The sun had just set, as it was no longer visible in the sky. The sky itself had a burning red-orange sunset this night and two doll like vampires were making their way to classes at cross academy. Their bored expressions did not betray emotion, but they were worried, they were concerned for their friend.
"How do you think she will take it?" Rima said without looking at Senri.
"About as well as Aido has taken it." Senri replied quickly.
Rima looked off to the left of her, checking it was just them, but subtle enough to make to look as if she was admiring the trees.
"It's his own fault." Rima's exclamation caught her companion off guard. "If he hadn't made that stupid phone call he could have finished his work, came home, confessed his love and it all would have been fine."
Senri took a few seconds to respond, "Yeah well, he didn't do that."
"Yeah, I know." Rima's docility returned and they continued waking until they reached the classrooms, the red sky leaving an ominous tone in their conversation. "It's a shame, they would have made a great couple and we all know that Aido has liked her for years"
"She's a human Rima." Senri said bluntly. "It wouldn't have lasted."
There was a stiff absence of voices as the three vampires walked down the ugly, fluorescent corridor. The only noise was their rich Italian shoes clacking off of the linoleum floor and the buzzing of the light bulbs. The party of three was lead by Kaname Kuran confidently in control of the situation with a calm expression planted firmly on his face. His face had a hint of a smile though its emotion was indefinable.
Behind him walked Takuma Ichijo. His usually smiling happy demeanor was rather solemn and his brow was furrowed with his lips pressed into a hard straight line. He was, however, forever loyal to his Lord and would do whatever he asked hence his presence at this little reunion. His job was to keep the conversation on Ayumi and Hanabusa's relationship as much as possible.
The subject of this reunion was at the back of the party, keeping up and no more. He sorely did not want to be here. To have to face the girl he was in love with and feign happiness with another was very do-able in theory, but in practice not so much. Hanabusa Aido had thought about the conversation in his head so many times. What was he going to say to her? He had pictured many different outcomes each one ended with him miserable, depressed and married to a brown haired, green-eyed box of rocks. He could see Yuki's room up ahead a softer light spilling out into the bright hallway, it had been so long since he had seen her and with each step the butterflies in his stomach became more prominent. More than anything he had wanted time alone with her to explain the situation in full but that would have been asking for too much given that he was now under almost 24 hours surveillance by Takuma and his own cousin. Akatsuki felt for him, he really did, but neither he nor Takuma for that matter could do anything about it. There was a silent general consensus that Lord Kaname's fixation on Yuki was bordering on unhealthy obsession. No one dared voice this though, lest they end up being on the receiving end of a creative 'punishment' from Lord Kaname of which Aido was the prime example.
As they turned to walk into Yuki's room Aido braced himself and unconsciously breathed in. What he saw took him by surprise but at the same time gave him utter relief. Yuki was walking. Yes she was using an aid but he could see she was putting weight on her leg and it looked like the damage to her torso had not been as extensive as he initially thought.
"Yuki you've made progress even since yesterday, I'm very proud of you," Kaname was the first one to open up conversation, as he leaned in to help Yuki over to the sitting area in her room with his long arm. "Hanabusa and Takuma decided to come visit you today, wasn't that good of them."
Aido inwardly cringed at the childlike way that Lord Kaname was addressing Yuki and the overly familiar way he was with her.
Takuma, ever the gentleman, went over to the chair and held it for her while Yuki sat down in her seat.
Yuki meanwhile had not even acknowledged that Hanabusa had walked in to the room, mainly because she didn't know how to address him or what to say.
Aido walked up to her, scoped her up and down with the full intention of trying to semi-explain the situation he was in, but found he could not. Instead he came out with "You look better."
Seriously was that all he could think of, although whatever he said was being scrutinized so maybe it was best to play it safe.
"I am thank you for asking. How's your fiancé?" Yuki said, quick as a whip and with just as much sting.
"She's fine." Aido chose not to elaborate anymore and tried to turn the conversation back to Yuki. "Have you been-" He was cut off
"Aido and Miss Sakamoto are getting along famously Yuki, would you not say Takuma?" Lord Kuran looked to his right hand.
"Yes," Takuma was trying his best to be diplomatic but Kaname's eyes were piercing him. "Yes, they took a walk around the grounds of the Aido estate the other evening." Still piercing "They look a splendid couple and Miss Sakamoto is quite the beauty."
Yuki who had been listening to Takuma turned to the floor only for a second before bringing her eyes up to meet Aido's. She had a slight smile on her face but it did not meet her eyes.
"I'm very happy you've found someone Hanabusa, you must really love her and please congratulate her from me. I look forward to coming to the wedding and to meeting her, if I'm well enough."
Aido stood still unable to say a thing. He wanted to shout that this is not what he wants, he did not want a perfect noble vampire bride. He wanted her. The beautiful girl before him he grew up with, whose spirit and soul shone like the sun at night. He wanted to say that he wanted to live life with her, experience new things with her and only her. He wanted to share his life with her.
Kaname Kuran shook him from his thoughts "Aido will you not answer your friend?"
In that single moment, Aido's blood boiled like it had never before, his usual rational and cool exterior started to break down, as the temperature dropped 10 degrees and ice started spreading from his feet along the ground and crept up the walls. His face was to the ground, his fists were clenched and it took every ounce of self-control he had not to (try to and fail to) kill Kaname Kuran.
Takuma put his hand on Aido's shoulder to try and calm him. It seemed to work as the ice quickly receded and the temperature normalized. Aido needed a response to Yuki. So he did what he had always done when he was emotional, he hyper-rationalized.
"I think that if you came to the wedding Yuki it would be too strenuous for you, it will be fine of you to merely send a card. You shouldn't come." He met her eyes directly for the first time with a stony face and a numb body.
"Oh, are you sure? I think I would be okay by the time the wedding happens." Yuki's false cheeriness was becoming more evident.
"Don't stress yourself Yuki. Anyway it's a vampire wedding, it's unlikely you would even be allowed to come since your human." Aido quickly turned and bowed to his Lord and master. "If you will allow me my Lord I have research that I must continue with."
Kuran smiled "By all means Aido please go, I will keep Yuki company for the remainder of the evening."
"Thank you my Lord." With a final and deep bow Aido swiftly left the ward his pace quickening with every step and his heart racing. He needed out now. He became aware of footsteps following behind him.
"Aido, Aido wait." The footsteps turned into a run. "Hanabusa stop!" A hand landed on his shoulder and he was spun round, Hanabusa Aido's eyes were red and his breaths labored.
Takuma had never seen him in such a state; he smiled a sad smile "Lets talk outside, alright?" Takuma guided his childhood friend outside into the dark night. The two stood in silence for a long time before the taller blond spoke.
"Think practically as you do so often Aido. You are a noble vampire and Yuki is a human being, it wouldn't have been possible for you to be with her anyway."
"I know." This answer surprised Takuma, but relieved him. Aido was admitting to himself the reality and coming to terms with it, hopefully now he would start behaving like himself again.
"You will eventually be happy with Ayumi Sakamoto. Most all of our parents were arranged marriages and they turned out alright in the end." Takuma's green eyes met with his companion's cerulean ones.
"Ichijo…Takuma, can you do me a favor tonight. If you do I will forever be in your debt." Aido's tone was serious and low.
"What is it?" Takuma nervously asked.
"I need ten minutes alone with Yuki, and I need you to get rid of Kuran for those ten minutes. Distract him, make something up, hell release a level E if you have to, but just get him away from her for ten minutes. That's all I need."
"That's all you need." Takuma stated with an indignant tone. "That's all you need, you do realize what you are asking me to do don't you?" Aido said nothing back, but continued to stare at his friend a pleading residing behind his eyes that was desperate. Takuma sighed "Ten minutes. That's it no more no less."
"Thank you, you won't regret it." Aido made for the moon dorm.
"Aido, I'm warning you though if you get caught I will personally make sure that Lord Kaname knows exactly the extent of your feelings. Do not take advantage of my compassion towards you." Takuma looked at him seriously with the expression of a superior.
Aido knew what Ichijo had really meant was remember your place and who I am in relation to you and to Kuran. He was Lord Kuran's right hand and the only reason he was doing this was because of their friendship. He was not to abuse this favor.
Aido paced his room in the moon dorm waiting for a signal that it was safe to go. He would know it when he saw it, and sure enough three minutes later there was a loud ruckus coming from the east side of the grounds. Aido ran like he had never ran before, stood below Yuki's hospital window and jumped straight up onto the ledge, checked the coast was clear and climbed through Yuki's window. There she was. Their eyes met
"Hanabusa, what are you-" She cut off by a swift and fierce kiss. Yuki wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he lifted her up into his arms carrying her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. The kiss was heavenly for Yuki. She tasted his soft lips, heard his deep breathing and ran her fingers through his golden hair. When she parted from the kiss his eyes were glowing a lustful red his fangs were prominent and she had never felt so wanted in her life.
"Hanabusa what are you doing?"
"I have ten minutes Yuki. The engagement to Sakamoto is being forced on me by Kuran's pureblood orders, please know that the only person I will ever care for- no - the only person I will ever love is you. Please tell me that you feel the same, please tell me that you love me also. I don't think I could bear it if you didn't." His eyes were still red and his voice panicked. He was frantic.
Yuki held his face; her smile was beaming "Hanabusa Aido. I love you and I think I always have" she laughed, "and how unlike you to say please for something. I think I should remember this moment."
Aido put his forehead against hers and he spun round with her in his arms with a smile on his face exposing his fangs before planting another hard kiss on her lips. His tone then became dark and solemn
"Then Yuki, before Kuran tries to, allow me to be the first one to taste you. Allow me to take your blood, even if it is just a small bite. I want to be the first one to taste you I can't bear the thought of that pureblood monsters lip's on your neck."
Yuki considered the request. It was a very intimate thing for a noble vampire to bite someone they cared for. It was more than a kiss and Yuki knew what consequences would befall Aido if Lord Kaname found out. She looked at him once more, his breaths were shallow, his eyes had become even redder and his cheeks were flushed. Yuki then raised her hand to her left shoulder and pushed her gown down her soft pale skin until it was suitably exposed. She slowly pulled her hair away from her neck and tilted her head to the right. Her heart sped up and she bit her lip in anticipation of his fangs.
Aido sunk his head into the crevice of her neckline and breathed in her scent, he could feel her blood pumping through her jugular and it smelled so sweet, like thick cherry wine. He licked the spot just between her shoulder and her neck, low enough that it could easily be covered. He opened his mouth scraping his fangs along the spot and he felt Yuki's breathing increase, her eager anticipation obvious. Then he sunk his fangs in deep and a moan escaped both Yuki and Hanabusa. She tasted incredible, it was unlike any blood he had ever tasted before. She had the taste of perfection, he could not find a single fault and he found himself taking another deep drink. It took every inch of will to pull himself away from her.
The first sensation to reach her was pain, it hurt, but then there was a deep satisfaction, a feeling of belonging and truth. It felt as if she was waking from deep slumber. It felt like she had been missing something all her life and when Hanabusa bit her, a missing puzzle piece fell into place. Hanabusa was drinking from her deeply and she held the back of his head at her neck to let him know that she was all right. He pulled away and she found herself wanting nothing more than to return the bite to her neck with one to his. Meeting his eyes after, his expression was not what she expected. Yuki expected love and lust, what was there instead was shock, fear and realisation.
"Hanabusa what's wrong?" she stroked his face.
"Yuki, your eyes…your eyes…what have I done." Hanabusa suddenly looked at the clock and realized his time was up and he needed to leave, but he couldn't. Not like this. Kuran would know instantly what happened. "Yuki please, whatever happens, please know I love you I never meant for this to happen." He quickly placed her back in bed and fled before he was caught.
Yuki quickly wiped up any excess blood from her shoulder and covered up, her throat suddenly seemed very dry and she figured it had been all the excitement, so she poured herself some water from her bedside table. She coughed. Her throat was still ridiculously dry. She drank some more water. She was so thirsty, she heard footsteps that sounded like Lord Kaname's but she didn't care she was very very thirsty and she hobbled over to the sink and started drinking the tap water straight from the facet.
Kaname entered to see Yuki gulping down water from the tap "Yuki whatever are you…" he trailed off. There was an ever so slight difference in her scent and his fears were confirmed when she turned round to look at him and his beloved Yuki's eyes were a glowing a hungry and vampiric red.
Every window in the building smashed with the force of a small bomb and an exceedingly furious pureblood vampire sped from the building to torture and punish the cretin responsible for soiling his beloved sister.
A/N I know updates have been slow for this story, but I have a legitimate reason, between the last update and now, I moved jobs, country and continent. Emigrating is a difficult business, but I'm a bit more settled living in Japan now so hopefully updates should be a little more frequent. You will all be glad to know the ending will be coming soon and as usual I ask for your feedback. Peace.