(Note from the Author: HO, HO, HO! It's the author that neeever updates.. ME! [boos and shouts in the background]. All this time I've been thinking about what to put in this chapter but I ended up deleting it all because I hated it [seriously this story would be long finished if I hadn't trashed 90% of it]. This chapter is short so please forgive me.. But anyways, merry [late, late] Christmas.. [more like happy February actually] if you're still there.)

Love is friendship that has caught fire; it will burn.

Scratch

Kaname's eyes bore deeply into Shiki's soul.. his entire being. It felt terrible. 'Stop staring at me..' He wasn't actually staring, but rather sending glances toward's the red head every once in awhile. Shiki could feel the smirk begging to get out of the vampire God, his sharp teeth baring- mocking the crimsons every twitch and shuffle.

Rima seemed to notice Shiki's discomfort as she asked, "Are you okay?" with a raised eyebrow. Shiki's eyes widened a small bit and he bit down on his lip.

He gave her a small smile of fake assurance, "I'm fine. Although I do feel a bit queasy. I'll go lay down..." Shiki could feel Takuma and Rima's eyes staring most likely curiously at him while he left.

"Hey is there something wrong with Shiki?" the blonde asked worriedly, but she didn't appear so wavered.

Takuma looked at her with some surprise but it quickly faded away into his usual smile. "I'm sure he's perfectly fine, just the after taste of his previous cold." Takuma's smile was very wary and he kept glancing at the door.

"If you say so," Rima said suspiciously, "I'll believe you.." she walked back to her desk and sat down, still staring at the place where Takuma's eyes lingered. 'Does he think I'm an idiot..?' Bitter thoughts and questions clouded her mind. Rima knew something was up with Shiki, perhaps even so bad that he wouldn't even tell her of all people - yet Takuma knew?

Everyone's eyes aside from Rima's went back to their precious pureblood king. He had gotten up, so of course questions circled around him. 'Where are you going, Lord Kaname?', 'What are you doing?' "I'm off to my room, calm yourselves," He gave them a forged smile, albeit small, "I will be back in no time." His fake assurance put his followers at ease as they all sat down, chatting or finishing research.

Kaname gracefully walked out of the room, head held high as if he truly were a king. "Now.. where did he go..?" he asked himself silently.. he wanted to taste Shiki's blood yet again.. Kaname wanted to make him hurt - physically, mentally; it didn't even matter anymore.

A head full of red caught his eye, "Shiki." he said the name as if it was a command.

The model froze, "What is it.. Lord Kaname..?" a slender hand rested on his shoulder and all he could do was hold his glance at it cautiously. A pleased noise came from behind himself, it was like Kaname could smell his fear from a mile away.

It pleased him..

"Oh, I just came to check on you.. I overheard you saying you weren't feeling too good.. what was it, that cold of yours acting up again?" Kaname tsk'd his disapproval towards the sickness, though Shiki could hear the amusement in the high ranking vampire's voice. "So tell me, are you still feeling.. queasy was it?" The small sigh that escaped Kaname was etched into the young vampire's mind; it most likely meant danger.. and the way he had finished his sentence, everything was screaming 'run for your life!'.

The ginger's head hurt, his back hurt, his pride (if he even had any left) hurt. "Shiki, your face is red.. don't tell me.. are you blushing perhaps?" Slender fingers reached out toward them, but instinct caught Shiki off guard-guard and the hand was harshly slapped away.

Shiki's eyes widened and he clutched his stomach, a sudden pain surfaced and the shock of what he'd done had finally settled in, his head throbbed tenfold and he dropped to the floor.

Two voices filled the corridor - Rima and Takuma. Kaname's head held only distasteful thoughts for the two "nuisances." He let his tongue slip.

"Lord Kana- Shiki!" Takuma barraled past Kaname and fell to his knees, Rima calmly coming to a stand beside the Pureblood.

The blonde model stared up at Kaname, "Don't think rude of me, Lord Kaname, but what are you doing here..?"

Kaname gave her a light-hearted smile, "I noticed Shiki making his way towards his room, so I decided to check up on him. Is it so wrong to be worried, Rima?" he stopped mid-sentence and sugar coated his lie even more, "He is my cousin, afterall."

Takuma continued getting ready to pick Shiki up and take him to his room, "I'm sure Shiki would be very happy to hear you say that, Lord Kaname. I'll give him the good news when he awakens!" The chipper man shouted delightfully. Rima glared daggers at his back.. 'did Shiki and Kaname get into some sort of arguement, so Shiki isn't feeling that great about it..?' Her glare turned to the chipper blond and she calmed herself. 'I'll get it out of him.'

"Please do, Takuma. I should be heading to my room aswell anyways, please do take care of Shiki." He gave two smiles to both of the blondies before they took they're leave, along with the redheaded model.

" "What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams.." Kaname spoke to the empty hallway, quoting Wener Herzog, he was still heading to his room. "Dear Shiki, tell me... am I your monster.." a sadistic grin intruded on the pure's beautiful face, "or am I your dream?" A small chuckle escaped Kaname as he entered the door to his large room. His chuckle turned into a laugh, and then morphed into an ugly cackle.

Kaname was ruining not only Shiki, but his own demise was close.

Meanwhile, Takuma and Rima hoisted Shiki towards the model's room. Rima continued glancing off toward Takuma. "So," she began her interogations. She would get the answers out of the blond, forcefully or not. "you going to tell me whats wrong with him, or am I going to have to beat it out of you?" Rima wore a tight glare which bore into Takuma's eyes, their contact inevitable.

The contact lingered until a groan from Shiki ushered their silence out of the corridor. "Rima.. I.. I can't tell you."

"What do you mean, Takuma? The three of us don't need any secrets, we're friends aren't w-"

"That's not it!" Shiki's head lifted up quickly. His face was bright red, and heat emitted from his forehead.

"Shiki.." The whine in his voice was rewarded with a tired glance and a nod.

Rima still had quite the confused look. There was some worry in there, aswell. They were close to Shiki's room, the boy was panting, and Takuma looked like he had something to say. All in all, yes, she was confused. "Rima.. let's just get into my room.. I'll explain everything. No secrets.. we're friends, right?"

The silence was back, though they entered the room it still swarmed around them. Takuma had an awkward presence about him as they lay Shiki down, his bed now clean but it wouldn't have mattered as the truth lingered around them.

"Shiki.." Rima's voice was sullen, and her expression as well. Takuma couldn't help but stay silent, this conversation was not for him afterall.

The cherry-haired model glanced up, his head followed his glance and he stared at Rima. 'What will I say?' Questions and doubts swarmed his mind, yet he had no one to answer him, not like anyone would if he asked. This fight was his. "Rima.. I.." 'I really don't know how to say this.' He continued looking up at her, but his shame got the best of him and he looked away.

A salty tear. Not from his eye, but Rima's. "What happened to you, Shiki..? Please," she fell to her knees at the bedside and gripped his uniform pants. "tell me.." Rima never pleaded, she never cried.. she was strong. Stronger than him. Rima would be able to handle this, even if he himself was unable to. "Rima.. it's that.. well.." Shiki stalled, unconciously plucking at his small hands. She'd be able to take it.

"Rima.. it's.. you can't tell a soul. Please, promise me." Takuma flinched. She'd fall into the same trap as himself and there was nothing he could do about it.

The blond model looked up, her grip still firm on Shiki- she felt if she'd let go, he'd disappear. "I won't tell anyone. I promise.. so.. just spit out." Her stare was hard, directed at Shiki this time.

Shiki took a deep breath before his brows furrowed and he gripped at the sheets. His crystal eyes shut, his pride not wanting him to cry. "You see.. I was.." He had to stop stalling, Rima was his bestfriend.. "I was.. well.." He swallowed his pride, letting a tear slip out, "I was raped.. in here.. on this bed."

Rima's usually emotionless face perked. Her eyes seemed angry- her whole face, even. "Shiki.. who..?" She stood up, slowly, almost zombie-like. She got up and lashed out, glaring at Takuma. "Why did you not tell me, Takuma?!" She marched over to him, grabbing his collar and pushing him up against a wall.

Takuma flinched, his previously worried face now in a frown of pain. "Shiki made me promise.. do you really think that I didn't want to tell you? Rima I would've if I could've and you know that!"

She pulled back with her teeth showing, clear anger sprouted over her sweet features. "Shiki.. who.. who hurt you? Who did this?" Rima slowly trudged over to Shiki and fell down onto the bed. She was slumped over, the information fatiguing her brain.

"I can't.." Shiki started.

"You can! Tell me, tell us. We'll protect you, Shiki!" Her face and posture changed quickly to that of someone begging.

This was Rima, and Takuma was here as well. To rat out Kaname.. was all Shiki wanted. All Shiki wanted was to be protected, but Shiki knew that he would hurt them. Not only physically, but possibly dig into their brain as well. Suddenly, Takuma jumped in as well. "Shiki, we will protect you! No matter who this guy is!"

Rima's eyes widened, "It was a he?" Rima looked into Shiki's eyes, "Shiki.. I'm so sorry.."

Shiki only shook his head, "You've done nothing wrong.. Rima. I want to tell you who did it, but I'm.. scared." Takuma brisked over to Shiki and plopped down beside him, so hard it bounced the bed and Shiki let out a yelp.

"Ah! Sorry." Takuma placed his arm around Shiki, causing the younger male to blush. Rima followed suit, wrapping her arms around his waist, and resting her head on his stomach. "Shiki, we're here.. you can tell us. No secrets, right?"

'No secrets.. I did say that, didn't I..?' Shiki gave a small smile and nodded, "Yeah.. I guess I did say that." Both Rima and Takuma hugges him a little harder, making him laugh.

"Okay.. you won't tell a soul.. about this, right?" Two nods confirmed it. They were here for him. He would be protected, he wouldn't get hurt again.

Shiki once again closed his eyes, breathed in, and he just had to let the answer go. "Takuma, Rima.. the person.." He hurt Shiki day in and day out, physically, "the person who did this was.." mentally. Shiki opened his eyes and breathed out. "All this time, it was.."

Two knocks sounded on the door. Elegant knocks sounded and a voice Shiki knew far too well. "Shiki? I've been worried about you.."

Shiki would be protected. He wouldn't be hurt again, he wouldn't have to cry anymore.

Takuma looked toward the doorway, and with his happy-go-lucky voice, he welcomed the unwanted guest.

"Ah, why it isn't Lord Kaname!"

The longer you dance with the devil, the longer you stay in hell.