concupiscence (n.)
any yearning of the soul for good.
Aido made a show of slowly packed his things. Akatsuki sent him a knowing concerned look that none of his other classmates seemed to notice. The blonde gave a slight shake of his head giving a fake cheery smile.
"You go ahead, I'm going to head to the library," Aido said, not bothering to meet the other's eyes.
Kain's eyes narrowed but he said nothing instead giving a slow nod that he knew his friend couldn't see but did anyway as he threw his bag over his shoulder and left the room.
The blonde slowly watched as the rest of the Night Class students left the room before he let out a relieved sigh, collapsing into his seat, extremely thankful that his cousin knew when he needed to be alone. Reluctantly he reached into his bag pulling out a slightly crumpled piece of paper and a textbook.
Aido closed his eyes tightly, ignoring the wetness in his eyes refusing to let any tears escape as he gripped the English textbook. The blonde groaned, squinting as he gripped at his hair turning to stare at the blood-colored twenty-seven printed boldly at the top of his test.
"I can do this," Aido growled to himself as he opened the book.
After a while, the small English letters started to swim across the page. Aido squinted his eyes taking a look at the textbook and back to the paper again. Resigning himself to a long night, the day for non-vampires, of studying the noble picked up his things and intended to head towards the library.
Just when he was ready to leave Yuki skipped in long hair swinging behind her. A cheery but fake smile plastered on her face.
"Oh?" The pureblood princess's voice rang out through the empty room, "Aido!"
The noble tried not to wince at the annoyingly high pitched voice she started talking in. Having long since learned that she was nothing like their beloved dorm leader and despite what many believed Aido Hanabusa did not worship Kaname, the turquoise eyed vampire found the other to be a prince, leader, role model, a hero even.
Yet the noble new that the other could make mistakes, Yuki being a prime example. Aido kept it to himself, the little facts that made him appear to worship the ground Kaname walked on. Many people didn't know that the elder pureblood had helped convince his, admittedly neglectful, parents to send him to Cross Academy. A kindness he had never forgotten.
The school had become a safe haven for Aido, he had made friends, met his cousin, who would later become his best friend, for the first time and got to be around other people around his age and not stuffy hundred-year-old vampires lecturing about the importance of fang hygiene.
"...-ttle baby Aido failed an English test." Yuuki crooned having no idea he had been ignoring her up until now, "I wonder what Kaname would think." She taunted.
Aido flushed with anger, embarrassment, and shame as Yuuki continued to talk, but he heard none of it. His mind was already gone imagining his beloved leader's reaction.
The disappointed smile and forgiving eyes that the Aido knew Kaname would give the blonde.
Dread settled over his shoulders, the stress from the whole day coming crashing down on him all at once. Aido ignored Yuuki's screechy yelling as he dashed out of the room.
As soon as Zero walked into the dimly lighted library, lacking his usual black day class jacket, bag slung across his shoulders, reading glasses settled in his front pocket and mind already settled for long hours of paperwork, did he pause feet coming to a halt as he realized that the librarian had not in fact left the lights on again for the silverette. Instead, he spotting a blond-haired nuisance.
Zero sighed, "Again?" He asked to himself 'What was with the night class lately?'
If they continued to be outside their classes, especially around daylight hours than Zero would have to report them to them to Cross who would no doubt inform their dorm leader, who Zero had a suspicious feeling was the last person that vampires wanted to find out.
Zero released a sigh not bothering to mask his footsteps as he approached the sobbing blonde who was halfway curled into himself a book settled across his lap and hands grasping a crumpled sheet of paper.
'This,' Zero thought dangerously, 'Has to stop.' The hunter marched over to blond fully intending to demand that the other get his shit together and return to the night dorms.
All thought of anger immediately vanished as soon as he laid his eyes on wide puffy eyes and tear streaks running down pale plump cheeks.
Aido's mouth parted in surprise having not noticed the hunter inwardly berating himself on showing his emotions to the other. He took huge heaving gulps of air trying to catch his breath.
Zero was distinctly reminded of a child, despite them being the same age many of the night class reminded him of children, and for some wild unbelievable reason, his vampiric side that was buried in the darkest corner of his mind agreed with him.
Aido continued to stare at Zero, panic flashing across his mind, not noticing his breathing beginning to quicken. He choked, breathing even faster. 'I can't breathe,' Aido thought dizzily as the silverette began to blur out of sight, 'Can't… Can't…Hurts...'.
A hand clasped over his mouth forcing him to breathe in through his nose, Aido exhaled shakily as the hand slowly moved away letting him exhale only to come back as he tried to inhale.
Once again shakily breathing in through his nose the blonde noticed the calming scent of lavender, lilacs, lilies, a cool breeze, and strangely enough the smell of white roses.
It was very… home-like.
Relaxing, soothing even to the point of bringing a sense of security that Aido had only felt when he was in the main room of the moon dorms surrounded by his other classmates minus Yuuki or course.
Aido breathed out of his mouth again, finally calm. Slowly turning his gaze towards lavender eyes. There was no judgment or scorn, only cool unwavering sadness, and carefully hidden concern.
Zero deeming it safe enough to remove his hand permanently, inwardly berating himself for putting any part of his body near a vampire's mouth. He looks down at the book gently snatching it from the other's lap.
Aido shrunk in on himself before snapping open his mouth angrily snap at the other only to pause when Zero took his golden framed glasses out of his pocket and pushed them onto the bridge of his nose.
The blonde stared having never seen the other show any type of problem with his vision. Aido paused as Zero moved over towards him and in a soft voice, he hadn't thought the hunter was capable of slowly began to explain.
It didn't stop after that night, Aido repeatedly snuck out of the moon dorms to come back to the library for tutoring in English occasionally asking what a word meant or how to spell it.
After the first few times, Aido had stopped yelling and really started to listen having eventually realized that the silverette was a very patient teacher and a very good one at that.
During the blonde's time in the library and occasionally in the hunter's room Aido discovered that Zero was being a hunter required to be proficient in several hands to hand fighting styles.
Along with having near flawless grades, night patrol, Zero also took care of Cross Academy's finances, including the night class's and managed the student council and subbed in as the president and vice president for the day class when they were too busy with their beloved night class.
It wasn't until one night that Aido had snuck away with a false claim of going to the library did he find Ruka outside of Zero's room.
"Ruka?" Aido asked mouth parting in surprise, the female vampire's own shock doing nothing to help the situation.
It only took a moment for the puzzle pieces to click together for the both of them.
"You too?" They asked each other at the same time.
Tentatively sharing both their experiences, both were surprised to add together their list of things that Zero could do. Deciding it would be best to leave the rest of the conversation for somewhere more private.
"But," Aido frowned "that doesn't really explain why you're here." he
Gently knocking on Zero's door Ruka and Aidou frowned when after a few moments she received no answer. The blonde shrugged this time knocking harder.
Once again they received no answer. Aido grumbled turning the door handle unsurprised to see that it was unlocked. Both he and Ruka entered the room curiously glancing around.
The scent of stale blood tablets hit both their noses, noting the tablets had been spilled in the sink water slowly draining them down.
Eyes widening Ruka and Aido looked towards the bed, eyes resting on the panting unconscious fanged form of Zero Kiryuu.
Ruka and Aido had both exited the room as quickly as they could. Recognizing the signs of bloodlust. Upon returning to the Moon Dorms they both collapsed into seats in the commons room.
The toffee haired noble slumped against the chair, "Kiryuu's a Level D? How?" Ruka asked sounding more surprised than the blonde had ever heard her.
Aido shook his head just as surprised as she was, "I knew that he had some connection to vampires but I didn't think he was…" The blonde trailed off.
"But why was he in bloodlust? He clearly has access to blood tablets." Ruka stated a frown marring her pretty features.
Aido paused looking hesitant, "Unless he can't take them?" he suggested hesitantly.
The frown deepened, "It seems plausible. Even if Kiryuu does hate vampires I doubt he would reject the blood tablets if it meant hurting someone." Ruka stated.
"So… What do we do?" Aido asked, his turquoise eyes meeting Ruka's toffee brown ones worry swirling in both.
"We find a way to help him," Ruka stated, resolve and determination formed firmly from the kindness and gentleness that Kiryuu Zero had shown them.
Aido stared for a moment before a mischievous grin forming on his face, "Somehow I knew you'd say that." He chuckled a plan formulating already swirling in his mind.
Later that night Kaname and the rest of the nobles were seated around a table each enjoying their meals when he paused inhaling through his nose and relaxing.
"Did someone open a window?" Kaname asked looking away from his food.
Takuma frowned, looking around the room and noting the confused faces that he was sure matched his own, "No I don't believe so. Why Kaname-sama?"
"Ah. It's nothing, for a moment I thought I smelt lilacs and roses but I suppose I was imagining it." Kaname stated giving a kind smile, "What a lovely smell…" He murmured.
Both Ruka and Aido had to stop themselves from choking on their drinks. Glancing at each other with wide surprised eyes. Had they really started spending so much time with the hunter that his scent had started to rub off on them?
"But I still smell better right, Ka-na-me~" Yuki tried to purr, leaning over her seat and trying to show off her nonexistent figure.
The ending result was a sound that was something between a hiss and a cough. The aristocrats in the room had to prevent themselves from cringing as the sound grated on their sense of hearing.
Kaname turned to her looking, breaking out of whatever trans he had been put in, concern was written across his features, "Yuuki, are you not feeling well? Your voice seems to be hoarse." He stated.
It took every bit of political training that the nobles had ever been through not to laugh at the look on Yuuki's face.
Truly their beloved leader was a genius whether he meant to be one or not.
It was a couple days after they had discovered that Zero was a vampire. Both met in a spare classroom while the others were eating lunch.
"Why did you call me here?" Ruka hissed, "If we keep disappearing someone is bound to notice something."
Aido gave a brilliant proud smile, momentarily surprising her, "Because I," He declared flinging out an arm and placing his leg on a spare desk dramatically, "Have come up with a solution." He turned to look her practically begging to be showered in praises.
Clearly unimpressed Ruka merely raised an elegant eyebrow. Aido seemed to deflate before pulling a black tinted red water bottle out of his bag and handing it to her.
"It's a water bottle I split it into two layers when you seal the lid it allows the blood to seep through but when you open it, the bottle just looks like it's filled with whatever they put in it. I even did some research and found a seal that will negate the smell of blood." Aido explained.
Ruka's eyes widened in surprise as before a certain thought came to her, "What are we going to do about the blood?" She asked.
"We have to put real blood in the water bottle where the only other seal is. Kiryuu's room." Aido stated.
Ruka twitched, "I realize that but where are we going to get real blood?"
Aido looked her dead in the eye, "We fill it with ours."
Atelophobia
The fear of imperfection.
The fear of never being good enough.
