Hi there! Here's another update for Chains of Fate! Thank you guys for the positivity! It's my first time trying to write so much angst and differing emotions in a story but needless to say, I quite enjoy it! I think I just love making the characters suffer… Alright, with every chapter updated, I'll reveal two fun facts about Shiori, just to let you guys get to know her better!
On with fun fact number 1: Shiori's around 166cm tall, making her the smallest and shortest member of the Night Class. It's something that Takuma has always enjoyed pointing out light-heartedly. Imagine the height difference between her and Kaname/Zero LOL.
Number 2: The meaning of the name Shiori is to weave a poem! I find it pretty interesting considering that poems usually have a deeper meaning to them. Similarly, Shiori's personality is strong and rich, filled with different colours… although now she may seem to be somewhat gloomy and dull but in spite of all that, she is someone who is tough and will no longer run away from her problems in the near future. She appears to be stoic and withdrawn but inside of her lies a whole new entire world and she's waiting for that one person to discover her gem…
Special thanks to all those who have reviewed, favourited and alerted Chains of Fate! Please enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: VK is not mine!
Warnings: Angst, unbeta-ed (self proof-read)
Chapter 1: Chains of Beginning
A shadow passed over her eyes as dark maroon irises glance upwards from underneath her eyelashes to look at the illuminating full moon that is still as bright and as strong as ever. There is something that pulls her towards the said object; perhaps it is the intensity and the mysteriousness of the moon as it shines on the earth whilst providing light to the entire planet. Unable to stand the utter boredom of being in class anymore, Shiori had made her way out of the room half an hour ago, making no attempt to sneak out whatsoever. It's not like anyone will dare to stop her anyway and so long as Kaname is there… it'll be fine.
Something akin to forlorn bitterness stirs in her heart as she thinks about how she's simply standing out from the others just because of her blood status. This is ridiculous… She is aware that Kaname probably feels the same way as her as well, knowing that the brunette is very lonely deep down inside, no matter what he says. The society is almost treating the purebloods as if they're royalty... that they'd so much more power and control over them, able to bend those from the lower class to their whims without even trying.
That is if… they're twisted enough to do that – to control those around them as if they're mere pawns; soldiers who do not have their own mind and will. It's outrageous – she cannot even find a proper word to accurately pinpoint her disgust and disdain towards it. Shiori would never agree to it no matter what the cost is for she know what it feels like… to be trapped within your own mind. The despair and agony… is absolutely gut-wrenching…
Shiori leans back against the biggest tree she can find at the outskirts of the Academy; the area of which is closest to that of the riverbank. Her legs are stretched outwards, making herself comfortable while bending her right knee and drawing it close to her chest. The silverette then proceeds to rest her head on the limb, closing her eyes as she enjoys the night breeze. There is a hint of rare tranquillity on her countenance, her stiff shoulders finally relaxing within the soft comforts of the dark night.
Somehow… despite the tendency to over-think and perhaps even over-analyse whenever she's alone, Shiori greatly welcomes the peace and solace that she loves oh so much. She is at ease, fully conscious and appreciating the fact that she's finally away from prying eyes that are paying so close attention to her; a subtle annoyance rising in her chest as a result of their close scrutiny. It is stifling; it makes her feel so suffocated to the point where she's almost on the verge of snapping at them.
That said, however, she fully apprehends the reality and prefers to say what she thinks in a straightforward manner, considering that the art of subtlety and manipulation is one that is very much common among high class vampires like her. She inclines her head, tilting it upwards so that she's able to get more of the breeze on her face, her train of thought trailing over to Kiryuu Zero – the one and only man who dares to show such blatant disrespect to her kind, even going so far as to stand up to them.
The burning fire in him is what's so alluring about him. His defiant streak is doing an extraordinary job at enticing her, pulling her closer to him in spite of the rather complicated relationship that currently exists between them. It's something she wouldn't admit out loud but Shiori does find herself seeking his presence. It isn't that she's developing feelings for the silverette – she snorts at that – but instead more of the fact that the emotions that he arouses in her is something different… something unfamiliar in a good way and she craves that for it chases away the constant emptiness and darkness in her heart.
Yet, she is clearly aware that the sadistic side of her wants to quell that strong flame that is Kiryuu Zero; the more primal side of her wants to dominate – to show the whole world out there that she's just as strong as any other purebloods out there. She wants this so badly because… she knows how it feels like to be humiliated… to be weak. And it is something that she never wants to experience again…
Closing her eyes, Shiori is about to drift away into sleep when the hairs on her body starts to tingle. She doesn't open her eyes, hoping that the intruder would get the hint and get lost. Dark maroon irises snap open when the silverette catches a whiff of a scent that she's vaguely familiar with. She widens her eyes, turning in the direction of the wonderful smell, only to come face to face with the man of her thoughts.
Speak of the devil…
"Did you have fun watching me in my sleep, Kiryuu…?" Shiori murmurs softly to him, almost causing him to jerk in shock. A small fond smile creeps its way up onto her delicate features, her once dull eyes starting to crinkle at the corners as she notes the small pink hue on his face – not that she knows Kiryuu would ever admit that he's embarrassed at having been caught off guard.
"Why aren't you in class, Hio?" He snaps at her with a hint of irritation with unveiled annoyance in his lilac eyes. Just by looking at the woman with an uncanny resemblance to her mother's appearance – with the exception of the colour of her eyes, it is enough to cause his shoulders to stiffen and tense. Deft fingers are slowly inching its way into the back of his pants where his pocket is, ready to arm himself and point Bloody Rose at her should she dare to try anything funny.
"…" Shiori stares at the hunter for a while before sighing as she proceeds to get up, her hands coming up to brush any dirt on her skirt. Suffice to say, the fact that she doesn't seem to be answering his question only serves the purpose of infuriating him; an emotion he is oh so familiar with whenever the pureblood is around.
"Class is boring and I…" She pauses for a moment before continuing. "…merely wish to have a moment of peace."
"Can't you do that in your own free time when you don't have class?" Kiryuu narrows his lilac eyes into thin slits, his gaze fixated onto the one person whom he hated with his entire being – even more so than Kuran. However, putting his deep hatred for her aside, he wouldn't admit it but even he's slightly confused and curious about the open melancholy that he sees on her countenance. He doesn't understand why she's showing him so much of herself despite the animosity and malice that had been brewing between them for so long.
"Surely you know what it feels like to be haunted by your own terrors when you're in your own room and when you're sleeping at night..." She says before trailing off. "…It drives me crazy. Just by simply looking at my own reflection through a mirror is enough to push me into the corner… And whenever I close my eyes when I'm in my room… I feel so suffocated – it reminds me of…"
It reminds me of the times when I was trapped underground… placed there by my own mother who left me there to rot and starve…
"…It reminds you of…?" Kiryuu probes softly; chastising his own heart for wanting to reach out to the other. If perchance Shiori isn't glancing at the sky and wrapping her arms around herself at this moment, she would have seen something other than hatred flashing in the other silverette's eyes.
She doesn't say it out loud; Shiori doesn't like to talk about the past and the memories that still haunt her even till today. For all those that had attempted to get her to open up, only Kaname was the most successful one. Only her blood cousin is aware of the nightmarish terrors that she'd been through when she was just but a young child and… he's the only one whom she feels safe with; the pureblood had never once abandoned her despite her multiple attempts to push him away.
Up to now, Shiori is still unable to fathom the reason as to why Kaname has been insistent in showering her with genuine warmth and affection whenever they're alone. She finds it strange and she has had always told the other pureblood that she does not deserve his loyalty and kindness… not when her own father is responsible for the deaths of his parents… and even Yuuki's transformation… Kaname had forced her to make a vow, claiming that she would never disclose the truth about her background…
Lost in her own thoughts, a lone tear escapes her stormy maroon irises, unnoticed as it trails down her delicate cheek before dropping onto the ground with a soft drip. This, however, is not missed by Zero who's now frowning at the lack of response, his brows furrowed as he tries to make sense of the pureblood who's standing in front of him.
About to take a few small steps towards the girl, his eyes widen as a sudden burning pain shoots up his chest, hurting enough to force him to keel over. His hands reach up to his own neck, clenching the collar of his uniform as he struggles to breathe; the lack of oxygen causing his chest to heave quickly. Kiryuu writhes on the ground as he fights to contain the animalistic part in him; his irises no longer purple but a bright crimson. This catches Shiori's attention who rushes over to help the tormented man; she is surprised by the absence of dark amusement and thrill but rather… it is replaced by the strong urge to reach out to him… to chase away the extreme distress and torment that the hunter is experiencing…
She tells herself that she's only helping him so that he is able to continue living on for her own amusement – that he's alive for her to play around with. Yet, there is a deeper part of her that is unable to take the sight of someone so strong… so feisty on the ground in pained anguish. She pushes down the bile rising up her throat, knowing that her own mother is solely responsible for Zero's current state. She tells herself that she's only atoning for her mother's crimes by helping him in times of need as trembling buttons quickly reach up to the collar of her white uniform, forcing herself to push away the dark memories of her past to the back of her mind. Shiori crouches down onto the ground in front of Zero whose hair is now damp from the sweat his body had gathered and pushes away the collar to expose pale unblemished skin.
"…N-no… D-don't…" He snarls at her, glaring at her with his crimson eyes.
Yet, in spite of his refusal to drink her blood, Shiori is able to see the blatant shivers that are currently wrecking his entire frame; his body weakened to the point where he's fully collapsed onto the ground, no longer having the strength to support himself up. She stares at the hunter in exasperation, blinking as she finally understands his train of thought. Pity wells up in her maroon eyes and Shiori inhales deeply for a moment before bringing her hand up, using her own nails to slash at her own neck, causing it to bleed. She places an invisible barrier around the both of them to prevent the scent of her blood from permeating the air…
His attention is split between the lecturer, the trees that are swaying slightly due to the breeze and the foreboding feeling in his chest. He feels unsettled and this is enough to make him cautious as his primal instincts are starting to stir; mostly aroused by the unease that's pushing him to be on guard. Something is happening… That much he knows for sure… but what's throwing him off is the fact that he's unable to pinpoint the exact cause of his growing anxiety. Kaname takes a quick look across the whole classroom, his dark maroon eyes narrowing slightly at the absence of his blood cousin. Soon enough, an intoxicating scent permeates through the glass windows into the classroom. The tantalizing aroma is more than sufficient to drive his animalistic side crazed and wild the thirst for blood. The pureblood's not the only one who's affected as the eyes of the other vampires begin to bleed an eerie crimson red.
"Kaname-sama…?" Takuma bites his lips worriedly as he turns to his friend for directions. The handsome blonde blinks back in shock, seeing the intense anger brewing in his friend's eyes.
"I would like all of you to stay here. I'll personally go down to check up on her." Kaname says in a curt tone.
He makes his way straight to the exit when, all of a sudden, a loud familiar gunshot catches the attention of everyone in the classroom, causing the pureblood to halt in his movements. The glass window begins to crack under Kaname's intensifying aura; his wrath emanating from his person. The rest – even Takuma – flinches when his eyes start to darken, promising death. Ignoring the rest, Kaname leaves and with his quick agility and speed, he is able to reach the scene within a few minutes, his fury growing stronger and more powerful by the second as he takes in the sight in front of him.
Right in front of his own eyes, his blood cousin is bleeding profusely; a jarring wound is seen on her shoulder where a bullet is deeply embedded in. His eyes flash crimson, seeing a hint of fear as the culprit sinks his fangs into the crook of her unblemished neck, biting down hard and swallowing the purest of blood in huge big gulps.
How dare Kiryuu –
He is about to tear the hunter away from Shiori when a small moan escapes her soft pink lips as maroon eyes close in… pleasure…? Pain…? Kaname's dark irises widen as Kiryuu too lets out a soft sound, his hand reaching up to the back of Shiori's head, burrowing itself in long strands of pure silk as he tilts her head and bites down even harder. Seeing this, an infuriated growl is heard from the brunette as his control snaps, unleashing his aura and rips Kiryuu apart from her; earning a pained cry from Shiori as the prefect is roughly torn away from her. He flings Kiryuu to a tree, slamming his back against it. Kaname snarls once more as he proceeds to take hold of the silverette's neck in a tight grip, fully intending to cut off his air supply.
Shiori almost whines at the loss and she stares at Kaname's back; still a little dazed from having lost so much blood. Wait… Kaname? Blinking profusely, she shakes her head in an attempt to get her focus back; finally realizing that Kaname is on the verge of killing the hunter and her own temper starts to flare for her cousin had just interrupted her little time with Kiryuu.
"Kaname!" She calls out to him sharply, standing up from her spot on the ground. Ignoring the burning pain that is currently shooting up her shoulder, she rushes over to the both of them, coming to a stop in front of Kiryuu; shielding him from Kaname's wrath. Maroon eyes glare up defiantly into dark orbs.
"Move aside." He snaps at her, unable to understand why she's so foolish, going so far as to protect Kiryuu when the latter is the very reason for her injuries.
"Let go of him!" Shiori growls as her own temper begins to flare. The sight of the normally fiery hunter pinned and writhing under Kaname riles up her need to protect him. Deep down, she can't bear to stand seeing him in such a condition when it is her own mother who is responsible for the man's current state. She will carry the weight of her parents' actions onto her own shoulders and compensate those that her mother and father had destroyed in the past. This includes both Kiryuu and Kaname as well.
With another fierce hiss, the young woman uses her unnatural strength to her aid, roughly pulling Kaname away from his prey. Rushing over to stand in between them, she glares up at her blood cousin for the rough manhandling. Feeling shivers wrecking the hunter's poor frame, she is even more furious for hurting him. Unwilling to back down from this power struggle, she doesn't flinch when the earth beneath them begins to tremble from Kaname's wrath. She has already made the decision to protect the hunter from the dangers of the world out there; only she has the right to hurt the silverette.
Noting the blazing fire beneath maroon eyes that are almost identical to his, Kaname heaves an exasperated sigh at the stubborn girl. His anger is slowly dissipating. As always, he holds a soft spot for the young woman, not able to lay a hand on her ever since childhood. Kiryuu better appreciate the fact that he is under Shiori's protection but knowing how obstinate and fiercely independent the hunter is…
In the midst of this interval, having had regained his senses, Zero blinks as he attempts to steady himself. His body has already started to heal no doubt thanks to the fresh blood that he had gotten from the pureblood… Speaking of which, his beautiful lilac eyes widens once he's taken in the scene in front him, registering the fact that Hio Shiori has shielded him from wrath of Kuran Kaname.
"Come with me to get your wound cleaned up. I believe Kiryuu's injury has already started to heal." Kaname murmurs to Shiori, his maroon eyes full of concern for the young woman. His expression darkens almost instantly as the latter shoots the hunter a worried look. Showing kindness and consideration to such filth…
"But–" She speaks up, no doubt about to protest. Shiori doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence as she suddenly feels a pair of strong arms wrapping itself around her; one on her waist and the other on her legs. The female silverette blinks at the sudden gesture, having found herself cradled to a warm chest.
"Stubborn girl." Kaname whispers lowly and a soft fond look is found on his face while he heads in the direction of the Moon Dormitories with purposeful strides, leaving Kiryuu alone back in the clearing. "If I don't take care of you… then who will…?"
His gentle words draws out a strange emotion in her and Shiori buries her face within his chest in an attempt to rid herself of the unfamiliar feeling. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you to be constantly hovering over me."
Her response earns herself an exasperated sigh from Kaname who remains oddly silent. Having reached the Moon Dormitories, the brunette brings the young girl up the grand stairs, turning right into the hallway. He walks past the other rooms and heads straight for the one next to him. Once inside, the pureblood places her down gently on her bed with his own maroon eyes trailing down the ostensibly frail body.
Blinking at her cousin who's currently in the toilet to search for tools that can help pull out the bullet that's still stuck in her shoulder, she is slightly confused, pondering over Kaname's actions. Sharp fangs nip at her bottom lips, feeling disheartened at the plausible thought that she might appear as someone who's weak – someone who's not strong enough to fend off dangers on her own. Not liking where her current train of thought is heading, the silverette frowns when she finds herself caring about her cousin's opinions. It is ridiculous. Never had she encountered such situations where she would see herself being treated as a damsel in distress. She never considered herself as such.
On the surface, she knows that there is an unspoken social obligation that women should be taken care of and protected by their male counterpart but she doesn't approve of it. Deep maroon eyes avert their gaze from the toilet door and she suddenly finds the floor interesting. Taking in mind what she had went through since childhood… the wound that she received from Kiryuu is nothing compared to the terrors that haunt her even till today. Speaking of which… Shiori hasn't had heard from him in a long while…
Soft blue eyes that are so beautiful that they're almost glowing in the darkness of the cell he'd just been roughly pushed into… His kindness was what lit up a burning hope of fire in her heart. Shin… Having been separated when they made their escape from the basement dungeon they've been locked up in for so long, Shiori doesn't have any idea on his whereabouts and his current state… Is he alright? Did he make it out alive? Where is he now? Will he come for her?
Lost in her thoughts, Shiori doesn't take note of the fact that Kaname's managed to find a pair of pliers, a bowl and a towel from the bathroom. The brunette has already filled the bowl with some water to clean her wound… just in case. Seeing how moody she is, Kaname can only sigh as he kneels in front of her, tilting her chin towards him.
"I'll be proceeding to take out the bullet from your shoulder… It might sting a bit…" He murmurs, gaining her attention. To be frank, Kaname's not sure if he should be the one doing this; there's Takuma after all… but when Shiori's like this, he doesn't trust anyone to be with her. Not to mention, the overwhelming bloodlust that will strike her once he's done… He cannot afford to let Shiori make such a careless blood bond. Consider him possessive… but he knows that deep down, he's only doing it for her own good. Besides… Kiryuu must have already developed a one-sided one with her…
As the bullet is removed from her body, Shiori hisses slightly at the sharp pang that shoots up through her small frame. She grunts softly in pain while Kaname is gently cleaning up her wound; as if he's almost afraid to hurt her. To be frank, she feels somewhat irritated at him for treating her so... While Kaname may seem like an aloof and stoic pureblood to the others, she's perfectly aware that her blood cousin is somewhat of a worrywart; hence his tendencies to oversee issues and situations so meticulously to the point where he's almost a perfectionist. That aside, it still doesn't give him a reason to see her as someone who's so fragile… almost brittle. One might say that she should be grateful for being on the receiving end of such… rare and tender affection but… She doesn't like to be underestimated by the others… no matter how long has she already been on this roller coaster ride.
Soon enough, the mouth-watering aroma of fresh delicious pure blood fills the air, the tantalizing scent causing Kaname's deep burgundy irises to bleed a crimson red. The movement of his hand halting does not go unnoticed by Shiori who glances at her blood cousin, wondering about the sudden action (or lack thereof). However, just as she was about to inquire about him, she sees herself keeling over in suffocating pain the next moment. Sharp fangs that are long enough to pierce into her own lips unintentionally are beginning to protrude from her gums. Despite the intense anguish she's suffering due to the silver bullet that was embedded into her shoulder only until recently, all she thinks now is blood.
Blood.
She needs blood.
Nothing is going to stop her from getting what she wants.
Before he knows what's going on, Kaname feels himself being pushed down onto the soft bed underneath him, his brown hair spreading out around him like a dark halo. He widens his eyes as the bed dips slightly when there is a sudden weight on his lap; Shiori is straddling him, her maroon eyes now a bright red – a colour which he thinks does not suit her. Shiori is too pure… too innocent… too intelligent… and he feels that, for someone like her, she doesn't deserve to be tormented by her bloodlust. He's aware that she's been starving herself, pushing away all sources of blood – including the blood tablets and her primary reason for that was because that she can't see others in pain.
While he thinks that the latter is too much like Kiryuu in the sense whereby they're both unwilling to hurt innocents, this doesn't mean that she should put herself in such a compromising position. Seeing his cousin in this state, he wonders if this is what Yuuki will be like once she's reverted back to her true self… There is no more time left… but there's nothing much that he can do while things begin to unfold. That said, he will use all of his strength to protect both Yuuki and Shiori; and knowing the painful past that the silverette has been through… he doesn't want her to go through the same agony again.
His mouth parts open slightly to let a small gasp escape from the confines of his inner cavern as sharp teeth pierce through the surface of his unblemished skin. Soft silky silver hair sends a small shiver down his spine as they fall downwards to the back of her waist, the ends of it brushing against his navel. Throughout the small interval where he's been thinking about letting his blood cousin do whatever she wants, deft fingers have already unbuttoned his collar, pushing it to the side so that the crook of his neck is revealed to garnet eyes. Not a moment too soon, a feeling that somehow seemingly feels like warm pleasure with a mix of pain courses through his body as his blood is slowly being drained away. He doesn't mind the pain at all… not when it is nothing compared to what his cousin has had been through. For that, he scorns both Shizuka Hio and Kuran Rido; wishing that he has the opportunity to give them what they deserved…
Alas, coupled with the close exposure to such delicious pure blood and the loss of his own one, the same hunger strikes him as well. It is dark… monstrous… and primal… His inner monster is fighting with his own conscience in a struggling attempt to dominate his own body. And while the rational side of his brain is desperately reminding him that giving into his own bloodlust would be a fatal mistake, its efforts are futile as Kaname soon finds himself sinking into the crook on the left side of her neck… over where Kiryuu's own mark is glaring at him.
This causes Shiori to cry out in pain as the partly healed skin is once again being torn apart painfully. With Kiryuu's rough feeding, the throb in her neck is causing her to let out grunts… which soon turn into that of pleasure. Although Kaname has fallen prey to his own bloodlust, it is not to the point where he's on the verge of insanity and unable to differentiate between right and wrong. Pleasuring his own partner reaches second in his priority list. Such chemistry between the two of them is enough to create an atmosphere of rising tension. The purebloods pay no heed to the shrill sound of the glass windows in Shiori's room cracking, jagged lines now visible along it.
Somewhere along the line, Kaname can feel that something is changing. There is a… newly formed connection between the two of them. The brunette wants to pull away – there is Yuuki to think of – but he can't. All he thinks about is the warm, warm fresh pure blood that's currently filling up his mouth and when he swallows… he can feel his vampiric side purring in satisfied delight. He knows that his blood cousin is feeling the same mixture of pain and pleasure just by hearing the small… soft sounds that she's making. He wants to keep them all to himself; seeing someone so inhibited as her letting go of her… concerns in the midst of… pleasure… Granted, they aren't making love or anything but exchanging blood is almost just as good – or even better.
A sudden image of Kiryuu sinking his filthy fangs into her neck – defiling her – is enough to arouse his fierce temper. His hand reaches upwards to tangle itself within silver strands, the other bringing her closer to him. Just like this, they stay in this position as long as they need to… with Kaname offering Shiori all the comfort and protection she needs. If need be, he is willing to ensure the safety of her well-being with his life… just as how he would with Yuuki and his friends…
XXXXXX
He's walking through the gates to the Moon Dormitory with Rima and the rest when, all of a sudden, he halts immediately. His countenance darkens as the fresh aroma of blood that simply screams Shiori wafts through his nose. Senri growls softly, capturing the blonde's attention beside him. Rima shoots her beloved partner a questioning glance at the uncharacteristic gesture before widening her pretty blue eyes slightly. Sighing, Rima places a warm hand on his shoulder, moving closer to him and murmuring softly that Shiori-sama will be alright and that nothing will happen to her.
"But…" Senri nips at his bottom lip worriedly. Doubt swells in his chest and he's unsure as to whether Rima will be right. He can tell there's another tantalizing scent mixed with his sister's blood and he's afraid that… While the rest are concerned about the silverette as well, only Rima is able to discern the true depth of his familial love and affection for his sister. They are related by blood after all… Having had wasted all the time he could have spent taking care of her during childhood and seeing the sorry state that she was in, all Senri wants is to see his sister free from the terrors that are haunting her.
He's able to tell how different Shiori is around the hunter and while he's not exactly on friendly terms with Kiryuu per se, Senri appreciates the latter's ability in making his own sister seem so alive. Even looking at the provocative taunts and dark amusement on his sister's face is more than enough to chase away his own fears for that is so much better than seeing the depressed state that she was in a couple of years ago when he had first learnt about their relationship…
She had given him quite the scare when he found her lying in the midst of her own blood that's pooling in the bathtub in her room. Having had attempted the act of committing suicide, Senri still remembers the overwhelming fear and trembles that were wrecking his frame. He had saved her by feeding her his blood. Never does he want to see his own sister so… pale and weak ever again… The red-head had stayed by her side, watching over her as her body fought hard to repair itself from the huge shock it went through and only Kaname could get him to rest. Even so… the brunette had to use his own authority as a pureblood to command him to do so…
"…What are the chances of a blood-bond forming?" Senri questions softly, almost afraid of the truth. His sister is one that cherishes her freedom, hating to be restricted even by the smallest of constraints… and this is probably one of the more severe adverse consequences of being locked up and forced to live in a dungeon cell just as her own mother did. What's worse was that her own mother was the one who placed her there… for Shiori was considered an accident.
"You know the answer to that as well as I do, Senri…" Rima frowns, the corner of her lips tugging downwards. "Don't fret too much. Kaname-sama will do his utmost to protect her, I'm sure of it…"
Her gentle words earn herself a small smile from Shiki. Slightly relieved after hearing that from Rima, the red-head starts making his way back to the Dormitory with Rima trailing closely beside him. Senri knows that he can always count on her to have his back regardless of what happens. While he would call himself a cool-headed person, he still worries about his family the most and it is moments like this when he's thankful Rima's presence in his life. He can't imagine what it would be like without the model and Senri hopes that things will stay the same between the two of them…
Yet, there is still a foreboding feeling that he can't rid himself of. It is starting to make him worried and uneasy… but whatever Fate throws in his way, he'll be sure to tackle it and face it head on courageously…
The end! After reading this chapter, I hope you guys have a better idea of what Shiori's personality is like and how the other characters view her. As mentioned before, there will be angst, hurt and comfort as well. I'd like to think that Shiori's dark side is a result of her childhood and what she had to go through in order to protect herself from harm. I will start to reveal more later on! Also, I'd appreciate it if you leave a review at the end! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
