Author Notes: Completed this chapter so might as well post it up earlier. I'm glad 'Idol-sempai' has quite a following not only in Cross Academy but here as well! LOL...
- Chapter Start -
Aido's interest in Yori had been piqued. The following few evenings, he again noticed her standing outside the Moon Dorm gates, at her usual spot, which was well behind the gaggle of Day Class students who were either squealing his or the other nobles' names. Once or twice he even caught her looking at him, but her expression was always calm… steady... None of that starry eyed giddiness for her.
She was one cool character, that Sayori Wakaba - for he had now found out her full name.
The following week, during class changeover, Aido just couldn't help himself. When he caught her looking his way, he nodded and gave her an exaggerated wink before she could look away. In unison, his entire group of 'Idol-sempai' screamers stopped mid-scream or mid-squeal, and turned as one to look who was the lucky recipient of that outrageously flirtatious wink.
To their surprise, it was a startled looking Sayori Wakaba with twin spots of pink starting to bloom on her cheeks, and her mouth slightly open in surprise. The next moment, she'd tossed her head with the aplomb of a queen being propositioned by a mere peasant and had stalked off towards the direction of the Sun Dorms.
Aido grinned. That reaction was priceless! But – he didn't actually mean to scare her off. In fact, he'd – he'd wanted to... to talk to her actually.
"Zero," murmured the auburn haired school prefect who stood nearby, her brown eyes wide. "Did you see that?"
The silver haired prefect beside her snorted softly.
"See what? 'Idol-sempai' just being himself?" he asked. "He's mad if he thinks Yori will be impressed by that."
Zero's opinion of Yori rose another notch. Yuuki jabbed him in the ribs as she rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more. Obviously, Zero hadn't seen the flush that was starting to shade Yori's cheeks before she turned and flounced away.
Oh Yori, why do you have to like Hanabusa Aido, of all people...!
The Night Class students walked on to class, Kaname smiling appreciatively at Yuuki as the two school prefects hustled the besotted Day Class students back to their dorms. Aido found himself walking slower and slower until he was the last person in his group. Involuntarily, his blue eyes drifted over the grassy slopes. Yori had almost reached the Sun Dorm gates but instead of going through them, she went down the small slope beside the stone wall surrounding the dorms, that led down to the lake.
Interesting. An opportunity had suddenly presented itself. A small pleased smile hovered on Aido's lips as he followed the others onto class.
Ten minutes later, as dusk was falling, he stepped out of the classroom again, straightening up from a pretended tummy upset only after he'd rounded the classrooms and was no longer within sight of the windows. Kain had eyed him suspiciously when Aido raised his hand and requested permission to use the washroom but surprisingly though, Kaname seemed preoccupied and hardly spared him a glance.
Now, Aido walked with swift grace past the washrooms, unbuttoning and shrugging off his white school jacket at the same time. It would show up too well in the darkness, compared to the black of his school shirt, and Aido didn't want to be accosted by any of his fan club girls now. Not when he had a more intriguing prey in mind.
An almost predatory smile curved Aido's full lips just then, and his blue eyes glowed crimson just for a very, very brief second.
Yori was standing on a small grassy slope, leaning against the stone wall that encircled the Sun Dorms and looking out at the lake in the gathering dusk. Her expression was pensive and her stance told the approaching vampire noble that this was a familiar pastime for her.
Aido's steps slowed as he saw Yori. He managed to get quite close to her, only six feet away actually, before she was aware of his presence and looked up.
The blond girl looked amazed at first when her eyes focused on Aido, his white jacket neatly folded over one arm and a charming smile on his lips. Then those large green eyes blinked once and she was once again her calm self.
"You're supposed to be in class," Yori said quietly, turning back to look at the lake, and Aido's second best pick-up line died right on his tongue.
"Well," he said after (what he deemed) a superb recovery. "You're Sayori Wakaba, aren't you?"
Yori glanced at him.
"So what if I am?" she asked.
Blue eyes blinked this time.
"I'm Hanabusa Aido, at your service," he introduced himself smoothly as he stepped forward and held out his hand as if he wanted to shake hands with Yori. The introduction wasn't strictly necessary - in fact, it was very belated considering they had been at the same school for almost a year and had even danced together once, but good manners would force her to shake hands with him, which was Aido's intention.
Yori's hand reached out after she'd gotten over the rather unexpected introduction. She intended to exchange a brief and impersonal handshake but Aido's hand moved faster than her eyes could follow. In the next second, he was bent over her hand, kissing each fingertip with dainty expertise. Her small hand in his trembled and when Aido glanced up, it was to see Yori's lips softly parted in surprise, her eyes wide as she stared down at him.
A second later, she snatched back her hand.
"You – you didn't have to do that!"
Aido smiled at the breathless note in her voice.
"Why not?" he murmured as he straightened up and took a step closer to Yori. His nose twitched a bit as he picked up her natural scent, the one he now remembered from the dance. It was nice - sweet... fresh... it actually brought to mind warm summer days and wildflowers dancing in the sunlight... even though these distressingly bright images were quite foreign to Aido, who avoided both sun and daylight whenever he could. It was also totally Sayori Wakaba and he found himself breathing in her scent deeply, eyes closed.
Yori stood her ground, staring at the vampire noble in front of her, looking as if he was in olfactory heaven with his eyes closed and a dreamy smile on his face. Her first instinct was to step back a little from him. After all, it was almost dark now, they were alone... and she knew what he was. But Aido didn't look anything like a vampire right now. He just looked like a vain and self centered playboy who had found the very person who had aroused his current interest, and was keen to pursue the aquaintance.
Aido's eyes opened. Another fact about Yori now registered in his mind. The green eyed blond was petite, roughly the same height as that Cross girl. For his part, Aido knew he wasn't very tall... like Kaname, or Takuma, or even his cousin, Akatsuki. He also didn't possess the regal bearing that Kaname had, that made the pureblood seem taller than he actually was. But the fact that the top of Yori's head only came up to Aido's shoulder somehow pleased him very much.
Yori tossed her head now.
"Whatever. I'm not interested," she said.
"Interested in what?" Aido pretended to look puzzled.
To her chagrin, Yori blushed – she hoped Aido hadn't seen that in the dark as she curled her lip now.
"In whatever you have to say."
Aido had both seen and sensed her blush, and he contained his smile. But when she curled her lip in derision at him, he had a sudden and most unexpected craving to see those same lips curved in a smile. And at him.
Don't be crazy!
He didn't need her to smile at him; he had a whole fan club of girls who were more than happy to squeal and swoon over him. This Sayori was just another girl, a human girl, and an unimpressed one at that. She wasn't even the prettiest girl in Cross Academy. He should get back to class now.
Aido clenched his jaw. Yes, he should stop this foolishness right now and go back, before Kaname got suspicious again and went out looking for him.
"Would you go out with me? This Saturday?" he asked suddenly, and the question uttered by his own lips took Aido completely by surprise. Where the heck had that come from?
Apparently, it took Yori by surprise too because she gaped at him.
"What?" Then "Why?"
"Why?" repeated Aido, still trying to figure out why he'd said what he thought he'd said.
"Yes, why should I?" asked Yori, an eyebrow raised. She'd recovered from her surprise now and stood there with her arms folded across her chest, looking supremely disinterested. It was quite the first time anyone he had asked out on a date had ever questioned why, and Aido paused.
"Because – "
"It's not a good idea to date vampires, you know."
Well, she was nothing else if not blunt. Aido's mouth fell open - he didn't even bother trying to deny it.
"How – how do you know what I am?" he demanded.
"I see and I observe. The whole Night Class is made up of vampire nobles," returned Yori. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"Oh." Blue eyes still wide with surprise continued to eye her speculatively.
"Never mind about that now, but the answer is No."
Yori turned on her heel and started walking past him to the Sun Dorm gates.
"Hey, wait!"
Surprised, Aido caught at her arm as she brushed past him. Yori stopped and glanced down at his hand on her arm and then up at him with an eyebrow raised. Under the gaze of those cool green eyes, Aido's hand fell away.
"Sorry," Aido muttered, and Yori gave a hesitant nod.
There was a moment of silence as his apology hung in the air between them. Yori seemed to be thinking out something... and Aido found himself unconsciously holding his breath. Then her lips tilted in a very small smile.
"Ask me the same thing again tomorrow, during my lunch hour," she said.
Blue eyes widened.
"Ask you again? What - at noon?" demanded Aido. "Are you crazy?"
"No."
"I'm asking you now!"
Yori's expression turned serious all of a sudden.
"I know what you are, Hanabusa Aido. That's why I don't want you to ask me now. If you really are serious about going out with me Saturday, you'll ask me tomorrow - at noon."
Ado blinked again. This girl must be even crazier than him if she thought he was going to sacrifice his precious sleep – again! – just to ask her to go out with him. After all, she wasn't even the prettiest-
"Fine! I'll see you tomorrow at noon then!" he snapped. It was his turn now to swing around and stalk off, and he took four steps before realising he had done the exact opposite of his thoughts. Again.
What the...?!
Yori was just as surprised at his reply. She saw his steps falter a little before he squared his shoulders and continued on his way.
"I'll be here at half past twelve," she called softly after him. He nodded but didn't look back.
A surprised and rather pleased smile curved Yori's lips as she walked back to her dorm.
Well well, this was a night of surprises indeed.
- o -
The next morning, Yori was nervous. She refused to admit that to herself however, as she sat beside Yuuki in class, looking calm and composed. The morning flew by and before she knew it, it was lunchtime. Her stomach was churning but she forced herself to swallow a few mouthfuls of her lunch, before excusing herself to the classmates who were lunching with her.
As Yori walked to the same place where she had met Aido yesterday, the butterflies in her stomach increased and she finally admitted to herself that she was nervous of meeting him again, and of what she would let herself in for if for some reason the vampire noble repeated his offer and if she accepted it. Of course, there was also a nagging thought that Aido wouldn't show up at all, that he thought his beauty sleep far more important than a girl who didn't immediately jump at his offer of a date.
Well, that should put a stop to this ridiculous infatuation of hers, if nothing else.
Much to Yori's surprise however, she spied a lanky figure approaching her a few minutes later, the hood of his light blue sweatshirt pulled over his head and his hands in his pockets. She recognised Aido's walk at once – hadn't she seen it a few hundred times before?
Aido only pushed back his hood to reveal a slightly less than perfect hairdo once he was under the shade of the tree that Yori was waiting at. He looked half asleep and irritable.
"Well?" he demanded without preamble. It was quite a change from the charming individual he'd been yesterday evening. Well, when he'd started their conversation at least, and Yori raised an eyebrow again.
"Well what?" she asked.
Aido scowled, swiping at a drop of perspiration trickling down his cheek. He had called himself all kinds of an idiot for actually setting his alarm for fifteen minutes past noon. Kain had awakened as well, wondering if his poor confused cousin thought he was still required to rake leaves in the sun. Aido had ignored his sleepy queries as he stumbled into the attached bathroom and tried to make himself look presentable. All for her. The girl standing in front of him now. Sayori Wakaba. She had better go out with him after all the trouble he had taken.
Now, he took a deep breath to calm down.
"Sayori, would you do me the honour of going out with me this Saturday evening?" he asked in a formal tone.
"Why?" asked the ungrateful Sayori in return.
Aido's eyes closed.
"Why am I doing this?" he mumbled to himself, trying not to think of his comfortable bed in his dorm room, and the fact that all good vampires should be in bed at this ungodly hour.
"Tell me one good reason why I should go out with you."
Aido's eyes snapped open at Yori's cool voice.
One? Oh, she just wanted one reason?! Hey, no problem – he had a hundred! OK, maybe not a hundred, but at least a dozen good reasons!
His stunningly good looks for one.
Er... OK, so she had never appeared really impressed with that.
Well, he was a vampire noble!
Right... but she hadn't exactly swooned into his arms while mentioning she was aware of that fact last evening.
He – he was from a rich and powerful family, that ought to count for something, right?
Well, it would if Yori was the type of girl who liked having a rich boyfriend.
Somehow, Aido didn't think so. He didn't think she was the type to date a guy just because he was... rich. God, that suddenly made him sound so... cheap.
Well, he was... uhm, he was a playboy.
Nope, scratch that, scratch that.
He was good with comebacks and one liners.
Oh wow, that was sure to work!
Aido was suddenly aware that Yori was still looking him, waiting for his answer. He scratched his aristocratic nose, feeling annoyed with her, and with himself. He was - he was - well, what was he?
He was the spoilt only son of a rich and powerful vampire family, whose favourite pastime was making sure he looked good. Or was it flirting with girls?
Oh, Yori was sure to be extremely impressed by both.
Aido made a small grimace, aware that he was starting to look increasingly flustered and chagrined, and uncomfortably aware that the sight was also amusing to the blond girl who was now smiling a little, despite herself
"Have you decided which reason is the best? And the most suitable one to persuade a mere human female like me?" asked Yori after a while, her eyes twinkling. She was unable to stop herself from teasing him.
Aido shot her a panicked look but kept silent, still trying to think of a good enough reason for this girl in front of him, with her cool demeanour and steady gaze. It was utterly mortifying to realise he couldn't come up with a single one.
Yori's smile had turned to a grin by now, and Aido had a sudden flash of inspiration, borne of sheer desperation.
"I – I'm real good in Math!" he blurted out suddenly, relived. Well, it was true, he was a genius at Math, better than any of his other classmates, better even than – dare he say it? – Kaname. Aido regularly topped each Math test and all his assignments inevitably garnered full marks.
Even the Night Class teacher had admitted more than once that he couldn't teach the young vampire noble anything new.
So there.
Yori's lips quirked.
"So am I," she said, her green eyes still amused.
Aido deflated like a balloon with its air let out, watched by a unsympathetic Yori.
"Well, probably not as good as you," she conceded after a moment. "But enough not to require a tutor. Sorry," she added.
Aido closed his eyes again, wondering why he was putting himself through this degrading torture when he could have had any other girl at this school for the taking. Well, almost any other girl. Yuuki Cross would definitely give him the cold shoulder as well.
Fully deflated now, Aido shrugged.
"Well, how about going out with me because I would like you to?" he muttered, staring down at his designer sneakers. He was beginning to wonder what type of guy Yori would be interested in. Nothing that he could ever be, that was certain.
"OK."
Aido's head snapped up so fast he almost gave himself whiplash.
"What?" he demanded, his expression pained as his hand shot up to massage the back of his neck.
Sayori smiled sweetly at him.
"That reason will do. OK, I'll go out with you," she clarified, wanting to laugh at the stunned expression on his face.
"I... well... great!" he replied, one part of his mind fixed upon her unexpectedly sweet smile. Wow, he'd done it... he'd gotten her to agree to go out with him. Without quite knowing how. If Aido still had his wits about him, he would have tried for a smooth comeback. But right now, he had nothing. And it wasn't until much later after he had thanked Sayori and walked back to his dorm room that he realised it was a good thing he didn't have one then, it could have made that annoying girl change her mind.
But this thought did make Aido realise something else - as he punched his pillows and settled beneath the smooth covers of his bed once more with a huge yawn, he suddenly wasn't sure how he was going to get through a date with a girl (human or otherwise) who was unimpressed by his abundant charm and witty remarks.
That thought made Aido sit up straight as he frowned. After a moment, he lay back down on his pillows again but it was a good half hour before he finally drifted off to sleep.
- Chapter End -