Author's note:

May 3, 2009//Hi!!! I changed the BGM of this chapter from Utada Hikaru's "Beautiful World" to Fukuyama Masaharu's "Squall" because I think the later would suit the theme better ^^ Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Watashi koi wo shite iru kanashii kurai
I'm so much in love it's sad
Mou kakusenai kono setsunasa wa
I can't hide this pain anymore
Motto issho ni itai
I want to be with you more
Futari de itai
Just the two of us
Kanaete hoshii natsu no akogare
I want you to make my summer longing come true
Sagashiteta anata dake...
I've been searching, just for you...

~ Fukuyama Masaharu – Squall ~

After Kain and Aidou helped me carry my bags of luggage to my dorm room, they waved goodbye and proceeded to head to the main gate where all the fan girls were gathered. I stayed in my room since I didn't have to start class until the next day. Being one of the rare purebloods on campus, I was privileged to have a room all to myself.

After taking a bath and changing into my silky rose nightgown, I slumped onto the black leather sofa in my dorm room lazily. The sun had already set and the roseate dust had intensified and was taken over by the subtle color of darkness; streaming through the large glass window framed in exquisitely ornate metal vines, the serenade moonlight lightened up the dark night with a lustrous glow. Staring out into the starry night sky, I leaned casually onto the edge of the sofa, with my legs tucked underneath my gown. The atmosphere surrounding me was calm and quiet; the clock was ticking hypnotically in the background behind me. The mechanical ticks had done nothing useful at all but increased the lonely feeling within my room. Gazing out the window, the randomly sparking stars that were etched in the velvet night reminded me of a distance, nostalgic memory that was buried deeply inside my heart. The recollection of the misty twilight was still fresh in my mind as if it took place yesterday. Whenever I let the opaque image ran through my mind, I could still recall the warmth of his palm when he wrapped his fingers around mine, and the melancholy feeling as I watched his silhouette gradually faded as he went off in when we parted; although the memories seemed so appeared far away, it was simply that vivid. It was something that I already prepared to forsake, but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't find the will to discard.

'If 'that' never happened, will we ever be the same again?'

This question had been stirring in my mind for a long time. Smiling bitterly, I shook my head slightly as the thought crossed my mind. I brought my hand to my neck and felt the warmth of my very own blood running smoothly along my veins in a rhythmic pace.

'Isn't the answer is obvious already?'

The wound, I realized, had already healed itself, but the dull pain inflicted by the sensation of sharp fangs still lingered. The faint but sufficient feeling was enough to remind me of the inescapable existence of the non-crossable line that was between me and him.

Since the day we were engulfed in fate's little game, we are bounded to be heading our separate ways.

Sighing wistfully, I closed my eyes and lost my myself in a deep contemplation until it was broken by the faint footsteps echoing in the empty hallway approaching my dorm. I gazed at the door and waited for awhile, but the door never opened. Finally, I lost my patient and raised my voice.

"Just come in if you want to." I swiveled around to face the doorway and watched the door as it opened silently, looking at the emerald gaze of the tall figure of none other than Ichijou Takuma himself, who was currently leaning wearily against the wooden door frame. He was holding his ruffled white uniform blazer in his arm, his red necktie hung loosely around his pale neck. He looked like he had been dismissed from an important meeting and dashed off to his destination on time. He was panting with a low steady beat, his cheeks red from exhaustion. Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, he flashed an apologetic smile at me.

"Sorry, Rei. I was supposed to pick you up but I had a sudden meeting with Kaname-kun and was unable to meet you," he explained nervously. He clapped his hands together and bowed his head, apologized with a sheepish grin. "Please don't be angry."

Seeing Takuma in a fluster trying to search for the appropriate words, I couldn't help it but chuckled pleasantly.

"Well, shame on you for not arriving there on time then!" I smiled at him. I paused for a few moments as I saw Takuma's crestfallen face. "Don't worry. I am just tired from all the traveling, that's all."

I stood up from my sofa, and walked toward the small peach wood cupboard that stood underneath the window. The clock on the wall showed that it was a little before one in the morning. I looked out the window, but all I could see was a world of total darkness. From the cupboard I picked out two crystal wine glasses and back to the sofa. Then I reached for the little tin can that stood on the center of the glass table that stood in front of the sofa, picked up two blood tablets and dropped one into each of the wine glasses. I tilted the glasses lightly back and forth, and the tablets quickly and quietly dissolved away, turning the colorless water into a swirl of crimson. I jerked my head toward Takuma and patted on the vacant space beside me, gesturing him to occupy it. My lips curved into a grin of victory as Takuma breathed a defeat and walked toward me. I handed him one of the glasses as he sat down beside me.

"You're sure not angry at me anymore right?" He asked cautiously as he took the glass from me.

"Do I look so petty?" I said, teasingly. Then both of us burst into laughter.

"Cheers!" He said and raised his glass at me as I leaned forward to clink my glass against his. He took a sip of the drink, and put it back down onto the glass table. "So how's my little princess's doing?" He smiled and patted softly on my head. I really liked that. The feeling of being pampered was something that I had been missing since my parents' death. It felt like as if we were back in the days when we were still living a carefree life back in the Ichijou mansion - a time when the complications and responsibilities of being nobles and purebloods were beyond our concern.

For the rest of the night, we stayed up chatting and drinking, telling about what the other had been missing in each other's life. He told me about his school life, with all the regular love letters and class skipping to read manga. On the other hand, I told him about the people we had once lived with back in the Ichijou mansion. The midsummer night breeze was causing the white curtain to rustle and I could hear fainting melodies of the piano playing Bach's 'Air' beautifully from the distance. I put my glass back down on the glass table and leaned casually on the sofa. The distant aria was so calm and peaceful, making me felt somewhat somnolent. My eyelids gradually felt heavier and heavier, and before I realized, Takuma had reached out and gently pushed my head down to rest against his comfortable, broad shoulder. It was so close I could even smell the sweet aroma of camellia of his blouse. I was too tired to respond and my arms just hung at my sides. Feeling Takuma's warm hands tenderly brushing against my scarlet hair, the tenderness of his touch reminded me of my longing for him, and the wistful feeling made me almost wanted to cry. To rid the thought, I snuggled closer into his arms.

"If you are tired, you should get some sleep." Sensing my uneasiness, he tightened his embrace slightly and whispered into my ears softly. I closed my eyes and gave myself over to the soothing effect of his lulling voice, lingering in my ears.

"Have a nice dream." he whispered in my ears once again. A smile of relief rose to my lips as I quietly fell asleep, drifting into my peaceful realm of dream.