Footsteps echoed down the hallway, causing a blonde-haired boy to gulp in fear. If he was caught in here again… The boy's brilliant blue eyes darted around for a way to escape. His gaze landed on the window across the room. Motivated by the footsteps that drew ever closer, the young blonde hurled himself out the window. Simultaneous with the blonde landing flat on his face, a newcomer entered the room. He had shoulder length dark hair and a ruddy gaze to accompany it. By the way the later male held himself, regal down to his breath, there would be no doubt that this was the owner of the room, Kaname Kuran.

Without even looking around, Kaname knew someone had been in his room. With a soft sigh of annoyance the young man crossed to a small table where there was a waiting glass of water and beside it two small tablets similar to that of Aspirin in appearance. Long, slender, pale fingers picked one tablet up and brought it to his eyes for scrutiny.

K86F120-O

So, he was down to the most generic, flavorless tablets now? Granted, he could say just one word and have any flavor he desired from any willing-

With an almost inaudible growl, Kaname cut his train of thought, crushing the tablet between his thumb and forefinger. He then watched as the dropped the dust into the water, turning the liquid a weak color. Soon the other tablet joined its brother in the glass, turning the liquid a deep red color. Slowly the Pureblooded Prince took the glass and sat on the bed.

Raising the glass to his lips, Kaname glanced in the direction of the sun dorm. Yuki…. He closed his eyes as he thought of his sister-fiancé. With an impatient snarl, his gaze was directed toward the sunrise. Soon he heard a soft voice in his head ask, "Do you still think of me?" His heart clenched.

"Every waking minute… and every second in my dreams…" He whispered in reply.

…

"I'm baaack, Akatsuki!" The young blonde chirped, his eyes bright despite his disheveled appearance. There was mud on his pants, sweater and twigs in his hair but a smile was present none the less.

"One of these days," An orange haired boy muttered. As he opened his brown eyes to look at his cousin, Akatsuki groaned, "Hanabusa, you didn't…"

"Look at what I've got~ !" The blonde cheered. This was none other than Hanabusa Aido, heir of the Aido family. As he crossed to his cousin, he squealed, his gaze on a folded piece of paper.

"Hanabusa, where did you get that?"

"Lord Kaname's sock-drawer!" Aido proclaimed, speaking as if he had won a medal.

"Hanabusa, one of these days, he'll kill you for stealing his things."

"Akatsuki! You're always exaggerating!" Aido whined as he sat on his bed. Slowly, hands trembling with excitement, Aido unfolded the paper. It was old, a few tears from where the worn paper gave way. There was also a few strange spots where the paper had puckered in tiny circles like if drops of water had hit them…

Before even reading it, Aido knew it was a treasure.

That being said, Aido figured he had an old, forgotten note, likely a reminder to himself to do something- why, Aido didn't know. Lord Kaname never needed reminders…

As Aido opened the paper, he found it wasn't a note left to Lord Kaname by himself… It wasn't even in his handwriting. Slowly, as he glanced it over, Aido tried to identify whose handwriting it was by the shapes of the letters without reading the content.

When this failed, Aido resigned himself to reading the small note.

Dear Kaname,

Before I begin, know that I love you with all my heart. But, I fear that I will have to leave you once more.

Aido noticed there was a one of the strange spots by the word "more". With a start, Aido realized that was where one of the drops of water hit… It was a tear drop that hit the paper.

Even as I write, I know something is about to happen, something that will tear us apart. Likely it will be death. If it be death, I want you to be strong, as I know you to be, and continue on. Live our dream… Tell Haruka and Juri that I appreciated everything. They're wonderful…

I fear I must go now, and I doubt I'll see you again. It's not fair, I know, but since when has life been fair? Good-bye my love…

Until death do we part,

Kai

Aido sat numb with shock. He knew Lord Kaname had an interest in Yuki Cross, and had it since before she had been in high-school. But this… This was a letter in which this woman, this "Kai" made Lord Kaname weep.

Without even knowing the circumstance, knowing her, or simply knowing anything, Aido felt certain he knew one thing.

He knew he hated this woman.

….

"It's been awhile since you've last came to me for help," Kaien Cross, headmaster of Cross Academy, murmured as he wet a rag. He spoke to a young woman who rested on a couch opposite of him. "Go ahead and remove your shirt."

The woman nodded, slowly, gingerly moving so that she could peel the shredded article off. As soon as it was gone, red tracks of ripped flesh was exposed to Cross' eyes. Slowly, his hazel eyes met the woman's. Where there had been what he knew to be a pair of emerald orbs, crimson had replaced the green.

"Do you need it?"

"Need what, Kaien?" The woman asked. She faked a smile, jaw clenched as Cross slowly sponged her sides where her wounds lay.

Cross looked up at the blonde woman's face, his gaze fixed on a pair of pearly canines… too long to be human. "You know exactly what I mean."

With a heavy sigh, the woman shook her head, blonde tresses shaking as well. "No, I'll be fine."

"How long have you been without?"

"Awhile."

"How long is that?" Cross questioned, finishing with his first aid.

"At least a year. Probably longer." Her bell-like voice was resigned, her eyes shut.

"No wonder you haven't healed… you need to rest here for awhile."

"Kaien, you know I can't stay. I know he's here… it's best if he doesn't know."

"Best for who?" Cross inquired seriously, staring in her eyes, "Him or you?"

….

Kaname stood, crossing to his drawers, seeking one thing. With deliberation, he reached into the small compartment, hand searching for a familiar small piece of paper. When it was nowhere to be found, Kaname felt a flurry of emotions. The prominent one being rage.

The sound of shattering glass was present all throughout the moon dorm. His door flung open as he strode out into the hallway, eyes glowing red. He watched as a few doors opened, silent forms walking out to see what had disturbed their dorm president so…

"Kaname, is everything alright?" A blonde haired male asked. Ichijo.

"No, it isn't." Kaname said flatly, barely containing his rage. "Something of mine was taken. Something personal."

Everyone knew that only one person made it a habit to collect Kaname's things. Ichijo didn't wish to see Aido get hurt- even though he could prove to be quite annoying. "Kaname, perhaps it would be best to go and collect yourself. I'm sure it was an accident and whoever took it is very sorry and will give it back."

Kaname's red eyes narrowed then closed as he took a deep breath. He forced himself to address the group. "You have ten minutes." Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked down the stairs and outside, slamming the door.

Once outside he closed his eyes, working to calm himself. He felt a breeze ruffle his hair. Once again he took a deep breath…

And froze.

Chocolate and cinnamon… He knew that scent. His heart began pounding as he found his feet speeding him towards the smell.

Maybe I've finally gone mad… He thought as he stared up at the main building. The closer he drew to the room, the stronger the smell became. As he stood in the dark, listening, he could hear two voices. The first he knew to be the headmaster and he dismissed it, focusing on the second.

It was soft with a deep bell-like quality to it. With that being said, it wasn't deep like a man's… He heard a phrase drift through the door.

"Kaien, you know I can't stay. I know he's here… it's best if he doesn't know."

"Best for who? Him or you?" That was enough to make him snap. He opened the door, unprepared for what he saw.

Sitting beside Cross was the very woman who haunted his dreams. She had the perfect platinum blonde waves that girls would kill for, extending to her hips. The moment he saw her eyes he was lost. He knew that despite the fact they glowed crimson now, they were emerald and had the ability to trap him in their gaze. Her perfect alabaster skin looked even paler in the soft light of the room.

When at last he found his voice to speak, she had beat him to it.

"Kaname…"

"Kai…"