A/N: Thank you for the lovely review/favs/alerts. It has brightened my dreary day more than you can imagine. ^_^ For full disclaimers and summary see first chapter. This chappy is part of the explanation for how dolls come to life. I hope you enjoy the story!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Vampire Knight Anything, I only lay claim to my original characters, plot bunnies and such. Beware that it is Puppetland/Dollworld, adjustments had to be made. Most VK characters will make an appearance. ~_^

The workshop was dark and silent when Kaname returned.

He frowned, slightly, taking note of the slightly depressed air. Perhaps there was more to this block of wood than he'd been listening to before. He could hear many of the things coming from it, that had been one of the reasons he'd felt drawn to the neglected specimens in the first place.

The moment he'd run his hands over the blocks, he'd known that he would start right then. His own original line of dolls, his own companions, his own…friends…guards…and perhaps an assistant or two. He'd always been a repairman, known for his ability to heal any injury or mark with his skilled hands. He was always on hand when a new doll was put to life for permanence—and he was there when the cycle began and when it ended.

But this time was different. It had to be.

Those others had always been different—nothing like this, nothing like the one here in front of him. Those had always been strangely lifeless, but this one, this time—the entire truckload he'd found at the warehouse was turning out to even be in his dreams now. The few precious minutes when he'd slipped into dreamland, his mind had been abuzz with all the possibility and he'd seen a face, with a halo of golden hair and rich green eyes the color of pine and life.

Takuma.

Yes, Kaname was sure that this was for the best—it just remained a matter of how to get around the issue of blood. But of course, in the face of such excitement, thoughts like that were pushed to the back of his mind for his pureblood self to puzzle over while his talented hands went to work.

Paint.

Yes, he'd paint first.

Blood magic could do quite a bit, but Kaname wanted to make his mark as deeply and permanently as he could. This would be his first, after all.

"Takuma." He whispered, donning the work apron and selecting the necessary tools from the array on the workbench. "I'm almost through with you." He murmured, setting to work. "You have a blood sponsor, his name is Asato Ichijo. I suppose that would make you Takuma Ichijo." He smirked. "I intend to keep you though. Perish the thought that you should be at his hands."

Kaname worked in silence for several hours.

He paused only for a break when troublesome Joren stammered and excused his way through the dinner tray that he'd brought. There was an ivory envelope included on the silver tray and Kaname knew the nervous secretary had braved his famous temper solely to deliver the message. The meal was most certainly an afterthought—Joren never thought that far ahead.

With a curt nod, Kaname had taken the tray and shut the door in the young man's face. He didn't care to deal with him any more than he had to. Burgundy eyes flickered briefly over the silver-covered entrees and he set it down on one cleared section of his work counter.

The customary flask of spring water graced one side of the tray, the metal tin of blood tablets resting innocently beside it. Kaname scowled, fiercely, before he emptied the entire container into the flask and swished it for the substances to mix. He drank it with a grimace and opened the ivory envelope.

It was from Asato, declaring that he had looked too thin, pale and haggard that working himself to death was doing no one any favors and that he was required to eat the dinner.

"Required?" Kaname repeated. "You take me for a fool, Ichijo?" His grip on the flask tightened and a faint crack appeared on one corner.

TAKUMA'S POV

He was troubled when he returned. I wasn't quite sure why. I couldn't really see him too well, because he worked on the details below that I couldn't quite put my finger on or my eyes for that matter. I continued to see him in some sort of strange, tortured haze, but perhaps that was the way it would always be.

I don't know.

I did know that when he took a break to answer the door—it was not a very good break.

I must admit I was terrified when I heard him snarl the name "Ichijo." Surely he did not mean me? I don't think I could bear it if his anger was directed towards me. I crave everything he has to offer and yet, his anger scares me. Then again, what am I to be picky?

If I am nothing more than a tool to appease his temper, I should be glad, yes?

KANAME'S POV

He'd slammed the door in the secretary's face once more. It was almost becoming a habit, one that he was loathe to even consider thinking of breaking. With a quiet sigh, he returned to his workbench, flexing tired fingers and willing them to work and continue working.

The silence of the workshop soothed his ruffled temper and Kaname worked quickly, ignoring the cooling dinner tray.

His mind had been focusing on one little issue for his new doll and that had been eyes. Glass-blown eyes were sure to be the best fit and certain to be priceless when magicked. He'd experimented enough to know that sometimes, it was best to help the magic along partway.

A common shortcut among crafters was the absence of such details—such as carving the pieces into existence with a predetermined set of clothes or never deliberately carving out every knuckle and joint.

Kaname was determined to avoid such commoner mistakes.

For once in his existence, he would set a framework for all masterpieces at his hand. He would do this right and he would do it so perfectly that there would never be any doubt that this doll was his!

He didn't finish the eyes until the following day.

But when he did, they were beautiful. A perfect, shimmering shade of green and with just the right hint of black in it. With a smile, Kaname moved to the carved figure.

When he'd finished, the result was startlingly beautiful.

A thrill ran through his fingers as Kaname busily hurried through the rest of the preparations—final carving details, hair—hair dye—and hair scissors, then sculpting putty for additional features.

Yes, Kaname decided, when the work was about done. He did like this very much. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the other blocks of wood. There would surely be a wonderful blur of work to experience and he couldn't wait to get started. Standing back from the masterpiece, he gave a satisfied sigh. There was only one thing left to do.

~*~*~Thanks for reading! ~*~*~