DFA: Hey, hey HEY!!! Sorry for the long wait!! Was busy... I think Bells is... where is she? BELLS! Get your ass here!!
(muffled noise comes from under the pile of sleeping vampires)
DFA: ... Ah, I see where she's at. (Author Dawn kicks pile of sleeping vampires. Now, the pile of sleeping vampires becomes the pile of ANGRY sleeping vampires!) ... Oops.
LB: Oops is right. (Author Bells crawls out from under the pile of angry, scrabbling sleeping vampires) Do I have to constantly remind you that you could just cut one of those extras on the set and they'll be away? (sees glaring extras) Haha, just kidding! (heh)
DFA: Um... yes mommy...
LB: Anyways, on with the show!
Chapter 10: True Love
Two days later...
"Ayumi! What are you doing out here? I told you to call me if you needed anything!" Takuma sounded agitated.
"God damn it, Takuma, I can get down the stairs for a glass of blood tablet myself! Two days in bed is more than enough for me." The half-breed sounded irritated, but love saturated her voice as she talked to the blond vampire.
Ayumi sighed at the look on his face.
"Chillax Takuma! I'm not going to fall from fatigue, unless, of course, you decided to drug me for no apparent reason," she said wryly, shooting a wink at the young Pureblood Princess, Kuran Yuuki, who was at the bottom of the stairs. Yuuki giggled.
It's almost hard to believe that Kanaye is long gone, Ayumi thought suddenly, as her eyes, as always, scanned the faces in front of her for a glimpse of her brother. Disappointment washed over her yet again as she saw that he was gone.
Takuma slipped an arm around her shoulders and ignored the annoyed, playful look she shot him as he helped her down. Aido snickered until Kain stepped meaningfully on his foot, making him jump and glare at his cousin.
Yuuki touched the half-breed's arm when she was finally down from the 'treacherous' stairs.
Ayumi eyed Ruka's and Rima's rosy and lightning blue elaborate dresses, and the males' tuxedos, all black or white. Then, she turned to look at Takuma, beside her, in black one. Her eyes drifted to Yuuki's even more elaborate silver dress, and raised her eyebrows. "Okay, there's either one party coming up that I don't know about, or you vampires love to wear things like these." She reached over and tapped the sparkling rose that was clipped on Yuuki's dress.
"We did tell you there was a party," Takuma reminded her.
Ayumi looked blankly at him.
"Remember, we told you that you had to drink blood tablets because..."
"Oh!" Memory clicked. "Right." She grinned. "I'm going into hiding." She started to turn back up the stairs when at least four vampires grabbed her: her arms, her neck, and her waist. She had no doubt who chose the latter.
"Hey!"
"We're going to announce your presence!" Yuuki blurted. "Because you and Ichijo..."
A blush flowed over the young Pureblood's cheeks as Ayumi turned her head – with some difficulty – to glare at her.
"You can't do that! The Council of Ancients..." she trailed off as Kaname looked up with some interest to stare at her. The vampires who were holding onto her loosened their hold and backed away one step to look at her.
"They survived, did they? Even with Ichiou gone."
It was Ayumi's turn to blush. Colour flooded her cheeks and she looked away from him.
"Gomen."
Kaname raised his eyebrows. "Why are you sorry?"
She shrugged. "I'm not supposed..." she trailed off again, and muttered, "gomen," once more before turning away.
Takuma sighed, and caught her arm. "We won't announce who you are," he promised. "It's just that..." he broke off suddenly as she looked at him, a glimmer of softness in her human eyes.
"I will not go."
"For me," he breathed, leaning closer.
She bit her lip and looked away, shrugging out of his hand. She moved up the stairs, her eyes downcast and her bottom lip trembling.
"Good night," her voice rang out, changing, as the sun set outside the window.
With that, she ran up, and they heard the door slam, and the locks clicking.
--
Takuma sighed, and glanced at an amused-looking Kaname, who now had his arm around his beloved sister, Yuuki. She was fidgeting with her dress – it can't be very comfortable.
"I'll go up and get her dressed," Ruka offered, already starting upwards with both Rima and Seiren in tow. "Yuuki-sama, are you coming?"
"Wait!"
Takuma's voice stopped her. She turned, surprised.
"Yes?" All the girls stared at the blond-haired boy.
"Are you sure you girls can handle her alone? She's not... human anymore," Takuma mumbled the last part, shooting a glance at Kaname. Kaname just smiled.
"Yuuki's with them. She'll be fine," Kaname assured him. Then, he pushed his little sister forward gently. "I'll see you later, Yuuki." Yuuki blushed, and nodded, and followed Ruka, Seiren and Rima up the stairs.
Takuma's eyes followed them, and Aido snickered again.
"You really want to see her that bad, ne, Ichijo?" Takuma glared at the other blond, who yelped at the deathly look in his eyes and ducked behind his cousin. "I'll shut up now," he promised. "Just don't hurt me."
Kaname chuckled and moved to a couch, where he took a seat.
"Might as well wait and see if they need us."
--
"And may I present to you... Lady Ayumi!"
Yuuki's cheery voice drifted from up the stairs, and all the male vampires glanced up to see the female vampires parade down the stairs, followed by a beautiful, pouting Ayumi.
"Thanks a lot, Yuuki," Ayumi said sarcastically, lifting her skirts as she drifted down. Takuma, who had a good view of Aido, saw his eyes bug out and his jaw drop at the half-breed's beauty. Not many of them had seen her when she was a 'vampire'.
Behind him, Akatsuki cleared his throat and looked away uncomfortably, and Shiki's eyes were only for Rima. Same goes to Kaname, who enveloped Yuuki in a hug.
Ayumi glanced at Takuma, and her cheeks turned pink.
"I look terrible, don't I?"
He hadn't realized that he was staring at her almost in the same way Aido was. He snapped his jaw shut and looked away, fingering the tassels on his shirt.
"No. You look beautiful."
She laughed, and he heard Aido swallow. "Yeah, right."
She came closer to him and took his hands in her frozen ones. He raised his eyes to meet hers, bracing himself for the blood-red gaze she possessed, and gasped when he realized that they were now glowing a beautiful, sapphire blue.
"What is it?" she asked, her eyes widening.
He coughed. "Your... eyes..."
Kaname cleared his throat. Everyone turned to look at the Pureblood Prince.
"The reason why her eyes have changed colour is you, Ichijo, and these." He held up the blood tablets. "Blood makes her eyes red, but these not only make her weaker than an average half-breed, they also change the colour of her eyes, showing that she is currently 'tamed' by you."
Takuma stared at the beautiful girl. "You're weaker now?"
She laughed. "I'm still stronger than you!" she tapped his nose lightly, and sighed. "But yes, I am weaker than I usually am."
"Gomennasai," Takuma mumbled. He felt like it was his fault, which, according to Kaname, it was.
"Don't worry. I've always wanted to be... normal." She sighed. "But I guess it's a hard thing to wish for, right? Because I'll never be normal, will I?" Ayumi's eyes dimmed slightly, and she ducked her head.
Takuma took her in his arms.
"To me, you are always normal," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around him, and he breathed in her intoxicating smell. "I love you."
She sniffed. "Don't make me cry, or Ruka's expertise in makeup will be wasted."
Takuma chuckled, and rubbed the small of her back lightly as everyone watched on.
They were watching true love at work.
BA: Please review!! Your comments are very much (Author Dawn goes 'wanted' and Author Bells goes 'appreciated')
DFA: Aw, damn! We have to work on that.
(Author Bells makes a sound of agreement and yawns)
...
BA: Till the next chapter!!