This chapter kind of deviates from the Yori/Kaname storyline, but I hope you all enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight.
Aido knew he would do anything for Kaname-sama, but he had to wonder at his leader's decision this time. It was horrible he was being forced to cross-dress. While this was for Kaname it did not mean he had to be nice to anyone, least of all Yori. The orders were to keep her safe and to not attack any of the students during that time. That was it. He had no intentions of being friends with a girl that brought danger to Kaname. Other than that Aido liked Yori. When she had spoken to him last, he had been stiff and uncomfortable on purpose. The plan was to remain aloof.
He had donned a dayclass girl's uniform, a long haired blond wig and fake breasts. His make-up and hair were specially done by Rima. The result was amazing. He truly looked like a girl. The disguise made him sick to his stomach. In the best high pitch voice he could make, he introduced himself to the dayclass as Hana Ai. He was well received, not that he cared. Before long he found himself popular with the boys and unpopular with the girls. Through it all, he ignored Yori and the other students, only doing his job.
Yori watched as Aido ate alone, studied alone, and made no attempts at friendly conversation. She easily understood that he wanted it to be that way. The others didn't. He sat at an empty area only to be surrounded by a bunch of hormonal males. They constantly flirted with him. Some even tried to grope him inappropriately. The girls were just as bad, often harassing him. If not for Kaname's rule, Aido would have already hurt them. Yori did her best to help him with all the unwanted attention without his knowledge. It went on for a couple of weeks like that and then it became too much to just do nothing about it.
It was raining that Monday morning. The gray clouds made the day gloomy. Yori smiled at the umbrella she carried. Kaname had visited early to give her the umbrella. When she noticed a group of girls talking while giving Aido evil looks, her joy went away. She was becoming weary of their antics. She'd have to stay alert.
After lunch, Aido asked to go to the bathroom during class. Honestly, he preferred to pee standing up, so he usually went when it was empty. Mostly he avoided going because the girl's bathroom was rarely empty. He didn't really need to pee. He just wanted to skip out on the boring lecture. After peeing instead of going back to class he left to the stables. Once there he planned to take a nap. It had become habit because of all the attention.
He hadn't cared in the beginning. They never truly hurt him, but after two weeks of their tricks and beatings he learned something. It was very annoying to simply take their hazing, especially when Yori was getting involved and trying to secretly protect him. It hurt his pride.
At the stable, Aido gazed out into the rain at the moon dormitory. He longed to be in his room, in bed asleep. He couldn't visit, though. Everyone had laughed at his disguised appearance. Even Kaname had to keep himself from laughing. Usually Kaname was gravely serious, but that time he had been clenching his jaw, shoulders stiff. Yuki didn't laugh. She thought he was cute. Somehow that was worse. He felt lonesome as he gandered longingly at the cold, wet landscape.
The intruding presence of three girls didn't go unnoticed by Aido. He didn't want to bother with them. Slowly, he turned to face them. His eyes widened in surprise when he was grabbed by the scruff of his jacket, his head pushed down. He shut his eyes as he heard the splashing of water. Opening his eyes he noticed first the big, black umbrella his captor was using as a shield. Not a single drop of water had touched him. Yori lowered the umbrella, her head down. She looked up with a scowl. She said, irritated, "I am tired of protecting you."
Aido flinched at her words. Nobody asked you to protect me, he thought. It had felt good to know Yori cared. He had only shunned her to protect himself. Now she was tired of him. Aido was sure he might cry soon. Truly, he had wanted to be Yori's friend. She was easy to like. It made sense that Kaname had fallen in love with her. His unfriendly act had worked, to his regret.
In a quiet voice she spoke again. "You've been very patient, Ai-san. If you chose to defend yourself from now on, I promise I won't tell Kana-chan."
She released him letting him stand straight. He stared at her shocked. She looked back at him, winking. "Don't you want to start with me?" she asked, grabbing him by the collar. He knew what she meant, so he played along. The other girls looked scared now. They weren't sure what was happening.
Aido wrapped a hand around Yori's neck, shoving her against a stall and causing her to drop the umbrella. Holding her in place, he turned to the stunned girls. "When I'm done with her you're next," he said in his feminine voice, smiling frighteningly. His words had them running away.
He quickly let go of Yori. He was going to ask her if she was okay. Before he could say anything she grabbed his jacket, pulling him forward and head-butting him. The impact left him disoriented, grabbing at the air for something to stabilize him. He fell on his posterior, his head lowered until he recovered. Aido lifted his head to stare at Yori horrified. Swiftly he grabbed her left wrist, tugging her down to his level. "Are you crazy? Kaname will kill me if you get hurt!" he yelled at her, forgetting to use a girlish voice. He took the chance to examine her head while he spoke.
Completely unharmed, she smiled at him. "No. That was for ignoring me…Did I do something wrong to be ignored?"
Hearing her made him feel awful. "No. I'm sorry. I won't ignore you anymore." He explained why he had ignored her since she deserved to know and he hoped it would help. She understood, so she didn't hold it against him. Aido found himself talking and laughing with Yori before long. Classes were over by the time they realized how much fun they were having.
After that Aido was left alone, as was Yori. Rumor travelled fast about their "fight" in the stables and greatly exaggerated. Aido didn't care, he was really happy having fun with Yori. She was also glad that he opened up to her. To anyone watching them it would appear they were best friends.
Kaname did not miss the sudden change between Yori and Aido. The first time he noticed it was one October night. It was quite late. He found both asleep, their heads on the table, several textbooks open around them. He raised an eyebrow at the oddity and carried them both to bed. Aido had grabbed onto him in the process. It was hard to extricate himself from Aido. After that Kaname just wanted to forget that night. The second time was a couple of days later. They were having lunch. He had gone incognito to get a glimpse of Yori. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. Unfortunately he couldn't. Seeing them chat and giggle made him feel uneasy, especially their close proximity.
The final incident was a couple of weeks later. Kaname breifly visited Kaien on a Friday afternoon. Yori came home carried on Aido's back. She wasn't injured, yet he was carrying her. Her returned in the evening, having decided it was enough. Yori helped Zero, who had come back that day from his missions, make dinner. Meanwhile, Kaname ordered Aido to refrain from imposing on his time with Yori. He obeyed. He ate dinner then excused himself, as did Zero whom Kaname had told Yuki was expecting him.
Earlier he had listened in on Zero and Yori's conversation. Kaname learned that Zero would be leaving on weekends to go on hunts, but he'd be at the academy on weekdays. His sister would be happy to know that. She had yelled at him earlier because he hadn't let her come visit Yori and Zero. He promised her that she'd get a chance, but not tonight.
Kaname knew that Zero was aware of his eavesdropping, but Yori wasn't. At least, she spoke candidly and openly. Surprisingly, Zero seemed to do the same.
"Are you happy?" Zero had asked Yori. She nodded.
"Yes, but I think I understand you better now," she said.
Zero looked confused at her comment. She explained, "Why it was difficult for you to accept dating Yuki."
That made Zero smile. He recalled Yori's words of last year. "You told me I was a vampire, I could be with Yuki. That I was just being stubborn by making excuses." For some reason, he gave in. Once he made the choice of being with Yuki he lost some of the burden of denying himself and became happy.
She recalled as well. She had to cringe at the memory. "I'm happy, but after learning the hunter's rules I can't offer Kaname my blood," she said. Even recalling the mysterious pureblood's words, she couldn't.
Zero thought about that. "I'm glad you scolded me back then," he said patting her on the head. "If you're happy that's good. The rules…H.A. gave you two permission to be together. Don't worry too much. Besides, Kuran won't ask you for blood."
It was true. He wouldn't. He didn't crave that, only Yori's love. In her room, he lay on his side, his back to her. The bed was small compared to his. He thought of questioning her, but he already knew the answer. Aido's disguise made her forget Hana Ai was a man, he knew. He only said, "Don't forget Hana Ai is a man."
Staring longingly at Kaname's back, Yori felt unsure. This whole month since Kaito left Kaname hadn't touched her. She was seeing him as a man. As she had told Zero she was happy. Whenever she saw Kaname, even when she thought of him she was happy. If he was away she felt like she couldn't breathe. Hearing his words she had to think about it. She concluded that maybe Kaname was jealous. Smiling contentedly, she gained courage from his words. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her hands settling over his stomach. "I don't think of Aido that way. Your back, however, is very manly. It entices me," she said, pressing a kiss to his right shoulder blade.
She truly made it difficult for him. If she continued doing things like that, he was going to end up fucking her. In time he would, but not tonight. He gave her a peck on the lips and bid her goodnight.