Vampire Knight © Matsuri Hino

Thanks everyone. :) Sorry I didn't update again like I said I might. I got really tired and fell asleep. xD But here's chapter four!

Please Enjoy. ;)

Chapter Four:

The other children and the guard parents were watching me closely the following two days. They followed me around and kept an eye on my every movement. I didn't understand why, until some girl followed me into the kitchen and saw me putting the dishes away. She went to get Mr. Golan, to tell him I did something wrong, and then I realized they were all looking for a reason to keep Kaname and Kaien from adopting me. I didn't understand why. They all disliked me so much, so shouldn't they be happy I was going to be gone? That seemed reasonable, but they still kept looking for those little mistakes. So I had to be on my guard, too, to try and make sure everything was as perfect as it could be.

I couldn't wait to be away from here. And not just because of my being close to Kaname. I hated it here- of course -but I was always on edge here. Waiting to see which kids would come up and bully me today. Which girl would comment on how ugly I was when we were in the shower room, or likewise.

The more I thought about this, the more I listened to their remarks, I grew more depressed and confused. Why would Kaname and Kaien want to adopt a freak of nature like me? I knew I wasn't good looking. And yet Kaname's words sent a thrill of pleasure down my spine. But surely he was just saying that, wasn't he? Probably lying to make myself feel better . . . But that still didn't explain why he would even consider taking me in.

I sighed inwardly, dunking the brush back into the bucket of warm, soapy water. Today was my day to clean the floors. You would think that laboring orphans like this- in an orphanage or otherwise -should be illegal. I pulled the brush back out and continued to scrub the tile clean. Two girls a few years younger than me walked into the room and stood in attention in the corner, watching me closely. This time I sighed outwardly, trying my best to resist the urge of looking up and glaring them.

"Tch." The smallest girl clucked her tongue, and leaned up against the wall. "I don't understand why that gorgeous man would want to adopt her. She's useless, and a freak." they chuckled together. "She's not even pretty. I wonder why . . ." And then she gasped.

I didn't look up, but I was paying closer attention. I scrubbed a little harder, grounding my teeth together so I wouldn't be tempted to tell them to shut up.

"What?" the other girl asked.

In my peripheral vision, I saw the small girl smile in an odd, wicked way. "You know what? I think I just figured out why he would want to adopt her."

"Why?" The other girl leaned closer to her friend.

"I bet it's a slave thing. You know, like, I've heard stories of men adopting young girls to be labor slaves . . . or maybe even sex slaves, but I don't think that's the case with her. She's not pretty enough . . . But then again, that there is a reason why she could have been chosen for a sex slave; she's so ugly no one would even consider that was the reason why."

I knew I shouldn't have been listening, or even gripping to the reason. Kaname wouldn't do that. He didn't seem like that kind of person. But then again, they never did.

There was only about a half of a day left before he would come back for my decision. Would this consideration change my answer? Should it? What if that's why he was doing this?

That girl was right. There was no other explanation as to why he would want to adopt me otherwise. And yet he was so kind . . .

But then the bigger question. Would I actually care if that's the reason for him taking me in? Kaname was still Kaname, with his exquisite beauty and soft, gentle touch that soothed me. So would I be able to care if he wanted me as a labor slave? Or even . . . I couldn't think it. The images flowed in too easily and my cheeks heated a deep red. Surely, no. Kaname isn't like that.

I tried to imagine- minus the stomach stirring pictures -what it would be like, if I would care or not. Because now, when he came tomorrow, I wasn't sure of my answer.

I dropped the brush into the bucket and stood. I took off my apron and laid it on the counter. The two girls were now engrossed in their deep conversation about me, so I quickly dodged out the side kitchen door and ran down the hidden trail out back in the thin woods.

I always came out here for walks when I needed to think. It was always about something serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't stray so far from the orphanage to where anyone couldn't find me.

The clearing was pretty; even in the middle of Autumn. The lake was shallow and not very big, so I guess it could be considered a pond. I took a seat on the old, mossy fallen tree trunk I always sat on, and set my head in my hands.

Kaname. What would I do if I ended up going and that was the real reasoning? Would I be able to put up with it? Or would the orphanage be a better alternative?

Should I consider asking him . . .? But what if that wasn't it? I would die of embarrassment. But what if it was? He could always lie.

No, no. This was all wrong. All of this. Everything.

Kaname isn't like that. I know he isn't. He can't be. I shouldn't even be contemplating this. It was stupid, messed up, and, well, just plain stupid. I shouldn't have let those girls get to me. I bet they just did it on purpose, anyways. I had been trying to ignore them my whole life, so why listen now? I shouldn't doubt Kaname so easily. I mean, I-

I groaned out loud at the thought I had just had. How could I possibly say that I loved him? I didn't even know him. Being soothed by his touch or comforted by his presence had nothing to do with love. I just met him. I was getting in way over my head. But did I care?

Shaking my head, I dismissed my last thoughts.

Tomorrow, he would come back for my decision. I knew, even if I still had doubt in my thoughts, when I looked up into his burgundy eyes, I wouldn't be able to find the answer no in myself. I couldn't even think about telling him no. It felt like my throat closed up, even though it wasn't even happening in real life.

If I really thought about it, there was something about this whole thing . . . something that was off, and just a tad familiar. Maybe it was Kaname. But like I had said before, I knew I wouldn't have forgotten if we had ever met; even if I had just caught a glimpse of his face. But something was off. Something odd, but not in a particularly bad way.

One, the way I was so sure about him. I would be able to understand if I had known him a while, had gotten to become close to him, that that would be the reason I would have so much faith in him. But we had barely known each other a couple of days and could be considered strangers. A part of me knew this was a strange thing, but everything about me was strange. Everything in my life was strange, so why judge against it now?

And two, his touch. Well, his everything. It was weird, like some drug to me. When he was near, when he touched me- even when he just looked at me -everything was all right again. Everything made sense, and there was no fear, no care in the world. But when withdrawn from him, everything seemed darker, duller, scary, confusing, and sad. Again, this was strange. More strange then the first.

What was it about him? Was it the same with him? Was I just being some love-sick girl like in the movies?

I'd seen girls acting like this in the movies. Always needing to be around them . . . seeing nothing but them. But this seemed different. In the movies, everything was happy-go-lucky, like a Disney song with little blue birds. But this was too abnormal. Too sudden . . . too strange . . . too confusing.

Would it be worse when I lived around him? With him?

I guess I would just have to make it one more day to find out then.

I stood up, brushed off my jeans, and headed back to the orphanage. A girl with long, dusty black hair looked at me like I was a monster emerging from the darkness. I didn't doubt that I wouldn't have that effect on anyone else, though.

"So that's where you ran off to. C'mon, Mr. Golan was looking for you." She grabbed wrist, starting to pull me away, but then dropped my hand and stepped away like I had suddenly burst into flames.

So it wasn't just that Kona kid? I was confused. Kaname's hand had been so soothing and normal feeling. Her hand was like a hot iron against my skin.

"Shit, Kona was right." she muttered to herself, and then waved for me to just follow her into the building.

Mr. Golan stood in the doorway, and glared at me the second I came into view. The girl scampered off, but I knew she would remain close by to listen as to what he would say to me.

"Rin!" he scolded. "Taking off in the middle of your chores?"

"I was taking a break, Mr. Golan. I have been working since the break of dawn. I am permitted to take a break, aren't I?"

He huffed, his face turning a bright shade of red. "Well, of course you are. But you should have let me know."

"Well then I apologize. I never had to before."

His mouth set in a firm line. "You listen here, Missy. I want no back talk from you. That is unless you don't want to be adopted."

"The last time I checked, Mr. Golan, you cannot prevent me from being adopted. I am a ward of the state; all foster children are. You are not my legal guardian, nor my legal parent. So if you will excuse me, I have my chores to finish."

His mouth opened and closed like a sucker fish's. His face turned even more red, the embarrassment and anger twisting his features in an odd expression. But I knew he was just trying to find a hole in my words, even though there were none.

So I just left him standing there and went back to the kitchen, where I found my bucket kicked over and muddy footprints all over the used to be half-way clean floor. Two girls my age were watching from one doorway. They giggled together and ran off.

Just one more day. I told myself.

Just one more day.

This is a big might, but I might update again later if I get a good review. :) If not, I'll be seeing you again tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed!