Chapter 6. The puzzle falls apart

Disclaimer: I don't own it, so all of you should be glad ;)

The Cross Academy's forest was quiet, with only the cool wind creating a symphony of rustles and sounds. Suddenly a soft, feminine voice echoed, demanding.

"Say it again."

A male voice answered. "I love you."

Ruka threw her slender arms around the silver-haired boy's neck. "Oh, Zero-kun, that was the first time I actually heard you say it without hesitating!"

Zero blushed slightly, but didn't make a move to disentangle her from his person. He was quite please with his little achievement. "Yeah..."

The beauty with long locks noticed something. Sniffing, she looked at him and said, with a triumphant smile. "You're wearing the cologne I bought you."

Zero looked away, mumbling. "I thought it would be nice, and it's not like it's the first time I'm wearing it..."

She stopped hugging him and remarked. "You know, if someone had told me when I first met you that we would be so close now, I would have probably have sent them to a mental institution."

He laughed. "That's it? I wouldn't have been so merciful with them..."

She punched his arm jokingly. "You're so mean!"

"Well, you have to admit, you were a real bi..."

Ruka cut him off. "Language!"

Zero rolled his eyes, annoyed at her objection to swearing. "A not very nice person to me back then. But now you've changed, you're more easy-going, you're nicer." He talked to her as if she was a child. "You smile more, and that makes you prettier."

She mimicked his condescending tone. "Well, you're more talkative and less scary when you smile."

Zero took her hand and smiled with tenderness and pure gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you... for everything you've given me."

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Aidou kept nudging his cousin. "Akatsuki, come on, get up."

A mufled sound was his answer. "No."

"Come on, it's almost time for class..."

"I'm not going to class today."

Aidou was so surprised that his eyebrows went so high that they nearly disappeared under his hair. "You're skiving? Without me? I feel betrayed."

Hearing the word betrayed, Kain just buried his pale face deeper in his pillow. "I don't feel like going to class today, okay? I don't ...want to see her."

The blond crossed his arms in a reproachful manner. "Why are you acting like this now? Why didn't you say that the first time you suspected her?"

Kain looked at the floor. "Because I always told myself that there was no proof that it was actually happening. I kept believing that it was mere coincidence. But it's so hard to think that way now. I can't keep lying to myself after what happened on Saturday."

"But you've been in that bed for two days now!" The honey-blond boy was getting really worried with his cousin.

Kain scoffed. "So? It's not like I haven't done any work, I've been thinking of my suspects."

Aidou sighed and rolled his aqua-marine blue eyes. "Again? And what was your conclusion this time?"

"Still inconclusive. It's just that Kyriuu is an unlikely suspect, but Ichijou and Shiki would never do that to me, right? I mean, Ichijou has always known that I like Ruka, and Shiki always seemed more in tune with Rima, you know?"

"Yeah."

"Could you do me a favour and keep an eye on her? I really don't feel like seeing her today."

Aidou had a determined look in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll do more than that. I'm going to confront her about this whole situation!"

Kain answered lazily. "Okay, but don't do anything rash."

Aidou looked at him, extremely surprised. "You mean you won't try to stop me?"

Kain sighed. "I'm too tired. Just don't make a really big scene." He added the words 'really big' because he knew it was impossible for Hanabusa Aidou not to make a scene.

"Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this." He spun on his heels and started walking, looking at his cousin't pitiful form in the bed. If he could somehow make him feel bett... "OUCH! My nose!" He covered his nose with his hands and glared at the wall, silently promising revenge.

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"Ruka-chan, here you are!"

Golden-brown hair twirled around as she turned to see the happy boy who'd called her name. "Takuma, hey!"

Ichijou sat next to her. He was sure Rima didn't mind, since that meant she could sit next to Shiki. "Have you had a nice day?"

She smiled. "A wonderful one, thank you for asking. What about you?"

"Well..." He blushed slightly. "Actually, I've been thinking how to ask you to go out with me again..." He looked at her sideways to evaluate her reaction.

Ruka didn't react. "Like the other night?"

He swallowed nervously. "Yeah..."

She grinned. "Sure, I had lots of fun last time!"

Two rows behind them, Aidou sat observing them and writing notes. Next to him was Shiki, who was slightly curious.

"What are you writing? You never pay attention in class."

"None of your business." Aidou pointed to him suddenly. "And you're next! What were you doing with Ruka the other day?"

Shiki looked away, disinterested, but with the start of a red shade on his pale cheeks. "None of your business."

"Come on, I need to know!"

"Why?"

Aidou hesitated, pondering on his answer. He was sure Kain wouldn't want him to tell Shiki about his feelings for Ruka. "Because."

"It's private."

"Private schmivate! Shiki, this is very important."

The crimson-haired boy didn't give in. "No. You'll know eventually anyway."

Aidou let his face fall on the desk, frustrated. "Ouch! My nose!" Of course, that led him to glare at the desk and swear it would have the same fate as the wall.

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As classes ended, Ruka and Ichijou said goodbye and went their separate ways. Witnessing this, Aidou saw his chance to talk to her alone. Getting close to her, he swiftly pinned Ruka against the wall. He placed both hands on the cold stone, on either side of her to prevent her from escaping. "You've got to stop this!"

She stared at him and noticed that his usually bright blue eyes were dangerously close to red. "What are you talking about?"

He glared at her, so close that she tried to step away, but was thwarted by the wall behind her. "Look, Akatsuki is getting seriously hurt because of your little dates with Kyriuu, Ichijou and Shiki."

Ruka's eyes widened. "How do you kno..."

The blond-haired aristocrat interrupted her impatiently. "We've been following you around. He knows that you're meeting someone behind his back, and he just can't take it anymore. Don't you understand how much you're hurting him?"

She glared back at him. "Why don't you help me put a stop to it then?"

"Why would I? I'm not involved in this, from now on it's your problem. I'm just telling you how you're affecting Akatsuki when you know how much he loves you."

Gritting her teeth, she pushed him away from her. "You're such a hypocrite! You know who the guy I'm meeting with is, but you won't tell your cousin, will you? You could stop the guy if you wanted to, he listens to you. You know you're as guilty as I am. Are you trying to wash your hands from the situation, Hanabusa?"

"Shut up! Just... shut up..." Aidou averted his eyes from her deviously angelical face. He knew she was right. He was making things worst by covering up what was going on. But that's why he told Kain to stop trying to find out what was happening... He looked at her in the eye. "I'm going to do it, he will never bother you again."

"Good luck." Her voice was calm and collected, but inside she was desperately wishing and begging Aidou to be successful and end this.

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"How was class?" Kain was still lying in his bed.

"Boring as usual." Aidou started changing, so that he wouldn't have to face Kain.

"So, did you talk to Ruka?"

"Yeah..." She wanted him to help her end it. He knew she probably couldn't do it alone.

Kain's voice changed from monotonous to excited. "So, what happened?"

Aidou shrugged. "She said she'd stop."

"Really?" Kain sat up.

Aidou flinched when he heard Kain's hopeful question. Against his better judgement, he looked at his cousin. His amber eyes were shining with anticipation and his skin even looked healthier. His hair seemed brighter than usual and his face showed a happy grin. 'If he knew what I know...' Aidou looked away again. If Kain knew what he knew, he would be so crushed... He would hate him for not saying the truth and keeping it from him. He had been so out of order, letting Kain write on that stupid notebook and wonder about which of the suspects was the guilty one, when Aidou knew all along. "Yeah..."

Kain frowned. "What's wrong? You don't look very happy."

"I'm just sleepy." Aidou covered himself with his lavender-scented sheets and closed his eyes. What Kain said next made his world fall apart.

"Thank you, Hanabusa."

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Ruka woke up with the sound of the window opening. It couldn't be Rima, she was out working... No, it couldn't be! Ruka's heart skipped a beat, thinking of the only other possibility. It wasn't possible, Aidou said he'd take care of it! She turned around on her bed and saw him, standing there and staring at her with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Why are you here?"

"I..." He bit his lip. He couldn't speak anymore.

She got up and walked over to him. "Get out."

"Ruk..." His voice sounded strained and he tried to touch her face.

She avoided his hand. "Don't touch me. I thought that after that conversation..."

He broke into tears and hugged her. "I can't let you go! I don't care who tells me to leave you, I won't! Even if Kaname-sama himself told me to, I would never be able to do it!"

She didn't reply. She was so taken aback by his unexpected response that she was speechless. He was crying. Crying. She could feel his warm tears soak her hair. "We're hurting Akatsuki..."

He hugged her even tighter than before at the mention of that name, afraid that she would slip through his fingers. "What about us? I bet he's never cried for you. I bet he never told you how beautiful you look in the moonlight." His voice fell into a whisper. "I bet he never betrayed his family..."

Tears started to form in her eyes, but she held those signs of weakness back. "Please don't do this, it's already hard enough as it is."

"Why do we have to break up? We don't want to."

"Akatsuki..."

"Why can't he accept that you don't feel the same? Why should we suffer? Maybe he's the selfish one."

"No, he's not. I don't know why you came here, you know this had to end. Today was the wake up call."

"But I love you."

A/N:Aww, poor mistery guy, he's suffering for his love *tear* And poor Aidou, his nose is still being attacked by objects that can't move lol XD

So, will we ever know who mystery guy is? Will Kain ever leave his bed? Will Shiki ever give a straight answer? Will Ruka go out with Ichijou anyway? Will Aidou's nose ever stop being abused (not likely :p). The answer to these questions will be in the next chapter (maybe not the answer to the first one, if I manage to put it off for long enough ;) )! So...

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