Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight

Shiki bit into Rima's neck, sucking in the blood calmly, something that not many vampires could do. They often drank in haste, desperate for the lovely liquid to settle their thirst, so much better than blood tablets do. To fulfill their longing, for the sole reason of existing as a vampire, a creature of sin.

Shiki and Rima had nothing to long for, yet they do so all the same. A vampire's thirst could only be satisfied by the blood of their loved one, but Shiki and Rima did not love anyone in that way. They still thirst; a thirst that could only be soothed not satisfied. But it was not as intense, not as vicious; almost endurable.

Shiki felt reasonably at peace as he drank Rima's blood. It was the same as always, her blood, comforting and calming. He could taste her emotions; taste her thoughts, on the plot of the manga she was reading. It made him feel safe.

Then suddenly there was a change.

Rima's blood suddenly became tastier. Shiki drank faster, losing his calm as more and more of Rima's blood flowed into his mouth. There was a pleasant coolness in his throat, as if a cold hand on a fevered injury. It was relaxing, yet vexing, yet exciting. His breathing seemed to become easier as the air he inhaled smelt so sweet. Rima gasped softly and Shiki felt her emotions, felt her mind. The kiss just then flew to the front and Rima gasped again. Shiki felt Rima's thoughts leak into him. He felt surprised, vacuity, warm, scared, discord, and he coiuldnt tell if those emotions were his or Rima's, or combined, or someone else's, or his mother's, or his father's, or Ichijou's, or his manager's, or his, or Rima's.

'Shiki…blood…why…too…'

Shiki's eyes opened; he wasn't sure when he had closed them. They were red with fevered bloodlust, hot and fiery. He realized Rima shivering and pulled away quickly..

"S-sorry." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes turning back to their normal blue colour.

Rima was silent. She did not move and her bangs covered her eyes. Shiki could see that there was no smile on her face, her mouth closed, shut.

And then she lunged.

She latched herself onto Shiki's neck, her fangs sinking into him in one clumsy yet fast movement. She viciously drank his blood, so beast-like, so unlike her usual self.

"A-ah…" a small sound escaped Shiki's mouth. His brows slightly creased, his eyes slightly lidded. Rima drank faster and Shiki's eyes closed. This was so different from the usual. Rima was always gentle and soft, licking his neck before biting him crisply. She would drink slowly and calmly, and lick the wound after she finishes. Like a cat, sipping milk from a dish. Her tongue, wet and clever, cleaning the bite marks. Soft and light and small, just like her-

Rima suddenly pulled away, turning her back to Shiki again. Shiki sat, eyes slightly wide and neck still bleeding. He regained his composure and healed the wound and his breathing and heart-rate returned to normal.

"What were you thinking?"

Shiki turned to Rima, her back still facing him.

"You were thinking about my…my…" She turned around, a rare frown on her face. Her cheeks were dusted pink, lips pouted and pointing downwards, like an angry doll.

"Sorry." Shiki murmured.

Rima turned to stare at the ground.

Shiki carefully got off the bed. He looked at Rima, who was still looking down.

"Good night, Rima." He said, walking to the door, opening it, stepping out, closing it and walking off.

Ichijou stalked to the door when he heard Shiki's footsteps, ready to interrogate him as soon as he opens the door.

Shiki's footsteps became closer, closer, closer…

The door opened.

"Shiki!" Ichijou yelled, immediately tacklingl him to the ground. "What were you doing with Rima?"

When he heard no answer he looked. There was a strange expression on Shiki's face. It had no overflowing confidence in it, belonging to someone that has just lost a game. It didn't suit Shiki. Ichijou was momentarily stilled.

"It's your fault." He muttered, looking away.

"Eh?" Ichijou pointed at himself. "My fault? What did I do?"

Shiki didn't answer.

"Shiki?"

Shiki pushed Ichijou off himself. "I'm tired, I'm going to sleep." He walked over to his bed, taking off his uniform and dropping them messily on a chair, climbing onto the bed and facing the other way so that Ichijou could only see his back. Ichijou watched him for a while, wondering why he was acting like this. Then he sighed and gave up, deciding to sleep himself.

Rima could not sleep. Her mind was messed up; she herself didn't know what she was thinking. Shiki had drunk so much blood that she was still dizzy. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, yet it wasn't pleasant either. Why was she in turmoil? Why wasn't she calm and collected? Why did she roughly take Shiki's blood after he had just taken hers? Why was Shiki thinking about weird things? Why did she remember that kiss?

An accident, only a touch of lips. Soft, pink, about to be coated with blood.

Rima wasn't clueless. She knew that kind of thing was special. But not that special, it was only special because she did it with her friend, with Shiki. Maybe that was the reason, because it was with Shiki. That's all. And all the abnormal actions would be forgiven, Shiki would be the same as always, bored and uncaring, and she would be the same cool, independent person tomorrow, always making sure that Shiki is okay, always taking care of him.

Everything would be alright tomorrow.

That night, Rima slept peacefully.

Shiki walked through a narrow corridor. He reached the end. There were two doors, one on the left and one on the top. Shiki opened the door on the left and stepped in. books were neatly organized on shelves, full of books stacked next to each other and filling the room. It was a library, Shiki realized.

There were three signs, on e above each space that the shelves made. The first sign said Ichijou, the second Rima, and the third Mother. He walked through the second one.

At the end, Rima was sitting at a table, reading a book. She was wearing a blue dress; dark, sleeveless, with a cut at one of the legs. The neck was high with a frilled collar, making it look like a piece of clothing from old China but wasn't. Shiki recognized it as one of the dresses she used for modeling.

Rima seemed to notice him and put down her book. She motioned for him to come over. He obeyed. She stood up and put a hand on his shoulder; he noticed his clothing had changed too, into a white long-sleeved dress shirt, the collar open, a few buttons undone and formal black pants. Rima leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"Are you thirsty?"

Shiki woke up, blinking slowly at the ceiling. He looked at the clock; it was halfway through noon. The room was dark, he realized; Ichijou didn't pull the curtains open. He tried to recall his dream, remembering three signs, but not the details, white shirt, a library, a whisper of questions, asking him, 'are you thirsty'. He could not remember anything else. He sat up, reaching for some clothes and putting them on. He got off the bed, forgetting more and more of his dream until he could only remember the question 'are you thirsty?'

It felt like a good dream.