Author Notes: Here is the next chapter! Please note that a few aspects are AU in the Hold Me universe such as Yuuki remaining a human, she and Kaname never got together as a couple and Kaname is her older brother and not the ancestor :D Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave a review!

-- Chapter Start --

A couple of months later...

Dawn was almost breaking over the horizon when Kaname decided to inform his inner circle nobles about Yuuki's past. It was officially the first day of the six week school holidays and the seven puzzled nobles gathered in the Moon Dorms living room, wondering why they were being called for a short meeting. Kaname waited until everyone was comfortably seated before he revealed Yuuki's past and her actual relationship with him. Everyone except Takuma was shocked to learn that the human girl Kaname had always favoured and protected – Yuuki Cross - was actually his younger sister. She was born a pureblood, the same as him but due to the numerous enemies the Kurans had, her mother sacrificed herself when Yuuki was five years old to keep her safe. Juuri used her own pure blood to change her daughter to a human and suppress her memories at the same time. Hence, Yuuki was not Kaname's intended betrothed as most of them had assumed but a cherished younger sister who would remain human for the rest of her life unless a pureblood bit her. With a grave smile on his lips, Kaname then informed the stunned looking nobles that a few hours ago, he had just given his blessings to Yuuki and Zero Kiryuu to be a couple.

Ruka was as stunned as the other nobles were when Kaname disclosed the news. Her wide eyes were glued to his handsome, serene features almost without blinking and as usual, she was unaware of the tall, copper haired noble sitting beside her who was watching her carefully. Kain could tell that Ruka's heart was starting to soar with hope and it was bitterly ironic that the same news made his own heart plummet in despair.

When Kaname finished speaking, everyone was quiet as they took a moment to digest the surprising news. Aido probably would have been the first to speak then but he had a mixture of belated comprehension and chagrin on his face which clearly said he now realised why the petite school prefect's blood had always seemed so extraordinarily sweet to him.

"So Yuuki Cross is not your intended life partner, Kaname-sama?" Ruka was the first one to break the stunned silence and she spoke impulsively, the tone of her voice coming out slightly higher than usual. Her words made Kain's heart sink even lower than before and he almost winced at the sharp twinge it gave at the same time. He hated hearing the hope in Ruka's voice and he hated that uncertain feeling he had, that perhaps this time... she might not be disappointed.

"No. Yuuki is my younger sister and I cherish her very, very much. She has made her choice in who she loves and it is Zero Kiryuu." Kaname saw the question in Aido's eyes even before he opened his mouth and gave another nod.

"Yes, Aido. I am even willing to assist Zero Kiryuu with my blood to stop his descent into Level E," he added. He paused for a few moments to let this news sink in and noted the various responses he obtained – immediate support from Takuma, indifference from Kain, Shiki, Rima and Seiren, shock from Aido and Ruka.

"I am requesting that all of you give Yuuki and Zero the respect and protection they deserve. Please remember to keep this news amongst yourselves." With that statement, Kaname stood up, signaling that the meeting was at an end. He left the living room and everyone was subdued as they went back upstairs to their rooms to rest. As they ascended the grand staircase, Kain allowed his eyes to linger wistfully on Ruka's slender back for longer than usual but only Takuma and Aido noticed.

- o -

Two weeks later...

Ruka had always known that it was presumptuous of her to assume that Kaname would ever return her feelings. That was what she told herself constantly but with nothing else to distract her from thinking of him, she continued to hope that one day, despite their different social standing and Kaname's obvious regard for Yuuki Cross, he would one day return her affections. Hence, the tiny flame that continued to flicker in a corner of Ruka's heart was never extinguished. In fact, for the first two weeks of the school holidays, it flared even brighter than before.

Ruka did not have a chance to meet Kaname since that short meeting at the start of the holidays but Aido and Kain had come over to see her. The three of them had gone for dinner at an up market restaurant in town that was frequented by vampire nobles. Ruka's lips twisted in a rueful smile as she recalled the strangely somber air of the meal, largely due to Aido being uncharacteristically quiet and withdrawn. Kain had even tried to get a rise out of his younger cousin by commenting on how relieved he was that Aido was finally acting his age but the tousle haired blond only gave a big sigh before looking down at his plate. At that moment, Ruka winked at Kain, silently egging him on but to her surprise, the copper haired noble only shrugged before digging into his food.

In fact, both Aido and Kain were strangely silent after that and Ruka found herself carrying on an almost completely one sided conversation for the rest of the dinner with both males interjecting head nods and mumbled assents along the way. It was very strange, she mused to herself and frowned a little at the recollection. Aido being lovelorn was something to be expected, seeing as he was missing that Wakaba girl but what on earth could Kain be pining about?

Ruka shrugged and gave her attention to how she was going to do up her hair. Kaname would be attending tonight's party at the Ichijos' and she wanted to look her best. She chose an off white strapless sheath of a dress that reached all the way to her ankles in loose, graceful folds and paired it with a diamond choker and matching ear rings. Ruka was tempted to leave her hair down in loose waves but the diamonds called for sophistication and in the end, she instructed her patiently waiting maid to pull her hair back with a single lock let free from the middle of the chignon. Ruka smiled in feminine satisfaction as she turned her head this way and that while seated in front of her large vanity mirror. The artfully curled lock of hair ended just at the nape of her neck and as it caught the soft, yellow light from the top of the mirror, Kain's unexpected words ran through her mind.

"No, little Ruka. Your hair's actually the colour of caramel... of golden maple syrup... of new honey. It's not just... blond. And I know it's also the softest, finest-"

A soft blush rose in Ruka's cheeks at the memory and she shook her head ruefully. It was silly to keep remembering those words. She already knew that her hair was one of her best features but hearing it described with such eloquence and coming from a very unexpected source made the compliment even more... precious.

Dear Akatsuki, you always knows the right thing to say to make me feel better...!

With Kain's impressive height in mind now, Ruka slipped on four inch heels and caught up her snowy mink wrap. It was faux fur of course, but so well made one wouldn't be able to tell the difference. A last glance in the mirror told her she looked radiant and Ruka smiled, her eyes sparkling with a delirious mixture of excitement and hope.

Perhaps this time...Kaname would dance with her. And if he did not ask, then she would do the asking.

- o -

Kaname entered the grand ballroom of the Ichijo mansion with Takuma by his side but before an hour had gone by, the pureblood retreated to one of the small private balconies that led off from the ballroom to temporarily escape from being the unwilling centre of gratuitous attention from the other guests. Takuma, Seiren, Aido and Kain took turns to stand guard in front of the French windows to prevent anyone from accidentally or deliberately disturbing Kaname's privacy.

Ruka danced with her older brothers as well as a couple of male nobles whose admiration of her bordered on lasciviousness. Gritting her teeth, she wished for Kain's faultless manners but consoled herself with knowing that he would seek her out later. For now, she managed to ignore her partner's gaze that was seemingly glued to either her neck or her cleavage and continued to keep an eye on where Kaname was. After the next dance, she somehow managed to slip out to the balcony when Kain temporarily left his post to look for Aido.

As she pulled open the doors with suddenly shaking fingers, Ruka's heart was hammering in her chest and seemed to have cloned itself since it was also lodged firmly in her throat. She had already prepared and memorised the words she was going to say but one look at the tall, elegant pureblood standing there made the amusingly light and flirtatious words disappear from her head.

Kaname was gorgeous in a dark tailored suit that fitted his lithe body to perfection. He had turned around when the doors opened and now, he stood there against the backdrop of the night sky with one graceful hand resting on the intricately wrought iron railing behind him. Ruka gulped. She bowed in silence and Kaname returned her salutation with a nod but after that... silence. Of the chirping crickets sort. Inwardly, Ruka was utterly mortified at her lack of both voice and speech but she couldn't speak. The utter enormity of her daring behaviour washed over her with sudden coldness and left her staring at Kaname with her hopes clearly showing in her eyes. After a long moment, Kaname sighed.

"I'm sorry, Ruka."

The three words, as quiet and soft spoken as they were, made the flame of hope in Ruka's heart flicker and it almost went out. She had known it was too much to hope for otherwise, she knew that as much as she knew her own name but hope was something resilient. Resistant. Ignorant of both reason and logic.

"I'm sorry, Ruka," Kaname repeated gently. "I know what you want to say but it's useless."

Ruka's mouth moved silently and she took a deep breath to compose herself before speaking.

"I... thought that since Yuuki Cross – Yuuki-sama - that you would... perhaps... consider..." Her halting words grew softer and softer until the last word was merely whispered and Ruka stood there, flushed scarlet with mortification.

Stop embarrassing Kaname-sama and stop embarrassing yourself right this instant, Ruka! Where's your damned pride?!

"No. I won't," Kaname replied in that same gentle voice but his tone was final. "I took advantage of your generosity that night and I am grateful that you stopped me from biting Yuuki. But although I have no one at my side right now, I'm afraid that place... will never be yours."

Kaname paused for a moment and then continued. "You are a very beautiful and generous young woman, Ruka. You deserve someone who will appreciate your love and will cherish you for always."

Ruka dropped her gaze and gave a quick, embarrassed nod. She knew that Kaname was letting her down very gently. He could have said that she was not worthy to be his queen since she was only a noble, but he hadn't and she should be grateful for that. Ruka's mind had long since known of the futility of this exercise; it was just her stupid heart that refused to give up and when she heard that the girl whom she had always thought of as her long time rival was out of the picture...

Ruka blinked back sudden tears. Her heart was hurting inside her and that little flame had finally died but strangely enough, there was also a sense of finality about it that demanded that she stop indulging in her foolish dreams. Kaname had been patient of her feelings up until now but she had no right to assume that he would continue to humour her like this. With that, the Souen pride came to Ruka's aid at last and she grasped it with both hands. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and lifted her head.

"In that case, Kaname-sama, I wish you every happiness. I – I shall not trouble you again about this matter," she murmured, thankful that her voice was for the most part steady. Placing her right hand over her heart, she bowed deeply before whirling around and exiting the balcony. Ruka did not see Kain approaching as she pulled shut the French windows behind her but even if she had, she had no wish to dance now. Pausing only to grab her wrap, she left the party with her head held high.

- o -

Kain had very much looked forward to dancing with Ruka and that feeling was only magnified when he saw her enter the ballroom with her eldest brother. She looked breathtaking... radiant... a Goddess came to life, only a hundred times better than anything his boring imagination could ever have come up with. Kain promised his pounding heart that he would dance with Ruka as soon as he could, seeing as she was instantly surrounded by admirers but an hour or so later, his hopes were dashed and he didn't know which situation was more laughable – Aido's love for Sayori Wakaba, a human girl his family would never accept... or his own unrequited love for Ruka Souen, a noble girl whose heart would never be his.

"What are you waiting for, Akatsuki? You love Ruka, don't you? You don't have to worry about her family being afraid of you or your family wanting to bite her. You don't even have a reason to hesitate, for Pete's sake!"

Aido's frustrated and impulsively spoken words echoed again in Kain's mind and he shook his head in almost equal frustration. He was used to keeping his feelings to himself, something that was practically a given when you had two younger, squabbling charges to take care of but he didn't know what was wrong with him lately. First, his waxing lyrical to Ruka at that dessert café in town a few months ago... and now his admittance that Kaname Kuran was his stumbling block to winning Ruka's affections. What next? Declaring his hopeless love for her from below her bedroom window, complete with old, battered guitar and sappy love song?

Was it because Aido's smitten state for Sayori had rubbed off on him, somehow? Kain wondered as he ran a hand around the back of his neck. After all, he had admired Aido's perseverance in pursuing that human girl ever since the tousle haired blond vowed not to take her blood and in front of Kiryuu and Yuuki, no less.

Kain frowned deeply, his fingers massaging the tense knot at the back of his neck. His agitated feelings were confusing him. He had always been resigned to knowing that his place when it came to Ruka was as her friend and a confidant, not as a lover. He was used to the ever present ache in his heart upon knowing that she loved another... but once he saw her or had the pleasure of her enchanting company all to himself, he forgot all those logical reasons and felt only a stupid burning need to – God forgive him for torturing his heart still further – try to win her love, as impossible as it was. If anything, that need was even more impossible than before because they now knew that Yuuki Cross was no longer Kaname's love but his younger sister. That meant that the regal and charismatic Moon Dorm leader was now unattached and more importantly, available.

For the past two weeks, Kain's hopes had dwindled, knowing that Ruka still longed for Kaname. He had called himself all kinds of a fool for even daring to hope and had more or less reconciled himself to forever being Ruka's friend but Fate wasn't done with tormenting him yet. She lingered around to whisper tempting promises of happiness in his ear. All because Kain had slipped away to find Aido the first time and when he failed, he returned to Kaname's balcony just in time to see Ruka coming from there with a rosy flush on her smooth cheeks and her lips pressed into a thin line. From the tense set of her slender shoulders and her less than ecstatic reaction, Kain knew that whatever had gone on between her and Kaname wouldn't have been in her favour. Kain shoved his hands into his trouser pockets as he watched Ruka walk off with her mink wrap. He was sad that he wouldn't get a chance to dance with her after all but her obvious hurt had made him almost hate the sudden, elated leap his heart gave then.

Well, no one could blame him for being one angry and confused noble tonight! Kain ground his teeth as he left the ballroom as well, hating the conflicting feelings raging about inside his heart as it swung wildly from wanting to pursue Ruka and wanting to give up on her.

- o -

Ever since the night of the party. Ruka was quiet and kept to her room most of the time, coming down only for meals. A few nights later, she found her blood tablet box empty when she went to take one and she groaned softly. She had meant to fill up her box before coming home for the holidays since the tablets had to sustain her for six weeks but Kaname's surprising announcement had swept every other thing from her mind.

Ruka stared down at the empty container and sighed. She could always get more tablets from Aido or Kain, she supposed and as luck would have it, Kain came over the following night. Ruka was sitting in bed and listlessly leafing through a fashion magazine when she heard the faint sounds of a car approaching the long drive leading up to the house, its muted headlights lighting the way. The door bell chimed soon after that but she ignored it until a discreet knock sounded on her door.

"Ruka-sama," her maid's voice was soft. "Akatsuki-sama is here to see you."

With a soft sigh, Ruka got up and went over to her vanity table to run a brush through her hair, hoping that Kain's visit would cheer her up.

- o -

Kain automatically stood up when Ruka entered the living room. Good manners had been instilled in him since young and while he may relax his behaviour a little at Cross Academy, he was always faultlessly polite at home or at any of his friends' homes. Ruka smiled a greeting but her face was pale and the faint violet shadows under her eyes indicated she hadn't slept well for the past few nights. Kain's eyes narrowed with concern.

"Ruka?" he asked quietly. "Are you feeling all right?"

Ruka quickly nodded and she made another attempt to smile again. Before Kain could say anything, she quickly seated herself on the sofa and gestured him to an armchair. He moved to the armchair, hesitated and came over to sit down beside her instead, leaving a foot or so of space between them.

Both of them were silent for a minute or so. Kain knew what was troubling Ruka but he also knew better than to ask her outright about it. There were certain boundaries he never crossed when it came to her and more than anything else, he feared that she would push him away if he probed too deeply. At least, as her trusted friend and almost brother, she was close to him in a way no one else was. Ruka had crossed her slim legs and placed her clasped hands on her knee, vaguely conscious of the floaty chiffon material of her dress against her skin. Now she turned to face Kain, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"What's up, Akatsuki?" she asked and he shrugged.

"It's Hanabusa. He called me earlier to ask if I was free this weekend." Kain's explanation made Ruka's delicate brows draw together.

"But you're going to see him anyway, aren't you?" she asked, vaguely recalling there was some sort of family gathering at the Aido place this weekend. Kain was pleased to see a faint spark of interest in Ruka's eyes and he gave her his rare smile.

"Actually, he's planning to spend this weekend in a little seaside town." He mentioned the name of the town and Ruka's eyebrows rose a little.

"Because…?"

"Because Sayori Wakaba is going there with her brother and his wife," Kain elaborated with a meaningful look in his chocolate eyes. Ruka shook her head at that but she smiled. It was a sign of how well she and Kain knew Aido by now that she hadn't appeared more surprised, just as she already knew for sure that Kain had agreed to accompany his younger cousin there.

"Well, you two boys have fun then," she said lightly but she couldn't help feeling a little left out. Her crestfallen look caught Kain's attention immediately and reminded him that he was here to invite Ruka to accompany them. After all, they did most things together. Besides, Aido would want to be with Sayori all the time and Kain knew it was going to be lonesome just by himself. He leaned forward and held Ruka's eyes with his earnest ones.

"Come with us, Ruka. Hanabusa has promised to get two hotel rooms. I'll bunk in with him and you can have the other one," he offered. He didn't have to; Ruka already knew she would always get a room of her own if Kain was involved and if for some strange reason the three of them had to share a room, she knew she would always get the bed and the other two the sofa or the floor but that wasn't the reason why she shook her head now.

"Thanks, Akatsuki but... I just want to rest this weekend," she refused. It was Kain's turn to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Rest? We've been on holiday for three weeks already and we don't even have any school assignments. Besides, it can't be much fun cooped up at home all the time."

Ruka frowned and opened her mouth to argue but Kain beat her to it.

"You look like you could use a change of scene," he told her with uncharacteristic bluntness – it was the closest he had ever come to telling her she looked less than perfect and Ruka blinked. Then she sighed. It wasn't that she didn't want to come... it was just that... Ruka tried for an apologetic smile.

"I just don't feel like I would be very good company right now," she said gently but Kain shook his head at once.

"You're always good company, Ruka," he reassured her gallantly. "Besides, with Hanabusa going to meet his girlfriend, how am I going to pass the time? Painting the town red?"

The thought of Kain partying hard was such an unlikely prospect that Ruka smiled again, a genuine smile that caused Kain's strong heart to lurch traitorously in his chest.

"Well..." she hedged delicately and Kain reached for both her clasped hands, holding them gently in his larger, warmer ones.

"Please, little Ruka?" he asked softly. "It wouldn't be good without you."

Ruka blushed. She couldn't help it - Kain's pet name sounded... well, weird now that she was all grown up but... well, she kind of liked it. At least she did as long as he remembered not to say it in front of the others, particularly Aido. Ruka also found herself wondering how someone as purely honest as Akatsuki Kain could utter such a blatant lie that almost convinced her but she found her resolve weakening. Perhaps it hadn't been that strong in the first place.

"You're lying, Akatsuki," she said with a rueful smile. "But you're right. I don't really have anything to do so... all right, I'll come along."

Kain's smile lit up his face as he murmured his thanks and squeezed her hands gently. Ruka blinked. Kain's unexpected smile had surprised her again. He really should do that more often, she thought distractedly as she excused herself and went to look for her mother. Ruka wasn't really surprised to receive immediate permission for the trip as soon as her mother knew who she was going with. After all, Kain's reputation for being both a caretaker and a gentleman was rock solid and the elder Souen female knew that her only daughter would be in no safer hands.

It wasn't until Ruka had started packing that she realised two things – one was that she had forgotten to ask Kain for extra tablets and the other was that she was surprisingly looking forward to the short weekend trip.

Yes. Kain's gentle and undemanding company was the exact thing she needed to pull herself together.

-- Chapter End --