laughter in Shiki's voice.
"Leave," he told Seiren in a low voice.
The short haired vampire nodded before quietly landing on the terrace of the Moon Dorm.
"Yuuki," he whispered silently in an almost pained voice.
He landed quietly at the small ledge of the window in the room Yuuki was currently occupying. He tentatively touched the glass then retracted his hand, suddenly interested in the commotion happening inside.
"It's Kuran Kaname that you need," a familiar voice said.
"Ahh. Yes," came Yuuki's soft embarrassed voice. "I'm fine now Zero, I'm sorry about earlier. I'm just going to change."
He could almost imagine the expression matching her faint voice.
Then the quiet click he heard confirmed Zero's exit.
Kaname picked up the soft but stern tone of Zero's voice and he found himself arching a brow at his words. For a moment he was almost tempted to barge in and ask if the ex-human was stupid. It bothered him a little, that Kiryuu Zero had told him he would make an enemy of Kaname if he would dare turn Yuuki into a vampire and yet here he was declaring that Yuuki needed Kaname.
"Fool," he said to himself. Where was the challenge in this? Where would be the other half of the satisfaction when Yuuki finally comes back to him?
Kaname sighed, now wasn't the time to dwell on those thoughts. The fragile glass puzzle he put together through the last ten years would start falling apart soon but before it would happen, he had sworn to himself he would finish it and Yuuki lay in the middle of it all.
Now, it was almost time to finish it all.
And Zero played another part and not Yuuki's lover.
But still a part of him felt that he was being too hasty – with a tinge of misplaced excitement – because this next step he would take was what he had wanted to do in the last ten years.
It will be my turn to protect her; those were the words he had uttered to Zero.
But only because time has finally called for it, the shadow that has been tailing him for the longest time was about to make it's appearance and Zero had other tasks.
But once his arms will be around her, it would be too soon if he ever let her go again.
He pushed the windows wide open and gracefully swung his legs over the small ledge. The night air rushed into the room, making the Yuuki squint.
Who's there? She wanted to ask, but the dark figure loomed over her before she could.
"Kaname…senpai?" She hesitantly reached out her hand.
He took her into his embrace, the anger he had felt towards Rido and the bemusement he held for Kiryuu Zero vanished into nothing but the soft comfort of her soft body accepting his embrace and a mix of sadness and nostalgia.
Tears slowly formed in her eyes, "I've been wondering, for a very long time," she whispered softly, her arms involuntarily reaching to hold on to his back. "Why you look so sad, every time you see me…"
Her tears fell, making small wet spots on his dark coat. She idly wondered if he'd mind holding her some more. This dark gentleness, she thought, was a comfort from the redness of her world. She took a deep breath, her hands falling limply to her sides, the shadow of sleep she's been yearning for hovered like a warm comfortable blanket beneath her lids. Why was it that every time things went wrong, he was here? Like a constant shadow watching her.
Always there for her, silently watching.
Though there were times when she could never guess what he was thinking, and though every time they were together, his smile was always one told her he was sad. And always she just wanted to reach out and tell him to stay with her for a moment longer, she wanted to wipe away those invisible tears she could see running down his cheeks.
She was such an idiot. Even after being his lover by name, all she found herself doing was watching stupidly from a distance.
"Kaname-senpai… I…"
I love you.
"Yuuki, you are the only one…"
Carefully he lifted her from the cold floor, then tucked her safely against his chest and silently whispered to her, he realized that this will be the climax of their story.
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end.
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Author's Note: I hope that was fine! The next chapter would probably be my favorite, it's entitled, Chapter 6 -Scandalous!
I hope you all look forward to it. I don't feel as satisfied as usual, but I think it went ok. Nothing much going on, this is something like an interval.
I hope to hear from you all! Thanks for taking time to read!