This seems surreal… I can't believe that this is actually the last chapter. I hope that you guys enjoy this last installment and that it answers all of your questions.
Some wonderful people have been following this story right from the beginning of Chapter 1 and studiously left a review right through. I loved posting these chapters because I just knew that I'd be assured at least a few reviews from you guys. You know who you are; thank you, you're awesome.
To all of my anonymous reviewers: Sadly, some of my best reviews were anonymous so I couldn't reply to your wonderful advice. I appreciate every single last review and only wish that I were able to reply to all of them. Again, thank you.
Now, without further ado, I give you the last chapter. ENJOY!
Title: Logging off Life (Chapter 11; Epilogue)
Author: MeteorLeopard (HoneyBadger)
The moon hung bright and white in the sky, barely a cloud shrouding it as its natural light filtered through Yori's bedroom curtains. The window was open and let in the refreshing, crisp wintry air. All was silent around her as she quietly tapped away at her computer's keyboard, the screen creating further artificial light in addition to the moon's illumination which even alone, under her new circumstances, would have been enough.
After all, with new vampire sight the moonlight was all she needed to see everything in its clearest of crystal detail. Sunlight was uncomfortably bright and made her squint. In a way she missed the warm rays, yet the moon brought with it its own calming presence and way of beauty. The world was always left stark and elegant beneath its silver light.
Looking at how her view of the world had changed, it made her remember The Night. The night she'd been transformed. After breaking out of the hospital, with help from the Chairman, she'd been smuggled back into Cross Academy and promptly been trapped in a death squeeze by Yuuki who had been bawling her eyes out about losing her best friend and how relieved she was that Yori was still alive.
Well, sort of alive.
Chairman Cross had organised new identity documents for her, proclaiming her as his new adoptive daughter, Cross Yori, from two parents who had run off and left her in an orphanage that was now conveniently out of business. This also made her Yuuki's new sister, something that the said bubbly brunette was ecstatic about.
Kaname had sent Seiren to infiltrate the hospital and memory wipe all the doctors and nurses involved with Yori and hack the main system, wiping all evidence of the girl from the computers and digital files.
However, any hopes that Yori had of simply returning to her normal school life in the Day Class were quickly dashed when the Chairman had announced that she'd have to be sent off somewhere else to 'rehabilitate' as a vampire. Yori understood the need but she was nonetheless disappointed… until Aidou volunteered his home.
Now, two weeks later, she had settled in at the Aidou family manor.
Her room was nothing huge or lavish but very cozily set out with plenty of seating space and cushions. Yori had been afraid that, upon first entering the large and imposing Aidou manor with a beating heart, she'd be treated strangely due to her non-noble status. Apparently though, Aidou had called ahead and spoken with his family about her. Yori came to this conclusion after Kasumi, the oldest sister, had taken her aside and asked very curiously just how close she and Aidou were. Needless to say, poor Yori had blushed to her root tips.
Her diet consisted of the blood tablets in order to get her used to them right from the start so that once she started school again with the Night Class, the disgusting white things wouldn't be a shock to her system. Of course, the fact that she was still more than a little adverse to actually biting anyone helped her to swallow the vile stuff. Yori figured that her lost human side was still telling her that biting anyone was wrong… even if their blood did sound like a much more delicious snack than a gross white substitute.
Yori sighed, stretching up towards her new ceiling, finishing off her typing of yet another paragraph. When she'd mentioned to Hanabi, the middle sister, that she was in the midst of writing a story and wanted to incorporate some myths and legends into it she hadn't expected the younger girl to throw herself into the story plotting with such fervor. For hours the two would sit in the library, brainstorming ideas and drawing hurried mindmaps to later draw references from. Sometimes Chihiro, the youngest of the four Aidou siblings, joined them, listening in and occasionally offering an idea of her own, all the while eating her beloved Dots.
Hanabi referred to the story as their 'project' and refused any sort of thanks from Yori, only insisting that she be mentioned on the front dedication page when Yori published her work.
Yori smiled, thinking of how close she'd grown to the younger girl. It actually made her feel like she had a real sibling. The sort she'd always read about in books. The sort that she could talk to and know that they would listen…
She shook her head, beating away the thoughts that were threatening to enter her head again. Yori took a deep breath. She was a vampire now, and to all the world it seemed as though she'd gone missing, mysteriously, one day from the school. Her family – no – her old family would never see her again. Sora wouldn't either…
A small box popped up in the corner of her screen and Yori smiled, clicking it open. It was a similar system to the school's internal chatroom, only now the Chairman had extended it to the Aidou household too, allowing Yori to stay in contact.
Ice101: You're not serious? She didn't kill you, did she?"
Yori was filled with mirth at Aidou's comment to her previous message in which she'd told him of her night. Kasumi had taken her shopping earlier that evening when the sun was beginning to set. They'd both sported sunglasses and hats and strode into the shopping mall with a sense of purpose. Yori had never been so glad that the malls stayed open until late. Once there, Kasumi had proceeded to pick out outfit upon outfit for the girl to try on and then shooed Yori into the changing rooms, waiting with an eager finger poised on the shutter of the camera for Yori to emerge again and then begin the photo-shoot.
Yori had been highly embarrassed at first but then, upon getting used to Kasumi's enthusiastic escapade of playing dress-up doll with her, had begun to enjoy herself. Soon enough she'd found herself posing shyly for the camera whilst Kasumi pressed the shutter, whooping and calling out positions for Yori to try. Some the girl had refused flat-out, being far too reserved to pull them off. Kasumi had pouted and called her boring but then moved on to the next outfit, all insults forgotten.
Yori had at first been reluctant to let Kasumi pay for the outfits and clothes but, after being threatening by Kasumi with sending the pictures to Hanabusa, Yori had blushed ten shades of red and hurriedly agreed, making the older girl grin in victory.
The brunette shook her head slightly, remembering the day.
HazelNut: No, it was actually really nice. Afterwards she took me to this one café that she likes and ordered me a huge iced-coffee. I've never had one before but it was delicious.
Ice101: Oh, that café. She only goes there if she's in a good mood.
Yori thought of Kasumi's triumphant face as they'd left the stores and she'd successfully blackmailed Yori into accepting all the clothes. The older girl had then waved the camera around, wondering aloud why Yori wouldn't want Aidou to see her looking so cute and alluring; after all, every other guy in the mall was already ogling her.
Privately Yori thought that said guys were ogling Kasumi but didn't say anything, preferring to hide her recurring blush behind her scarf. Kasumi was, despite her training for taking over the family company, the epitome of eye-candy. Tall, long legs and a great figure accompanied by shiny hair, large eyes, a cheerful face and happy attitude made her the guy-magnet of the vicinity.
HazelNut: When are you getting back? Term has already ended, hasn't it? Unless Yuuki got the dates wrong…
Two days ago Yuuki had come to visit Yori, casually saying that she'd ditched the last few days of school to come visit her since she never got any actual learning done anyway and Zero was more than capable of handling the Day Class students alone for the rest of the term; plus the Chairman was there. The two girls had chatted for hours, catching up on all the news and information that Yuuki had had to hide from her best friend for years. It felt relieving and somewhat therapeutic to finally be rid of all the ugly secrets between them. Yori couldn't recall a time when she'd spoken to Yuuki so openly before.
Ice101: No, term ends tomorrow. But I have to do something for Kaname-sama first before I get home.
Yori processed this information for a moment. She knew that he had to put Kaname-sama's orders first; she had to too. Since Kaname-sama was her creator he could, if he wished, force an order on her. However, he had sworn to never do so, saying that he did not wish to take away her free will.
Somehow, Yori thought that it was because she was Yuuki's best friend. Looking back at the laptop, Yori repressed her rising disappointment and rationalized with herself. She had to think of a direct and logical course of action to take.
HazelNut: That's okay. Shall I tell your family?
Ice101: No need.
Yori frowned at her laptop.
HazelNut: What?
She waited for his reply but it never came. A slight rustling behind her startled her from her seat, making her jump to her feet and spin around, ready for something – anything – when an arm wrapped around her and another hand clamped over her mouth.
"Yori," the voice hissed and she stilled, her eyes growing large as she could perfectly make out the blonde hair and crystal blue eyes in the moonlight.
The hand was removed from her mouth. "H-Hanabusa!"
"Shh!" he shushed her and Yori immediately lowered her voice.
She was stunned. "How – why – I mean – you said that term doesn't end till – and Kaname-sama-"
His cocky grin only grew wider with every word she spoke, making her own irritation broil up within her. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, showing her the mobile version of the chat-room. So he'd been using his cell phone to talk to her for the past half-hour? Honestly!
Aidou chuckled as he noticed her twitching eyebrow. "What, you don't want me here?"
Yori wanted to punch something in exasperation. "Of course I do but-"
"Then stop complaining."
"You – oh, you're a dirty liar you know that Hanabusa?"
He only tightened his grip on her and widened his smirk. "Zip it for a sec Yori cause I did not just ditch school early, break into my own house through your window just to get caught."
Yori was utterly confused. "What are you-"
She was abruptly cut off when he kissed her and she couldn't say that she minded very much – after she'd gotten over the shock of feeling his lips on hers of course.
They hadn't kissed since that time in the hospital a few weeks ago, when Aidou had still thought that she was going to die. This kiss, while being sudden, was gentler and softer.
But it still made Yori's toes curl.
Aidou was just lifting his hand to support the back of her head and deepen the kiss when the door burst open, slamming against the wall and making Yori jump. Both of them turned their heads to witness a tall and towering Kasumi standing in the doorframe, the moonlight from the passage spilling in around her. Yori wanted to die from embarrassment and pushed lightly against Aidou, silently asking to be let go.
He, however, wasn't having any of it and held on tighter.
Kasumi let her eyes wander between her brother and their new house guest, the bright blue irises of her eyes cold and calculating. Then she gave a satisfied nod. "Good. I see you got my message, Hanabusa."
Yori was mystified until Aidou answered, "Yes. The photos were… interesting."
Understanding dawned upon Yori and her cheeks heated up. She wanted to crawl into a hole. A deep, deep hole.
"Well, goodnight guys! Have fun!" Turning on her heel, Kasumi spun from the room and slammed the door behind her.
Yori rounded on Aidou. "What photos?"
Aidou raised an innocent eyebrow at her. "Hm?"
"What photos, Hanabusa?" Yori asked again.
"Oh, just the ones that Kasumi sent me," Aidou said casually, bringing a hand up to her face and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in and whispering, "The green, strapless dress with the black heels was my favourite."
Before Yori could do much more than whimper in mortification, Aidou chuckled and pressed another kiss to her lips, effectively easing most of the girl's embarrassment. When he pulled away Yori rested her head on his shoulder and evened her heartbeats. "Not a word of this gets out, okay?"
Yori could practically feel the smugness radiating from him as he replied, "Not a word."
He pulled away then and took her hand, leading her towards the doorway that Kasumi had just previously vacated. "Guess I should let everyone know I'm back and not running an errand for Kaname-sama."
"You just made that up?"
"Not really," Aidou answered, winking at her. "I just made Kain do it for me."
Yori sighed and rolled her eyes, wondering how on earth he'd gotten that right. "You're impossible, Hanabusa."
"And you love it," he teased.
Turning her head away, still blushing, Yori gripped his hand tighter. "Maybe," she told him smiling. "Maybe."
THE END