Eyes Red as Blood

Tenth Night: The Soirée

Arisu looked at her reflection and smiled, pleased with the way she looked. She had let Rima do her hair and makeup while Ruka was giving tips and comments on how to behave at the soirée.

"I think I understand how I should act," Arisu said seriously, standing up with a determined smile. Rima and Ruka proudly smiled back before they laughed at what Arisu for twirling like a small child fascinated by the way the dress moved.

"What," Arisu asked jokingly, "Can't I have fun too?"

"Of course, Arisu," Ruka said gaining back her composure, "It's just that the other vampires will expect more of you since you are of the Kuran Blood."

"I see." Arisu was unimpressed. Maybe the world of the vampires just wasn't a place for her. She wondered if the soirée would be any fun at all, 'it probably won't be, maybe Kaname was right and I should have remained in hiding.' But then what fun would that be?

"At what time will we leave," Arisu asked the other girls.

"Probably around eight thirty. The soirée doesn't start until ten anyway," Ruka replied as she started to get ready. Both girls had not gotten ready since they were helping Arisu. The brunette told them they didn't have to, but they said they wanted to make sure that she would be ready for the night ahead of them.

"That means I have about an hour or more before we leave," Arisu muttered, deep in thought, "Thank you for helping me get ready. I really do appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Arisu," Rima was holding a bathrobe and a towel. "It's about time I get ready." Rima excused herself from Ruka's room, "I'll see both of you later, bye."

"Bye," Arisu replied smiling. "Oh, I just remembered I have to do something as well," Arisu said turning around to face Ruka, "I hope I see you later at the soirée, Ruka."

"Yes, I'll see you later," Ruka replied, standing up and bowing.

Arisu quietly closed the door and walked down the hallway towards Kaname's room. When she got there, she quietly knocked.

"Come in," Kaname's voice came from within the room.

"Kaname, I was wondering-" Arisu stopped in mid sentence. Her face turned red before she quickly turned around.

"What's the matter " Kaname asked, walking over to where Arisu was.

"No-nothing, just stay where you are until you put some clothes on." Arisu frantically waved with her right hand for Kaname to stop and used her left to cover her burning face. Kaname wasn't wearing anything but dress pants and a towel draped over his right shoulder. He chuckled.

"Who is the one to get flustered by the smallest of things now, Arisu?"

"Hey, even when we were little you would always be wearing some sort of clothing, and you are always so formal even when you were joking around," Arisu said turning around with her eyes closed. There was a scowl on her face.

After a rustle of cotton and a "You can open your eyes now," Arisu sighed and opened her eyes. Kaname had put on a fresh white dress shirt and was sitting at his desk.

"Do you always invite people into your room when you're half naked," Arisu mocked jovially.

"Not all the time," Kaname replied resting his head on his right hand, "You look lovely by the way."

"Thank you," Arisu smiled, carefully spinning to show off, "Can you believe Hanabusa chose the dress?"

"He did, did he?" Kaname murmured, approving of what Hanabusa had picked.

"Yep," Arisu said, stopping, "Did you personally ask the Association to put Zero as my escort?"

"Well, yes, I mean they were going to send him to watch over the ball anyways." Kaname explained.

"That wasn't the best of ideas, I think." Arisu went over to Kaname's desk and started inspecting the objects that were on it. There was a chessboard, a stack of papers, a couple of books, pens, but what caught Arisu's eyes was a framed picture on the side of his desk. Arisu carefully picked up the frame. She had the same picture framed on her dresser. The three of them looked happily at the camea, without a worry in sight.

We're together again, but at the same time we aren't. She bit her bottom lip and glanced up to prevent the tears from spilling. The feeling in her throat only got worse.

"Arisu," Kaname soothed, getting up from his chair and gently pulling her into his arms.

"Kaname," Arisu broke. It was too late she was crying, and she couldn't stop. Kaname hugged her tighter.

"I know it hurts, but you know why we can't turn her or even tell her."

"But why, Kaname," Arisu asked. She didn't care if her makeup were to be ruined; she could always redo it later. She didn't care if Kaname's shirt became a mess; they could always replace it. She didn't care if people judged her or hated her for wanting the things she wanted; they could easily be ignored or silenced. However, there was one thing they couldn't replace… All she wanted was for things to go back to the way they used to be. To the time in which Kaname and Yuki would always smile and laugh. To the time in which Arisu could tell Yuki anything. To the time in which her parents were still alive, and they were all still a family. That made her selfish. Her mother always told her not to be selfish and to always love and respect others whether they were vampires or not.

Remembering the countless times Arisu was happy with her family even though she was forbidden to go outside, only made it harder to stop crying. If it hadn't been for Ichiru, Arisu was sure she would have started to hate every person alive. She would have started blaming everyone one for her parents' deaths and because she might never be able to talk to Yuki as carefree as she wanted to.

"Arisu, please stop crying. It pains me to see you cry. I want you to be happy. Always." Kaname murmured into her hair, "Will you do that for me and Yuki?"

All Arisu could do was nod and try to calm down. She hadn't cried like this since a year after her parent's death. She wanted to be strong for the people she loved, but being with Yuki and not being able to laugh freely made the protective wall around her heart crumble. She was defenseless and needed to get stronger.

"I'm sorry, Kaname," Arisu said finally able to calm down.

"It's fine," Kaname released Arisu, but held her at arm's length, "And remember not to worry so much and to smile."

"Yes," Arisu replied forcing herself to do just that. "Well, I'll let you get ready." She stepped away from Kaname and towards the door.

Kaname nodded and went to get a new clean dress shirt while Arisu walked out of the room. She pulled out her pocket mirror. Surprisingly, her makeup seemed untouched, which was a good thing because she didn't want to be indoors for a while. She walked quickly until she was out in the cool fresh air. Arisu continued to walk until she was crossed the gate leading to the Sun dorms. Along the way she sensed somebody was following her.

Then it hit her. The feeling wasn't that of a human but of a vampire. She was being followed by another pureblood. Her pace increased when she realized that she didn't have the Artemis rod with her. What could she do? The rod had been the only advantage she had against another pureblood.

"Who's there?" Arisu asked, turning around. Her voice was more confident than how she felt. Arisu wasn't prepared for what happened next. She was pinned to the closest tree. Strong arms on either side of her prevented her from escaping. Her eyes closed on instinct.

"Oh, look at that. You are absolutely adorable." Instantaneously Arisu recognized the voice and her blood boiled. She couldn't believe that this person was a pureblood vampire.

"Why do you insist on being a creeper? Is there something wrong with you?" Arisu accused; her voice laced with venom. She opened her eyes and glared at the person in front of her.

"Is that why you were running from me?" His voice was jovial.

"Just leave me alone, Kai," Arisu prepared to attack. Her patience was wearing thin.

"Now why would I do that," Kai answered, using his left hand to tilt Arisu's face so that she was looking up at him. His eyes lingered on her puffy eyes for a moment.

"Because if you don't, I will make it my goal to personally execute you," Arisu continued, "Especially if you don't get your hand off of me."

"Ah, feisty, I see. Based on your attire, I assume that you are going to the soirée hosted by the Aidou family this evening," Kai removed his hand from her, but he was still too close for comfort.

"Yes, and based on your attire, I assume you won't be." He was wearing casual clothing.

"Hmm, yes. I decided there is point in attending those silly things," Kai elegantly raised his hand.

"How very unfortunate," Arisu replied sarcastically, "I was looking forward to dancing with you."

"I'm very sure you were," Kai smugly replied, seemingly unfazed by the girl's cutting remarks, "you know most people would be surprised to find out I'm a pureblood."

"I don't see the point in being amazed by something trivial," Arisu frowned, "Besides, its obvious now that I think about it."

"Is it really?" Kai chuckled to himself as he turned around to walk away, "You know you really should be more careful while you're not by Kaname's side. I mean who knows what might happen?"

Arisu sighed in relief when the blond was far enough away. She continued walking on her way.

"Oi, have you seen Yuki?" Zero was nonchalantly walking over to her. He hadn't seen the earlier exchange, only Koruya walking away from the pureblood.

"No. She hasn't come back with Yori?" Arisu asked Zero.

"If she had, do you think I would be asking if you had seen her," Zero replied scowling.

"Good point," Arisu wondered where Yuki could be? She quickly thought back to where the girls said they were going. Yuki was accompanying Yori to a neighboring town. She gasped.

"Do you have the invitation to the soirée with you?" Arisu asked Zero almost in a near panic. Zero frowned, but pulled out the invitation to Arisu. She quickly scanned over it.

...soirée at the Aidou villa in Rochester.

"Zero," Arisu said, hands trembling, "Yuki and Yori went to the town where the soirée is being held."

A/N: Revised 3/16/20