Chapter 3: Dinner Dance Part I- Request for a Dance

"Aww! That dress is soooo pretty!"

"Do you think Aidou-kun will dance with me if I asked him?"

"In your dreams! But I prefer Kain-senpai. He is hot!"

The squeals of excited girls filled the corridor that the group of vampires were walking through. It seemed as though the girls were purposely squealing louder to attract the attention of the blood-sucking fiends that hid within impossibly gorgeous bodies.

"Geez...you would think that they would talk softer when talking about us while we're right in front of them. It's like, "Okay, okay we get it, Hanabusa is a handsome and self-loving idiot,"" Rima Touya sighed exasperatedly.

"Oi! Rima! Watch what you say," Hanabusa growled. "I-"

"Aidou." A low menacing voice sounded.

"Y-Yes...Sorry, Kaname-sama," Hanabusa answered meekly, glaring at the others who were sniggering at him. "Kaname-sama, shouldn't you and Yuuki be heading off to the meet the Council?"

"I'm not going anymore," Yuuki answered with a huff. "Kaname decided last minute that he was better off alone, so looks like I'm gonna have to go to the dance," she said in annoyance.

Kaname, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke. "I will not be back for two weeks. Aidou, please do not wreck the house while I am gone. Kain, he is your responsibility." With that, he walked away.

Hanabusa looked slightly hurt at Kaname's words, but Akatsuki simply looked annoyed.

"Ok, everyone," Akatsuki said loudly. "The moment Hanabusa looks like he is going to cause trouble, we throw him out of the house until Kaname comes back. Is that fine with everyone?"

"Yes" was the answer from almost everyone except for Hanabusa, whose reply was a variation of curses directed at Akatsuki.

"Geez, tonight's gonna suck," Yuuki muttered.

The dance hall was filled with the sounds of laughter, talking and music. The room was brightly lit, giving it a cheery and exciting feel, accentuated by the giggles of excited girls and mutters of boys mustering up the courage to ask the girls for a dance. Those who had already invited partners were dancing on the gleaming marble floor. Amongst those dancing were Senri and Hanabusa, along with their dates Rima and Ruka. Watching one of those pairs were Akatsuki and Yuuki. Akatsuki was dressed in a black suit and white shirt which was unbuttoned at the top, giving him a rugged, sexy look. The reason why he was still dateless was because he had rejected every girl who had asked him before, and also because others were still gaining the courage to ask him.

Yuuki was dressed in a midnight blue dress and black heels. Her hair was intricately tied back with a white ribbon. She looked beautiful, even without trying. Boys whispered behind her back, admiring her and also daring each other to ask her for a dance. However, there was something about the way she gazed around the room that discouraged any advances. In truth, Yuuki was seriously bored. The dance had only started an hour ago, and she was already considering ditching the whole event.

"Oi, Akatsuki. Why are you standing there staring at the dance floor? If you want to dance, I can count at least 10 girls hoping to dance with you," Yuuki said.

"I could say the same thing about you. What about your line of boys waiting for a chance to dance with you? Don't frown like that, it gives you wrinkles," Akatsuki replied back, still staring at the same couple he was staring at the whole night.

"Well, you'd better take your eyes off Hanabusa and Ruka soon because the girls are getting restless. And also, that human girl Lisa is in your line of sight too, and I suspect the girls think that you're staring at her. So if you want to avoid a fight here, I suggest you stare at someone else," Yuuki remarked.

Akatsuki didn't reply. He merely turned away and walked to the food table. Yuuki sighed in annoyance and followed him.

"You know, if you really want to dance with Ruka that badly, dance with me until the part where we switch partners," she whispered to him.

Akatsuki froze. "What makes you think I want to dance with Ruka 'that badly'?"

"Please don't insult my observation skills," Yuuki replied with a frown. "You've been staring at her the whole night, and any idiot could figure out why. So, do you want to dance?"

He glared at her for a few seconds before relenting. They moved onto the dance floor, ignoring the dismayed whispers of girls and boys who realised that their opportunity had just disappeared.

The music began, and soon every couple were dancing in time to the beat. Akatsuki and Yuuki passed by Hanabusa and Ruka during the dance, with Hanabusa giving Akatsuki an 'I'm sorry' look while Yuuki and Ruka whispered a quick greeting. Soon, the dance was over, and it was time for the switching of the partners. Akatsuki tensed in excitement as the chance to dance with the love of his life came. However, as fate would have it, Ruka decided to skip this one out to rest. Hanabusa and Yuuki glanced at Akatsuki's face, which had suddenly become blank as he abruptly hid his emotions under his usual calm face. His inner emotions were, however, a mixture of hurt, dismay and deep sadness. He walked off the dance floor, Hanabusa following behind. Instead of walking straight to Ruka to ask for a dance, he veered off towards the drinks section.

"Akatsuki," Hanabusa whispered angrily after he caught up. "What the hell are you doing? Go and ask her to dance!"

"I couldn't," Akatsuki said softly, pouring himself a glass of red punch. "Her feet are sore, she said."

"That's your excuse for not having the guts to ask her!"

Akatsuki sipped at his drink, eyeing Ruka who was talking to Rima. Unknown to Hanabusa, Akatsuki was having a furious debate with himself.

"Go ask her! Now!"

"No...she needs to rest."

"A sorry excuse for a weak coward."

"Doesn't matter anyway, it's not like she'll miraculously love me after one dance."

"It's one dance! What could go wrong? Seriously!"

"You-You're right. It's only one dance. After that, it'll be back to normal, right?"

"Yes! Exactly. Now go!"

Akatsuki took one huge gulp of his drink before handing the glass to Hanabusa. He took a very deep breath to calm himself, looked at Hanabusa, gave a half-smile, and set out on what seemed to him was the longest stretch of road he'd ever walked. As he approached, he tried to work out how he would ask Ruka to dance with him. All sorts of possibilities ran through his head. Yet, a vampire's mind works quite the same way as a human mind when it comes to these sorts of things. One thinks that he has it all planned out, but when the moment comes, he does not do it quite as planned. Akatsuki decided, in his head, that he would walk over and start some casual conversation before casually asking Ruka to dance. He screwed it up from the first second he opened his mouth.

"Heyyy..." He stopped. Shit, what was it I was gonna say again? Shit, shit! Rima and Ruka merely stared at him confusedly.

"Akatsuki, are you ok?" Ruka asked, genuinely concerned. The boy had gone completely silent and appeared to be suddenly stressed.

"Yes, I'm fine," Akatsuki replied, wondering how he managed to answer the question. Words suddenly had no meaning to him now. It was like he completely forgot how to put a sentence together.

Akatsuki tried to remember what Hanabusa had told him about women. Compliment them, they love it.

"That dress is very pretty. Was it your mum's?" he blurted. What the hell am I???

Nearby, watching the whole conversation, Yuuki choked on her drink and started coughing violently Ruka stared at Akatsuki, her eyes suddenly cold, and walked off to help Yuuki. Hanabusa came up next to Akatsuki and slapped him across the back of his head.

"Tip for you next time. Saying 'You don't suit that dress', is not a compliment, idiot," and walked off. Rima merely gave a mocking smile before walking off towards Senri.

Akatsuki stood there, completely shocked at himself and what he had said. His mind had just totally gone blank, and he didn't know how on earth that comment left his mouth. Oh, crap! Shit! Great work, Akatsuki. Well done on ruining your only chance with Ruka, dumbass! His mind worked furiously on how he was going to repair the damage he had caused with only a few words. Then, as if that whole incident had cleared his mind of any nervousness, he walked towards Ruka with a clear plan in his head.

"Ruka, may I have a word?"

Ruka stared at him, again with those cold eyes, before nodding curtly and walking off towards one of the balconies without a word. Yuuki nodded and smiled at Akatsuki as a sign of encouragement. Akatsuki took a deep breath and followed Ruka. Even if I screw this up, it won't be that much worse than what I've already done, he decided.

On the balcony, Ruka stared out into the sky. It was a beautiful night, the sky filled with countless tiny shining stars. There was a full moon, shining upon the ground with each mystical, silver light. There was a soft breeze floating around, which made goosebumps erupt all over Akatsuki's body.. He stood behind Ruka, clearing his throat, which made her turn slowly around.

"Ruka, I'm so sorry. I couldn't think clearly, and it was just a total mind blank," Akatsuki apologised with the most sincere tone he could muster.

Ruka, yet again merely stared at him. He found it hard to look away from her eyes.

"Akatsuki, you're really an idiot, you know?" She smiled suddenly, her tone warm. "Maybe that's why I like hanging out with you so much. Don't worry about what you said, this dress isn't that great anyway."

"No,no. It looks really good. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it at all," he apologised again, utterly surprised that she was letting this go so easily.

"Oh, please. You know me, Akatsuki. It's not like it's that big a deal to me. Although, seeing people laugh at you was quite amusing, I must admit," she laughed.

Akatsuki's cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "Please don't mention this to Kaname, or my parents. I won't live to hear the end of it."

"Don't worry, Akatsuki. Kaname wont' hear about this...from me," she laughed. Akatsuki groaned. Hanabusa would be jumping on top of Kaname in excitement the moment he returned to tell him about this.

"So, I'm guessing you were going to ask me for a dance?" Ruka asked.

Akatsuki stopped breathing. She was going to tell him it was no good, that she will never dance with him. Not after tonight, despite what she had said.

"You got me," Akatsuki laughed weakly, his heart hammering against his chest as he braced for what he knew was about to come.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask me again?"

"What?" He asked, utterly confused.

"Oh gosh, you really are an idiot. Akatsuki, I'm saying that I want to dance with you." Ruka held out her hand.

Time stood still for Akatsuki. It seemed like years before his mind processed every word Ruka had said and years after that before he finally understood what she had just said. And then, it hit him. Ruka wanted to dance with him. He swallowed hard. What the hell, I screwed it up anyway, what could go wrong?

He took Ruka's hand and led her to the dance floor. He spied Hanabusa and Yuuki grinning at him. He made a note to ask Yuuki whether she knew about his feelings for Ruka. But right now, he didn't have the time. He was going to spend every second he could holding on to Ruka and not letting go. The music started, and the dance began. They moved in time with each other in perfect tandem. Their bodies swirled around the dance floor, making every other couple seem clumsy and flat-footed.

The whole time, Akatsuki eyes were focused only on Ruka's eyes. Time stopped completely. Akatsuki felt like he was in heaven. He found it hard to believe that this was actually happening, that it was all not just a dream. His spine tingled and goosebumps appeared on his body where she laid her hands on his body. In those few minutes of bliss, all Akatsuki wanted to do was hold on to Ruka, and never let go.

Abruptly and all too soon, the music ended. Akatsuki held on to her for several more seconds, savouring the last moments of an experience he would probably never have again. Ruka gazed at him deeply, as if reading his very thought. She was leaning into him, still gazing into his eyes, her mouth slightly opened, and then...

"KANAME-SENPAI!!!"

The loud squeals of girls made the two let go of each other quickly, glancing at the reason for the loud noise. It was Kaname. Apparently, he had returned home 2 weeks sooner than expected. He was dressed in a formal suit, which accentuated his already sexy exterior, making every girl swoon and every boy curse him. He ignored everyone and walked purposefully towards Akatsuki and Ruka. Strangely enough, he glanced at Yuuki on the way. When he reached them, he only looked at Ruka.

"May I have a word?" he asked.

There was complete silence in the room, the result of the entrance Kaname had just made. Ruka looked around her uncomfortably before nodding. Kaname walked towards the balcony Ruka and Akatsuki had just been on, with Ruka following close behind with a bewildered look on her face. Yuuki also followed them with a look that made Akatsuki suspect that she knew what was happening. She motioned for the conductor to resume and soon, music filled the room once again.

Outside, Kaname turned around to face Ruka. His face was completely unreadable, which mystified Ruka even more. What did he want to say to me that couldn't be said in public? He appeared to gather his thoughts before he spoke.

"Ruka, I need you to stop acting like a child," he said quietly.

She froze, a little offended at his tone. "What are you talking about, Kaname-sama?"

"We both know the truth but only one of us accepts it, and that is me. So I'm going to say it to you in person, so that you can finally accept the truth as well."

"Kaname-sama..."

"Please, Ruka. Do not continue this pursuit of me. It is doomed to failure, for I am not in love with you the same way as you are with me. I am sorry."

-Chapter End-