Kill of the Night

His heart boomed. The rhythm bled into his pale flesh. Sweat drizzled down his neck, skin steaming under the strobe lights. Hair swishing, dancers tugged at his glistening locks as he passed them by. Women pouted, men laughed, he gasped. Lips dry, cracking. Cheeks blazing with blood that pumped to the beating of his booming, booming heart. Hunger pounced upon him, as he ran from the dance floor.

Palms sizzling, eyes red, Akatsuki rushed through the crowd. His feet stumbled, arms reaching out to catch himself against the throng of drinkers at the bar.

"Aidou!" He shouted, throat arid.

Bright blue eyes wandered over him. Blond hair tickled his biceps. Pale flesh glowed under the flashing stars confined to the ceiling. None belonged to his cousin.

Aidou was no longer here.

"That brat," Akatsuki hissed, fangs barred. He pushed a small young lady away, as she attempted to grasp at his shirt and lean into his neck.

Glowering, watching her fall into a lad, Akatsuki fled.

The lad's drinks tumbled and smashed against the glittering tiles. Blood ebbed from the girl's legs, as the shards flew up against her bare flesh.

Akatsuki sucked in a deep breath, eyes brightening in the dark.

That smell…

She bled quickly, alcohol running through her veins.

Akatsuki ran.

Guzzling the cold air, he scuttled down the street. The thumping of the music, the sounds, the smells and the heat drained away the further he walked. Akatsuki braced his hot palms against a frosted building. The sandstone scuffed his fingertips. Moving closer, he leaned his forehead against the wall and breathed out peacefully. Heart calming, and fangs receding, Akatsuki''s mind wandered to his cousin.

"How could he just leave like that?" he stammered quietly. Hands fisting, sandstone pulling away from the building as his strength came forth, Akatsuki's visage hardened, "The cheek of that bastard – I'll pour water over his hung-over head in the morning."

"Trouble?"

Akatsuki jumped. Turning swiftly, he threw forward a fist. A sharp scream was emitted. The figure ducked, long hair flailing into the air above her head.

Dark green eyes gazed up at him from a mass of curly black hair.

Gaping, Akatsuki cleared his throat and awkwardly shrugged.

Remembering her query he nodded slightly, as she righted herself. "My cousin seems to have ditched me."

"Oh," the young lass softly replied. She was human. Cheeks flushed and hands shaking. Her whole body appeared to quiver despite the layers she had atop her person. Akatsuki's eyes were drawn to the deep red scarf that curled round her thin throat and careened down the outer shell of her tanned coat. She knelt down to pick up a matching hat and placed it back on her head.

Licking his lips, Akatsuki ventured, "What are you doing out here on your own?"

Gulping, eyes avoiding his piercing gaze as he stood so tall above her, the girl stuttered, "I'm returning to the Academy… I went to visit my Grandmother and lost track of time."

Akatsuki spied her shifting her weight. She was uncomfortable. Sighing, he reached toward her timidly. The lass skittishly grasped his hand. They were quick to relinquish one another's grasp after shaking in greeting.

"I'm from Cross Academy too – I'll walk you." He asserted.

Eyes widening at the heat rising from his palm, she breathed out, "Okay."

On their way they went. Clouds furling high above their world, snow slowly drifting down, the pair wandered through the streets of the city and eventually out into the wood.

The aroma of cookie dough lifted from her. Akatsuki's luminous eyes wandered over to her, as the swish of her hair pelted his nostrils with the scent. She kept turning slightly, looking at him from the corner of her sight. He pocketed his hands, body burning. He could hear the rush. Her blood ferociously flooded her entire being. She was nervous.

"Alice," she suddenly burst.

Akatsuki mouthed the name, the letters slowly tipping from his lips. Alice shivered, but he put that down to the cold that ebbed through their clothes and stuck to their lungs as they breathed.

Their shoes clapped, as they trotted between the trees.

"I've never seen you… err, at school." Alice ventured carefully, watching his face.

Akatsuki smirked slightly, laughing lowly. The hairs on her arms, coveted by a woolly jumper and thick trench coat, sprang up on end. His voice was gruff from alcohol and Alice gulped down a sigh. The smell of a night club stuck to his clothes and sweat still slid down from his blazing hair. Drops meandered over the sharp curves of his cheeks.

"I am part of the Night Class." Akatsuki told her. There was superiority in his tone that had Alice deflating. Disappointment arose within her heart, as he walked with a taller gait.

He was spoiled – no doubt.

"Oh." Alice replied sullenly, gaze swiftly dashing away from him. She stared ahead, eyes dissecting the quiet abyss about them.

Somewhere far behind a dog howled.

Akatsuki's arm sprang out. He clutched her shoulder, as she stumbled. Alice cursed under her breath. Akatsuki smirked slightly, listening intently as she righted her footing and kicked the stray stout log.

"A young lady should not speak so ill." He elegantly told her, lips curling with mirth.

Alice omitted a sharp laugh, turning swiftly to look him in the eye. She leaned up, warm breath tickling his nose as she whispered, "Young men should not either, yet you had quite a lot to say back in town."

Akatsuki, eyes wide, stared down at her. Alice pulled back first, continuing the trek to the Academy. She shuffled her feet, shoes tapping against the underbrush. Akatsuki watched her take careful steps, so as not to fall, but it seemed in vain. Her natural innate sense of balance was atrocious and he had to cup his hands to his face to avoid bursting with mockery, as he watched Alice walk.

She snorted indignantly, looking back at him. Akatsuki chortled.

His body ached. Blond curls gleamed in the sunlight that flitted between the curtains. Aidou groaned, burrowing further into his warm quilt. Another joined him. Across the room Akatsuki could be heard, turning and curling in on himself to hide from the day. Aidou's lips stretched back, bright teeth smiling. His blue eyes slowly opened and Aidou gradually peeled himself from under the blankets.

Akatsuki was splayed over his bed. His clothes were crinkled and stained. Aidou sniffed lightly, licking his fangs as the scent washed over his thickly hung-over consciousness.

"My, my Akatsuki," Aidou quietly teased, eyes wandering his cousin's dishevelled slumbering figure, "What did you get up to in that club?" Leaning closer, Aidou stiffened. That scent that scuttled over him… blood. "I only left you near the end," He murmured, hand quivering as he reached out to finger the stains on Akatsuki's shirt, "Not long at all really."

Aidou hurried away to his own bed. Sitting and sighing heavily, he stared across at his cousin. Aidou pressed his palm against his nose and lips, mumbling, "What have you done?"

Takuma licked his lips. The glass poised slightly above his hungry stature slowly relinquished a last drop. Opposite him, Shiki groaned. "I'm sleepy and this artificial food doesn't help to quench my thirst or my fatigue."

"I keep telling you Shiki," Takuma confidently reassured, "It will get easier – better even-"

"You have to give it time," Shiki finished, glowering at the liquid. He grunted, "Yes, I know."

Ruka rushed into the dining area, pristine curls flapping behind her. She hastily conferred, "Have you seen Kaname?" Takuma stammered, averting his gaze. Shiki shrugged, mutely sipping his drink. There was slight crease between his brows that had Takuma smiling slightly.

"Stop sulking," Takuma pushed, "Just finish your breakfast properly."

Ruka snatched Takuma's empty cup from his grasp and exclaimed more desperately, "He's in a right foul mood."

Sighing loudly, Takuma let her dispose of his glass and confessed to her, "Something about a girl being found just outside the grounds."

"What?" Shiki blurted with intrigue, "You were going to go all night without telling me any of this?"

Takuma flicked Shiki's nose, lightly laughing, "Like it's any of your business!"

"It is when the perpetrator is supposedly a student." Ruka boldly asserted. Crossing her arms and leaning against the table, she glared at Takuma. "What do you know Mr Vice President?"

"Err," Takuma coughed, scratching at his neck hesitantly.

"We deserve to know," Shiki mumbled, "If we are to be suspects…"

"A Day Class student was murdered the night before."

The three grimaced. Rising from their seats, the two lads snapped their backs straight and stood solidly side by side. Ruka bowed. They politely omitted, "Good morning Kaname."

Nose twitching slightly, Kaname told them, "Though the student was killed outside the Academy, the scent of her blood lingers within this very building. Kaien spoke with me this morning to discuss potential suspects."

"We were all accounted for during class the night before," Ruka established with a soft, but shaky tone. She trailed closer to Kaname, looking up at his impenetrable façade, "How could it be one of us if we were all accounted for?"

"The vampire could be taking shelter, hiding." Shiki verbally supposed to himself, ignoring the others and staring out the window.

"No," Kaname said, "Officials have established that the girl died during the early hours of the morning." He crossed over to the table, taking hold of the glass Shiki had been drinking from. The light shaded liquid teetered as he tilted the glass to and fro. Kaname confirmed, "The young girl was murdered by a rule breaker." The glass shattered, liquid careening down his flesh and under the sleeve of his white uniform. He did not flinch like the others, watching as the drink bled into the cloth. A shard of glass licked at his skin and Kaname let the pieces drop to the wooden table.

Taking out a napkin, his gaze captured Takuma. "Find those that snuck out last night and bring them to me."

Kaname left without a sound. Shiki and Ruka stared at the door with wide eyes. Takuma's breath shook, as he delicately muttered, "Oh my."

Aidou slapped Akatsuki.

In return, he was thrown from the bed and slammed against the wall. Aidou scowled, nostrils flaring as the smell of Kain's clothes seeped up from the material.

"Come on," Aidou fiercely asserted, pushing his cousin away, "You need to strip – now!"

"What?" Akatsuki shouted.

Gesturing to his clothes, Aidou tugged at Kain's shirt. "You're coated in the stuff!" Eyes shifting to the bedroom door, Aidou swiftly started to pull at Kain's belt, "We've got to get rid of these clothes – you need to shower too."

Akatsuki pulled away from Aidou, slapping his hands away from his body. "What are you talking about and why are you doing this now? My head is killing me."

"Aye," Aidou sneered, "Too much blood probably – get the evidence off, so I can burn it!"

Akatsuki stopped fussing, as Aidou pulled at him.

"What?" Kain's voice strayed, as the evening rushing into his vision like a gazelle racing from a lion.

Fingers scraped at bark, knee caps crunching loudly. Blood bubbled from the wounds… screaming.

"Alice…" Akatsuki whispered, eyes widening and mouth gaping.

Aidou barked, "Doesn't matter what her name was – get your clothes off!"

Kain hastily shed his shirt. The trousers followed. As they fell to the floor, the pair caught sight of the mud and blood that his shoes had trodden into the bedroom carpet. The trail led to his bed from the window, whose frame was freshly painted brown and red. The sight was a stark contrast the white the trailed up toward the ceiling and Akatsuki shivered as the smell of her and the forest penetrated his nose.

"How are we going to hide this?" Kain quietly ventured, as Aidou snatched up the clothes.

"Fire," Aidout stated, "Like always."

Eyes closing, her smile tugging at his heart, Akatsuki turned to his cousin. The clothes were piled on the dressing table.

"Like always." Kain said simply, voice nonchalant, as he raised a palm up to the pile.

The fresh meal had strengthened him, fire crackling lively.

The flames were hot like his heart. There was pain there, as the scent of her burned away.