Disclaimer- I don't own Vampire Knight.

This is kinda filler-y, but bare with me. It was meant to include some other info, but it would have been really freaking long if I had included everything I wanted to. Look forward to the next chapter though, things heat up immensely. ;)


Chapter 29

Always Up To Something

"Reina, it's time to wake up," Kaname urged gently, laying a hand on the sleeping girl's narrow shoulder.

Ichijo chuckled lightly when the only response was a small grunt and she burrowed her head further into the crook of Kaname's shoulder.

"Well at least we know she's not mad at you anymore," he said cheerily as he stood from the seat opposite the two. "I'll take her," he offered, slipping an arm under her knees and another behind her back.

She fidgeted for a moment, her sapphire eyes fluttering open to peer sleepily at Ichijo. "Takuma?" she mumbled tiredly.

"Hey, sleepy head, we're almost to our stop and Kaname wanted to get up."

Blinking from his emerald eyes to Kaname's crimson, she stifled a yawn and wrapped her arms around Ichijo's neck. "I'm still tired," she whined against the smooth skin of his neck.

"I know," he replied as he carefully lifted her from Kaname and sat back down with her in his lap. "Not much longer, ok?"

She nodded, yawning widely, but staying in her spot in his lap as the train began to brake. Peeking one eye open Reina looked through a curtain of her white hair out the window of the slowing train. The landscape was quite a dramatic shift from that of the Academy. It was more mountainous here, dark tree dotted, jagged shapes appeared like ghosts rising out of the ground in the distance, capped in white. Pine trees covered the uneven terrain outside the window, there wasn't a single house or light visible in the dense thickness.

"There's nothing out here," she observed, opening both her eyes to stare outside at the dark land. Where most would find the towering, needle-like trees that shrouded the area eerie, Reina found it relaxing, comforting. She had spent so much of the last several months surrounded by humans and living in a much brighter setting than she was used to that it was nice to be in a place that was dark and quiet, with a slight ominous feel to it that vampires were attracted to.

"There's a little town by the train station, it's a tourist spot. It's not that busy this time of year though, but we're going further up the mountain. There really is nothing out there, that's part of why it's so nice," Ichijo replied following her gaze to look out the window. "There's no one out here to bother us, we get to spend the month undisturbed."

She didn't reply as she continued to stare out the window, she leaned her head onto Ichijo's shoulder and watched with interest as little twinkling lights began to appear over the crest of a hill. The lights filled a small valley, but the houses and shops that they occupied were little more than shapeless blurs in the night. The atmosphere here was different, the air was thinner and crisper, cooler than what she was used to at either the Academy or her own home. Chill winds carried the scent of fresh snow, earth, pine and a mix of so many other inviting smells from the small town that Reina was so caught up enjoying that she barely noticed the train had stopped and they were ready to disembark.

Snapping out of her daze, she stood from her place on Ichijo's lap and smiled when Kaname stood and held her coat out to her. "Thank you," she said, slipping her arms into the warm fabric and buttoning several of the buttons to keep out the chill she knew would be greeting them once out of the warm confines of their car.

Latching onto Ichijo's arm as they exited the train Reina ignored the grumbles and glares that Aido and Ruka were sending each other as they made their way through the mostly empty train station and to the waiting gray haired butler that bowed to them as they approached.

"The cars are waiting, Aido-sama, please make yourselves comfortable while your luggage is retrieved," the man said with a kind smile.

"You told Father I was staying at Rima's, right?" Aido asked as they filed past the older man.

"Don't worry, I've made sure everyone will spend time undisturbed," he replied jovially.

Sensing that sitting in the same car as Kaname and forcing Aido and Ruka to be placed in another confined space together wasn't a great idea, Reina tugged Ichijo to the car that Kaname wasn't heading for. "We should keep those two separate for a little while, don't you agree?"

"Hm," Ichijo blinked at her before following her tiny hand that was pointing at Ruka and Aido who were glaring at each other as they walked towards the cars. "Oh, right."

"Hanabusa, won't you sit with me?" Reina called.

Aido's head snapped around and a big grin found its way to his face as he sauntered proudly over to her and Ichijo. Ruka smiled smugly as she stepped into the car that Kaname and Seiren were already in. Rima wound up in the same car with Ichijo, Reina and Aido, while Kain was in the other. Once all of their luggage was loaded into the vehicles, they set off, driving through a small portion of the quiet mountain town.

"Is it very far?" Reina asked, her attention focused out the window, taking in as much as she could of the quaint town.

"About an hour drive from here, in the mountains," Aido replied.

"Oh," Reina said, a little disappointed that they would be so far from the town. She had only ever been in the town outside of the Academy and only the dilapidated and run down section of it, she wanted a chance to see a town up close.

"Would you like to come back and visit the town?" Ichijo leaned over to ask her.

Her eyes brightened as she turned to him. "Could we?"

"Of course, but it would have to be during the day, miss sleepy head," Ichijo teased, smiling as he tapped her on the nose.

"That's fine, as long as someone lets me sleep," she retorted, poking him playfully in the forehead.

"At least she's in a better mood," Rima mumbled to Aido.

"True," the blond replied.


"Reina, your room is over here," Ichijo called.

"Where's yours?" she asked. It was well known to those here that they shared a bed together, but it wasn't something that the servants of the household needed to know.

"Right next door, don't worry," he replied with a smile."Ah, that luggage goes in that room," he instructed one of the servant girls as he pointed to Reina's room.

"So what do you normally do up here?" Reina asked as she walked into the room she would be living in for the time being. It was decorated in light colors to offset the usually drab and bland weather of the area. Gold tones and a few crimson accents were what greeted her as well as the scent of lavender.

"Bother Aido of course."

With nothing else to do Reina and Ichijo made their way downstairs the parlor that was decorated in lush bright earth colors and a few pieces of red furniture to brighten it up. Aido was sitting on the couch, a thoughtful expression on his face as Reina sat beside him and poked him in the side. She frowned when she didn't get much of a response out of him and he continued to stare blankly at Ichijo.

"Hana?"

"Hey, it's boring when you're quiet," Ichijo prodded.

"Ichijo's grandfather is very oppressive, it's only natural that Kaname-sama became a runaway," the boy muttered.

"Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden, Aido?" Ichijo stuttered, horrified from behind the couch while Reina just looked at him oddly.

"I'm sorry, Aido, that you have to look after a homeless me," Kaname said as he walked into the room, a leather bound book in his hands.

Kaname's remark brought Aido out of the daze he had been as he gaped at Kaname in surprise. "K-Kaname-sama! I didn't mean that you're a burden...I...I."

Reina's eyes widened when Ichijo suddenly yelled Kaname's name and ran to the pureblood, tossing his arms around him like he was a child and sniffing into his shoulder as he looked back at Aido.

"Aido is saying mean things! Even I don't want to see my grandfather so I'm being a nuisance here," Ichijo complained as he turned to look at Aido with puppy dog eyes.

"You're being overly dramatic again, Takuma," Reina observed, raising her brows as she watched the scene play out.

"I assume he has permission to stay the night?" Kaname asked Aido, a slight smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Uh...Y..Yes."

Ichijo brightened immediately, grinning at Aido as he skipped back to the couch and leaned over the back of it to play with Reina's hair while she tried to read a book she had picked up off one of the shelves on her way into the room. For the most part Reina didn't mind Ichijo reading over her shoulder and playing with her hair, it was the way he would purposely brush his fingers over the back of her neck or breathe lightly onto her ear that was distracting. Ignoring it as long as she could Reina kept on reading until she had read the same line at least six times.

She was about to say something when Kaname spoke. "What are you thinking about, Aido?"

"Huh? Oh, um..." Aido replied before biting his lip and sighing.

"If it's hard to say, then don't worry about it," Kaname told him.

"Um, can I ask one thing?" Aido asked hesitantly.

Kaname nodded his assent, watching Aido with his usual guarded expression.

Reina frowned, ever since the ordeal with Shizuka Hio Aido had become quieter and more thoughtful. With what he had seen she knew he must be curious about the reasons for Kaname's actions. It was his curiosity that bothered Reina. She was afraid that he would try and figure things out on his own and there were reasons why neither she nor Kaname were informing him or the others of the current state of things. They didn't want him getting hurt. The words that came out of his mouth after a small pause made Reina's eyes widen and her breath hitch in her throat as she turned to him.

"Your parents...Mr and Mrs Kuran..Why did they commit suicide?" Aido asked carefully.

Ichijo was the first to react, covering Aido's eyes with his hands and chuckling nervously. "Kaname has issues with answering so-"

"It's alright, Ichijo," Kaname said, taking a seat in the red chair across from the couch. "Don't look so worried, Reina. If he's asking, then he must already have an idea."

Reina smiled weakly up at Ichijo who squeezed her shoulder and smiled at her.

When Kaname spoke again, his voice didn't seem any different than usual, but Reina knew him all too well. There was something in his eyes that showed not only sadness, but immense anger, she kept her eyes trained on him as he answered Aido's abrupt question.

"A pureblood's life is long, longer than even that of the Noble class. There is little chance of dying of disease or accident for us. Outside of long life is death which can only be obtained by suicide or murder."

"But Mr and Mrs Kuran..they didn't seem like the type to commit suicide," Aido said, recalling the few times that he had met the pair of purebloods and their kindness.

"Hana," Reina whispered, putting a hand on his arm as if to some how hold him back from asking further questions that she knew were not easy for Kaname to answer.

"Reina, would you come sit with me?" Kaname asked.

She looked over to him and nodded before carefully rising from her seat and walking towards Kaname. Since he was sitting in a small chair she sat beside his legs, taking the hand that was resting on one of his knees in one of hers. Resting her head against his knee she smiled at Ichijo who was smiling at the fact the two old friends were once again getting along.

"You're right, Aido, my parents didn't seem to be the type to commit suicide," Kaname said, stroking Reina's silky hair and taking comfort in her presence beside him again. "My parents were..."

"They were murdered, Hanabusa," Reina finished for Kaname after a quick glance up into his crimson eyes.

The room went dead silent. Aido didn't know how to respond and Ichijo didn't have anything to say, he already knew this. It wasn't an awkward silence though, it was sad and depressed, a feeling that seemed to darken the brightly decorated room.

"Kaname-sama's parents, who killed them?" Aido asked.

Reina's sapphire eyes turned towards the ground, Ichijo's did the same, only Kaname met Aido's worried blue eyes.

"It's better if you don't know anymore than that, Aido," Kaname replied.

Aido shot up from the couch, angry at not being told anymore information after he had been given pieces of the truth. He wanted to protect Kaname, Reina too so why couldn't he know.

"But why, Kaname-sama?! Why only tell me part of the truth?" Aido argued.

"Because you would have prodded into things on your own and there doesn't need to be another senseless death," Kaname answered evenly.

"I... I want to use my strength for Kaname-sama, Reina-sama too," Aido admitted quietly.

"Aido, you really shouldn't say...Just not right now, you know?" Ichijo said with a smile at Aido after seeing the way Reina's eyes had widened at Aido's statement.

"Of course, I'm sorry, Kaname-sama."

"It's alright, Aido."

"Um, please excuse me," Aido said, heading for the door quickly.

"Aido," Kaname called to the blond that stopped upon hearing his name. "At first I thought you were thinking I had killed my own parents. To be honest, the fact that you didn't think that made me happy."

A tiny smile graced Reina's lips when she turned her head to look up at Kaname and saw the content smile on his face. She reached up and brushed some of his hair from his face before standing as Aido left the room.

"Are you alright?" Reina asked Kaname, standing by his side and combing his dark brown hair from his face with her fingers.

"I'm fine. You and Ichijo should go and eat and then get some sleep, I know you're still tired."

Leaning down slightly, Reina placed a soft kiss against the top of Kaname's head. "I'm fine. Get some rest yourself, Kaname. We're on break, take advantage of it."


Clapping her hands together and beaming at Ichijo, Reina squealed happily. "Really?" She asked excitedly. They had been staying at Aido's for a week and though it was nice to be left alone to do whatever they pleased, Reina wanted badly to go into town and had been pressing Ichijo for the past two days to arrange a trip for the two of them.

Ichijo chuckled at her behavior before nodding in confirmation. "Yes really, so get up you lazy bum and lets get going."

She jumped out of her bed, tossing half of the silky cream colored sheets to the floor in the process and running to the closet. There were a few muffled bangs before Reina reemerged with a bundle of clothes in arms and danced her way to the bathroom.

"Dress warm, it might snow later," Ichijo called after her, shaking his head in amusement.


Reina sneezed quietly, her nose crinkling as she shook her head like a cat. She had pulled an old volume from a rather dusty shelf in a cramped book store and had been greeted by a cloud of dust as she opened the old book. There were several bags by her feet from various other shops that they had already ventured to. She had bought a new coat, nightgown, a pair of shoes, two pairs of pants and a blouse so far.

"You're cute," Ichijo chuckled, kissing the top of her head affectionately. He was standing beside her, one hand on her lower back as he browsed through the books around them.

"For sneezing?"

"You looked like a kitten."

"You're weird," Reina mumbled, scanning through some of the pages of the book in her hands before shutting it and handing it to Ichijo. "I want this one."

"Anything else, your majesty?" Ichijo teased as he took the book from her hand.

She glared playfully at him before turning bright red when she realized that the elderly woman at the register just down the aisle was watching them with a small smile on her wrinkled face. Her eyes turned to the ground as she bit her lip, she wasn't used to being watched and it embarrassed her. When Ichijo glanced behind him, he smiled warmly at the woman and turned back to Reina.

"Lets pay for this and move on, alright?"

Nodding, Reina allowed Ichijo's hand to envelope her left hand and lead her to the register. She didn't fail to notice the proud, almost smug, smile that he wore as he fingered the ring that she was wearing on the proper finger since there was no one out here that knew who they were.

"Are you sure you don't mind paying?" Reina asked awkwardly. She may control the fortune her parents had left her, but she had never once been given money or a credit card. Whenever she needed something it was purchased for her without her ever having to do anything.

"It's not a problem, what's mine is yours and what's yours is yours, right?"

"Something like that," she answered with a reserved chuckle.

When Ichijo passed the book to the woman at the register, Reina took the chance to smile happily up at him as the book was rung up.

"It's nice to see such young people so happy. I see you're engaged, congratulations," the older woman said, her voice a little raspy, but pleasant nonetheless.

"Thank you," Ichijo replied, blushing slightly.

"But where is your ring, dear? Don't you wear one?" She asked Ichijo.

Reina jolted a little beside him as his face went blank and he blinked down at his own left hand.

"Sorry, maybe I said too much. I have a habit of doing that," the woman said as she put their purchase into a bag and set it on the counter.

"Ah, no. To be honest, I never really thought about it," Ichijo replied.

"Me either," Reina said.

"Well, if you ask me, dear," the woman said in a hushed voice as she winked at Reina. "I'd get him a ring so that no one else tries to take him, not that they could, but he's such a handsome young man."

Ichijo blushed bright red as he paid for the book while Reina giggled at him. Once they had the book, they excused themselves from the shop, her bags in Ichijo's hand.

"Oh, actually I left my gloves on the shelf," Reina said as reached into a pocket of her black coat. "I'll be right back, why don't you go to the next store? I'll meet you inside."

"Are you sure?" Ichijo asked in concern seeing as how Reina was still mildly uncomfortable around so many people and there weren't many.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'll be just a minute," she called as she turned to run back into the store, the heels of her black boots, clicking on the cement.

"Back so soon, deary?" The woman at the register asked.

"Actually I was wondering if I could use your phone," Reina replied with a mischievous smile as she pulled her thin gloves from her coat pocket and set them on the counter.


"Ah, there you are," Ichijo said as he looked down at Reina as she loped to his side, grabbing his arm as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Sorry, I couldn't find the silly things," she said, holding up her hands and wiggling her black gloved fingers. "What?" She asked when Ichijo looked at her strangely.

"You're up to something."

"Am not," she said a little too quickly and loudly, laughing nervously when an elderly couple in the antique store they were in gave her dirty looks.

He raised a brow at her as she met his eyes. "Yes you are."

"So what if I am?" Reina challenged.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"What you're up to."

"Well, I'm not telling."

"So you are up to something?" he said, tapping a finger against his chin as he looked quizzically at her.

Sighing and shaking her head, Reina grabbed his free hand and tugged him out of the store. "Come on, there's somewhere I want to go. I saw it on the way into town, antiques don't really interest me."

"Is that because you are one?"

Reina stopped to smack Ichijo on the shoulder as he laughed at her. She huffed indignantly, dropping his hand as she stalked forward. "When you put it that way, aren't you one too?" She mused.

The laughter stopped immediately and Ichijo jogged forward to catch up with Reina. "But you still like me, right?"

She pretended not to hear the question and continued her trek through the town. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was high in the sky, but there were gray clouds that filtered the light and made it seem closer to dusk. A chill wind was blowing through the little mountain town bringing it with it the relaxing scent of snow and rain that made Reina forget that she was surrounded by humans that kept looking at her and Ichijo, admiring their beauty and yet sensing something more sinister about them as well.

"Uh, Reina," Ichijo questioned worriedly. "You do still-"

"Oh, hush, Takuma I was teasing and you know it," she cut in. "This is the place," she said, coming to a sudden stop in front of a small, but expensive looking jewelry store. There were two small showcases to either side of the door displaying several of the store's very shiny and glittery items.

"A jewelry store?"

"Yes, a jewelry store, women like shiny things remember. I also heard Ruka telling Rima that this place has some very interesting pieces with black diamonds and I happen to like black diamonds," Reina replied with a grin as she went into the store. She saw the young man behind the counter dressed in a pressed pale blue colored shirt with a darker blue tie and black slacks look up from boxing something up and smiling widely at the couple as they walked in.

"Ah, good afternoon. You must be Reina?" The man asked pleasantly.

"That would me," she confirmed with a smile.

Ichijo looked between the two, confused as to how the man behind the displays knew Reina and why he was smiling so much.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Ken and I'll be taking care of everything for you today," he said, bowing his head to the couple.

"Wonderful," Reina replied, daintily pulling her black gloves from her fingers and turning to a still confused Ichijo.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing," Reina replied innocently. "I'm here to pick something up."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"I don't get it," Ichijo admitted.

"Don't get what?"

"You're here to pick up nothing?"

Reina smirked. "Yes, that's what I said."

"But how did he know we were coming?"

"Kaname called him."

"Why did Kaname call him?"

"Because I called Kaname," Reina replied with a shrug as if the answer had been obvious.

"...I'm confused."

"When I went back into the bookstore I called Kaname and asked him for a little help. I have a lot of money at my disposal, but no way to use it. He made a few calls for me and here we are. I'm guessing all arrangements have been made, correct?" Reina asked, turning her attention to the brown haired, green eyed clerk.

"Yes ma'am," he replied politely.

"So, I'm buying you something instead of you buying me something for once," Reina said, taking the several bags of her newly purchased items from Ichijo.

"What are you buying me?"

"A ring."

"You really don't have to, Reina," Ichijo protested after he took a moment to let the words sink in.

"I want to, please? You've done so much for me, let me return the favor," she replied almost pleadingly, her eyes begging.

"I can't say no to that face," he sighed in defeat as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"I know," Reina giggled happily, clasping her hands together in front of her and turning back to Ken. "I don't know much about this sort of thing, but I asked Kaname for his opinion and I think Ken here should already have a few things set aside."

"I do," the man nodded. "Your friend has good taste, he also seems to know the latest fashions. I have three rings set aside," he said, turning to pick up a blue velvet tray that had three rings set on it.

All three were fairly simply bands, not one had a stone of any kind and only one had a design etched into the center of it.

"This really isn't-"

"Shut up, Takuma," Reina cut in in a low mumble, her eyes never leaving the three rings. "Not that one, I don't care for the design. Kaname was right, simple is better. What is this one made out of?" She asked Ken, indicating a thick band of dark steel, the other was more of a bright silver and thinner.

"Titanium," Ken answered. "It's quite popular. The color is a bit different and as you can see, it's quite light," he said as she picked it up to examine it.

"And this one?"

"That one's platinum."

"I like the titanium one. what do you think, Takuma?" Reina asked.

"Huh, uh..."

Reina lifted a brow at him and sighed. "The titanium one," she turned around to tell Ken.

"Of course, would you like it sized?" Ken asked, hinting that Takuma should try on the ring.

When he made no move to do anything, still feeling quite awkward, Reina picked up the ring and took Takuma's left hand, slipping the ring on his ring finger. She smiled up at him when the ring turned out to be a perfect fit.

"What do you think?" she asked hopefully.

"I think it's perfect," he said, not wanting to disappoint Reina. He did like the ring, that wasn't the problem, he just felt a little odd letting her buy something for him.

Her smile brightened exponentially and she couldn't stop herself from giggling childishly as she kissed his hand. "Really?"

"Yes, really. It's just a bit strange letting you buy something for me. Something I know isn't cheap."

"Well, now you know how I feel."

"You like being spoiled," he pointed out, tapping her nose and chuckling when she wrinkled it cutely.

"Of course, but I should be able to spoil you too," she retorted.

"Why don't the two of you take a look around? I need to clean the ring for you and get you a receipt," Ken said.

"Ok," Reina chirped, prancing away to admire a case of gothic looking jewelry. Many of the items were made with very high quality black diamonds, the prices ranging from the hundreds to tens of thousands.

Ichijo chuckled at her as he removed the ring and handed it back to the clerk.

He walked up behind her while she was lost in her own little world, her eyes appreciatively staring at a very delicate looking pendent on a simple white gold necklace. The pendent was in the shape of a blooming rose that had been encrusted in glittering black diamonds. It was about the size of a quarter, neither too large or too small.

"Find something you like?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.

Reina spun around to be greeted by a grinning Ichijo. "Ah, no, just looking," she replied guilty. "What?" She asked awkwardly.

"Nothing, I just forget how beautiful you are sometimes."

Reina chuckled, embarrassed and shook her head. It was then that she caught a glance out the window and realized that it had begun to snow. "It's snowing."

"Oh, it is. Don't tell me you've never been in the snow?" Ichijo asked.

She shook her head as she gazed into the curtains of white. "No, it's not that.. It's just been awhile," she replied wistfully.

"Do you want to wait outside?" Ichijo asked Reina. "I can wait in here."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and pushed her towards the door. "Yep, I'll be there in just a moment."

"Ok, I'll be right outside."

"Here you go," Ken said jovially, handing a small bag that contained the box and receipt to Ichijo a few moments after Reina exited the shop.

"Actually, I'd like to take that necklace she was looking at please."

"The black rose, it's a very beautiful piece. It's strange that you'd pick that though."

"Why is that?"

"Because the gentleman that made the arrangements for the purchase of the ring was in here yesterday. He purchased a hair comb, the top was a blooming rose encrusted in black diamonds. They're both part of the same collection actually. I think it's for your young lady, he asked that I not mention it to her while we were on the phone."

"That is a coincidence, isn't it? But then, she is spoiled," Ichijo laughed, now realizing where Kaname had disappeared to the day before. Reina had been worried, but he turned up shortly after, nonchalantly lounging around the parlor reading. When Reina had inquired about his whereabouts he said he had been at house the entire time even though she knew he hadn't. It had made her a little angry, but in a cute way, not a scary way.

The clerk quickly wrapped and charged Ichijo for the necklace that was then tucked safely away inside of his beige coat. When he stepped outside Reina was waiting for him sitting on a bench that faced a small park watching as the snow fell softly, blanketing the landscape around them in white.

"Maybe we should head over to the hotel the car dropped us off at. We can have dinner while we wait," Ichijo said as he stepped in front of Reina.

"Alright," Reina replied, standing up and taking the hand that was held out to her.

While they were walking the wind picked up immensely, whipping Reina's hair around her wildly and making her huddle closer to Ichijo. The sky was growing darker as heavy, gloomy looking clouds rolled their way over the town. The snow began falling harder, making it difficult to see what was in front of them.

They were thankful when Ichijo pushed the door to the small hotel lobby open, allowing them to immediately feel the warmth from the large fire in the brick fireplace to the left of the door. Stepping into the lobby was like stepping back in time, everything gave the feel of the early twentieth century. The furniture, the hand carved wooden tables, the mail slots behind the small front desk and the old photographs that lined the walls.

"Oh, come in dears, you must freezing," a woman called amicably from behind the desk, she was short with graying brown hair and she was one of the few that aged gracefully. The lines on her face suited her as she smiled at them. "You must be Takuma and Reina, correct?"

"Um, yes," Ichijo replied awkwardly. How did everyone seem to know who they were?

"Sorry, my name is Rin. Your friend, Kaname, called and said to look for you," she explained. "Apparently something came up and he had some of your things delivered here and arranged for a room for you two for the night. He said someone would be by to pick you up in the morning."

Sharing a confused look Reina and Ichijo had no idea how to respond.

"If you don't mind my asking, when was our stuff brought in?" Reina inquired.

"It's been a few hours, I believe it was around noon or so," Rin answered.

"Isn't that when we were dropped off?" Ichijo asked, looking to Reina for confirmation.

She nodded. "It was. In other words our dear Kaname is up to something."

"Well, when isn't he?" Ichijo chuckled, he guessed the room had actually been reserved the day before when Kaname had been in town, but decided not to tell Reina that.

"Good point," she conceded.

"Is everything alright?" Rin asked.

"Fine, just wondering how to thank Kaname later," Reina replied with a devious smile to Ichijo.

"Your room is already prepared, would like to go up?"

"I think we would like to eat first," Ichijo replied, glancing to Reina who nodded in agreement.

"The dining room is just through there," she told them, pointing to a small stairway that led to a dimly lit room where a young woman that closely resembled the woman at the desk waited. "Leave your bags here, I'll have them taken to your room for you. Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you," Reina replied with a gracious smile as her and Ichijo made their way to the small, cozy dining room.

They were led to a private booth near the window so that they could watch the snow fall as they ate. The fireplace in the center of the room that was enclosed in glass warmed the room and cast flickering shadows on the walls. It was a very nice, intimate setting and they were able to talk and laugh as they ate. They sipped at glasses of Italian Valpolicella Classico wine, it was one of Reina's favorites with the distinct floral taste and was said to be the wine of seduction in the Roman empire, as the snow continued to fall in sheets outside.

Throughout the course of dinner, conversation dwindled and the two became extremely aware of the fact that they were going to be spending an entire night alone. Completely alone, with no one to disturb them. It made the two a little self conscious, but they couldn't keep their eyes off each other and Reina couldn't hide the fire that kept brightening her cheeks whenever their eyes met.


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