Yuki bid Akane a goodnight at the gates to The Sun Dorms, then left to catch up with Zero Kiryu (the only other member of The Disciplinary Committee), to begin her patrol of the school grounds for students skipping curfew. Akane plodded through the quiet and deserted corridors and stairway of the girls' dorms to her shared room, her mind still whirring over her conversation with Kaien. She knew she'd been pushing her luck with her classes she just hadn't realised how close she'd come to losing everything.
"I can't be sent home. I've come too far," she spurred herself as she reached her door.
She stopped at a simple wood-panelled door, the numbers 210 engraved on a rounded, silver plaque. The room on the other side currently had multiple voices, holding whispered conversations, causing Akane's hand to still as she grasped the brass door handle. Another sleepover, she groaned, before shaking herself to mentally prepare for the inevitable discussions she'd be dragged into. That was until the topic of their conversation reached her ears.
"Nakamura could've been nicer to Kaname, she was rather rude," Kimiko said in an unimpressed tone, one she used often when talking to or about Akane, but she knew, Kimiko's words held no malicious intent. Kimiko just didn't have much patience with people, much like Akane, which she liked about the blonde.
"She's like that with all the boys in the academy, it's weird," another voice added that Akane knew belonged to a girl in her class but hadn't spoken to much.
"Akane likes to be left alone, she just doesn't want that kind of attention, everyone knows that." Thanks, Miu, Akane smiled at hearing her friend defending her.
"She's still weird! She doesn't like any of the Night or Day Class boys, barely talks to anyone as it is. She's even disrespectful to the teachers. Not to mention how rude she is when she does speak, I mean, did you hear the way she spoke to Idol and Wild? It's inexcusable!" This voice Akane did recognise.
Kasumi Kobayashi was a girl in Akane's class who was hopelessly infatuated with Aido Hanabusa. So much so, that Akane was introduced to the Night Class Idol's name through her before even Miu got the chance to gush about him. She'd introduced herself as the head of the Aido fan club during Akane's first-ever class, to which Akane had replied with a confused "Who?" which had sent the girl into a rant about the Night Class and how Akane couldn't possibly call herself a Day Class student of Cross Academy without knowing who the Night Class students were.
Kasumi was a slim girl with a well-endowed figure and long waves of dark brown hair with eyes to match. She was an incredibly attractive girl, catching the eye of many Day Class boys that quickly regretted voicing their admiration of her. In her opinion, the only man good enough for her resided within the Night Class, and nothing 'less' would do. Though, she had yet to receive so much as a glance from The Moon Dorms' Idol. Must've really pissed her off when they stopped to talk to me.
Akane's nerves had been tested too much today not to snap at her classmates when they predictably pull her into conversations surrounding their infatuations. To spare everyone that unpleasantness, she left, deciding instead, to hide away at a spot she frequented during the day when skipping classes.
She left The Sun Dorms silently and stealthily, knowing if she were caught anywhere near the school building during curfew (considering her track-record at the academy thus far), expulsion would be a certainty. Thankfully, Akane made it to her intended destination without any interference from The Disciplinary Comity and sat in her usual spot to watch the clear night sky as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon.
She loved it up here, she would miss it. Just her and the endless sky stretching out to eternity. The roof of the school building wasn't somewhere Akane came to think, in her opinion, she thought too much. No, this was somewhere she could just be, and watch everything pass her by without having to be part of the social cycle down below. She lied down, getting comfortable as the sky began its night-time show with the stars beginning to dance into view. She smiled, content with her solitude and the crisp, quiet air around her.
Kaname returned to class, appearing as calm as always, however, his earlier proximity to both Yuki and Akane had been taxing.
"How did it go, Kaname?" Ichijo asked, coming to sit beside his friend as Kaname took his usual spot by the window.
"The Headmaster has agreed to supply the Night Class with more blood tablets, as a precaution."
"And what of that student, Akane Nakamura?" Ichijo pressed.
"She's a scholarship student that arrived at the beginning of the term. Miss Nakamura was of ill-health when the school year began, which is why we haven't noticed her until tonight. The Headmaster assures me her movements will be more closely monitored from now on. She has an unwelcomed habit of skipping classes."
Kaname pulled out his supply of blood tablets and took slightly over the recommended dose before turning his attention to his book, sat waiting on his desk. Ichijo understood the conversation was over and made his way back to his seat and his partially forgotten manga. The other Vampires in the room had heard the discussion clearly but never presumed to add to it.
Across the classroom, Aido was still trying to understand why Akane had such an inviting scent when the old Vampire professor entered the room to begin their History lesson, cutting off his train of thought. Such a waste of time. We don't even need this lesson, he griped arrogantly. He and most of his peers within the Night Class, were Nobility of the Vampire world, aside from Kaname, who was more Royal than Noble. A Prince of Vampire society. That high rank meant they were taught the history of their race from a young age. Therefore, Aido saw little to be gained by sitting through it again and instead, turned his attention back to the puzzle of the new Day Class student.
His mind drifted from one theory to the next over the next twenty minutes, until his senses began to stir at the faint traces of Akane's scent. Aido looked about at his peers to see if they had scented the girl in the air. He was met with their thirsty, red eyes, gleaming in the dimly lit room.
"What's she doing back here?" Ruka Souen muttered through gritted teeth, after swallowing a blood tablet with a chug of the bottle of water she carried in her bag. The girl must be in the school building, or her scent wouldn't be so strong, Aido mused. Even the tutor abandoned the lesson to rummage in his desk drawer for his tablets.
Aido turned to Kaname, watching him pinch the bridge of his nose, his eyes pressed tightly shut, trying to ignore the temptation in the air, luring their instincts to the surface. Gaining control of himself quickly (as he'd taken a voracious amount of blood tablets after meeting Akane earlier), Aido stood to address his Lord.
"Lord Kaname, I volunteer to send her back to The Sun Dorms." Kaname's blood-red eyes peeked open, watching Aido closely, deciding whether it was worth the risk sending him. He knew there was little choice. Catching that delicious scent three times in one day and being so close to her alone, Kaname knew it would be difficult not to kill the girl, let alone frighten her in his current state. Even the blood tablets had little effect at this point. Reluctantly, Kaname agreed and instructed Aido to take a full box of blood tablets with him, as a precaution. Aido collected his pillbox, bowed, and walked out of the classroom, followed by enviously greedy, red eyes, not missing the warning look from his Vampire Lord as he left.
Aido moved through the long main corridor to a set of stairs and followed the Human's scent up several flights, leading to the roof. It surprised him she'd gotten up there without being stopped by The Disciplinary Committee and had to admit, he admired her a little for her boldness and disregard for school rules. Still, a trait like that was a dangerous one when in a school occupied by Vampires. Soon he stood at the door leading to the roof. He took a moment to regain his composure, before turning the handle and stepping out into the chilled night air.
He hadn't needed to search for long as he'd found Akane lying near the edge of the roof, opposite the door, just one floor above his class. Now he understood why her scent had seemed so close, she was right on top of them. She was lying on her back, eyes closed, using her arms as a headrest. Aido caught a glimpse of her bare neck open to the chill of the air, with her hair fanned out around her head like a black halo. He tore his eyes away from the tempting sight and cast his gaze out over the grounds of the academy, clearing his throat to signal his presence.
Akane jumped at the sound. Aido felt satisfied seeing such a reaction from the previously indifferent Human. She sat up abruptly and twisted around hoping she hadn't been found by a teacher, or The Moon Dorm President, or even worse, Disciplinary Committee Member, Zero Kiryu (she'd heard he was scary but had never seen him herself). If she were found out of her dorm past curfew, she'd be a goner for sure! But it wasn't either of the people she feared.
Akane sagged in relief at the sight of Aido stood near the door leading onto the rooftop, probably playing truant as she often did… had done.
"You should be in class," she chided lightly, lying back down, and placing her arms back behind her head.
"You should be in bed," Aido countered, with the same bored tone Akane had used when addressing him.
"Touché," she admitted with a light smile but made no move to leave. Aido frowned at the girl's lack of fear of him. He could rip her apart with little to no effort.
"You should leave before The Disciplinary Committee knows you're up here," he advised in a tone that suggested, if she stayed, they would find out. Akane rose, turning narrowed green eyes on the boy.
"I'm here for a little peace. I'm not able to sleep in my dorm tonight, thanks for that, by the way."
"That's not my problem," Aido answered coolly, capturing the girl's hard gaze for the first time since beginning their conversation.
Her eyes narrowed into slits before a small grin curled her lips. Her arms rose in surrender with an amused air as she returned her eyes to their fullest. The glow of the newly risen moon lit up their emerald depths while the wind gently caught the ends of her hair, plucking, and twirling the strands, taunting him. Aido swallowed hard, determined not to look at the Human's neck as his instincts demanded. He could hardly hear what she was saying through the pounding of the blood in his ears. He shook himself, forcing his attention off his baser instincts. He was an Aido! A Noble, not some lowly Level D or E Vampire.
"I guess not," Akane agreed, completely unaware of the internal battle Aido was fighting. "I could go to the breakfast room at The Sun Dorms instead, I guess," she thought aloud. I missed dinner… I'll make some toast or something… She turned without giving Aido a second thought, walked to the edge of the roof and jumped over the ledge. Aido's eyes bulged as she disappeared over the edge, darting forward in a panic. He leant over the side of the roof to find Akane climbing down a tree next to the balcony one level below him. A breath of relief escaped him to see her unharmed. If she'd gotten so much as a scratch, he would've been in serious trouble with Kaname. The class would've gone into a riot at the first trace of her fresh blood. He watched her dart towards The Sun Dorms and out of sight before he left to return to the stairs and head back to class, a niggle of disappointment with their meeting.