Eyes Red as Blood

Twelfth Night: And so, Time Moves Forward

"Hanabusa, you can come out now." Arisu kneeled next to Zero's unconscious body. The silver haired boy had passed out sometime after Arisu started to erase his memories.

"I apologize," Hanabusa replied as he stepped out from behind the trees and into view. "You are hurt. I was too late in getting here."

"It's fine, Hanabusa," Arisu smiled sadly, "It doesn't really hurt anymore."

Hanabusa frowned because the bullet was still embedded into her shoulder. The longer it remained there, the more it would hurt and weaken her. "Arisu, I really think–"

"How much did you hear, Hanabusa?" Arisu cut him off. She was staring at Zero intently as she brushed his hair away from his face.

Even though she was not looking at him, Hanabusa could feel the immense pressure on him.

"I came just as you asked Kiryu he wanted to have his memories erased," Hanabusa replied truthfully, "Kaname kept stalling me and the others from coming to your aid."

"I see. Good. Where is my brother now?" Her eyes never left the unconscious boy's face. The Academy was painfully quiet, and she could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

"He is waiting in the car," Hanabusa replied, looking in the direction of the front entrance of the Academy.

Arisu smiled apologetically at Hanabusa, "I'm sorry I ruined the dress you picked out for me."

"Don't worry about it," Hanabusa earnestly explained, "Kaname has arranged for a replacement dress to be ready at your arrival."

"Ah yes," Arisu winced, as she stood back up, being careful not to disturb Zero. "You're right, I need to take that thing out."

"We have prepared medical equipment," Hanabusa agreed. He attempted to guide Arisu away, but she waved him off.

"No, its fine. I can do it myself," Arisu spoke as she reopened her wound with her fingernail and hissed when she took the bullet out. She looked up only to find the once blue eyes looking at her in deep red.

Quickly, however, Hanabusa snapped out of his trance, "I apologize, Arisu-sama. I don't know what came over me." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, trying not to fidget anymore than he was starting to.

"Don't worry. It was a perfectly common response considering," Arisu assured. Her wound fully healed itself. "Besides, you wouldn't do anything to me; I trust you." Arisu chuckled at Hanabusa's shocked expression when she bent down and easily supported Zero's frame against her smaller one after some awkward maneuvering, "Can you make sure he gets to the ball well and awake? He still has his duties as a vampire hunter."

"Yes." Hanabusa reluctantly agreed and took Zero from Arisu with a frown on his face. He took out his phone and dialed a number, "Yes, this is Aido Hanabusa... I need another car from the Academy to the soiree... Yes, at once."

"Thank you again, Hanabusa," Arisu said, clasping her hands in front of her as they walked toward the front of the academy.

"My pleasure," Hanabusa responded with a smile on his face. Internally he was pouting that he had to carry Zero with them. Soon they got to the outside of the school where three cars were waiting. "Ah, that was fast. Zero's ride is here too. Kaname requested that you ride in the car with him, so you'll be riding in the middle car. The rest of us will go in the front car."

Arisu nodded and headed for the car, and Kaname got out to open and close her door before he re entered the car. The mood in the car was wrought with tension.

"Have they found Yuki?" Arisu asked. Her tone was too composed.

"Not yet," Kaname replied gravely, "She doesn't appear to be in the populated area of the city anymore."

Arisu's posture went rigid, and her brow furrowed as possible scenarios rapidly crossed her mind one by one.

"Arisu, snap out of it. You have to be focused on the gathering," Kaname muttered. As always nothing escaped his observations.

"Kaname, I don't care about that trivial–" Arisu stopped short as she looked into his eyes. His eyes were filled with desperation and frustration, but most of all worry.

Kaname masked his emotions as soon as he saw the surprised expression Arisu wore. His eyes softened when he reached forward and brushed his fingers against her cheek, placing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "Don't worry. We won't lose Yuki. I'll make sure of that."

"I know, Kaname," Arisu calmed down a bit with his reassurance, but the fear of losing Yuki was still there. In all these years the fear of loosing either one of them had never left. it was always plaguing the back of her mind, an ever looming shadow that refused to leave her side.

"Are you alright? You must have lost some blood," Kaname murmured as his hand ghosted over Arisu's healed shoulder.

"I'm fine. I didn't lose too much blood," Arisu replied, conscious that he was scrutinizes her every expression at the moment.

"No, you look pale. You must not show weakness in front of the other vampires," Kaname replied sternly as he removed his coat and blazer. Before Arisu had time to refuse, Kaname had rolled up his dress shirt sleeve and bit into his wrist. When he held his injured hand in front of her, Arisu was unsure of what to do. His blood started forming tiny beads.

"Hurry, before it heals," Kaname encouraged. His voice betrayed none of his emotions. There was only concern for Arisu's well-being.

"I'm not a little kid anymore," Arisu chastised even as she reluctantly took his wrist and held it to her mouth. "I know how to bite."

Arisu knew that she had to keep control over her emotions. Relishing the taste of his blood would mean she would fall into his temptation, but then she saw her, a light haired woman with a warm smile. From the trace emotions that she tasted on those memories, Arisu wondered if she could ever garner the same affection from Kaname as this woman had. Arisu released Kaname's arm just as she started to wonder where it was Kaname had met her.

Sensing Arisu's detachment, Kaname said nothing more. The car came to a slow stop a couple of minutes later.

"I will be getting out here now. The car will be taken underground into the building where you will be taken to a private room. Your replacement clothing should be there." Kaname opened the car door and stepped out, but Arisu remained still.

She didn't care about anything. Then a thought crept into the back of her head; one that she hadn't had for years since the last time she fed on Kaname's blood. It was one i which Arisu envied Yuki because the latter girl could live in bliss not knowing about the other woman. Arisu didn't pay attention to anything after that point: too trapped in her own thoughts to notice much. Somehow she got into the building and the private room where Ruka and Rima were waiting for her.

"We brought a replacement dress," Ruka walked forward showing Arisu a pastel blue dress.

Arisu nodded and accepted the girls' help in changing dresses. It was strapless flowing dress adorned with an intricate flower design on the bodice. It reached above her knee in the front and lengthened at the back.

"Here is your shawl," Rima said placing the thin fabric around her shoulders, "I think we can leave your hair down."

"Yes, thank you, Rima and Ruka," Arisu replied. "I think I want some time alone before the soirée."

"Of course, we will be right outside. Call us if you need anything." Ruka and Rima bowed before exiting.

Arisu looked at herself in the mirror, but the mirror didn't reflect what she felt. In it she appeared too calm, much too composed, but on the inside her emotions swirled like whirlpool as she slowly came out of her own numbness. Where was Yuki? Was she safe? Had Zero woken up already? She almost didn't notice that Seirin had entered the room.

"Arisu-sama, we have found Yuki Cross. She is currently resting in one of the other rooms. There is no need to worry. Kaname-sama is with her."

A wave of relief washed over Arisu, "I understand. Thank you."

"Miss," Seirin bowed and exited as quietly as she had entered.

Arisu stared at the white door in silence before there was a soft knock.

"Arisu-sama, may I come in?" It was Hanabusa.

"Yes," Arisu replied, walking towards the door.

"Kaname-sama wishes for me to escort you to the soiree."

"Shouldn't he be the one escorting me?" Arisu questioned though she already knew the answer to her question.

"He wishes to remain by that human's side for no apparent reason–

"Hanabusa."

"Yes?"

"She's not 'that human'. She has a name." Arisu stared at him until he relented.

"My apologies. Kaname-sama wishes to remain by Yuki Cross' side until she regains consciousness." Hanabusa was clearly unsettled by the differential treatment Cross received from both Kuran siblings. It troubled him to say the least. Humans were too weak to ever survive in their world.

"Alright, so should we go, my dear host?" Arisu gingerly asked, putting on a bright smile.

Hanabusa offered her his arm, which she took.

As they walked through the hallways, Arisu could sense every single vampire in the building. It seemed that apart from Kaname there were other purebloods, most of which she guessed were more interested in her than in the gathering. With every step they took to the ballroom, the noise inside quieted down. Those who were talking were barely talking above a whisper. Hanabusa stopped in front of the closed door and looked at Arisu. Knowing what Hanabusa was silently asking, she nodded ever so slightly. There could be no more hiding as soon as she stepped into that room.

Hanabusa's eyebrows knitted in concern. He knew the world that Arisu had never been exposed to. A world where one could trust only a few, even less when one was a pureblood.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry," Arisu assured, but she coudln't be sure if she was speaking to the aristocrat or to herself.

All Hanabusa could do was trust in Arisu as he pushed the doors open.

A/N: Revised 3/17/20

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