AN: I hope I don't sound ungrateful in anyway, I really appreciate the support I've gotten for this story, However, I would really like some more reviews. In all honesty, it's very nice to get added to people's author and story alerts, but I'd really like if, before (or after, either way works) you do that, you'd take the time to just leave me a short note saying what you did (or didn't) like about the particular chapter or the story in general.

I'm sorry if that came off as offensive or selfish to anyone and I thank you again for your support. (Sorry again for any errors that may have occurred in any of the chapters.

~9th Night, Tears of a Sinful Beast~

Back in the ballroom, Kai saw Kaname leaning against a pillar, gazing sadly at the dance floor. She followed his gaze and saw Yuki dancing with Zero. The feelings that radiated from the couple were such that a wall was created that protected them from everyone else.

"She's…happy…so happy with him," Kaname murmured, disbelief in his eyes.

"What happened?" Kai asked.

"They talked," Kaname said absently, "And she healed his wounded heart. She then spoke to me…and I let her go."

"You're very poetic, you know, Kuran," Kai said, placing a hand gently on his cheek, not entirely sure while she was being so sympathetic toward him. He looked at her sadly, as one who has suffered so much hurt and betrayal he wished he could just lie down a disappear into the ground. Part if her understood that he probably had suffered that way.

"Kiryu…no, Kirihara," he said, "When you become one of us, will you come and do the same for me as Yuki has done for Zero."

Kai looked deeply into his eyes and saw the weary misery that had accumulated there over the years and her heart yielded. She knew it, both in her still human heart and with her vampire instincts, that she wanted this man.

She nodded, unable to find the words to answer him.

Kaname was then called to meet the various aristocratic parents at the ball and they parted. Kai returned to find her mother speaking rather tersely with a man she assumed to be Ryusuke's father.

"No, Lord Nakamura, I am not doing such thing, especially without her consent!" she was saying.

"But milady, it'll profit both of our families" Lord Nakamura protested.

"What's going on?" Kai asked as she approached them.

"Lord Nakamura wants to arrange a marriage between you and his son, Ryusuke," she said, 'To-"

"Repair wounds of the past," Kai finished quietly, "Yes, Ryusuke talked to me about that. Pardon me if I sound rude, but I find the whole notion ridiculous, mother."

"As do I," Eri said with a nod, "Lord Nakamura, I'm sorry, but I will hear no more on the subject." She took her daughter's hand, "Excuse us."

When the dumbstruck man was out of sight, Eri turned to her daughter and smiled knowingly, "You seemed to be enjoying your time with young Kuran, weren't you?" she said, leaning in closely so no one else would hear.

Kai blushed, "He…I just don't understand him," she said, "He's…intriguing."

"He seems to find you intriguing as well," Her mother said, "I won't meddle, but I want you to be happy." She sighed, "But I'm afraid a pureblood's life is not easy. When you change, you will have to attend a Vampire's ball as a sort of coming out ceremony."

"I understand," Kai replied with a nod, "As for the changing, I would like to postpone things until the end of winter vacation. I'm planning to go on a trip with Kyoko and I…want to say my goodbyes."

"Would you believe me if I said this was my first time going on a riding trip?" Kyoko asked nervously as the Bay jumped over a fallen tree. Kai brought Yin to a halt to let her friend catch up.

"If you want to take a break, we can stop," she said, dismounting.

"Thank you!" Kyoko said gratefully as she slid off her own mount. She collapsed onto a nearby rock and exhaled, "I'm not meant for this," she said wearily.

"We need to reach the town before dark, though, Kyoko," Kai said warningly, "It's bad to be stuck on the mountains at night."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyoko said, "the snow and the dark, I know."

"And wild animals," Kai said. They hadn't come across any Level E's yet, but Kai knew that as soon as the sun set, she'd most likely have to fend them off.

"Right, then let's go, worrywart," she said, clambering back in the saddle while Kai swung lightly up into hers. They rode a little ways before Kai halted them again.

"Why are we stopping? I thought we were in a hurry," Kyoko asked indignantly.

"It's nothing," Kai said slowly after a pause. They continued on until they reached the cross-roads. One path led to the town. The other did the same, but was meant as a more scenic route as well as a foot path, not for horses. However, there was the…problem that lay further down the horse-trail. Kai deliberated, then caved in with a sigh, swinging Yin to the right and continuing on towards the problem. When they were very close, Kai turned back in her saddle, "Whatever you do, Kyoko, do not let your horse above a trot."

"Why-WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"

Kai was just in time to pull her feet out of the stirrups and send the Level E flying with a strong kick. She dropped to the ground, yanking the black stone from her neck.

"Stay in place, Kyoko," she said seriously, "Don't panic, no sudden movements."

Kyoko swallowed thickly, "O-okay…"

Kai nodded and turned to the vampire, "Leave now, and take your friends as well," she said, raising the stone threateningly, "And I will not hurt you,"

The Level E cackled, "What can you do to me GIRL?" he snarled as he lunged. He fell wide-eyed to the ground as Kai stabbed him through the heart with the Dark Rose. The black blade glistened with the blood of the vampire as though excited to be of service after a long period of idleness.

"Quite a lot actually," Kai said quietly as the vampire turned to dust. She saw Kyoko shakily about to dismount, but held out her hand, "Stop," she said, "There are more of them."

Sure enough, four more Level E's emerged from the trees, looking hungrily at them both. Kyoko gave a little squeak as she saw their fangs.

"Kai…?" she said nervously, "What's going on?"

She didn't answer, just focused as she watched the beasts prepared to charge. She didn't have to wait long. They were on her in a matter of seconds. One by one, she slashed through each of them until her blade was drenched in their blood. They turned to dust that shimmered on the wind as Kai returned her blade, now just a stone again, to the chain on her neck and swung back in to the saddle, "Let's go," she said.

Kyoko gaped at her, "How can you just fight…just KILL those…those THINGS."

"Vampires," Kai corrected, "Level E's to be precise."

"Oh well that just makes it all better!," Kyoko said sarcastically, "Now that we know what they're called! My point is, how can you just act like nothing happened?"

Her friend shrugged, "I've killed enough that it doesn't particularly phase me," she said, "It's just a part of my life."

Kyoko continued to stare at her, "What life do you live?" she demanded, "And why on earth didn't I know that vampires actually exist?"

Kai sighed, "The government doesn't officially recognize the fact that there are vampires among us, but they do know it. That's why they have vampire hunters around, to hunt down the crazy vampires that can't control their thirst for blood."

"Aren't they all like that?" Kyoko said, "And isn't sunlight supposed to kill them? Or silver or a stake through the heart or something like that?"

Kai laughed, "You read too many fairytales," she said, "The only think that will cure a vampire, is anti-vampire magic and weapons that are forged from the mother metal. I can't give you details, but that's how it is. Anyway, my hunting days are nearing an end."

Kyoko blinked, "Why?"

"My mother is a vampire," she said, "and I'm going to become one on the last day of vacation."

"Wait…you're going to become one of them?" Kyoko cried, gesturing at the heaps of glittering dust that had once been their assailants, "ARE YOU NUTS?"

Kai shook her head, "No, not a Level E, a vampire who can control her thirst. There are four ranks of vampires: ex-humans, common-class, aristocrats, and purebloods. The purebloods have never breed with humans and are thus at the top of the pyramid. They can also change humans into members of their race, but they are very few in number and hardly use that power. The aristocrats are the next purest and can use special powers. They make up the majority of the night class, actually, which is entirely made up of vampires. Then you have common class vampires, which really have no special powers, but are most commonly found these days. As for ex-humans, they are vampires that purebloods changed."

"What about the ones you fought?" Kyoko asked, "You called them Level E."

"Yes," Kai said, "They aren't really a rank so much as a pitiful group of ex-humans and common class vampires that were unable to control their urges for blood and have thus fallen to madness."

"And what will you be?" Kyoko asked as they exited the tree-line. The town was nestled in a small, snow-covered valley and looked like a something in a painting from their vantage point.

"That doesn't really matter," Kai said, "Suffice to say, I won't be a Level E or even close, for that matter. Kyoko, I am going to have to erase your memories anyway, so don't worry about it."

Kyoko blinked, "No!" she said vehemently, "I refuse!"

"Kyoko, you'll be better off-!"

"Don't tell me that!" she said tersely, "Don't tell me I'm better off not knowing what the hell is going to happen to my best friend! You can trust me, Kai, I'm not going to tell anyone!"

Kai sighed, "Fine, but if you tell, it's over," she said, "And we won't be seeing each other for some time after this trip, you know."

Kyoko nodded, "I know, you'll have a lot to adjust to, won't you?" she said as they entered the town and found the hot spring resort where they would be staying.

The remainder of their trip was spent happily enjoying the beautiful mountain resort and natural hot springs. Kai then escorted Kyoko back to the academy and proceeded to her mother's house, where her transformation would take place.

As she waved to Kyoko, Kai felt a slight pang of loneliness run through her heart. Kyoko, her first real friend in a long time, would become such a fleeting moment in her new longevity that she was, for a moment, at a complete loss as to how to comprehend it.