Chapter Twenty-One
Returning to the Academy

Kagome returned to the Academy the next night. The moon was almost full and allowed her to see even easier at night. Being a vampire she could see fine in the dark, but she liked walking by the light of the moon better. As she was walking up the steps, she rubbed her sore muscles from the workout Sesshomaru gave her yesterday. Man, could he be brutal when he wanted to be! Ignoring her aching shoulders for the moment, Kagome concentrated on getting to the Chairman, checking in with him, and going to her dorm to sleep. Yes, that sounded like a good plan to her. She had to wait to seal Yuuki's memories until tomorrow night anyway. There had to be a full moon, and it just so happened to be the following night. Which meant she would also have to take her pill. She could ask Kaname for his blood, but she would rather not have to depend on him for everything. Even if she wanted to.

A few minutes later and she was standing in front of the Chairman's door. She took a moment to think about how familiar that scene was becoming. How many times had she stood in front of that door, ready to knock and have the Chairman allow her entrance? She didn't know, but she was sure that it would not be the last.

Before knocking, Kagome realized that there were two beings in the office. One of them being the Chairman, and the other being Zero. Hesitating for only a moment, Kagome knocked on the door. Getting the permission to enter, she did so. She walked in and found Chairman Cross sitting behind his desk and Zero standing in front of it. They seemed to be discussing something about a transfer student. At least that was what Kagome gathered. But why would the Chairman be talking to Zero about a transfer student?

Putting those thoughts away for later, Kagome bowed to the Chairman and sent him a greeting, before smiling at Zero and greeting him as well. The Chairman enthusiastically greeted her back, while Zero grunted and turned his head away. It was not like she was expecting anything more, in fact, she got more than she thought she would have.

Turning to the Chairman she told him that she was there to check in. Each of the Night Class students were required to check in with the Chairman, while the Day Class checked in with their dorm presidents or leaders. The Night Class need not check in with Kaname, because he already knew who all was there and who wasn't. Just as Kagome knew that all of the Night Class was present, save for Takuma and Shiki. Where they were, she had no clue, but at the moment she didn't really care. Besides, she could always ask Kaname later.

Once finished checking in, Kagome bowed and exited the room as quickly as she had come. Making her way to the Moon dorms, Kagome couldn't wait to get in her bed and take a nap. It had been a long week and a half for her, and she was ready to do nothing but sleep. Too bad there was a pure-blood that had missed her tremendously for over a week, and was not going to just let her get some sleep without at least saying hello first.

Kagome practically dragged herself into her room, but she did so gracefully so as not alert the other vampires that something was off about her. Once her door was shut, she allowed her shoulders to slump and her luggage to fall with a thud to the ground. Making her way to her bed, she plopped down unceremoniously and landed on her face. Exhaling a sigh through her nose, Kagome couldn't help the small, gentle, smile that stretched on her face as she took in the scent of her bed. Kaname had slept in it, and recently too. Apparently he had missed her just as much as she missed him. Unfortunately, she was too tired at the moment to go in search of him and say hello.

Rolling over Kagome stared at the ceiling and thought, I really need to get up and get changed before I sleep. Yes, okay Kagome get up. Get moving. Okay on three. Ready? One, two, three! Yet, no matter how much she told herself to get up, her body said otherwise. Come on Kagome! Get up! If you don't get up right now then you will end up wrinkling the clothes you are wearing! Besides, jeans are not the most comfortable sleepwear.

Finally convincing her mind that she needed to get up, Kagome pushed herself on her elbows, and slowly stood up from her nice, warm, comfortable bed. Walking sluggishly to her dresser, she pulled out some pajamas and underwear. Not awake enough to walk to the bathroom to change, Kagome began to pull off her clothes and toss them in her, newly designated, dirty laundry pile. Dressing as quickly as her tired body could, Kagome moved back to her bed and dropped down on the covers.

She was too tired to even get under the covers. She was too tired to notice that her bedroom door had opened, and a certain pure-blood vampire walked in. But she was awake enough to feel when he picked her up and moved her under her covers, and when he lightly kissed her on the lips before joining her in bed. She was too tired to protest, but then again, Kagome wasn't so sure anymore if she would protest or not. She was getting used to the idea of sleeping in the same bed as Kaname, and she would admit that she liked the feeling of her being held tightly, safely, in his arms. His smell also calmed her down and relaxed her mind. Kagome was positive that she wouldn't mind sharing a bed with him for the rest of their lives. Anymore thoughts on the matter, were brought to an end as Kagome finally slipped into a state of unconsciousness, shortly thereafter joined by Kaname.

And as the two pure-bloods slept, they had no thoughts as to what would begin in just a few short days. And how those events would change their lives, and the lives of every other vampire in existence, forever.

Kaname woke to the smell of fresh cut roses and rain water. Looking down to the head of mussed black hair gracefully lying on his chest, Kaname couldn't help the small smile that curved on his lips as he thought of Kagome. He had missed her during the week and a half that they had been away from each other, and he was sure that she missed him as well. Moving his right hand, he searched and found her left. Intertwining their fingers, Kaname couldn't help but feel satisfaction when he felt the ring he had given her. He stayed there holding her close as he watched the sun set lower in the sky through the curtains. They had no class for a few more days, and he was grateful for it. It meant he had more time to spend with Kagome and to relax a bit before his plans started to get moving.

He truly did not want Kagome involved, but he also knew that there would be no way to stop her. But at least Yuuki would be safe. Earlier he had gotten word that Zero's twin was transferring to this school. Kaname didn't mind too much, after all he did not need him for his plans anymore. He was sure that Yuuki would be trying to get the brothers back together again, and he was almost positive that Kagome would do something to help as well. He was not sure if it would work. After all, Ichiru wanted to join Shizuka, and to do so he would have to die. Whether or not Yuuki, and Zero both, would allow that to happen, he truly did not know. But he also did not care too much for their personal affairs, as long as it did not hurt his sister, he was fine with it.

Feeling the stirrings of the being on top of his chest, he turned his head from the window and looked down as her bright blue eyes opened to blink up at him in a confused daze. As soon the fog in her brain cleared, Kagome slowly sat up and stretched. Once finished, she yawned and lied back down on Kaname as she snuggled closer to his heat. Giving a chuckle, Kaname could not stop the affectionate kiss he gave her head as he, too, settled back down to sleep for a bit more. They could catch up later, after the sun had set.

I'll also show you a sweet dream...
...next night...