Vampire Knight

Guilty Temptations

Chapter Eleven: The Confession

"Recital? What for?" Aidou looked interested.

"Uh," I mumbled. "You… You don't have to! I was just… I needed a partner for this recital the dance school is holding… and the dance teachers have to perform too and – Hey! What did you tell my boss? She said that I was a professional! She said that I'd performed in front of lots of people! What's that all about?" I suddenly remembered what my boss had confronted me with.

"Oh. Haha, that," Aidou smiled. "I had to say something so she would accept you."

"My job is based on a lie…" I sighed. "Never mind that… If you want to… Could you become my partner? I-If you want to."

He shrugged. "I guess I could. It sounds like something we can do. Don't blame it on me if we mess up."

"I won't, really," I replied, feeling my heart flutter a little with his response.

"So what type of dance did you need to do?" Aidou asked, leading me downstairs to the sofas to talk, having a more comfortable place to discuss this.

"Ah," I squeaked as I took a seat beside him. "I… never really thought about that."

"Hmm…" Aidou smirked as usual. "How about the Tango?"

"Eh?"

I breathed, "Aidou-senpai… I don't really think I can—"

"Yes, you can do it. You just have to try your best," Aidou reassured me. "It won't hurt to try."

"It's so embarrassing. And I mean, do I really have to get so close to you…?" I began to pant. "It's so hard…"

"But it'll be fun. At least, from my perspective. Getting close to a girl like you is something half the boys want at Cross Academy." He smirked.

"You're only saying that." I frowned.

"Believe what you want." He shrugged.

Then Aidou stroked my thigh and I felt his hot breath on my neck. I whined louder. "Can we have a break? We've been going at this for hours!"

"Fine, fine," Aidou replied, leaving me to turn the music off.

He took a towel, and wiped off any imaginary sweat there was on his neck and forehead. It irritated me to know that a few of the town's young women were watching from the outside through the window. A few of them sighed in envy, others gave me death stares like there was no tomorrow. I took a sip of water after turning down the music. "Can't you do something about these girls?"

"I don't see what's wrong with them," Aidou answered.

I rolled my eyes. "I can't concentrate when every move of mine is being watched!"

"Or are you jealous?" He raised an eyebrow.

I widened my eyes, blushing, making this one statement lead to the thought of him liking me. "N-No! What makes you think that?"

Aidou shrugged again, and placed down his towel. This time, looking a little tired. And bored. "I think that's enough practice for one day, don't you think?"

"Uh, yeah. Are you going now?" I asked.

He nodded, picking up his bag. "I'll probably just hang around at rest at the dorms. I'll see you later."

As he walked toward the door, it was hard not to notice his sudden change in emotion. "Are you okay, Aidou-senpai?"

He glanced at me. "Yeah. Just fine."

"It doesn't seem like it," I quickly said.

"Well," He turned fully this time, and looked at me lazily, the way Shiki does all the time. "What do you think is wrong?"

"I don't know," I frowned. "That's why I'm asking you!"

He sighed, and shook his head. "Forget it. I'll see you at the dorms."

"Aidou-senpai…" I cringed. "I can't help but feel that there's something you want to say to me."

Aidou scoffed. "You really want to know why I'm acting like this."

"Yes. If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked in the first place!" Huffing, I crossed my arms stubbornly.

Aidou, seeming to change back to his usual personality, smiled again. "Spend some time with me around the town."

"What?"

"Us out here together… You could count it as a date!" Aidou sighed in happiness as he ate a parfait.

I shook my head. "I doubt this would be called a date, considering the dogs that are following you," I stared down at the strawberry that topped off my dessert.

He chuckled heartily. "I don't really see a need to look at these girls when there's only one in my interest."

"Oh?" I looked up. Perhaps this was my chance to see if Ruka was correct.

He sighed as he took another bite of his food. "Not like she has her eye on me. She has feelings for another man, so…"

What happened to the filter between my mind and my mouth? I seemed to blurt out everything without thinking. "Well… Maybe she has feelings for you too."

He scoffed. "Yeah, right."

I poked at my parfait. "Have you even told her of your feelings?"

"N-No…" His eyes averted from his sweet dessert and stared at my eyes. "A part of me already knows how she's going to react."

"Care to explain?" I returned the gaze.

"She'll tell me she already loves another man. Then she won't want to speak to me because it would be too awkward for her. She'll make sure that I don't participate in any activities she has allowed me to join her in. She'll avoid me," He explained softly. His eyes lowered and he went back to eating.

"Why won't you take the chance, Aidou-senpai?" I clenched my fist. "That's only what you think will happen."

"Yes, but…" Aidou sat straight in his chair. "If there's even the slightest chance of that happening, I don't want to risk it." Again, his eyes met mine. "I love her too much to let her separate from me by something like this."

I tried to catch my breath. "Maybe she's been waiting for you to tell her."

I could've sworn my heart stopped beating for several seconds. Then my eyes felt warm, tears welling up by the rim. My cheeks were hot, and I pushed my parfait away. I looked down at my lap and had one thought in my mind.

"That idiot."

"Shiori?" Aidou noticed my posture. "Are you—?"

I stood up before he could make any comment, and I ran out of the shop. I don't really have any reasons as to why I keep running away from my problems. It just stops me from having to deal with them for a while.

For this particular time, I had no idea why I ran.

I was back at the dorm. It was a few minutes until class had to start. I sat on the long sofa by the entrance in my uniform. I hadn't seen Aidou for the rest of the day. I couldn't find him at the dorm either. I was beginning to get worried.

Then, the door opened. It was him. He seemed tired and irritated. He looked up and his eyes widened. "Wh… Why'd you run off like that!" He yelled at me furiously. "I was looking for you everywhere! I was suffering because of the stupid sunlight, just so I could know that you were safe!"

"I…" I didn't have an excuse to save myself. "I… don't know."

Aidou stopped. "What's wrong with you?"

I didn't answer.

He took a seat next to me. He had calmed down now. "Tell me."

"I told you I don't know." I mumbled.

He brought his hand up to my cheek to brush away a stray hair. "You know, don't you?"

I bit my lip, refusing to look at him. "Know what?"

"Ruka told me of your conversation," He muttered, trying to steal a glance from me.

I gulped. "And?"

"You know who that girl I was talking about is," Aidou exhaled.

"I don't want to confirm anything until I've been told of it by the person I want to hear it from," I clutched onto my skirt.

"Very well," Aidou sighed, placing his thumb on my chin and turning my face towards his. I blushed, my heart rate increasing like crazy. "Shiori, I… love y—"

"Aidou! What are you doing still dressed like that? Get upstairs and change. There's only three minutes till we have to walk out of those doors," Akatsuki's voice made me jump, making both of us look up at the top of the stairs, where the rest of the Night class students stood.

My throat went dry, and I couldn't find my voice. Aidou let go of me. He stood silently and left the room.

He was going to say it.

That proves it.

Ruka was right.

Aidou… loves… me…

I know no excuse can make up for how long I've left this story for, and I am incredibly sorry. Please, please, please forgive me. In the meantime... reviews? Aye me.