On Monday, Akane spent most of her time sleeping, the rest, crossing her legs! Ichijo hadn't come to get her after bringing her food the night before and had gone to bed without a care in the world. Akane practically flew out of her room when he finally arrived, just as the sun was reaching its highest point.
"You are evil, V.P.!" Akane cried as she left the bewildered Vampire holding her door, watching her disappear down the corridor. The slam of a door made him jump as he was hit with a jolt of realisation.
"Oops!" he said to himself, guiltily closing her door and deciding to let Kaname know he'd let Akane out early.

"Kaname," he called as he knocked lightly on his door. He received no reply but opened the door anyway. Ichijo was unsurprised to find the Pureblood awake, lying on his couch, unable to shut off long enough for the plush mattress of his bed to lull him to sleep. "I just let Miss Nakamura out of her room. I'm afraid I neglected my duty to make sure she got adequate bathroom breaks." His voice was cheerful, but he didn't succeed in entertaining his friend. "Do try to sleep a little," he requested before leaving. "Goodnight, Kaname."

Leaving his friend to his thoughts he left to check back with Akane, and to apologise for his forgetfulness.
"Master Ichijo!" a maid called as he passed the stairs to reach the corridor to Akane's room. He turned to the pretty head maid, wearing the standard uniform, complete with ruffled headband, and an enormous stack of books and magazines in her hands. Two hooded individuals were stood behind her. Her hands to aid her in her duty to keep The Moon Dorm and its important occupants happy.

"I didn't realise you were still up," she continued happily, not so much as straining under the weight of the books in her hands. Ichijo stared up at the stack in awe at the precariously loaded books that were as still as a mountain in the maid's capable hands. "These are the reading materials you requested," she said, her eyes flitting to the books. "Would you like me to take them to your dorm room?"
"Thank you. Sorry to trouble you," Ichijo said as he walked forward and began looking for what he wanted out of the stack at that moment. "Ah, but I only want this one right now."

The maid smiled pleasantly, not even cross at the waste of her time at this moment.
"Is Lord Kaname still awake? I have an authorization request for him to sign." Ichijo hadn't given the maid's other hand a thought until then. She carried a silver tray with a fountain pen and clipboard, a slip of paper held innocently in the clipboard's grasp.
"It's ok," Ichijo said, putting his magazine he'd pulled out of the pile of books, filled with modelling shots of his roommate, under one arm and plucked the clipboard and pen up in his long fingers.

Kaname has enough to think about right now. Something as trivial as a permission slip, I can take care of for him, Ichijo thought with a nod as he opened the pen, using his mouth to hold the pen-top and looked over the request. He read the name of the petitioner three times before his brain registered and all colour drained from his face.
"What? This isn't right! He can't possibly be coming here!" Ichijo's voice had not only risen an octave but in volume as his anxiety increased.
"Would you like to call and check, Master Ichijo?" the maid asked helpfully, producing a telephone, resting in the hands of one of her hooded aids.

Ichijo was running down the corridor before the maid had finished her sentence, slamming open a door to the first people he thought of in his panic-stricken state.
"Terrible news! My Grandpa's coming tonight!" He cried into Aido and Kain's room, slamming the door open, hitting the wall with the force. Aido was already in bed and Kain had just finished a shower before he too, retired for the day.

Aido's bed was strewn with books. Distractions he'd occupied himself with after his visit to Akane's room. He'd been unable to sleep for most of the morning but had dozed off not an hour ago, a book on his head, before his sleep, was interrupted by the babbling idiot, currently stood in his doorway.
"Are you even a Vampire, Takuma? So energetic in the morning," he complained, burying his face in his pillows.
"Oh, yes!" Ichijo snapped as he stomped through Aido's 'treasures' littering the floor to the window. "I'm still waiting for you to turn to ashes every day, just like in my mangas." He threw the curtains open, bathing the room in glorious sunshine. "I'd give anything to turn to ash right now," he said, comical anime tears running down his cheeks as he pressed himself against the glass.
"Do you wanna die!" Aido shrieked, angrily hissing at the sunlight shining in through the window onto his bed.

Kain watched his Dorm Vice-President thoughtfully as Aido grumbled, hiding back under his covers.
"Oh, so it's that person," he said, knowingly. "There's only one person that can get him this crazy. Am I right?" Ichijo gave a jerky nod and whined out a small, 'yes'.
"What's with all the yelling?" Akane's voice asked from the door. She wore a pair of black leggings, her usual, tousled trainers and a long-sleeved woollen jumper, courtesy of Miu. Aido wriggled out from under his covers to see her but didn't get out of bed. He still wore his baby-blue, pinstripe pyjamas!

Ichijo heaved a sigh as he turned and leant against the wall by the window, his arms crossed and a morose, thoughtful frown on his face.
"My grandfather," he began to explain. "My family are amongst the most influential in the corporate world across the globe, including the Human side of things. There isn't an item you can buy that my family don't have a stake in, in some way or another. My grandfather, who's known to many as Ichiou, is the head of my family, and one of the most senior members of the Board of Ancients." Akane tilted her head as those words jogged a memory from her many history lessons.
"Those are the highest seats in the Vampire Council, aren't they?" Ichijo nodded.

"That is true," added a voice from behind Akane. Ruka stood in a white nightdress and silk dressing gown, her blonde hair hung in a side braid over her shoulder and a tired look in her eyes as if she'd be woken up. "The Vampire Council and the Board of Ancients are our governing body, so we do have to show them a level of respect that is befitting of that high title, but they are not our rulers. You shouldn't worry so much." With that statement, it seemed the discussion was over. Ruka turned with a quick, sharp glare to Ichijo and walked back to her room.

Akane shrugged, knowing this was not something she needed or cared to know any more about and decided to get a few more hours sleep before school. After the runaway train of thoughts, she'd dealt with recently, she felt she could do with a few more z's. Aido watched, disappointed as Akane turned away and left the room with a yawn, not knowing she had to chastise herself for wanting to look at him so much.

Kain continued to dry his hair to get ready for bed, and Ichiou left, thinking of the best way to bring this up with Kaname. He knew Kaname didn't much like Ichiou, even after he took him in after his parents were killed, not that Ichijo like his grandfather all that much either sometimes. Their relationship was always about strategy and getting ahead in their plans. He didn't want his grandfather upsetting his friend, just when things at the academy were starting to resemble normal for their privileged existence. Ichijo did wonder what his grandfather could even want, coming to the school. It wasn't to see him, surely?

Steeling himself, he knocked on Kaname's door and entered. He found his friend in the same position, lying on the couch, fully clothed, minus a blazer, with one arm thrown carelessly over his head.
"Kaname, did you hear?" Ichijo asked tentatively. Kaname looked at him blankly.
"It was difficult not to. You woke half the dorm." Ichijo laughed a little. His friend understood the apprehension he felt over this visit and was even willing to tease him a little, to reassure him. Ichijo smiled wider, feeling more at ease at Kaname's lack of reaction. "I'll notify Headmaster Cross. Classes will be cancelled this evening. Make sure to tell everyone to be ready and presentable, in time for Ichiou's arrival." Ichijo nodded and set to work on his task.

Akane was not amused to have classes cancelled but she was, at least, grateful that she had more time to rest as the 'guest of honour' wouldn't be arriving until well after sundown. She snuggled under her blankets after Ichijo stopped by to inform her of this and drifted off peacefully until an insistent prodding began on the top of her head, the only part of her body currently visible to her assailant. Aido poked at the mop of black hair once more before resorting to gripping Akane's shoulder and shaking her lightly. Still such a heavy sleeper, he sniggered to himself as Akane's displeased groans came from under the covers.

"What?" she grumbled groggily, peeking her head out of her cotton cocoon.
"It's time to get up. Takuma's grandfather will be here soon. You need to get ready." Akane groaned again but nodded. She understood an important Vampire official was a big deal to be visiting the dorm, but why did they all need to be there to greet him? Surely only the higher-ranking Nobles and Kaname would be needed, not some lower-class ex-Human? Despite this argument, Ichijo had insisted she be there. Kaname had asked for all to be present.

Begrudgingly, she got out of bed, rubbing her face tiredly. She looked up at Aido from the edge of her bed, who was still stood beside her. She pointed to the door, indicating he had to leave.
"Aww! But I wanted to pick out your clothes. We'd even have time for a little fashion show. I still haven't seen everything Miss Miu gave you."
"Out!" Akane demanded, scowling at the cheeky grin on the Vampire's face. He relented and left with a wink, closing the door.

Akane sighed, amused by Aido, despite her tone. She busied herself with gathering her clothes and towel then proceeded to the bathroom down the hall, to shower and dress. Twenty minutes later, Akane was washed and dressed. The ends of her hair, still a little damp laying on her shoulders, but she figured, they'd dry soon enough, and she really couldn't be bothered with much tonight. She wore the black floral shirt she was going to wear to Ichijo's birthday party, along with one of the new smart cream coloured pants Miu had given her. On her feet, Akane had the flat buckled shoes she wore to school. I need to find a way to make some money and buy my own stuff, she'd told herself as she'd put them on.

She stood at the top of the landing, watching the few people punctual enough to be ready. Aido, Kain, Ruka and Rima were amongst the assembly stood in the lobby, dressed, somewhat casually. But the clothing was far from the comfortable casual Akane was used to seeing. The fabrics were expensive, and all were so clearly designer, she felt herself wincing in inferiority.

Ichijo came around the corridor from up ahead with Shiki, as more students started slowly filling up the halls around them. Turning quickly to her room, Akane rushed in to collect something to read. Their guest would not be arriving for maybe another hour and Akane didn't think she'd cope with the small talk, surrounded by all those upper-class Vampires, without some means of distraction. Content with her choice of a fantasy, thriller, Akane closed her door and walked down the stairs. She shuffled past those standing around and took up one of the gilded couches in the seating area, crossing her legs as she sat, using a cushion to lean against, and then opened her book.

Aido stood opposite Akane next to Kain, watching others slowly coming out of their rooms and corridors. He wore a pair of black jean pants and a dark blue shirt, with light blue plaid trim over the shoulders and around the top four buttons. His hair was styled a little more tousled than his usual look, but the continuous raking of his fingers through it, which pushed the strands back out of his eyes, ruined the bed head he'd been going for. Kain leant against one of the decorative cabinets, trying to look casual while Ruka scrutinising his unbuttoned, black, pin-stripe shirt and white pants, with a look of mild amusement. Ruka was dressed in a light pink, long-sleeved top with a silk band around the middle, and cream leggings with pale pink pumps to match her top.

Shiki and Rima stood together. Rima was in a stylish dark plumb top that had a slit halfway up the front, showing her midriff. She wore a pair of black pants with a crease ironed into the legs, and her hair in her signature pigtails with black ribbons and heeled shoes, to match. Shiki wore a white cotton shirt with an embroidered floral design around the collar, a pair of light blue jeans, a black belt, and a tan leather jacket. They both watched as Ichijo paced next to the chairs, dressed in a white buttoned shirt with a dark green, woollen, V-neck jumper, a pair of black pants and comfortable, but formal-looking shoes. He had a worried frown on his face as he walked in front of the two, as they scrutinised him blankly.

Akane was frowning as she read, her eyes flitting to the side every other time Ichijo passed. Aido suppressed a grin as he watched the irritation rise in her body. Her leg started bouncing after Ichijo's seventh pass, picking up force as he continued his track. Her eyes were watching him thoughtfully now, but that didn't last, as Aido knew. He watched as Akane's frown deepened, and her head turned this way and that, following Ichijo's path until, finally, she snapped.
"V.P.!" Akane called, throwing out a hand to catch him on his next pass. Ichijo started, and looked down at her in bewilderment, holding his arm. "Stop that! You're making me dizzy." Akane looked at him sternly, her eyes commanding him to stop his irritating behaviour before going back to her book, while Ichijo moved, hesitantly to the foot of the stairs. Aido grinned while Ruka chuckled amusedly.

"Having him as a grandfather must be frightening. Even we're expected to drop everything for this visit."
"He's one of the ancients," Kain began to explain with a fond smile at the beautiful Vampire. "Ten times older and more powerful than any of us. It makes sense we'd have to show our respects to a monster like him." Shiki and Rima's attention turned to the conversation as the last of the dorm residents finally arrived.
"Even he admits he's scared," Rima remarked.
"I'm worried too," Shiki admitted his hands behind his head. His calm look, contrasting with his words. "I wonder who is more frightening?" he pondered thoughtfully. "The Dorm President, or this guy?" Aido raised an eyebrow then frowned.
"Well, that should be obvious!"

Aido knew, as they all did, this visit was not a social matter. There would be no reason for the council elder to visit the academy unless he was up to something. Ever since Kaname had rejected his offer to be his legal guardian, he'd stopped at nothing to gain even more power, not that he needed more of an influence. But having the last Kuran, effectively, under his 'supervision' would have meant he was the top of the Vampire social ladder, and far ahead of his nearest rival, piggybacking on Kaname's name, and using it to his advantage. Kaname had denied him this.

Akan pretended to be so engrossed in her book to pay any attention to the conversations going on around her. She'd figured that a member of the Vampire Council, an ancient with a seat on the Board of Ancients, would cause a stir amongst the Night Class students. Ichijo's behaviour told her, he was either worried about whether the students would present themselves properly, or he and his grandfather didn't usually see eye to eye. After the cryptic discussion she'd overheard, she was beginning to get nervous about this ancient's impending arrival. What the hell do I say to someone who scares these guys!

Akane was spared the scenarios about to spin through her head of a wrinkly old man, cane in hand, a top hat and cloak, looking down at her disapprovingly by her sire's arrival.
"Kaname!"Ichijo cried as he came around the corner at the top of the stairs and began to descend, Ichijo trotting up to meet him. "You don't have to see him personally. I'm sure he's only here to lecture me about something or other." Akane listed to the shaky tone of Ichijo's voice as he walked with Kaname down the last few steps. She was momentarily distracted by the sound of a car stopping and new, strange scents in the air.

"Nonsense," Kaname said, gaining the ex-Human's attention. Akane noted his tone was light, almost playful as he waved Ichijo's obvious worried away. "I haven't seen Ichiou in quite some time. I want to greet him. I can, can't I?" Akane frowned at Kaname's words. He was a Pureblood, he could literally, do anything he wanted. Why was he asking permission, unless, he isn't asking at all? Ichijo's small reply confirmed this thought for Akane.
"It's not that you can't…"

Akane watched Ichijo's concern grow in his expression, just as Kaname's calm face hardened. The doors to the dorms suddenly slammed open with a bang as they struck the walks on either side. Akane jumped at the unexpected noise, as many others had, and shivered as the cold wind followed the figure responsible into the building.

If Akane's heart hadn't been beating a mile a minute, she would have grinned at the quintessential Dracula that had just walked in. He was dressed in a fine, black suit with a black coat that fluttered behind him like a cape. It startled Akane how much he resembled his grandson. Ichiou had the same blond hair, though longer than Ichijo had, and even though their eyes were the same bright, green, Ichijo's eyes never made her physically shudder at the coldness in them. This Vampire was terrifying, and Akane wished there were more Night Class students to hide behind.

She silently cursed Kaname and Ichijo for their choice to wait at the foot of the stairs, not six feet from her seat.
"It's just as well," she heard Kaname say under his breath as the Vampire strode into the room. Kaname had many ideas for why Ichiou would want to drop in almost unannounced, one was sat rigidly in a chair to his left. Akane was, by no means, Ichiou's primary objective, he was sure. But Kaname had been questioned by the Vampire Council about her and knew his responses had been less than satisfactory.

"Lorde Kaname," the Vampire greeted as he stepped in front of the Pureblood. "Even surrounded by Nobles, a Pureblood stands out easily."
"Good evening, Ichiou. It's been a long time," Kaname replied cordially.
"Indeed. The last I saw of you, was when you rejected my offer to take guardianship of you." The tone Ichiou used told Akane he was still upset by this, as did the slightly colder look in his eyes.
"I didn't wish to be spoiled, that's all."
"Kaname, Is this really the time for this?" Ichijo asked quietly, cutting into the conversation.
"I suppose you're right," Kaname agreed.

Akane watched the demeanour of the Vampire elder change as Kaname turned his head away to talk to Ichijo. She watched as his eyes roamed over Kaname's exposed neck as if it was the key to all his questions.
"A fragrance like yours couldn't be tainted even if stained with blood. You are a flower that smells lusciously sweet, for all eternity." Akane crinkled her nose at the Vampire as he took Kaname's hand and bent to kiss it as if greeting a King. Kuran is no King, Akane thought as she observed her sire watching the Vampire with a blank expression. He's angry!

"I do hope to share in the benefits of your unrivalled blood myself, one day." Evan Akane sat up straight at the flash of a fang at his lips but Aido and Ruka moved almost too fast for Akane to see. Ruka pulled Kaname away while Aido grabbed the elder's hand in a tight grip and wrenched him away from Kaname. Akane didn't even realise she'd been holding her breath until it whooshed out when everything stilled in the room.

Ruka looked terrified as she clung to Kaname's chest.
"I'm sorry, Lord Kaname, but he…" Kaname gently eased her into Kain's waiting arms and turned to Aido.
"You take your jokes to far, Sir!" Aido spat in the elder's face. Akane had never seen him so angry. His face was sharp, his fangs bared and his eyes flashing dangerously.
"The daughter of Souen, and the son of Aido," the elder said, unimpressed as he glared at the younger Vampire holding his hand to ransom.

"Aido," Ichijo tried, as he came behind the younger Vampire and tried to pull him back gently, a look of fear on his face. Akane stood, her book forgotten on the chair. Aido paid no attention. This Vampire just insulted Kaname in front of everyone! He wasn't about to allow that!
"Someone like you should know, asking to drink from a Pureblood is the greatest taboo! How dare you think you could just…" Akane and Ruka jumped as another loud, ominous sound shocked them into breathlessness. Kaname had just struck Aido across the face, hard enough for a mark to form immediately. Akane walked closer, moving around the granite coffee table to Aido, as he breathed deeply, and his hands shook.
"Keep your cool," she heard Kaname say as Aido stepped back.

Akane's arms lifted to touch his shoulders. He turned to her, startled, causing her to jump but he took her hand and allowed her to rub his arm in a soothing gesture. Akane looked back up to Kaname and what else could possibly happen when the cold green eyes of the elder pierced through her. She sucked in a breath, as, a fear she was all too familiar with, stampeded over her. The look in his eyes was the same look her father would get when he was about to bite her.

Aido noticed Akane's fear at once, and pulled her back behind him, shielding her from view and out of reach of the elder.
"The Unfortunate." The way he said it made Akane cringe. The sound of his voice took her back to the awful account she'd read of the Vampire, Lex. That voice was how she envisioned Lex would have sounded when he spoke of the murder of those boys, cold and detached. "You said she could not be experimented on? She looks healthy enough to me, Lord Kaname!" Ichiou's voice was indignant as he continued to stare at Akane as she glared at him over Aido's rigid shoulders.
"I said, I would not consent to my progeny being experimented on. Miss Nakamura is not to be interfered with. Her health has nothing to do with my decline of the council's requests."

When Kaname called her, his progeny, a warmth Akane had not been expecting, flickered in her heart. She hadn't even realised the Vampire Council had been interested or even knew about her yet. Though it was clear by the way Ichiou said the word 'experimented' indicated they would want to do more than the tests she wanted to do on herself, to solve the mystery that was, her existence. Kaname had been shielding her from the council and she didn't even know it! Suddenly, an annoying stab of guilt at the blatant dislike she showed towards her sire cut through the warmth in her heart.

Ichiou seemed to remember himself and turned from Akane, to face Kaname once again.
"I came to visit my grandson, Takuma. There was no need for this lavish welcome, though I am glad to have met you again. Incidentally, you, being here, is the only reason I can be assured of my grandson's safety, my Lord." Ichiou got down on one knee and kissed Kaname's hand before standing and finally addressing Ichijo. "Takuma! A tour," he ordered.
"Yes, Grandfather! Right, this way," Ichijo said. The elder bowed low to Kaname again before following his grandson but as he turned towards the hall to the kitchen, his eyes, flickering to Akane once more before he left.

Everyone remained where they stood for a moment before Akane slapped the back of Aido's head, hard.
"Ouch!" Aido yelped and turned, rubbing the back of his head to confront a glaring Akane.
"That's what you get for mouthing off, Idiot! Now come with me!" She gripped his arm, collected her book from the couch and began frogmarching the Aristocrat up the stairs. "You're staying where I can keep an eye on you until that psyco is gone," she growled as he complained.
"But, Akane!"
"No buts', Hanabusa!"

The slam of a bedroom door drowned out any more protests from Aido. The noise also seemed to have awoken everyone from the frozen stance they'd been in since Akane had struck Aido. Kaname wordlessly dismissed the congregation and retreated to his room where he leant against the door with a tired sigh. Ichiou had been no issue but Ruka and Aido could have gotten into a lot of trouble. Akane had taken care of disciplining Aido and Ruka was frightened enough, he saw no need to reprimand her, besides, his indifference to her punishment would be enough atonement for her.