Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I thought vampires die in the sunlight."

At the sound of a guy's voice, I glanced up, not stopping my stretching. Taichi Kawanishi, 2nd year, member of the volleyball team. Knowing him, as well every other member of each of the sports teams was kind of necessary.

I stood up straight, turning to look at him. "Sorry to disappoint, but it doesn't really work like that." Being that he was a werewolf though, I couldn't expect him to know that much about vampires like me.

"Even so... sunlight isn't good for you..." He looked me over slowly, arms crosses as leaned against the gym doorway. "So what are you doing out here anyway?"

"Practicing." I took the time to do a handstand, holding as long as I was able.

I heard him laugh at me. "What are you, some kind of cheerleader?"

"Yep."

"Why aren't you with the rest of the club then?"

"Because the captain's a bitch." Okay, now that may sound harsh, but we really, really, really did not get along. "She's had it out for me ever since her boyfriend left her for me back in middle school. I rejected him of course. I wasn't about to date some older guy and certainly not one who left his girlfriend that easily."

Carefully I lowered myself back to the ground. Kawanishi was staring at me, but that really didn't bother me in the slightest. Being a cheerleader, you get used to people looking at you.

"So you just practice out here by yourself instead?"

"Better than being pushed around by a jealous bitch." Cheerleading was something I took seriously, so I wasn't going to quit it. That was why I did my practicing outside in the sun. If I could keep going even when weakened by the sun, then I could keep up in any other scenario. "I'm just waiting until the year is over and she's out of here. Then I'll join them properly. Until then, I'm gonna fly solo."

He grinned. "That's too bad. I think I'd be more excited to play if you were there to cheer me on."

"But I do though. I never miss a match. I may not get to be in uniform, but I'm always there to cheer you on."

Chapter Text

Every time that our paths crossed, it always ended up like this. Most of the time, it was to accuse me of hitting on her boyfriend. Sometimes, she was just trying to make my life hell. In the end, it was no different than that one year we'd known each other in middle school.

I've tried to be the bigger person and just avoid any contact with her... Okay, I'll admit that I haven't been trying that hard. It's kind of fun to mess with her. Maybe not so much when it leads to a physical fight, but surely this wasn't one of those times...

As per usual, she'd accused me of hitting on her boyfriend. I'm pretty sure that I haven't. Sure, I'm naturally flirty; I can't help that, but it's not like I would actively hit on some guy... especially one who I knew had a girlfriend.

"You're so disgusting! I swear you'll try to screw anything with a pulse!"

"As if! I don't go after any guy! Let alone one stupid enough to date you!"

"That's not what everyone else says! I swear, at least have the guys here have admitted that you hit on them! And you know what? I'm not surprised! You're always stealing my boyfriends!"

"I can't help it if I'm better than you... you're a bitch... in every meaning of the word."

She's pissed. Nothing I've said so far was wrong though. It wasn't my fault if guys got the wrong idea. Naturally, we'd already drawn quite a crowd around us.

"Why don't you keep to your own species you stupid... little... little... bloodsucking whore!"

"As if I'd ever want some stupid mangy wolf!" For a brief second, his face flashed in my mind and immediately I regretted saying it. It was far too late to take it back. What was said was said... there was no changing that.

It's around that point, that things turn into a physical fight. It takes four of the teachers to finally separate us. Once I'm broken free from her, I spot him in the crowd. There's no time to talk to him though... Not when I'm dragged off to the principal's office.

This isn't the first time this has happened. As usual, she played the victim and got off easy. Of course they'd take her side... she's the pretty third-year cheer captain... and a werewolf. Me? I'm just some little first year that isn't even part of a club, my grades are average... and I'm a vampire. Considering it's Shiratorizawa, it's not hard to guess which side they'd naturally want to take... they're mostly werewolves.

I get off with a two-day suspension and a warning that if I was caught fighting again, no matter what it was over or who it was with, I'd be expelled. It's fair, I supposed, but what wasn't fair was that she didn't get the same punishment, even though she had started the fight in the first place. Hell, she practically hit away with little more than a slap on the wrist.

Not fighting with her is something I'm sure I can manage though... so long as I keep my distance.

Naturally, Taichi wouldn't talk to me after that. He even stopped talking to me during his breaks when I was practicing outside the gym. He doesn't come out anymore... he doesn't watch me... he doesn't even do so much as look at me... and as much as I want to say that it didn't bother me, it hurt.

It's so stupid... I've never once chased after a guy in my life... but Taichi... he was different. Every time that he'd watched me, I always ended up trying to show off. I wanted to say 'Hey, check me out! I'm pretty cool, huh?' It's stupid, but I wanted him to notice me.

And now... now he won't even look at me. It's my own fault... I know that. I had said something terrible and I know that he'd heard it. No matter how much I want to take it back, I know that I can't.

Maybe I was wasting my time with him anyway... wolves and vampires don't usually mix well...

Sighing, I started making my way back to the dorms. Maybe I should find someplace else to practice... then I would have to be reminded every day that I was just going to be left waiting for someone who wasn't coming back... Maybe I-mate

I stopped in my tracks. Up ahead, I could see Taichi talking to some girl... and not just any girl... the one person that I hated the most.

His back was to me, so he couldn't see me... but she could. Oh, she for sure could, because she looked straight at me and smirked before looking back at him.

She knew. She knew... I don't know how someone like her had even found out; I never once told anyone. I'm not that stupid... I knew if it got back to her, she'd find some way to ruin it...

I watched them a moment longer before my mind was made up. That's how she wants to play? Well, two can play that game...

Chapter Text

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer... That's how the old saying goes, right?

Even though I'd said that I wouldn't until she was gone, I joined up with the cheerleading club. If she was trying to get all cozy with Taichi, then I was gonna make that all the much harder.

Of course, there was still the threat of expulsion hanging over my head. If I slipped up even once, everything was over. Sure, I could easily get into some other school, but getting expelled was not a mark I wanted on my record. So for now, I'll behave... but I sure as hell wasn't backing down.

Kill them with kindness, or so I figured. To her face, I'd act like just a sweet little first year... and I'd endure all the bullshit extra things that she'd force me to do. Extra running... double the usual training drills... even cleaning up all on my own... I endured it all, and when her back was turned, I began to turn the others against her.

They were all under the impression that I'd always been the villain... but oh no, no... I was far from the villain here. Some began to see it right away... tipped off by the way she always made me do extra work, even from the very start. She claimed that it was because I'd been slacking... but the minute I actually did anything, it was quite clear that even if I'd been alone, I'd still practiced just as hard.

Of course, some were never going to turn on her... no, they were her "friends." Honestly, I'm pretty sure it was more to do with the fact that I was a vampire. My kind isn't very well-liked...

It wasn't easy, but I was making do. Taichi still wouldn't talk to me, but there were a couple of times I managed to catch his eye. It was only ever for a second and only ever when I chased the captain away. It was getting to be quite comical how many times she fell for the same old trick.

"Hey, Kenta is looking for you. "

She'd roll her eyes and ignore me. "He can wait. I'm talking with Kawanishi."

I'd always shrug. "Okay... I guess I'll just go keep him company~ He was asking me about vampire bites earlier anyways~"

She'd always tensed at that and quickly run off, even if only to keep me away from her boyfriend.  I had zero interest in him of course, but she didn't need to know that.

Taichi never stuck around to talk to me though... and while that hurt, I was always just relieved that she couldn't have him. Sure, I'd be upset if he ever took interest in any girl, but she was the one girl that I absolutely couldn't let have him...

Things were still rather tense, but they were going well. That is, until there came a practice match for Taichi and the rest of the team. We weren't officially going to be cheering, since it wasn't an official match or anything, but we all came to watch anyways. It was practice for us too, since we'd all need to be sure we knew everyone's names for when it came time for the tournaments.

The game wasn't anything special, really. The other team was either some college team or one from some other prefecture... I didn't particularly care what team they were. The only reason I really wanted to be here was to get to see Taichi play.

I'll admit, I wasn't really paying any attention to the match itself. While my eye was drawn to the ball every now and then, my gaze rarely left him. He's still mad at me, I know it... but if I could only talk to him... even just once... maybe I could at least tell him how I felt. Any chance I'd had was probably long gone by now, but I could at least get some closure by confessing... Ugh... who would have thought that I would ever even think about confessing to some guy? But... Taichi... he's not just some guy... he never has been...

My thoughts are cut off rather abruptly by the happenings down on the court. I think at that moment, my heart stopped. A collision. While it's not uncommon, it's never good... One of the two gets up almost right away, seemingly alright... the other didn't seem so lucky...

Immediately I go to rush down there, but before I can get more than a few steps, my arm is grabbed. "Take one more step and I'll make sure you're expelled," she hissed, just loud enough that only I can hear.

It's not some empty threat... I know her too well to even consider that possibility... No, that for sure is a promise... and it's enough to make me freeze in my tracks.

Shiratorizawa has always been home to me... To think about losing that... and to think about everything that I'd be forced to leave behind... to know I'll never get to see any of it again... it's terrifying.

Is that really what you want?

The minute he's out of the gym, I've made up my mind. Fuck the consequences. I shoved her to the side and rushed after him.

By the time I caught up, he'd been sat down in the infirmary, one of his teammates beside him. That one was Semi, the 3rd year setter that Shirabu replaced...

He approached me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Keep an eye on him for a minute, will ya? Make sure he stays awake while I find the nurse to take a look." He flashed me a look... did he know? Maybe this was him trying to help. Not likely, but a girl can dream, right?

As he left us, I moved closer to Taichi. He's probably still mad at me, but that's the last thing on my mind right now. As I stop in front of him, he turns his gaze to me, eyes widening just slightly.

"Taichi..." Ah... my voice is shaky... I never thought I'd feel nervous like this... or maybe I'm just that worried... "I... are you okay?" Real smooth... of course he's not okay, dumbass!

He brought a hand to his head. "I... hit my head really hard... Feels like it was hit by a truck..." He flinched a bit, rubbing his forehead. "Nothing feels broken though... I think I'm alright."

Letting out a sigh, I collapsed to my knees on the floor. "Taichi... don't scare me like that..." I sniffled a little, my eyes tearing up. How pathetic, crying over a guy... Even it's only because I was relieved that he didn't seem nearly as hurt as I'd been afraid of.

He looked away slightly, looking at the floor. "I thought you said you weren't going to join them... what made you do it?"

Trying to change the subject, huh? "I... It pissed me off that she kept talking to you... I... I didn't want her to get close to you..." It was petty and childish, but could you really blame me?

"So you really were doing it on purpose... I thought it was weird that it's was always the same excuse..." He... he could tell? I'd thought I'd been pretty subtle about it, but maybe that hadn't been the case... "Why? Didn't you say you weren't into wolves?"

"I didn't mean it!" That was louder than I meant it to be... "I... I wanted to take it back as soon as I'd said it..." I gripped his hand with both of mine. I wonder... can he feel my hands shaking? "Even if it had been true... I... It wouldn't mean I hated you... You're... you're special... Taichi's attention is the only attention I've ever wanted... I... I don't... I don't want you to hate me..."

Never in my life had I ever felt so embarrassed... so vulnerable... If he wanted to, all it would take to break me would be a single word... If he told me he hated me, it would be too much for my heart to take... but that's not what happened.

Taichi never said that he hated me... he didn't push me away... Instead, he pulled me forward and wrapped his arms around me. "Could you really not tell...? The whole team pretty much figured it out already..." He petted my head lightly. "I was kind of worried that maybe you were only messing with me..."

I started to smile, but it faded when I thought back to only moments ago. "It might not matter much now though... I... I'm probably going to end up getting kicked out... she'll make sure of it... She always gets her way... but... at least... at least I got to tell you..."

"So what if you do? It's not like we can't still date even if you're at a different school."

I tilted my head to look up at him. "Date?"

"You're not gonna say no, right?