Inukami Nemitro was in a foul mood. And that was saying something. Normally he couldn't be bothered to be pissed, not at school anyway. It was always the same day in and day out. Until today that is. Third period had just ended and the corridor soon filled with students. He easily passed unnoticed by all. That was something he was once used to…even preferred. Not now though and her absence was heavily felt.

He lingered at his locker, slowly changing exchanging his books for his next class. He was in no great hurry to complete the process, even when the late bell echoed through the hall with a dull metallic ring. And today he barely heard it for he was more preoccupied than usual. There had been no sign of Airi Kurosawa this morning. She had transferred to True Cross Academy about two years ago. The only reason he even noticed is because of how badly she stood out. But she didn't seem to care what anyone thought of her, it was like she was in her own little world. She was also the only person who ever said hello to him every day. He never said it back of course, the attention was annoying. He soon got used to it though he remained silent. It was…nice to see a smiling face for a change.

About two months ago, they were partnered together in Astronomy and for the first time he had to spend time with her. It surprised him how easy it was to be around her. For one thing she was very talkative and didn't seem to mind his silence. But what was more remarkable was how comfortable she seemed around him. He was anti-social and kept very much to himself with his hood pulled up (mostly to keep his ears hidden). But she was as comfortable with him as she was with rest. And today she hadn't been there for second period. They were supposed to discuss their research notes and pick a topic for their project. He was going to suggest the effect the moon has on oceans. It wasn't because the subject interested him personally; it just seemed the easiest to do. No doubt Airi would have wanted something highly improbable and most likely unprovable. She was the sort who had more questions than answers. She just didn't have the patience to figure things out.

His eyes narrowed in annoyance. It didn't make sense why it even bothered him. Without her there to object, he had been free to submit his own idea for final approval. If any emotion should be required, it should have been relief. No muss, no fuss, just straight-forward….and strangely unsatisfying. Why should I care? She's not my concern.

But still something twisted his insides, a pang of discontent. His mouth twitched at the memory of her bubbly laughter; peals of innocent, carefree mirth. He slammed his locker shut in an effort to cut the memory short. He was in a rotten mood already, the last thing he wanted to do was dwell on silly memories. They were poor substitutes for the real thing. He turned sharply on his heel, making his sneaker screech across the linoleum and nearly stormed down the corridor. As he turned the corner, a shock of red-hair ran into him. A pair of sapphire eyes widened in surprise while he glared in turn.

"Oh sorry Inukami!" Airi burst out breathlessly. Her cheeks were pink from exertion. "I didn't see you. Then again of course I didn't, how silly of me!" She bounced the palm of her hand off her forehead, a gesture he came to recognize as her signature "Oh duh!" gesture. "How can one anticipate what's supposed to be around the corner without seeing it first?" She stiffened as he grabbed hold of her shoulders. "Hey! I said I was sorry!" She protested in her defense.

"Where have you been?" He growled dangerously low. His fangs were visible just under his scowl.

She frowned in confusion, though her gaze remained innocent. "Does it really matter? It shouldn't because I'd already cleared it with Professor Minami and submitted like the best topic ever! Seriously! Even you'll-" She suddenly gasped. "Ow! That hurts!"

That's when he realized that he'd been squeezing so hard that his nails had dug into her shoulders. He immediately let go as he mumbled an apology. She made a bit of a fuss as she checked to see if he'd punctured her late brother's ebony uniform jacket. She wore it to honor his memory. Her face fell as she found two holes. His chest seized at the sight of the tears that glistened in her eyes. "I'll fix it." He blurted out.

She slowly shook her head in refusal. "Don't worry about it," she mumbled in a sad monotone. Gone was her earlier enthusiasm and despite their closeness he felt distance grow between them as she was lost to her own thoughts.

"I'm…sorry," he slowly forced out. It felt strange to voice emotions he didn't usually feel. He wasn't in the habit of consoling the feelings of those he offended on a regular basis. It was just that the sight of her sorrow and the loss of her energetic personality had moved him to action.

She wore a soft side smile. "No it's ok, I can fix it later. I'm sorry I wasn't in class; something just came up last minute is all. I hope you weren't worried about me."

His large canine ears flatted in exasperation as he looked skeptical. "Worried?" The word sounded foreign on his tongue.

She made a bit of a pout. "Never mind. Forget I said anything." She shouldered her pack and stepped around him. He didn't stop her and the click of her purple boots soon faded down the corridor. He frowned absent-mindedly. Worried? Was that it? Was that was had been bothering him? But to worry about someone…that was personal. It signified some sort of emotional attachment and he never did that sort of thing. Tsukiko was the only person he worried about. He tilted his head thoughtfully to the side for a minute. No…it wasn't quite the same thing, but more similar than he would have thought. He turned to look over his shoulder but of course by then she was gone. Again his heart ached with her absence. How annoying.

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. She wasn't available for lunch because she'd been asked to show around a few new students. But when their eyes met across the cafeteria, she didn't respond to his feeble little wave. She just turned around to direct their attention to show them some of the lunchroom's features. He frowned in offense. Humans were so fickle in their feelings and girls were the worst…it was incredibly frustrating. He still didn't know what he'd said that bothered her so.

By the end of the day their paths crossed again. He noticed her still at her locker. She had pulled out a little sewing kit and was carefully closing the small holes he created. He came up beside her. "I said I was sorry." He said flatly.

She gently smirked. "Yeah, I know you did. You're not still on about that are you?"

"But you are though," he countered.

"No I'm not." She secured the final knot and broke the thread with her teeth. "I know that you didn't mean to, it was just an accident."

"And how do you know that?" He asked suspiciously. Of course it was an accident, but how was she to know that? He'd done far worse on purpose. What made her think she was the exception?

As she turned to pull the blazer back on, her eyes met his. For the first time he felt unsettled, intimidated even, by the acute intelligence that blazed in her sapphire gaze. Airi was often distracted and what one would call an "air-head." But there were moments when she was incredibly insightful. It was part of her gift. He tried not to cringe as she cast a critical gaze up and down. "You're not that kind of guy."

He bristled at that. "And just what kind am I?" His temper faltered at the sight of a tender smile that softened her expression.

"That's not for me to say, is it?" She asked in a purposefully mysterious tone.

"Because you're an Oracle?" He asked in a hushed tone. While that was common knowledge in Cram School, it wasn't in the academy.

She giggled. "No because I'm not you, silly! Only you get to decide what sort you want to be."

He frowned bitterly at that. "No I don't. People cannot change what they are. Just like you can't change who you are."

"Ah but I can decide what to do with my gift! I could use it to benefit others or for my own selfish purposes. I know what I want to do with mine but it seems like you're still deciding for yourself. Don't wait too long though," she pointed out as she playfully tweaked his nose.

He caught hold of her wrist. He never liked it when she did that. It was too friendly, too playful. But this time he didn't let go. She blinked in surprise at the softness that spread across his features. She'd never seen the like before. "Then what did I do that distressed you earlier?" She paused for a moment as she thought back to their last conversation. It felt so long ago now, she wasn't one to dwell on the past. "You stormed off and told me to forget," he gently prompted.

Her hesitation turned to a pang of embarrassment. "I was wrong to assume."

"Assume what?" He pressed.

"That you were worried about me. So silly in retrospect, don't you think? I don't know why I even thought that," she said dismissively.

"So why did you?" He asked curiously.

She turned pink in embarrassment. "I..well you just looked so upset and troubled but I didn't know why. You never get that worked up over homework so I assumed…I guess…" She lowered her gaze shyly. "Silly, isn't it?"

He considered her for a moment. "No…" he cautiously contradicted. "I was…concerned."

She looked up at him curiously. "Whatever for? I may not be strong but think I hold up pretty well in this school. Then again I often see the danger coming, so it's easier to avoid."

"That's not it." He contradicted. "But I don't think I can explain it." Suddenly she was solemn as her gaze was unfocused. She was experiencing a vision, small glimpses of the future, impressions even. He frowned. "What is it?"

She carefully pulled her wrist free from his lingering grasp. Her eyes lowered mournfully. "I think…it would be best if you stay away from me."

"What? Why?" He asked, his voice cracked in both surprise and horror. "What have I done now?"

"It's not you Inukami. It's me," she reassured him. "It's what will happen to you if we become closer. And I believe…that you will one day regret knowing me."

He snorted in derision. "My life has been one long series of regrets Airi. What difference would another one make?" He said sarcastically.

"You've experienced a great deal of pain in your life," she softly agreed. Her sad eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I wouldn't want to add to it."

He flinched at her kindness. It seemed severely misguided. Besides who was she to pity him? It would have been laughable if it wasn't insulting as well. "Like you could," he scoffed harshly. He cringed as once again her face fell. Damn it! Why did he say that? Despite its truth, surely he could have found a better way to say it. "Look it's not like matters. The future is not set in stone, it's ever-changing."

"And yet you were the one telling me that we can't change," she gently teased. She moved to pass him but his hands shot out on either side to block her path. The force of the movement dented the lockers on impact. She looked surprised as he grit his teeth to calm his rising temper. "I'm going to prove you wrong!" He growled low in his throat.

She sighed in exasperation. "But that's just it. You don't have to prove anything to me or anyone else."

He wanted so badly to believe that. Life would be soooo much easier if that were true! "Oh but I do," he said through clenched teeth. "My life depends on it!" Unpleasant childhood memories bubbled to the surface: the wariness of his mother and her reluctant show of affection…as if she had been duty-bound to care for him. The terrible sneer of his step-father and utter contempt that turned his eyes as cold as ice. And the critical, judgmental stares of the boys at True Cross. Even at the Cram School he did not truly fit in.

His eyes widened in horror as she threw her arms around his neck. He froze, stiff and unfeeling as something wet dripped down his collar. Tears? For him? His face contorted with a range of emotions, each more confusing than the last. He wanted to push her back and hold her close at the same time. In the end, he cautiously pressed one hand against her back. The softness of her trembling body against his felt…encouraging. It gave him the confidence to hug her back. He held her loosely, afraid to hurt her with his demonic strength. Humans were too fragile. Her sobs were muffled by his shoulder and she clung with a desperation he didn't dare allow to show. She drew a shaky breath. "Don't say that…don't ever say that again," she pleaded. "Life is meant to be lived! Each minute to the very fullest! Not to be explained or justified!" There was vulnerability in her tone that surprised him and he didn't know what he was supposed to say to that.

She turned her cheek and he turned to look into her eyes, curious to see what emotion would sparkle in them. In their closeness their lips accidentally brushed against each other's. It was electrifying. She gasped and turned as red as her hair. Yet she didn't pull away. He frowned curiously but didn't release her. He absent-mindedly licked his lips, tasting a small sample of her lip gloss. He couldn't identify the flavor but he liked it. The scene was strangely stimulating and she swallowed hard as she bit her bottom lip. A heavy pounding echoed between their chests, was it her heart or his own? He hardly knew what to think but he often relied on instinct. He nuzzled along her nose and the soft curve of her cheek, drinking in her scent. He'd never really noticed it before but it was pleasing as well. The blood rushing to her face warmed his cool skin in turn. Her breath was shallow, hovering on the edge of hyperventilation. Her knees knocked weakly and his grip tightened protectively. "I won't let you fall, trust me," he promised.

"I always have," she whispered, unaware of how revealing that was. He was very surprised to hear that. It wasn't often that a demon could be trusted. She was too naïve. But as his gaze matched hers once more, he saw tenderness that worried him. She raised up on her tiptoes, her mouth angled for his. He frowned gently but didn't stop her. Why? He should have. She shouldn't be getting her hopes up. Her kiss was soft, curious, and innocent. Her purity surprised him in a world of corruption. And yet…he found himself kissing her back. It was a little awkward at first but her gentleness was encouraging. She ran her hand up the back of his shirt; her fingertips tingled against his skin. Such closeness, such tenderness…it sparked a fire within him that threatened to consume him. The kiss soon grew in strength and before long he pressed her up against the lockers, her soft figure molded along his. Euphoria! If ever he had experienced such an exhilarating high, it was this very moment! She cried out in pain as his fangs nipped her neck just a little too eagerly for a taste. It broke the spell and both froze in place. Her pulse sky-rocketed under his lips and his heavy breath steamed her neck.

"I think…I…" he whispered softly, struggling to find his voice. "I did not mean to…" Yet he couldn't bring himself to deny this powerful feeling that seized his chest, making it hard to breath. He didn't know what it was exactly but he couldn't deny the pleasure it filled him with.

"I did," she gently contradicted in a soft voice. "I love you Inukami."

He stumbled back, violently shaking his head. "No. NO! No you don't!"

She flushed slightly as she straightened her striped tie. "I do though." Her quiet voice was strong.

"YOU CAN'T!" He barked as his ears flattened back against his head.

"Or is it that you can't?" She asked suspiciously, arching a discerning brow. "Because that's the real problem isn't it? You can't accept love because you can't afford to, your heart can't bear to break again."

"Shut up!" He growled in warning. She was right but he'd never bring himself to admit it. "You don't know what you're talking about!"

"Oh but I do," she whispered as she drew closer and rested a hand against his fuming chest. Talk about brave! But despite his fury, he couldn't bring himself to hit her. "I know what it's like to lose everything." She said sympathetically.

"Losing your twin isn't losing everything," he huffed insensitively.

She drew a shaky breath. "His loss…wasn't my first," she confessed. She looked him in the eye and he was surprised by the darkness that burned within. It wasn't something he associated with her at all and once more he felt intrigued by this human. Soon her features softened to resemble the girl he was most familiar with. "But where there is darkness there is also light. Look to the light Inukami."

He looked a little exasperated. Why was she so cryptic sometimes? Didn't she know how annoying that was? With a sad smile, she shouldered her knapsack and turned down the empty hall. He silently watched after her, trying to make sense of what just happened.

Though she walked with her back straight and head erect, her tears made their silent escape. Once she made it outside her knees gave out and she sank to the ground. She gazed up at the cloudy sky as the tears continued to stream down her red cheeks. Oh Ryota! I wish that you were here! Her thoughts cried out to the Heavens as she wished more than ever that her brother was here. He'd know what to do, what to say…but he wasn't. He wouldn't ever be again. That stung as much as Inukami's immediate rejection did. But of course he would, she saw it right before it happened…but that didn't make it hurt less. She was such a fool. She should have kept her mouth to herself…literally. She placed a trembling hand over her mouth. They still tingled at the memory. Forgive me Inukami…I can be so selfish sometimes. She panicked as she heard the door swing open beside her. She slipped into the shadows as she saw Inukami walk out. His head was bowed and he had his hands in his pockets as he slowly walked, clearly lost in thought. Just like he always did. What was he thinking about? What always seemed to occupy his mind? It seemed that often he spent more time thinking than living. Anyway, he seemed to be just fine and back to normal even. She glared at his back. How hard was his heart?! Had it been so meaningless to him after all? He paused for a moment and his right ear twitched. He looked over his shoulder with a suspicious frown but he couldn't see her in the darkness. With a shrug he turned back to his usual gait.