-SoKawaii

SWEET AFFLICTIONS

"Thank you, Headmaster Cross." I smiled courteously, uncomfortably shifting in the heavy black overcoat and the glossy and dressy white shirt and it's neatly tied red ribbon and the equally crisp and black pleated skirt. This wasn't me. 'What am I doing here…' I winced, thinking about home. I shyly peeked up at he honey-blonde that I followed closely the — very cheeky Kaien Cross – headmaster of Cross Academy.

"Yeah, of course, Kiku." He grinned from ear to ear, explaining more about the grand dormitory as he pointed from door to door throughout the immense stretching hallway, explaining rules and common day-to-day life. I couldn't help but to tune in and out of his words as my eyes scanned the high-end private school.

"Are you excited?"

My eyes widened, looking up into honey golden eyes of warmth with an obvious reluctance. "Yes."

"Great! So I hope you are as excited as I am!" I swallowed harshly, thankful to see him just as cheerful as ever. Not at all aware how painstakingly uncomfortable this was for me.

I followed behind the honey blonde silently in respect, though my heart continued to race as I had difficulty absorbing my surroundings – the many doors, wide windows, and long stretching walls leading to high ceilings with bright chandeliers of crystal and softer illuminating lights. It was too much. This place was a castle… not a school. This elite place was unlike anything I'd seen. Not even my dreams could properly catch the essence of this place. Even more, the thought of living at this prestigious school was frightening. However, I wouldn't turn back. This was a sacrifice made on my behalf. I would be grateful.

I followed silently with a small smile twisting my lips while trying to force the uneasiness to fall to the pit of my stomach, twisting and churning familiarly with the unsettling aura of this formal place.

"Oh, also, no need for formalities, Kiku! Just call me Kaien Cross!" He whipped his head back at me without warning, flashing a shining white grin of bold pearly teeth. I nodded with an equal effort. He led me down the left wing and into the crisp silent halls of the new boarding school. Only our footsteps and shadows followed us, though the silence stalked closely behind throughout the long stretching hallways.

"Thank you again Kaien for taking your time to give me a tour of the school. This place is so… amazing!" I tried to exuberantly show just how grateful I was, especially since I was a late-entrance student.

"It's nothing, really! I'm here for the students they are my first priority!" He chuckled, waving it off as if he truly enjoyed giving a tour. By the excitement in his words when he spoke about the history of the campus, I could tell he admired what he did for a living in conjunction with the school. "So, don't be shy."

I blushed thickly as Kaien put his hand on my shoulder, trying to smile to avoid making this any more uncomfortable. 'I hope this isn't his regular thing… younger women.' I thought wearily feeling my stomach flip.

I glanced at Kaien once more as he trailed the halls, babbling about the school. 'He's harmless.' I softly chuckled to myself seeing him chase after a bug with excitement, assuring that the school grounds are tidy and neat.

It wasn't Kaien that left me uncomfortable, but rather, the aura of this place. The dark halls that remained dulled with the broad shadows of the stretching walls, despite the light of day. There were large windows that would allow large bursts of light to filter through though, yet it didn't brighten the halls in the least. In fact, the rest of the halls remained sullen, barren, plain, and near uninteresting where the bright pictures were not lined in the halls, paired by an ominous amount of doors with an unusual exactness to each other—all but the dorm numbers were the same.

"Ah! This is it,"

I paused, glancing over Kaien's shoulder and at the dorm number – 564. Kaien smiled as he knocked on the older wooden door courteously before unlocking it. "This will be your dorm, Kiku. Ooh! I wonder if you will meet your roommate before class?" He smiled opening the door with obvious excitement laced in his tone.

"Roommate?" I choked as my heart leapt into my throat. I scanned the room and to my horror... it was true. Half of the room was barren, yet the other filled with personal belongings.

"That shouldn't be a problem, right?" Kaien chuckled, "Plus, it's good to make new friends in new places." His singsong tune made me feel as if the room were spinning.

'Maybe he's right.' I assured myself. The room was small, but accommodating. There were two beds, two nightstands, two desks, two chairs, and two dressers. The room was separated in half, so it would seem, only divided by a large window that nearly stretched from ceiling to floor—allowing bright light to filter in the small living quarters. On one side of the room it was barren and untouched, which made it seem cold and drab with mere white walls and barren minimal furniture.

On the other side of the room there was a neat bed with a subtle rosy comforter with a little brown teddy-bear sitting atop the nicely arranged softer pillows and crisp white linen sheets. On the desk there was a neat stack of books, with an array of drawing pencils somehow neatly scattered across the notebook page. On the nightstand there was a lamp, an alarm clock, and a picture of a young child with a mother, father, and another young child—possibly family. Obviously the other inhabitant of this room was neat and organized.

"Something wrong." Kaien smiled with a raised brow.

"Not at all!" I beamed, smiling bright from ear to ear as I quieted my crying heart. "I couldn't ask for anything better – it's perfect." I fanned my arms out, spinning around as if I were a child filled with innocent glee.

Kaien laughed at the outburst of happiness. Relief washed over me seeing true happiness glimmering within his eyes. "That's the most you've said all day." He sighed with a pleased smile. His laughter quickly stopped seeing my timid eyes glance back at him.

"Oh, please, don't take it that way!" He comforted with a softer laugh, "There's no harm in teasing the students, is there?" He smiled throwing his arm around me – uneasiness returning. I nervously smiled back at him, shaking my head in agreement.

"I hope you can come to think of this place as your home, your family, and a path to your future." He smiled warmly, releasing my stiff shoulders with a pat.

I nodded with a stiff half-smile. "Thank you, Headmaster…"

"Kaien." He interrupted with a chuckle. "You're most certainly welcome. I'm sure that you and the students will get along just fine. I know it can be a little scary transferring from schools in the middle of a semester, especially to a new boarding school. Please don't worry, I'm sure the students will be more than happy to help you around!" He smiled warmly.

"Thanks." I nodded once more still feeling uneasy; fixated in a trance with the room around myself and the unknowingness on what I should do next.

"Where are your belongings?" Kaien interrupted with a tilted of his head.

"It's better to start fresh." I smiled, though Kaien's eyes fell a bit somber seeing my half expression. 'All I have is this purple tiger backpack.' I mentally scoffed though I couldn't wipe the grin from my face. I didn't bring anything but the small purple tiger backpack that I've carried with me since time started – four years old. I was almost 18, but there was nothing that I loved more than my tiger. Yes, it was scuffed and worn, even a bit torn at the ears, but it still brought back that same innocent smile when looking down into those shiny black button eyes.

"I see, well, I'm sure that someone will go into town with you later to find everything you might need," He smiled happily, quickly returning to his cheeky self.

I smiled brightly, "It's not too much of a concern, besides, I didn't really come prepared." I laughed at myself in hidden shame.

My eyes trembled seeing Kaien's fainter laughter, sighing with a heavy smile. "I'll personally cover any expenses that you're unable to cover." Kaien smiled softly to my utter shock. "Anything for an old friend." He softly spoke, smiling in adoration. I blushed thickly, hiding my shock. 'He knew my uncle.'

"Hey, cheer up!" He caught me slipping into my self-misery. "It's a beautiful day and your first class is about to start!" Kaien exclaimed excitedly.

"Remember class starts in 30 minuets!" Kaien chirped, "Now, I'm off to my office! If you need me, come on down to my office, Kiku." Kaien smiled, shutting the door softly behind himself with respect.

"Thank you… Kaien." I whispered, still reeling in disbelief with his expression of knowing. "Anything for an old friend…" I repeated in disbelief.

'Who was Kaien to my uncle?' I wondered with a faint sigh, somewhat relieved to finally be alone after such a hectic morning of transferring papers and finalizing everything in order to transfer to the boarding school. Mindlessly, I placed my small beloved backpack on the crisp vacant bed of white linen. I couldn't shake this strange, looking around myself in uncertainty.

I sat on the vacant bed with exhaust evident in my drooping and heavy and tired eyes in spite of the sun of noon shining through the large window at the side of the bed, illuminating the room with a cheerful glow whilst allowing in the bright and vibrant colors of the garden and school campus below. I fell back carelessly with a small bounce of the mattress with my legs dangling over the edge of the bed, thinking about my new surroundings and the majestic building was my new 'home'. It was such a huge school, too! There were both day and night classes. I groaned at the thought, 'The Night Classes would be way too exhausting. It was already hard enough as it was to remember everything Kaien said while following him… I wonder if I'll be able to get back to my dorm.' I chastised myself, feeling my eyes flutter softly as they connected deeply with the consuming white ceiling above.

'What is my first class of the day?'My thoughts suddenly broke. I brushed the stray strands of dark hair from my eyes and cheeks, sighing heavily at the thought of having to get to my feet. She exhaled deeply before finally gathering enough strength to push off of the bed.

Despite the loveliness of such a majestic school, I still felt slightly down. I was just accepted into one of the most elite schools… 'Why am I not more excited?' I spitefully grimaced.

"I've got to get up and go to my first class!" Kiku jumped up with a happy smile at the thought of a newfound responsibility. It still felt hallow. "I should straighten up." I smiled to myself, wiping the few drying tears from my cheeks.

With a sigh I turned from the mirror to grab the purple backpack, stuffing my hand in to grab a small wooden brush. I adjusted the uniform and headband. It was a new day, so it was time to look refreshed, rather than looking like I'd just rolled out of bed.

"I need to stop wasting time!" I thought about the time that had elapsed, clapping my hands together with a serious look of determination. I tossed the brush back at the bed, ready to accomplish the day with a clear and refreshed mind, determinate, confident… and oblivious.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" A sharp voice fallowed the sharp jerk.

I blushed thickly after falling, stunned to see three boys. I clamped my legs shut firmly as I sat on my behind, unaware of their wandering eyes. After rounding the hall from the dormitory I had run into one of the boys. Which one? No idea.

"S-Sorry!" It registered as a paper floated at my feet – books and papers strewn about the hall. "I was just going to class…" I scrambled to my knees, grabbing fistfuls of papers and pencils in bunches, trying to quickly hide my shame and utter embarrassment.

"You stupid girls," The young man with dark hair and blue eyes muttered. "Always late and shit." The boy seemed annoyed, uninterested, and uncaring to my excuses. He snidely huffed, reaching down and picking up the book at his feet. His two friends laughed mockingly knocking into each other to mimic my stunned stupor.

"Here," I held out his pens, apology written across my face. "I'm sorry."

"Whatever." I winced as he snatched them from me, turning quickly and leaving me without care.

"Better knocked down than knocked up!" One of the boys laughed, punching the dark haired blue-eyed boy in the arm. He didn't find it amusing – neither did I. 'He was attractive, too…' I sighed inwardly, knowing I'd already ruined my chances with any decent guy.

I brushed myself off, trying to brush off the remaining humiliation that lingered and suffocated me. 'I don't have time to think about it anymore. Let it go.' I chided myself; worried I was already late for class.

I pulled the crumpled day's schedule out of my pocket. "This looks like it's the right room." I thought aloud as I read the paper saying that it was 1 o'clock and time for ethics. I hesitantly peered around the door frame, unsure due to the forbidding silence. There was no one in the empty room. "Stupid." I barked at myself through gritted teeth. "Lost." I sighed with narrowed eyes, glaring down at the paper in my hand.

"Not it you're looking for ethics class." I froze hearing a lazy tone of annoyance. I whipped my head back to see a raven-haired man with what seemed to be one remaining icy-blue eye – mirroring my own. The other eye held a plate that fit over the right side of his face. "It's rude to stare." He sighed crossing his arms over his chest with a furrowed brow.

I shook my head, mortified at how consumed I'd been with his missing eye... "Sorry, but your scar…" She pointed to the scar on the man's chin. His eyes fell flat, not at all amused with my excuse.

"It seems familiar." I defended with a soft whisper, wincing as he grunted at me.

"So, you weren't staring at me eye?" He raised a brow at me with a faint smirk. He wasn't about to let this go.

"I was." I admitted in defeat, nervously glancing back up at him before looking away and at the clock on the high wall. My pursed lips quivered as I tried to bite back a nervous smile.

"Touga Yagari," His cold tone snapped. "Your ethics teacher." His smirk was different, rather painfully so. My wide eyes fell to eyes of worry. 'I just insulted my teacher.' I shuddered inwardly.

"Where's everyone?" I thought aloud in an attempt to break the looming silence. I looked over toward the empty classroom once more while estimating how many students would fit in this room. The long benches and desks were completely cleared and emptied. All that remained were a few misplaced pencils that landed on the floor and one crumpled up piece of paper.

"You're fifteen minuets early." He grunted, walking right past my side while heading for his desk that sat in front of the class. "Not even the teacher's pet shows up so early." He chuckled to himself.

"Can I be in this room fifteen minuets early?" I asked hesitantly, pretending as if I didn't hear his slick comment. I held the door frame unsure if I should push off and run somewhere else or drag myself to sit on one of the seats.

"I don't care what you do." He stated firmly, sitting down behind his desk reclining with his feet atop his desk before picking up a teacher's manual.

I nodded, grateful something else had his attention. 'Better early then late.' I mentally tried to assure myself. I made sure to find a seat in the middle of the room. Not a teacher's pet. Not a rebel. I sat quietly while the minutes began to trickle by and people starting pouring into the classes. Though some people glanced at me, others seem to look past all together - unnoticed by most.

"Class is starting." Yagari commanded. All of the students around myself flipped open to a page in an uncomfortable uniformity, knowing exactly what page of which lesson of which exercise they would be doing for the day. I sat awkwardly, without a book and without a clue.

I glanced to my side with intent to know which book I should purchase, but I was met with an ugly glare. I quickly averted my eyes, plucking one of the few pencils that lay beneath the students' seats.

I came back up, coming face to face with the teacher's icy glare. I could feel my cheeks tinge a slight rosy color. 'No. I don't have a book.' I mentally admitted in defeat. It was obvious Yagari could read my mind.

He, mid lecture, stopped whatever he was talking about before turning to his desk and grabbing his ethics book. "Page 230. Second Paragraph." His cold and uncaring eyes remained in contact with mine as he handed the ethics book to one of the students in the first row, silently commanding the students.

I nodded my head as the boy in the row ahead of me handed me the book. I accepted it graciously and quickly, scrambling to find page 230, paragraph two

"Now that you've found it, can you read us the first stanza?" Yagari asked, detecting the nervousness that seized my heart. He was cruel. 'So handsome, but so cruel.' I whined, swallowing my fear.

"Yes." I acknowledged, horror stricken to see all heads turn my way. I glanced back at Yagari, hurt to see his amused expression so obvious.

"Para… Paragraph two?" I stuttered, nervously marking the place with my finger.

"Pay better attention next time." Yagari sighed, pointing at another girl to read. I sighed in utter relief, but not loud enough so that the teacher could hear. He was sadistic, that much I could tell.

'I just want today to end.' I snapped from my self-pity, surprised to see the girl next to me pass me her eraser.

"He's not so bad once you get used to his class." A sandy blonde haired girl whispered with a bright smile. She was friendly, smiling softly with a composed manner as she sat up straight and attentively. "I'm Yori."

"Kiku." I swallowed, fearful that Yagari might hear me. I watched him intently. "I guess it's obvious that I'm the new kid." I whispered back to the girl of my same age, who too smiled.

"I think you might be the new girl in my dorm. Or maybe it's someone else? You fit the description though since you're the only person I who I can think of that has transferred in the middle of the semester… but maybe there is another student?" She pondered her finger pressed against her lip as she thought.

"Nice to meet you, Yori. I'm staying in dorm 546… or is it 564?" I thought to myself.

"That's my dorm – 564! You must be my new roommate!" Yori smiled brightly as well, nodding her head excitedly. "That's awesome we're in the same ethics class! I wonder if we have any other classes together?"

"You two ladies can speak once you are dismissed from my class, for now, shut up and read." Yagari shot fiery glares. We both averted our attention strictly to our books, hiding our eyes from ice-blue terror.

"He sure can be scary." I whispered to myself.

"I agree." Yori whispered with a large grin, "But so handsome."

SWEET AFFLICTIONS

"Class dismissed." Yagari sighed, too getting up out of his seat and leaving without a further word. He was just as eager to leave the classroom as the students were. I collected my things, following behind Yori who said she would show me around the rest of the campus.

I clutched onto my things, surprised to feel three girls whiz right past, running and screaming as if there were something chasing them. I froze, glancing over my shoulder to see them tear around a corner, excitedly shouting, "Night Class!"

"Night Class?" I gave Yori a look, raising a brow with a faint smirk knowing that there was quite a lot to be explained.

"It's hard to explain," Yori shot me the same look, smiling faintly and deviously. "It'd be easier to just show you." Yori smiled widely with a pondering tone.

"Well, if I was nearly trampled to death over this Night Class… I might as well see what all of the commotion is about." I scoffed sarcastically, following Yori out of the classroom and down the busy halls that seemed to be inhabited solely by boys. "What's so special about the Night Class anyway?" I questioned, taking note of the missing girls.

"The Night Class is basically for all the famous students who attend this school. They attend the night classes since most of them work in the daytime as models, actors, musicians... That's why everyone's always excited to see the Night Class." Yori smiled brightly, curious as to whether Kiku would be as interested in the Night Class like the many other girls.

"Looks like a whole lot of girls are sure worked up over the event." I trailed along side Yori, trying to avoid the screaming and running girls of a wide variety of ages and types.

Kiku and Yori followed the many screaming girls through the school campus to some gates. Kiku was more than humored seeing the girls get worked up over a bunch of models, actors, musicians, and other talented teens.

"You're new, huh?" A girl swiftly questioned, pushing me out of the way to get to the front of the line. I not only fell past the girl in front of her but I'd fallen directly into the clear path of the night class.

'Twice today!' I mentally screeched! Despite how well dressed, and well behaved this school was… it was not at all well mannered. I braced myself on my elbows, uncomfortably shifting under the silence.

"Push like that again and I'll be forced to push you to the Headmaster's office." I mentally laughed as the brat who had pushed me had gasped and tried to find cover behind a friend, being reprimanded harshly.

However, my smug grin was quickly erased as I'd gotten to my knees – eyes connecting with black dress shoes. I stared with my jaw agape, squinting into the sun despite the shadow towering over me. I looked up hesitantly, my eyes trailing along the tall and slender frame. His black uniform fit him extraordinarily.

"You too."

My cheeks alit a soft shade of pink, embarrassed to still be on my hands and knees. However, I could not wipe the awe from my face seeing lighter eyes that almost appeared lavender – accentuated by his unique silver hair. His eyes were sharp and disgusted.

"Okay." I swallowed, not at all phased that he did not offer me a hand up, but rather turned from me, bothered by my existence.

My eyes stayed connected to him in sheer curiosity and desire to see those frightening lavender eyes. I didn't care much about myself, as no attention was paid to me, but rather to the Night Class of the beautiful teens.

"Don't mind Kiryuu, he's always scary like that." A girl scoffed; still angry with him for not letting them pass to see the night class. I couldn't help but watch, staring at the strange man as I moved from the crowd. He was unlike any other person around.

He had grace, but he seemed so solemn and angered, not to mention bored and bothered by being a prefect.

'Kiryuu.' I mouthed his name, assuring that I would not forget him.

I quickly looked away as the strange man glared back with sharp narrowed eyes, glancing over his shoulder as if he could sense my desire to see his eyes just one more time.

"Kiku, you don't look so good? Are you alright?" Yori worried.

I could feel my blood draining from my face – pallid and on the verge of passing out as everything began to slowly tunnel.

"Huh? Oh, yeah I'm fine!" I assured with a bright and chipper smile, rubbing my head in nervousness as I tried to control my breathing.

"Alright," She smiled trying to feel just as chipper as I had faked. "We should probably get back before curfew." Yori smiled widely, "Besides I'd like to learn more about you." She smiled.

"I'd also like to get to know more about you. You really saved me today!" I laughed. Yori now pulled me through the crowd, directing us back to the Day dorms. Something felt increasingly different about this place though. Something felt strange about this side of the campus. I hesitantly looked back at the strange man a final time. He didn't move, he knew. His fists noticeably balled in his dark pockets, shamelessly glaring at me.

'What have I done to make you so angry, Kiryuu?'

"Man, I'm so full!" I rubbed my sore stomach, trudging towards my bed before flopping down at it. I exhaled in relief, finally off my feet. Yori giggled behind her hand and shut the door behind herself and too walked over towards he bed, sitting down with a wide smile watching me wallow in pain. It'd been a while since I'd eaten this much.

Yori wasn't so bad, meek, but very similar to myself in more ways than just music and classes. Thought it was uncomfortable at first, it was nice to have company. Solitude was always difficult for me, and therefore, staying out of trouble was also difficult. Yori, however, was innocent, but still eager to share everything – stores, foods, belongings, everything. She was someone who didn't have much but was always willing to give back. I admired her very much for that. I strangely felt no hesitance to Yori and only because she showed no hesitance to myself.

"I've only seen one other person eat as much as you." Yori smiled, gathering clothes from her dresser as she headed into the bathroom to take a shower before readying herself for bed.

"Yori, can I ask you something?" I asked quietly, somewhat shyly.

"Of course." Yori smiled sensing my nervousness.

"Why… Well, I just thought …" Suddenly I couldn't find the words. It was if glue had been in my mouth. I couldn't find the words to spit it out, my eyes now burning with tears of frustration.

"Who was she?" Bluntly the words emerged from my lips. I felt chills run down my spine in surprise, shocked to see Yori's eyes soft and caring.

Yori understood what I had meant. Yori actually smiled widely with nostalgia apparent in her happy glistening eyes. "You really remind me of her… She used to be my roommate and best friend, but now she's in a better place. " She smiled happily, looking out to the moon remising about her dear friend.

"I'm so sorry for your loss." I had sensed the loss. I bit my lip in regret for bluntly bringing up such a painful topic.

"Yuuki's not dead!" Yori couldn't hold down the small giggle that erupted within her throat. "Yuuki graduated last year, and she's with someone who will make her truly happy." Yori sighed with a tinge of sadness written across her face. "Yuuki was very kind like you are, and there wasn't a day where she wouldn't smile like you, too." She looked up from the picture, "You two look like twins."

"Really?" I asked a bit hesitantly, she had never been compared to anyone as far back as she could remember. "You seriously think so?" I took note of the brunette haired girl with glistening ember eyes. 'Do we really look similar?' I looked from the picture and down at my hands. 'Just another plain Jane – nothing special.' I bitterly thought.

"I hope you don't think I'm trying to replace her." I looked away, hopeful that I could hide the shame that plagued my features.

"No one could ever replace her." Yori smiled, now thinking back to better times with her dear friend. "I'm not trying to replace her either. She'll always be my best friend, but that doesn't mean that we can't be friends, too, Kiku."

"Of course." I smiled widely. My heat felt warmed with such delicate words. "I didn't mean to bring up anything that would hurt you." I apologized sincerely, nervously pulling out the white ribbon headband.

"You didn't. I just miss her, but we still talk from time to time, but she's busier now than when she to be as a prefect." Yori smiled, leaning in the doorframe of the bathroom, laughing back at the thought.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pull you away from showering." I smiled, childishly pulling at my socks with a wide smile.

"I'll be out in just a second and you can take a shower, too, Kiku." I nodded, lying back on top of my plain and boring sheets that were just about as comfortable as they looked. Though the bed was cold and uninviting, I fell fast asleep.

SWEET AFFLICTIONS

Blood painted the walls with a deep and dark red crimson. The soft liquid trickled down the walls into a large puddle of blood that stained the floors like black mirrors. The crimson liquid seemed to engulf the floor as the puddle became much larger, swallowing up the floor towards the kitchen. The little girl looked around the room, blood dragged and splattered across the walls without care like that of a slaughtered animal. Large streams of blood from the bloody spray dripped from the walls and to the floor like bloodied rain. Crimson fingernail trails were deeply carved into the walls, bloodied handprints scattered across the walls and floors like a brawl had occurred. The little girl trembled as the now cold crimson trickled down to her feet. The cold liquid was soft yet thick and metallic. She saw her wide icy-blue eyes in black mirrors, mortified to see the black-mirrored liquid staining her bare feet a deep crimson color.

"Uncle?" The little girl squeaked seeing the motionless body had been dragged across the ground, large pools of the red life trailed behind the seemingly unwounded body that remained limp and face-down.

She trembled closer. "U-Uncle?" Hot messy tears stream down her face as she ran toward the lifeless man. Blood splattered up her legs and arms, her entire body being splashed by the blood that she kicked up as she tried to run to the man, yet he seemed to get farther away as she did so. "Uncle!" She screamed desperately while trying to reach the man with everything in her.

The small splashes of blood left beads of the once warm crimson liquid dripping down her face with mixed tears. She cried as she ran toward her uncle screaming his name. Screaming for him to wake up as she tried to reach him, but running only made him farther away. She looked down at her white dress, seeing it was now painted with crimson splotches, everywhere the beads were streaming down her body, trickling down her arms and legs. "Uncle…" She squeaked, collapsing after trying everything within her to reach him, exhausted from her useless running.

"Wake up!" She begged from across the room. "Please Uncle, wake up!" She cried out to him with a blood-curdling wail of sorrow, trying once more to run to him.

"Kiku." The little girl whipped around to see who had called out her name. Her heart rocketed, beating loudly against the walls of her ribcage. Kiku stared at dark shadowed figure, but in spite of the darkness, its eyes continued glowing as crimson red as blood itself.

"Kiku?"

The pain shot through her body as she tried to run as fast as she could from the figure as it simply stalked closer, she was running no where, no matter how hard she tried to escape those blood red eyes.

"K-Kiku?"

She shook her head as she tried to run faster, screaming as the dark figure grabbed her shoulders, shaking her wildly.

"Kiku!"

I shot up, sitting straight up in bed as I gasped for air. I couldn't find the air to scream, frightened and blinded by the light of the room.

"Kiku! Are you alright?" Yori worried, shaking my body vigorously in an attempt to wake me from my nightmare. "Kiku were you having a nightmare?"

I shook my head, watching the little bloodied girl fade into a very concerned and worried Yori.

"Was I screaming?" I clutched my heart, breathing raggedly as my body trembled.

"No…" Yori's eyes shot back, stunned. "Not… No." Yori stuttered. "Just struggling."

"I'm sorry." I clasped her hand, trying to control my breathing. Humiliation quickly engulfed my frame, causing my eyes to heavy with shame and evident embarrassment.

"I-I'm so… so s-sorry, Yori!" I buried my face in my knees as I choked on tears. 'Not another nightmare! I can't be having these nightmares anymore! I haven't had them for a full two years, so why are they suddenly coming back to me?' I mentally strangled myself, incredibly frustrated with myself.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Yori asked worried, sitting on end edge of my bed, trying to console me. "Sometimes when I'm not feeling well, or when I have a fever I have terrible nightmares as well."

I tried to think of an excuse – any excuse – for the horrible nightmares, but it also worried me as to why these reoccurring nightmares had suddenly reappeared after being free from them for so long. 'I don't want Yori to think she has to live with a night screamer… "I must be coming down with something, maybe that would explain the nightmares, right?" I breathed, finally calming my breathing though I couldn't control my wildly racing heart. Maybe pretending to be ill would be the best thing to do.

"Do you need to go to the infirmary?" Yori asked, placing the flat of her palm against my sweat slick forehead.

"Oh, no!" I jumped away, "No, I don't need to go to the infirmary! I'm just fine!" I tried to assure with a bright smile. "Well, I'll be fine; I'll just get something to drink and a good night's sleep." I nervously smiled, running into the bathroom where I filled a cup of water from the sink. I chugged the glass with large gulps of water, drinking more as my eyes aligned with the eyes staring back at me in the mirror. I couldn't hide my receding eyes of dull grey.

"Thank you for worrying about me, Yori." I smiled, "But I'll be fine by morning." I assured after I slipped back into bed. "I'm really I sorry I woke you up though."

"If there is anything ever wrong, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?" Yori worried. I smiled, nodding with a forced smile.

"I promise I will, Yori." I felt guilty that I may have been lying to Yori. 'I did tell her I am having nightmares though. Who knows… maybe these dreams are caused by a type of sickness.'

I sighed, turning in bed to face the wall. I stared at the wall, watching it go dark as Yori switched off the light. I felt my heart race. I was terrified of sleeping.

"Goodnight Kiku, sleep well." Yori yawned, still worried for me. I nodded in the dark, trying to apply my own words.

"Goodnight Yori." I whispered, closing my eyes from the darkness that engulfed me wholly. I tried to find security in the soft shade of moonlight shading the room around them, but it did nothing to lift the heavy aura of this place.

SWEET AFFLICTIONS

"I'm glad today's classes are finally over!" I smiled at Yori with a large sigh of relief. Yori too smiled, nodding in full agreement.

"Thank you Yagari." I thanked him as I walked past the bored teacher. He never nodded, but simply stared at us girls as we walked by.

"Hurry up or we'll be late for the Night Class! I said, hurry up!" A girl screamed at both Yori and myself. We stepped to the side, allowing the girl followed by three others, to run past us. Both Yori and I glanced at each other with a shared expression—annoyance.

"Night Class?" I rolled my eyes, letting the rest of the screaming flock of girls past.

"Hey! My foot, bitch!" I bit back, hissing at the girl who ran by unaware. Yori just smiled, eyeing me with a raised brow. "What?" I nervously smiled.

"You sound like Aidou." Yori softly giggled behind her hand, eyes heavy with amusement.

"Aidou?" I tilted my head in question, surprised by Yori's stunned reaction that was swallowed by her thick blush.

"Aidou used to be a Night Class student, but he's no longer with the academy." A girl who sat next to me in Science explained with a proud smile, sighing dreamily.

"We so miss Idol!" A girl pouted behind Yori, joined by two other girls who also pouted and chattered amongst themselves about an Idol.

"Idol?" I wondered aloud, cocking a brow at the girl beside her.

"Who cares about Aidou, what about Miss Ruka?" A boy behind the girls cried. "I had a crush on her way before any of you even came to this school!" He defended, pushing glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

"Ruka?" I asked hesitantly, raising both brows to see the excited boy suddenly began sulking.

"Akatsuki!" Another girl cried.

"Who?" I asked confused, surrounded by students shouting out several names.

"They used to be Night Class students but they're all a year ahead. They graduated last school year. Takuma Ichigo, Hanabusa Aidou, Akatsuki Kain, Ruka Souen, Senri Shiki, Rima Touya, and Kaname Kuran were all at the height of their careers too, so it makes sense why they're no longer students at the academy." I eyed Yori's knowledge of all the graduated students.

"I guess you were a pretty hard core fan, huh?" I giggled; amused that Yori memorized every single one of their names and details about each.

"It's not like that…" Yori turned bright strawberry red, "I just simply have a knack for remembering names!" Yori tried to defend. I laughed putting my arm around Yori with brows raised in amusement.

"Your secret is safe with me." I winked with a wide smile, causing Yori to blush an even deeper shade of red as she rolled her eyes at me before walking off with a wide and proud smile.

"Where are you going?" Yori called after me as I followed the wild pack of girls who walked up to the Night Class gates.

"Night Class!" A girl squealed excitedly at the gates.

"Stupid prefects, they wont let anyone get close to the night class!" A girl screeched. I rolled my eyes. 'That's their job.' I mentally barked. It was obvious if there wasn't a prefect the Night Class would have been mauled to death by many eager teenage girls.

"Stupid Kiryuu!" A girl huffed beneath her breath.

Kiryuu shot a glare back towards the girl that could burn through walls. The girl swallowed harshly and noticeably hid behind another of her friends.

I shuddered in memory of that same glare – how hot and spiteful. Even his name sent chills down my spine. 'Kiryuu.' Something was eerily different about him. He seemed so lonely and full of hatred, but that was obviously his own choice? So why? I couldn't help but admire him from a far, despite the emotionless and exhausted expression of rage that hid within subtle lavender eyes.

"You sure have been staring at him a lot lately…" Yori narrowed her eyes at me. I burst into laughter, covering my mouth as I attempted to cover my bright cheeks… praying he couldn't hear over the clatter of girls.

"Yeah, that Night Class is sure something." I lied, trying to deter Yori and any possibility of Kiryuu from overhearing them. 'If Yori saw me… he must have seen me staring.' I mentally berated myself.

I sheepishly glanced over, met with Kiryuu's hot glare that could cut like a knife – cutting through my very facade. 'Of course he's looking! It was a stupid idea to come here in hopes that today would be different.' I tore away from the crowd, trying to slink away with opened wounds after lavender orbs had stripped me of all my skin. 'I knew it was a mistake coming here.'

I nervously peeked back at the boy for a mere second. I couldn't stand this. I would stand my ground. 'Tell me why.' I mentally pleaded. This time I smiled at him, desperate for an expression. His eyes grew narrow, grunting, he looked away from me and over toward the Night Class gates. My heart dropped – it was I.

"Night Class!" A girl screamed.

"Daiki!" Another girl screamed out at a boy who was the first to emerge through the gates in their formal white uniforms.

"Over here!" Girls screamed to try to get the attention of the Night Classes. Yori and I tried to make our way out of the crowd and back to the dorms. Curfew was almost up and we couldn't afford to be late again, besides it was getting late in the afternoon and neither of them had time to simply watch the night class emerge and make there royal entrance with as much homework as they both had.

"N-No! This can't be happening!" I gasped after we'd returned to the dorms. I sat on my bed, holding several papers in my trembling hands with wide eyes.

"The last of my transfer papers!" I shrieked.

"What's wrong Kiku?" Yori asked worried, tilting her head in surprise to see me tearing through my science and math folders.

"I forgot to give these papers to headmaster cross!" I cringed, biting my tongue. "The deadline was two days ago!" I jumped off of the bed, racing around the room to find my overcoat and shoes. "I have to turn it in tonight!"

Yori smiled understandingly. "Do you need someone to go with you?"

"Do you know where his office is?" Yori called out to me as I wrenched the door open.

"No, I'm fine! He should still be in his office, right?" I glanced down at my watch. 'Ten minuets till six-thirty.'

"Yeah…" Yori trailed.

"You should go and eat! Hopefully I'll meet you in the cafeteria, if not, bring me back something, please…!" I raced, shutting the door on myself. 'Damn it! How could I be so stupid as to forget these papers that Headmaster Cross wanted!' I smacked my forehead, hastily walking down the halls. 'Hopefully I'll be back before curfew… I don't want to be in anymore trouble than I already am!'

I wandered through the vast building trying to find Kaien Cross's office. I already took a wrong turn the first time. That wasted four minuets just trying to find his office without my crumpled up map of the campus. It was getting late and I didn't have much more time.

"Ah! This is it!" Kiku cheered silently. 'I showed that stupid school map!' I mentally mocked.

"Headmaster Cross?" I opened the door just a crack after knocking softly and politely, hoping he would grant me access.

"Who is it?" He chimed happily, jumping from behind the desk once he'd seen me.

"Ah, Kiku!" He beamed, "Is everything alright?" The happy man dimmed slightly seeing my shaky hands holding my crumbled transcript papers.

"I'm really sorry, well, I know it's late Headmaster—"

"Like I said, it's Kaien Cross." He smiled warmly, interrupting. I pursed my lips with wide eyes, nodding silently. "Now, calm down and tell me what can I help you with?"