~*Hey all! Sorry, I know it's been a while since I actually uploaded something, but here's the next chapter for Secret of the Tamer Revised! For all of you who are watching all my other stories: I'm getting to updating those, too...Just give me time. Even thought I've had like...a year to do it...yeah. Anyway, enjoy all!*~


Chapter 3:

Kaien sat at his desk with a stack of papers in front of him. His face had adopted a kind of determined look as he read the content of a folder that was laying on his desk in front of him. He looked up when Kaname entered into the room.

"You needed me?" Kaname asked. "I can't be away from class for too long."

"That's never stopped you before," Kaien remarked. "Anyway, I have important news. I did some inside research on Keiko and was able to get my hands on some family records from the hunter society's archives. This is what I found." He pushed the folder toward Kaname and leaned back in his chair.

Kaname picked up the folder and stared at the contents for a moment before he looked back at Kaien with wide, shocked eyes. "You mean…"

Kaien nodded.

"That would explain why I was attracted to her so easily," Kaname said, setting the folder back on Kaien's desk. "What are you going to do?"

"I have yet to decide," Kaien admitted, closing his eyes. "I wanted your input as well before I said anything…to anyone."

Kaname looked to the side in thought. "We could always put her in the Night Class regardless of her being a human. After all, if what those records say is true, she should have no problem at all."

"So then that's your decision?" Kaien asked.

Kaname gave a short nod. "I believe it would be for the best."

"Very well," Kaien sighed. "She'll attend the Night Class starting tomorrow, but she'll stay in the guestroom here instead of staying in the dorms. I don't want to take any chances."

"I understand," Kaname said, turning for the door. "I'll be in class if you need me."


Keiko yawned as she headed back to her room. She had been up all night patrolling and, now that it was daytime, all the Day Class students were on their way to class. "I guess that means me, too," Keiko sighed as she walked into the headmaster's bathroom. Before she was able to get undressed, however, there was a knock at the door.

"Someone's in here!" she yelled, annoyed.

"It's me, Kei-chan! Can you step out here for a moment, please?"

Keiko opened the door and stood with her hands on her hips as she faced Kaien. "Make it quick or you'll make me late for class."

"No, I won't!" Kaien replied with a smile. "I'm moving you to the Night Class!"

"Say wha?" Keiko said in shock. "I'm not a vampire!"

"I know," Kaien said. "But I was able to dig up some old records of your family history from the hunter association. It turns out you are a descendant of an elite group of vampire tamers: the Mie Clan."

"Vampire…tamers? You mean my family killed vampires?"

"No, no," Kaien replied with a chuckle. "Those are vampire hunters. Tamers are something entirely different. They are specially trained in many forms of magic and use spells and magical charms to keep vampires and their powers in check. I found this," he held up a small chain bracelet, "among the ruins of your house."

"You went to my house?" Keiko asked, examining the bracelet. It seemed like any ordinary piece of jewelry as far as Keiko was concerned. The chain was made of pure silver and every third link had a crystal dangling from it…and every crystal, Keiko noticed, was engraved with an image of a lily.

"It was the only way I could confirm it," Kaien said in answer to her question. "The lily was the universal flower of the tamer society. It's said that they marked everything they made with the flower's image as a way to identify their products. This bracelet is charmed with a spell that is meant to tame higher level vampires, like the Night Class, so I'm afraid this won't work on Level E's. But I do hear that there is a necklace out there that acts as a sort of force field against high level vampires as well as Level E's."

Keiko stood in thought for a moment. "Wait a second.." She disappeared into the bathroom and seconds later returned with a necklace in her hands. "I was wearing this a couple nights ago when I was attacked by that vampire," she said as she handed the necklace to Kaien. "The vampire was blasted back, but I wasn't sure how."

Kaien took the necklace from her and examined it closely. The chain, like the bracelet was made from pure silver and there was a single diamond charm of a lily hanging from the chain and a small crystal hanging from the bottom of the lily. "I believe that's it," Kaien said, handing the necklace back to Keiko. "This could have been the reason your family was killed Keiko. I think someone knew your family's secret."

Keiko clipped the necklace back around her neck and stared down at the charm that was now resting against her chest. "My mother gave this to me when I was little," she said softly. "I never realized that it was used to tame vampires. So then…if I'm around the Night Class I can make them do whatever I want?"

"Not necessarily," Kaien said with a chuckle. "The bond between a tamer and a vampire is more than a simple master-slave relationship. A very strong bond forms between the two if both parties allow it to. You could say the vampire becomes "man's best friend" so to speak. They become extremely loyal to the tamer and will do their best to not let any harm come to the tamer at any cost."

"Sweet," Keiko said with a smile. "I guess that would explain why I haven't had any trouble with the Night Class yet."

"Sounds like I don't have anything to worry about," Kaien told her. "I have some things to take care of so I'll see you soon, okay?"

"'Kay," Keiko said back with a small wave before disappearing into the bathroom once more.

That night, Keiko stood in front of her mirror as she examined herself in her new Night Class uniform. After her conversation with Kaien that morning, she had taken a shower then gone to sleep almost immediately after her head hit the pillow. "I totally think the white suits me better anyway," she said with a wink at her reflection. She suddenly gasped as she noticed the time on the reflection of the clock behind her. "I have guardian duty!"

She burst out of the room quickly and ran to the Moon Dorm gate, just in time as the gates opened. "Everybody, back away!" she yelled at the gathered Day Class girls. They all turned around and jumped away from the door, scattered whispered filling the air as the Day Class girls took in Keiko's new uniform with a mix of awe and jealousy. Keiko turned around and watched as the Night Class students walked out, giving a small wave to Hanabusa who smiled at her. He looked away when Kaname, who was behind him, hit him in the back of the head and glared at the blond.

"Hello, Keiko," Kaname said, walking up to her. "Your uniform has changed."

"That's right," Keiko said happily. "I'm joining the Night Class as of tonight!"

Hanabusa stopped and gave Keiko a curious stare. Keiko put her hand behind her back and waved to him, signaling that she would explain later. Hanabusa sighed and walked into the school. Then, after Keiko scared the Day Class away, she ran after the vampires and headed to class with them.


Keiko stopped as she stepped into the Night Class's classroom. All of the vampires turned to look at her with glowing, curious red eyes. "Who in the world is that?" a light brown-haired girl asked.

"Keiko!" Hanabusa exclaimed standing up. He sat back down when Kaname turned to look at him and stared at the ground. 'What did I do this time?' he wondered.

Kaname turned back to Keiko. "Good evening, Keiko."

Keiko waved with a smile. "Hi, Kaname."

"Kaname-sama…she's not a vampire," the other girl pointed out.

"No, Ruka, she's not," Kaname said, never taking his eyes from Keiko. "Her name is Keiko Mie."

"Mie?" Ruka repeated. "You mean a…?"

Kaname nodded shortly.

"A what?" Hanabusa asked, standing up and taking a couple steps toward Keiko. He suddenly stopped dead and stared at Keiko, the shine in his eyes slowly fading.

"Hanabusa!"

"Aido!" Akatsuki and Ruka clearly began to panic as Hanabusa failed to respond to them. Kaname looked on indifferently.

Hanabusa suddenly shook his head then looked around at the panicking vampires. "What happened?" he asked. He then noticed a glow out of the corner of his eye and looked down to see Keiko's bracelet and necklace glowing faintly. "A…tamer?"

The other vampires stood up quickly and Takuma moved over next to Kaname. "What's a tamer doing here at Cross Academy?" he asked, a faint hint of recognition appearing in his eyes.

"So I was right," Ruka said quietly. The other vampires turned to look at her. "The Mie Clan was an elite family of vampire tamers who were able to control our kind with charms like she has. Some of them even sold their secrets to the hunter association."

Akatsuki clenched his fist. "So what should we do? If she's able to tame us, how do we know she won't kill us all off?"

"No," a messy haired brunette answered. He lifted up his head and stared at Akatsuki with sky blue eyes. "She won't because…"

"Because what, Shiki?" Akatsuki asked.

"The Mie Clan has never had a history of harming a vampire…ever," Shiki told the group. "The charms that the hunters got their hands on were stolen from the tamers. In fact in a story I heard, the tamers were often the ones that helped vampires escape hunters."

"Humans helping vampires?" Ruka said skeptically. "Come on, Shiki, do you really believe—"

"Yuki did it. Didn't she?" Kaname broke in calmly. Ruka turned to look at him. "I requested for Headmaster Cross to transfer her from the Night Class."

"Why would you do something like that?" Takuma asked.

Kaname gave him a look that clearly said "I have my reasons" and Takuma nodded. "Well," Kaname said, leaning against the wall, "I believe class is about to begin." He finished his sentence and looked toward the door. Hanabusa leaned to the side slightly to look behind Keiko and quickly worked his way back to his seat.

Keiko looked behind her and saw a man with dark hair in a suit standing behind her. A metal patch covered his right eye, but his left eye was a brilliant pale blue. "You must be Keiko," he said, looking down at her. "Kaien has told me all about you. The name's Toga Yagari and I'm a vampire hunter…Although I'm also the Ethics teacher for this bunch. So," he pushed Keiko forward a bit roughly, earning a death glare from Kaname and Hanabusa, and closed the classroom door. "Find a seat so I can get started."

Keiko sat down next to Hanabusa and smiled at him. The blond vampire blushed and looked away, casting a nervous glance at Kaname who was frowning at him. 'It's going to be a long night,' the blond thought wearily.


Class ended right around dawn for the Night Class. Keiko waved goodbye to Kaname then headed over to the headmaster's living quarter to her room. Hanabusa had been having constant behavior changes all night, one minute being cheery and the next being silent and glum. 'I wonder what's wrong with him?' she thought as she walked into her room.

Meanwhile, in the Moon Dorm, Hanabusa walked anxiously toward Kaname's room. The brunette had requested his presence and, honestly, Hanabusa wanted to do nothing more but turn around, run to his room, and dive under his bed covers. He hesitated outside the door but finally walked in when Kaname called him. "Come in, Aido."

Hanabusa opened the door gradually and peeked his head inside. "Y-yes, Kaname-sama?"

"Will you get in here?" Kaname snapped, causing the window behind him to crack.

'Oh…he's definitely mad,' Hanabusa thought uncomfortably as he walked into the room and closed the door softly behind him.

Kaname was sitting at his desk with his head leaning against his hand. The pureblood honestly looked bored out of his mind, but Hanabusa knew better. The blond stopped in front of the desk and looked nervously at the ground.

"Seems you've taken quite a liking to Keiko," Kaname said, glancing up at Hanabusa who turned his head to the side.

"Of course not," the blond spoke quietly, trying to choose his words carefully so as not to enrage Kaname. "I know that she's your dear girl…like Yuki was."

Kaname smirked and leaned back in this chair, staring hard at Hanabusa as he spoke. "So, you have realized it by now. Keiko is very special to me, as well as the rest of the Night Class. Of course, some special considerations have to made…" he glanced up at Hanabusa who was looking at him confused. "That's all I wanted. Leave."

"Yes, Kaname-sama," Hanabusa stepped back, bowed, then shakily walked out of the room. No sooner had the blond closed the door behind him did he lean against it with a heavy sigh of relief.

"Spared, from Kaname's wrath, Aido?" Takuma asked from nearby, a smile playing at the blonde's lips.

Hanabusa turned and looked at him. "Ichijou…yeah. I was spared this time, but…"

"What's wrong?" Takuma asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I didn't do anything this time," Hanabusa replied bewildered. "Really!"

"I agree," Takuma said with a sigh, lowering his voice in case Kaname happened to be listening. "Kaname has been acting weird, but I think it's best if we just let it pass. Just…just don't do anything to make him suspicious of you, okay?"

Hanabusa nodded and watched as Takuma entered Kaname's room. "Ah, Kaname…" Hanabusa scratched the back of his head and walked to his room. Outside the door, Akatsuki was talking quietly to Ruka. The two looked up as Hanabusa approached. "There you are, Hanabusa," Akatsuki greeted him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Akatsuki," Hanabusa mumbled, walking into the room and closing the door.

Akatsuki switched puzzled looks with Ruka then sighed. "I'll talk to you later, Ruka."

"'Kay," Ruka replied. She glanced one last time at the door that Hanabusa has disappeared through then turned and strolled off down the hall.

Akatsuki walked into his room and saw a huge lump under the covers of Hanabusa's bed. "It's not like you to go to bed immediately after class, Hanabusa," Akatsuki joked. He was answered with mumbling from under the blankets. "Can't hear you," he sighed.

Hanabusa pulled the covers from over his head. "I said, 'I'm in trouble with Kaname-sama and I don't like it'." He pouted and hid his head again.

"Aren't you always in trouble?" Akatsuki asked, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off. He was answered by more mumbling. "Still can't hear you."

Hanabusa uncovered his head again in annoyance. "I said, 'But this time I didn't do anything wrong.' He's acting all weird and aggressive for no apparent reason."

Akatsuki looked at the blond as Hanabusa covered his head again. "I don't know what to tell you, Hanabusa," he said, pulling the curtains closed then climbing into his bed. "I guess we'll just have to see."


Hanabusa woke up in a cold sweat about noon. He had been having a dream about being chased by a vampire hunter that had a tamer charm in his possession. He had run inside an abandoned building and thought he was safe, only to be cornered by the hunter. The hunter held up the charm, causing Hanabusa's free will to wave and just as the death shot was fired, the blond had woken up. He sat up and looked over at Akatsuki who was still sleeping soundly. 'Lucky,' he thought. Hanabusa got up and put on a polo shirt and jeans, a style that he rarely chose. 'Might as well go walk around.' As soon as he got to the door, a voice behind him made him stop. "And where are you off to?"

Hanabusa turned around and saw Akatsuki sitting up in his bed sleepily. "Not trying to run away again, are you?" the red-head asked.

Hanabusa shook his head. "No…I had a nightmare, that's all. I just wanted to walk it off."

"Don't get caught," Akatsuki warned with a yawn before lying back down and covering his head with his blanket.

Hanabusa waited until Akatsuki's breathing slowed down as he went back to sleep then opened the door and walked out. The hallways were quiet since everyone else was sleeping as well. Hanabusa looked both ways down the hallway before creeping down the hall and down the stairs. Then, making sure no one was around, he quietly opened the door and slipped out without a sound.

The sun was shining brightly outside and the sudden rays on the blonde's face made him groan unhappily. "Great, it just has to be sunny, doesn't it?" he mumbled before walking toward the gate. Just as he walked through the Moon Dorm gate and started towards the main gate, someone yelled at him.

"Aido! No Night Class students out during the day!"

Hanabusa turned and saw Keiko running towards him. "Hi, Keiko," he greeted softly.

"Hi," Keiko greeted back, noticed the somewhat distant look in Hanabusa's eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep," Hanabusa mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "Nightmare."

"Oh…I couldn't sleep either," Keiko replied with a shrug and halfhearted smile.

"Well…I suppose I'll just head back to the dorm—"

"No wait!" Keiko grabbed Hanabusa's arm and stopped him from walking away. "You don't have to go back right now…right? Wanna go for a walk?"

Hanabusa shrugged in agreement. "Okay."

The two exited the school grounds and headed towards the city. They wandered around the main streets for a while, Hanabusa not saying one word the whole time, causing Keiko to become more and more uncomfortable. "Aido, are you okay?" she asked.

Hanabusa nodded silently.

"You're lying," Keiko said, glancing at the ground awkwardly. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really," he mumbled.

"But you haven't had any blood lately, right? Maybe all you need is—"

"I don't need blood to survive, Keiko." Hanabusa sighed.

"Oh," Keiko said, throwing the two back into an awkward silence. "Are things really that hard with Kaname?" she asked hesitantly after a few minutes.

Hanabusa's head shot up as he stopped walking and he looked at her with a frown. "Of course not! Why would you even think that?"

Keiko looked back at Hanabusa sympathetically. "I'm not blind, Aido. I notice whenever both of you are around me. Kaname gets really aggressive for some reason, and you're usually the one to take the brunt of it."

Hanabusa looked down at his feet. "It's that obvious, huh?"

"Only a lot," Keiko said, forcing a small smile.

"Oh," Hanabusa said quietly. He sighed and looked over at Keiko, a kind of confused light coming into his eyes. "Keiko…what if…what if he doesn't like me being your companion?"

"What?" Keiko met the bright blue eyes in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Your companion," Hanabusa repeated. "As in like…the vampire that helps to protect you and all that."

Keiko frowned lightly. "Well… I don't really think that's something you can help," she said slowly. "I don't pick and choose who the powers work on."

Hanabusa looked down at the ground again and shrugged. "I know, but…something still feels weird…"

Keiko frowned and walked in front of him. "What feels weird?"

"I'm…not sure," the blond replied with a light shrug. "Something inside my chest. It's just…whenever I look at you…I get this dull ache in my chest. I dunno whether it's a result of being tamed or—"

Hanabusa looked up when Keiko started giggling madly, causing him to pout and look away. "It's not funny," he mumbled.

"No, I know," she said in between laughs. "I'm sorry." After a couple more seconds, she finally stopped laughing and looked up at the still pouting blond. "I don't think it's the taming, Aido. It's not really that hard to figure out that you have feelings for me."

Hanabusa's face turned bright red and he held his hands up defensively. "N-no I don't!" he protested. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"It's okay, Aido," Keiko told him as she moved to hug his arm. "I kinda like you, too."

"You…do?" the blond asked. He suddenly shook his head and looked down at the ground again. "No…you can't."

"And why not?"

"Because you're Kaname-sama's dear girl," he said with a pout.

"I don't remember ever agreeing to being anyone's dear girl," Keiko said with a frown. "That's for me to choose."

Hanabusa shrugged weakly and gave Keiko a small smile in response.

Keiko smiled back and took Hanabusa's hand in hers. "Now come on. Let's go get something to eat."


Back at Cross Academy, Takuma woke up to a knock on his door. "Who is it?" he asked sleepily.

"It's Kaname," came the voice outside his door. "Let me in."

Takuma laid back down and pulled the covers over his head. "It's unlocked, Kaname-sama," he moaned.

Kaname opened the door and walked inside. He took one look at Takuma buried under his covers then sighed. "Get up, Ichijou."

Takuma yawned and sat up again, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Have you seen Aido?" Kaname asked with a cold edge to his voice.

Takuma shook his head then cocked it slightly to the side. "No, Kaname-sama. Last time I saw him, he was coming out of your office."

"And after that?" Kaname asked, his eyes narrowing.

Takuma shrugged and struggled to hold back yawn. "I don't know. You might try asking Akatsuki. They are roommates after all."

"Perhaps," Kaname said as he turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Takuma laid his head back down with a sigh. "You better not be off with Keiko," he said sleepily as he closed his eyes, letting out the yawn he had held back just moments before. "It's really for your own good."

Down the hall, Kaname knocked briefly then opened the door to Akatsuki and Hanabusa's room. "Akatsuki," Kaname called.

The red-head sat up sleepily and blinked a couple of times before his eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Oh, it's you, Kaname-sama. Is everything alright?"

"Where is Aido?"

Akatsuki stared at Kaname for a second then looked at Hanabusa's bed. 'Uh oh…he's not back yet,' he thought worriedly.

"Well?" Kaname pressed.

Akatsuki scratched the back of his head and looked to the side nervously. "Earlier today, Hanabusa had said that he had a nightmare and was going for a walk."

"Around what time?"

"Noon?" Akatsuki answered, a bad feeling rising in his gut.

"Is that so?" Kaname stared at Akatsuki for a moment longer before he turned and left the room.

'You're in for it now, Hanabusa,' Akatsuki thought as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Kaname squinted as the sun shone on his face after he opened the door to the Moon Dorm. It was almost time for the Day Class to get out of class and there was still no sign of Hanabusa…which meant the blond was in a load of trouble.

The brunette made his way down to the Moon Dorm gate and opened it, nearly running into Kaien as the latter moved to open the gate. "Oh, Kaname-kun!" he greeted. "Good. You're just who I wanted to see! You wouldn't happen to have seen Keiko running around, have you?"

Kaname frowned, his suspicions beginning to become confirmed. "Keiko's missing, too?"

"Too?" Kaien repeated. "Is someone missing from the dorm?"

"Hanabusa Aido is missing. From what I hear, he had a nightmare and went for a walk around noon today. He hasn't been seen since."

"Interesting," Kaien said thoughtfully. "Oh, look!" he said, his attention drawn to something behind Kaname. "There's Keiko now!"

Sure enough, Keiko was walking down the path from the school to the Moon Dorm, humming thoughtfully to herself. She stopped when she saw the two males watching her. "Hi, Kaien-san! Kaname-san! What's going on?"

"Hi, Keiko!" Kaien greeted back. "What are you up to?"

"Just on my way here for guardian duty," Keiko answered, casting a quick look in Kaname's direction. "The Day Class just got out."

"That's a good girl," Kaien said, patting her on the head. "By the way, have you seen Aido anywhere my chance?"

Keiko blinked innocently and shook her head. "Nope! I've patrolled the whole campus and I haven't seen him. Are you sure he's not in his room?"

Kaien looked at Kaname and shrugged lightly. "Maybe you overlooked him, Kaname-kun."

Kaname stared at Kaien for a small moment, looked to Keiko who merely grinned at him, then walked back through the gate to the dorm.

Kaien looked at Keiko after the gate closed and smiled. "I better be getting back to my office. I'll see you for dinner, Kei-chan!"

Keiko waved in reply and waited until Kaien was out of sight before turning around and motioned to someone in the trees. Hanabusa immediately ran out and over to Keiko's side. "You were right," the blond panted. "They were looking for us."

"I figured they might be. Now hurry and get back to your room. You should be able to do it without getting caught if you do exactly what we talked about."

Hanabusa nodded. "I'll see you in class, okay?"

"Kay." Keiko sighed as she watched Hanabusa run inside the gate. "Please don't get caught," she whispered anxiously. "Please."

Hanabusa ran down the path toward the dorm. He and Keiko has come up with the perfect plan, now all he had to do was carry it out. He ran around to the back of the building and snuck in through the back door, making sure no one was around to see him as he shut the door again. There was a small staircase in the back of the dorm building that continued all the way up to the roof that was used in emergencies only…and Hanabusa considered this an emergency. He slipped into the stairway and ran up the stairs as quickly, and quietly, as he could. At the second floor, he stopped and pushed his ear against the door. He could hear Kaname's voice and then Ruka answering him. 'Good. I have enough time if I hurry.' Hanabusa ran up to the next level and crept through the door, made sure no one was around, then broke into a silent run to his room. Akatsuki looked up as he heard the door swing open and Hanabusa dashed into the room.

"There you are," Akatsuki said with a sigh of relief. "Kaname-sama's been looking everywhere for you."

"Yeah, I know," Hanabusa replied, quickly stripping off his shirt and pants and throwing them into a drawer. Then he quickly threw his pajamas back on and dove under the bed.

"What are you doing?" Akatsuki asked him in complete puzzlement.

"SH!" Hanabusa told him, sticking his head out from under the bed and holding a finger to his lips. "As far as you know, I came back hours ago."

"But I already told Kaname-sama I haven't seen you since noon."

Hanabusa smirked and winked as his cousin. "You wouldn't know I came back if you've been asleep the whole time, now would you?"

Akatsuki smiled back. "That's actually smart. Good thinking."

Hanabusa gasped as the doorknob rattled, and he hid his head under the bed again and pretended to be asleep.

Akatsuki put on his best sleepy face as Kaname walked into the room. "Find him yet?" he asked casually.

Kaname looked around the room suspiciously. "Not yet…" the brunette replied, walking over to Hanabusa's bed. After a moment of staring at the piece of furniture, Kaname bent down and looked under it, groaning in annoyance a second later. "GET UP, AIDO!" he yelled.

Hanabusa jumped, hitting his head on the bed for added effect, then rubbed his eye in fake sleepiness. "Ow…Kaname-sama, I was having a good dream," the blond whined.

Akatsuki shook his head and smiled. 'You're one hell of an actor, Hanabusa.'

Kaname straightened up and Hanabusa crawled out from under the bed, standing up as well. "Oh, is it twilight already?" the blond asked, looking at the open curtains.

Kaname narrowed his eyes, the air thickening as the pureblood's anger slowly grew. "Yes. Just what were you doing under the bed?"

"Oh, that," Hanabusa said, as if he had been there all day. "After I had a bad dream, I got up and walked around a bit, but Keiko caught me and told me to go back to the dorm, so I did, and I crawled under my bed because the sun was shining so brightly through an opening in the curtains and onto my face that I couldn't possibly get a proper rest and I needed a dark place to go back to sleep."

Akatsuki stared at Hanabusa in shock, amazed that his cousin came up with such an excuse that quickly. He regained his composure when Kaname looked over at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was asleep between the time he left and you came in," Akatsuki answered with a shrug. "You know as well as I do that I sleep like a log."

Kaname looked from one cousin to the other, frowning as he took in what they told him. Finally he closed his eyes and groaned. "Just get ready," he told the two as he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Akatsuki looked over at his blond cousin and laughed shortly. "So just where exactly did you go, Hanabusa?"

Hanabusa winked. "Out with Keiko," he said softly. "We went out to lunch."

"You sly little blood sucker," Akatsuki said, shaking his head. "I knew you couldn't have come up with such a foolproof plan on your own. Keiko helped you, didn't she?"

Hanabusa smiled. "Yeah. Oh, Akatsuki, please don't tell anyone, okay? I didn't do anything wrong! Honest!"

"Kaname-sama would be extremely angry with you if he ever found out about this…" Akatsuki said, staring hard at the blond.

Hanabusa whimpered. "I know. But, Akatsuki, she and I had so much fun. Please, oh please, oh please don't tell!"

Akatsuki sighed then looked back up at Hanabusa with a smile. "My lips are sealed."