and here's chapter 21

Chapter 21 - Reality Check

-Tenma's POV-

"Do you think she's alright?"

"I don't know."

"Ichi brought her in yesterday."

"Why is she still sleeping?"

"I heard she was attacked."

"They must have been strong."

"She lost a lot of blood."

"I heard she nearly died."

"Yeah, and the vice-president saved her."

"But he was almost too late."

A door opened.

"Will all of you be quiet, she won't be able to sleep at this rate."

Yep, definitely Kilo. I opened my eyes a little, only to see that I was back in my room, an Kilo was shouting at some other Night Class kids. 'Same old Kilo.' But as I looked around, I found a certain person to be missing. 'Figures...'

"You're awake!" Kilo shouted, running over to me, and, being Kilo, she jumped on me.

"Kilo..." I tried to say.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she said, letting go of me, scratching her head nervously. "I'm just glad you're back alright," she said quietly.

I sat up on the bed. "Where's Ichijo?" my voice sounded cold, even to me.

She cringed. "I-I don't know..." she stared at the floor.

I went over to her, the room was spinning, so I ended up falling in front of her, not cool. "Sorry, voice shouldn't have been like that. I'm sorry"

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed.

"Oh! Mr. Pretty wants to talk to you!" Kilo said suddenly.

Then a guy came out of nowhere, he had a lean build, firm yet soft locks, hazel eyes, and wavy hair. "Well, hello love," he said, extending a hand to me.

"Kilo, who's this?" I asked, staring weirdly at the person in front of me.

"My name's Mr. Pretty, or did you forget already?" He said jokingly.

"So...you're Kilo's toy?..." I said quietly, not really getting the situation.

"Basically yes, love."

"My name's Tenma, if you would," I said, a tad annoyed of being referred to something I'm not.

"He calls everybody stuff like that, please don't get mad..." Kilo said quietly.

I sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine, I'll let it go."

Mr. Pretty walked over to me, "you really are nicer than you let on, ain't ya? How come you stopped as soon as Kilo said she didn't like it?"

"Because she's my friend, that's why. And I hate seeing her upset," I added quietly.

He nodded. "So, I'm gonna cut to the chase. Why do you keep shooting down everyone that tries to help you? Are you scared?"

"I have nothing to be scared of!" I shouted, standing up.

"Then what's the reason for all this? And don't say you don't deserve it, you know that's a lie!"

"You know nothing about me..." I said, turning away from them. "You say you understand, but you know nothing."

"I never said I understood you, and do you know why? None of us can understand you, because you lock us out." Mr. Pretty said, his tone mellow, but intense.

"That boy," he started. "That boy's desperately trying to get through to you, do you know what he said earlier? Or before he brought you back?"

"No, I can't remember," I said flatly.

"That's something awful to forget. Or is it that you know what he said, but you won't believe him?" He said, his joking voice gone.

I went over to him and stared him straight in the face. "What did I forget then?"

Then the next thing I know, this horrible pain shoots through me, forcing me to double over, coughing up blood.

"Tenma, what happened?!" Kilo asked franticly, running over and sitting next to me.

When I tried to answer, more blood just came out.

Mr. Pretty kneeled down next to me. "Ichi said you were attacked. You have to tell me who did it." He said, urgency evident in his tone.

"I...I don't...know," I said between coughs. It was getting hard to breathe, the blood was filling my lungs.

"Should I go get Kaname?" Kilo asked.

But then, speak of the devil, Kaname walked in, Ichijo close to his side. "We smelled blood, what happened?" He asked.

I realized why he said that a moment later, he couldn't see me, Mr. Pretty was in the way. "Um...we don't know, all of a sudden, she collapsed and started coughing up blood..." Mr. Pretty moved to the side, bringing me into full view.

Ichijo stared at me with horror-struck eyes, but only one question popped into my head. 'What was I supposed to remember?' "Ichijo?...Kaname?..." My voice sounded weak, even to me.

Kaname came forward, and he kneeled down next to me. "You need to remember...otherwise, we can't help you..."

I coughed up more blood.

"I...can't...remember...I'm sorry..."

Ichijo came over, his once sorrow-filled eyes filled with anger. "Why didn't you tell me?! Why didn't you say something was wrong?!" he yelled, his voice cracking.

More blood escaped my lips. "Because...nothing was wrong. Not until now..." I said, silent tears escaping my eyes.

Mr. Pretty's and Kaname's eyes widened.

"What?"

Kaname pulled back his sleeves. "Don't move." He put his hands on my forehead, and the other on the base of my throat. I felt this numbing sensation spread throughout my body.

"She was banking on you saving her, Ichijo." Kaname said calmly.

"What?" Ichijo asked.

Mr. Pretty looked at Ichijo. "She was waiting for you to give her your blood, so she could kill her."

He stumbled back. "So...I did this to her...?" He said, his voice desolate.

Kaname removed his hands. "Is the pain gone?" I nodded slightly.

Ichijo moved over to me. "I'm so sorry...if I'd known..."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault."

"Tenma, do you want to know who attacked you?" Kaname asked, his voice low, like he hoped I didn't hear.

I nodded.

"The lady in white, she attacked you, and she bit you," he said.

My eyes widened. "She was going to use..."

"The toxins in your blood to fight what was in Ichijo's," he finished.

"I don't get it," Ichijo said.

"What happens when pureblood meets human blood? Even if it's a small amount?" I asked.

"What would happen if Kaname found you?" he asked.

"Nothing, Kaname wouldn't trigger the spell," I said. "She was making a wager on an aristocrat saving me, and she hit her mark."

I removed the spell, but you need to relax." Kaname said, standing up.

Ichijo looked back at me, his eyes duller than before.

"Well, loves, we're gonna go for a few," Mr. Pretty said, grabbing Kilo, and walking out.

"Takuma, what did you tell me before? I can't remember..."

That got his attention. "What?"

I looked up at him "Mr. Pretty said you told me something, but I can't remember."

He looked hurt, I shakily stood up and went over to him. "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe you forgot..." he said, his voice cracking. "How could you forget?!" he shouted.

I fell back, tears brimming in my eyes. "I'm sorry!" I said quietly, standing up.

He turned around and looked at me, his eyes widened. He took a step forward and I took one back. He reached up and touched my cheek, and I flinched back.

"I'm sorry..." I said, backing away. "I'm so sorry"

wow, that was, cruel...uh, well. stay tuned for chapter 22...if you don't hate me too much...-sweat drop-