Happiest Memories Marred

Long hair scratched his cheeks. Kaien brushed them away, fingering the long dark strands. They were soft to the touch and the scent of honey drifted toward him. She stood over the stove, fixing pancakes he had ruined. A small smile developed on his face, as he silently watched.

Aka puffed out hot air from between her red lips. The force blew forth the hair in her face, but the frizzy mess flew back and slapped her in her bright eyes. She huffed, trying to scrape the mixture back together. The pale pallet bubbled. The heat of the kitchen had them both sweating, but neither cared. They were comfortable.

"What would I do without you?" he murmured, eyes straying down her legs. Aka laughed loudly, sucking in a deep breath as Kaien stepped up from the dining chair. His chest heaved against her back and she stood straighter, backing away from the heat of the stove. The pancakes were browning.

"You'd probably poison those poor kids," Aka giggled slightly, turning to look up at him. She bit her bottom lip, scraping away some of her lipstick as she finished, "Did you remember to get Zero's present?"

Kaien barked, eyes wide with mirth. "Of course I did!" He hollered to the ceiling, clambering over to the doorway and into the hall. "Look," he insisted, as Aka attempted to turn the pancakes over in the pan. Kaien pushed, "Come on and look. This model is from the eighteenth century. It is the exact one he's been staring at all year."

Aka's grin broadened, as he excitedly showed off the birthday gift. However, a strict chill blew through the room, as she noticed what it was.

"Kaien!" she scolded, dropping the spatula. Aka snatched the weapon away, almost shouting, "Why would you get this? He's only fourteen!"

Kaien shrank away, as she waved the short sword around precariously. Calling out desperately, he pointed at the stove, "The pancakes, love!"

"Oh!" Aka gasped, tossing the weapon onto the dining table and dashing for the pancakes.

Dark circular delights peered up from the base of the pan. Aka sighed, disappointed.

Having relocated the present back into the rightful casing, Kaien gently grasped at Aka's shoulders. "It'll be fine for them… with some sugar."

Aka could hear the teasing laugh in his tone and breathed out a curse, glowering at him. Leaning down toward her, Kaien pressed his nose against the tip of her ear. Lips brushing her flesh as he spoke, Kaien smugly asserted, "Not everyone can cook well my dear."

Scoffing, Aka pushed him away and declared, "I'm still better than you – even when I make mistakes!"

A folder fell to the floor. Aka rolled her eyes. She knelt down, reaching out. The corridor was dark, the sun setting on the other side of the academy. Brows furrowed, her fingers scraped against the spine of the blue folder. "Come on," she whispered, "Oh!"

A large palm snatched up the folder, another gripping her arm. The man pulled her back up from the ground. Aka smiled at him, as he beamed at her small figure.

"Good evening Sensei." He softly said.

"Should you not be in class by now Ichijou-san?" Aka asked with a slight smirk.

At the tone, he grinned. A teasing smile brewed upon Takuma's striking visage and he pulled the folder from her reach, as Aka attempted to retrieve it from his grasp.

Takuma held the folder higher and higher, as she tried to pry it away from him. Frowning, she tipped forward on her toes and cried out. Surprise erupted form him, as she fell. They collided. Books and papers for grading fell to the floor with an echoing clatter. Takuma's free arm wrapped round her waist and grasped her to him firmly. Aka released a gasp, as the air was forced from her lungs. He dropped the folder, feeling her warm body against him. Cheeks burning, they parted quickly. Takuma cleared his throat and timidly began picking up the schoolwork.

As Aka hurried to pick up her things, she stood back up with some trouble and found Takuma holding out a hand. Lips tightly drawn together with displeasure, she sighed and gave up what she had salvaged. He carried all of it.

Reaching the Headmaster's office, Aka turned to him. "Thank you." she timidly murmured.

Takuma handed over the varying teaching plans and classwork. He mustered a quiet, "Your welcome."

As he trailed back down the corridor to class, he scratched the back of his neck and halted. Turning to gaze at her, Takuma said, "I am sorry."

Aka stared for a moment, opening her mouth to reply.

The office door suddenly opened.

"There you are," Kaien breathed, staring down at her frazzled self. Aka could not stop the smile that fought her serious expression. She nodded, handing over the paperwork as he pulled her into the room. Aka looked back out, as she shut the door. Takuma was gone.

His nose twitched. She lightly stroked his arm, as he tried to go through documents. The glass of water on the desk to the side of him had her reflection painted on it. She was biting her lips. Fluttering her lashes, Aka leaned against his shoulder. Nose prodding, breath warming and hand stroking. Kaien sucked in a deep breath, as her other hand reached up to his hair. Aka brushed her hand through, savouring his expression and trying frantically to hold in her giggles.

"You." Kaien muttered, dropping his pen. He brushed at his eyes, heaving a sigh. "You're impossible," he whined, "So distracting."

Teeth gleaming under the office light, Aka pushed his paperwork off the desk and stood from the chair. She sat atop the desk, pulling him closer. "Then forget work for the night," she whispered, lips leaning to his. Her eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips and back. "Just for tonight." She requested with a sultry tone.

Tongue lapping over his bottom lip, Kaien felt her legs wrap round him. He gulped as she pulled him closer, hands tugging at his clothes.

"It is our anniversary after all." Aka continued, pouting.

The scent of honey invaded his nostrils and her flesh clashed with his, as she tore away his jacket.

"Just tonight... and maybe tomorrow morning." Kaien certified, grinning broadly.

"Zero!" Aka shouted, "You surprised me." Moving by his skulking frame, she chided, "You shouldn't go around scaring people by just appearing like that."

Ever so slightly, he smiled, eyes fluttering at her innocently as he immaturely confessed, "Yuki hates it too, but your reactions are entertaining."

Shaking her head at his behaviour, Aka held up a discarded newspaper threateningly. Chuckling, Zero held up his hands and stepped away from her. Aka sighed, shaking her head as she said, "You're growing up so fast." Reaching up to brush her long fringe from her eye sight, Aka gazed at him with envy, "You're taller than me now."

Zero pocketed his hands, right foot tapping the floor as he stared at her from beneath the curve of his silver hair. "I've been rather grown up for a while Aka."

Frowning, Aka reaching out to him with a wavering choke, "Zero your paren-"

He loudly sucked in a deep breath. Looking away from her, Zero glanced out the window. Shuffling hurriedly, he left her.

Hand poised, reaching for air, Aka quietly stumbled, "They wouldn't want you so separated from the world."

Aka felt like dancing. She skipped down the corridors. Her smile was immense – pure bliss. Aka gazed at her hand again, the ring glistening in the starlight that drifted in from the tall windows. She closed her eyes, remembering the way he had given her his declaration. Laughing, she twirled as she skipped.

A stark snigger stopped her.

Aka peered into the abyss beyond. Bright hair and green eyes came to her first. "Ichiiou-san," Aka greeted cheerfully. He smile began to fade, as her eyes met those of his companion, "and…"

She knew the hair and body, but those eyes.

Her pretty visage grew grim. Aka looked back at Takuma who stared at her with horror. Her dark brows lifted with surprise. She gazed back at his friend – Shiki.

"Shiki?" Aka tried to sound welcoming, but his expression was intimidating.

"I can smell that hunter on you," he sneered, "So happy you seem, to be with someone that once loved my dearest sister."

Glaring, Aka spat, "Excuse me?"

"Juuri, little snack of mine." Shiki moved swiftly, grabbing at her arms and Aka un-intentionally squeaked. His mis-matched eyes absorbed the pain on her face. Aka squirmed in his grip, as his nails dug through the cloth of her long-sleeved shirt. "What are you doing?" she tried to yell, "Students are not t-"

Her head thundered. Throbbing at the back of her brain moved forward and her vision blackened. Sparks flew, coating his beaming red eyes with flashes of white and gold. Aka's back ached.

"What?" she struggled to ask, as Shiki pulled her into him and then threw her back.

She screamed, as her skull smashed against the sandstone of the academy wall again. Blood burst. He tugged her back in and pushed her back out, persisting in the assault. The crevasses of the stone were flooded. Drops marred the flooring beneath them. Her hearing dissipated, as Takuma frantically pleaded.

Aka thought of him.

Aka thought of him until the moment she felt those needles pierced her long pale neck.

The beast moaned, lips pursed against the soft flesh of her throat.

Eyes opening sluggishly, the sound of his feverish gulps rushed through the canals of her ears. Aka stared up into the dark.

"Kaien… Kai-" Aka whimpered. Tears flared, as his fangs deepened their decent. Aka relinquished a short strangled shriek. Shiki snorted, blood careening round to the back of her throat and down...

Takuma's voice breached the panic and pain. He tore at Shiki, but his friend would not relent. Even as his ravenous red eyes fell back – now one red and one purple, the vampire did not release her.

Aka cried, voice straining as his jaws latched onto her mercilessly. Shiki shook his head, tearing at the flesh of her throat.

"Such a mess," he said once he finally let go. He dropped the body, which hit the floor with a dull thud.

Takuma, palms shaking, knelt down to her. Shiki shuffled in search of more, sniffing loudly to find the scent of another meal.

"Aka," Takuma's voice quivered, as her glossy eyes stared through him, "Please don't, plea-"

"Come along boy," Shiki commanded, "I need more before I face my oh-so-wonderful nephew."

Hands fisting, Takuma pulled away from her body. He glowered at the monster, hissing, "You didn't have to kill her Rido!"

"Of course not," he replied suavely, "But that hunter, Kaien I think she snivelled, once wanted my Juuri." Turning to look back at the scene, Rido chuckled. Whilst lapping blood from his slender fingers, Rido gruffly remarked, "He should know now not to meddle in vampiric affairs."

Takuma bowed his head, eyes inadvertently catching the blood that seeped from the body.

"I'm sorry." He stammered, fiercely shaking his head, "I'm so sorry."

Rido huffed, shrugging the young man's display of humanity away. He would not be deterred. Kaname was waiting… and his precious Yuki.