A/N: Thank you for the lovely review/favs/alerts. See first chapter for full disclaimers and summary. Sorry for the short chapter. I simply haven't had time to work on this fic and I don't want to just throw out half-done chapters. I hope you enjoy Takuma's awakening. I'm going to bring in one more doll and then the Kiryu Twins (and darling Zero!) will make their appearance. Enjoy the read!

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. ~_^

TAKUMA'S POV

Pain.

That was the very first tangible thing I felt when the breath of life passed over me.

I didn't understand what it was at first, because this was a whole new level of feeling that had simply never been before.

Life came, slowly, like a trickle of water that grew with each instance.

Then I felt his hands again and that was all I knew. It was almost as if it were the first time I had been given the pleasure of his touch, even though those same talented hands had carved me into existence. It felt like heaven and the realms that surely were beyond it.

The strange, liquid wetness began to pour through me and suddenly, more pain came with it.

This really hurt.

Far worse pain that I had ever endured blossomed in every splinter of the fabric of my being.

A strange, sad sound filled the air around me and somehow more pain still came before I felt his hands again.

They were soft, warm and firm. Surprisingly, without callouses or even the faintest hint that those gentle hands had ever lifted a finger to do anything but exist.

The floor was cold.

And somehow it seemed closer than before.

The floor.

Hm.

KANAME'S POV

"Takuma?" Kaname bent his head to the wakening doll at his feet. It had collapsed in slow motion to an awkward sprawled position on the ground where it seemed in awe and confusion of what had just taken place. He caught the blond head in his hands, pressing it gently to his thigh and waiting for the rest of its senses to come together.

It didn't take long.

Shimmering green eyes blinked up at him in wonderment. "…Master." It breathed. Then the hands flexed, clenched and endeavored to pull Kaname closer to him. "Me…Takuma?" The words were hoarse and rusty as if the voice was unfinished.

Kaname allowed the faintest of a smile. "Takuma." He repeated. "Your name is Takuma Ichijo. Your blood sponsor is Asato Ichijo. I am your creator, Kaname Kuran." All pertinent, necessary information was delivered in a handful of short sentences. "Remember this and never forget."

"Yes…Master."

"Kaname." The brunet murmured. "You may call me Kaname." His burgundy eyes flickered the faintest hue of red and he held out a hand. The rich overcoat hanging on the stand in the corner came flying into the pale, outstretched hand. He draped it, gently, around the bare shoulders, his fingers feathering lightly over the pale, creamy skin.

Takuma let himself be covered and helped to his feet. He wobbled, precariously and grabbed Kaname's arm with a death grip that wouldn't loosen just yet. The cool, pale hands supporting him, merely rested atop his own, trembling ones.

"Careful steps." Kaname admonished, guiding him to a stool beside his workbench. "You will not have all your functions straight away, it will take more time."

"Thank you…" A blushing Takuma managed, faintly. He balanced cautiously on the rounded stool, the coat hanging awkwardly around him.

Kaname's look softened and he helped the newborn thread his arms through the necessary sleeves and buttoned it to give a hint of modesty to the new creature. "We'll start your wardrobe tomorrow." He explained, once assured that Takuma would be fine, he turned back to the workbench and began to pack it up. "I won't do anything further for today."

Green eyes blinked innocently at him, tracking every moment. "Why?" The word was formed with some difficulty.

Kaname hesitated. "Not now." He said, at last. "I'll explain later. Just—stay!" He pointed to the stool and made a motion with his hand. The young man blinked at him again. Kaname turned his attention to the dinner tray, hesitating, then grabbing up the cloth napkin and thrusting it towards the empty hands. "Here, hold this for me."

Takuma took the token willingly, holding it in hands that were awkward, but painstakingly careful, as if unsure how much pressure could be trusted to a piece of clean cloth.

Kaname set his things to straights in quick and short order, before he finally stood before the blond boy again. "Shall we?" He extended an arm, careful to keep his smile measured and his aura in check. The arm was accepted and Kaname whisked them out from the workshop and to his personal quarters.

If there was anything he loved about working at the tower—besides working there—it was the clock itself. The rooms at the top were carefully put together with a mass of giant gears, secret doors, passageways and riddles. It was to keep all but the one destined to be a Master Craftsman from stepping over the ancient threshold.

Some said ancient magic held the tower together.

Kaname didn't know. He only remembered spending afternoons in his father's lap, listening to his mother hum as she whittled and carved and watching as his father assembled life before his very eyes.

Thankfully, Takuma's walking was better than some of his other movements and Kaname was pleased to guide him to his personal quarters and then to the bedroom. The transformation process would complete itself later in the night—if he'd done it right—and if that was the case, then Takuma most certainly wouldn't need to 'eat' anything yet.

The pureblood rifled through his neat closet to find a spare set of pajamas and boxers which were immediately gifted to the green-eyed blond. It took a bit of explaining and demonstration before the articles were used as intended. Kaname finally guided the tiring Takuma beneath the covers of his bed.

"…Kaname?" Takuma murmured.

"Hmm?"

"What am I to do now?"

"Sleep." Kaname said, simply. "Tonight you will sleep."

"Sleep, only?" Takuma tried to puzzle out.

Kaname smiled, faintly. "Yes. Tomorrow, everything will make sense."

Those pine-green eyes shimmered at him, filled with trust and absolute innocence. Then, the eyes closed of their own accord and quiet, even breathing was measured out.

Kaname watched him for a moment, then he went about his nightly ablutions. There would be plenty of time to deal with it tomorrow—and if he had completed the process as noted, then there would be very little he would have to explain. Slipping on a pair of silken pajamas, Kaname moved to the small table in the corner of the room.

He'd have to make do with some blood tablets tonight. He wasn't about to make up the missed dinner and most certainly not about to leave Takuma alone—sleeping or not. He quickly popped a few of the small red discs into a tall glass and swirled it with twist of the wrist. The moment the liquid blossomed crimson, he pressed the glass to his lips and guzzled it greedily.

He shouldn't have skipped dinner—he'd have to make a note to start taking better care of himself. Kaname paused in mid-thought and gave a rather undignified snort.

As if.

Takuma could make himself useful there.

He yawned and shuffled towards the bed, crawling beneath the covers and turning out the lights with a flicker of his vampiric energy. The warmth radiating from the body beside him drew a weary smile to his face—a genuine one. He settled comfortably close and willed himself to sleep. He'd need it all before morning came.

Thanks for reading! Takuma's first day and Kaname's second doll coming up in the next chapter! ^_^