Vampire Knight Fan Fiction ❯ Of Living and Learning ❯ Of Living and Learning 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter3

The sunlight streaming in though the windows hit her eyelids and Kairi blearily opened her peepers. She shifted her head from side to side as she took in the unfamiliar ceiling. The foggy state of her mind cleared and she realized she was now boarding at Cross Academy.

Dragging herself up, she sat at the bed's edge and pressed her palms against her gritty eyes, clearing them of sleep. She stood and stretched while giving a cursory glance at the wall clock. Her indigo eyes popped open at the time. 11 am?! Kairi didn't remember when she had ever slept in so late. A loud growl from her stomach alerted her that she skipped dinner last night and breakfast this morning.

Gathering her bathing supplies, she made haste and got ready for the day in record time. The dorm was already abandoned, the students either having lunch or off enjoying themselves in town. As she jogged to the cafeteria, Kairi felt rather relieved that she had slept in. That way, she wouldn't have to face any students until classes tomorrow.

The cafeteria was also pretty much abandoned when she arrived. There were only a handful of students sitting at the tables eating. No doubt majority of the population were in town having fun on a Sunday. Kairi got into the queue and ordered a lunch set. Holding her tray, she scanned the café for a seat and settled down at a table beside a window.

Munching absentmindedly, she began to prioritize her tasks for the day. First off, she ought to go visit the Chairman and ask for Yuki or Zero to show her around. It wouldn't do to be late for her first day tomorrow because her sense of direction led her astray into circling the campus grounds. Then there's the matter with the vampires……

Her chomping slowed as she contemplated how to best broach the topic of becoming test subjects to the residents of the Moon Dorm. She had made her resolutions last night to forget everything she had left behind on the mainland now that she was on Cross Island. It was time to start anew. Plus she really needed to catch up on the research as she had left it on a year-long hiatus since her parents' death. Coming here and living independently made a good motivating factor.

Kairi finished off her lunch by downing her glass of iced tea and made her way to the admin block. Now that she knew where some blocks of the Academy were located, she had no problem finding her way. She was blessed with a photographic memory which she supposed made up for the distinct lack of directional sense.

Knocking politely, Kairi waited outside the door until the Chairman's voice called for her to enter. She stepped in and greeted a good afternoon. “Where can I find Zero or Yuki? I was hoping to get a tour of the school grounds.”

Chairman Cross beamed at the sight of his new foster daughter. “Kairi! I hope you find your dorm all right. As for my other darling daughter and son, I sent them off to town to collect some packages for me. I'm afraid you'll have to explore the campus on your own.”

“Oh.” She concealed the slight panic in her tone. Exploring by herself? Nuh-uh! She did that before years back and it landed her in a shallow pool of seawater infested with jellyfishes. The pain of the stings was still firmly implanted in her memory. She'd vowed never to go off on her own again and hated those translucent tentacled creatures ever since.

“Would you like the Moon Dorm's Leader to give you a tour instead?”

“No!”

The Chairman blinked at her immediate reply.

Kairi quickly amended herself. “I mean, no, because I need more time to organize before I approach the vampires.”

Her foster father accepted that answer and she phew-ed mentally. Really, the excuse was partially true. She did need to sort through the research and rearrange the files. It wasn't like she didn't want to meet that gorgeous Pureblood so soon since the feeling of his lips against her ear still sends strange delicious shivers up her spine. Well, not entirely anyway.

Whoa! What am I thinking?! She reckoned the strange turn her thoughts took was due to something in the lunch. Bowing, she left the office and returned to the Sun Dorm. Chairman Cross said her new uniform would be arriving soon. Kairi suppose she'll just chill in her room and actually go through the project's files.

When she reached her room, the redhead flopped on the bed and thought about when she should drop by the Moon Dorm again. She really needed to get started. And since she had to confront the vampires eventually, might as well get it over sooner than later right? Right. It occurred to her belatedly she didn't get the name of the Pureblood she met. Ah, well.

She got up and reached for a drawer in the desk, pulling out a thick folder. Flipping it open, a sense of nostalgia threatened to overwhelm her as her eyes looked over the familiar gentle curves of her mother's handwriting and the harsh lines of her father's scrawl in tiny notes here and there. Her vision becoming blurry and Kairi quickly tilted her head upward to prevent tears from falling. Honestly, didn't she give herself a prep talk last night to let it go?

Let's see…think happy thoughts. Like…YUKI! Yeah, that girl seems to be the constantly cheery type. Her self-therapy session got interrupted by a knocking at her door. Kairi sniffled and stuffed the project folder back in the drawer before opening the door. A delivery boy handed her a package and she signed her name on the clipboard. Closing the door after her, she ripped open the box and lifted the uniform for inspection. Yanking the blinds shut, she tried out the clothes. Turning over in front of the mirror, Kairi had to admit Cross Academy's uniform was certainly one of a kind. The white color went nicely with her coloring.

Craning her neck over her shoulder to see how her behind looked in the new uniform, her mind came to a complete halt when her memory brought up the scene of Yuki and Zero in the Chairman's office yesterday. Black! They wore black uniforms! Why did she get a white one? Unless…

Her anger surfaced and she jammed her feet into the standard issue black school boots before rushing to the admin block.

Slamming open the door of the Chairman's office, Kairi paid no heed to the fact that her foster father was having an audience. She stomped to his desk and gestured wildly at the uniform she wore. “What is this?!”

Chairman Cross was unperturbed by her angered tone. “It's your new uniform, Kairi. I see it fits nicely. You look very smart in it.”

The redhead disregarded his compliments and half screamed at him, “Why is it white?! You had plans to put me in the Night Class and you didn't think to tell me about it?!”

The Chairman waved his hands in a placating manner. “There's a good reason for this change. Wouldn't being in the Night Class improve your relations with the vampires?”

“Would it be so bad to study with us?” A familiar voice added. Kairi's frame stiffened and she whipped her head to see Takuma Ichijou and…the Pureblood.

Oh hell.

“I would prefer if I was informed of such major changes beforehand.” She said stiffly, avoiding answering the vampire's question and shot the Chairman a cold glare.

The school director gave a cheeky grin. “Come now, Kairi. Like Ichijou said, would it be so bad to study with the Night Class? They are the elites of the school, you know.”

Now she understood why Zero was out for the Chairman's blood. She restrained herself from punching the grinning man out cold. “With all due respect, I'd rather not. Yet, that is.” She needed time to fully steel herself before stepping foot in a class full of vampires.

The Chairman relented. “All right then. In that case, you'll need to do something else since you chose not to join the Night Class yet. You'll have to become a Guardian.”

“A Guardian?” she asked and ignored the burning gaze locked on her back by one Pureblood vampire whom she has yet to know of his name.

“They are the school prefects, though that it just a cover. Their real job is to act as the school Guardians to protect the secrets of the Night Class from the other students. Since you have knowledge of vampires, you'll make a good Guardian. I've read your previous school records and it says you're efficient in several forms of self-defense.”

Protecting the Night Class? Doesn't sound so hard, she mused. “So I'll be working with Yuki and Zero?”

The Chairman nodded. “This is all temporal, of course. When you do join the Night Class, you'll have to stop your Guardian duties.”

“I can deal.”

The wattage of the smile Chairman Cross sent her way after she accepted her new Guardian role nearly blinded her with its intensity.

“Oh, this is absolutely wonderful! My new adorable daughter working together with her equally cute sister and loving brother! What a perfect picture that would make!”

Kairi wasn't the quick-to-judge type but seeing the Chairman do a little happy dance as he loudly fantasized about the happy moments of a father knowing his children are working harmoniously, she was inclined to think Cross Academy's director had a few loose screws.

She left the man alone in his own happy little world and turn to leave. Her exit was blocked by the two vampires however. Ichijou smiled at her while the Pureblood eyed her suspiciously.

“You have yet to give us your last name. I think we should get better acquainted, don't you? Since you obviously know a lot about our kind.” He said casually but Kairi didn't miss the tense undertones in his smooth voice.

“Are you really the Chairman's new foster daughter?” this came from Ichijou.

“Yeah,” she said, though her azure eyes were locked on the reddish orbs of the Pureblood. The Noble vampire raised a fine brow. “Ask him,” Kairi shot a look at the giddy Chairman who was still caught up in his imaginations.

“As for getting better acquainted, you haven't told me your name either.” She retorted.

The Pureblood inclined his head, “Apologies; I am Kaname Kuran.”

Leader of the vampires, huh? Her photographic memory immediately registered the Kuran name.

And what better way to get a head start on the project than informing the head honcho?

Seeing her chance to establish herself in the vampire race, she decided to cross at least one hurdle first. She'd already made up her mind to continue her parents' work. Associating with the vampires was inevitable. But she needed to know this one thing almost desperately.

“Can I trust you, completely and unconditionally?”

Kaname's eyes widen a fraction at the unexpected question. This girl was a mystery; her sudden appearance in Cross Academy, becoming a foster child to the Chairman and her knowledge of vampires. Plus her reluctance to reveal her last name, though he was sure it had something to do with his kind. He saw the fire of determination burning in her unique purple-blue eyes and in that moment he realized. She had something of great importance to protect, so much that she needed the cooperation of vampires.

She would have to be an orphan, his mind rationalized. After all, it wasn't like Chairman Cross to take her in as a foster daughter unless her real parents were dead.

He thought about what it would mean to give her his word. She was certainly a spitfire, barging in on the Chairman and demanding her rights. Kaname was suddenly reminded of the silken softness of her cheek when they brushed faces accidentally last night at the stairs. He felt himself wanting to see what she would do next.

Taking in the determined posture of her slim frame, he felt oddly compelled to help her, protect her even. The leader of the vampires couldn't forget the near broken look she had last night when he pressed her for her last name. If it was in his power to do as she asked, then he would.

“Yes.” He answered her steadily.

The vampires watched as relief washed over her attractive features and her stance becoming less uptight in their presence.

“Thank you,” Kairi said sincerely and moved to the door. They didn't stop her this time.

The redhead paused with her hand on the doorknob.

“Ratoleia,”

Kaname and Takuma started at the name of the famous scientist couple who were frequently mentioned in the vampire race.

She twisted the doorknob. “My last name is Ratoleia.”

With a swish of her long blood red hair, she left, thereby missing the absolute stunned shock on the faces of the Pureblood and Noble.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Notes:

Kaname finally learns of Kairi's last name! Things will start progressing from here.

Our beloved Pureblood is thinking of Kairi too. I mean, sure, he's still fixated on Yuki but it's not entirely impossible for a newcomer to capture his attention.

The issues between Yuki and Kaname will be resolved, more or less, in later chapters since she'll be with Zero and Kaname will be free to pursue other interests.

The attraction between Kairi and Kaname is mutual, though they won't realize it until way later when it grows more obvious.