The Moon Dorms was abuzz with activity a week after the Aido party. It was the end of term and the students of the Night and Day Classes were getting ready to spend time with their families. Aido had invited Akane to the villa he and his cousins would be staying, but Akane correctly guessed this would not be allowed by his father. A letter arrived the next day, confirming her assumption. Aido had called his father immediately, requesting to stay at the academy during the break after he hadn't been able to persuade his father Akane had to come due to Kaname's orders.
"I'm also in the middle of important research, Father." Not a complete lie, he still had the Unfortunate bloodlines to follow. However, this had been swiftly denied by his father, who insisted his son return home as Kaname and Ichijo had accepted his invitation to spend their break with the Aido family.
"I will not have your childish ways, undermine this household. You will return and host the heir to the Ichijo family and our Pureblood Lord!" At this point, the line had gone dead.
Kaname was uncomfortable leaving Akane on her own for such a length of time. A night spent at a party was one thing, but weeks? Also, Akane had been more accepting of Kaname's presence as of late and he couldn't deny the lift in his heart when she'd greet him curtly in reply to his acknowledgement when they passed in the corridors. When he'd accepted Aido senior's invitation, it was without giving it a second thought, but on reflection, he'd realised, his Progeny would, once again, be unwelcome. Kaname was a Kuran, of course, and could've brought Akane if he wished, with or without his host's consent, which he'd fully intended to do, but Akane had fervently rejected his offer when he'd come to her room after hearing about Aido's failed attempt to remain at the academy.
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care and entertaining myself, Kuran. Besides, you shouldn't make your host uncomfortable. That's not very Princely of you." Though she'd scoffed and closed the door in his face, her tone had been playful rather than scathing, a welcomed change that left him feeling less anxious about abandoning her. Is that what this feeling is? Hmm?
Come Saturday morning, when everyone was ready for their first real school break in months, Akane was carrying one of Aido's many bags down the stairs while he listed off the reasons, she should ignore his father and come with him.
"You'll be bored without me, and you know it!" he concluded, taking his bag from her on reaching the gate to The Moon Dorms courtyard.
"Oh, however, will I survive without my handsy, whiny friend, who doesn't understand the term TMI?"
"It's commoner's slang! How am I supposed to know that?!"
His complaints amused Akane. She was a little upset she wouldn't be able to stay with Aido though. They'd managed to get back to almost normal, though Aido didn't stay later than midday studying in her room anymore, and he was less physical than he'd been before, but that's good, boundaries are good. She was also glad to have a break from all the Vampire madness for a while. She was looking forward to just spending time by herself, reading or maybe just finally being able to slide down the bannister of the stairs every morning to breakfast. Morning. Akane had got used to the Night Class sleep schedule by now, but it still felt weird to be curling up in bed to sleep when the sun was rising into the sky, so she was happy to know she could go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow to a silent and stress-free morning.
Aido's grumbling continued in the courtyard as he dragged his other suitcase behind him. Akane stood beside the car that was taking Aido and Co to his villa, shaking her head at his complaining and urging him to give his bags to the waiting driver. Ichijo, seeing the unhappy frown on the blond's face, just couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him a little.
"Oh, Miss Nakamura, I'll miss you so much!" He cried as he scampered up to Akane and pulled her into a tight hug. Akane stood immobile. Shock and confusion evident on her face at the sudden attack on her personal space. Before she had time to feel too overly uncomfortable, Ichijo released her, instead, deciding to hold her hands in a soft grip. "I had hoped you'd have accepted MY invitation to spend the break with me at one of my families' villas. It would be so fun! We both enjoy reading. I could show you more of my collection. Oh, please say you'll reconsider and come home with me? I could help you pack."
He inwardly smirked when he caught a glimpse of Aido out of his periphery. He'd pushed every button to irritate him and his efforts had been rewarded by a death glare as cold as the element he wielded.
"Ha, ha, or not." Akane chuckled nervously and shook herself a little for allowing herself to get so on edge by Ichijo and his teasing. She knew what he was doing was all in jest to annoy Aido, but she did wish he would keep her out of it. Aido was still the only Vampire, she trusted enough to be so forward with her, so when Ichijo just threw himself at her like that, it sent her heart into the air.
"Knock it off Vice Pres! I told you not to grab Akane like that."
"It's fine Hanabusa, he's just teasing." Aido humped, pulling Akane away from the green-eyed idiot for good measure.
"I'm just sad Miss Nakamura will be spending her break alone. It's bad enough we're separated as it is. Shiki and Rima are going home to their families too, and you're only fun when Miss Nakamura's around…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichijo, now bored with annoying Aido, turned from the blond and his comically twitching eyebrow to address the Disciplinary Committee members making sure the Vampires were getting into their allocated cars and not sneaking off in the hustle and bustle of everyone leaving (Zero).
Aido continued to grumble at the Vampire's back while he finally picked up the bag, he'd been lugging behind him and handed it to his, still, patiently waiting driver to place in the back of the car.
"That guy! My blood pressure won't survive two weeks stuck with him. Are you sure about staying?" Akane smiled.
"I'll be fine, now get going. Don't keep your family waiting."
"Miss Nakamura," Kaname's voice sounded, getting the attention of the pair. He stopped before them and held out an envelope to Akane. "This is the key to The Moon Dorms. If you require anything while I'm gone, use the number I've left on my desk to contact Headmaster Cross or myself." She nodded, accepting the envelope. Kaname walked away leaving Akane to watch Aido slid into the car with Kain and Ruka and waved him off. Once he was gone, she walked back into The Moon Dorms, standing in the quiet lobby for a moment. The plush, cushioned couches, beckoning her to sink into their softness for a quick cat nap, in the seating area under the stairs.
Yuki watched the Vampires as they filed out of The Moon Dorms, said their goodbyes to one another and entered their cars without complaint. Only a handful of students were left by the time Ichijo hopped over to her with a happy smile at the nuisance he'd just made of himself with Aido.
"Ah! Yuki, Kiryu. Good morning!" he said waving to them happily.
"Good morning. Have a safe trip," Yuki said, bowing to the Vice President of The Moon Dorms. Zero turned away, disinterested in the energetic Vampire.
"You always work so hard Yuki. I hope you can relax while we're gone." The blond smiled fondly at the shy look on the girl's face. "Kaname!" he greeted the Pureblood as he neared after speaking with Akane and Aido. "Did you give Miss Nakamura the key?"
"Yes. Surprisingly, I did manage that small task."
"Oh, someone's going to be fun for the next few weeks." Ichijo laughed as he left the Prefects to the Pureblood and climbed into his car.
Kaname turned to Yuki with a warm smile at her unsure expression. Both males' notices when Yuki hid behind Zero.
"Yuki?" Kaname called gently. Yuki peeked at the Vampire from behind Zero's larger frame. "I know you meant what you said before. So, don't worry about it anymore, ok?" He patted Yuki's head affectionally calming the girl's insecure feelings about their relationship. With her fears about his thoughts of her addresses, Kaname then asked for a moment to speak with Zero alone. Yuki looked sceptically between the two before Kaname reassured they'd play nice. She wasn't wholly convinced of that, but she didn't think they'd cause a racket out in the open. She smiled and wished Kaname a good break before reminding Zero to be present when the Day Class were due to leave, then left the two to talk.
Once Yuki was gone, Kaname discreetly checked the road for eavesdroppers. Aido and Kain's car had left, so Akane had gone back into the dorm. Ichijo was already in their car and the others had already left. Zero waited for the Vampire to speak while he grumbled to himself about what the pompous prick could want with him now.
"There's just one thing I want from you, Kiryu. Make sure to take care of Yuki and watch Miss Nakamura, especially while I'm gone. That's all, nothing too taxing for an accomplished Hunter, I'm sure." Kaname turned to get into the car when a thought occurred to him. "Oh, also, if you see a child near the… actually, never mind. It's nothing. Well, enjoy your break Mr Prefect." Kaname left Zero standing on the side of the road, scowling at the limousine that took him to the Aido villa.
Yuki walked back to The Sun Dorms, smiling shyly at Kaname's reassurance. The way he'd patted her head so gently had caused so many butterflies in her stomach. She was almost to the gates of the down when Kaien came running up to her, panting and flailing comically.
"Yuki! Miss Kurenai is awake! Maria's awake!" She gasped, turning quickly back towards The Moon Dorms to collect Zero, so they could all speak to the young Vampire. They all wanted to understand what had happened between herself and Shizuka Hio. Also, Maria had been frightened when she'd woken and demanded Kaien bring Ichiru and Shizuka.
Once they reached the infirmary, however, Zero lingered outside the door. The last time he'd seen Maria she'd been a lifeless body lying limp in the corner of a room while his master tormented him. He took a moment to compose himself and then opened the door to step inside.
"There you are…" A small, warm body crashed into Zero as he entered the room. "Ichiru!" Maria was dressed in a white cotton nightgown that fell to her feet with a long, lavender dressing gown layered over to keep her warm. "You lied Headmaster Cross, Ichiru is right here!"
"But that's not…" Kaien tried to correct.
"Ichiru, this man is mean!" Maria complained, staring up at Zero's face imploringly. "He said Lady Shizuka is dead! It's not true, is it Ichiru?" Maria looked closely at the face of the boy she clung too, the bewildered and stunned amethyst eyes, the slightly blanched complexion and the rigidness of his stance. "Wait, you're not Ichiru. Are you… Zero?"
Maria's eyes filled with tears as she realised the truth in Kaien's words of what happened when she'd been possessed by Shizuka. She freed Zero and fell to her knees.
"Miss Kurenai!" Yuki cried rushing to steady the girl.
"So, it's true then. She found you and really did die." Yuki and Kaien helped the weakened Vampire back to her bed.
"So, you met with Lady Shizuka and Ichiru then?" Kaien asked once Yuki made up and handed a glass tumbler of water and blood tablets to the sickly girl. Maria nodded.
"Yes. Lady Shizuka came to me with Ichiru and asked if she could borrow my body. She said she could make my weak body stronger. I did it so my parents wouldn't have to worry about me so much. The Hio and Kurenai families are cousins, so she could take over my body without causing any damage and in turn, her power would heal my broken body, but now, she's gone."
The room fell into silent contemplation as everyone digested the information they'd heard. Maria watched Zero as he leant against the wall of the infirmary, an angry scowl on his face. She'd noticed his grimace had deepened each time Shizuka or Ichiru had bene mentioned and felt compelled to explain her cousin's actions, compelled to defend the honour of a Pureblood.
"Zero, Lady Shizuka attacked your parents because they killed the man she loved!" Maria rushed to Zero, gripped and clung to his arm. Her dark lavender eyes looked up at him desperately. "He was Human once and she turned him. He'd been the only man to ever love her in the way she'd needed. When he was taken from her, she'd been filled with so much hurt, hate and anger that she never accepted the love of another again." He stared wide-eyed and overwhelmed by the desperation in Maria's voice. "Even though, in the end, it killed her, I know Lady Shizuka never regretted loving that Human or what she did in her grief!"
Kaien steadied Maria, gently drawing her away from the startled boy, scolding her lightly for putting undue stress on her body after being unconscious for weeks.
"Come on you two, we should let Miss Kurenai rest for now." The trio made to leave but as Zero was about to shut the infirmary door, Maria sat up in her bed and called him.
"Zero!" He looked up. "There's something you need to know about what happened."
"What?" Zero spat tiredly.
"The truth." Zero's frown deepened but he turned back into the room to give Maria his full attention. "When your parents were ordered to kill Lady Shizuka's lover, the order didn't come from The Hunters Association." Zero's heart dropped. Hunters only took orders from the association. To kill a Vampire without due cause or being given the execution order, was against the treaty and an offence, punishable by death. "The order came from someone who couldn't let a Pureblood like Lady Shizuka love an ex-Human. She found out and put all her efforts into finding the one responsible. She never told me who it was, but she did tell me that they're a pure-blooded Vampire. They're your true enemy, and the enemy of Lady Shizuka."
Zero left the room and closed the door. Yuki and Kaien stood in the corridor beside him and had heard what Maria had revealed but both were more concerned by Zero's quiet and morose expression. The lack of a more physical or violent reaction was telling.
"Are you ok, Zero?" Yuki asked gently.
"Yeah, she's not Shizuka so…" Kaien sent a meaningful look to Yuki before he left her to speak with Zero. He knew Zero was more likely to speak more freely to Yuki than with himself, besides, he had information to corroborate.
The teens walked through the school building to the exit in silence, until Yuki, eventually broke it with something, she hoped, would put Zero's mind at ease somewhat.
"Miss Kurenai won't be staying at the academy," she began. "She told the headmaster she wanted to go home to her parents." Zero didn't reply but did stop in the corridor to take a moment to breathe. Yuki stood behind him, waiting for him to calm himself. She sighed, looking out of the window, over the main courtyard entrance of the school building and the few Day Class students chatting together before they left for their break. She remembered how jealous she used to be of her classmates getting to be together with their families during their breaks.
"You know something?" Yuki began thoughtfully. "I think I'm very lucky. I mean, I have Kaien, Kaname, You and Yori, of course. I used to think that, maybe, my parents had abandoned me, leaving a young child out in a snowstorm like that." Yuki saw the pity in Zero's gaze as he turned to look at her and immediately wanted to recoil. She hadn't meant to sound so pathetic and didn't want Zero's pity. "Oh, I don't remember them, so I don't have any attachment to their memory. I don't remember anything from that long ago so, don't worry about it."
"You don't have to act with me," Zero replied gently. "Kuran's always been the one you talk to about that stuff but even I know there are times when you're frightened that you can't remember anything." He wanted to let her know she could rely on him too when she needed someone to talk to. She'd been willing to be the shoulder he cried on when he first came to Kaien's door, even when he didn't want her. She was always there whenever he needed her.
"Zero," Yuki asked eventually, her voice small and hesitant. "Do you think, if I became a Vampire, I'd be stronger? That my heart wouldn't be so weak-willed?" Zero physically flinched at the thought of Yuki as a Vampire. The fear he'd always had with Yuki being so close with Kaname was that, someday, he'd take her away to a place Zero couldn't follow. "Don't worry!" she exclaimed at his sudden shock. "Kaname didn't really mean it when he asked me if I wanted to become a Vampire."
"But you said yes, didn't you?" Zero asked coolly.
She couldn't look him in the eye. She didn't need to answer. They both knew her answer to such a question, despite the conflicting emotions they both felt at the idea, Yuki would always say yes to Kaname. Zero's gaze hardened.
"I will never let you turn into something like that, even if I make the great, Kaname Kuran, my enemy!" He leant into her space, his shadow falling over them both. "Even if you hate me in the end, I'll never let it happen!" He stalked away, his anger and hurt at the girl rising, along with his fears and insecurities of the Pureblood who clearly had her heart. Painfully clearly. Yuki's eyes watered. I upset him again.
Zero walked aimlessly for nearly half an hour before he found himself staring up at the last place he expected to wander. The Moon Dorms was bathed in the early afternoon sun, giving the grand building a bright and inviting feel due to the lack of vampiric energy that usually leaked from the building like a suffocating fog. Zero was almost fooled by the façade, but one Vampire still resided in the building and Zero felt an unwarranted need to see her.
Akane was sound asleep, lost to the comfort of the cushions of the couch in the lobby when the doors to the dorms slammed open. She startled so violently she fell off the sofa, scrambling to her feet, panicked and breathless. Her heart raced as Zero strode in, slamming the doors shut as he did, glaring unapologetically into the room.
"What the fuck, Kiryu! Are you trying to scare me to death?" His glare hardened as he reached the seating area beneath the stairs, angrily throwing himself down into one of the chairs.
Akane stared in bewilderment, waiting for him to enlighten her as to why he thought it was perfectly rational for him to storm into the dorm, scaring her awake and not so much as uttering an explanation. She closed her eyes, counted back from five and breathed deep to calm herself before she attempted to get to the bottom of the teen's rotten mood. Once she was sure she wasn't on the verge of slapping him, she sat down in a seat beside the chair the Hunter brooded in.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Shut up!"
Akane bristled. Her face frowned deeply, and her lips pursed. Swallowing her more colourful retorts for his sake, she bowed her head and counted back from five again, pushing her palms into the cushion of the couch. He was obviously angry about something and clearly couldn't talk to anyone else about it. Otherwise, why the hell would he come here?
"Still such a gentleman I see."
"It's nothing!" Zero spat, although, his tone was less hostile this time. "You're the last Vampire in the academy. I'm making sure you don't cause trouble while the headmaster's distracted with the students leaving for break." She was unamused by his distrustful words but recognised the excuse he was spouting. He didn't know why he was there.
"And I thought Cross was a terrible liar. Compared to her, you suck!" Akane scoffed as she stood and made to walk away. "Oh, and pun, intended!" She bit back, reminding him she wasn't the only one left at the academy with fangs. Like he could forget. Bitch!
"Where are you going?" Zero demanded, sitting up straighter in his seat.
"To the kitchen, if that's ok with you, oh, Mr Hunter, Sir." Akane curtsied sarcastically before turning down the corridor, mumbling her annoyance at the prefect. I thought I wouldn't have to deal with Vampire shit for, at least a day!
Zero sat quietly and uncomfortably in The Moon Dorms entrance. The place was dim due to the heavy curtains in front of the large, floor-to-ceiling windows, but more than bright enough for a Vampire's eyes. It still smelled of Vampire, even if the scent was lessened. Akane's scent, however, was thick in the air. He could almost taste it on his tongue. He leant his head back over the back of the chair. How could Yuki be so stupid? How could she even think about become a monster like them? A desire to know what Akane would think about Yuki's acceptance of becoming a Vampire filtered through his mind. Would she think nothing of it? Would she be happy, willing to teach Yuki and guide her with Kaname? Would she be angry, like he was? Did she regret her choice? This thought swam in his head more often than he cared to acknowledge. Does she see the same thing I see when I look in the mirror?
Akane returned, carrying a plate and a cup with steam rising invitingly from the rim.
"I'm not hungry," Zero said dismissively as she went to sit back down.
"Who said this was for you?" They frowned at each other as Akane settled back into her chair, placing her plate and cup on the granite coffee table. She'd made herself a quick ham and mustard sandwich and brewed some tea, but it was more than tea in the cup, and she was nervous about her decision and more than unsure of her reason for doing it. Zero's nose picked up a scent in the air, one he was not likely to forget. "This is for you," Akane said as she pushed the cup of cinnamon tea across the table to the Hunter, tea she'd laced with her blood.
Zero's face darkened, more so for his want to drink the tea than her offer. Her blood excited his senses, awakening his thirst. He looked from the innocent-looking cup into hard emerald. Akane started back unflinching and adamant. She knew, even though he was feeding on Yuki more than he used to, he still hadn't fed as often as he should, to keep his beast in check. She couldn't allow him to continue like this. He put everyone in danger if he was left to deny his needs.
"Why would you…?"
"You know why." His eyes were cold, but his heart stuttered as her gaze darkened for a moment. He looked away, shifting in his seat, disquieted by her accusatory eyes. "If you keep ignoring it, you know what will happen. I'm the last person who should need to tell you that."
"I know!"
"Then why do you let yourself get like this? Why don't you take the tablets?"
"I can't take them," Zero growled but Akane sneered.
"You can, you're just so disgusted by yourself, you've convinced yourself you deserve to suffer!" She was angry, angry for him and with him, but most of all, she was angry with Kaien. He should be dealing with you better! He shouldn't be letting you use his daughter as a crutch, and he shouldn't be letting her enable you in the process!
There was no reason the Blood Tablets shouldn't work for Zero as they did for everyone else. He was a Human who became a Vampire and so was she. They both had Hunter blood, and both were turned in their teens. The tablets had been extensively tested and were found to be compatible with any and all Vampire's who'd taken them. Even Level-E's had been tested and though their instincts drove them to feed, insatiably, even they had shown signs of satisfaction during the experimental stages. So Akane was convinced Zero's problem was a subconscious one.
"How else am I supposed to see myself? I'm a monster! Disgusting!" Zero lashed, angrily rising to his feet and pacing.
"So's your brother." Akane jibed, resting back into her seat and folding her arms and crossing her legs, her eyes, daring him to disagree. "But at least he's still Human. Right?" He frowned, rubbing his hands over his face in a show of frustration before he sank into the couch opposite her. He observed her, watching as she eyed him, her face, a mask of indifference. Aido's rubbing off on her.
"You don't think you're a monster?"
"I'm a Vampire."
Her answer was simple, final, her tone filled with a conviction Zero hadn't heard from her before. Granted, this was the first time he'd ever had a true conversation with the girl. She leant forward, drawing Zero in with her cold, forest gaze.
"I am under no illusion of what I am Kiryu. I have instincts and urges I don't understand and that scare me at times, but I'm still Akane Nakamura and I know who I am." He was surprised by Akane's declaration and was, begrudgingly, becoming more frustratingly intrigued by the minute. "Regardless of these new instincts, new rules, expectations and limitations, I won't ever do anything that is not fundamentally me! I trust Akane. Why don't you trust Zero? Or is it more, you never gave yourself the chance to know him?"
Normally, Zero would have brushed off or yelled and walked away from anyone who'd talked to him like that. It was absurd to him to consider himself anything but the soulless beast he'd been taught to believe. But Akane's eyes had him locked in place. Her clear voice had his ears pricked and his mind focused on what she said. The scent of her blood from the cup drew his attention to the loathing he held, draped like a blanket around himself, at his desire for her blood. He hated how much he wanted it.
Akane's eyes shifted to the cup as Zero's lingered. She could see the internal struggle, need battling revulsion, acceptance battling denial.
"You need to wean yourself off her and come to terms with what you are. You also need to understand and accept that what you are has nothing to do with who you are, unless you make it all you are." His eyes were more open than she'd ever seen them as he looked at her. She could see his bitterness, his pain, his regret and his fear. So many negative emotions clouded his mind, drowning him before he was aware, he was sinking.
Zero was caught again. Her eyes weren't as cold as before, she was searching as if she was peeking past his barriers and looking into his soul. How could she just accept everything so easily? How could she break it down to something so simple to say but so difficult to achieve?
"Who I am, will disappear one day," he uttered, a vulnerability in his tone at admitting out loud one of his greatest fears. Akane scrutinised him, her face showing the pity she had for him for a fleeting moment before she leant forward and picked up the cup and held it out to him.
"Then fight to make that day as far away from now as you can." He stared at the steaming mug, the scent beckoning him sweetly.
Eventually, his hand rose, and he took the cup and sipped at the tea experimentally. He was surprised that, despite the scent, Akane hadn't put much of her blood into the tea. She read the question in his eyes and leant back into the couch with a shrug, getting more comfortable, now that the Hunter was calming down.
"I read that it made it easier for some when they first turned to add it to more accepted foods and drinks. Makes the transition easier on the psyche." Zero was quietly grateful she hadn't said the words Blood or Vampire in her explanation.
They sat in companionable silence for a long time, long enough for Akane to retrieve some books from her room and bring them down to the granite table between them. Zero's eyes following her as she did. She'd purposefully selected a varied collection, keeping the romance to a minimum and the supernatural out of the selection altogether. She laid them out and made a show of picking up each book and reading the synopsis before settling on a historical thriller. Her eyes flicked to Zero as she leant back to read, nodding her head to the table, inviting Zero to choose a book if he wished, then ignoring him. Despite his initial rejection of the idea, a cover had drawn his attention the moment Akane had picked it up during her choosing and he was fighting with himself on whether he should take her offer to hideout in The Mood Dorms or leave. He chose the former, picked up the book and read the back. He didn't see as her eyes flicked to him as he'd moved. She was curious about the genre he'd chosen. Mystery, hmm.
An hour later, Zero was lounging on one of the couches in The Moon Dorms, reading his mystery novel with gusto. Akane, on the other hand, had enough of reading for today and was bored. She was not someone who could sink into a book for long and honestly, hadn't been able to finish any of the books Ichijo had lent to her so fat. She'd just read until she got bored then swapped it out for something else. Zero, she noticed was very much a reader and enjoyed being ensnared by an author's words for hours.
She looked over at the large grandfather style clock near the entrance to the passage to the kitchens, noting the time was nearly 3 p.m.
"The Day Class will be leaving soon." Zero's head lifted from the pages and glanced at the time on the clock. He sat up, dropping the book onto the table, knowing he couldn't hide away forever and should help Yuki make sure everyone left ok. He observed Akane as she looked at him from the corner of her eye before turning to the door and sighing lightly. She stood and began stacking the books to take them back to her room when Zero spoke.
"You haven't been here during a full break before." It was a statement rather than a question but Akane nodded in affirmation, continuing to stack. "If you don't make any trouble… I'll take you to say goodbye to that friend of yours before she leaves."
Akane stopped stacking, her head shooting up to look at him in shock and tentative hopefulness.
"Really?" Zero was uneased by the little flutter his stomach did at seeing a small smile start to stretch out her lips. He nodded, standing and walked around the table towards the door. "You'll do what I tell you and no whining if I decide to bring you back early." Akane nodded eagerly, trotting after him to the door while he walked with a scowl and his hands stuffed in his pockets. "And, I am a gentleman, actually," Zero grumbled as he pulled the door and held it for her. She grinned, eyeing the Hunter as she stepped out of the door, falling into step beside him as they walked out of the gates of The Moon Dorms.
He glowered unhappily as himself. Why had he offered to take her to see her friends? What did he care if she was going to be alone for the next few weeks? What did he care that she'd been nice to him? She was a Vampire! She was one of them. She'd said so herself.
"How can you say it?" Akane looked up at Zero at his question. He was still glaring ahead and despite his lack of clarification, she understood what he was referring to. She'd battled with the notion herself since her first day as a Vampire and still struggled at times but knew lying to herself would only confuse her further.
She contemplated her answer for a minute, wanting to choose her words carefully and truthfully. Zero was the only person who could understand what it felt like to be a turned Vampire, although his situation and circumstances differed greatly.
"Because… it hurts." Her voice was light, almost wistful. Zero turned to look at her expression which he noted had fallen as her honesty displayed itself. "I guess, I can't help torturing myself sometimes too." They continued to the main entrance in silence which was soon broken by the commotion of the Day Class getting into their cars and saying goodbye to their friends. Akane waved to Naomi as she slipped into her car, spotting her younger friend and waving back enthusiastically, calling out a farewell.
Akane eventually spotted Kohaku and Miu, hugging as they said their goodbyes beside their respective cars. She ran off to her friends, leaving the sullen prefect to catch up. Akane weaved through the cars and students, wishing those she knew an enjoyable break from school until she was close enough to call to her friends.
"Miu! Kohaku!" she cried. The pair turned surprised eyes on their friend running to them with a happy grin and open arms. They smiled excitedly, meeting their friend with open arms and wide smiles as she enveloped them in a warm, tight hug.
"Akane! What are you doing here?" Miu worried.
"You'll get in trouble," Kohaku chuckled. Akane released them, shaking her head.
"Don't worry, Kiryu's chaperoning, so I have the Prefect stamp of approval!" Akane said as Zero reached them, standing beside them all with an irritable frown.
Miu and Kohaku looked up at the prefect then at Akane and each other.
"Excuse us!" Kohaku said as Miu pulled her friend a few steps away from the boy.
"Ok, blink twice if you've been kidnapped!" Miu whispered urgently, holding tightly to Akane's arms and staring deeply into her eyes. Zero whipped his head around to them scandalised by the insinuation. Akane laughed. Oh, God, Miu! He can still hear you!
"Nothing's wrong Miu. He was checking everyone had left The Moon Dorms already and agreed to escort me to see you. Besides, he thinks I'm far too irritating, if he was kidnapping me, he'd bring me back within a day."
"Within the hour!" Zero called, causing Miu's eyes to shrink into slits as she turned to him. She made an 'I'm watching you' gesture before focusing back on Akane.
She was upset to learn Akane would be alone for the next two weeks with no one to keep her company and quickly offered for her to come home with her. She'd have thought Aido would have stayed to keep her company.
"I can't Miu. It's against school rules. A student must be collected by a parent, guardian or a pre-agreed individual, known to the student to leave the academy. My parents are working, and I don't have any other family I can go to, so I have to stay, but it's ok. I'll see you when you get back, so have fun at home and congratulate your sister and brother-in-law again for me, ok?"
Kohaku's uncle called, getting impatient to leave with his niece. She grumbled but hugged her friends tight then climbed into her car. Miu complained as Akane walked her to her car and opened the door to the passenger's seat for her. Miu's father thanked her for getting his daughter to make a move.
"You missed Kimiko. She left already, but I'll see her during the break and let her know you said hi."
"Thanks," Akane smiled, hugging her friend one last time before she got into her car, winding the window down so she could wave as the car drove off. Alane waved at her friends before turning a beaming smile back at Zero, who was genuinely surprised she could smile like that after lying to her friend.
Her parents were dead, murdered, not working, and the only family she had left were likely to kill her as soon as look at her. Hunters have always had an unspoken rule that families have the authority over their own should a member be turned. Whichever family Akane belonged too, they could invoke that right and terminate her without fear of any consequence from the association. He wondered if she even knew that or even what family she belonged too. But he didn't voice these thoughts and lead the way back to The Moon Dorms.
He noticed her more subdued demeanour. Despite her happiness at seeing her friends, at being allowed out of the dorm for something other than school, the mention of her parents to explain her decline of Miu's offer had stirred Akane's emotions, colouring them in a light sadness. I don't want to lie.
"I'll leave you here," Zero said, stopping at the gates to the entrance of the dorms. Akane nodded with a tight smile, grateful to him for allowing her to see Miu and Kohaku before they left and now wanting her currant mood to give him the wrong impression. He was about to turn away when a thought struck her.
"Wait!" she cried and gestured for him to wait where he was before she ran into the building, reappearing moments later, and placing a book in his hands.
It was the mystery novel he'd been reading before they'd left.
"I tried to read it but couldn't get into it. Let me know how it ends." Zero looked between the book and the Vampire, conflicted and confused by the feelings churning in his gut. He shouldn't feel glad to get a chance to finish the book. He shouldn't feel indebted to her because she'd recognised his need to hide from everything for a while and allowed him to distract himself with her presence.
"Why should I tell you how it ends, if you can't be bothered to read it yourself?" But he was grateful. The uneasy quirk Akane had on her lips at his silence, stretched into a more mischievous grin at his acceptance of the book
"Because, if you don't tell me how it ends, I won't let you borrow the sequel."
Zero frowned at her cheek but Akane could detect a hint of amusement in his guarded eyes as he looked back at the book in his hands. He briefly acknowledged her before walking away, leaving her to enter the dorm alone. Akane's smile persisted as she walked back through the doors, collected the books from the table and deposited them in her room. It was still lingering as she entered the kitchen to get herself some ice cream and a slice of the chocolate cake she'd spotted in the fridge, left by the staff for Akane to indulge in over the new few weeks, which, in all honesty, would be gone within a few days. After cleaning up, Akane wondered to the recreation room in the dorm to look for something to amuse herself. Not interested in reading or researching any more for the day and wanting to keep her despondent thoughts at bay for as long as possible.