Open Arms

Traipsing towards the final lesson of the day, Sora noticed the absence of their usual teacher. It seemed that a 'Toga Yagari' was covering the final hour of English. This - no doubt - caused quite a stir between the day class, including Sora herself.

"Sensei! What is it like teaching the Night Class?" A young girl asked the grunting, dark haired hunter.

"Well, it's easier than you hyperactive half-wits." He quietly mumbled to himself, as he wiped the black board of recent markings the previous teacher must have drawn up. "Sit down and stop talking." He demanded.

Sora flinched at his bitter tone. Nonetheless, she immediately turned to Yuki and Yori. "Why do you think our teacher isn't here?" She queried.

Yuki stiffened. Yori was half way through a shrug, as she noticed an uncomfortable tension fall between Zero and Yuki.

"You know," Sora began, drawing their attention to her, "I am a little curious and as prefects you should both know, right?" Yuki gave Zero a pleading glance, but he merely shook his head with an annoyed pout playing against his lips.

Biting her lip, Yuki sighed, "The teacher had an accident." Afterwards, she refused to comment on the subject any further.

'I wonder what the real reason is.' Sora thought, as she wrote notes within her text book.

Little to her knowledge, Yagari was keeping a close eye between her, Yuki, Yori and Zero. His gaze faltering only once, as Zero glared at him rebelliously…

"Kya!"

"Kya!"

"Kya!"

The girls screeched, screamed and otherwise hollered across the academy's grounds, as they made their way towards the Night Class Dorms.

Sora's eyes winced at the glaring sunset, 'Why do I always come here? It's not like I'd be noticed among such a large crowd of fans.'

'It's strange. It wasn't so long ago that I had felt like something amazing was going to happen, yet, nothing has… I'm confused as to what I was expecting. Now, as a result of this torn feeling in my heart; I've been feeling so down lately.'

"Sora."

"Huh!" Sora exclaimed in surprise, breaking from her thoughtful trance, "Ye-Yes, Zero!"

He just stood quietly for a moment, watching her squirm under his steely lilac gaze. Then he sighed, looking away, "You should get back to the Sun Dorms, it's getting late."

Nodding hastily, Sora swiftly turned on her feet and began to make her way to her bedroom.

"Sora," A monotonous voice spoke softly, "Leaving so soon? You're usually out late into the night, are you not?" Kaname asked her gently, his eyes softening when her blue eyes came into his view from behind the thick strands of her brown hair.

"Ka-Kaname-Senpai?!" She yelled a little louder than needed, "Please!" She whispered with a shy tone, "Zero and Yuki are not aware that I stay out so late." She told him, bowing her head in shame.

"I see," He said, only his eyes betraying his joy at seeing her crumble at his feet, "Then I suppose we'll just have to keep this as our little secret."

Sora gasped, thinking to herself, 'Our secret…'

"Of course, thank you Kaname-Senpai." She mustered, passing by him, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight; Sora." He replied, watching her retreating form darken in the evening light, "Until tomorrow." He whispered.

Waking, Sora jumped from her bed in terror.

"What was that?!" She hysterically hissed in the darkness, "That feeling again… What time is it?"

Spinning around on her bare feet, she caught sight of the usual green digits on her bed-side clock. "Five minutes past midnight? Hmm, tomorrow has come quite quickly." Sora said to herself, reminiscing over yesterday's happenings.

"I hope Sensei is here today and not Yagari-Sensei. He is odd." She slurred out, her vision failing her.

"What's happening?" She questioned, voice low and thoughts incoherent. Sora felt faint.

She could feel the cold against her fingertips, her nightgown drifting this way and that, as the wind wandered round her legs and naked arms. Goose-bumps morphed onto her pale skin. An even colder hand pressed against her shoulder, freezing the blood in her veins, as the intruder's nails trailed down to grasp her wrist. His fingers made her arm tingle with a slightly numbing pain. Sora flinched, as he raised his other hand to clasp along her waist. She took a deep breath and gave into the drowsy dream-like feeling that came over her. Leaning back into his frosty embrace with her back to his, almost heaving, chest.

It seemed that - much like herself - he found it difficult to breathe with her so close. She felt somewhat proud that she was able to do this to him - a mere stranger in her room. His hands encircling her in a comforting hug an-

Wait! -A Stranger?

Sora's eyes opened wide with shock. Fear set in fast and every muscle in her body contracted without permission. The stranger stiffened shortly after, his surprisingly warm breathe splaying out on her neck. In and out, the warm air from his very being. Sora's breath was quicker, much more shaky and short. She was panicking inside, but her body would not respond and then…

"I promised I'd see you tomorrow," His voice washed over her like the running water of a boiling shower. He continued, "Today seems to be yesterday's tomorrow now."

Her eyes softly slid shut, as she leaned her head back over his shoulder. Kaname held her still, as he trailed his hands down her nightgown, "I've been watching you."

Her eyes opened once more, 'Watching me? A little creepy; but he's just so… intoxicating. I've never felt this before. He hand, stroking my throat like a fresh hot chocolate making its way slowly down into my stomach… where a warm feeling grows. Where a butterfly-like sensation emerges and takes flight. Like fresh cream, milk or ice-cream. He's so cold, but it's too, too, too…'

Kaname sank his fangs into her skin. Sora gasped from the sudden and unexpected pain. His hold prevented her from struggling. His arms snaked round her small frame and his lips hungrily lapped at the gleaming blood streaming from her neck. She could not scream. It hurt too much to move.

Blinking, Sora felt herself fading into wintry hands.

'His bitter hands…'

'Like the Arctic…'

She blacked out.

"What did you do to her?!"

Kaname turned his head towards the steaming Zero, "I took her from you, you and your daylight."

Zero's fists clenched even tighter, as the pure blood tenderly moved some hair from Sora's deathly cold face.

"She'll wake soon." Kaname added, a glimmer of a smile gracing his usually emotionless features.

Yuki quivered behind the angered hunter, "Kaname-Senpai…" She wondered for a moment, "You barely talk to her. What made you choose her?"

Yuki's quiet voice and the miniscule shake in the tone made Kaname convert his look from his newly beloved to his sister. "Yuki," He vaguely admitted, "I love you Yuki, just, in a different way."

Yuki slowly nodded, "Okay."

Zero's scowl intensified, "She's human - was human! You can't just take anyone you want! Sora is my best friend and I don't want this fate for her!"

He moved forward swiftly, but was cut off by Yuki's arm. "Leave it be, Zero," She commanded with a smile at her big brother, "Can't you see that they have a chance to be happy… both of them. I know you've noticed Sora's lack of energy lately, so have I, and that is why we have to encourage this as much as possible!"

Zero gave her a doubtful look.

Yuki shook her head and pushed him from Kaname's room, "We have to let Sora know that being a vampire is not a bad thing. We - you! You have to let her have a chance to see the bright side of this… she has a chance to be with Kaname-Senpai. Please, Zero, it's important to me that you don't exaggerate the down sides of being a vampire. Yes, she'll have to life off of blood, but that's what the tablets are for! Please Zero, Sora can be forever happy! Don't you want that?" Yuki lectured while erratically gesturing with her hands.

Zero huffed, "Look at you, Yuki," He commented a smile suffocating his visage, "Going to all this trouble just so that you friend can be happy despite her circumstances."

Yuki nodded, "Yes, and I'd do it again and again if I had to. Sora deserves to be happy. Even if it's with Kaname-Senpai, I'll get over it." She sullenly replied with a great determination, clenched fists and a frown upon her fair features.

"Alright," Zero said, walking away at a hasty pace, "One chance!" He yelled back, his shoes tapping each step on his way down the staircase.

"Hmm…" Sora blinked her eyes a few times. "Where am I?" She quietly whispered to herself.

Not expecting an answer, she jumped at the sudden voice by her side, "You are in the Moon Dorm, Sora. You are with me… you are a vampire." He told her, his eyes now a more vibrant maroon than she could recall.

"What?" She asked him, disorientated.

Kaname quickly took her hand. "You do not need to be afraid, or suspicious, Sora. I have had feelings for you for quite a while now and I simply acted upon them without remorse. My apologies if you feel this fate was somewhat forced upon you… but, I love you. And I want to be with you," He stroked her reddening cheeks with affection, continuing, "I know you felt it too Sora, that passion beneath the surface of pain. When I bit you I could taste your feelings. They run deeply, but I fear you have yet to figure out the potential you could feel for me. I speak only the truth. I love you and you, me. Please just accept this without grieving over what once was your human life."

Her soaring heart suddenly fell back into her chest, as she mulled over his speech. "Wait!" She spoke with a hoarse voice, "Are you telling me that vampires exist? And that you changed me into one? And that you and I are going to be together forever? And that-"

Kaname cut her off, pulling her towards him, kissing her passionately with desperation, "I need you - thirst for you!" He sucked in a deep breath, calming a little. Kaname admitted, "No other can satisfy me Sora… only you. It is always going be just you."

Sora's mouth fell open and limply closed a few times, as she considered this - well, one couldn't really call it an option now could they? Regardless! - she continued to think over her situation and searched her heart, mind and soul for guidance. Surprisingly, she felt that she had made her decision long ago and gladly accepted Kaname with open arms.