Chapter Five: Head Under Water

"Not going to kill me yet?"

His surprisingly gentle voice made me jump. He had been so quiet that I had almost forgot he was there.

I sighed. "I decided to let you live a little longer. I can't get myself expelled. Wait until after graduation."

"But that doesn't mean I forgive you." I reminded him.

He nodded, cautiously and slowly taking his time to get closer to me. I looked over my shoulder to glare at him, causing him to study me like I was the most dangerous animal God created.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Serena, I…"

He stopped when I narrowed my eyes at him, warning him not to continue or else be bitched at. His normally pale face flushed a little but he stopped talking. I rolled my eyes, returning to my telescope, nearly poking my eye on it because I moved too fast.

"What are you looking at?" Mr. Bunny courageously asked, now standing within inches from me.

Well that was fast.

"Mercury."

I looked back and forth between him and the distance that was there. He had gotten bold within seconds.

"Ah…what's so interesting about it?"

I eyed him, wondering why the hell was he trying to pretend he was interested in astronomy, but I was going to play nice if he wanted to be that way. I can pretend.

"Well, it's in retrograde right now and it's the smallest planet."

"No it's not. Pluto is the smallest."

I stared at him, hoping he was just kidding. "Where have you been? Pluto is off the list!"

He smirked like a know-it-all, placing his right hand behind his neck. The position made him look gentle and easy to approach. Well, if he ever gave a person the time to approach him. Usually he invaded their space.

"Yeah, I know, but talking about planets makes you friendlier."

I would have hit him on the head if I hadn't noticed that he was actually trying to be my friend, which was odd all itself. No one but Kiren showed enough patience to put up with my bullshit. Not even my buddy, Erica, the girl who taught me how to pick locks, had the patience. After one frustrated incident, she brutally threw me against a wall. Needless to say we were both angry teenagers hunting for blood, looking for someone to take our rage out on.

"Well, what do you know about Mercury?" I folded my arms, facing him now in a challenging way.

"I know he was the God of messengers."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "That's Roman and Greek mythology. I mean the planet itself."

"I know it orbits the Sun every eighty-eight days and it's very bright when viewed from Earth, but can only been seen during early morning or evening twilight. So you must have some super telescope to see it now during the night," he stated flatly, taking a look at my telescope.

"Mom got it for me. I think it was her way of apologizing," I said bluntly and without a trace of emotion. I wasn't going to show him me. I wasn't going to show him how she really affected me.

There was a pause of silence and then he opened his big mouth again, but his voice was so gentle that a raindrop would have been louder. "I'm not going to tell anyone."

"Oh I know," I smirked.

He gave me a perplexed look, elevating his eyebrow. "How?"

" 'Cause I'll kill ya if you do."

He began laughing. I mean, actually laughing. The ones that were pure and left your belly feeling like it would explode and made blood rush to your face.

I should threaten him with death more often.

"Have you ever tried to find him?" he asked, going back to the topic.

If only you knew.

He lightly shoved me when I didn't answer.

I gave him a dirty look before sighing. "Why look for someone who left us behind? I'm not going waste my time on someone who didn't love us."

I suddenly winced, feeling something prickly on my elbow and I noticed that the cut I got during the time I was moving my belongings into Kiren's room was starting to bleed again. It wasn't a deep cut but it still stung.

"Damn it. I forgot."

I had left my band-aids in my new room. Then again I doubt I'd be able to find them now within that mess. I heard him clear his throat and when I glanced at him I could have sworn I saw red in his eyes, but they were red for only a few nano seconds.

Maybe I was just seeing things.

He coughed and looked away from me, covering his face with his hands as if someone just flickered a flashlight in his face.

"What? Do you have a dry throat?"

"You could say that," he responded with a hoarse voice. He dug his left hand into his school uniform until he found what he was looking for and handed me a handkerchief from his pocket. "Here."

I took a long look at it, studying it like it was poisoned. It was clean, pink and…why the hell did he have this with him?

"Use it," he urged, almost shoving it in my hands.

"Are you sure you're not gay?"

My blunt question took him off guard and he nearly whacked me. "Here I am being nice and you're an ass to me."

"Well it's that you actually carry a handkerchief and it's pink," I laughed, watching him fume.

"It is NOT pink. It's RED!"

Ah, now this is more like it.

"Whatever," I retorted and tried to use it, but it wouldn't stay in a knot. Mr. Bunny let out a loud, frustrated growl.

"Damn it already!" he grunted, yanking me to him and tied the knot swiftly for me. The action made me laugh.

"Awww…why thank you Mr. Bunny." I patted him on the head but noticed how pale he was, reminding me of the time Mom passed out once.

"Hey, you're not gonna faint on me are you? Are you such a pansy that you'd faint at the sight of blood?"

It was meant as joke but he growled dangerously at me. A long, awkward pause of silence grew between us. We had gone from being friendly—too friendly—to whatever this was. I almost thought he gave up talking until he mentioned something about his cousin and how annoying he was. I knew he was making small talk just so the awkward silence would go away so I stopped paying attention.

I sighed, tilting my head up to the sky. The moon had turned into its normal pale color, hanging next to another bright star. Which one was that? I can't remember. Hmm...it's not even a full moon yet. Waxing or waning?

I snorted. This is what I loved about this school. When the sun went down and there weren't any clouds or trees in the way, I could see the milky way. The school was isolated for the most part, meaning that there were few street lights. It was so easy to spot out the constellations here. In the States, it was nearly impossible to see anything. Now, if I can only imagine myself at the beach. Oh yea, that'd be my paradise. The sound of the waves and the starry sky above me.

I sound like a hopeless romantic...

And then he poked my stomach like a child would stomp on their parent's foot for attention.

I whacked his hand. "What?"

"You weren't listening!" he snapped.

"Yes I was," I lied and he made a foul face at me, folding his arms across his chest.

"No, you weren't."

He sighed, sounding too tired to argue and changed topic quickly. "What's your favorite subject besides Astronomy?"

He's attempting to have a conversation with me? Now this is odd. I wonder if someone hit him earlier. Actually, now that I think about it, that's probably a marvelous theory. Someone must have hit him so hard that it caused him to temporarily lose his mind...wait, this means I'm admitting he has a mind. Okay, no, lose his...oh whatever. It'd make sense though. I mean why else would he apologize? Someone must be forcing him to...

I eyed him again, noticing his impatience because I was taking too long to answer and I nibbled on my lip before responding. "Languages even if I don't show it. Biology is pretty neat too."

He smiled a small smile. "Science is more my forte."

How…awkward. I've never had a male friend before and this was…well, I wasn't even sure this was happening. I looked around him. Maybe he's being watched...you know, for best behavior, but I didn't find anything.

"Did you actually like gymnastics? And softball?"

I tried to relax. "Softball was great, but I wasn't really into gymnastics."

"Then why did you do it?" He was sitting on the ground now, completely comfortable.

I snorted. "Mom. She wanted me to lose weight and gain more muscle."

"Aidou," A masculine voice interrupted us and I jumped.

My eyes landed on a gorgeous man with shoulder length brown hair and reddish brown eyes. He was a little taller than Mr. Bunny, but enough to tower over me. He carried with him an air of superiority and came across as domineering. He was obviously a Night Class student judging by his uniform. Damn it. Another night busted. I can't look at the stars in peace.

"What are you doing?" the student asked, his voice slightly concerned and yet aloof at the same time.

Mr. Bunny had jumped from where he was sitting into standing position and nearly bowed before the other student. "Nothing. Just chatting."

Mr. Bunny is being polite? Wow. Someone's whipped.

Actually he was too calm for my tastes—as if he was on guard now. The other student didn't look convinced until his eyes found me and the glint in his eyes went from possible irritation to pity. I felt something crack in me. The wall that held my anger back suddenly had a hole in it and I could feel myself tense as if someone trapped me in a room with a starving dragon.

Why did this guy make my instincts spasm? Why did I have the urge to hit him?

"It seems that you actually made a friend," he said more to me than to Mr. Bunny. "I'm glad."

"More or less," I replied callously.

"Well, since I see…nothing here…I'll go on my way. Aidou, return to class…and you to your dorms." He ignored my response, my tone and turned his back on me.

Wait--pause! Did this person just order me to do something?

I was about to tell him to mind his own fucking business until Mr. Bunny's hand flew to my mouth and clamped it shut.

"Very well," Mr. Bunny answered courteously.

I frowned at him after Mr. High-and-Mighty left, waiting for a good explanation with glorifying details.

Mr. Bunny sighed and gave me a serious glare. "Look, you can't talk like that to Kaname-sama. I won't let you."

I folded my arms stubbornly. "Ah, I get it. You're his loyal puppy. Let me guess, you follow him around and obey every order."

I watched his nostril practically flare with fire. "Say what you want to me, but treat him with respect."

"My respect isn't given, it's earned."

He grabbed me by the collar and roughly yanked me to him again. We were close enough that I could make out the patterns in his eyes. "I'm warning you."

"And I'm warning you," I snarled. "Let go of me before I become hostile."

His face became distorted, dark and sinister. The friendly atmosphere around him gone.

"Good night."

He left with that.

Is it just me? Or did it suddenly become really cold outside?

VVVVVVVV

I found him still cleaning the next day, this time sweeping slowly as if he had no energy to grumble and complain. His cheeks were tinted slightly pink, evidence of sunburn. The day was bright. The white puffy clouds were missing so Mr. Bunny had no mercy from the sun. I was glad Japan didn't have the humid air America did. I could enjoy a warm day without melting and feeling suffocated.

Lunch was next block, so he knew I was skipping class to be outside. Seems like we were taking turns. Yet he didn't say a word to me. I shrugged it off, not really in a mood to talk anyway. I didn't sleep last night and my mind was too busy buzzing about Mr. High-and-Mighty. His eyes haunted me…kind of. Last night he had looked at me with pity and I want to know why. He doesn't know me- not a thing about me...unless Bunny here opened his big mouth. Ugh! I was getting annoyed with him and he wasn't even present!

I suddenly threw the handkerchief at Mr. Bunny, which he caught without even glancing behind him.

Nice.

"Thought I'd bring it back to you. Clean."

He stopped sweeping to smirk at me. "Still has your scent."

"Well, it's not my fault you're a blood hound," I said and out of curiosity I asked him what I smelled like.

"Sweet."

"Really? You're the first person that's said I'm sweet."

"Oh, don't go putting words in my mouth," he grunted, shaking his head. "I never said you were sweet. I said your scent was sweet, but that's where I draw the line..."

I laughed, inwardly agreeing with him but that's where he stopped talking and I started to talk to myself for my own amusement. It earned me a lot of raised eyebrows, quirky smirks, and eye rolls. At least I got some reactions.

"I knew you were insane." Kiren's voice joined us.

She stood at the doorway with her arms folded across her chest, smirking at me. I grinned back, a little surprised she wasn't giving me a third degree for skipping class. Not that I normally skip class. I just couldn't stay focused today.

"I can go get our lunches if you want to eat up here," she offered and my grin grew wider. See, Kiren is nice to me unlike some annoying stalkers...

"I knew there was a reason I loved you," I laughed. "You can read me like a book."

I wasn't quite sure that it was a good thing that she could read me so easily yet I couldn't understand her half the time.

"I'll be back shortly."

Mr. Bunny gave me an infuriated glare after she left. "You call me a loyal puppy, look what you do to her! She's like your personal slave!"

"Nah, we just love each other," I grinned and laughed when his glare turned into a perverted stare. "You ass."

He shrugged and returned to his work. As promised, Kiren came back with two trays of food, each tray containing a nice balance of healthy food and junk. After handing me my tray, Kiren observed Mr. Bunny for a few seconds. She tilted her head questioningly.

"Aidou-senpai, you seem to be in a more…uptight mood today."

"Oh, Mr. Bunny's like that 'cause I nearly verbally abused a student yesterday," I smirked, not giving him the chance to reply. "Don't worry darling, you'll always be the first on my hit list."

Kiren sighed in exhaustion. Scratch that. I think the only reason Kiren hasn't strangled me yet is because she doesn't have the anger I have. Kiren is sweeter, gentle, and reserved. A lady. In fact I should probably make a note to myself: Never let Mom meet her. She'll ask if she can adopt her or maybe exchange daughters. I was practically a monster, and compared to her, maybe even Satan. I could always pass off as Satan's daughter.

"I don't see why you enjoy provoking people. And why that nickname?" She eyed me, appearing a little annoyed.

I laughed loudly. " 'Cause it gets on his nerves, but you'd think he would take it as a compliment. Bunnies get laid all the time."

Kiren choked on her milk, nearly spraying it out. Mr. Bunny, who had blushed a seriously dark red, helped her by patting her on the back. I probably should have waited to say that after she was done drinking. Poor girl.

He shot me an embarrassed, red glare. He was starting to remind me of a red traffic light. "You have NO tact whatsoever."

I smiled, not ashamed of myself and I was proud too. Proud that I could make him turn colors. I have yet to see another girl vex him like me. "I know."

"You're lucky I can't do any bodily harm."

"You wouldn't do it anyway, remember? You're the loyal puppy."

"DON'T TALK ABOUT KANAME-SAMA LIKE THAT! YOU FAT, OVERGROWN BITCH!" he suddenly snapped viciously.

Both of my eyebrows sprung up. I knew he respected Mr. High-and-Mighty, but this wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I expected him to make his usual retort, get angry and say something about how I treat Kiren. I did NOT expect him to yet again defend his master...oops! I mean his fellow classmate. I feel sorta envious of Mr. High-and-Mighty because he has Mr. Bunny's unwavering loyalty. I wished I had a guy like that. Someone I could depend on. Maybe if Dad had Mr. Bunny's loyalty he wouldn't have left.

Okay, someone crash my train of thought. What the hell does Dad have to do with Mr. Bunny? Why did he pop into my head like that? I was only thinking about Mr. Bunny and what's-his-face's-name. Another note to self: Never compare Mr. Bunny to Dad. It's just too weird.

I rubbed my shoulder, feeling two pangs of pain closer to my heart but I wasn't going to massage the area where my heart was in front of him. That would create another awkward moment.

One hit to the heart was the ever-reappearing knowledge of my father's absence in my life. The other was that Mr. Bunny just insulted me.

The bastard called me fat. That's two people! I bulked up to his height, the air in my lungs rushed out as if I was a balloon that just popped.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU PANSY?" My voice boomed loud enough that Mr. Bunny fell backwards in surprise. I'd say the Earth shook too, but that's just wishful thinking. I don't have that kind of ability, but it'd be cool if I did.

"Oh my." I heard Kiren whisper calmly and she spoke up louder to get my attention. "Umm…Serena, I think that was the bell. It's time to go."

She tugged on my sleeve, her eyes almost pleading me not to start a fight. Too bad it never works.

"WELL IT'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT!" I launched myself onto Mr. Bunny, tackling him to the ground as if we were playing football.

"Oh…great…" Kiren sighed again.

My first fist connected with his chin, making a satisfying THUD sound but my second one whizzed by his head. He snarled and grabbed both of my wrists and tightly grasped them. He stared at me with wild, stormy eyes and for some odd reason my stomach did a flip. Normally blue eyes, when they were upset, became cold and icy. They held no mercy, no emotion, no life.

His eyes were different.

If anyone has ever seen the ocean after a storm they would know how violent the watery world is. I've tried swimming against the current before and nearly got myself killed. The current had pulled me under, flipping me over and over without letting me breathe. I was taken out of the water by my –for once- brave mother and she had given me CPR. She scolded me, slapped me even but I knew she had been worried. She thought I had gone to the ocean to commit suicide.

Nah, I was just daring. Daring anyone and anything. Sometimes I get too anxious with all my jittery energy and need to do something extremely reckless.

And I got my ass kicked. Badly. No one should ever fight against nature. That's like asking Death for a tea party.

And staring into his eyes was like I was trapped in that current again. They were intense, intimidating, and I was going to suffocate in them.

They held a strength I would never have.

He shoved me off of him, grumbling out loud. "You know, I was raised not to hit girls, but you really, really tempt me."

"Oh yea, don't start acting like you have some class you arrogant son of a bitch," I growled once I got out of that watery world. I felt somewhat dazed. Had I been on a ship? Why was my body wobbly?

"Aidou-senpai!" Kiren flushed furiously and snatched me from him, becoming my shield. "Leave her alone!"

"Oh sure! Take her side!" he scowled, throwing up his hands in the air defensively.

"Well, you're supposed to be the man! Not her!"

"She acts like one!"

I kept quiet only because it was the first time I ever heard Kiren raise her voice and see her angry. I wanted to applaud, but grabbed the tray of food instead—never mind the food—and whacked him on the head with it. Mr. Bunny fell backwards and avoided crashing on the floor only because he was able to spin on his heel. He grunted, stumbling on his feet and shot me another ugly glare but he didn't move.

Kiren gasped in shock. "SERENA!"

A ringing of bells sounded in the air, letting me know that lunch was over and the next period would begin. I stomped away from the scene, leaving the mess there for him to clean up.

"SERENA!" Kiren yelled, huffing and puffing for air as she ran down the stairs trying to catch up to me. "YOU WENT TOO FAR THIS TIME!"

"Like I give a damn," I mumbled and sprinted off before she could see a wounded animal.

He had pushed too many buttons on me.

VVVVVVVVV

I studied my face in the bathroom's foggy mirror. The heat from the shower I just took made it feel humid and I had to fan the mirror to see my whole reflection. My red hair, a tangled of wet mess, smelled of shampoo and it felt smooth when I played with a strand in between my fingers. My brown eyes were moist and glassy from the earlier water works.

I was still trying not to cry. I sighed, looking at myself again.

Was I really that fat?

I had no double chin, no extra rolls on my tummy, but I wasn't well toned. I didn't have a model's body. I had curves, thick thighs and strong legs. I glanced down at my chest, smiling at little.

Well, I have those for sure.

Needless to say, Mr. Bunny's comment had dug underneath my skin. I scoffed, thinking I shouldn't care about what he says. He thinks he knows who I am just because he read my journal.

Bastard.

I sighed again, forcing myself to get dressed.

Why was it so hard for me to get along with men? What is it about them that makes me want to provoke them? Do I provoke them because I want to see if they can handle me? No, this wasn't a test of wills. I think Mr. Bunny knows I have a strong will power...I don't think he doubts my strength...or temper...

Do I fight with him because I'm afraid of him?

I giggled. Me? Afraid of Mr. Bunny who wears pink panties? Nah.

No, not that kind of fear.

No. I didn't provoke them. They provoked me. They provoked fear. Fear of being close. Fear of losing them once they knew who I was. Fear of letting go of my defenses and feeling vulnerable to them.

I hate being so damn fragile. I growled at myself, frustrated with the thoughts swarming in my head and I shook my head to physically get rid of them. I left the bathroom before Kiren's bladder exploded.

Kiren

She hadn't said a word to me ever since we got back to our room and I had began to wonder how long it would take for her to change roommates again. When I got out I found her sitting on her bed with her science book on her lap and she looked up from it when I reached my bed.

"You okay? You were in there for a while."

Her voice was oddly calm and sweet, like she already knew what I had been doing for the past two hours. I suddenly wished she were my mother. She understood me more than my mother did.

I forced myself to grin. "Have you ever gone to the bathroom and felt like you were dying? Honestly, sometimes I think taking a crap is like going through labor. Hard work I tell you."

She rolled her eyes at me and became serious. "You were criticizing your body again, weren't you?"

Damn it.

"Why aren't you mad at me?" I asked quietly. Shizune had flipped out on me when she saw my violent side and I didn't blame her. Who would want to put up with that? So why wasn't she giving me a lecture about controling my temper?

"Everyone has flaws, Serena. I choose to accept and tolerant them. You should try to do the same," she replied kindly.

I felt my eyes become watery again but I tried to laugh it off. "Yeah, guilty."

"I don't see why you're so hard on yourself. I think you're gorgeous," she smiled brightly, a perfect row of white teeth. "Even prettier than those female Night Class students."

This time I did laugh but I choked at the same time. "I wouldn't take it that far."

"No seriously."

I nodded, not too sure how to respond to that.

How did she always know? How did she always know what to say to me? But her words did not heal me. They were not comforting. They just stung because it was the first time someone flattered me.

"My turn to take a shower." She placed the book on her desk, gathered her clothes and took her towel with her. She smiled cheerfully before closing the door behind her.

I started to cry when I heard the water turn on, wrapping myself up in my bed's comforter and sunk into my bed for shelter. I wanted to hide away from the world.

Hide my blood red hair that my mother wanted to dye, my dark lifeless eyes, my flawed body, my violent temper and my already guarded heart.

Why couldn't I be like the Moon?

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

So...yea...I'm not even sure how to react to this chapter. I dug deeper to the core of how the character feels and what she thinks.

If I could hug each reviewer, I really would. I got so much feedback that it made me glow. I enjoy writing, but seeing other people enjoy it more than me is a wonderful feeling.

o.O I sounded gay right there. Yep.

I have my own little view of Aidou. Vampire or not, he's still just a boy. A boy who will make mistakes. He will be arrogant, he will be cocky, he will be funny, he will be supportive/loyal...and he will argue with Serena. A lot. And even if she pisses him off, he will respect the peace treaty that the headmaster made...or else be punished by Kaname...haha.

More characters will be included as it goes on. I'm guilty of doing things slowly.