The Vampire's Lair.
That's what Zero had called it, all those years ago, when we had first stood outside of it's gate, gazing at it's high, formidable walls. It seemed like almost a lifetime ago. When the vampires had first come to Cross Academy and moved into the Moon Dormitory I had tried to take a closer look, wanting to see them-so curious about them-I can still remember Zero's warning tone-whispering low in my ear as he pulled me back, far from the building, tugging roughly on my wrist, later leaving marks on my pale skin; don't get too close to their lair-he had warned me harshly, the threat evident in his tone-they are dangerous. Not every monster is as kind as your precious Kaname-sama. But back then I was a naive little girl, so blind and stupid. I didn't understand the way the world worked, everything was dyed pink and covered in glitter. Vampire's to me, were all like Kaname. Kind and gentle people. That was the image I had of them, and Kaname was not dangerous.
Gazing up at the tall building's stark, white walls, it looked as formidable as it always has, in my eyes at least, and it's been years. But perhaps that's because I knew who lived behind those pristine walls-what lived behind them. I wasn't as naive as the Day Class students were, not anymore. I'm not saying that I hated them, or that I trembled and ran from their presence. A lot of the vampires here were very kind, very friendly, in their own way. There was Takuma-senpai, always smiling so brightly, wanting to make friends with everyone around him and doing his best to fit in, and there was Rima Touya-she was mostly shy and kept to herself but we got along just fine when we needed to. Kain-senpai was quiet and aloof but was never intentionally mean or rude to me. And Hanabusa...well Hanabusa was an idiot. Then there was Ruka Souen. I didn't like her and she didn't like me. It was as simple and as complicated as that. She was mean like Arisa, because she shared the same obsession with Kaname that Arisa did. I secretly wondered if they had an online fan club dedicated to him. I would picture Hanabusa and Ruka fighting over who the club's president was. Of course, I could never confront Ruka about her bitch attitude towards me like I had with Arisa...not without Zero close by, at least. Ruka...There was that one instance when I was so much younger, I had seen Kaname drinking her blood through one of the dorm's high windows-Ruka's body pressed against the glass. It was like in that moment-when our eyes locked, Ruka's and mine-we instantly became enemies. Of course, she would never know that it was more than that for me. She probably thought I was jealous of her-that I wished our roles had been switched, or something outrageous like that. But she was absolutely wrong. The part of me that thought that Kaname was so completely harmless and gentle-the part of me that was convinced he would never harm anyone or anything-died in that instant. I knew he was dangerous then, ironically and obviously...I realized that he was a vampire.
But I was such a naive child back then.
I don't know what drove me here now, to the Moon Dorm. Curiosity maybe. Or maybe I was just really bored. I've become more bold lately, especially since the incident with Zero in the stairwell-and my childhood fear of these creatures. I was dressed all in black-black legging and a long sleeved black fitted tee-trying to blend into the night, like a secret spy. I knew that that wouldn't really matter when it came to a vampire seeing me-their eyes cut straight through the darkness, Kaname told me that once when I was small. He was helping me to bed and I asked him how he could see so well in the dark when I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face-but I was still trying to have fun and enjoy myself.
I could easily climb the wall and get over the gate, that part was easy, I was an agile girl. Opening the door to get into the dorm was even easier, since I had a key for just about anything to the Academy.
The door creaked loudly when I pushed it open, giving the air an even eerier feel than it already held. I was surprised that there weren't any bats hanging from the chandelier. Or cobwebs, not that I was expecting a haunted house, or anything like that. I knew vampires weren't like they were in the movies. They didn't have an affliction to garlic, and they could most defiantly see their reflections.
I was positive this building was empty. I had just taken attendance for the Night students before coming here-they were currently in class having lessons. I had until about two in the morning-when their classes ended. No one should be here. I was completely alone.
I've been in here before, but just in this front room-the common area. I sometimes had to bring papers here for Kaname or other students. I've never actually gotten to look around the actually dorm, though. I used my cell phone's flashlight-not wanting to turn on any of the building's lights-and began exploring. It was so dark in here! I started with the first floor, there was a small kitchen area, a library, nothing too different from the Sun Dormitory-except that it was all one million times nicer than what I was used too. Which pissed me off. I kicked the wall, swearing when I hurt my foot more than the wall.
I went to the staircase next, I couldn't help myself. I wanted to look at their rooms, their beds, see their things, how they lived. I ran up the stairs quick, holding onto the railing for support and making sure the laces of my shoes were tied before I started, it was smooth and felt like polished marble under my hand.
I turned down the hall and opened the first door I saw, twisting the knob and throwing it open wide. The room was huge compared to my own dorm room. Though there were two beds occupying the space-and they were big as well-there was still so much floor space. I stepped inside the room and went to the closest-or what I thought was the closet-and opened the door. It was an attached bathroom! With a personal shower, huge counter space, a gigantic mirror, and not one, but two sinks! REALLY?! The Sun Dormitory had only two bathrooms-one for the girls side and one for the boys. Two communal bathrooms that everyone had to share. Everyone had to hurry to the shower stalls in the morning or you'd be out of luck until way later that evening, especially if you were a girl, since most of these rich girls took forever in the shower. One for the girls, and one for the boys. How unfair was it that these vampires got their own individual bathrooms? When I did find the closet it was about the same size as my entire dorm room. I was fuming. I wanted to go straight to the Headmaster and throw a fit, demand he tell me what was up...but then I'd have to tell him that I had sneaked into the Moon Dormitory.
I went through a few other rooms, just being nosy, before I found Ruka's room. Her name was scrolled across a plaque in purple lettering on the door, like a child. I opened the door wondering if there was some way I could possibly mess with her, get back at her for always being so rude to me. I closed the door, deciding against it-it would be childish, and turned down the hall opposite to the girl's-the boy's side, I was assuming. Their rooms were setup exactly the same way. I was starting to get more angry-and then bored-until I found Hanabusa's room. I laughed, realizing exactly how I could mess with him. I ran back to Ruka's room and looked through her dresser until I found her underwear drawer-everyone has one, human or vampire-and took three pairs out. They were all so racy. "What a whore." I muttered to myself, before rushing back to Hanabusa's room. I stuffed them underneath his pillow. I knew it was his side because he had a picture framed of him and Kaname from when they were children. "Oh my God." I scooped it up. It was so cute. Kaname was so adorable as a child. I knew it was creepy and a really weird thing for me to do, but I took a picture of the photo with my cell phone's camera-just Kaname's half, of course, I wasn't very fond of Hanabusa. I bet his parents were beautiful, to have made such a child, I thought as I set the photo back down on Hanabusa's bedside table. I took one last look at Kaname's face trying to picture what his parents looked like. I left after a fit of laugher left me immobilized for about five minutes-picturing Hanabusa's face when he finds them.
I wondered around the halls a bit longer, just wasting time, until I came to a huge set of double doors at the very end of the hall. I grabbed the brass handle and pulled. The door was so heavy! "What the hell?" I tried pushing. When that didn't work I pulled harder-a bit surprised that it didn't open right away-and it gave.
The room in here just looked like an office. The entire wall across from the door was panned glass, a big window framed with deep, red curtains, with a dark, cherry wood desk sitting before it. There were stacks of papers piled neatly around it's surface, a few books, a crystal wine glass and decanter. The left wall was lined with tall book shelves, as were the walls to either sides of the doors. I stepped inside and looked at a few of the covers. They weren't in a language I recognized. Stepping further into the room, there was a deep red settee in the middle of the floor with a low coffee table the same color of the desk before it. Blood Tablets and papers littered the floor as if whoever was last reading them carelessly tossed them aside. I wasn't sure what to make of the Blood Tablets, thrown on the floor like they were. The carpet was a very deep, dark plum, almost black. A letter opener was stabbed into the table-its handle sticking straight up, as if someone plunged it there in a fit of rage.
My heart was beating hard, I wasn't sure why. I felt almost nervous. There was a door on the far right wall. I opened it, seeing an attached bedroom. I closed it immediately, feeling uncomfortable, uneasy, like I was naked and exposed, being watched by anyone and everyone. Instead I went over to the rather elaborate desk, choosing to take a closer look there. The chessboard sitting on it's top left corner should have given it away immediately-I mean, who plays chess? I wasn't one for details though, apparently. But right on top of all the papers and letters, was a picture...of me, from when I was about fourteen years old. I had just started high school then. I hated this picture, a lot. I looked like such a nerdy little girl. It was from when I had put my school uniform on for the first time. My father had sneaked up behind me and called out my name, snapping a picture as soon as I turned around. He did that a lot to me, always carrying around his camera. That was almost four years ago, and he had kept it, after all this time.
This was Kaname's room.
I sat down in the soft leather, office chair-spinning it around in a full circle before coming to a stop before the desk, knowing that this was wrong. I placed my hands before my, against the smooth wooden surface. I shouldn't be in his room, looking through his things. He would probably know I was here when he came back after class and end up asking me about it later, or tell the Headmaster about it. But I just couldn't help myself. I was so close to him right now. I wanted to go through his stuff, touch everything, see what he was interested in, learn more about him, if we had any similar interests.
I wondered why he was mad at me enough to ignore me today. He had never done something like that before, not once that I could remember. And I was positive I would remember such a thing. What had I done to upset him? Was it because of what happened with Zero? That wasn't even my fault, though. He couldn't possibly be mad over that. Maybe he was mad at me because I wasn't mad at Zero for what had happened? That wasn't like Kaname, though, he was better than that. He knew Zero and I were really close friends.
I felt long fingers smooth through the back of my hair. When I screamed a hand clamped gently, but firmly, over my mouth-silencing me completely.
"Shhhh...Yuuki..." he breathed, right into my ear, voice sensual, beckoning to my soul, calling out to every fiber of my being, igniting a fire deep in my veins that burned hotter than the very sun. My knees quivered together, a chill running up my spine. The places that his skin met with mine burned. I started to wonder if he called out to me in that manner intentionally, knowing the effect he had over me.
I knew that no one else could ever make me feel this way. I didn't want anyone else to ever try too.
I prayed for the floor to open up and swallow me whole. Even though my blood turned to ice at having been caught, my neck and cheeks flooded with fire. How did he just get here, so suddenly? And why wasn't he still in class? My phone was over on the table in front of the red settee. I didn't see any other clock around. But there was no way class was over yet. I had made sure to give myself plenty of time for this.
Slowly, Kaname removed his hand from my mouth and spun the chair around so I was facing him. He put a hand on either armrest, caging me in-between his arms, leaning over me. "Yuuki, what are you doing here?" he asked. I couldn't look away from his eyes. He had me completely trapped.
I willed my heartbeat to slow down, knowing he could hear it, fearing if it kept it's rapid pace I would surly die. I swallowed hard and cleared my throat nervously, silently hoping my voice came out strong and clear. My mouth felt too dry. "Senpai, I could ask you that same...question." it was such a pathetic argument, but it was all I had. And arguing with Kaname was like arguing with a brick wall, you just couldn't win against him.
"Surely you must be aware by now, dear Yuuki, this is my room." he smiled, knowing I was fishing around my head for anything I could possibly use against him. Kaname reached forward and gently touched my hair, bringing a lock up to his lips and quietly inhaling.
"That's beside the point! You should still be in class, Senpai. Right now you're breaking Academy rules. And as a member of this Academy's Disciplinary Committee, I have a right to commit a dorm inspection whenever I please." there. A flawless argument. It took everything I had to keep from smiling, feeling smugly satisfied.
"Ahh, I suppose that is true." he tucked a few strands of my dark hair behind my ear, exposing my neck to him. He gently touched the bandage there, sending a shiver up my spine, causing goosebumps to rise up on my exposed flesh. "You're such a good girl, Yuuki." He mused. I couldn't help but remember the bed that was just behind that door, on the other side of the room, just a few steps away from us. I wondered what it would be like, to be so completely exposed to him, in his arms. If he were to lift me up right now, wrapping my legs around his waist-carrying me to his bed. Ohhh, how I wanted him to want me.
Kaname leaned in slowly, so slowly. I could feel his warm breath on my neck now. My mouth went completely dry at the feeling. I heard him inhale slightly, his nose skimming softly against the skin there, just slightly-before he pulled back suddenly. My eyes snapped open. I hadn't realized I'd even closed them. I stared up at him. He looked so sad then, not meeting my eyes. I reached up, wanting to touch his face, to feel him, needing to comfort him somehow-to take that look away, to ask him why he even looked like that in the first place. But I lost my nerve, letting my hand drop halfway. But he caught it, pulling it up to his cheek, closing his eyes and leaning into my palm as if it were his salvation. He sighed, like that small gesture was all the comfort he needed to take his sadness away. My simple touch. I loved him so much, right then. I loved him even more than I ever thought I could. More than anyone else. Ever since that first night I met him I knew we had a connection. I knew I would love him, back then. I could just feel it, deep inside of me, in my heart. And what's a girl to do in a moment like this-with the man she loves ensnared right before her very eyes, trapped underneath my hand. Not that I could ever trap him, I was confident he was a hundred million times stronger than I was, stronger than I could ever hope to comprehend. I did the only thing I possibly could do then, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, rising onto my toes. If I said I wasn't nervous or scarred I'd be lying-though I had no idea where that boldness came from. I had never kissed anyone before, never initiated it, at least, never made the first move. And I've only ever been kissed once. I knew Kaname had feelings for me but I had no idea if they were romantic or not. Maybe I was just a sweet little animal that amused him and needed protecting, I didn't know. But for the moment I didn't really care. He wasn't pushing me away, and that was all I knew and all I needed to know. I wrapped my free arm around his neck, pulling my body against his, as close as I could get to him. My nerves felt like they were on fire and my head was spinning and my heart was pounding so fast. His mouth was so warm and soft against mine. I was so lost in the feeling of him against me.
And it wasn't enough. I wanted more, I needed more.
But his hands were there, unraveling my arms from his neck, and it was over too quickly. My heart dropped-in that moment-falling to the floor. I was-of course-embarrassed and humiliated-as I imagined any one would have been in my position. But overall, I was heartbroken. I never thought it would turn out like this. Rejection. It was the worst feeling I had ever thought I'd experience. I couldn't even look at him-I didn't want too, instead I dropped my head low and studied the carpet-it really was such a lovely color. My cheeks were so hot and I could feel tears swimming in my eyes, threatening to overflow. Kaname's hand was under my chin, trying to lift my face so I'd look at him. It was stupid of me to have assumed for even a second that he might have felt the same way. I slapped his hand away and ran from the room, the dorm.
I just kept going.