Chapter Seven

Interlude III

Golden Eyes

-oOo-

The moon is changing, I can feel it. The gold tint in my eyes is growing day by day. The Quarter Mark has been passed, and the Full Moon will soon be upon me. I am slowly growing accustomed to living among these vampires, the Night Class. I am slowly becoming accustomed to being Bound to the one called Takuma Ichijo-sama. It helps, I suppose, I muse, as I stare at myself in the mirror, that he hasn't used it against me. Yet.

Ah, well. Enough delaying. I pull my white uniform coat over my black blouse and add in the red ribbon-tie. Looking again at my eyes, my traitorous eyes, I wince. The amber is almost gone now, only one more day …

I laugh harshly. And Grandfather thought I could pass for human? What human has eyes that change with the moon? Not even he had those.

I shake my head. Thoughts like these won't get me to class on time. I slip on my boots and smooth my skirt, then collect my notebook and leave my room. I'm one of the few (three, actually) who has no roommate. I won't complain. There are many here who wish I would just disappear. They won't act on it – in public, at least – but only because I have the protection of Ichijo-sama, the vice-president of the class, and, through him, the tacit acceptance of Kuran-sama, the president. Of course, the face that is shown in public is not necessarily the face that is shown in private – and so I room alone, on Kuran-sama's orders.

I lock my room behind me and steel myself to once again face the gantlet that the Night Class runs every evening on the way from the gate of the Moon dorm to the classroom hall.

Vampires – the young ones in particular – are by their very nature extremely beautiful. Human girls – the young ones in particular – are by their very nature attracted to gorgeous boys.

This is why the Day Class girls violate their curfew every night – to watch the Night Class as they go by, hoping for a scrap of attention. Of course, none of them know what the Night Class is, I add sardonically. If they did, would they still be here, screaming like little idiots?

This is why the disciplinary committee exists. To keep the classes separated. To keep the Night Class' secret. For the ten nights I've been in the Night Class, I've done everything I can to keep as many others between myself and the Day Class as possible. Cowardly, perhaps, but I'd really rather not subject myself to their jealousy, their envy. Yuki has it bad enough – being in the Day Class, but allowed to speak to and interact with the Night Class whenever she wishes. For me? Who began in the Day Class, then transferred to the Night Class? When no other transfer requests are ever accepted? Who now has the 'privilege' of living in the Moon dorm?

Ah, if only they knew what I knew … But I am forbidden to speak of it – and so I won't.

I am in the classroom now, the gantlet is run. I take a seat in the back of the room, where I can try to hide from the displeasure of the others, students and teachers alike. The displeasure they will always show me when Kuran-sama is not in the room.

I slouch at the desk, my head on my arms.

And the moon is changing …

-oOo-

"Watch her, Ichijo."

"Kaname?"

"The moon is changing," he murmured, as they entered the classroom.