Flames. Flames that threatened to engulf him. Usually he hated the heat- he preferred everything on the cooler side. Right now though Hanabusa was uncomfortably warm. No. He was hot and it was her fault. She was likewise unfavorably hot, the heat seeming to flow under her alabaster skin like electrons through a wire.

That woman-more like a lecherous succubus- was a black widow, Hanabusa decided, sucking the happiness out of her victim's lives and in the process destroying their very souls. She lured them in, what with her beauty or maybe her charm. Then, he imagined, she'd begin to play her twisted game before finally doing what she had always planned to do all along.

And now she had him ensnared in her web.

Currently, Hanabusa was pinned beneath her, her breath tickling his flesh while he writhed upon the plump pillows and the plush bedding. What agony he felt and yet… He gnashed his teeth together as she tore yet another pitiful moan from him. "Say it and you'll feel better… We both will, I promise…" She practically purred when she spoke.

Hanabusa also decided she was a sadist. It was the only logical conclusion since she wore the most perfectly sinful and sensual smile, all the while her crimson eyes bore down into his own.

"Never," Hanabusa hissed, hair messed about haphazardly, his eyes wild with lust and anger crackling in their azure depths.

"Hanabusa," she crooned, "I believe you're a masochist. Surely you feel pain from denying your desires…"

With a tremendous amount of effort, Hanabusa glared at her, his mouth worked into a devil-may-care smirk. "Better a masochist than a slut."

Hanabusa woke with a start, eyes wide, and his silk pajamas clinging to him due to the sweat that covered his skin. He groaned, lying back slowly in his bed, half expecting that she would suddenly be beside him. He glanced around, noting that Akatsuki had left- likely due to the sounds he was making as he dreamed. He allowed himself to relax slowly though his face was drawn into a mixture of anger and disgust and disappointment. All of his muscles unclenched, leaving his body no longer stiff… Then there was a moment before Hanabusa realized…

He had a problem.

A big problem.

Kai lay beside Kaname, eyes wide open while her head rested upon his chest. She knew he wasn't asleep either but didn't feel like calling him out on it. She knew he was utterly peaceful knowing that she was in his arms again. She also knew she should be feeling the same way and yet… she was more worried than ever.

All this time she had let him believe she was dead to protect him and now… Every last soul on this campus was in danger because of her.

"Go to sleep, Kai." Kaname murmured, his eyes still closed as his hand rubbed her bare back.

"I can't."

"You ought to be exhausted," Kaname told her, a rare confident smile spreading across his face. "Especially after what has transpired."

"Yes, yes," Kai swatted him gently, "your prowess is as amazing as ever…" She watched his eyes open to look at her. "It's not my body that is the problem…it's my mind."

"And what is on that troublesome mind of yours?" Kaname asked, sitting up slightly, causing her head to rest across his stomach now while he stroked her hair. "Hm?"

"I'm just…used to not being able to sleep." Kai lied, closing her eyes as he petted her hair.

"Shall I sing you a lullaby?" He asked softly.

"No… Just remain as you are and I shall succumb eventually…"

By evening's first glimpse every vampire was awake and preparing for their night. Most were quiet, save Takuma who insisted upon being cheery in his every waking moment.

"Good evening, everyone!" The blonde greeted as he appeared, dressed and ready for class like always. It was as if nothing had changed…

Then the door opened and Kaname led the new girl, Kai- if they remembered correctly, out with him. Both he and she were dressed in uniform, looking about at everyone. The class regarded her with impassive eyes though they weren't at all pleased with her sudden appearance. The last time another Pureblood had came… Well, that was Shizuka and who among them really mourned the mad woman?

"Good evening…everyone," Kai spoke softly, almost like royalty that had been stripped of their title and must now work among the people. She was no royal.

At the lack of response, Kai swallowed imperceptivity and looked to Kaname. Her eyes were no longer the same glowing red from the night previous, instead a shade of moss green, almost like a semi-translucent emerald. That was his favorite color and he adored seeing his beautiful Kai's eyes. Without paying the class any attention he gently caressed her cheek as he spoke, "we'll be going to class now. Just follow my lead and everything shall be fine… I promise." He looked to the others before leading her out, knowing the class would follow.

It was revolting how she could simply take such affection from him and act so innocent. Hanabusa decided another thing about this Kai creature- she was a master actress. How else could she fool her prey so well? Especially since it was Lord Kaname! Hanabusa felt anger simmer in his belly.

He couldn't let her get away with this.

As the class walked toward the gate the sound of the day class began to reach them. "Hanabusa…what are you plotting?"

"Oh, nothing, Akatsuki! You worry too much!" Hanabusa answered with his usual chipper tone. That bitch wasn't the only one who could pretend- THAT WAS IT! He could pretend too! He could stop her if he pretended to get close to her!

"Hanabusa, whatever you are thinking-stop. You'll only get yourself in trouble and make it hard on the rest of us."

"Not now, Akatsuki! I must go, the poor day class girls need me!" Hanabusa dismissed him simply, running forward. He smiled as he usually did for the imbeciles, listening as they began to cheer for him.

"IDOL~! KEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~!" Hundreds of girls were falling over themselves-literally, for a chance to meet him. How pathetic.

"Heeello ladies! Did you miss me?" He listened to the squeals before he started to blow air kisses at them. He continued to stand in one place, letting the others drift by him slowly. He was waiting for the opportunity to casually fall into line alongside Kai.

Kaname's eyes drifted about the sea of black uniforms, looking for the familiar head of brown hair. Where was she? He frowned slightly as he didn't see a naïve girl futily trying to contain the estrogen charged girls of the day class. Where was his Yuki? "Is something wrong?" His eyes slid to the emerald eyed goddess beside him. It was a difference that was like night and day. Yuki was like him, dark hair, dark eyes…dark past. She was of slight frame and though she would like to think she could handle herself… she couldn't. Yuki needed to be protected. Kai's light features among other things made her stand apart in a league of her own.

"No, nothing is wrong. I was just thinking," He told her, his voice the same tone as always whenever he was around the day class though there was a subtle undertone that would be reassuring to her. He didn't fail to notice that she was less than convinced but didn't say anything. They walked in silence, walking with all the unspoken grace of royalty, almost like the French monarchs King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. What a terrible analogy to be compared to monarchs who were beheaded by the people who despised the title they wore.

Kai glanced over as they passed the blonde aristocrat who seemed to be harassing the human girls, though in his defense it appeared that they liked it. "Is he allowed to do that?"

"So long as he doesn't cause any trouble or break any rules, I do not care what he does."

"How apathetic of you," Kai teased him with a slight sly smirk.

"Perhaps-"Kaname stopped as he noticed Aido break off from the girls to boldly walk beside Kai. Instantly he felt himself bristle, despite the fact he knew that Aido was a lesser vampire male… But he was still a male and deep down all living creatures were the same. Males seek to protect their females from other males and are prepared to fight in order to do so. Still, he would not worry because he knew by now to let Kai handle herself. Memories of their youth flooded his mind and almost broke his emotionless façade.

"May I help you?" Kai asked, glancing towards the blonde aristocrat.

"Actually I was going to ask you that, Namahito-Sama," Hanabusa told her, placing his hands into his pockets. "I thought it would be beneficial to you if you were to be caught up and shown around. However, I didn't think it would get to happen since our Dorm President and Vice-President are so busy… Then I thought I would volunteer myself!" He acted cheery but not out of place. He already loathed having to act like this around her when she deserved less respect than the dirt that the scum of the earth trod upon.

"That is not necessary, Ai-"

"Actually, I think it's a great idea," Kai interrupted, smiling. The three came to a stop before the school building, Kai standing beside Kaname and both of them facing Aido. "What is your name, oh selfless volunteer?"

"Aido, Hanabusa, Namahito-Sama," He bowed slightly, hiding his snarl by bowing his head. When he straightened he caught Kai and Kaname looking into each other's eyes. After a few moments he watched as the greatest man he had ever known sighed and walked into the building, leading the class in after him. How did this woman make a prince crumble and subject to her will so easily?! It infuriated Hanabusa.

"Alright, Aido, lead the way," Kai spoke, her green gaze fixed upon him. She was barely taller than him, though it could be the heel of her shoe… As Aido turned to lead her away she felt a gaze on her back. She turned halfway toward the building, her eyes going to the room where the class should be going. In the window stood a man with black hair and an eye patch. She could see the smoke trailing from the cigarette in his mouth and imagined that somewhere he had his gun hidden. After all, it wouldn't be appropriate to shoot at your students would it? There was a moment in which their eyes met and she watched his narrow. Yagari. She giggled near silently before blowing him a kiss, a silent dare for him to try anything.

She was used to being hunted, persecuted and tortured by much worse than someone like him. She wasn't worried about the hunters' association. No, she had much bigger and much more deadly playmates right now. She watched as he curled up his lip as she blew him a kiss. She felt her eyes flash before she turned back to follow Aido, fading out of his sight and further into the darkness of the world.