Chapter 15
"Kuran's a Dick"
Midday, that's when I was able to fall asleep yesterday. My insomnia keeping me from a full night's rest, however, it wasn't the insomnia that woke me up at three in the afternoon. A whole four hours before anyone else wakes up, there was a tightening in my chest and a stinging sensation in my neck, right over my tattoo. My gums hurt but I refused to acknowledge it, knowing what it all means.
I curl into myself, clutching my sheets and waiting for this feeling to pass. It does, but taking its time, leaving me exhausted and yet still unable to go back to sleep. I relaxed a little, knowing I'm probably not going to get any more sleep tonight. Reluctantly, I get up, searching for a shirt. Finding one, I make my way down to the kitchens to make an early breakfast, not much, just enough to settle my stomach for tonight's classes.
I then head back to my dorm room to sit in silence until it's time to go. Knowing that the fit is bound to come back later tonight.
We had just finished class when Souen and I met up for the final time at the library. Kuran wasn't there yet, so it was just the two of us in the quiet room.
"Now, when Kaname-sama gets here, the test will start. You will have to be on your best behaviour. No talking unless spoken to, you must call him with his formal title 'Kuran-sama', you cannot talk back, and you MUST bow and welcome him when he enters."
"Hold on, I have to bow?"
"Yes! Of course, you do! You learned this already, so just do as I taught you and you'll be fine." She lectured. "Now, I don't want to see any glares at him, not even if he says something about you that you don't like. I want your best smile; you need to look like you are grateful he is here."
Rather than actually smiling, I relax my face to a more bored expression, similar to Shiki or Touya.
"Not quite what I was looking for, but its good enough."
"Good enough is fine by me."
I sighed; this is gonna be a nightmare. Still, I'd rather just get it over with and go on with my day. I woke up in a sweat again so I've been irritable all day. Guess I'm gonna have to put that aside mentally while dealing with this test.
An hour! It took an hour for Kuran to show up. Bastard probably made me wait just so I would be more irritated by the time he got here and more likely to fail. Well, I'm gonna show him. I already learned it; I can prove that much. Besides, Souen looked so worried before he came in, I should at least show that she did her job well.
Back to the task at hand, Kuran has just walked in and Souen bows to him. I grudging copy her, looking off to the side. Even though I want to pass, this feels disgusting. Bowing to such a person hurts my pride, but I swallow that feeling.
"Kaname-sama, welcome." Souen said it sincerely, and she motioned for me to begin.
"W-Welcome, Kuran-s-sama" I stuttered a little, completely out of my comfort zone and still looking off to the side, avoiding eye contact.
"Souen." He addressed her only, as if I wasn't here. "Do you believe he is ready?"
What, he's gonna talk as if I'm not here? Bastard…
"I believe so. He has been cooperative with me this far and seems to have learned what I taught him."
"Very well, I trust your judgement."
I remained calm and still, just as instructed. Afterall, I'm not to talk unless spoken to. But FUCK this is gonna be so boring! It's only been a few seconds since he entered and I already want it to end.
"Shall we sit down?" Souen gestured towards our usual seats and they moved over to them. I followed behind and sat next to Souen who was across from Kuran.
I was correct, it was boring. I just had to sit there while Kuran talked shit about things he thought would piss me off enough to interrupt. I kept my cool, answered any questions he asked me, so I think it's possible that I might actually pass.
"I think I've seen enough now. Kiryuu, you proved to me that you can keep your nose out of trouble when you try." Souen smiled towards me, perhaps she's glad her teaching worked.
"However, I must fail you." Her smile dropped and we both looked towards him in shock.
"Huh? But I did everything correctly!" I exclaimed.
"I don't understand either, Kaname-sama. He acted perfectly." She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"That is exactly why he failed. The entire point of these lessons was for him to learn how to act at all times. He has showed me no difference in class or in the dining room, so why should he get a pass?"
"That's not fair!" I glared, but he acted as if I said nothing and just continued with what he was saying.
"Admittedly, Kiryuu has showed he is completely capable of conducting himself properly in my presence or in a formal setting when needed. Therefore, it just proves that he purposefully refuses to behave accordingly around me under normal circumstances." Wide eyed, Souen and I stared at Kuran.
He never said I had to change my act in class too. I assumed that the test was the only thing and that as long as I knew how to act around council members, I'd pass.
"This has been rather disappointing; however, I suppose there is no point to continuing since I doubt he would change his behaviour during classes." He glances at me, "I think we are done here. Good night."
"Yes, Goodnight Kaname-sama."
I refused to say anything to him, I was livid that he had tricked me. Being forced into 'respectful' greetings and idle chatter with someone I hate left a bad taste in my mouth. There was no way I'd continue treating him like he's better than me.
Clenching my fist, I turned away from Souen, towards the door. I was planning on leaving but she spoke up before I could get away, her face downcast. "Kiryuu-kun, I was really hoping you would pass. I'm a little disappointed." And she followed Kuran out, leaving me stunned and alone.
I was right, not too long after the test, my hunger came back full force. The ache in my chest, now more of a burn and the stinging in my neck became a deep itch that I couldn't relieve by merely scratching it. Since it's not going away as it had before class, I decide to try downing more tablets.
Even if they make me sick, as long as I can get something from them, there'll less chance of me hurting someone.
I reached into the inner pocket of my jacket, feeling around for the small box filled with the chalky pills. Finding it, I pull them out, missing the slip of paper falling to the ground at my feet. I walk over to the bathroom sink, open the box, and take out a few of the white pills. Using my other hand, I turn on the faucet then drop the tablets into my mouth, bringing my hands together to cup some water to make swallowing easier.
The reaction is almost instantaneous. My chest goes from burning to an extreme tightness and my throat closes up, only for my body to reject the tablets and cough them back up, into the sink where the water washes them down the drain. Turning off the faucet, I step backwards till I hit the wall behind me. My legs weaken and I find myself sliding to the ground.
Can't do anything right. Not a Hunter, not a vampire. I don't belong with either. I can't take the tablets like I'm supposed to, but without them I'll hurt someone.
My breathing was laboured now, the tablets having only made everything worse. I counted the tiles to pass the time, hoping the attack won't last too much longer. At this rate, I'll lose myself sooner then I like. But, what more could I do to stop this? What other options do I have? My nails lengthen so I dig them into my leg, trying to distract myself.
There aren't any.
It took longer than it should have, but I was able to calm down enough to get back up. Chest still aching, I straightened my clothes and walked slowly back into my bedroom. That's when I hear it, a small crunching of paper under my foot. Looking down, I see the envelope from earlier, it was crumpled a little now, but you can still read the words "Happy Birthday" in a neat handwriting.
That's right. Touya said that if I needed blood, I should bring her this… That feels kind of like a trap though…
What could she possibly do for me? More tablets would be pointless, unless, she plans on letting me bite her? That cant be right. A noble wouldn't lower themselves to letting a level-d or e bite them, it's unheard of. Absurd even. But then again, why else would she say to use this if I'm hungry, If it's not that? This is just making my headache worse now…
I suppose, there's no real harm in just asking her. And, if it turns out there's another way I can sate my thirst, then maybe it's worth it.
With my mind made up, I pick up the envelope and head out the door.
One step. I get one fucking step out of my room and hear hushed voices. Now, you are probably thinking 'why don't you just ignore it and walk straight to where you are going' but here's the thing, they are in my way… I have to sneak past the stairs down to the main foyer (which is where they are) to be able to get over to the girl's side of the dorms. Yes, it'll be easy to get past them as long as they don't look up, but I can naturally hear their every word.
"I expected more from you Ruka." Kuran's voice rang throughout the almost empty room.
"I know, Kaname-sama. I should have tried harder, been more firm with him perhaps."
"Perhaps he just needed a better teacher." Souen stepped back a little at that.
"Though, I find it hard to understand how you could have let him slip up as much as that."
"I-I thought he made significant progress, all things considered." She stuttered out.
"Indeed, but a week should have been plenty of time to fix his behaviour. I knew I shouldn't have asked an aristocrat to teach him." Sneaking closer to the banister, I was able to see Souen nod in reply.
"I can… always try again. If it will help at all."
"It won't. Kiryuu refuses to kneel to authority so there's no point in continuing." Damn right I won't.
Having enough of their conversation, I head over to where I remember Touya's room was located.
By the time it took me to find Touya's room, my gums were aching. Walking towards the door, I knocked a couple times and waited, rubbing at the dull pain in my neck absently. I heard a few small steps before the door opened, revealing a tired looking Touya wearing some casual clothes. "Sorry for coming here so late, I hope I didn't disturb you." I was a little apprehensive of what the coupon is for…
Perhaps she planned on letting me feed from her?
At the thought, the ache in my gums became a throb.
"Oh, Kiryuu-kun. It's no biggie, I was just doing some homework." She spoke. "Can I… do something for you?" She asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. Her hair falling away from her neck, giving me a good view of the skin there.
I hesitated for a moment and looked away. "Umm…" was all I managed to say, but I got the message across by pulling the coupon out of my jacket and handing it to her. She looked surprised for a moment before taking it from me and opening the door wider and motioning for me to come inside.
"I wasn't expecting you so soon, but I suppose now is fine." If I had been paying attention I would have noticed that we passed through the main sitting room that she and Souen share. It was elegantly decorated with a few lounge chairs by a coffee table, a few bookshelves, and a medium round dining table with 4 chairs. She walked up to one of the 2 doors that led to their separate bedrooms and I followed, my gums now stinging where my teeth have shifted. I closed the door behind me, ready to relieve the discomfort.
AU: How's that for a cliff-hanger?
I know I took my time updating this, I was busy with covid and the holidays and overall not feeling up to writing, but it's out now! I told you I'm not gonna stop writing this, and I won't! I have a general idea but its in bits and pieces at the moment. Wish me luck!
