DFA: Aloha, all! Sorry for the late update, because of a certain someone, who's currently hiding from you. (Author Dawn whispers – She's behind the chair if you're looking for her)

(Author Bells glares at Author Dawn from behind the chair)

DFA: And the characters are coming home tomorrow! It was a very long trip… I expect Ruka to have fallen for Kain by now… and Aido to have gotten over eating pocky. Fat chance for that, but a girl can hope, right?

Chapter 8: The Voice I Loved the Most

-No POV-

Takuma walked alongside Kaname, bracing himself for the upcoming screams of the Day Class students. His footsteps were quicker than usual as he was eager to meet her again. His brow furrowed as he thought of the many reasons to why she didn't showed up the night before.

As the Night Class students were nearing the dorm gate leading to the crowd, he was wondering whether she would be there. If she was, would he mention about how he waited for her the whole night? If she wasn't, should he skip class just to look for her? Did something bad happen to her?

"Ichijo, you seem pretty down," Yuuki commented to him. Somehow, she had finally stopped calling everyone senpai. That was the only thing that irked the vampires the most – having the Pureblood Princess address them as senpai.

Takuma forced a smile and shook his head, "Really? I didn't notice."

Yuuki raised her eyebrow and asked curiously, "Why the change of mood? This doesn't seem like the happy-go-lucky Ichijo that I've known."

He just shrugged, "Ah, well, sometimes your face will hurt if you smile too much."

Everyone chuckled quietly at his statement, believing him almost immediately. How well he could cover up his feelings with just a single humorous sentence.

Deep inside his heart, he missed her a lot, though they'd just been apart for twenty four hours at most? It was like… as though… I think I've found my soul mate. When she wasn't around, he felt like part of his soul wasn't there too.

His heart, his soul, his everything was taken by her. Truly, just the single mention of her beautiful name could drive him crazy, could make his heart beat erratically. He really loved her, no matter how she convinced him that she's a monster. In fact, he is a monster himself, so why should he be afraid of her?

However, what she felt for him… that was another thing. He was unsure, for her words were also, unsure. He could tell that she was struggling against something that probably didn't even concern him.

But, he was concerned about her, her everything. He knew that if she didn't make her feelings clear, it would torture him for the rest of the eternity. He needed to know.

He knew that he would do anything just to be with her, just to be by her side, even if she didn't want him to; even if it costs him his own life.

--

A week later…

-Nakano Ayumi-

Being separated from my biological brother is the hardest thing to accept in the entire universe. Fine, probably not the hardest, but still… We'd been together since… well, practically forever! And suddenly, just one little farewell, and he was gone, whether for good or bad I don't know.

Every single night, I tried so hard to search for him as far as I could before the sun rises, so Sahori wouldn't know I've gone out. Due to the fact that I missed out my hunt every night, my thirst was soon becoming too much to bear till the extent that even blood tablets would satisfy it, but I ignored the aching throat, desperate to find him, to tell him how much I cared for him, and most importantly, how much I loved him.

I could sense Takuma's worry and loneliness every evening, when I didn't show up outside the gate like I used to. I overheard him asking a girl where I was, and she replied to him that I hadn't been in class since I was ill, at the same time, flirting with him. Ugh, I wanted to kill her. Also, it wasn't the time for jealousy, Ayumi, Kanaye is your main focus now!

Like what I said, I was ill. But, I wasn't, honestly. That was what I told Sahori to tell everyone. She obliged because she knew that Kanaye was gone and we were a pretty close as siblings, so yeah… She didn't know much else though.

Tonight was no different than other nights.

I raced along, breathing heavily as I pushed myself to my limits, keeping my senses high, searching every thought around me, hoping that by chance, he was still nearby.

I stopped and gazed up upon the dark blue sky, staring at the white full moon. It was high up already, and I was still at the same place where I always had to stop each night.

Recklessly, I continued running, not caring if anyone had found me missing. All I wanted at that moment was to find him. Any explanations to the others would have to wait. Their opinions didn't matter.

Perhaps, I'll never ever step back to that school.

Yes, I'll never leave my brother's side, forever. I'll keep away from Takuma and stop loving him. It was just as easy as that. I could do it. I had to, because I loved my brother too.

I've been waiting for you to say that. An all too familiar voice penetrated my mind, and I whirled around, trying to scent him, but it was a failed attempt.

He stepped out behind a tree, and walked towards me. His blood red eyes that I was sure matched mine glowed in the darkness. I stared at his figure, his face, feeling stricken, pained and shocked, all emotions at the same time.

Stricken because I realized that I had no time to bid goodbye to everyone; pained because I knew I unconsciously made up my choice to not see Takuma anymore; and shocked at the sight of my beloved brother.

"I never left," he whispered softly, his voice a deep lullaby. "I stayed with you every day, watching as you ran to find me, always hiding in the shadows, seeing your disappointed face as you went back, alone."

I felt lost and puzzled.

"What's wrong?" he asked, making an attempt to close our distance.

Wait, I whispered silently in my thoughts, then shielded my mind to get some privacy to organize my thoughts.

Once I was sure that I was safe behind the barrier I built to hide my inner thoughts, I allowed myself to break down inwardly, feeling the deathly longing for Takuma, my love. I realized how much I would miss him, how much he meant and still means to me, how hard it was to just forget him for I couldn't let go every single memory about him.

I closed my eyes and let an image drift to me: Takuma, his green eyes filled with sadness and worry, searching for me endlessly, tears trickling down his gorgeous face. I knew that if I'd left him alone, he'll choose a noble vampire more suited to him, but I couldn't stand that. Jealousy again – ugh, Ayumi, what's wrong with you? I knew exactly what was wrong with me – I had fallen in love with him, unconditionally and irrevocably.

"Ayumi? What's wrong?" My brother finally stood right in front of me, and was brushing the tears I never knew I'd shed with his hands.

"I..." I could never give him the answer. If he knew, he'd run away again, and I didn't think I could bear that.

"Ayumi!" My head whipped to the sound of that voice, the voice I was longing for at that very moment. My brother let out a hiss of fury, but made no other movement, just standing there like a statue, glaring at the place where the person I so longed for had called out my name.

Takuma stepped out of the trees, flanked by two other vampires – Soeun Ruka and Akatsuki Kain. Behind them, panting, was Aido Hanabusa. Typical Aido… He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I wonder how Takuma got him to come out.

The three vampires following Takuma did a double take when they saw my blood red eyes fixed upon them. I could hear their thoughts – are they vampires, too?

Unfortunately, right at that moment, Takuma's alluring scent drifted towards me.

I started to step forward, but stopped myself. Venom was already pooling in my mouth but I struggled to keep my feet on the ground.

I wished I could say the same for my brother.

He let out a snarl of pure thirst, and slipped into a crouch for exactly a moment before he pounced.

In desperation, I lunged forward and placed myself in front of him as Kanaye's clawed hand came down and pain ripped through my stomach, making me gasp.

The smell of blood was everywhere, and I was getting dizzy. I fell down and was quickly saved by a pair of strong arms, Takuma's I knew it so well.

"Ayumi! I'm so sorry! I… I didn't… I didn't know! Please!" Kanaye had finally regained his 'humanness', his eyes wide and his mouth moving so quickly I wasn't sure what else he said.

My eyes were drooping as I whispered weakly, knowing they would hear me anyway, "It's okay. I'm fine… I'm fine…"

Takuma grasp on me became tighter, I could feel tears falling on my face, "No, you're not okay! You're bleeding a lot. I'm going fetch you a doctor." A doctor? What do these vampires need doctors for? I chuckled quietly, and gasped as pain zapped up my body.

"Please don't leave me. Stay by my side." I used my last ounce of energy to wipe his tears off and smiled. "Don't cry. It's not like I'm dying." I laughed softly again, which hurt my wound even more, and I winced.

Takuma gave me a weak smile that didn't seem to reach his eyes.

Kanaye snarled at Takuma and I turned to shoot daggers at him with my eyes, knowing that it'll be enough to keep him calm for a moment – at least I had enough strength to do that. "Kanaye," I warned. He didn't care and wrapped his fingers around Takuma's delicate looking neck. I shuddered, and would have fallen to the floor if not for Akatsuki Kain, who caught me.

"No! Don't! If you want to kill him, you must get past me first," I cried out, wanting so badly to take away Kanaye's hands, but I was too weak. I tried to reach out to my brother, but my fingers merely brushed his sleeve. Ruka and Aido were now in battle stance, ready to kill him if he'd so much started to tighten his grip. "No," I whispered.

The blood loss was making my energy run out. I was going to loss my consciousness soon. It was too soon. I had to confess my feelings, I had to tell them who I like most.

Who? Who? Kanaye? Takuma? Which one I could live without? If Takuma were to die, would I die with him? If Kanaye were to be murdered, would I kill myself and go with him to the world after death?

I wracked my brain and tried my very best to search for the person who stayed in the deepest part of my heart.

"Ayumi…" Takuma whispered.

That did it.

"Takuma. I love Takuma. If he dies, my life would be meaningless," I whispered softly before darkness took over me. The last thing I heard was 'Quick! We're going back to my house now!" It was Takuma's voice, hoarse from Kanaye's tightening fingers.

It was the voice I loved the most.

DFA: Review please! I'll love you for it, and you'll get a free preview!