Finding My Way

Chapter 21

Now that most of the students have left the Academy and exams are over, I have free rein with Kaname to train. This morning, I'm working with Kaname directly, but it's not going well at all. He can't seem to explain what I need to do in a way that makes sense to me. We're both getting frustrated.

"Let's take a break, Yuki," Kaname sighs, as for the umpteenth time I can't even levitate the rock he asks me to.

I agree wholeheartedly and sit down on the ground. We're on an outside path near the trees. He wants me to levitate a rock, but all I've managed to do is to get it to roll over and to get it to crack once. He tells me to focus my mind and imagine it floating. But I don't know how to focus my mind and I guess my imagination sucks.

"I just don't really understand the way you explain things," I say. "I think you've had these powers for so long that you don't know how to explain them to someone new."

I expect him to be mad about this, but instead Kaname looks thoughtful at my words. "You know," he says, "You may have a point." He turns around and looks to the trees. Almost at once, a crow flies to a nearby branch that's almost eye level with him. Kaname and the crow look at each other for a few moments and then the crow takes off.

Kaname sits down beside me and puts his arm around me. I lean against him and sigh. I had known learning my powers wouldn't be easy, but I couldn't help feeling disheartened.

"You're putting too much pressure on yourself," Kaname tells me. "Worrying only makes things worse."

I nod, but still feeling discouraged.

After a time, there's slight movement ahead. A figure has appeared on the path. Kaname stands up and offers his hand to me. After pulling me up, he turns to face the woman who has approached us. To my surprise, it's Ruka.

"Hello, Ruka," Kaname says. "I appreciate you coming here on such short notice."

"Not at all, Lord Kaname," Ruka says. And, almost as if she'd just remembered, she gave me a respectful nod and said, "Lady Yuki."

"Please, just call me Yuki," I protest, but Ruka only gives me a slight smile to acknowledge she'd heard me.

"What do you need me for, Lord Kaname?" Ruka asks.

"I'd like for you to try to teach Yuki to learn her powers," Kaname replies.

"Me?" Ruka asks, surprised. "Her?" I say almost at the same time.

"Ruka, I think you are uniquely suited to help train her given your own, ah, experiences in learning to control your powers," Kaname explains.

Ruka looks taken aback, but seems to recognize the reasoning behind his words and nods.

"I see your point," Ruka says. "Very well. I will help Lady Yuki."

"Good." Kaname says. "I'll leave the two of you to it. Yuki, I will be in my office if you need anything."

I want to call after him and ask him why he was leaving. But I don't want to be a bother to him. Instead, I turn to look at Ruka with curiosity.

"What has Lord Kaname gone over with you so far?" Ruka asks.

"He's worked with me on trying to levitate rocks," I reply. "That's really been it. He says that's where he started and that's a basic skill. Most of our power as purebloods revolves around telekinesis. If I master that, I can try other areas."

Ruka nods thoughtfully. "I see. And I can understand that approach. I'm sure you know that aristocratic, or Level B, vampires like myself also have abilities. We generally have one specialized form of power."