Star Shine
Edited 6/5/2018 + Re-Edited: 3/8/2020
I wanted to give more context to Akatsuki and Arashi's relationship so I added a bit to this chapter. Hope you enjoy~
*Wagasa- Traditional Japanese Umbrella
Chapter Two
Hurt
Arashi had been nothing more than a child when news broke that the Kain's had gained an heir. Even at a young age it didn't surprise her when, only three days later, the newborn was introduced to her as her fiancé.
'Fragile', had been the first thought she had when she held the tiny thing in her arms. She felt as though with one wrong move could shatter him to dust. It was a strange feeling to have since she had only ever felt this way with humans.
At first, she had only wanted to protect him. To keep him safe as she had with Senri. But with each smile he showed her, with each flower he pressed into her palms, she slowly found herself falling for the younger vampire.
Back when their relationship was less strained. she often dreamt of a future with him. A future where she held to her chest, a child of burnt-orange eyes. But even then, she had known that her dreams were just not meant to be. That even if they were wed, her child would bear nothing of his.
Maybe this was her penance. The price she was paying for keeping him chained to the cursed fate of the Hoshito clan.
It had hurt, and still hurt, when she caught glimpse of the feelings he held for the Souen heiress. Sometimes she wished she were foolish enough to ignore it. But, Arashi was no fool, and could not ignore the fact that her fiancé was in love with another woman.
Souen Ruka was someone Arashi could never aspire to be. She admired the younger woman in a way, as her personality sometimes reminded Arashi of an open flame. Fierce, unbinding but also one who gave out warmth.
Arashi was not blind to what Akatsuki saw in Ruka. She knew very well that it was the younger woman's fiery personality that drew him to the Souen heiress. Still, that did not mean that it didn't hurt when she saw how much love and affection his eyes held as they gazed at his cousin from afar while cold uncaring eyes stared at her as if looking into her soul.
Those eyes had once been filled with warmth to her as well. A time he had smiled so sweetly at her. But that warmth and those smiles were now lost to time.
Now, they were no better off than strangers. How or why their relationship became so stained Arashi doesn't know. All she knows is that she doesn't want to wed such a man.
That was why she had postponed their official engagement throughout the years but it seemed the council had become impatient
Arashi stood stiffly in front of her grandfather, Hoshito Araki, the current head of the Hoshito clan, trembling slightly as she felt the anger radiating off of the ancient vampire.
"I have been patient with you for many years since your father's death Arashi. I did not question you when you stopped attending your classes at Cross academy and I never once asked of you to explain why you wished to delay the announcement of your engagement with the Kain clan heir. For years I have left you to your own desires and have asked of nothing but your commitment to this clan. However, it seems my decision has led you to think that you may do everything as you please." Araki let out a heavy sigh before softening his tone. "Since the day you were born all I have wished for is your health and happiness. You have grown so much dimmer from when you were young…the spark you held is fading my child and I can no longer see your future as clearly as I did before."
Araki waited for his granddaughter to answer him but when she continued to stay silent his patience reached its peak. "From tonight you are to return to your classes and we will discuss your 'future' another time next month. You are also to spend more time with the Kain heir during your remaining time at the academy. Do I make myself clear, Arashi?" His icy blue eyes glared harshly at Arashi who gravely nodded. "You are dismissed."
"May your star shine ever brightly, grandfather." Arashi said bowing deeply to Araki before slowly exiting the room.
On his orders, one of Araki's bodyguards escorted Arashi back to her car took the wheel from her driver.
"You may leave for the day Norita-san. Araki-sama has ordered me to escort Arashi-sama back to the academy."
The driver who had looked quite reluctant to leave at first, was quick to exit the car without much of a fuss once things had been explained to her.
She only took the time to bid Arashi farewell before disappearing through the Hoshito Mansion's large iron gates.
The drive back to Cross Academy was neither short nor long. But enough time had passed for the midday sun to appear through the clouds. Because of this, the bodyguard took the time to take out a large white wagasa from the car's trunk and held it out for the Hoshito heiress as she exited the car.
Grateful for the source of shade Arashi gave her thanks to him as she took the wagasa from his hands. "May your star shine brightly, Ryo-san."
'Ryo' bowed silently in response and swiftly returned to the car before driving away.
Used to this kind of behaviour Arashi simply went her way and walked through the Moon Dormitory's gates.
Night came too quickly for Arashi. For once she was not looking forward to her evening
The hours she could be spending peacefully analysing the stars would be spent worthlessly in the classrooms of the academy.
But having no other choice but to comply to her grandfather's orders, Arashi reluctantly opened her wardrobe.
Upon seeing the dusty white night class uniform hiding in the back, Arashi could only let out a heavy sigh as she stared at the ridiculous thing.
It had been months since she had last worn it and she definitely wasn't looking forward to wearing it again.
After she finished getting dressed, Arashi frowned at just how uncomfortable it was. She thought about just going in one of her kimonos but in the end, decided to settle on leaving the top few buttons open.
After one last look in the mirror, she left her room to find Senri. Many of the students openly gasped at her appearance as she passed by them in the corridors but Arashi ignored each of them and only stopped when she saw her cousin approaching.
They walked in silence until Arashi broke it by informing him of the news. "Yesterday, Akatsuki-san informed me that the council has agreed that we are to wed as soon as he and I graduate."
Senri's eyes widened slightly at the news but he didn't comment and let Arashi continue. "When he informed me, I told him that if he wished he could ask for an annulment and wed Ruka-san instead. He said that he wishes to marry Ruka-san out of love, not out of duty…It made me ask myself…if I were to marry him would it be out of my love for him or my duty to continue the Hoshito line. So, I visited my grandfather in the morning and asked him to annul the engagement. He was accepting of that but wished to know the reason why. When I wouldn't tell him, he grew quite…impatient. In the end, he decided it is time for me to return to classes and also that I should spend more time with my fiancé."
"Then are you going to?" Senri asked.
Arashi paused before answering, "I would preferably not but as it is, it is likely that the council will inform him later so I will be doing so shortly after or before class."
Senri nodded at this and they returned to silence. The two cousins remained silent the rest of the way to the front gates where they stood at the very front with Rima, Takuma, Hanabusa, Akatsuki, Ruka, Seiren and Kaname.
The gates were soon opened and showed the many Day Class students waiting on the other side. Arashi cringed at the loud shouts and shrill screams that came from the overly excited Day Class students.
"I had forgotten how loud it was…" She mumbled.
Unlike her, Hanabusa seemed to love the sound and charmingly said, "Good morning ladies! Still as pretty as ever I see!"
The screams grew louder due to this and in the corner of her eye, Arashi saw Yuki being accidentally shoved to the ground by some girls and went to help her up.
"Are you alright Yuki-san?" She asked bending down to help Yuki up.
Yuki seemed surprised at Arashi's actions as did many of the Night and Day Class students but was quick to snap out of it in favour of taking the older girl's hand. "I'm fine. Thank you Arashi-senpai."
Kaname stood a few steps away from the two girls and chuckled as he approached them. "It seems that I was a bit too late."
At this Yuki seemed to freeze while Arashi blinked in surprise. "My apologises Kaname-sama."
"It is quite alright Arashi. I am just glad that Yuki isn't hurt." Kaname answered. He then turned to Yuki to ask if she was alright. "Yuki, are you okay? They're always so difficult to manage."
Yuki jumped slightly at this and quickly answered, "Yes, I'm just fine!"
Arashi took this as her cue to leave and rejoined the others.
Upon arriving at the classroom Arashi took the seat nearest to the window with Senri and Rima, who almost immediately took out and started sharing a packet of Pocky.
The teacher walked in shortly after and it was only then that Arashi turned her attention away from the darkening sky.
"We here in the night class are the first of our kind in the world to test these newly developed blood tablets. Not only are we the pride of this school, we are also the pride of the entire vampire race."
"Somehow I really doubt that." Ruka said.
"We're just a study group anyway." A male student said.
"I don't know about that." Another student said. "After all, co-existing with humans like this is a huge step forward." The student then turned to Kaname. "Right, Kaname-sama?"
Kaname who'd been reading a book chuckled at this and answered, "That's right. After all, we have the chairman to thank for everything that we've learned here."
Arashi didn't bother to comment on any of this and simply focused her attention to the view outside the window. While doing so she noticed that two Day Class girls had snuck into the school grounds. A faint but sweet scent of blood lingered around them but an even sweeter scent of blood emitted from Yuki as the disciplinary committee member went to confront them.
Normally Arashi wouldn't have been bothered by this but once she saw her fiancé and his blonde cousin heading towards the girls it became troubling to her.
Arashi followed the two cousins outside and arrived just in time to stop Hanabusa from biting into Yuki's palm. She gripped firmly onto Hanabusa's wrist whilst also holding Yuki protectively with her other arm.
"Kaname-sama will be disappointed with you Hanabusa-san. You should know better." She stated causing the blonde aristocrat to growl in annoyance.
Then just as Arashi let Aidou go a familiar feeling of cold metal touched Arashi's skull and the cold voice of Kiryuu Zero snarled at her. "Drinking blood whist on school grounds is strictly prohibited. Getting drunk on the scent of blood…you've finally revealed your true nature vampire."
"Zero wait Arashi-senpai di…" Yuki tried to explain but Zero didn't listen and pulled the trigger. Yuki managed to stop the bullet from critically wounding Arashi by pulling Zero's arm up just in time but the bullet still grazed Arashi cheek, causing Arashi's eyes to widen in shock. "IDIOT! WHY DID YOU SHOOT!? ARASHI-SENPAI WAS HELPING ME!"
Hanabusa and Akatsuki looked towards Arashi who was still in shock. Both felt slightly guilty as they saw the large gash that ran up Arashi's left cheek.
"Just what was that?" Akatsuki asked, dumbfounded at how much the gun had wounded the Hoshito heiress.
A sudden sound of footsteps caused everyone but Arashi to turn their heads towards the noise and see Kaname walking towards them.
"It's called 'The Bloody Rose'. It's a weapon that was made to kill creatures like us." He stated. "Well then." The pureblood then grabbed Hanabusa by the back of his collar. "I'll take care of these fools. The chairman will need a full report. Is that alright with you, Kiryuu?"
The silver-haired disciplinary committee member glared at Kaname. "Just get them out of my sight Kuran."
"Kain. Why didn't you stop Aidou? You're just as guilty as he is." Kaname said to Akatsuki who groaned in response. He then turned to Yuki. "Yuki, what about the two girls who fainted? Shall we take care of that too?"
"Don't worry, we'll take them to the chairman to have their memories modified. Poor things." Yuki replied gazing at the two Day Class students who had fainted.
"I see. Well then, I'm sorry about all of this." Kaname said. "I hope it hasn't awoken any bad memories for you Yuki."
"Oh no! He didn't actually hurt me thanks to Arashi-senpai so don't worry about it!" It was then that Yuki remembered the injured Hoshito heiress. "ARASHI-SENPAI! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"
Arashi was able to snap out of her shock as she heard Yuki's loud voice. As the shock left her a sharp pain replaced it that made Arashi wince. She tried to process what had happened and touched her wounded cheek to see the trickles of blood that were flowing out of it.
"I…seemed to have been grazed by the bullet." She stated impassively causing Yuki, Hanabusa, and Akatsuki to take a double-take.
"Arashi-senpai…I don't think that's what you should be saying right now…" Yuki said softly. She tried to find a piece of cloth to help stop the bleeding but came out empty.
"I am fine Yuki-san. You should help Zero-san with your disciplinary committee duties. My wound will heal in time." Arashi said reassuringly to Yuki before leaving the girl to follow behind Kaname.
The pureblood pressed a black handkerchief to her cheek. "Thank you for protecting Yuki. It is regretful that you were injured while doing so though."
"I am fine Kaname-sama. It will heal in time." Arashi said. She turned to Aidou. "Is your wrist alright Hanabusa-san?"
Hanabusa flinched at this. "I'm perfectly fine! Worry about yourself instead!"
Arashi's cheek had continued to bleed throughout the meeting with the headmaster causing the vampire to grow slightly light-headed by the time the four had returned to the Moon Dormitories. She would have returned to her room and treated it had it not been the 'talk' she had to have with Akatsuki.
She gently pulled her fiancé away from his cousin for a moment to have the talk and thankfully he followed her without much protest. Once she was sure they were alone Arashi broke the news to Akatsuki. "My grandfather wishes for us to spend some more time with each other during our remaining time at the academy. I apologise for informing you after the disagreement yesterday but I believed it would be better to inform you myself instead of from the council."
Anger suddenly whelmed up in Akatsuki as Arashi finished and he slammed his fist in the space in the wall next to Arashi's wounded left cheek. He was about to shout at her when he felt Arashi's limp body falling forward. At first, Akatsuki thought she was joking but as he realized that Arashi was actually unconscious he panicked. "OI ARASHI!"