Disclaimer: I own neither Doctor Who nor Vampire Knight. I only own my characters and ideas.

The Anomaly
A Doctor Who/Vampire Knight Crossover

Chapter Five: An Unprecedented Exception

"… A golden-eyed child will appear as the Moment is sought… This child alone will have the ability to decide the fate of our worlds…"

The words repeated inside my head, and I dreaded the consequence the woman speaking them suffered. For several minutes, this scenario had played out inside my mind; first the woman would speak a prophecy, and then a man would appear to take her away. I could sense the torment this woman went through for speaking the truth of what she had seen, but I was confused and startled more by the woman's retaliation.

"… I forgive you…"

How could anyone have forgiven that man for what he'd done? After being tortured, and turned into a beast… How could she have not destroyed him?

I would have. If that man had brought me that much agony, I would never have been capable of forgiveness.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, silently leaving tendril-like rivulets in their wake. My head was buried into my arms, which I had crossed on top of my knees with the explicit intention of hiding my tears from Takuma. Despite my trust in him, I did not want him to see me so upset. After my first night – the night I'd discovered that I was a vampire – I had sworn to never let him see me in tears.

If the emotion of that woman had not been so strong, I would not have cried at all. However, her presence seemed to radiate throughout the entire vampire-hunter association headquarters, and after a while, her agony had implanted itself on the inside of my brain. Ever since, my feelings and thoughts had become entwined with hers, as if we were sharing a mind or communicating telepathically.

My breath caught in my throat, and an audible sob suffocated me momentarily. Hoping that Takuma hadn't noticed, I wiped my eyes to clear them of their tears. As my hand rubbed the tears away, my skin burnt, and I was certain my eyes were puffy and red.

A hand rested softly on my head, and I knew immediately that Takuma had finally detected the extent of sorrow I felt. Either that, or he'd finally decided he couldn't watch me weep any longer. He had been standing only a foot away from me.

Still sniffling, I peered up at Takuma sheepishly. Wiping my eyes once more, I whispered, "I'm sorry…"

Confusion crossed Takuma's features, and he assured me in a gentle tone, "Why are you sorry? You haven't done anything wrong. You're only crying… It's hardly a crime." He smiled placidly before inquiring, "Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

Curiously, I wondered, "Can't you sense it? That woman…"

Takuma's expression darkened, and his smile turned into a contentious frown. "Yes; I can sense her presence," he replied, tersely. "I am very aware of what she did."

His reaction startled me, and I felt my eyes grow wider in fear of the darkness of his tone. I had never seen him so moody before. Nervously, I questioned, "Why are you so angry with her?"

Sighing, Takuma relaxed his features once more, and smiled sympathetically. He apologized quietly, "Of course, you wouldn't be aware of it… You're only aware of her aura…" After a moment of pause, he asked, "Do you remember learning about the vampire progenitors?"

I nodded. Several weeks ago, I had memorized the ancient history of the vampires, and I was aware that the progenitors had initiated the establishment of modern vampire society. In today's society, the Pureblooded vampires were the direct descendants of those progenitors.

At my nod, Takuma continued, "Well, one of those progenitors decided to grant a small percentage of humans the ability to hunt and kill vampires. In order to accomplish this task, she allowed that group of humans to devour her, then she tore her own heart out, and threw it into a furnace. From that furnace, weapons are created with the ability to destroy vampires. The metallic alloy is poisonous only to vampires, and it is so destructive that vampires cannot hold vampire hunter weapons without being harmed."

For a moment, I hesitated. The story Takuma had recounted did not seem like enough to grant him the right to be angry with the woman I sensed in this building. Personally, I viewed her actions as kindness. In order to give the humans a proper defense, she had sacrificed her own life.

"But… she ensured that the humans always had someone to protect them," I reasoned. "Before her sacrifice, they were defenseless."

Takuma shook his head. "That's not it… These hunters hate vampires on sight. It's one of their instincts; they want to kill us all, and they don't see it as a crime. The fact that they have a regulation stipulating that they have a reason for hunting us is a mere inconvenience in their minds." Closing his eyes, Takuma informed me, regretfully, "You were too busy crying to notice… how these hunters looked at you when they passed by… It's as if they're expecting you to lose control any moment. They're just waiting for an excuse to hunt you."

Gulping, I glanced around Takuma, and noticed the truth of his statement immediately. A pair of hunters were walking quickly down the hallway, but they weren't speaking. Instead, they were both studying me intently. One of the men fingered the hilt of a silver dagger unconsciously. When I looked him in the eye, he glared, as if challenging me to make a move.

Quickly, I looked away. "Why are they like that?" I wondered.

Sighing, Takuma replied, "Their ancestors consumed the blood of a vampire in such a high dosage that their biology was re-written slightly. Along with the benefits of drinking her blood, the hunters developed an instinct very similar to that of vampires: A desire to hunt." Closing his eyes once more, he added, "The only difference is that they would rather hunt vampires than humans."

"But that doesn't make them all bad…" I whispered. "And that poor Pythia Seer shouldn't be blamed. She didn't ask to be turned into a vampire, and she was only trying to give a solution to the problem."

Confused once more by my words, Takuma questioned, "Pythia? What are you talking about, Lorna-chan?"

"The woman. Before she was a vampire, she was a prophesier," I told him, giving him a confused expression of my own. "You didn't know that?"

Takuma shook his head, then gave me an intense stare before asking, "Lorna-chan… That woman was born a vampire. Where did you get the idea that she wasn't always a vampire?"

Shocked by his reaction, I stammered, "B-But you said that… I thought you…" I paused, as I realized we were sensing two separate versions of the same person. "It's just that… I assumed you were sensing the same thing…"

"Lorna-chan… you're mistaken… You're sensing something that isn't real," he insisted, calmly. "You might be sensing many different presences at once, and they're getting muddled in your head. That's the reason why premonitions are so unreliable."

Although I wanted to trust Takuma's assurance, I couldn't help feeling uncertain about his interpretation. The presence inside my mind was very strong, and the woman almost seemed to be whispering something to me. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but I was almost certain that it was her past life I sensed, and not merely her essence combined with another person who had resided in this building.

"I wish we didn't have to bring you here," Takuma told me, changing the subject. "However, the hunters like to evaluate former humans themselves. They don't trust our judgment – unless we've decided a former human is unstable."

I rubbed the injection site on my arm, recalling the reason for our presence in the vampire hunters association headquarters. Earlier this night, I had been brought into the headquarters' clinic, so the specialist could analyze my blood to confirm that I had truly been stabilized. Apparently this procedure was routine because nobody who saw me seemed to think anything of my presence; although, in hindsight, I was aware of the many anticipatory glances from the hunters who came and went.

"Don't worry; I'm certain my grandfather is correct in declaring you stabilized," Takuma reassured me. In the next instant, he'd raised a finger to his lips unconsciously, and turned toward the door to the vampire hunters association president's office. Takuma's expression was cool as he spoke, "Although… they are taking longer than usual to complete their analysis… I wonder if there's something bizarre about your results…"

Just as Takuma finished speaking, the door of the office opened, and Ichiou emerged along with the president. I stood quickly, wiping my eyes to be certain no tears remained. When Ichiou noticed that my eyes were puffy, he gave an amused snort.

"An unusual child…" Ichiou remarked, darkly. "Come, we're finished here."

Ichiou started down the hallway, and Takuma and I quickly followed. As we strode down the hallway, I noticed two children about my age.

They were being escorted by a man with a steel plate over one eye, and despite the two boys having the same appearance, I noticed a stark, and disturbing contrast between the two.

There was the one who glared at me with the darkest expression, but I sensed that he did not hate me in the slightest.

The one who stood next to him gazed at me passively, but the darkness in his heart frightened me beyond measure.

Without reflection, I paused momentarily in front of the two boys. Addressing the younger twin – the one with the darkening soul – I reminded him coolly, "Envy is unsightly."

The man standing next to them glared at me, and spoke in a tone bordering on boredom and harshness, "Move along, vampire."

I gave a mock bow, then answered, "Yes, Yagari-san."

Before the man could do anything, I quickly trotted after Takuma and his grandfather. Takuma cast me a worried glance as I slowed my pace to match his, and he quickly grasped my hand to prevent me from lagging behind again.

"That was reckless," he whispered, as if I hadn't realized that already. "He might have interpreted it as a threat…"

I nodded, but didn't regret my actions. With any luck, the darkness inside that boy's heart would diminish slightly. I didn't like the course those two little boys were set on.

Time can be re-written, as long as we alter it soon enough… The words entering my mind felt foreign, but I knew I had heard this saying many times before. I only hoped that I hadn't encountered the boy after the point-of-no-return.

…

Dinner time at the Ichijou Manor was easily the most awkward event of my night. On the night after Ichiou granted me better treatment, I hadn't expected that I would be asked to dine with him and his grandson. When Takuma had led me into the dining hall, I had hesitated before taking the seat he offered me. If I hadn't been aware of how discourteous a refusal would be, I would have fled, or at least insisted that I not be required to eat alongside the family of the household.

As it turned out, eating dinner with Ichiou and Takuma was everything I feared it would be: distressing and boring. Both Takuma and I were too afraid of being addressed by Ichiou to speak much to each other, and we often became wholly absorbed in finishing our food in hope of being dismissed before Ichiou decided to use dinner-time as an opportunity to lecture us.

The first night I'd taken supper with them had easily been the worst. Ichiou had used the opportunity to gauge my emotional limitations, and he'd decided to strike up a conversation with Takuma about using his ability while hunting level Es. Back then, I hadn't really understood the advanced abilities of the vampires, and most of this conversation was completely lost on me; however, Takuma had been so shocked by his grandfather's choice for discussion that he'd dropped his chopsticks, and knocked over his water goblet as he attempted to pick them up with shaking hands.

Compared to Takuma, the conversation didn't rattle me at all – mostly because I became distracted by Takuma's sudden clumsiness, but also due to my complete lack of experience.

Now that I understood that higher level vampires had additional abilities, the fact that Takuma could disintegrate matter was a little alarming. From his personality and age, I wouldn't have believed he truly was capable of using this ability at all, let alone against someone in combat; however, when I'd said something to this effect, he had insisted that he was very capable of performing the duties expected of aristocratic vampires – even if he didn't find it pleasant.

Tonight, Takuma was more nervous than usual. At the age of thirteen, aristocratic level vampires were given their first assignments to hunt and kill level Es. Because Takuma's birthday was only a few days away, he anticipated his grandfather advising him on technique, or to lecture him on his handling of a katana.

When Ichiou did speak, his statement shocked both Takuma and me. "It brings me pleasure to announce that the senate has decided that I may formally adopt Lorna into our family," he announced, apathetically.

Takuma choked while swallowing a mouthful of water, and promptly dropped his water goblet as he sputtered ridiculously. "What?" he gasped, still not quite able to breathe normally. "She's a former human… We can't formally adopt a former human – nobody can because doing so would violate our societal structure. If you've been granted permission to legally adopt her that would mean that…"

"She's an exception," Ichiou interrupted.

It surprised me that Takuma glared at his grandfather darkly in response to this information. "Why?" he demanded in a nefarious tone I hadn't heard him use before. "You wouldn't go to the trouble of goading the senate members into permitting a former human the status of an aristocrat unless you had something to gain."

Snorting, Ichiou replied, "Is it not enough that I find the girl alluring?" Takuma shook his head, and his grandfather continued, "Would it surprise you to know that sometimes I look at Lorna and wish she were my granddaughter? She is four years younger than you are, and she is easily the more mature one. She might be a former human, but she demonstrates her ability to control her actions, as well as take responsibility. Two traits which you apparently lack."

Takuma's face flared red, and he studied the shattered remains of the water goblet he'd been unable to hold onto in his shock. On top of that, he must have recalled the night when he'd pretended to have a fever in order to read manga instead of attend our tutoring session. His grandfather had discovered his insubordination, and Takuma had been forced to accompany his grandfather to the Ichijou Group the next night. It seemed that every time Takuma acted too childish, Ichiou retaliated by forcing him to take on the responsibility of an adult for a night.

To my horror, Ichiou wasn't finished belittling his grandson. "Now that the senate has given me permission to adopt Lorna, I finally have a grandchild I can be proud of," he finished.

I couldn't stand the look of shame on Takuma's face, and I quickly leapt to my feet, then retorted, "You shouldn't say something just to be cruel! It's obvious to me that you don't mean any of what you just said!"

Desperately, Takuma attempted to make me sit. "Lorna-chan, it's all right… He does this a lot… I'm used to it… really…"

Ichiou grinned at my audacity. "Yes; I am pleased that she will be given the name and status of the Ichijou family." After studying me a moment longer, Ichiou continued, "Calm down, Takuma. I have no intention of punishing the girl for speaking her mind. Indeed, it is one of the traits I find so admirable."

At Ichiou's words, I took my seat once more. He still seemed to have something he wished to disclose with us, and I hoped it wouldn't be another provocative comment. "I honestly thought it would please you, Takuma," Ichiou informed his grandson. "You seemed to like the girl so much…"

Looking away from his grandfather, Takuma conceded, "Yes, Grandfather. I am pleased… I just don't understand why you deemed her special enough to usurp…"

"Takuma…" His grandfather's low tone signaled a warning, as if daring Takuma to accuse him of conspiring again.

Obviously Takuma had no desire to be insulted any more, and he bowed his head submissively.

Seeing that his grandson had no further intention of inquiring after his true purpose in adopting me, Ichiou announced, "At the start of the new year, we will host a soirée to announce Lorna's new status."

Shortly after this announcement, Ichiou dismissed Takuma and me from dinner. Neither of us had been able to finish our meal once Ichiou had informed us of the decision-making of the senate.

"I'm sorry about that…" I apologized, as Takuma and I walked back to our bedrooms.

Attempting to smile at me, Takuma replied, "I should have thought about what I was accusing my grandfather of. It was only natural for him to become angry with me for prying." After a pause, Takuma whispered, "I know he doesn't mean the things he says…"

From Takuma's expression, I knew he wasn't really certain that his grandfather hadn't meant that he was disappointed in Takuma. I could tell that Takuma himself was conflicted about how he felt about his grandfather. It seemed to me that Ichiou doted on Takuma as far as possessions, yet as soon as emotional support or honesty were required, Ichiou failed to provide even the slightest amount.

"I think he cares about you," I assured Takuma. "He just doesn't understand how to show it."

A genuine smile crossed Takuma's features, and he swept me into a hug so tight that I choked momentarily. "Lorna-chan, I absolutely adore you," Takuma informed me without necessity.

Initially, I wanted to demand that he let me go immediately. However, after a moment, I discovered that his embrace was comforting. A feeling of being protected and loved settled over me, and I relaxed into his arms. For some reason, the sensation of being protected and loved was almost completely foreign to me. It was a feeling that I remembered occurring a long, long time ago, and I could remember that I had clung desperately to whomever had held me until I had been wrenched away.

Chapter five is completed; it was supposed to be longer, but I decided to put the additional part into its own chapter.

Maybe the plot is starting to reveal itself in this chapter? (By the way, I am using information from the classic series, and not just the new series. I'm even using the obscure information from the comics and prose, but not all of it. XD It's because some of it sounds like alien mythology... I can't ignore mythology, apparently...)

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and review, please! I am really concerned about the pacing of this story. The plot is much more complicated than usual, and I am worried that the story is too slow right now.

Cheers,
Mango