Author Notes: Well, things can't always be all happy and sunshiny for our young lovebirds. So this chapter will be just a little more... melancholy. But hope it's still good, and thanks for reading!
-- Chapter Start --
"Aido-sempai…"
The blond vampire noble stopped and glanced back. It was Yuuki's voice but the auburn haired prefect wasn't looking at him now. She was staring after Sayori Wakaba's retreating figure as the petite blond girl walked back to the Sun Dorms. After a moment, Yuuki turned to look at Aido and smiled, ignoring the squeals of the Day Class girls around them as they ooh'd and aah'd over the Night Class students walking out of the Moon Dorm gates.
Curious, Aido walked over to her. Tilting her head to indicate her friend, Yuuki asked softly "You see it too, don't you?"
"See what?"
"The way Yori smiles nowadays is so different"
"In what way?" Aido looked surprised but intrigued.
Yuuki smiled softly. "Her smile starts in her eyes. I've never seen it like that before, normally it starts from her lips. And you are the one who made her smile like that, Aido-sempai"
The vampire noble stared at her in surprise. Yuuki paused a moment, then added "And she even kissed you on Sunday… in public" It was a reference to their double date two days ago, when Zero had found out that Aido knew about him taking blood from Yori. And Aido had found out that somewhere along the way - that Kiriyu's respect had actually come to mean something to him.
Aido nodded slowly, his heart constricting at Yuuki's words – he was ecstatic to know that he affected Yori to a certain extent, and that it was even apparent to someone else… but all the same, the words came with a sort of… burden, or responsibility. And he knew Yuuki was also thinking along the same lines because a second later, her expression turned serious… almost stern. "Make sure you never take that smile away from her" she said.
Aido could have said it was none of her business what he did. But he could see the worry in Yuuki's eyes now and he knew the reason why. So he found himself nodding as he confirmed quietly "I know. I will never, ever take that away."
Yuuki had never seen Hanabusa Aido look so serious as he said that. It sounded almost like another vow actually… Much relieved, she smiled. "Then she's lucky to have you"
After a moment, she even laughed a little. "Wow, I never thought I'd say that of a girlfriend of yours, Aido-sempai!" she teased suddenly. In the past, the young noble would probably have frowned or get annoyed by Yuuki's comment. But now, he only joined in her laughter.
- o -
"All the Day Class students will be having exams next week" Yori commented as she sat on the blanket, propping her arms on her jean clad knees. Aido raised an eyebrow in reply and handed her a half filled cup of steaming hot fruit tea. It was two days later after Yuuki's and Aido's exchange and both him and Yori were once again sitting in the small clearing by the lake in the late evening.
"Thanks. And then there are six weeks of break after that" Yori didn't look at Aido as she talked but stared pensively at the fragrant steam swirling up from the hot liquid. Aido set his cup on the blanket they were sitting on before capping back his flask. "I know" he said quietly, staring at the blanket.
A moment of silence passed.
"Here..." Aido reached over to touch the tip of his finger to Yori's cup and the steam evaporated almost instantly.
"Thanks" she said Yori again, before taking a sip. A small smile played around her lips as she recalled the cocky look on Aido's face the first time he'd displayed her ice power in front of her. He'd also cooled her drinks several times since then and she couldn't help but think of how different he looked now as he did it. As if it was his ongoing privilege to do that for her. As if it was now so ingrained in him that he no longer even had to consciously remind himself to do it.
Aido drained his own cup and placed it beside the silver flask with an inordinate amount of care. Then he cleared his throat and looked at her. "Yori?"
He waited until she looked at him before continuing. "So… what are your plans for the holidays?" His tone was casual but his eyes were intense.
A small smile trembled on Yori's lips but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "My Dad's asked me to return home, of course… all the students will be returning home. And my brothers will be back too, so I'll have a chance to catch up with them…" Yori's voice drifted off and her eyes fell. I've always been happy to go back home… after all, Dad travels so often, especially after Mum passed away and I rarely get to see Hideki-nii-san and Takeshi-nii-san… but now, I wish I could stay here, or follow Hanabusa back to his home… only he hasn't asked me. And I can't.
Yori looked up then and Aido's breath caught in his throat at the unexpected gleam of tears in her wide green eyes. He swallowed. "I – I will be going back to see my family as well" he confessed. Other than Christmas break, he always looked forward to this one as well. Kain, Ruka, Shiki and Rima would be following him, of course, as they usually did. There would be gatherings and parties where his cousin and friends would meet up with their own families, and Takuma would attend some of those too. Perhaps even Kaname, if the occasion warranted it.
But not Yori. No… not ever Yori.
And suddenly, the anticipated time with family and friends, a welcome break from the routine at Cross Academy with no lessons, teachers, or giddy Day Class girls to intrude suddenly didn't appeal all that much to Aido. I wish I could stay here with Yori… or even follow her home, older brothers be damned… only she hasn't asked me. And I don't think she will.
A sudden and awkward silence fell between them, one that hadn't happened since he'd first approached Yori for a date and found himself being turned down for the first time in his life. He stared at her now but she was looking elsewhere. Aido's heart ached again. Moving close to her, he took the empty cup from her fingers, then held her hand in his, squeezing gently.
"Yori" he said softly.
The blond girl blinked rapidly before she turned to face him. The tears that she couldn't quite blink away made the vampire noble's heart ache fiercer. And he couldn't hide it anymore. "I'm sorry I can't bring you to my home!" he burst out suddenly. "I – I want to…"
Yori smiled and she squeezed Aido's hand in return. "I know, Hanabusa. And you don't have to apologise, you know" He nodded, biting his lip and Yori smiled again but it was a tender smile. Then she sighed. She wanted to be distracted from her own thoughts…
Depressing thoughts that the magical time she had experienced with Aido over the past few weeks would end after next week.
Depressing thoughts that when Aido returned from the long holidays, he would once more become the brash and arrogant playboy vampire, interested only in basking in the adulations of his 'Idol-sempai' screamers, and not in a quiet and studious girl who was human.
Depressing thoughts that she would never again see the version of Hanabusa Aido she was seriously starting to fall for – the gentlemanly, caring, impulsive, endearing and loyal boy who always made her feel so cherished and safe. Despite what he was to her. Despite what she was to him.
"Hanabusa... tell me about your family" Yori's voice was gentle even as her heart ached.
- o -
They sounded wonderful. All of them. Yori lay curled up in bed, eyes wide open in the darkness. Hanabusa was the only son of a close knit family, sandwiched between an elder sister who loved and cared for her younger siblings, and two younger sisters whom Yori could tell worshipped their older brother and eldest sister. Just as clearly as she could tell that Aido adored all his three sisters very much.
Yes, they sounded like a wonderful, caring family and Yori was dating their handsome and charming son – smart, funny and caring... underneath that veneer of arrogant cockiness that he always put aside for her. But Hanabusa Aido was a vampire noble and so was his entire family. And they moved around in different circles from Yori, even if she wasn't exactly a pauper.
Sudden hot tears burned Yori's eyes and she squeezed them shut but they seeped out through her closed lids anyway and trickled onto her pillow. Oh, why had she started this whole thing? Why had she gone out on a date with Hanabusa Aido? Why did he have to be so charming, attentive, nice and just plain fun to be with? Why had she flirted with him and allowed, even egged him to kiss her?
She had known from the start that no good could ever come out of this. She wasn't one of the giddy Day Class girls; she was Sayori Wakaba – sensible. Practical. Level headed. And most importantly, she was human. Aido was a vampire. They could never end up together.
But in spite of all that, she had still opened her heart and let him in.
Yori sniffled quietly. Yes, her friend Yuuki Cross was human and the men she loved – two of them, in fact – were vampires too. But it was different for her. Zero Kiriyu had no living family other than a twin brother who had disappeared. He also wasn't of noble class and he didn't have any 'positions' to uphold or 'obligations' to fulfill. He was an ex-human. And he adored Yuuki. Kaname Kuran also didn't have a family but he was a pureblood, and you got the feeling he made the rules, rather than just followed them… If he decided Yuuki was good enough, it would somehow turn out all right. And Yori could tell he loved her friend dearly too.
Yes, it was OK for Yuuki… but Yori wasn't Yuuki Cross. She didn't have a Father who liked vampires and supported the idea of the two species co-existing peacefully. She had a human family who didn't even know about the Night Class at Cross Academy being vampires, much less the fact that she was dating one of them.
And now, there was only a week and a half left before the long holiday. Yori swiped the tears from her eyes, resolve growing in her heart. So little time in which to enjoy the notion that she and Aido were a real couple… she would just have to make the most of it.
- o -
"What, Akatsuki?" Aido couldn't ignore his cousin's pointed look anymore. He was lying on his stomach on his bed, leafing through a book but he looked up at the taller vampire now, who was sitting in his own chair at his desk.
"Have you invited Sayori to join us for the holidays?"
Kain's question was direct, if quietly voiced, and Aido's gaze faltered. He bit his lip, looking uncharacteristically uncertain, his usual self confidence missing. "You know I can't…" he muttered despondently to the open book in front of him.
Kain got up and walked over to sit on his cousin's bed. "I know" he said. Aido flipped over onto his back, staring unseeingly at the ceiling. The taller vampire leaned back, using his straightened arms to support himself and blew out a sigh at the ceiling. "You've got it bad, Hanabusa. You've been seeing her almost everyday now…" His tone was quiet and matter-of-fact.
Aido snorted softly, not even bothering to deny that, especially since his cousin had to accompany him on each of his outings to the town. "Well, you see Ruka everyday…" Aido trailed off – he hadn't planned on saying that but - catching the startled look his cousin threw him, the younger vampire snorted again. "Don't tell me you thought I didn't notice!"
A slight flush crept up Kain's sculptured cheekbones and he had a strangely uncertain look in his brown eyes. Aido rolled his eyes, seeing the unspoken question in his cousin's face. "I bet Kaname-sama knows too. And Yori as well…" He didn't bother mentioning the fact that Ichijo and Shiki were probably in on it too.
Kain's eyes widened a little at the mention of the pureblood Dorm Leader – he prided himself on his reserved countenance and how well he hid his feelings from everyone, including his cousin and Ruka. Especially Ruka. But for even someone like Sayori Wakaba to notice – Kain's brows drew together as he frowned heavily. "You told her, Hanabusa?" his voice soft, promising deadly retribution.
Aido rolled his eyes again, completely unconcerned. "Puh-leez! Yori is a smart girl – she asked me about you and Ruka the first time you two followed us to town. And she noticed it even before that - at the school dance, remember?" He rose up on one elbow now and cocked an eyebrow at his cousin, grinning at the unexpected sight of Kain with a rather self-conscious look on his face.
"Don't – don't tell Ruka" he muttered.
In the past, Aido wouldn't have thought twice about needling his cousin some more, and mercilessly too… after all, it wasn't often that such an opportunity presented itself since Kain's behaviour was always so – so upstanding, for want of a better word. But now, he just couldn't be bothered. "Whatever" he sighed. Flopping back down on the bed again, Aido stared at the ceiling - misery loves company after all. "I'm going to miss Yori" he admitted softly.
Kain drew his legs up onto the bed and rested his arms on his bent knees. "I know" he said quietly, reaching over to squeeze his cousin on the shoulder. He couldn't help but notice how his young cousin had changed over the past couple of months since he started going out with Yori. The cocky and self-confident playboy noble had given way to a quieter version, more matured and attentive to other people's feelings. He'd had no more run-ins with the two School Prefects – although that was only to be expected since he met them more frequently now courtesy of Yori being Yuuki's close friend, and no trouble with Kaname-sama either.
Kain acknowledged that Sayori Wakaba may indeed be human… but she had wrought quite an impressive change over his impetuous young cousin all the same.
-- Chapter End --
A/N: Well, I don't know much about Yori's family so am making an assumption that she has a Father and two older brothers... and one of them is a doctor if you've read my Hold Me story :)