When Akane woke, the first time she'd shared a bed with Aido, she'd found him lying on his back, his mouth, open wide, and snoring. Not obnoxiously loud but snoring none the less. She'd laughed at his offended expression when he'd denied Akane's accusation that he'd sounded like a piglet nuzzling its' mother. But before he woke, his arm still trapped under her head, she'd watched him sleeping soundly beside her, fighting to ignore the glow of giddy happiness she'd suddenly possessed. Against her will, a contented sigh had escaped her lips, instantly breaking whatever trance Akane had found herself in. Immediately, she'd distanced herself from the blond, and instead, busied herself with collecting her toiletries and uniform before leaving the now, stirring Vampire, to wake up alone.

The second time, Aido had roused first, amused to hear Akane's impression of a barnyard animal. As entertaining as imagining her reaction would be when he compared her snoring to an asthmatic donkey, Aido had thought back to why he was in her bed, to begin with. The night before, Akane's behaviour had been more than a little off. She hadn't snapped at him like that in a while. He'd recognised something had been bothering her and hoped it had nothing to do with Shizuka Hio, but he'd fallen asleep before she'd come back from her shower to tell him. He'd have thought, Akane would have woken him and forced him back to his room. So, he was pleasantly surprised to have turned over to a face full of Akane's ebony locks.

While Aido was reeling from finding Akane had removed his shoes and blazer, making his sleep a more comfortable one, Akane turned with a tired groan, snuggling into him to syphon some of his warmth. Aido stilled until Akane had settled again but couldn't stop the gentle smile that spread across his face as he relaxed. He knew it would be time to ready for classes soon, but the comfortable sigh Akane made as she burrowed under his chin, made his mind up for him. We can stay like this for a little longer.

Akane awoke some minutes later, wrapped up in Aido's arms and the blankets of her bed. She knew he was awake, as he knew she was, but both remained motionless. Aido could feel how tense Akane's body became once she'd realised their position, but she wasn't moving away, so he stayed where he was, hoping he hadn't overstepped some unspoken boundary.

"Hanabusa?" Aido looked down at her tentative call, shifting back a little to look at Akane's expression. She was flushed and averting her gaze, but she had a thoughtful frown on her face, causing the Vampire a sense of trepidation and his heart to speed up as doubts began to surface. He reasoned, that if a girl woke up in the arms of someone she liked, perhaps she'd be embarrassed, but happy. But, what if she doesn't?

Akane chose her words carefully, but not for the reasons Aido feared. If she got this wrong, she worried she would truly jeopardise her relationship with the Aristocrat, something that had plagued her sleep all night. She just had to speak with him about her concerns for her future, but since the incident with Zero the night before, she questioned whether she should or could keep it to herself. Kaname had looked so angry when she'd told him, despite his efforts to keep it hidden. Will Aido think less of me? Will he look at me differently and be disgusted by what I've done?

While the pair lay trapped inside their minds, their thirsts, previously lying dormant, rose. Akane gasped for breath when the desire for blood came to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes, instantly seeped to the deadly hue of red Aido secretly adored, while her fangs almost ached to sink into the throat before her like a knife into butter. Her senses were invaded with the scent of peaches, and a tantalising musk she couldn't name no matter how often she'd tried.

It was natural to thirst when waking from sleep, but Akane's scent was like a promise of what euphoria tasted like. Although it was difficult, Aido'd had months to condition himself to cope with Akane's scent, a scent that he still found just as appealing as when she was Human. When he'd seen how the other Vampires were no longer adversely affected by her scent, he'd thought it particularly peculiar, but soon realised that Akane's scent only affected him the same it had when she'd been Human, and him alone. Not even Kaname was affected by it like before, even after he'd tasted her.

He shifted back and released Akane from the comfortable cocoon of his arms, cursing those beautiful red eyes looking up at him with almost a plea to come back. He watched her, waiting for her to speak her mind before sighing and shifting to rise and return to his room. He'd thought Akane may need more time before she revealed whatever had been upsetting her recently and was attempting to give her that time, but her hands reached for his chest, clutching at the fabric of his shirt, holding it tight and stilling his retreat. He looked down at the girl as she bowed her head to his chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Aido settled back into the mattress, allowing Akane to fall beside him, still holding his shirt. He waited, knowing she needed him to be patient and let her gather herself to speak. He'd known her long enough to realise, Akane Nakamura did not reveal anything easily to others, even those she trusted.

"I just… I don't know what to do," she sighed, leaning back to look up at him. "I don't know what I'm going to do, after…"
"After, what?" Aido asked once Akane didn't elaborate further.
"This. School. Cross Academy. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? I don't know the answers to those questions, and it scares me." Aido's eyebrows rose in confusion and surprise. Akane had been frightened before, but she'd never admitted it to him, and he never would've guessed she'd be worrying herself about the future like she was. He'd been about to question and reassure her, but she'd quickly sat up, twisting her hands uneasily.

He'd sat up beside her, reached out a hand to land on her shoulder.
"Excuse me," Akane mumbled as she'd shrugged him off and pulled back her blankets to get to the dresser at the end of her bed, where she kept her Blood Tablets in one of the draws. She deposited two into her hand and swallowed them dry. Her eyes returned to the forest green from when they'd first met, before she turned to him, offering him her pillbox, which he accepted and took two tablets.

Suddenly feeling very awkward, Akane stood at the end of her bed with her arms wrapped around herself protectively, averting her eyes from the Vampire still sat patiently waiting in her extravagant bed.
"I didn't ask to be a Vampire," Akane began solemnly, realising there was no way to say what she needed to without the possibility of insulting her friend. "I wanted to live, to finish school. So, I could make my parents proud, so I could make myself proud." Akane paced, her heart quickening as her anxiety grew. "I just wanted a life, and I've tried to understand Vampiric society and where I fit into it, adapted my behaviour to conform even, but I don't think I can."

"What are you saying, exactly?" Aido asked as he climbed out of Akane's bed to stand before her pacing figure, another tell Aido recognised well to indicate her agitation.
"I'm not like you or the rest of the Night Class. I'm not a Pureblood or a Level B Vampire, and I can't adapt to where your society puts me." Akane's anxiety rose higher. Tears pooled and fell down her cheeks, which were reddening more with her distress. "What am I supposed to do when this 'Social Experiment' Kuran and the headmaster have cooked up, is over? Am I going to be able to get a job? Have a family? And what if the Hunters come knocking? What do I do then?" Where will you be?

Aido reached out for her shoulders and held her until she stilled, but a stab of bitterness hit his heart when she flinched at his touch.
"Akane! You're thinking way too hard about this."
"No, I'm not!" she'd protested, twisting to get out of his grasp.
"Yes, you are!" Akane stilled. Aido had never yelled at her, never once raised his voice. In the past, he spoke quietly when he wanted to scare her or when being his most menacing and intimidating. Strangely, though his volume had startled her, it quieted her mind long enough for Aido's next words to reach her. "You don't have to 'fit in' or be like the rest of us. You never had to be the 'Typical Vampire'." He took hold of her face with both hands as he spoke, determined to make her understand that the only place she needed to fit was where she belonged. "All you have to do is be Akane, not Akane the Vampire, not Akane the Human or Akane the Unfortunate. Just be my Akane, my…"

Akane was speechless. Her heart fluttering in tune with the butterflies that had taken flight in her gut. Aido stood right in front of her, his palms on her cheeks and his thumbs stroked her skin gently. Their bodies were much closer than either of them had realised as they stared, ensnared by the seas of forest green and ocean blue before them. Aido's blood thundered through his veins at the implication of his words. He meant them, but for the first time, he was considering Rin Yamiyo's words. What would his family, his father, think of Akane?

"Hanabusa?" she said breathlessly. They were nearing each other, Akane could feel her body moving but there wasn't a force she possessed that could pull her back, and her mind was too clouded by his scent to care.
"Hanabusa, Miss Nakamura? It's nearly time to leave. Are you both ready?" Ichijo asked, knocking on Akane's door. The pair startled, taking a step apart. Akane's face shone scarlet as she wrapped her arms around her middle and shut her eyes in silent embarrassment. Not a good idea, Akane. Keep your head on straight! Aido's reaction to the interruption was fiercer than the ex-Human.
"Yes, Takuma! We're up!" he replied loudly, with a distinct bite and growl in his tone that the blond at the door couldn't help but grin at.
"Well don't take too long," he called cheerfully before walking away from the door with a wide smile and chuckle. He was wise to wait until he was a fair few steps away, before letting his mirth out, gaining confused looks from others as they walked by.

Aido took a breath to calm himself and ran his fingers through his hair. It stuck up at odd angles thanks to his sleep. Looking at Akane, he realised her hair was also tangled. But short of making her look comical, the blush on her cheeks and the shy gazes she sent him, caused a tightness in his chest that stole his breath from his lungs.
"He's right," Aido finally said. Akane nodded and stepped around the blond coyly, giving him an invitation to pass. Aido started for the door but turned back to the girl, his heart pounding while he scolded himself for being afraid to just say it. "Akane?" he'd called, gaining her attention. "Make sure you tell me what colour dress you decide on when Miss Miu gets back." Akane raised a brow and tilted her head at the request.
"Why?" she asked perplexed. Aido grinned handsomely, his smile broadening as he spoke.
"Because I'd like to give my date a present for the ball. Gentlemen do that. You will tell me, won't you?" The butterflies were back, but instead of anxiety being their companion, Akane tittered and sent Aido the first true beaming smile he'd ever seen on her face.
"You'll be the first to know."

Akane did tell Aido the colour of the two dresses she had left to choose from once Yuki and Miu left The Mood Dorms. But she'd had to stash them in Rima's closet after Aido attempted to sneak a peek when he thought she was in the shower. He reasoned that he could help her decide between them, but Miu had given strict instructions to Akane. She couldn't follow all the ridiculous conditions set by Miu about Aido not seeing the dress she chose until she was there to see his reaction, but Akane could keep them from him until the night of the ball itself. That night was tonight, but she still couldn't decide!

Akane had showered, styled her hair the way Miu and Yuki had shown her, put on the makeup Miu had insisted she keep when she'd seen Akane's meagre product selection. She'd always used Miu's anyway. She'd changed from one dress to the other three times already but still hadn't made up her mind. Miu and Yuki had praised both dressed very enthusiastically, but Akane couldn't decide which one she liked most.

Currently, she was wearing a cherry red, A-line, full-length dress, with capped sleeves and a bateau neckline. The bodice and sleeves were woven with lace in a leafy pattern with red crystals and diamantes to catch the light and draw the eye. The skirt was satin and had a small, delicate bow at the waist, where the skirt and bodice met. The back was an elegant lace-up keyhole, style, which, thankfully, Akane didn't need to tie as they were purely decorative as a zip, fastened discretely, in the seam at the side of the dress.

The shoes Miu had given her specifically for this dress, she'd said she'd seen and instantly thought of Akane. They were two inches high, with a slightly pointed toe, matte black, with a polished red sole. An ankle strap with a golden fastener finished the footwear off perfectly. They looked so dainty and delicate with the thin heal and strap, but Akane felt completely planted, and when walking around her room, they remained just as comfortable. She liked these shoes and was debating to ask Miu if she could keep them after the ball.

As Akane stood, scrutinising herself in her mirror again, the green dress she'd placed neatly on her bed caught her eye. She walked to her bed and looked down at the gown. It also had lace decoration, except the lace travelled the length of the dress. The delicate, lace sleeves stopped at the wrist and off the shoulder where the higher neckline of sheer fabric finished at the base of her throat. Akane lifted the drees by the shoulders and watched as all the tiny crystals worked into the lace sparked in the late afternoon sun shining through her window.

She walked the dress over to the mirror and held it against her body. As she tilted her head at her reflection, her eye suddenly landed on the sapphire of her mother's necklace. She'd taken it off to try on all the dresses with Miu and Yuki and still hadn't placed it back on her neck. All week it had rested on her chest of drawers, only being moved when Akane was tidying up after her study sessions with Aido, which were becoming less and less about studying and more about spending time together. Aido had taken Akane's fears seriously and to heart, so he made more of an effort to just talk to her as well as tutor her. She was thankful for the effort, but the worries persisted, even if in a dulled state.

As Akane looked at the gem, she was struck with a desire to wear it for the evening, and reached out, plucking the thin platinum chain between her fingers. She held it to her neck, studying the sapphire against both dresses. Unsatisfied, she turned back to her bed and placed the green dress down before attaching the chain back around her neck.

She went and stood in front of the mirror again, to see the finished result. The red of the dress made the sheer blackness of her hair stand out, as did the dark blue of the sapphire, making it look almost black. The dress hugged Akane's torso and fell nicely around her legs to the floor, giving a glance at her footwear when she walked. With a nod she carefully unzipped the dress and stepped out, placing it neatly on her bed and reached for the green gown. There was a zip running up the side seam of this dress also, which meant, the pattern on the lace was unbroken to the eye. Once the dress was fastened, Akane came before the mirror. She smoothed the lace fabric down critically before her eyes passed over the sapphire, hanging daintily at her neck. The blue was more pronounced than had been against the other dress, making the stone show beautifully. For the first time, since the necklace came into her possession, after her mother's murder, Akane thought the thing, beautiful.

A knock sounded at her door, startling Akane from her thoughts.
"Akane? I kind of have to push you to make a decision now," came Aido's voice from the other side of the door. "We have to leave soon. Everyone is starting to gather downstairs."
"Just a second!" Akane looked at her reflection and back at the dress lying on her bed. Which one? I don't know, I… Her eyes caught the jewel, resting on her neck again.
"Ok! That's it! I'm coming in, whether you're decent or not!"
"What? Wait!" Aido didn't wait. He twisted the doorknob, stepped into the room, and looked at the girl stood by the mirror, stopping in his tracks. The irritation he'd felt before entering, quickly being replaced by awe.

Akane's mid-shoulder length, midnight tresses, had been lightly curled and pinned into a side updo with a beautifully designed platinum, butterfly hair comb. Strands of hair had escaped Akane's hands while placing the many pins to secure her updo, framing her blushing face in delicate, wispy waves. Her makeup was light and just a little more than she normally wore. Akane's usual mascara, light concealer, and a dusting of blush were accompanied with black eyeliner, styled with a small wing, making her eyes even more striking in the blond's opinion. A light metallic eyeshadow blending into a darker shade at the edges and a nude gloss shone on her lips.

Aido's mind vaguely supplied him this observation, while still trying to recall how to form words because she was breath-taking, and that was before his eyes even travelled down to her gown. It fell down her legs to pool at her feet, encased in a beautifully fine lace of a slightly darker shade of green than the material below. It had a floral and leaf design, emphasising the colour of Akane's eyes even more. The light streaming through the window caught every tiny crystal woven into the lace, making her dress appear to twinkle.

The lace stopped at the shoulders, giving the illusion of an off the shoulder neckline, but a sheer fabric took the neckline higher, in a jewel line, while what he could see of the back of the dress, showed the lace also dipped here, partially revealing Akane's shoulder-blades. This was not a part of a woman he had ever given any real thought to, he had certainly never thought of them in an aesthetically pleasing context, but he found his palms desperate to lay over her skin and for his lips to kiss the single freckle he could see on her shoulder.

He was pleased the dress Akane had finally settled on was almost the exact colour of her eyes. He had no idea why, but he'd hoped she would choose the green dress when she'd mentioned to him the colours of the two gowns, a week ago. He'd had no idea, however, that he would be struck dumb just by the sight of her in formal attire. He shook his head after realising he'd stood gaping at his date and friend for well over a minute, without offering a syllable, let alone, a compliment.

"What?" Akane grumbled with a frown. She expected a smile at least. She'd put a hell of a lot of effort into learning how to do her hair, practising it over the last week.
"Nothing!" Aido said stepping fully into the room. "You just… You look… Wow!" Akane's rosy cheeks blossomed deeper at Aido's praise and lack of vocabulary.
"Really? You don't think that one would…" she began, indicating to the red dress laying on her bed, but was interrupted.
"No!... No. That one. It matches your eyes."

Aido swallowed thickly as Akane's face relaxed into a delicate smile.
"Give me a twirl then. Let me s-see you." Her beam widened further with a mischievous air at his stammer and complied, picking up the skirt of the dress (so she didn't step on it) before twirling slowly for her date. Aido's vocal abilities were stolen once again as Akane turned for him. Her skin was so fair under the sheer fabric, and her hair looked so soft and smooth, the pin standing out and showing off the effort she'd put into the styling of it. The dress hugged her torso and arms like a second skin, while the skirt, rippled and danced around her feet like water. Her makeup was light but perfect. Aido thought the caked faces of many of the Day Class girls quite bazar and had always been thankful Akane was not one to wear much makeup.

Akane ended her spin for Aido and stood, watching him expectantly, her confidence growing, accompanied by a warm glow in her chest as his eyes continued to glide over her with a glazed stare.
"Hanabusa?"
"Hmm?"
"Shouldn't we be going?" she asked with a chuckle as his eyes widened before he scurried out of her room in agreement with a cry.
"Ah! Wait there, Akane! Damn, we're going to be late!"

Akane remained in her room touching up her makeup here and there, fussing with her hair, and finally, removing and reattaching her mother's necklace once more. The longer she looked at it the less sure she became of wearing it. Her father had given the trinket to her when she'd turned thirteen, telling her, her mother had wanted to pass it on to her. Akane had first, rejected to wear the chain, but as her father's mind deteriorated, he would become agitated and anxious if he didn't see her wearing it. Aside from Akane, all he had left of his wife where her possessions, and he had taken to displaying them around the house to keep himself calm, and it worked, for a time.

Sometime, the mere sight of one of her mother's jackets on the coat rack by the front door would send him into a downward spiral of depression that would last days. Other times, he could get angry and throw the objects across the room. It was times like these Akane tended to associate with the necklace, as that would be what sent him into his rages more than any other of her mother's items. At the time, Akane couldn't have understood why the necklace he would, at times, almost worship, would also cause such violent reactions. Knowing what she knew now, about her mother's family, and past in The Hunters Association meant she fully understood the yelling and cursing of the 'them' her father would always refer to. He'd meant Megumi Nakamura's nee Yagari's family, a family of Vampire Hunter's, that had failed to complete their daughter's training before disowning her. Meaning, she would have no means of competently defending herself, or her family, from the Pureblood that attacked her home.

Aido quickly collected a small box tied in a green ribbon from his bedside table drawer and now felt prepared to see Akane again. This time, say something, you, idiot! he scolded as he neared her door. He gave a knock but after a few seconds of no response, he twisted the doorknob and opened the door. His quizzical eyes landed on Akane scrutinising herself in the mirror again but her reflection, he could see, had a conflicted expression. She's lost in thought again, he sighed. It's happened quite a lot lately. He watched her fingers touch at her necklace, and although he didn't know the full story behind the jewellery she wore, he'd gleaned enough from Kaien's recognition of the item to know it was likely to have belonged to her mother. Akane's hands both rose to remove the chain when Aido spoke.
"Don't!" She turned to him slightly startled. He smiled apologetically before offering her his hand. "Leave it on. It's important to you." Akane stared at his outstretched hand before looking again at her reflection in the mirror.

She left the necklace in place and smiled as she took her date's hand. Despite her disinterest in the affair, she was genuinely excited to attend her first dance. Aido, of course, could not play the gentleman completely, he was just too mischievous. He pulled the girl to his body suddenly, making Akane lose her footing, having to lean into the blond's chest to steady herself. He grinned down at the annoyed frown on his date's face, and wider still when he saw the corners of her mouth lift despite herself. A shy Akane, while appealing, was not one he could banter with and tease. He would feel bad! Her more energetic and fierier demeanour was far more enjoyable for a night such as this. Also, he wanted to make sure her first formal ball was an enjoyable one, not one fraught with social pitfalls as his first had been when he was a child.

"I have a gift for you, My Lady," Aido said as he stepped back and bowed theatrically to Akane, taking her hand.
"Is that so?" Akane replied with an arched brow and a smirk to accompany her pinking cheeks. Grinning like a child at Christmas, Aido straightened and produced from his blazer's inner pocket, a flat, square, black box, no bigger than the palm of his hand, wrapped with a single green ribbon tied in a bow. Akane looked from the box to Aido in flattered disbelief. She remembered him telling her he would get her a gift as his date, but she was expecting a corsage not, what was obviously a jewellery box. She took the box slowly and carefully undid the ribbon, holding the box in her palm as she pulled up the lid. What lay inside had Akane's eyes widening and her finger hesitating to touch the delicate gift inside.

Aido stood expectantly, pleased he'd surprised Akane so completely. He'd bought her gifts to complement both dresses but had secretly hoped she'd chose the green over the red dress, and spent more time choosing this particular item than the ruby earrings he'd bought for the other dress. Akane gazed down in awe at the bracelet sat nestled in the box between soft black velvet. It was a platinum bracelet with eight oval cut, dark green jade stones with the metal twisting over and around them like delicate vines.

"I can't… You? I don't…" Aido's grin widened. Akane was stunned for words and her face was a picture to behold.
"Well," he began as he stepped forward and plucked the bracelet from its bed and undid the clasp. "Why don't you try it on and see if you can speak after?" His jest had the desired effect of causing a smile to break out on Akane's stunned face as she held out her wrist for him to attach the bracelet. She gazed down at her new accessory, admiring the way the light bounced off the jade and couldn't help feeling it had been designed with her dress in mind. Drawing his date's attention back to him, Aido took the hand with the bracelet and kissed her knuckled gently, maintaining eye contact.
"Shall we go, My Lady?" he crooned silkily. But Akane was well used to Aido's flirtatiousness and gained a mischievous grin at her unimpressed expression. She was loth to admit it pained her when he did these things because she knew it was to entertain and annoy, not due to any underlying emotions, as far as she knew.

Aido walked Akane down the corridor and balcony, down the stairs to the ground floor with a huge grin on his face. Akane held the crook of his arm tightly, indicating her nervousness of having eyes on her. But Aido walked confidently and triumphantly, passing Rin and his blonde date dressed in pink, with a fanged grin at the sour look on the brunet's face.

"Oh! Miss Nakamura, you look beautiful."
"Thanks, V.P. You don't look too bad yourself." The blond beamed at Akane while Aido stood next to her eyeing the other Aristocrat suspiciously. He'd been smiling so damn wide at them both lately, that it was getting annoying. He knew very well what the green-eyed Vampire was grinning about and continually told himself not to rise to the bate.

Akane observed all the Night Class boys were dressed in their uniforms, accompanied by a single red rose in their breast pockets and frowned as her head turned this way and that. Aido watched her with a grin as she slowly turned her gaze on him with an accusing glower.
"Why aren't you lot dressed up like this?"
"Male students are required to wear their uniforms." He and Ichijo chuckled as Akane crossed her arms with a huff of annoyance.
"This is sexism, making me get dolled up but not you idiots," she grumbled with a pout.
"But that dress couldn't possibly fit either of us?" Ichijo received his first ice glare from Akane in his attempt to entertain. Aido laughed.

"That's a sight none of us should have to endure," Shiki drolled in his monotonous voice as he came up behind the trio, Rima at his side. She wore a full-length dark purple dress of satin, with thin strap sleeves, a wrap, shoes, and ribbons in her hair, of the same dark colour.
"Although, amusing," she added with the same disinterested tone. Akane giggled at the mock affront Ichijo displayed, whining at his roommate and his model accomplice for being so mean.

Soon enough, Kaname appeared at the top of the stairs, gaining the attention of the room. He walked down gracefully, the students parting for him as he made his way to Ichijo.
"Good evening, Kaname."
"Good evening," the Pureblood replied looking around the room and those he kept in his inner circle. His progeny, however, pointedly ignored his arrival. "Is everyone present, Takuma?"
"Yep!" Ichijo affirmed happily. Kaname nodded, a silent indication for everyone to make their way to the formal hall where the ball was to be held. His eyes landed on a single head of long silver hair, standing by the main doors. Bright, lavender eyes, laughing at him as he passed, as he made sure to be between her, and his progeny.