Akane woke, at around 4 in the afternoon, with Aido lying alongside her. He was above the blankets she'd kicked away in her sleep, watching her thoughtfully. For a time, they just looked at each other, mapping the face of the person beside them.
"I've been awake for a little while." Akane didn't know why Aido felt the need to tell her this but, correctly guessed, he just had to fill the silence. She had nothing to offer. She remembered, vividly, her episode in his bathroom, when her mouth shot off honest but tactless words that she knew, had hurt him. I can't take them back.

Aido was in much the same state of awkwardness. He'd never felt this way around Akane before. She'd always been a comforting presence for him, but, hearing her say (shout), she didn't want him, it played to his insecurities. He understood, of course, she hadn't meant it in the way it sounded. She was still a Human at heart, and he knew, the thought of drinking blood was still a mental obstacle. It just considerably stung his pride when she'd rejected him, especially, when he knew she'd fed from Kaname, not ten minutes later, all be it, with some coaxing and tears.

He'd heard her rebuffing the Pureblood through the door, until there was a thud on the tiled floor, followed by a groan, which told him, Akane had collapsed when trying to stand. Now the pair were stuck in an unfamiliar quiet that felt suffocating. Eventually, Akane pulled herself together and shifted into Aido's space, burrowing her head under his chin. The Vampire stiffened but didn't stop or shy away from the girl breathing on the suddenly heated skin at his neck.

"I'm sorry I said those things, Hanabusa," Akane whispered a few moments later, knowing the Noble would hear her. "I didn't want to say it like that, but I can't drink your blood, or bite you. I just…" Aido waited. "You're very important to me, and I won't ever do anything that could jeopardize our friendship." They lay in silence again for a long time. Aido had risen his arms to circle Akane's shoulders and draw her closer to his body. She was willingly dragged against him, holding her hunger at bay. This was important! But she couldn't pull herself away from him either. Akane found she was selfish when it came to Aido, so, couldn't let herself get any closer. She knew it confused and upset Aido when she would slip and let her heart rule her head, but she couldn't let it continue.

Soon after, Aido left the warmth of Akane's beautiful bed, explaining he wanted to be alone for a while. Akane didn't want him to leave but didn't push and let him slide out of her arms. She smiled sadly, watching as he glanced over his shoulder at her before closing her bedroom door. Aido walked towards his room, sluggish and dejected by Akane's words again. Friend? Is that it? Turning the corner at the end of the corridor he found Kain leant against the door of their shared room, arms crossed and looking impatient.

"Finally! Lord Kaname asked for us to report to his room and explain what happened with Shizuka Hio." Aido's heartfelt heavier by the minute. He'd witnessed Kaname kill Shizuka. Was Kaname about to interrogate him into keeping his silence? He would never mutter so much as a syllable of what he saw, but did Kaname believe that? Or was he merely looking for an update on Akane after her episode? Either way, he had no choice but to heed the summons of his Vampire Lord.

Kaname answered the door to the Aristocratic Vampires and ushered them inside. He offered them a seat, but both declined. Kain, preferring to stand while Aido felt too stiff and anxious to be able to sit still. Kain began to explain about their suspicions of Maria Kurenai, after the interest she'd shown towards Yuki, Zero and Akane, even going as far as to visit the school during Day Class hours. Then Aido took over and explained what happened after they'd slipped away from the ball. The stranger who took Shizuka's inanimate body from the ice cocoon, and then Kain completed the tale with what he'd witnessed afterwards.
"That's where I found Zero Kiryu, his gun drawn and the corpse of Shizuka Hio already disintegrated into dust at his feet. That's what I saw."

Kaname slumped tiredly into his large, red fabric, mahogany sofa and sighed.
"I see. Zero had reason enough to kill her, but I don't think even he would be so rash. But, if that's what the evidence suggests, I have no choice but to agree, it appears, he killed Shizuka Hio." Aido frowned at Kaname's sincere sounding words. He knew they were a lie. He'd witnessed Shizuka Hio's murder and Kaname was effortlessly pushing the blame onto an innocent. Kiryu had more than enough motive to want her dead, and everyone knows it!

Kaname noticed Aido's thoughtful and troubled look.
"Is there something wrong, Aido?" The Aristocrat jumped at the sudden address but smoothed his ruffled demeanour and answered simply.
"Nothing, Lord Kaname." Kaname accepted his words and gave another dramatic and forlorn sigh as he lent back into the cushion of his chair and brought a hand to his face.
"Whatever the truth, I have no choice but to report the evidence as it stands to the Vampire Council. Regardless, 'someone' has committed the greatest sin, and killed a Pureblood." Kain and Aido remained lost within their thoughts about the situation. "It's sad," Kaname mused into the quiet of the room. "She was given the nickname Kuruizaki-hime when she was just a child. I wonder… was there anyone who ever understood her?"

Akane had laid in bed for most of the following Sunday evening, leaving her room only to use the bathroom. To make matters worse, Aido had kept his distance from her. She'd wanted to seek him out and talk like they used to, but she knew their relationship had taken a severe hit after Shizuka's appearance. They would need time to mend the damage that she'd done. Thinking of Shizuka didn't even bring any sort of comfort or closure. Knowing the reason for all her pain, her mother's murder and her father's torment was dead, she couldn't find it in herself to feel anything but indifferent towards the woman's death. Her existence had meant so much to Akane for so long, now it was as if her existence, or lack, thereof, was meaningless.

By Monday evening, Akane was fully recovered and dressed in her Night Class uniform, waiting in the lobby with the rest of the students, ready for another night of school. Aido stood with her, as always, but he wasn't very talkative and held himself stiffly beside her as if he would jump at the chance to be anywhere else. Akane frowned but didn't mention his upsetting behaviour. Kain also noticed the tension between the two from his usual post beside his cousin and told himself to remember to question him about it.

Akane walked sombrely between Aido and Kain, the screaming of the Day Class sounding like a distant hum to her ears until she was shaken back into focus by Aido greeting his Day Class fans.
"Good evening, everyone. Did you all have sweet dreams of me?" She stared at him, dumbstruck by how easily he could slip into his character for the Humans. She was so surprised, she nearly missed Miu, Kimiko, Yasu, Kenshin and Nori sneaking past an overwhelmed Yuki, to get her attention.

Akane didn't want to see them. She wasn't sure if she could keep her composure if she did. A crazed Pureblood had been in the same school as her friends and she hadn't been able to do a thing about it! What if Shizuka had decided to go on a killing spree within the academy? Who would have been able to stop her? No one, except, maybe Kuran. But Akane knew if she didn't, at least say hello to her friends, they would worry, and that was the last thing she wanted. I guess I have a part to play too, she thought unhappily as she plastered a smile on her face and greeted her friends.

Aido watched Akane out of the corner of his eye once they left the chaos of the Day Class. He'd seen the fake smile she'd used to fool her friends, so they didn't see how fragile she was right now. He'd also seen how Yuki and Zero had watched her, concern evident in the fairer of the Prefect's eyes. He thought he'd leave her to sort her thoughts about Shizuka, out for herself, let her come to him. That had, apparently, been the wrong decision because, after their first lesson, she turned to him with a scowl and dragged him unceremoniously from the room before their ever-tardy Mathematics teacher, had arrived.

"Akane!" he protested loudly as she pulled him down the line of students and out into the hall to stop at the end of the corridor. "What the hell was that for?" Aido complained, straightening out his blazer sleeve.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you ignoring me like this?" Aido stopped fussing with his uniform. He looked at Akane, about to deny her accusation but the angry tears he saw gathering made his throat tighten. This girl had rejected him. When he'd offered her his blood, he'd be lying if he said it wasn't partially for a selfish desire to know what it would feel like, to have Akane's fangs embedded in his skin. But his primary motive had been to save her life. A wound from a Hunter's weapon is not to be taken lightly. Even Purebloods have been known to die from the power contained within the metal of those weapons.

As a Level D Vampire, Akane was lucky to have not turned to dust the moment the blade pierced her body. A lesser Vampire wouldn't even need a killing blow from a Hunter to finish them off. Just to be injured by one of those cursed armaments is enough to kill. For her to reject him at that dire moment, where her death was an alarming possibility, it brought into sharp and unforgiving focus, the position he held in her life, and the fact she would never let them move further. It was a sore and raw mark on his heart. He'd needed time to mourn the future he was only half acknowledging he'd fantasised about. But, if his distance was causing Akane this much anxiety, something she'd had in abundance already, he would put his happiness aside. I could step back and save us both a lot of… trouble. But, we're too selfish for that. She may not want me, but she does need me, as a friend, if nothing else. So, that's what I'll be.

Aido pulled the teary and frustrated girl to his chest and held her. She easily wound her arms around his torso, sighing in relief and relaxing into his embrace.
"I just needed time," Aido began to explain as he swayed on the spot slightly, hoping to soothe her further. "I know you didn't mean to say that the way you did. You don't need to feel bad about it, I'm not mad and I'm not hurt. It was just… a blow to my pride. You know?" Akane looked up at the Idol frowning at the cheery tone he suddenly had.
"Why are you doing that? I'm not one of your Day Class fans. So, don't lie to me!" Aido laughed humourlessly. Who was I trying to kid? Of course, she'd see through that by now.
"You're right, and you're also right about us." Akane's breath caught in her throat. They had never verbalised their attraction towards one another before. Is that what Aido was doing?
"We're friends, and that's all we'll ever be. Right?"

His forehead had fallen to rest against her own and now, Akane found herself staring into azure-blue eyes, hiding so much hope for her to deny his words. "Your involvement with someone of Aido's status, I'm afraid, would cause quite the scandal. But, at your current level, you are just not suitable for Aido. Surely, you're aware of this?" Rin's words stung. She still remembered them clearly and was always surprised by the heavy feeling they caused in her heart. But, he's right. Hanabusa's family are an Aristocratic family, just like the ones I've read about. He'd be disowned if he and I were… involved. I can't ruin his life like that!
"Right." She'd whispered it, hoping the weight of that one word would land more lightly, but she could see when it hit. Aido shut his eyes tight for a moment before releasing Akane and stepping back, leaving the girl with a sudden chill.
"We should head back to class," he said, offering her his hand with a small smile. Akane wanted to cry but sucked up her hurt and helplessness at their situation and stuffed it in a box at the back of her mind. She took his hand and smiled tightly up at him, followed as he lead the way back to class.

After lunch, it seemed the majority of Akane's class had decided to skip out. Kain and Aido amongst them, as well as Ruka, Ichijo and Kaname. Akane, Kyou, Rin, Shiki, and Rime, appeared to be the only Night Class students who cared about Ethics Studies tonight, but Akane was not taking in much of what their teacher was saying. Her mind was too preoccupied with Aido and how she was going to fix what she'd broken in their relationship.

By the time their class was over, Akane had lost all interest in school and wanted, desperately to go somewhere, away from everyone. Without explanation, she gathered her things and walked out of class, unhindered by her teacher or her classmates, and took to stalking the halls until she found herself at the foot of a nostalgic set of stairs. Without a second thought, Akane began to climb the steps and soon enough, she opened the door at the top of the staircase and stepped out into the cool, night air on the roof of the school building.

Just letting the door close, behind her, felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It had been so long since she'd been up here, away from it all, just looking up at the sky for hours. I've missed this, she thought as she sat and gazed up at the shining moon, surrounded by twinkling stars and a dark, clouded sky. Preparing herself for some much-needed silence, Akane leant back and rested as she used to, letting the world move on around her, and let her mind drift to nothing and nowhere.

Aido and Kain had walked around the back of the school, seemingly, aimlessly. They walked in silence, that is until Aido stopped and leant against the stone railing of a small patio area.
"Was it okay to skip out on Miss Nakamura?" Kain asked as he turned to Aido. His cousin turned his head away.
"She's fine, I just didn't feel like classes tonight."
"With your attitude and that expression, I know something happened, not to mention the way you two have been acting since the other night." Although Akane was on his mind, Aido had been dwelling on the knowledge that Kaname had killed Shizuka and told the Vampire Council that it 'looked' as if Zero had committed the crime. Not only that, but he had endlessly speculated on what he'd overheard. What had Kaname meant?
"I will make sure to destroy the one responsible for ruining the destiny of The Purebloods."

"Hay, Akatsuki, how much do you know about Shizuka Hio?" Kain was surprised by the sudden shift in conversation but quickly realised, his cousin had more on his mind than the ex-Human tonight.
"I know she was uncontrollable, a danger to both Humans and Vampires. She went mad and attacked the Kiryu's before going underground. During that time, we now know she found Miss Nakamura and then turned up here. That's it."
"She was ostracised and regarded as a nuisance, but she was still a rare Pureblood." Kain waited, Aido was interested in this woman's story, possibly due to her connection to Akane. He was getting at something, but for some reason, Kain noticed, his cousin seemed unable or unwilling to speak plainly.

"I know she had a Pureblood Fiancé, but my father told me, she started keeping an ex-Human male she'd turned with her, and that she fell in love with him. He hadn't deteriorated into a Level E but had been hunted down and killed by the Kiryu's after he was put on the Hunter's list anyway."
"But if he hadn't fallen to Level E status," Kain interjected. "There'd be no way he should have been on the execution list in the first place."
"I know, but he was, and the Kiryu's ended him. I don't think they knew they were sent after a Pureblood's lover; they were just following orders."

The two stood in contemplation for a long minute as Kain digested the events in the life of the Hio Princess he hadn't known until tonight.
"After that, she attacked the Kiryu family, to avenge her love."
"Whatever the reason, a Pureblood shouldn't have gone after the Hunters. Most Vampires want a peaceful existence alongside Humans, not war and bloodshed."
"Exactly! She had antagonised the Hunters and the Council must have been searching for her relentlessly. Shizuka would have been on the run, fleeing from the Council. Finding Akane had been a happy accident, but a worthwhile one, I'm sure. So, why would she risk exposure again by coming here?" Aido voiced in frustration.
"She was known to have gone insane, perhaps it was another act of madness," Kain offered as an explanation.
"No, that's not it. There was something here she wanted, and I don't think she was the only one looking for it," Aido revealed, thinking again of Kaname's words to the dying woman.

Akane had been up on the roof for a long while. She decided she'd better start back for the dorms in case she got into trouble with her 'master'. Ugh! Akane was still opposed to even think of that man as anything more than her Dorm President. It frustrated her to no end, the amount of adoration he was able to gather from the Night Class with just a wave of his hand. But, she could begrudgingly, understand it, none the less. Purebloods were fearsome creatures, powerful and beautiful, and deadly to all. If any of them chose to, they could wipe out entire cities in a night and continents in a matter of weeks. Bowing down to weapons of mass destruction like that, seemed like a good strategy when considering the alternative, which would be a losing battle. Regardless, Akane was still irritated by the lofty pedestal Purebloods were placed on within Vampire society.

She walked down the staircase, back to the ground level and started for the exit. When she got outside, however, her senses were immediately on high alert. There was the scent of unfamiliar Vampires in the air and the strength suggested they were within the grounds of Cross Academy. With thoughts of protecting her friends, Akane went in search of the intruders and soon she was also able to distinguish Zero and Yuki's scents mingled in with the trespassers.

She moved quickly after the sounds of a scuffle disturbed the quiet of the early morning air and arrived at the scene within the woodlands of the grounds, just as Zero threw an unknown Vampire, dressed in a generic business suit, to the ground. Akane ran to Yuki's side and pulled her away from the fight. The prefect jumped at the sudden touch but slackened in relief at the sight of Akane's reassuring nod and squeeze of her arm. The girls set their eyes back on the clash when the Vampire gave a pained cry.
"You broke my hand!" Zero looked on dispassionately, squeezing the mangled hand in his grasp mercilessly.
"It's a shame there are no 'cheap bargains' for you to find here," Zero spat in the angered face of the Vampire. Akane growled as the other Vampires she'd scented, came out of hiding from the shadows of the trees.

She and Zero instinctively placed Yuki behind them then stood with their backs to one another, creating a defensive circle around the Human.
"Defeating me, will not save you. Your fate is death, Zero Kiryu!" Akane's eyes flashed in anger. These Vampires had infiltrated the school to attack Zero. Why?
"You two, get out of here! This has nothing to do with you!" Akane arched a brow and turned to glance at Yuki out of the corner of her eye.
"What is it with men telling us what to do, Cross?" Yuki laughed humourlessly and brandished her staff threateningly.
"I have no idea," she replied confidently.

A Vampire dove at Akane, but before she could do much more than ready for impact, the Vampire was a pile of ash and clothes at her feet. She blinked down at the remains in startled silence before the mingling of multiple scents in the air started making sense. The Night Class had appeared from, seemingly nowhere, and surrounded the would-be assassins and their prey. All eyes landed on Kaname. The Vampires bowed to the Pureblood, drawing a sneer of disgust from Akane.
"It was inevitable for Zero Kiryu to hunt down Shizuka Hio for what she did." What? "Why do the Board of Ancients feel executing Zero Kiryu will preserve the so-called sanctity of Purebloods?"
"Lord Kaname," began one of the kneeling Vampires. "If a Pureblood, such as yourself, stands in our way, we cannot complete our duty to the Council. Please, take your honourable classmates, and leave this cretin to us."

Akane visibly bristled at the slight at Zero that Yuki had to pull her back from swinging at the ponytailed kiss-ass. Kaname's eyes became deadly slits.
"Perhaps I haven't made myself clear in the past. This academy is very dear to me, and I will not tolerate any foolish acts of revenge carried out by the Council's dogs!" The Vampire had been about to protest again, when his shoulder suddenly exploded, leaving his arm a limp, bloodied, mangled mess. He screamed in agony as he rolled around on the floor, cursing and pleading.

"Disappear," Kaname ordered as his comrades picked up the injured Vampire and began stepping back cautiously and slowly.
"What's the matter?" Akane asked after the Vampires stopped at the treeline and glared passed her at Zero. "You don't speak Pureblood? He said, get out!" They growled at her but did leave, none of them being able to keep eye contact with her black-red eyes for long.
"The fact you have chosen to protect Zero Kiryu will be reported back to the Vampire Council, Lord Kaname," were the parting words of the Vampires as they faded into the forest.

Akane turned back just as Kaname stopped before Yuki and Zero, showing the Human his concerned face, but Akane's eyes narrowed. He said Zero hunted that woman down. That's not right!
"Are you alright, Yuki?" The Pureblood asked concerned.
"I'm fine, but there's no reason for them to be targeting Zero for this," Yuki said as she stepped back from Kaname's caressing hand at her cheek.
"That's right!" Akane interjected moving beside Yuki. "The witch was dead or dying before Kiryu left the room, I could smell it from across the building. I couldn't smell anything else; the scent of her blood was so strong."

Kaname considered Akane for a moment before tilting his head with a thoughtful expression.
"And why were you not in class, Miss Nakamura?"
"Why weren't you, Kuran?" Akane countered petulantly, folding her arms. Ruka tsked from her vantage point at the treeline but had learned to hold her tongue when criticising the Pureblood's progeny in his presence.
"Why did you defend me, Kuran? What's in it for you?" Zero asked suspiciously gaining the slightly amused Pureblood's attention.
"Because I simply will not tolerate, the execution of a schoolmate by foolish members of my race for groundless reasons." Then why did you say, 'it was inevitable'? Akane frowned. Something wasn't adding up and Aido could see from across the clearing, the cogs turning in her head.

Zero stalked away, followed by a skittish Yuki, who bowed to the Night Class and said a swift 'thank you' to Akane as she ran to catch up with her partner.
"Why do they think he did it?" Akane demanded of her master as he began to walk back towards the dorms.
"Akane, not now!" Aido urged, trying to lessen the anger her still very dark eyes portrayed.
"No! I want to know!"
"Because they are unwilling or unable to look past the circumstantial evidence presented to them," Kaname replied without turning to address the ex-Human.
"Three guesses where that circumstantial evidence originates," Akane snarled at his back.

"Akane!" Aido said pulling her to a stop, letting the others walk on, many of them sending her hateful or reproachful glances. "Stop this!"
"But he didn't do it!"
"I know!" Akane's attention diverted to him. "I know he didn't, and Lord Kaname knows he didn't either." It wasn't a lie, Kaname knew full well Zero had not murdered Shizuka, but Aido daren't say more in case Akane wrought the unpleasant rewards for her disrespect. Kaname was a fair leader, but Aido knew, Akane had tested his patience many times already tonight.

Akane questioned Aido until the sun came up about how Zero had been implicated, but Aido could reveal nothing and, eventually, he escaped her interrogation and left her in her room. So, with no other alternative and a dangerous urge to anger her master, Akane went in search of the Pureblood. She found Kaname, walking the lower halls with Ichijo, discussing what, she couldn't hear.
"Kuran!" she called as she jogged up to the two towering Vampires.
"Miss Nakamura, I thought you'd be in bed?" Ichijo enquired cheerily.
"No," she said glancing at the blond before her attention set on Kaname. "I want you to tell me why the Vampire Council are looking to kill Kiryu for the death of that witch. They locked her away for her entire life for being a danger."
"The Vampire Council have been dealt with, Miss Nakamura. They will not appear again; you don't have to worry."
"I'm not worried, I'm furious! That bitch was a murderer and they're targeting a Hunter because it's convenient. Why do they think Kiryu killed her?"

Kaname didn't respond and soon Akane became frustrated with his silence.
"What is it? Is it because I'm not Yuki Cross that you won't answer me?"
"Oh, you noticed that too," Ichijo interrupted, not realising the sudden chill in the air from the Pureblood's ire, but Akane noticed and took a step back from her master. "I do wonder why Kaname seems to act differently when Yuki is around. So Kaname, wanna tell us why?" Ichijo's teasing question was answered by a thunderous crash and crack of the wall just right of his head. The wall behind him had a head-sized crater as if it had been pushed with great force until the stone just buckled under the pressure. Kaname had not intended to unleash that much power and had been about to apologise for frightening the two when Akane scowled fiercely before she turned and walked quickly away. The two Vampires remained where they stood until the dull thud of a door slamming in the distance told them Akane had reached her room. Kaname sighed.
"I'm sorry Takuma. I wasn't controlling the level of power well enough, but I'll get used to it."

The next night, Akane kept herself as far away from Kaname as possible. She sat in the furthest seat from his, walked as far back from him as she could, and refused to make eye contact or even look in his general direction if she could help it. He knew he'd frightened her, as he knew he would do, again. But it made it no less… upsetting? He was unsure if that was the correct word. Disappointing was probably the closest description for the feeling he had regarding his relationship with his progeny. Regardless, he ignored her distance and allowed her to widen the gap as much as she needed. He didn't need to drag her into his plans yet. He hoped he wouldn't have to, but so far, the universe had a desire to place his progeny in some of the most dangerous and damaging positions she could be in.

To have some time to his thoughts and refocus his mind on his plans, Kaname took a walk through the halls of the school building. Classes would be over soon, so Kaname knew he didn't have long to wait until he could lock his door and fall onto his bed in the futile attempt to sleep off his unhelpful thoughts. This was where he met Zero, lent against the wall of the corridor to the exit of the building, glaring at him coldly. Kaname stopped and considered the prefect with an irritated glare. Here was the boy who had, not only fed on the blood of his love but his progeny as well. I despise that boy!

"What can I do for you Kiryu?"
"It was you wasn't it?" Zero accused. "After I injured Shizuka, you killed her." Kaname held his silence, tilting his head thoughtfully at Zero. "I've heard the flesh and blood of a Pureblood grant tremendous power…"
"Would you have drunk it?" Kaname interrupted the prefect. "You must have wanted to? I even left some behind for you…" Zero's eyes widened. Kaname was not only admitting to the murder of a Pureblood but that he'd intended for him to drink from Shizuka. Zero couldn't understand why Kaname would want to do anything that could be interpreted as aiding him, his interference with the Vampire Council on his behalf had been baffling enough. But, this…?

"Why would you…?"
"It's irritating Kiryu, how envious I am of you, for being able to protect the girl you love." Zero stiffened as the Pureblood neared him and stood, leaning into his face.
"But know this, it is because of me you can protect Yuki. I'm leaving her in your care… for now." With that said, Kaname stepped back and turned away. He returned to class to gather the students and walk them back to The Moon Dorms. He noted, Zero had not been present when they reached the dorms.