After sometime, Rido noticed Aina had left Yuki's side to get a drink. Now was his time to strike. But before he could, Kaname had swopped in. He cursed his impetuous and obstinate nephew.
"Lady Hirano, may I have the pleasure of a dance with you?" Kaname asked her, extending his hand to her and bowing ever so slightly. Aina smiled and took his hand.
"We haven't dance since we were children." She said with a smile as he placed his hand on her waist.
"Well, I promise I've improved a great deal since." He promised, making her laugh lightly as she followed his lead.
"That's good news to my toes." She joked, earning a chuckle from him.
The pair glided through the room as they danced. Rido huffed before deciding that he had to cut in before Kaname could get her to melt in his hands. As he approached, Kaname caught a glimpse of him. He gave his uncle a warning look. He didn't want the moment to end. He was thoroughly enjoying himself with her.
"May I cut in?" Rido spoke up as soon as he was close enough. Aina looked up at Kaname and smiled before they let each other go and bowed.
"Well, I can't say no to the man who has brought me and Yuki back together." She teased lightly and took Rido's hand.
"It was nothing my dear, I was saddened to find out you two had drifted apart. You were always so close to each other." He smiled as he held her a little closer, making her blush.
"It means a lot. Thank you." She spoke as if she was trying to distance herself from him.
"Is something wrong?" He knew he had a reputation, he just hoped said reputation won't ruin things for him. Or may be she did know about his relationship with her aunt, her parents had told him she had no idea.
As Aina grew up around him, he felt something he hadn't expected. He pushed it away for as long as he could. He knew her as a child, it felt wrong to even consider her as more once she was a woman. However, the age gap wouldn't have been an issue in the vampire world. Many vampires had centuries between them, not just because they hadn't loved before, but because their first love had been hunted or left them after or during hibernation, as he had heard it being called before. He often wondered if Aina could see him as more than her old best friend's uncle.
"Lord Kuran..." She started.
"Please call me Rido, you use to when you were younger." He interrupted her and she gave him a small smile. "Even if it was used to annoy me." He then added, catching her off guard and making her blush.
"Rido, I do hope you aren't using this as a way to get into my bed?" She asked, giving him a stern look. He chuckled; he had forgotten about how blunt she could be.
"No, never. I have more respect for you then you realise. I am very aware of my reputation, but those women are just as guilty as I am." He reassured her with a smile, earning one back from her.
"Then why have you gone to all this trouble?" She asked, eyeing him with light suspicion. "If I remember correctly, you never did anything for anyone unless you got something in return."
"You remember correctly. I will be completely honest with you." He told her, taking her by surprise. "Your parents want to become realigned with us again."
"And in return?" She asked curious.
"A chance to see you again." He told her, making her look confused. She didn't need to speak for him to know her next question. "I will admit when you grew into this beautiful, smart and frank woman, I felt things I never thought I ever would after Juri." He admitted. "But I am not looking to force you into anything. I would be more than happy with friendship." He quickly reassured her.
"I've never thought..." She tried to form some sort of sentence as she tried to take in what he had just told her. She was flattered certainly but unsure how to feel about it all.
"Just think it over." He told her with a smile. He stepped back before taking her hand and kissing it. "Come by once you decide what I am worthy of." He then added before walking away.
Aina blinked, quickly trying to straighten out her thoughts. She looked around before heading straight to Yuki who had missed all that had happened. The girl was as blind as a bat at the best of times.
As the night wound down, Aina could feel both Kaname's and Rido's eyes on her. She tried hard to ignore them and focus on Yuki.
Yuki had changed a lot since they had last spoken. She was softer, more childlike than she should be for her age. Aina had doubts that they would last long as friends anymore. Aina had expected her to be strong and smart but the more they talked, the more it felt like she was being lead rather than being the leader. She wondered if it was Kaname's doing, wanting a wife who was submissive. But one thing that really bothered her was the need and want to stop drinking blood. What happened while she was away? She could understand finding a way to control bloodlust when it came to your beloved or to keep children safe, even if they were children. She hated hurting children, human or otherwise.
"Aina." She jumped and looked up from her seat. Kaname was stood next to her. "Is something wrong? You seem distracted." He asked her, he had been watching her stare at Yuki with the wheels in her head turning. He wondered what was going on in her mind. He had seen her expression when Rido had walked away from her after their dance. It was a look of disbelief and but a smile was trying to form. He wanted to know what they had talked about, if Rido had indeed made a move on her.
"Oh, it's nothing." She reassured him with a smile. Kaname smiled and sat down next to her.
"I know we haven't seen each other in years but I know you well enough to know when something is eating away at you." He told her and she gave a small giggle and nodded.
"That you do." She admitted with a sigh. He waited for her to start. "I guess I had hoped nothing about Yuki and I had changed but now we feel like we're to very different people. Like we'll never be close again." She explained after a short silence.
"Sometimes we all change." He told her with a smile. "I remember you were incredibly shy when we all first met." He then added making her blush.
"I was." She admitted with a smile. "I don't think I could look at you without wanting to run and hide." He chuckled and nodded.
"But after sometime, you became confident and strong-willed. And now I see I very beautiful woman who is strong and smart. Someone I wouldn't might getting to know again. Even if you and Yuki decide you are no longer apart of each other's lives." He told her, making her smile a little.
"I think I would like that. I don't think we really spent much time together before."
"You and Yuki were inseparable. I don't think anyone was able to spend much time with you or Yuki then." They laughed together and she nodded in agreement. "Anyway, how was your dance with Rido?" He then asked, seemingly out of the blue compared to the conversation they had just had.
"Somewhat strange." She admitted with a sigh. "I'm still not sure what to make of it."
"How so?" Kaname knew what Rido's intentions were but had Rido shared any of that with her?
"Well, I told me why he had me come and what he would be getting in return." She chose her words carefully.
"And what has he managed to weasel in return?" He asked, knowing what Rido had already told him.
"At the least, my friendship."
"At least?"
"He told me that he felt things for me that he hadn't felt before. And that he would not force things. He wanted me to decide how well we are to know each other." She once again chose her words with care.
"Just be careful. If you want, either myself or Yuki could be with you each time you see him? Make sure he doesn't do more than what he has claimed."
"I'll be fine Lord Kuran, I know how to make men squirm." She told him with a wink, even making Kaname stir within and chuckle nervously.
"I'm sure you do." Aina smiled and winked once more before walking away.
"I will be sure to let your parents know you're thinking about someone else." Rido spoke up from behind Kaname once Ania was gone. Kaname sighed and didn't bother to look at him.
"I am capable of doing that myself."
"But I have her parents' permission already. You are still sworn to Yuki." He answered back. "You will always be sworn to Yuki." He stressed to drive home his point.
"You think I am not capable of deciding my own future Rido?" Kaname asked, standing up. "Your siblings have no real power over me, remember. Being sworn to Yuki is a matter of appearance. I could take everything if I chose to." He threatened.
"You forget one thing." Rido chimed back.
"What would that be?" Kaname asked, his body language showing his smuggle belief.
"Any relationship we have with Aina, will her be choice. I don't intend on forcing her into anything. I know you see me as evil itself, but I would never force myself on a woman." He stated plainly, he had no time for games with his nephew. Kaname huffed and walked away, he was about to get locked into an argument, it wouldn't look good in front of Aina.