Vampire Knight

Haunted

A VK Fanfiction

Night 3

There is a nice big house, on top of a hill.

No one ever goes there,

And no one ever will.

Until one day,

When the rain did fall.

A hero saved a girl, and changed her heart forever more.

To her, he was kind, brave and strong,

She was foolish, weak and young.

And with just one word, her fragile heart was gone.

"Top of the class again! Well done, Satori-san!"

My classmates cheered me and applauded my accomplishments. First in all of my classes again. I turned away from the board and went back to my seat to study. I wanted the day to end so I could go and see Ichiru-kun, but the day was dragging on for far too long.

"Kira-chan! You made the top score in all of physical activities!" someone else called.

"Yay! I've never been in the top of anything!" I watched as Kira-san grabbed one of her friends and danced in celebration of her achievements but honestly in a school for the intellectually gifted, it shouldn't've come as such a surprise.

I opened up my day planner, scanning the lessons I had for today. Because of the rain last night, I knew that my tennis class was cancelled. And today, I had a piano lesson, after that violin. And then after that, dinner with one of father's finance advisors that Mother threatened me with a harsh punishment if I was as late as yesterday.

"Wow, you sure are a busy body, Kai-chan," Kira had appeared in front of my desk, peering at my calendar. I slammed my book closed and glared at her. She offered a bright smile, "No wonder you always look so sad. You never get time to yourself."

"I do not need time to myself. I have enough of that, thank you," I snapped back quickly.

"Yeah, but there's a difference to having time for yourself and having time to yourself," Kira sat on the desk in front of me, her stupid ever-growing smile was still plastered on her lips.

"That doesn't make any sense," I replied, opening my History book so I could start taking notes when our class began after lunch.

"Of course it does. Time for yourself is when you do what you want to do, but other people are enforcing it. For example, do you even like playing the cello? Or is it because it could get you into a good university?" Kira crossed her arms on my table, but showed no sign of discontinuing her lecture, "And time to yourself, is you like playing the violin, so you'll go somewhere just to do that. See? That is the difference!"

I stared at her, absolutely flabbergasted by how much of an idiot this girl actually was. I couldn't understand how this dumb girl had actually gotten accepted into this prestigious school. Kira, of course, was unaware of my inner musings and kept smiling anyway.

Soon…soon I would be able to see Ichiru again. I just had to endure this suffering a little longer––

"So what happened to you yesterday, Satori-san?" Kira suddenly asked. My head snapped up in surprise. It was the first time that Kira had called me by my surname, and I'd never heard her sound so serious before, and her expression matched her tone. She was glaring at me, her eyes studying me like I was prey.

"What do you mean?" I don't know why I decided to entertain her notion but the words slipped from my mouth before I could catch them.

"Well, last night, on my way home. I found this," Kira reached around her desk and pulled my umbrella from her case. Kira twirled it in her hands and held it out to me, "It was next to the street. Just lying there along with a broken cellphone. When I went to your house to return it, your mother said that you weren't home yet. Which – for as long as I've known you – isn't how you usually do things."

"So you come to my house once and suddenly you're an expert? You've only known me for the three months that you've been here, Kira-chan. So I don't appreciate the intrusion," I snatched my umbrella from her hands. "Thank you for your kind consideration, but it wasn't necessary!"

Kira seemed unaffected by my rant, which was unusual for her. By now she would've apologized and moved on but she just stared at me. She stood up from her desk and walked away, back to her friends where she whispered something into her friends' ears. Their sly gazes slid over to me and then they looked away and continued whispering.

How dare they judge me! Question me! These children were thinking bad things of me even though I was the one most likely to have a future much, much greater than theirs! God, I couldn't wait to get out of this hell hole! Get away from these tedious children and their foolish ways! How could I even be in the same league as these…these creatures! They were nothing like me, nothing like Shizuka-sama. Nothing like Ichiru-kun! They were like me, I knew they were. Shizuka-sama had said so herself!

Soon, Ichiru-kun. When this day is done, I will come back to you…I promise!

Ichiru was standing beside Shizuka, watching her brush the annoying little Satori-chan's hair. She was treating this girl like she was a prized possession and Ichiru was allowing it to happen. Ichiru bit his tongue to keep from snapping out something rude and making Shizuka angry again, so instead he just sat by and watched.

"They are the most infuriating humans! I hate them! They are a waste of oxygen!" Kai spat out, glaring at the wall ahead of her, tears staining her eyes.

Shizuka grinned and whispered low enough so only Ichiru could hear her, "She sounds like her, too."

"Enough," Ichiru spat out. Kai shut her mouth immediately and Shizuka peered up at him with a wicked small smile.

"What's the matter, Ichiru?" Shizuka asked playfully, "Not in the mood to listen to your new friend's heartache?"

"She's not my new friend," he snapped back. He walked to the end of the room, snatched his coat off of the rack and wrapped it around his arms. He zipped it closed and walked to the front door, "I'm going to go get something to eat. When I come back, she had better be gone."

"I have a better idea," Shizuka stood up slowly, pulling Kai to her feet "Take Kai-chan with you. I'm sure she'll appreciate the alone time with you."

"I don't want her to come with me," Ichiru snapped back, banging his fist on the wall. "I don't even want her here!"

"You're being very blunt for a simple servant, Ichiru-kun," Shizuka stepped around Kai, walking slowly towards Ichiru, pinning him to the spot with dangerous red eyes. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him against the wall, "Do as I say, or face the consequences later…"

"I'd rather face the consequences than entertain this tedious game of yours," Ichiru grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer against his body until her head was right at the crook of his neck. Her cold breath set his skin alight, but he supressed his shiver, "Stop wasting time, Shizuka-sama."

"You're being more forceful than normal, Ichiru-kun. Is it because she looks like her––"

"Stop it," Ichiru snapped angrily. "I've forgotten all about her. I don't need her. You need to do what you need to with Kai and get it over with."

"You're being so rude, Ichiru," Shizuka raised her hand and cupped his cheek. Her thumb caressed his ice cold skin and grazed over his thumb. She flicked her thumbnail against his lip, creating a small hole. Blood bubbled to the surface and Shizuka put her thumb in her mouth, never taking her eyes off of Ichiru, "Go get some food, Ichiru. Take Kai-chan with you."

"Where is Ichiru-kun going?" Kai asked innocently behind Shizuka.

Shizuka turned to face the girl, a small smile on her lips, "Ichiru is going to get something to eat for himself," she walked to her and wrapped an arm around her, "You should go with Ichiru. You'll be able to spend some time with him."

"I don't mind if Ichiru-kun doesn't mind," Kai blinked at him innocently.

"I do," he snapped back. He turned to the door but Shizuka gripped his shoulder, her nails dug into his skin and he bit the inside of his cheek so as not to wince. Shizuka pegged him with a dangerous glare and he took it head on, refusing to break.

"Ichiru will take you with, Kai-chan," she pushed Kai into Ichiru's arms. "Make sure you feed her well, dear Ichiru-kun."

"What about you, Miss Shizuka?" Kai asked, turning to Shizuka. She reached out her hand, expecting Shizuka to take it with eagerness but Shizuka shook her head.

"I do not go outside, Kai-chan," She crouched down and gathered the young girl's face in her hands, tucking loose tendrils behind her ear, "I only went outside for you."

"Can I leave now? Or do you want to whisper sweet nothings to your pet?" Ichiru spat out.

"Jealousy is unbecoming, Ichiru," Shizuka said it with a small smile. She kissed Kai on her forehead and sent the girl forward. Ichiru grabbed her wrist and dragged her out the door, slamming it behind them.

Ichiru released the girl behind him, pulled up his hood and strolled down the street. He could feel Kai's gaze on him but it was easily ignored as he crossed the street. Kai trailed behind him, keeping quiet for once as she followed him. He stalked down to the convenience store. Kai stayed close to him while he browsed the aisle.

"What do you like to eat?" Kai asked quietly. Ichiru didn't answer. "What does Shizuka-sama like to eat?" Still, no answer. "Do you cook for her often?" Nothing. "You don't talk much for someone who saved me––"

"It was a mistake saving you. I should've let you get run over," Ichiru said quickly as he packed a packet of instant noodles in the shopping basket.

Kai's face fell and she frowned, her eyes shimmering with threatening tears. It didn't affect Ichiru though. He continued his shopping as if she didn't exist. Kai followed him. Ichiru knew that the girl now had what the Hunters called a 'Hero Crush'. It was a strange and annoying phenomenon where a brave Hunter saved an unsuspecting victim and suddenly, the victim became a stalker.

It was a real issue in the Hunters world and often his parents would tell him about their ever growing list of admirers. Now Ichiru was following in their footsteps unintentionally because he'd just jumped out at the girl. He couldn't remember moving, couldn't remember tackling her – hell, he couldn't even remember why Shizuka-sama had told him about the girl that was about to get run over.

Ichiru froze. His instincts that he long ignored set a spark in his belly. He looked up, over one of the shelves, seeing a man dressed in oversized clothes enter the store. He was unstable on his feet, swaying from side to side as his sunken in eyes searched the store. Ichiru knew from what little training he had before what this man was.

"That poor man looks ill," Kai whispered beside him. She looked up at him, "Can we go now? I don't like the look of him."

"Don't worry about him," Ichiru snapped as he filled the basket he held in his hands. Although Ichiru said that, he kept looking up to track the man's movements. The man swayed on his feet, bumping into shelves until he stopped and looked at the young cashier behind the counter.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked as she stepped a little away from the man. She yelped when he all of a sudden collapsed onto the floor. The girl rushed around the counter and crouched beside the man. Ichiru closed his eyes and crouched behind the counter, counting in his head––

There was a loud, inhuman scream that filled the frigid air. The man raised his head and bit into the young cashier, spilling crimson blood everywhere like a sprinkler as he tore the flesh from her main artery. There was a loud snap as the Level E Vampire tore the cashier's arm off, drained the limb of its blood and then continued to drain the body.

Ichiru watched all of this in the reflection of one of the fridges that was lined up at the back of the store. He had crouched down behind one of the aisles, dragging Kai with him as he sat on his haunches and watched the Level E feed from the now dead cashier. Sooner or later, the Vampire was going to sense their presence, and Shizuka-sama was not going to be happy when her prey was taken by another. Ichiru had his hand clamped over Kai's mouth to keep her from screaming, but she was trembling and sweating so badly that it was hard to keep his grip on her.

Ichiru searched the store for a makeshift weapon because he had left his sword at home. He heard the Vampire bite down on bones, hurriedly drink to quench his undying thirst and then start hunting again. Ichiru needed to get out of here fast. Ichiru looked back at the aisle where the Vampire was feeding and spied a lighter on the counter, with a small canister of gasoline behind the counter right next to the cigarettes. If Ichiru didn't take care of this Level E Vampire soon, it could go two ways: he could be eaten or the Vampire Hunters might find him and that would be the worst thing that could happen right now.

"Shit," Ichiru ducked behind the aisle as the Level E pulled himself onto his feet. Kai began crying beside Ichiru and he rolled his eyes.

"I can smell you," the Level E sang. His voice was fuzzy, hoarse almost. He moved sluggishly on his feet, "I'm so very thirsty…won't you help me?"

Ichiru was staring at the glass, reflecting the Vampire that had his nose in the air and blood all over his clothes. Ichiru waited until the Vampire got close enough behind the aisle. He watched as the Level E Vampire reached over the aisle and grabbed Kai by her hair. Ichiru shot up onto his feet and forced all his weight into the shelves, pushing it over and causing it to fall onto the Vampire, forcing it to release Kai, who was now screaming because she caught sight of what was left over of the cashier.

Ichiru sprang into action. He leapt over the aisle, running to the counter and jumped over it. Just as he grabbed the lighter, the Level E reached over the counter and locked his jaw onto Ichiru's shoulder. He cursed and ignored the pain of the bite and raised his knee to knock it into the Vampire's chest. He finally raised his leg high enough to kick the Vampire away from him, tearing his flesh – ripping apart his shoulder and fall to the floor. The Level E began crawling back towards Ichiru but he was quick to grab the canister of gasoline and hit the Vampire across the face with it, and again onto the Vampire's forehead, knocking him to the ground.

"Ichiru-kun! What are you doing?!" he heard Kai scream, but he ignored her.

He popped open the gasoline canister and poured the gasoline all over the Vampire, quickly throwing the rest of the canister into the Vampire's arms. Ichiru took the lighter and sparked it to life. As he leapt over the counter, over the vampire, he dropped the lighter and watched as the Vampire burst into flames. Ichiru landed on the cashier's body and skid over the blood. Ichiru cursed when he felt pain in his leg, in addition to the wound on his shoulder.

He stood up and limped to Kai, but instead grabbed the basket and grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the store, outside to where it started raining. Ichiru handed the basket to Kai and pulled his hood up and opened his jacket and tugged her inside. He put all of his weight on her as they limped away from the burning store, passing three people also wearing hoods who were walking towards the store. Ichiru could tell that they were hunters, but they hadn't seen his face or stopped him. So he was safe for now…

"Ichiru-kun? What was wrong with that man?" Kai asked softly, "What did he do to you?"

"It doesn't matter, Kai," Ichiru spat back as they rounded the corner, and the house where he lived was now in view. He knew Shizuka would be mad that Kai could've gotten hurt, she'd be even more furious that Ichiru had killed the Level E and passed some Hunters.

Ichiru looked back at the convenience store, seeing someone standing at the edge of the corner, their face hidden by a hood that was brought up to protect their face from the rain. Ichiru could tell that it was a Hunter, and the Hunter must've known that too, but they made no move to greet Ichiru, probably because they didn't know him. The Hunter turned away, vanishing around the corner.

Shizuka was going to be furious!

The light was muted, barely lighting up the dark room. The candle that was in between them did little to show Shizuka where Ichiru was hurt, although it seemed like she wasn't battling at all to see it the horrid light.

"You were brave to fight off the Level E, Ichiru," Shizuka wiped his shoulder, caressing the two deep puncture wounds in his shoulder, cleaning it before they healed, "It wasn't necessary."

"It would've killed us. And then it would've searched for you," Ichiru cursed when she rinsed out the wound. "It tasted your blood. I would've been finished."

"Did the Hunters see you?" Shizuka asked.

Ichiru looked away, "No. They didn't."

"Good," Shizuka pushed her fingers into his puncture wound. Ichiru screamed but didn't move as she pushed her fingers deeper in, tearing flesh, making blood drip down his back, over his shoulder and into the floor. She scratched at his skin, ripping his skin far enough to expose the raw muscle underneath. Shizuka pulled her fingers out, staring at the blood on her fingertips.

"What the hell was that for?" Ichiru demanded angrily.

Shizuka continued to stare at her fingers, "For a second I thought it was Kiryuu Senji before me. The Vampire Hunter that destroys Vampires with his mighty sword. For a second…you sounded just like him…," Shizuka wrapped her arms around Ichiru, pulling him close to her chest. "That man that took my love from me…that man who had everything but wanted more…that man that looks like you––"

"Enough," Ichiru said. He allowed Shizuka to hold him, he allowed Shizuka to hurt him because no one knew the guilt she felt for all the lives that she had taken but knew that she couldn't be held responsible for her actions. But Ichiru felt more guilt the older he got and the more he looked like his father…it was unlimited, it was strong.

"Every day you grow to look more like him," Shizuka whispered in his ear. She brought her lips to his ear, her breath was like ice against his skin, "Every day you sound more like him. But your heart…your heart is nothing like his," her lips were at his neck now, and he waited for the bite that he had craved for so long but it never came. She pushed him away from her, only putting her arm before him. She had already cut a nice long slice along her wrist.

Ichiru stared at it. The dark blood that was almost black. The blood that he had drunk for so many years that made him stronger than he'd ever been, probably stronger than Kiryuu Senji had ever thought he would be. Ichiru was bloody before the Pureblood Queen, in nothing but an old pair of jeans and a more than ready wound to feed from but here they were, in the dark, the Vampire feeding the Hunter.

"Take my vein," Shizuka purred. Her long fingers were in his hair, brushing the silky smooth tendrils, "Grow strong. Be the strongest of your bloodline. Taint your blood by drinking mine. Curse the man that made you weak."

Ichiru frowned, because her tone was bitter because the words had no truth behind them. Even though she cursed Kiryuu Senji, she often told Ichiru that he looks like him, sounded like him but sometimes it was hard to know if Shizuka was talking about the man that she loved, or Kiryuu Senji who she had a past with but refused to talk about it with Ichiru…

Ichiru stared at her vein, blood overflowing from the deep cut. He took her hand in his and put his lips over her wound, sucking her life source and absorbing it into him. He could feel her blood warm him up, mixing with his and boiling beneath his skin.

Ichiru could feel that Shizuka was lonely, and even though he was always by her side he could not rid her of her loneliness. He was by her side, there to pick up the pieces on the days that she was shattered but he could not enter her heart. He could not get her to look at him with the same gaze that she wore when she spoke about that man that she loved, or Kiryuu Senji…

"Ichiru…"

Ichiru looked up meeting her gaze that now sparkled with a whole different admiration. It was a new, heated look that Ichiru didn't recognise. He sat up straight, turning to face her. Her red eyes were filled with wonder, thirst and pride – a spark of life that Ichiru had not seen for a very long time since that night.

She smiled at him, "I found him…"

A/N: This chapter is evil, and its making me question everything I know. Even though it is just my theory with my fanfictions and the whole little world I've created around characters that ARE NOT MINE but I've made mine (Senji x Azumi Kiryuu - guys - I LOVE THEM!) but imagine Papa Kiryuu and Shizuka TOGETHER! *MIND BLOWN*

Anyway, I love getting reviews. So thank you to my precious first reviewer Reihime for the lovely review and I hope you will continue to enjoy the story!

And to all my other readers, I hope you like my story and continue to follow it! I think my other fic Vampire Knight: Convicted will only be back in the new year.

That's is all.

Please read, review, like, fave and follow for more ICHIRU 3

K, BYE.

- SBDI