Next chapter's up already folks. Man, I love summer vacation sometimes. It's usually so easy to get an update out. Usually.

I don't own Vampire Knight everybody, and that should be obvious by now.


The next evening Akira woke up like normal, with the incessant ringing of the odd-shaped alarm clock she kept on her bedside table the only sound in the room. Huh.. stupid thing must be going haywire again... Akira thought curiously, trying to remember if she'd set the thing the day before or not.

Getting up out of her bed and stretching a little, Akira frowned slightly as a stinging sensation filled her chest when she took a deep breath. Grabbing a clean uniform and heading for the bathroom, Akira paid no attention to the pulled-aside curtains and the unlatched lock on her window, she was still too tired.

"Maybe I'm not getting enough sleep or something..." Akira mumbled to herself as she stood in front of her mirror getting ready for the evening. "I'm forgetting things a lot lately.." Setting her brush down on the counter, Akira left her bathroom and grabbed her bag so she could leave when she paused as she caught sight of her window in the reflection of her dresser mirror. "I really should try getting more sleep.." Akira frowned slightly, yanking the curtains closed and leaving to meet the others for class.


Tonight when Akira reached the foyer, Maiya wasn't sitting in Akira's spot on the couch, nor was she in her usual spot. Akira didn't see a single trace of Maiya's brownish-blond head anywhere. Only a pale and stricken-looking Takuma sitting alone on the couch.

That's weird.. Akira thought as she mad her way over to her usual spot at the end of the couch. He's never alone like this.. "Ichijou-senpai?" Akira called somewhat hesitantly when he'd made no move to greet her, or even acknowledge her presence. "Where's Maiya?"

"I don't know." His reply was quiet, and he kept his gaze on the ornate coffee table in front of him as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

Akira frowned, and a small swell of panic began to mix with the stinging in her chest. "What do you mean you don't know? She practically lives in your room senpai." Akira found herself suddenly breathless as she finished her statement, and her hand unconsciously moved to clench at the front of her uniform coat.

"Are you alright?" Ichijou asked as he looked up at her, ignoring her question.

"I'm fine, just.. having a bit of trouble catching my breath lately..." Akira replied after a few moments. "Now back to my-"

"It's time to go everyone." Kaname's smooth voice cut off the rest of Akira's question as he rose to his feet and began to lead everyone out. "And I would appreciate it," Kaname added as he passed the couch Akira and Ichijou sad on. "That night class matters not be voiced outside the vicinity of the moon dorms."

Akira frowned slightly but nodded in compliance, defeated. "Yes, Kaname-sama." She muttered bitterly as she followed the rest of the others outside.


Akira paid even less attention to her teacher's that night, her thought instead drifting between her too close for comfort moment with Sojiro yesterday and her cousin's absence. Why am I even worried about her anyway..? Akira asked herself as she began to doodle on the page she'd initially set out for her literature notes. What does it matter to me if she's fallen off the face of the earth? It just means she can't threaten me anymore.. She reasoned with herself. But a sudden, quiet sigh caught her attention. Glancing up a few rows over her shoulder sighed. Oh right, that's why...

Ichijou sat at his desk with a sad imitation of the warm, bright smile he usually wore plastered to his pale face. His eyes were so filled with worry it made Akira cringe and look away.

I can't believe she's making him do this to himself... Akira mentally fumed, clenching the hand she held her pen in into a tight fist. Akira was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice it when the flimsy plastic shattered, splattering ink all up the arm of her uniform and onto the notebook she'd been doodling in.

"You got a problem with my lecture brat?" Yagari snapped, regaining Akira's attention and making her bold upright in her chair.

"Um... N-no I..." Akira struggled to apologize as she dropped the remains of her pen onto the ruined page of her notebook. I hadn't even realized we'd moved onto the next lesson already... Akira mentally berated herself as she bent down to retrieve her things for the current lesson.

"Go clean yourself up first. Yagari said, a mild hint of annoyance coloring his tone. "Before you ruin anything else with the ink, preferably." He added, impatiently tapping one of his feet against the hardwood floors of the classroom.

"Oh. um.. Alright." Akira replied, getting up from her seat. "Excuse me then." Akira mumbled as she quickly made her way out of the classroom.

"Brat.." Yagari muttered, turning back to the rest of the class to continue his lecture.


Akira sighed as she gripped the sides of the sink in the washroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror. "Damn her... for making him worry like this..." Akira muttered bitterly as she splashed a bit more warm water onto her face.

Drying herself and walking out of the washroom, Akira shivered as a wave of cold air swept over her, forcing Akira to clutch her partially ruined coat to her chest in hopes of a little warmth.

"It took a while to clean up the ink.. Wonder what time it is.." Akira mumbled to herself as she reached into the pocket of her skirt for her phone. "Class is over already?" Akira nearly shouted as she caught sight of the time. "Damn it!" Akira cursed as she ran back toward the classroom.


Akira blinked when she threw open the door to the classroom but found nothing but i single sheet of paper in place of where her things should be. Frowning, Akira went over and picked up the piece of paper.

"Kaname asked me to bring your bag back with me since he figured you'd be a while. Come by whenever you're on your way back."

"Signed, Takuma." Akira finished, crumpling the note up in her hand and stuffing it into the pocket of her skirt. "Guess I should get my stuff..." Akira mumbled as she turned and headed back to the moon dormitory.


"Come in.." Akira heard her senpai's soft voice call as she stood in front of his door.

Pushing the door open and quietly slipping inside, Akira gave a small bow once the door clicked shut behind her. "Thank you for getting my stuff." Akira said, glancing around the room in search of her bag.

"You're welcome. " Ichijou replied as he slowly got up from his bed and retrieved her school bag from atop a precariously perched tower of manga on his desk and held it out to her.

Taking the bag from him and turning to leave, Akira paused for a moment. "Um... Ichijou-senpai-"

"Don't ask me again Akira, I already told you I don't know where she is." Ichijou interrupted her, going and sitting back down on the edge of his bed.

Akira turned back to him and was about to protest when she sighed, deciding simply arguing wouldn't do any good for any of them. "Actually..." Akira began hesitantly, lowering her head slightly. "I was going to say... That I know you'll find her, Ichijou-senpai..." Akira said quietly, her voice, just above a murmur. I hate seeing him like this.. He shouldn't have to be upset over someone like her... Akira felt her chest tighten and she hid her clenched, trembling fists in the long sleeves of the uniform jacket she'd put back on even with the ink still covering it.

Akira found herself nearly jumping out of her skin when she felt herself being pulled into a tight embrace. "I-Ichijou-senpai..?"

Ichijou didn't say anything at first, he only tightened his arms around Akira's thin frame and pulled her closer to him. Leaning down a little, he let his head sit lightly on one of her thin shoulders. "Thank you.." He said softly, shifting slightly so his head rested closer to her neck. "I really needed to hear that.."

Akira couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that flooded her when she felt him slowly let go of her and step back. It diminished slightly though when she saw the renewed warmth in his smile.

"I'll make sure to find her soon, alright?"

Akira had to suppress the bitter smile that threatened to work its way onto her lips. "Alright, I'll leave it to you then." Akira replied with a false sense of cheerfulness as she turned to leave. "Good night, Ichijou-senpai." She called as she shut the door behind her, not even bothering to wait for him to reply.


"All I could do is try and cheer him up..* Akira mumbled in bitter disappointment as she changed and laid down in her bed. Rolling over onto her side and curling up, Akira clutched one of her pillows to herself, trying to keep from making the nail marks in her palms any worse than they were. "Even thought she's gone off god knows where... I still couldn't say anything to him..." Akira sighed and let her eyes drift shut as she slowly began to drift off to sleep.


Alright everyone that's it for this chapter. Next one should be out soon, considering the fact that I've already got part of it written. (Since I had nothing else urgent to do and the laptop was occupied.)