"The Broken Red String"

Haruna's feet moved nimbly as she tried to catch up to Aido. "Wait," her hand held tightly onto the car door; she almost had her fingers slammed shut with the door. Aido told the chauffeur to stop the engine. He asked her what she wanted, "Back there, you said something quite ominous about Isley's past... What is it that you know?" She felt quite embarrassed asking him such a thing; she was Isley's fiancee, how could she not know a thing about his past?

Aido placed Mugetsu in his carseat and stepped out of the car, turning his attention back to Haruna. He glared; a crinkle formed at his brows when saw a distinct red mark forming across Haruna's face. "He hit you?" he asked gingerly after a moment or two. Haruna's hands instinctively reached up to her face; she shook her head even though it was quite obvious that Isley harmed her. Even though Aido was burning with hidden anger, he simply let it go, because who was he to intervene in Haruna's life? He already abandoned all ties with her.

"I'm fine," Haruna gave a wry smile. Aido felt a sudden urge to try and cheer her up because of the face she was making. "I'm just worried for Isley. He's been... Drifting away lately, it seems."

There was a pain in Aido's chest to see Haruna worrying about someone else other than him. He chuckled, "You always had this habitual kindness. Put yourself first before others sometimes." Haruna flushed a little. "Back to your question though..." Aido gave a smug look back at Isley's mansion, "Truth be told, I never did any research on him."

"So you lied?" Haruna sneered, "What you said really bothered Isley."

"Yeah, but I guess that pureblood is hiding something. I just told a lie on a whim because I was irritated," Aido smirked, "but it appears I struck a nerve of his."

Haruna crossed her arms, contemplating. "Don't do anything that might hurt Isley or I'll never forgive you."

Aido irked a brow. Haruna was defending the idiot pureblood? Aido couldn't believe it. For goodness sakes, Isley had been keeping her in chains and had badgered Aido for the past weeks - why did Isley deserve any of Haruna's graciousness? It made Aido... jealous. He still loved Haruna, so of course, it was only natural. "You're on his side?"

Aido could only think that if she knew the truth about Isley, about how he manipulated them both, she wouldn't be scorning him like this. "Obviously. No matter how cruel he is... I'm obligated to stand beside him because he's my fiance." She was faithful and Aido couldn't change her obstinate feelings.

"Don't tell me you've fallen in love with him?" Aido growled, daunting Haruna. She couldn't understand why he was upset or why he was even asking such a thing. Aren't two people who are engaged supposed to be in love with each other? Haruna remained tacit at his outburst. Aido hated this and everything else. He promised to never shame his father again, but he was drawn into Haruna like gravity. Just what did he want? "Sorry," he murmured.

"The way you're talking... You make it seem as though you like me," Haruna gave a hopeless laugh. She knew something like that was impossible. It didn't take a genius to realize that Haruna had a crush on Aido. The way she would blush and become timid around him... It made Aido's heart race to see the effect he had on her.

"... Maybe I do." Haruna looked up tearfully; that sudden urge he had earlier was coming back. Haruna's legs vacillated in weakness. Even Aido didn't understand what he was doing as he moved in closer, lessening the gap between them. Maybe it was her fragile and delicate features that drew him in. "Haruna," Aido whispered huskily, leaning in, "just one kiss-"

Haruna covered his mouth with one hand. Aido frowned, confused to see her rejecting him when he thought she wanted him too. "Go home to your wife, Aido-san," Haruna whispered, "Isley told me the other day that you both were getting a divorce... For the sake of your son, please don't." She pushed him towards the car.

"Haruna, wait-"

"I'm getting married in less than 48 hours," Haruna confronted him with reality, "you have your family and I have mine. Go, Aido-san." Aido chose his pride over Haruna, yet all this time... He never felt satisfied about his decision. Right now, he was so confused about what he wanted. "You think you like me because you're just desperately trying to cling onto something, right? You lost your father and now perhaps your wife... and seeking comfort, you're turning to me. I hope you're feeling okay Aido-san."

Aido grew angry. He could care less about Misha; what he was feeling wasn't fake. "I've always loved you," he whispered sharply, gritting his teeth. "Don't call me delusional."

"Always?" Haruna asked. From the time they met till' now?

Aido didn't know what overcame him, but he just couldn't stand lying to her anymore. Bottling up his feelings inside was consuming him slowly. He loved Haruna so much, he realized that it was impossible to cut her out from his life. The truth - it had to come out. "Isley has been manipulating us both." Haruna, surprised, could only ask how he came to such a strange idea. "Hear me out; I'm not crazy."

With the way Aido was flinging his arms around and the way his hair became all frowzy, it was much too late for her to think he was still sane. "Okay..." she muttered quietly.

"We met a long time ago at a party. I saw you sitting outside in the cold with the saddest expression and immediately, I felt like it was my duty to come to your aid. We were going to get married, but then those meddling people..." He clenched his fists, "Misha and Isley - they erased our memories. Everything that Isley has told you has been a lie-"

Haruna chuckled a little, worried for Aido. "Aido-san. That sounds like a tragic story right out of a kid's book."

"It's not!" he swore, "Drink my blood," Aido held out his wrist, "you'll get your memories back-"

"And if what you're saying is true... then why didn't you try to take me back?"

Aido was mute. He fumbled with his words before stating clearly, "My father. He'd never forgive me if I married you." Haruna's eyes looked down with disappointment, "What was I supposed to do Haruna?"

"You could've just told me the truth earlier instead of letting me fall into a trap. We didn't have to go off and get married-"

"Isley said he'd make your life miserable if I did."

Haruna breathed unsteadily. She didn't know if she was supposed to be mad or grateful to Aido. "And you think I'm not miserable right now?" Aido didn't know how to respond; he knew she wouldn't forgive him. "No, forget it... I don't even know if what you're saying is the truth; there's no reason for me to get upset."

"My blood," Aido said sternly. "I drank your blood last time and my memories returned. Maybe it'll work for you too."

Haruna stared at his beautiful wrist; she always wondered how his blood tasted. She reached out slowly, taking his hand. "Thank you for not letting me live a lie, however," she lowered his hand, "I think I'll be fine with the way things are now." Aido was baffled. "I'm not sure if it's because Isley turned me that I feel obliged to him or if it's because I really did fall in love with him, but he needs me, and so I'll stay by his side."

"Ha-Haruna," Aido choked, "don't do this." The thought of Haruna staying by Isley's side like a doll without a conscience bothered him terribly. "Come with me."

"You're choosing your feelings over your pride now?"

Aido wasn't sure. Would he go against his father's wishes again? "I don't know, but I can't let you stay here with Isley; he's dangerous."

His heart broke when Haruna smiled warmly. "Thank you for caring about my welfare, but you don't need to protect me anymore. You came to my aid when we first met and you did a good job making me happy, I think." Aido froze as she tiptoed, planting a simple kiss on his lips. "The Haruna you knew... I think she's really grateful to you."

"Haruna... is there any way I can change your mind?"

Haruna shrugged, walking back home. She looked over her shoulder, "Even if there was a way, I wouldn't tell you. See you around," she waved goodbye.

Aido touched his lips, feeling the numbness of it after Haruna's bittersweet farewell.

The Wedding Day

Aido turned on his phone, looking at the events calendar. Today was Haruna's wedding day. It was the day he'd lose her forever. He looked down to see Mugetsu staring up at him with big blue eyes. Aido jumped at the boy's sudden cry; he stuck a pacifier into his mouth. "Jeez. I'm the one who wants to cry," Aido sighed, cradling Mugetsu in his arms. "Are you sad because you miss Haruna?"

Mugetsu whimpered, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists.

"I know," Aido groaned, "you like her very much hm? So do I." Aido tapped his chin, thinking hard. Mugetsu frowned, as if thinking, 'if you like her, then go get her!' Aido shrugged, "I don't know. If I do crash the wedding, how would I explain myself? Would I tell everybody that Isley is a creep and doesn't deserve Haruna?" Mugetsu laughed. "Then after that, should I marry her and have her become your mom?" Aido joked. Mugetsu stared without blinking.

Aido laughed to himself, thinking he was crazy for speaking to a baby so seriously. "You can't actually understand me, right?" He scowled at Mugetsu who only scowled back.

"Aido-sama, are you planning to attend the Rhys' wedding?" asked the head butler, Sid. He looked at Aido to see him already dressed in a fine suit. "If you do go, you should go now before it's late-"

"Sorry for intruding," said Yuuki who came through the front door, "the door was open, so I let myself in," she spoke shyly. She was dressed in a pretty peach-colored dress that had flower prints on it. Her heels clacked against the marble floor, "Are you not going to the wedding, Aido-senpai?"

Aido turned light scarlet at her appearance, "N-no. Why should I go when that pureblood just wants to make a fool out of me?" Aido glared at the walls.

Yuuki laughed nervously, "Not showing up will only give him satisfaction." Yes, that was true, Aido thought. But how can he sit idly and watch the woman he loved for so long marry the man he hated most? "Give your blessings to Haruna, hm?"

Aido hated how Yuuki, the innocent and naive pureblood, could give the best advice sometimes to him, a genius. "I'm not sure-"

Mugetsu tilted his head at the sound of a cellphone ringing. "Sorry; did it scare him?" Yuuki asked while delving into her purse for her phone. "Hello?" she answered the phone, listening intently. "Isley-... yes, mhm? Come over? What for..?" There was a still silent as she had a conversation with Isley. Aido could only grimace, wondering what the guy wanted from Yuuki. Whatever the case, it couldn't be anything good.

"What?" Aido asked, looking at the phone as she held it out for him.

Yuuki's eyes were dark as she was suddenly brooding over something. Aido had never seen her so... entranced like this, except for that incident when Kaname left her. "He wants to talk to you."

Aido snatched the phone, "What did you say to Yuuki-"

"It's good to know that you still have a passionate grudge against me, Hanabusa," Isley chuckled through the phone. Aido knew he was just trying to provoke him, "Listen, I need you to do me a favor." Aido scoffed; Isley was asking Aido to do him a favor? What gave him the right to go bossing around others?

"Not in a million years," Aido spat.

"Really?" Isley asked with interest, "because I was going to ask you to stay by Haruna's side after today."

"What?" Aido asked quickly. Was it a joke? All this time, Isley had been interfering with their relationship, and out of the blue, he wants Aido to be with Haruna? "What kind of ulterior motive do you have- hey!" Aido shouted as Isley hung up. Mugetsu let out another cry after getting scared from his father's shout. "Ah, sorry," he cooed. Aido looked back at Yuuki, who still seemed to be haunted. "What did he tell you?"

Yuuki struggled to get the right words out. "Remember that party we attended last time? Where Sara Shirabuki's fiance and other hunters were killed... And after that, you and I went door to door, offering my services to kill any pureblood who didn't want to live anymore?"

"How could I not remember?" He couldn't forget that infamous incident and the events that followed after. "You dragged me into your little execution services," he scoffed, then fell silent at the sudden realization. "Don't tell me that idiot pureblood wants to die?"

Yuuki nodded. "I thought I could do it, but now that it's actually happening... I don't know what to do," she panicked. "What about Haruna - you don't think she knows, do you?"

Aido stood up, handing Mugetsu over to Sid. "Take him to his room," he ordered before grabbing his coat. "Let's go." As they boarded the car, he could only think about Haruna. How would she feel if Yuuki killed Isley? She would stand at the altar, waiting for her groom who would never come. "Just what are you planning, Isley?"