I'm still sitting at Hikari's bedside, despite the nurse insisting that I can go home and rest more if need be. My head was spinning; why would she do such a thing? It didn't make any sense, she never displayed any signs of being suicidal or depressed. And where did she even get the sleeping pills from? Did she suffer from some sleeping disorder? Or maybe her roommate might have had them?

I slouched back on the chair, closing my eyes and sighing. The nurse said that it was a close shave and that she will be alright but I can't help but worry. What happened?

"Mana?"

I opened my eyes straight away and held my breath as Hikari sat up in her bed and blinked warily.

"Mana-senpai…"

"Hikari, what were you thinking?!"

I slapped a hand over my mouth, my heart aching as Hikari winced. I spoke, this is a dream, I've fallen asleep again.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, senpai," Hikari looked sheepish "…"

"…Just get some more rest."

"Yes, senpai."

Hikari closed her eyes and lay back down on the bed. I leaned back on my chair and sighed unhappily.

"Mana, I am so sorry."

I looked up and Rido was sitting next to me, a sombre look on his face. He brought me into a tight embrace and I hopped onto his lap to snuggle into his comforting grasp. He rocked me, kissing the top of my head.

"If I had known…"

"No, she was found in the morning so she must have taken them during the night. I wouldn't have been able to do anything."

"Mana…"

He hugged me tighter and I buried my face into his chest.

"Was she bullied at all?"

"I don't think so, she was reserved and she didn't do anything to provoke anyone. She might have been taken advantage of but other than that, I don't think she could have been a victim of vicious bullying."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, most of the girls are so distracted by their infatuations over the Night Class that the only bullying that can occur is from spiteful fangirls. And even then, it's rare. Hikari was part of the crowd like everyone else and part of Senri's fanclub who treated everyone pretty much the same."

"But Senri met Hikari before at your dinner party?"

"Even so, that was just one meeting and they were very civil. Hikari might have taken a few gestures the wrong way but I always reminded her that he wasn't interested. She pretty much lived for that friendship nonetheless."

Rido ran his fingers through my hair, tucking my head under his chin.

"Then perhaps something happened between them?"

"Like what?"

Rido sighed, shaking his head.

"…I…I wouldn't know, Senri has suddenly refused to contact me and has been blocking my attempts to reach him."

I looked up at him sharply, shifting so I could face him.

"Why?"

Rido sighed again, looking a little forlorn.

"Perhaps my nephew poisoned his mind against me? Decided to exploit one of my weaknesses for his own personal gain? I wouldn't know but it is very out of character."

I growled, clenching my fists.

"Is your son really so easily manipulated?"

"My nephew is very powerful, he might be threatening poor Senri or perhaps blackmail? Though I wouldn't know what my son would have done…"

I glanced at Hikari and grimaced.

"But even so, your nephew has nothing against Hikari."

"True…true…"

I narrowed my eyes as Rido looked at Hikari, his lips set in a tight line.

"Or is there something else?"

Rido flinched and grimaced.

"…Senri mentioned the…fixation my nephew has towards you and your sister."

I flinched, gripping my skirt.

"So…so it's true, I'm really not imagining things."

Rido brought me closer and kissed my head.

"Think about it, Mana. Why does my nephew act so hostile towards that hunter?"

"…"

"Because of how close he is to you and Yuki. He is jealous yet he knows that having him close to the two of you will give you protection in case something happens."

I tensed up, not liking the idea.

"And he'll probably be even less pleased when he finds out about his relationship with Yuki but let's leave that for if that ever happens."

He took my hands to squeeze them.

"Now, how have you been acting towards him?"

"Um, cold, distant and giving off every sign that I don't want to be anywhere near him?"

Rido chuckled and kissed my head.

"That's my girl."

The praise warmed my heart as I snuggled into him.

"But that's it, he doesn't just want Yuki's affection. He craves yours too."

I pulled a disgusted face.

"No way."

"Exactly, and what if he decided to resort to underhanded tricks to put you in a vulnerable situation?"

I straightened up.

"Hikari might have killed herself, is that really his style?!"

"You don't know my nephew. He most likely did everything possible to conjure up this scenario. Whenever he envisions a future where he will profit from, he will do everything necessary to make sure it happens."

Rido grimaced.

"My nephew loves nothing more than control. I would hate to think how long he has manipulated the world to do his bidding."

My heart suddenly turned cold.

"He…couldn't have shaped Yuki and I?"

"Children are very impressionable, Mana. Even the slightest comment or detail in their environment when growing up can alter their opinions, personality and interests in a series of chain reactions."

"In-Interests?"

And that's when I remembered. When I was quite young and still recovering from being lost in the snow on that day, I remember Kaien had a piano. And I enjoyed turning to that to cope, playing with the keys in random orders just to take my mind off the strange and weird reality I had been placed in. At this point, Kaien was still calling Kuran over to show off our 'progress' of growing up. They caught me at the piano. Kaien praised me vigorously, boasting about how creative I was et cetera. And the next day, Yuki urged for me to play for her. She had it in her head that Kuran would come as long as I was playing the piano. And she wanted to see him. And I would have done anything for my sister so I played for her. I played for Yuki when in reality, I was playing for him. But why would he influence me to go into music?

"With a person's interest, you can use it against them because it is a part of their life which they never want to let go of. Without it, they can feel lost, vulnerable…easy to take advantage of."

Was Kuran trying to make me lose my voice through some method of trauma? Because he influenced me to hold something so dear to me that without it, I'd become a perfect, pathetic mess for him to clear up and pose as my saviour?

"I can't believe that…"

"You know, in chess, it's vital to think of all the possible outcomes before making your move. Thinking ahead in any situation can help a person's decisions."

I curled up more, hugging my knees. Was Kuran truly that villainous? Either Yuki and I provide our undying devotion to him else we suffer consequences? Why?! WHY?!

"I don't understand," I muttered "We're just schoolgirls. Why is he so fixated on us?!"

"Mana!"

The illusion of the infirmary wavered and Rido hugged me tight.

"Don't worry, Mana. I won't let anything happen to you."

I looked up at his comforting mismatched eyes.

"I will make sure my dear nephew gets his just desserts."

"Mana!"

I was shaken awake by Yuki and I had realised I had fallen asleep across Hikari's bed. I sat up, yawning and rubbing my eyes as she smiled.

"Thank goodness, we were so worried when you wouldn't wake up."

I smiled at her before flinching a bit as she hugged me tightly.

"You were just lying there, sleeping and sleeping and I was very worried you wouldn't ever wake up…"

She buried her face into my neck as I hugged her.

"I don't know what would happen if I lost you."

I smiled and held her tighter.

"Mana."

My eyes flit up to who was behind Yuki and my smile faded instantly. Kaname fucking Kuran. Yuki withdrew from my hug and smiled up at him.

"Kaname-senpai tried to wake you up so many times but all you were doing was rolling away from him in your sleep."

She giggled shyly as I glowered at Kuran. He still smiled.

"Mana, may I ask a few questions with you alone?"

I shook my head. Yuki tilted her head at him.

"Why alone?"

"Ah well, I just want to ask Mana a few questions about why she might be having these sudden sleeping spells."

Yuki frowned.

"But can't I listen? I want to know if there's something wrong!"

"It might be very personal to Mana and it might upset you, Yuki."

Personal?! I ain't going to share anything personal with you, buddy so back off!

"But I can take it! If there's something wrong with my sister, I want to know so I can be there for her!"

I stood up next to Yuki and Kuran sighed.

"But, Yuki…"

He shook his head and gave her a forlorn look.

"You must understand. Please let us speak together."

And Yuki just ducked her head, blushed and sighed.

"Well…I guess Mana can talk to me afterwards."

No, Yuki, no! Bad Yuki! Don't back out because of his so called 'charm'!

"See you later, Mana."

She smiled and left. Leaving me with Kuran. I glowered at him as he beckoned me out of where Hikari was resting and to my bed. He sat down on the chair at the bedside whilst I stood away from him, folding my arms.

"Mana…Kiryu made a very interesting observation when he was keeping an eye on you sleeping."

I bristled. Ew, creepy, why would he watch me sleep?

"You talk in your sleep, did you know that, Mana?"

I shook my head.

"And when you were sleeping throughout the entirety of today, you were also mumbling in your sleep."

He crossed his arms.

"It sounded as if you were talking to someone in your sleep."

I rolled my eyes. People sleep talk, people can think they're talking to someone, big deal.

"I'll ask again, Mana. Are you getting weird dreams? Of the same person every night?"

I only hesitated for a brief second before shaking my head.

"Mana, it hurts when you lie to me."

Oh suck it up! And cut the pitiful act it doesn't suit you.

"It's possible for a powerful vampire to infiltrate others' dreams, there's someone you're communicating with when you sleep isn't there? And they've been sending you gifts because they've promised you the world and have charmed you to keep silent."

I shook my head again.

"Mana, you could be in danger!"

I'm in danger just by being around you!

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

I froze up. Kuran stood up.

"Has he hurt you?"

I shook my head firmly. Kuran walked around and I took Pearl Beauty out, holding her out in front of me threateningly. He hesitated, hands slightly raised.

"Mana, why are you being so aggressive?"

I glared at him.

"That's it, Mana. Don't be afraid."

I swallowed as I heard Rido's voice echo in my head. My glare never wavered as I circled round Kuran towards the door.

"Mana, what's wrong? I want to know, please."

I flinched as the door automatically locked and growled. I fumbled around in my pockets to find my pen and notepad.

I can't trust you

Kuran frowned at the note before looking up at me.

"You can, I promise I will do whatever it takes to protect you."

Then why do you always change the subject whenever Yuki and I bring up our past?

Kuran stiffened but no change happened on his face. I raised Pearl Beauty a little.

You are hiding so much from us, why should I trust you?

"Mana, you have to, I only want to protect you."

I shook my head. I didn't believe him one bit.

You want to possess us.

"Mana, that isn't true."

I want to go home.

"Mana…"

I clicked Pearl Beauty and her cord shot out of her handle. Kuran sidestepped to avoid it and gave me a stern look.

"Mana, he will take advantage of you, he will hurt you, he will want nothing but your pain."

I shook my head. No he won't. I know he won't. I waved the note which expressed my desire to leave.

"Mana, you have to promise me that you won't let him in anymore. Please, you could get hurt and I can't let that happen!"

He stepped forward and I cracked Pearl Beauty. He dodged the barbed cord which knocked over some chairs.

"Mana?! Kaname-senpai?!"

I tilted my head to the door and Kuran narrowed his eyes.

"A chair got knocked over, noth-"

I was quick to crack Pearl Beauty again and knocked over a divider.

"What's going on in there?!"

The nurse's attention had been brought from outside. I retracted Pearl Beauty as I heard the doorknob rattling and put her safely away once the door swung open after being unlocked. Ignoring the questions, I slipped out and sauntered away feeling pretty pleased with myself.

"My precious Mana, I'm so proud of you."

I felt happy as I practically skipped away towards home. No-one was there to greet me so I went straight upstairs and was met with another beautiful vase full of white roses. I grinned.