Akane had stood there for at least ten minutes and was getting worried, thinking that maybe her hypothesis was wrong, and Aidou couldn't smell her from this distance. But she knew she couldn't dawdle any longer and turned away from the imposing wall with a sigh and walked back to the dorms slowly, following other stragglers as she entered the dorm building. Akane walked passed the breakfast room, skipping out on her evening meal again, and headed straight for her room with an air of depression around her.

"How am I going to get anywhere, if I can't even get him to come near me?" At this rate, I'll have to go to the changeover! She whined to herself as she walked into her dorm room, completely oblivious to the other presence within. She didn't switch on the light, as the room was still well lit with the sun's rays peeking through the curtains. She shuffled tiredly to the bathroom to wash up before bed, pulled the cord for the light in the bathroom and tugged off her coat and blazer, letting them fall to the floor.

She sighed at herself in the mirror. Her pale cheeks coloured red, along with her nose, after the chill from the wind outside. Her hair was nothing but a black mane framing her face, thanks to the weather. She ran her fingers through her tresses until she resembled a Human being again, then got to work on brushing her teeth. Several minutes went uneventfully by while Akane did this, before gargling with the mouthwash Miu always bought but hardly used, and then rinsed her mouth. She turned to the door, pulling the light cord with her lazily into her room, not taking note of the fuming Vampire currently lying on her bed watching her.

Akane began to unbutton her shirt, getting as far as the third, before the clearing of a throat finally caused her to acknowledge him. The sound startled her, making her jump with a gasp, but a strange sense of relief settled over her, seeing Aidou lounging on her bed with his arms locked like an armrest behind his head. His eyes were closed, and even with that angry frown, she couldn't help the small smile that came to her lips.

Akane stood there for a moment almost waiting for him to say or do something, but it became apparent, she needed to be the one to make the first move in this instance. So, Akane swallowed down her pride and irritation for what she had already deemed necessary and apologised.
"I'm sorry," she began, getting Aidou to open an eye to look at her with a dulled expression. She swallowed harshly, and then continued, "I know you were just speaking honestly about the prey, predator dynamic between Humans and Vampires. I shouldn't have reacted or lashed out at you like that." Both eyes were open now watching her, but his face was unreadable as she moved forward and stood at the side of her bed, where he lay. "I'm sorry."

Akane waited, and waited, but still, he did nothing but watch her, except his frown was back in place. Had she upset him that much? Had that slap actually hurt?
"Your mood swings are annoying," he eventually commented, with an air of disappointment, causing Akane to cock her head in confusion. She stumbled back a few steps as he rose from the bed and made his way to the door.
"Wait!" she called, thinking he may have been leaving and taking her only chance with him. He turned back to her with another neutral expression as his hand rose to the lock and turned it.
"I was looking forward to a good argument too," he said as he placed his hands in his pockets and strode back to her bed, flopping down, but this time, dragging the bewildered Human with him.

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings, I could be anyone," he advised as he buried his head in the crook of her neck.
"Someone else would be preferable if you ask me. At least I wouldn't get this sexual abuse," she quipped crossly, as he tangled his arms and legs around her. She flushed, realising that, yet again, she was in a rather compromising and dangerous position with this Vampire. Come on Akane, a Vampire is practically on top of you! Watch the fangs, not the hands!
"It's good no-one asked you then." His voice was just a sigh against the side of her neck, causing a jolt to run the length of her spine.

He'd missed this scent a lot more than he'd thought (or was willing to admit). The pain of being near Akane was nothing compared to the burning inferno Aidou had felt without this smell.
"Aidou?" Akane called quietly after a few minutes.
"Hmm?" he hummed in response as he got himself more comfortable, snuggling closer, running his nose along the curve of her neck, and inhaling her scent deeply.
"Your eyes. D-do you have any of those t-tablets?" I'm afraid!

Aidou stilled, he could feel the girl trembling from within the cage of his arms. Slowly, he rose up onto an elbow to look down at the frightened Human beneath him. His eyes had been scarlet from the moment he'd caught her scent at the wall. He knew they frightened Akane more than even the thought of his fangs, so, he climbed over her, off the bed, entered the small bathroom and downed another three tablets with a full glass of water.

After checking the mirror to make sure he was back under control (or as in as much control as he could get), he left the bathroom, turning off the light as he walked out. He found Akane, sat up on her bed leaning against the wall, with a leg pulled to her chest, and her arms wrapped around it, while the other leg resting off the edge of the bed. She watched Aidou as he walked towards her, dropping back down onto her bed, and leant against the wall beside her. He rested his head on her shoulder, turning his face back to her neck so he could continue to inhale her scent greedily. But Akane moved away to sit on Miu's bed and faced him.

"I'll answer them," Akane began as she sat. "Your questions, whatever it is you want to know about or learn from me… if you're still willing to help us, that is..." She knew bargaining was probably the only way to get what she needed, so had finally decided she would tell Aidou, literally, whatever he wanted to know. She understood what she was to him, that she was only in this position because he got some adrenaline rush from teasing himself with the scent of her blood. At least that's what she thought he was doing. Regardless, she knew she was only permitted to keep her memories, or even her life because she had the threat of Kaname on her side. She did wonder, however, how long that would continue to be a severe enough deterrent to Aidou. She needed to make her decisions quickly and stick with them.

She had no idea what Aidou knew about her, things she didn't even know about herself, but even if she did, this would not have surprised her. What would have surprised Akane, would be to know, that when she'd moved away from him, Aidou had been deeply disappointed. But not just because her scent moved further away. He'd been enjoying the feel of her hair brushing lightly over his face when he moved his head against her neck. He'd been enjoying the blush he'd caused in her cheeks, and the quickened drumming of her heart. He'd been comfortable, something he hadn't been with anyone for a long time, but she hadn't been comfortable with him, and never had been.

He frowned at her sat there but brought his expression back to a neutral look before she looked back up at him, after her speech. He'd realised in their time apart that he wouldn't be able to learn what he wanted about Unfortunates from her, due to the simple fact that she didn't know what she was. Her genetics were all he could rely on. However, he wasn't convinced he'd be able to control himself around a fresh sample of her blood, and couldn't take it anywhere near The Moon Dorms, but he was almost crazy enough to consider it.

"I am curious about this Vampire of yours," he began thoughtfully, before grinning cockily at the Human, practically begging for his help. "But I want something else from you Nakamura, say yes and I'll ask you no questions about him, and give you the information you need." She frowned, but her decision was made before Aidou stepped out of The Moon Dorms that afternoon.
"Deal!" Akane held out a shaky hand, her frown still in place, but with a blazing determination in her eyes.

Aidou's handsome grin turned mischievous and devilish as he grabbed her outstretched hand with a chuckle and pulled her forward, so she was brought to her knees, with his legs on either side of her. He wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her close, pressing her against his chest and trapping her arms under his. He lifted her chin, bringing her face so close to his, their noses touched. He laughed again as that blush he so enjoyed appeared on her cheeks, and quickly spread.

"You agreed before I told you what I wanted Nakamura, you should be careful. Who knows what I could make you do?"
"I made an educated guess, you are a Vampire," was her blasé response, but he could feel the tremor in her body as she spoke. His eyes widened when what she said made it into his head. He hadn't been expecting that and sat up straighter in his shock. Is she saying what I think she's saying? Is she crazy!
"You'd give me your blood?" he asked uncertainly of the Human he'd forced to practically kneel at his feet.
"I-if you are going to help, and as long as you don't k-kill me in the process…" she paused sighing shakily, knowing how dangerous this agreement would be "I'll give you whatever it takes!"

Akane's declaration was completely serious. She had nothing else to offer him as payment, and she understood that nothing comes for free. He was a Vampire, she knew he needed blood and that he enjoyed her scent. Even if the thought of it petrified her, she really would do everything and anything for him. He was all she had, so she was going to do whatever she had to, to help him, including, allowing a Vampire she barely knew, feed on her.

When Akane came to Cross Academy, she had run from him and what had happened to her family. She'd come to hide and pretend she could just go to school and have a normal life. But meeting Aidou and finding out about the secret of the Night Class, and what had been hidden from the entire world, had changed that. If those secrets could help her find a way to free him, then she would do anything this egotistical, perverted psychopath wanted her to. Besides, he would find her, and she knew it, but if she could learn what she needed before that happened, then maybe, that 'normal life' didn't have to be just a far-off dream.

Aidou frowned. Such loyalty to someone who hurt and marked you so savagely… why? Why is he so important to you! He pulled her up onto the bed and lay just like they'd been before he'd left the bed. He hovered over her frightened face as she struggled to control herself and force her features to relax as she took calming breaths, her eyes closed to block out the sight of the handsome nightmare before her.

"Why would you risk your life for someone who hurts you?" The question had startled Akane, and she opened her eyes to look at the mildly puzzled face above her.
"H-he doesn't want to," was her reply, to which Aidou, snorted disbelievingly.
"Yeah, he had you all to himself, drank from you so much, the back of your neck looks like the Nazca Lines…" Akane brought a hand to her neck insecurely, at the mention of her scars, and looked up, hurt, and confused at Aidou, as he continued. "Tells you he's sorry, that he doesn't really want to hurt you, and that's enough for you? I've had more than enough opportunity to feed on you Nakamura, but I've managed to control myself."
"It's not a matter of control Aidou," she began to explain tiredly.

This was something she hadn't planned, and he did say he wouldn't ask, but she felt the need to explain.
"He's compelled to do it. He doesn't have a choice. She forces him to drink from me, then he leaves, to go to her." Aidou's eyes widened at the realisation of what he'd uncovered.
"A Pureblood is using him as a courier to ferry your blood back to her!" Akane nodded, already coming to this conclusion.
"At the time, I only knew that after he'd… well, you know. He'd have to go to her. He could be gone for days sometimes, or maybe it was only a few hours? I was always just in and out of it for a while. But when you explained the nature of Purebloods, I guessed that she couldn't bite me directly without turning me, so used him."

Aidou thought for a long time on what Akane had just reviled. This Pureblood had known what Akane was and kept her hidden, using this Vampire to care for her and bring her blood back, unnoticed by anyone. Who is this Pureblood? He looked back down at the Human and asked her just that.
"I don't know, I never really saw her."
"Never really?"
"Well, I think I might have seen her, once," Akane began quietly, looking away from him to gaze at the wall. "The day my parents were attacked," she finished sombrely with a sigh. Again, this was not what she wanted to be doing. He was a Vampire, and he knew more about her life than her current friends would ever know. This is so messed up! This creature should not be the first person I tell this to! What the hell did she want? Why didn't she just come back and finish it?

Aidou said nothing as a silent tear slid from her angry eyes, he didn't wipe it away, and none followed the lonely droplet, he just watched and waited. Akane had cried for her parents, countless times before, and now, when she thought of them, it stung tremendously for a moment before total numbness took over, until she was back to her usual self. Akane daren't feel too much, she'd trained herself to stop the flood of tears before they started, for his sake. He hates it when I cry.
"Sorry," she apologised quietly.

It was at this time, Aidou realised the sun had completely set. The knowledge he would have to go back to his dorm and leave this scent behind caused such a crushing hunger, he had not been ready for. He pulled her closer, snuggled back under her chin and inhaling her sweet scent. He wound one hand under her back while the other sank into her hair, pulling her head back further, to expose more of her neck. His legs tangling with hers, finally anchoring her to the bed completely below him.

A terrified and trembling Akane was pulled flush against the Vampire but forced herself to remain still as he rubbed his nose along her neck, unhurriedly followed by his tongue. She knew what he meant to do and tried to prepare herself as best she could. She remembered the pain of those sharp fangs digging into her flesh, the throbbing she'd feel in her lungs and heart as the blood was dragged through her veins to the small holes in her neck, feeding the beast responsible.

She screwed her eyes shut, her hands balled and fisting the sheets on the bed for dear life, breathing in short frightened gasps, but nothing came, and with a regretful sigh, Aidou's lips left Akane's neck before he moved off and away from her.
"I already told you, Nakamura. If I took what I wanted from you, you wouldn't wake up. I don't have a Pureblood master to compel me not to kill you like he does. I'll take your time instead, for now, until I think of some other way to get my answers from you," he said as he walked across the room to the door and listened for the Day Class girls closing their doors and getting ready to settle down for the night.

"But why? What is there you could possibly want to learn about me?" Akane asked frazzled as she quickly moved to her hands and knees, looking questioningly after the Vampire.
"Everything!" Aidou meant this in a very different sense than Akane imagined, and thoroughly enjoyed her dumbfounded expression, along with the blush, that exploded across her face.

He chuckled as he walked out of the room, throwing back two more blood tablets as he closed the door. Now, however, as he stood in the hallway already picking up the difference in the strength of Akane's sent, with the door between them, a small glimmer of doubt lit in his mind. Was he really putting himself through this just to know more about Unfortunates and their origins? Of course! But messing with the little Human can be a fun way to pass the time too, he reasoned. With another devious grin, he strutted out of The Sun Dorms with confidence, but still, that seed of doubt lingered, pushed to the back of his mind.