"Wake up!" Akane threw a pillow at me Wednesday morning. "We have the day off to go shopping in town today for some soiree clothes! And you are NOT making us late." She added. "Your tea is in a travel cup on the counter. I expect you dressed in 10 minutes!"
I rolled my eyes as she left the room. "Yes, Mom."
"I heard that!"
Once we got to town Akane and I filtered through the majority of the shops around. Today the Day Class girls were allowed to go shopping, and tomorrow would be the boys' turn. Akane was busy picking out things for both her and Rei to wear while I was busy wondering what I should buy that Aido would like. I recounted the list in my head for what seemed like the thousandth time.
White, knee length, long sleeves, white hat...
"Hey! I think this would work for you." Akane tossed a white mass of fabric at me and I was suddenly eating a mouthful of white organza and lace.
I held the dress in front of me. It had lace sleeves and a fitted top, where the bottom flared out under several layers of fabric. I stared at it in awe, praying it didn't cost too much.
"Kisa!" I met Akane's eyes and saw her eyes dart toward the door of the shop. I turned to look and Aido was walking in. Not wanting him to see the dress, I tossed it at a nearby rack and walked to another one, pretending to be browsing. A disgruntled shop employee noticed my actions and rolled her eyes and she went to put the dress back on the hanger, blocking Aido's view of it completely.
"Kisa-chan!" Aido strutted toward me, first surprised and then sly. "Are you dress shopping? For the soiree?" His cheeks dusted pink and he looked pleased, to my confusion.
"Well when your boyfriend has such demanding taste you have to be wearing only the best." I quipped, and was rewarded by his cheeks turning fully red. "Wait, what are you doing here?" I realized today was supposed to be Cross Academy girls' shopping day.
"I'm here with Kaname-sama on an errand." Aido crossed his arms. "Not that it's your business. Have you seen anyone acting really strange around the village today?"
"You." I ignored how his comment about it not being my business stung. Did normal couples constantly tell each other that things concerning them weren't their significant other's business? I reminded myself Aido and I were not a real couple, and the blackness in my heart swirled, causing my throat to constrict a little.
Aido laughed dryly. "You're hilarious. Answer me."
"I haven't." Aido leveled his gaze on me. "Honestly. I haven't." I repeated, hoping he'd stop questioning me before my voice broke or something else embarrassing.
At that moment someone came into the store, alerting Aido immediately. He looked haphazard, ragged, and was sniffing the air deeply.
Aido tensed, pushing me behind him. "Everybody get in the back of the store!" He shouted, racing toward the man who just entered.
I darted toward Akane and practically shoved her in the back of the store, where the employee who'd fixed the dress already was. We heard someone else come in, and a scream and a thump. We came out of the back slowly to reveal Aido and Kaname standing over the unmoving body of the man who'd entered the store. The shop employee gasped in horror. Kaname strode over to her briskly.
"I'm sorry." He said in the kindest voice I'd ever heard him use. "My friend noticed this man enter your shop carrying a weapon, and acted before he could brandish it at someone. We'll take him to the authorities for you."
The girl nodded, her eyes glassy.
I walked over to Aido, who quickly stood in front of the body and steered me away from it.
"My God." I whispered. "What did you do?"
"I um." Aido hesitated, like he wasn't sure he wanted to tell me. "I froze his organs. They would have burst."
I nodded. "Ah."
Aido grabbed my hand tightly, and then reached for Akane's sleeve near her elbow. "Let's get you guys out of here."
Once we left the shop Akane muttered "I'll get us some tea" and walked over to the coffee shop across the street, looking more irritated with the whole ordeal than anything else.
Zero jogged over from somewhere, brandishing a gun. That had me scared. I clasped Aido's arm and stood behind him while Zero approached us. Yuki followed closely behind.
"Someone said there was a Level E in town." He said flatly.
"Already taken care of." Aido said smugly as Kaname exited the shop as well.
"Yes, please do put your anti-vampire gun, Bloody Rose, away." Kaname narrowed his eyes at Zero, and Zero glared back.
"I'm going to go find Akane." I said quietly and went to pull away.
Aido grasped both of my upper arms and looked at me seriously. "Be careful today, okay? Level E's will attack anyone they find and that man was clearly sniffing for blood. I might not be there the next time you see one but if you see one just get away as quickly as possible. Okay?"
"Okay." I agreed and gently pried his hands off my arms.
I watched the crowd disperse shortly after I entered the coffee shop, a quaint little store with a couple tables and barstools and the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air. I found Akane at a table and she stood when she saw me.
"Want to go get that dress? Seeing as the commotion has cleared up."
I nodded eagerly, and we dashed across the street back to the dress shop. I went to the rack where I'd last seen it and my heart dropped to my toes when the dress was no longer there.
"I wrapped up that dress for you!" The shop girl put in helpfully. "Your boyfriend, he just told me that if you were looking at a dress to bring him the price tag and he'd buy it for you."
Akane's jaw dropped and so did mine. The girl went on. "You're so lucky to have him. He seems so nice!" She put the box in my hands and I fought the urge to snort. Aido? Nice?
He did just murder someone dangerous to make sure no one was hurt.
My inner voice reminded me.
Because Kaname told him to. And you know all vampires have to obey purebloods.
Not wanting to ponder this matter any further, Akane and I finished our shopping day without further incident, and returned home that evening.
