"And today the topic of the class is Impossible Romances."

The excitement in the teacher's voice was visible. Such a title, provoked laughter in some, disinterest in some, and full attention from others. Especially in Akatsuki.

"It is well known in our society that romance between vampires and mortals is welcomed well in this day and unthinkable in the old days." the teacher's voice was eager.

Although the topic of the class was history, as being Valentine's Day, the professor decided to bring an interesting lesson on divided opinions. That is, some saw it with good eyes and others hated it. Vampires were at their height during the modern era, being boasted about for their extravagant beauty, advances in their urges for blood and human death, and agreement for humans to turn into "monsters" to be with the vampire they love. Stories, fanfictions, series, movies, theaters, and among other media, fueled the romance of teenage human women in their affinities with vampires. The problem today, or if it could be considered as such, is that they kept themselves hidden as they had been centuries ago. If they were going to reveal themselves, they had to truly love the other person and trust that after a few hurdles, they could continue to live in harmony forever. However, the disadvantages are not being exposed to the sun and not crave anything in their hearts. Vampires maintain enviable immortality, if not shaken by these two things. A subject that students thought they would never hear mentioned in a class. Much less history. But the professor was already a strange vampire and they knew that someday he would have to bring something shocking to some and rewarding to others.

Interested in hearing the "lecture" was an Akatsuki. Assessing everything that could lead to an apathetic and bewildered Aidou, his ears sharpened to hear something that would add valuably to his theory. Far from it was an Aidou again lost in his thoughts. This time he thoughts of how to shut up the feeling forever. He had to find another plausible reason that would fill his heart to replace the feelings of love he felt.

"Although it is already known in all parts of the world that we vampires are seen not as monsters, but as walking beauties. What once posed dread to closed minds, today poses comforting thoughts to open minds. But let's not only talk about human women in love with male vampires and vice versa. Let's also talk about the current love between men with men and women with women."

It was then that Aidou's attention left the starry sky through the window to stare at the slender figure of the professor in front of him. Aidou knew about romances between men and the freedom that this had these days. But the truth hung in the old-fashioned minds of vampires. Centuries and centuries with the ideology of man and woman that the topic of LGBT was rarely talked about among the species. A few mutterings of disgust were produced in the silence that fell over the room after the professor spoke.

"I don't understand these expressions of disgust from you. Your mindset is centuries old. I think it is better to move to the present day." the professor lamented. "What past is, the present becomes. Looking at another by the sex of the same should be abolished from that petty mind of yours. Looking at the person in the front without judging their sex should be present in those burned-out brains. It is not at all out of the ordinary that some vampires like the same sex, and there are even couples already exposed in our high school. But acceptance seems to be easier in humans than in us," he sighed. Despite being a certain age, considered "older" for a vampire, the professor has always been an open-minded person to the changes around him. Hence he brought up the topic he will be talking about today and in the next few classes, trying to alert to a more modern prism. "Let's be honest in the foundation built around love. Vampires love, that's a fact. But the truth they love is wrong and not right. The diplomatic treaties with marrying x to y for a better baron still exist in the present. Some marry for love, but most still live by that terrible custom. Just like humans, we have a heart. And although we seem to be indifferent to certain things, we are not the monsters they paint us as. And the fact that we have humans creating wonderful stories about it helps a lot." the teacher stressed the last word and looked intently at the now apathetic expression of the students who showed disgust. Satisfied, he continued what he was going to say earlier. "And such love can flourish between the same sex. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that. But society is recriminatory, especially our species, and I warn that this is no good. Like humans, we suffer, and recriminating for liking the same sex is bad. It harbors doubts and insecurity. But the biggest fear is rejection. It's bad enough to be rejected by the opposite sex, worse it becomes by the same sex..."

The professor continued to explain the pros and cons of this, but without diluting the already obstructed and old-fashioned vampire mind. However, Akatsuki had long since lost the focus of the class, fixing his accusing yellow eyes on an Aidou who was staring at him.

I've been found out.

That's what his mind screamed, and how he wished he had a hole there to stick himself in and never come out. Kain was smart, but he didn't brag about it. And skirting the issue with a misplaced answer was out of the question. And Aidou knew he would question him hard and ugly. Kain, on the other hand, reacted furiously. Not for the fact that his friend had fallen in love with a man, but for the fact that he had hidden it. Damn, we've been friends since we were kids. I wouldn't stop being by his side. That's what his mind screamed, trying to get the words to Aidou with his eyes set again on the emptiness of the night. Why did he hide it? He knew it was not an easy topic to talk about, especially when his friend had always shown affection for the opposite sex. But hearts change and so do feelings. Kain did not feel disgusted. On the contrary, he felt betrayed that Aidou didn't trust him enough to tell him.

Never had Aidou wished for classes to pass quickly so he could run out of there and go tuck himself away in his haven. His room. He was thankful that in the breaks Kain didn't seek him out, regardless Aidou knew he will as soon as possible and when they were alone. So in the last class, Aidou asked the teacher to go to the dormitory because he wasn't feeling well. Although it was a lie, he now appreciated that his fatigue and lack of sleep exposed his discomfort in his expression. The professor consented, and after packing up, he left, with confused looks at his back. He ran to the dormitory. When he reached the third floor he stopped as soon as he rested his feet on the red carpet in the hallway. He bent down, resting his hands on his knees, and tried to control his breathing.

Damn theme.

He thought. He knew he couldn't hide forever the fact that he had fallen in love with a man. But the aggravating factor here was the sad and angry look on Kain's face that he didn't trust his friend enough to tell his secret. It wasn't the fact that he didn't want to tell, for he knew that Kain would be there for him in this new stage of his life and would support him. The serious problem here was Aidou falling in love with him. That was the aggravating factor. One thing is to support a friend. The other is to be in love with him and Aidou would know that hiding his feelings from Kain would not be worth the effort, since his friend was shrewd enough at everything and sooner or later he would find out. But at least, on this day, he didn't want to see him at all. The large foot clock in the middle of the hallway beeped. Aidou turned his head away and checked that today's classes were over and in less than twenty minutes his classmates would arrive. He straightened up and walked in strides to his room. The last one of the corridors and opposite Kain's room.

It can't get any worse, can it?

He asked to nothing, after turning the knob and entering the room, closing the door behind him, and locking it.

Ruka was accompanied by an Akatsuki lost in his thoughts. Ever since the history lesson she had noticed him differently. She didn't question him right away, but at the last break she spoke up and the answer was a slightly awkward nothingness. However, Ruka had established a foolproof plan all week for this particular day. Although she had been rejected over and over again in the past by him, today would be the first achievement of many future victories.


Valentine's Day was over for the humans, but the vampires' night was guessing long. Ruka had left Kain as soon as he entered the dormitory. Her plan was more than ready, she just had to find the right moment to execute it. Akatsuki, on the other hand, decided it was best to be quiet a little longer before he approached Aidou and questioned the person who had stolen his heart. He took a bottle that contained a reddish liquor created with specific condiments for vampires to drink and get some alcohol in their system and poured the blood-like liquid into a tall, round glass cup. Then he headed for the armchair that was near the large window of the hall. His eyes rested on the starry sky through the glass and his thoughts drifted back to a fixation on knowing what was going on with his friend due to a logical concern, which began to take on obsessive proportions of knowing who the man was who had turned a womanizing heart. Not that Kain found same-sex love disgusting or anything, but he didn't know why, it angered him deeply. He couldn't tell if the anger was that Aidou had kept something important from him or that that man he had fallen in love with had done something to break his happy spirit. Because everyone can love. Suffer for love too, but the hurt that showed in the vampire broke Akatsuki's hardest spirit. Maybe he was rejected. Rejection is worse than a half-wounded heart. Rejection breaks and shatters not only the feeling but the soul. Kain brought the glass to his lips and sipped half of the liquid he had put in it. He had to find out who he was. He had to know what intentions he had for his friend. He had to question everything to the point where he felt safe and surrendered the most precious thing he had in the world.

Already Aidou had taken off his jacket but kept his blouse and pants as well as his shoes. The tie had been removed and three buttons unfastened to give him relief from persistent discomfort.

Now what?

That was the question he kept repeating in his mind. He had to find a way to confirm and lie at the same time. Confirm that he did! That he had fallen in love. And lie that he was a vampire that Kain didn't know. The first would be convincing. The second, not so much. If it was hard enough to maintain a normal posture around Kain, face-to-face, pretending what was not true, would be more difficult.

Noises in the hallway aroused his attention. Aidou approached the bedroom door and sneakily unlocked and opened it a little where he peeked in. Ruka was the half-elated figure in front of Akatsuki's door. What she was doing was doubtful. A white robe over her smooth white skin gave her a frightening, yet unmatched elegance. In one arm, a small basket. Inside, Aidou noticed two crystal glasses and a bottle with the most famous liquor among vampires. On the other, the key or a copy of it is to be placed in the lock. From her lips, a pleasant, but the provocative melody to sensitive human ears. The whole of her being, was vibrating with excitement. Aidou's instinct was to leave the room and run towards her, wondering what she was doing there. Then he halted that instinct and merely watched as Ruka finally opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her. Aidou also closed his own and locked it again. A sense of shock came over him. He knew that Ruka loved Kain. He knew she would do anything for him to possess her. He knew it, but he didn't stop her. She could have done it, but with what excuse? Besides, did Kain know this intention? The keys. The copy is more proper. Would he have given it to her? But when? Since when had Kain allowed himself to give Ruka a truce? Aidou knew he wasn't interested in her in the least. Could it be that because he knew he loved another man, he made his friend turn to Ruka once and for all? Only his look toward Aidou was one of anger, not disgust. Confused he was. He wanted to think that this was more Ruka's doing and that Kain knew nothing, but another, darker side of him was saying that finally and to shut her up for good, Akatsuki was going to do her this favor. Compared to him, not wanting to be mean in that respect, Akatsuki could have sex with a woman without loving her. It was a bad truth, but it was. And if that was really what was going to happen, it would be the endpoint Aidou had been waiting to put on that feeling. He looked down at the bed and took a step, but something made him stop and ponder. His intuition said to put the brakes on that. If it was for his benefit, that was not how he felt. It would be more so that Ruka would not be despised even more by him. And Aidou knew how kind but also unpalatable his friend was. So he decided to unlock and open the door and went in the direction of Kain's room.

"Ruka, what do you think you are doing?" said Aidou knocking on the door.

"This voice..." she speaks from inside.

"You realize if this doesn't meet with Akatsuki's approval, he will hate you and ignore you as if you don't exist. Is that what you want?"

"Go away, Hanabusa. Don't ruin what I have planned."

"You planned the breaking of your heart and soul, that's what you planned." now irritation began to grow inside him.

He didn't hate Ruka even though she was a conceited, stuck-up-nosed creature who thought she was the best at everything. But he had also known her since she was little and knew the sensitive side of the woman, she had behind that mask she created years ago. The three of them had been friends since they were very young and eventually bonded. It might not be favorable to everyone, but there was always a fondness there.

"You're only going to hurt yourself, even more, Ruka. Is that what you want?"

Silence. Then bed noise and soon the latch is unlocked. Ruka opened the door and looked into Aidou's eyes. In hers, there were tears of anger and frustration at the same time.

"I may be rude. I may be snub-nosed, but my feelings for Kain are pure. And it hurts me to know that I am so close to him, but at the same time so far away." the tears began to fall in thin rivers over her cheeks. "I've tried everything. Everything at all. But there is no interest on his part."

Aidou wanted to say that he knew how she felt, but he preferred to remain silent. And he admired Ruka's courage for trying everything to get at Kain's heart of ice. Aidou felt envy and at the same time sorrow. Envy because she was a woman and it was easier. Maybe if he was a woman, it would be different or not. Sorrow, for the pain she feels that he also feels. The two of them would even complete each other if it wasn't for the fact that they both like the same person.

To be continued…