Authoresses Note: Bare in mind this contains some AU elements, partly for making the story work and partly because I haven't finished the manga nor watched much of the anime. If people would like to see more of this verse, let me know, and we'll see what the muse coughs up.

Still Doll

Akimi knows she's nothing special. She doesn't stand out from a crowd, she prefers solitude rather than companionship, and she oft sits alone in her classes. She has a bad habit of chewing her pencils when she gets nervous or gnawing on the inside of her cheek, and has a good number of scars from childhood events she barely remembers.

She's not like the other Day Class students, who seem perfect in every way. Part of her doesn't understand why she's here. Her parents told her it would be a good experience to get away from her hometown to see the world, but really, she feels like more of an outcast here than she ever did at home.

One thing she knows some of the girls gossip about is why she doesn't watch the Night Class as they leave their dorm for classes. Akimi's answer? She isn't interested. If her classmates seem perfect, what about those who everyone gushes over, saying they're the epitome of perfection?

She doesn't want to feel even more isolated in this huge academy.

-v-

"Akimi!" one of her classmates call, and she looks at them, eyebrow arched. "You're not even a little curious about the Night Class?"

"No," Akimi says bluntly, gathering her books and putting them in her bookbag. "They sound like cliche pretty men and women."

There's gasps all around, but she doesn't pay them much attention. Instead, the girl walks past her classmates and into the crisp autumn air. It's not cold, but not warm either. It's a perfect temperature as the Day Class student walks through the campus and towards her dorm room.

Her eyes look towards the Night Class dorms. They're an enigma all around, but one she doesn't care to figure out.

The wind blows through her medium length midnight hair, billowing the strands in various directions. Huffing in annoyance, Akimi shakes her head to return some shred of normalcy to her hairstyle and continues to walk. She hears a commotion behind her and turns, seeing her classmates gathering around.

"Must be that time again," she mutters to herself. As usual, she ignores it, but she doesn't notice someone run towards her.

"Akimi!" a voice yells and the girl sighs, turning to face whoever spoke to her. It's one of the newer students, and she grabs Akimi's hand, dragging her towards the crowd. "You have to see!"

Gods, why me?, she curses inwardly and tries to pull away, but the younger student has a strong grip on her hand.

She drags her to the front of the crowd, much to the annoyance of her fellow classmates. Akimi glues her eyes to her feet. Just because she's here doesn't mean she has to scream like an idiot over a bunch of students.

It's silent for a few minutes before the squealing starts. Akimi sees the shoes of those walking out of the Night Class dorms, but she refuses to meet their eyes. She already feels inadequate; who knows how she'd feel once she saw those who everyone says are perfection embodied.

Girls are shoving to try and get a closer look at their idols, but two others are shoving them back. Akimi knows them in passing; Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryu. They were appointed guardians or something like that. She didn't bother getting the full details, since she was never this close to any of those they were protecting.

She hears Yuuki say something akin to "don't go over there!", but before she realizes what the guardian was talking about, someone has their hand under her chin and forcing her to look up.

Akimi blinks. Her gaze meets cool pools of brown and a face she thinks could've been carved from marble. He stares at her with such an intense expression it makes her a bit nervous.

"C-Can I help you?" she stutters after a few beats of silence. The man hums, his fingers dancing across her cheek.

"A Day Class student who looked at the ground despite being at the forefront? You're quite the interesting girl," he says.

"Thank you…?" She doesn't know whether the "interesting" part is a compliment or insult, so Akimi says nothing else on the subject. The Night Class student moves his hand to her neck, fingers dancing over the pulse point, and it makes her heart jump in her chest.

"Shouldn't you be going to class?" she blurts out, blushing when the man arches an eyebrow at her. "I mean, um…"

"Kaname!" Yuuki exclaims, going towards them. Kaname looks at her, looking disinterested and… is that annoyance? "You're not supposed to do those things with a Day Class student."

"Right, how could I forget," he drawls. Yuuki crosses her arms, giving him a glare, and Kaname relents after a few seconds of a staring contest. He turns towards Akimi, flashing her a little smile. "I hope to see you again, little rose."

He goes towards his fellow students, who give her odd looks, but nonetheless continue on their way.

Yuuki sighs and looks at Akimi, giving her a small grin. "I wonder why you caught his attention."

"I wish I didn't," Akimi mutters, sighing. "I want to focus on my studies, not have strange men being interested in me."

Her fellow classmate giggles a bit. "You do know almost all the girls in the Day Class would adore to have Kaname Kuran look at them, right?"

"So I've heard," Akimi deadpans, looking at the retreating backs of the Night Class students. "Why would he even come to me? I don't stand out."

Yuuki coughs and tries to cover it up with a laugh, but fails as the older girl stares at her. "Er, I wouldn't know."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're really bad at lying?"

"Zero's mentioned it a few times. Anyway, gotta go!"

Akimi watches as Yuuki runs towards Zero and they walk off. She rubs her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache form. Why did this have to happen now?

-v-

Despite her best efforts, the Day Class student finds herself unable to sleep. Moonlight peers through her burgundy curtains, illuminating the room slightly, and Akimi looks out the window. The wind knocks a branch against her window, the irritating clacking noise part of the reason she can't doze off.

There were warnings for Day Class students to not venture out during the night, but Akimi thinks a simple night stroll won't hurt anything. She gets out of bed, smoothing her pajama dress before grabbing a flashlight and opening her room door.

The sole sounds throughout the dorm is her footsteps and the wind outside. It's a little eerie, but it's not too scary to her as she walks and steps out into the cool night air.

Akimi shivers a little as she goes toward a bench and sits on it. She listens to the sounds of nature, letting them smooth her worries and let her mind stop its constant chatter.

Eventually, it becomes too cold to stay out, and she goes back towards her dorm, the yellow light of her flashlight illuminating her path. Akimi goes inside as silent as she can and makes her way towards her room. Once she reaches it, she turns off her light and climbs into bed.

Maybe tomorrow would be a better day.

-v-

Unfortunately, tomorrow turns out to be the most hectic day of the Day Class student's life.

As soon as she exits her room, girls are all over her, asking what it took to get the Kaname Kuran's attention. Akimi waves them off at first, but she becomes overwhelmed before she enters the classroom.

She tries to ignore them, but they keep pestering to the point the normally quiet girl yells "I don't know, now leave me alone!"

It startles them enough she bursts through the crowd to make her way towards her seat at the back. Akimi sits and glowers at anyone who dares to approach, and her day goes as normal. Thankfully, no one else bothers her, so it passes uneventfully, as her usual days go.

As the bell tolls, signifying the end of the day, Akimi packs up her books once more and exits the classroom. She hopes to get away before the stupid Night Class comes out for their classes, but it seems fate hates her as she sees the crowd of girls in front of her.

"Why me," Akimi says with a heavy sigh. She pushes through the crowd, ignoring the yells in her ear, until she gets through them. She's about to go towards her dorm, yet a hand on her shoulder stops her, and she turns. "I have to go," she begins to say, but the rest of her sentence dies on her tongue when she notices who it was.

"We keep crossing paths it seems," Kaname says, tightening his grip on Akimi. She swallows and notices the Night Class student following her throat movements. "I overheard some Day Class students calling you "Akimi"?"

She chews on the inside of her cheek. No getting out of this now. "You heard right," she replies. "And you're the infamous Kaname Kuran. I've heard a lot about you."

"Shame I haven't heard much regarding who you are," he murmurs, giving Akimi a small smile. "But I'd like to."

The girl blinks. Why would he want to know her and not one of his many admirers? She doesn't understand this man. Here he could talk to any woman he pleases and he chose her. It doesn't make sense.

Kaname seems to notice the emotions crossing her face, as he says "I would tell you why you caught my eye, but I'm afraid I am not allowed to."

"Not allowed?" Akimi arches a brow. "You said I was interesting because I didn't look at the rest of you despite being at the front of the crowd. There's more to it?"

"There's quite a bit more to it, little rose."

His fingers smooth a lock of hair from her eyes and tucks it behind her ear with such affection it causes her to blush. Why is perfection embodied talking and treating her this way? It's so odd.

"You can be all over your classmates all you like," a low, masculine voice cuts through the spell, sounding irritated, "but you know the Day Class is off limits."

Akimi looks over Kaname's shoulder, seeing Yuuki's partner, Zero, looking at them with narrowed eyes and irritation. "Get moving, Kuran."

Kaname sighs as he turns, giving Zero an unamused stare. "As you wish." He brushes his fingers against Akimi's cheek and gives her hair a brief tussle before going towards his fellow students.

"I can't stand that guy," Zero mutters once the Night Class is gone. He shoots Akimi an annoyed glare. "You shouldn't be prancing around with the Night Class."

"He's the one who came to me!" the Day Class student huffs, crossing her arms and glaring right back. They stare at each other for a few seconds before she looks away and sighs. "Honestly, all I want to do is study and do my best. I didn't intend to catch Kaname Kuran's attention, and I don't even know what the hell I did so it happened."

Zero rolls his eyes. "Stay away even if he comes to you; he's nothing but bad news."

With that said, he walks away, leaving Akimi to look after him and let out another tired sigh. Honestly, her life went from normal to abnormal in the span of two days, all because of one man, and now people are flocking towards her. It's more of an annoyance than anything else.

She shrugs and goes to her dorm. Once in her room, she puts her bookbag on a chair and flops on her bed, burying her face in a pillow and wondering how she could get her life back to normal.

-v-

A few hours later, when night has fallen and the moon shines high in the sky, Akimi hears a bit of a commotion outside. She turns off her television and steps out, curiosity spiked at her classmates gathered in a circle.

"What's going on?" she says above the chatter. They look at her and say nothing, causing her to shake her head. "I'm a student here like the rest of you; I deserve to know what's happened."

"Chairman Cross said all of us are to remain here until further notice," one of them say. "He didn't say why."

"How odd," Akimi mumbles to herself. "Maybe there's been a bomb threat?"

"Eyah! Don't say something like that, I don't want to die!" a girl screeches and others follow suit. Akimi pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Calm down, they're dealing with whatever it is," she deadpans, sighing. "I'm going back to my room."

With that said, she leaves the group and goes back to her safe haven, shutting the door and turning her TV back on. She flicks it on classical music channel and relaxes against her sheets, letting the music drown out the background noise outside her room.

-v-

Eventually, everyone quiets down and the halls are silent once more. Akimi shuts the book she was reading and moves from her bed to the door. Peeking her head out, she decides to go out and see what the commotion happened to be.

She knows Chairman Cross will be angry with her if he finds out one of the Day Class students venture out during nighttime, but Akimi can be sneaky when the time calls for it. Stepping out into the cool hallway, she uses the moonlight to guide her steps as she walks towards the exit.

The air tonight is a little warmer, but still some degree of chilly. Akimi pulls down the sleeves of her autumn jacket before wandering further out. The moon is especially luminous, so much so it lights Cross Academy as if it's day, so it's easy for her to look around.

Everything seems normal. Akimi puffs out a breath; what did she expect? The ones who run this place are quite safe when it comes to threats on their students. They likely got rid of the problem before it made too much of a mess.

She turns around, intent to go back to her room and get a bit of sleep. However, something grabs by the back of the neck, yet before she can scream, something else knocks her in the back of the head. Akimi's vision swims with stars before darkness takes hold.

-v-

When she awakens, it is to a room which has a… very odd smell to it. Something metallic. She groans as her eyes adjust, and when they do, a scream erupts from Akimi's throat.

The metallic smell is blood. The room is covered in it and human bodies lay throughout, either on the floor or hung up by chains. Akimi struggles against her bonds, but the sharp ends dig into her skin, and her wrists begin to bleed.

"Your blood smells divine. No wonder Kuran wanted you all to himself," a voice drawls. Akimi's eyes shoot up and she gazes upon a man with short red hair with crimson eyes to match. "I'm afraid he waited a little too late. His prize now belongs to me, heheh."

"W-What do you want with me?" Akimi whispers, wincing when the man walks towards her and his fingers touch where she's bleeding. He puts the digit to his lips and lets out a heavy sigh. Her eyes widen. Did he seriously taste her blood just now? What kind of freak is he?

"Purebloods are quite picky, so when they find someone their blood sings to, it's hard for them to refuse." The man laughs. "But poor little Kuran has to abide by Kaien Cross's rules, so he couldn't reveal himself to you, no matter how much he wished to. How… pathetic."

"Pureblood?" Akimi feels utterly confused. Was this guy high or something? "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Of course you don't, silly human. You live a life of ignorance." He rolls his eyes. "Ah well, you belong to me now. Too little too late for him, I'm afraid."

There's a noise, sounding eerily similar to a snake's hiss, and Akimi's captor opens his mouth and—fangs?! She realizes the hissing is coming from him and someone else, but before she can question it, someone moves behind her and covers her eyes with their hand.

"It's best you don't see this," a smooth male voice whispers in her ear. She jumps, shivers racking through her body as she nods mutely. There's growls, snarls, and sounds of flesh being torn apart, but it's over in seconds.

"Is she all right, Takuma?"

"She seems a bit shaken up, but I guess that's normal..."

The hand moves and the first thing Akimi sees is the man's body. It's torn to shreds. She lets out a pitiful sounding whine and curls into herself, shoulders trembling with silent sobs. However, seconds later, she's enveloped in a warm embrace, and whispers of "you're safe, my little rose" enter her ears. She buries her face in Kaname's shirt and shivers, and in response, he holds her tighter.

"Should we tell her?" the other man questions. She feels confused. Tell her what? "She's been exposed and she'll be in constant danger now that others know what she is to you."

Kaname sighs as he rests his chin on top of her head. His fingers move in lazy circles against Akimi's back, and most of the fear she felt ebbs away. "Yes, I suppose we have little choice."

He pulls away enough so he can meet her eyes. Bits of glowing scarlet linger in brown depths, and he looks at her with something Akimi can't place.

"Do you believe in vampires, little rose?" Kaname asks her and she notices him watching her reaction to the question.

"I've read stories about them… but something tells me that's not the answer you're looking for." She chews the inside of her cheek. "That man, he said something about you being a pureblood and how you couldn't tell me because of Cross Academy's rules. Is that a vampire thing?"

The man nearby makes a hissing sound. "Rogues need to keep their mouths shut."

"It's all right, Takuma. I wasn't going to keep her in the dark forever." Kaname places his hand against Akimi's cheek. "I am what vampires call a pureblood, one without a trace of human ancestry. We are considered rulers of the vampire world."

Akimi places her hand over Kaname's, eyes widening as she searches his face. She still can't read the emotions placed there. "The reason you took to me that day was because your blood told you I was it, right?"

"...He told you, did he?" Kaname sighs a little. "Yes, I've searched for centuries to find the one meant to be mine."

"Centuries?" She blinks. "How old are you?"

"If I told you, you won't believe me."

"Try me."

"I am over ten thousand," Kaname murmurs, lowering his hand so it grips her smaller ones. Akimi coughs, eyes wide.

"You've seen a lot then..." she whispers, feeling sparks fly through her nerves when his thumb moves across her skin. "What happens now?"

"If you wish to stay at Cross Academy, you must never tell this secret to other Day Class students," Kaname says seriously, his eyes boring into hers.

Akimi nods. "All right, but… what about you? Don't you want to drink my blood or something?"

A sharp gasp comes from him and through his slight parted lips, she notices fangs identical to the now dead… vampire. "I would like nothing else," he starts, fists clenched at his sides, "but you would be bound to me if I did. Would you be willing?"

Would she? She doesn't know Kaname well, and she's never had a serious relationship before… If this happens, it meant she couldn't be with anyone else, right?

"Think it over, little rose. You do not have to answer right away," Kaname reassures, kissing her forehead. She flushes in embarrassment.

"I-I just… never had a serious relationship before. I'm afraid I'd have no idea what to do," Akimi admits, her face heating up more when the pureblood chuckles. "It's not funny!"

"As I said," Kaname says between laughs, "you don't have to decide right now."

"With all due respect, my lord," Takuma breaks their banter. "We should return."

"Of course." He offers his hand to her and she takes it, letting him help her stand. Her stomach rolls at getting a better look at the room. "Follow us."

-v-

The trek back to Cross Academy is quiet. Kaname keeps his arm around her the whole time, and, despite her best efforts, Akimi leans against him. Her legs still feel a bit wobbly from the shock she went through, so she's glad to have someone to support her.

Thankfully, when the Academy is in view, day has yet to break.

"Be safe, little rose," Kaname whispers, stroking Akimi's cheek with the back of his hand. "I will see you again soon."

Akimi nods wordlessly before making her way back to her dormitory. Her whole life is now turned completely upside down. What is she supposed to do…?

TBC...?