I don't own Vampire Knight or any of the character within the series.
A/N: Hi, I'm back! :D
Sorry for vanishing for a few weeks: I was studying hard for my exams which are now over (waiting for the results now) and then I was invited on a holiday to Singapore, and someone else was paying for my flight and accommodation, so I couldn't say no! It was absolutely fantastic, the warm weather was a lovely change, and I'm feeling wonderfully refreshed now that I have returned and I'm ready to get back to writing! ^^ While I was on holiday I did pre-plan a number of chapters for my fics so there should be quite a few updates over the next week!
Important news: I have edited my profile and added a section for my updates where I will list an estimate date for when I think I will be able upload the next chapter for each of my fics. I will do my best to keep it up-to-date so that it is as accurate as possible! I will also endeavour to list any long-term absences here in the future: eg. Holidays or Exam periods. I have done this for your convenience and I hope that you will find it useful. Let me know if you think this is a good idea?
AokyorRenka, KxZ fan girl, ciaociao: Thank you so much for your reviews! :D
Please read, review fave and follow! But, most of all, please enjoy! :D
Chapter 4: Forgotten?
After making sure that he had unpacked all of his belongings, Senri quickly checked his appearance in the en suite bathroom. He also applied a little more rose scent to his wrists as the perfume from this morning must have surely dissipated by now. Satisfied with his appearance and scent, the brunette eagerly headed out of the room and out into the hallway.
Moving as quickly as he could without running, because it was rude to run indoors in another person's house, he moved down the hallway and nearly bounded down the stairs. It had been years since anyone had created a surprise for him and he couldn't wait to find out what it was.
He said to meet them downstairs…
But there was no one in sight within the spacious entrance hall at the bottom of the staircase. Senri looked around, trying to decide where to go when he saw the door to the dining room standing slightly agar. He tilted his head, somewhat curiously, and decided:
They must be in there…
Senri walked up and stood before the large double door. He then took a deep breath to control his excitement, which could be heard through his rapidly beating heart, before gently pushing the door open. And…
…Nothing?
The large dining hall also appeared deserted. The lights were off, the curtains were closed and there wasn't anyone in sight. However, Senri still decided to move along the length of the long dining table, through the darkness. As he made his way across the room he caught sight of a large silver plate with a matching cover, obscuring the contents, in the middle of the grand table. Naturally curious, he moved closer to it and found that there was an envelope placed before the cover. And it was addressed to him…
Now convinced that he had made the right decision, and that this must be a part of his surprise, Senri carefully opened the envelope and removed the letter within. It appeared to be a poem. It read:
You didn't think we would forget, did you?
This all-important day…
Though it seems you don't remember…
Don't dismay.
If you open the cover, I wonder what there will be?
Open me. Open me.
Knowing that the poem must be speaking of the cover in front of him, he reached out his hand. He then grasped the handle and lifted the cover…
*Bang*
Senri jumped in surprise as a party popper went off and the lights flicked on. Underneath the cover was a cake, and looking at the now illuminated above he saw that there was a banner:
Happy 18th Birthday Senri!
It said this using large letters that were unmistakably in his beloved's handwriting. The overwhelming sight caused Senri to smile without control. Looking for the one who had prepared this wonderful surprise for him he looked towards the light switch. There he saw Kaname, smiling.
"It's…my birthday." Senri managed to say.
It was true what the letter had said, that he had forgotten about his birthday, of all important days. What made him smile the most was the fact that Kaname had remembered this day when he hadn't. This made Senri feel special and warm inside. He so desperately wanted to say the name of the one he loved and embrace them right there…
However, it was Yuki who had pulled the party popper and he was aware of her presence in the room. Kaname's sister, his own friend, or whatever position she currently held, Senri felt uncomfortable displaying his affections toward Kaname in front of her. He knew that if he were to embrace Kaname here she would see, she would watch, she would judge and she would talk, and he couldn't talk back, and he wouldn't know what to do. He just couldn't do it.
Although he was still smiling from the joy of the surprise, Kaname saw Senri tense up slightly. He half-wondered if his actions from before were upsetting Senri, but whatever the case, he knew that he had to make the first move here, lest Senri turn into a statue for the entire evening.
"Happy Birthday Senri." Kaname's warm voice greeted Senri's ears.
As Kaname approached his arms widened as if to hug, though he stopped before doing so.
"May I?" He checked, not wanting to upset Senri again.
Senri wanted this. He really wanted this. He wanted to receive a hug, an embrace from his beloved Kaname. However, the word yes seemed to dance on the tip of his tongue, not quite willing to come out.
What if he thinks I'm too willing?
Not being able to say it, yet still craving the embrace those arms could give him, he managed a nod, informing Kaname of his decision.
It was rude to hug at a public function. Kisses to the back of the hand were much more socially accepted. So this was the first time he had ever been hugged by the one he loved. It was his first time being surrounded…
Surrounded by his beloved's arms, surrounded by his beloved's warmth, surrounded by his beloved's scent…Surrounded by his beloved, by his Kaname, for the first time… It was amazing…
However, that warmth pulled away all to soon to be replaced by Yuki's hug, which just wasn't the same. As soon as they had parted Shiki had craved the feeling of Kaname's arms again immediately. But, he knew that he shouldn't.
And so the night continued. It was a small gathering, but a birthday party none the less. They enjoyed themselves sharing cake, wine and small talk until it was late at night.
…
Senri had gone up to his room when he realised that he had taken his watch off and must have left it in the dining room. So, he headed back down the stairs and to the table, finding his watch immediately. He clipped it back on.
Before leaving he found his wine glass which still had a little champagne in it. Deciding not to be wasteful, Senri sipped the remnants from the glass as he exited the dining room. But, that was when he saw them…
He saw Kaname hug Yuki and kiss her on the cheek.
Normally, one would see this as a brother and sisterly exchange. After all, it was just a kiss on the cheek…
But it was more than Shiki ever had. All he got were kisses to the back of his hand.
That fact, combined with his heightened emotions from the surprise and the influence of the alcohol impairing his judgement somewhat, was too much for him to take.
It shocked him.
And his glass fell from his hand…
