XxMy Black RosexX
XxFlowers and PromisesxX
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The sound of the alarm woke me up. I groaned, shutting it off. It was 4:30. Classes didn't start until sunset, which was around 6:30. If I didn't have to work I could have gotten another hour of sleep. Then again, I reminded myself, sometimes I have to get up around 10 for a shoot so I really shouldn't complain.
Speaking of complaining…
I was surprised I couldn't hear any from Shiki. I sat up, surprised that he wasn't there. Strange. I'm pretty sure he spent the night here again.
"He left an two hours ago…" Ruka's tired voice came from the other side of the room. My alarm must have woken her up, as always.
"Two hours ago?" now that's strange. "Why would he get up so early?"
"I don't know…I think Ichijo-San came here…" With a yawn she was back asleep.
Ichijo was here? Two hours ago? Shaking my head, I got up, heading to the bathroom to get ready.
I change into a black skirt, dark purple shirt with a black sweater I wondered what drove Shiki to getting up to early. If Ichijo was involved it could be anything. I reatched for my brush, noticing something was missing but couldn't place it. Then it came to me.
One of my red ribbons from yesterday was missing. Frowning, I looked on the floor to check if it fell but couldn't see it.
'That's annoying' I thought. I'll just ask Ruka later. Putting my black ribbons in I grabbed my parasol, the sun was still shining brightly much to my annoyance, and left.
I walked down the hall, wondering where Shiki could be, when someone called my name.
"Rima-San?"
He had hair the colour of wheat and amber eyes. He was already changed into uniform. I couldn't be sure, but I think his name was Usagi Hiro.
"What are you doing up? Classes don't start for another two hours." he said.
I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows at this statement as I looked him up and down at his uniform. He seemed to know what I was thinking because he grinned sheepishly and said, "Yeah, I like school. Sue me…oh yeah, you have a shoot, right?"
"Yes," I nodded, heading for the stairs. "And if I don't find Shiki I'm going to be late."
"Shiki…oh yeah, the Vice President asked me to give this to you if I saw you before you left." he held a piece of paper towards me. "Well, hope you have fun." with that, he left.
I nodded, not really paying attention since I was reading the note.
"Rima-Chan," it read in Ichijo's neat writing. I scowled. I hated it when he called me that.
"Please don't be angry with me for taking Shiki without permission first but he needs to stop putting this errand off!
What errand, your probably thinking? Well I'm not telling. Mostly because Shiki would hit me and because I want it to be a surprise.
But don't worry, Shiki will tell you later…I hope…
Anyway Shiki will meet you at the studio so you won't have to be late waiting for us to get back.
Your BESTEST FRIEND
Ichijo"
Sighing, I slipped the note into my pocket and went to wait for my manager to pick me up.
xXxXxXx
"Where's Shiki-Kun?" my manager asked as I slipped into the back seat.
"Had an errand. He'll meet us at the studio." I answered, starring out the window. I was glad she had tinted windows. Why was the sun so bright at this hour?
"Well, that's good. I was worried there, for a second I thought you two had a fight and he wasn't coming."
"Why would you say that?" I frowned slightly.
"He seemed to be on edge the last few days," She said. I lightly touched the left side of my neck.
"But I want some now. Since yesterday actually."
"Your didn't say anything."
"You said I had to control my urges."
Of course he was on edge. He wanted blood. My blood. Vampires fulfill their needs by drinking one another's blood, it's how we survive.
Thinking about Shiki made me wonder what sort of errand he had to do and why he kept putting it off so much that Ichijo had to get involved.
"I have to pick up some forms so you'll be doing the shoot without me," Rima's manager told her as she got out of the car. "I'll have them dropped off at your school." She nodded, heading to the studio. The sun was setting by now but she kept her parasol open. She didn't want to take any chances.
When Rima walked towards the studio, Shiki was sitting on the step, waiting.
"Shiki," He looked up, smiling slightly at the annoyance in her voice.
"Your almost late," he said, standing.
"I wonder why."
"We left a note."
"I don't care." Sure, before she was curious bout what he was doing but now actually seeing him made her annoyed that he didn't tell her he would be leaving early.
When they went in, the fashion director didn't waste anytime telling them what will happen.
"Now, as you know the Royal Wedding in England happened just a week ago," He said. "And because of Kate's-er-Princess Catherine's dress, the wedding dress industry is rising because women want a dress like her, but not exactly like hers."
"So it's a wedding shoot?" Rima asked.
"Well, yes and no," he said. "We'll do a sort of Gothic Wedding theme. It's for an article on different styles of weddings, spring, winter, summer, movie theme, Goth," he said. "Rima-San, your dress is ready to go in your dressing room. Shiki, your outfit is in yours. Now go hurry so we can do some make up and get started!"
xXxXxXx
"While we're waiting for Rima-San well do lone shots with Shiki first," the director said.
The lights of the set were dimmed down, the back drop a dark grey. There was an ornate couch for Shiki to sit on and a pillar, probably to lean against. He was wearing all black. The jacket looked more like a vest with long sleeves, with wide pieces of fabric hanging off the bottom. His pants were baggy, with chains handing off the sides. The stylist had applied thick eyeliner around his pale blue eyes. Normally they'd make his skin look pale but since he already was there wasn't any point. They put fake earrings on him in the style that Kiryu Zero wore.
"Okay, first we'll do a few shots of you sitting on the ornate couch then one of you leaning on the pillar.
"Remember, your tired and anxious about seeing your bride."
The first shot they did was him leaning on the back on the couch, looking up, bored. The next was him sitting on the couch, elbow on his knees, face resting in his hand while he checked the silver watch on his wrist. The next was him laying down.
When they did the last one, him leaning against the pillar, she showed.
His eyes widened as he gaped at her appearance.
Like him, she had a lot of eyeliner around her unique blue eyes. She was wearing a pale blue strapless dress with small rips at the ends that rested on the ground. The body fitted her figure perfectly, the top had darker blue trimming, a white rose on her hip. The waistline also had dark blue trimming that went down the front on the skirt, trimming the edges that had thin, black lines reaching a foot up.
Her hair was in a high ponytail, bunched up at the back on her had while her bangs framed her face, slightly curled with black streaks in it.
She was beautiful.
She was perfect.
She took his breath away.
The camera's flashed, capturing his expression.
"Rima-San, you look great," The director said. "But where's the ring?"
"I don't feel comfortable wearing it," Rima told him.
"Well…that's alright, I guess…Shiki, take her hand and we'll do you both then just Rima-San."
They took various shots. The first was of him taking her hand. The second made him remember of the Ball as they posed, as though dancing. The next was of him hugging her from behind.
"Okay, this is the last one before we do just Rima-San. Shiki, embrace Rima-San as though she's made of the most fragile glass, and you want to protect her from breaking." Shiki did as he was told.
His right arm was wrapped around her waist while he held her right hand in his left while she placed both of hers on his chest. He placed his head on top of hers.
"You look beautiful," he whispered to her.
"Your not so bad either," she whispered back.
There was a flash.
"PERFECT! Now shots of Rima-San." The director told them, however Shiki didn't let go of Rima. He continued to hold her, enjoying her close presence.
"…Shiki, if you let go of your Rima-Koi I promise to finish this up then after you both change you can hold her as much as you want. But first you have to let her go!"
Rima's lips twitched as she felt his reluctance to let her go.
Shiki stood off to the side as the posed on the same couch he did earlier. As he watched, he again thought about how beautiful she looked. It made him remember this morning, before he left with Ichijo. She looked so peaceful sleeping.
When they were told to go change, he waited at the entrance for her, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. When he saw her coming he took a step forward, his hand tightening over the object in his pocket.
Rima POV
As promised, we went into town. At first we just walked around, which was perfectly fine with me. Just being alone with Shiki, no classmates, no photographers or managers, was good. I thought about the dress I wore.
A wedding dress. Ironic, considering I don't believe much in marriage. Why should people have to be married in order to be happy together? Wasn't there an American rock star who said it's better to be happily unmarried then married?
"Want to get something to eat?" he asked after awhile.
"Sure."
"Where do you want to go? Aidou told me about this Café…"
"I kinda want Shio Ramen," I admitted.
xXxXxXx
The small restaurant wasn't busy. We sat down in a booth, waiting for out order.
"You look tired Rima," Shiki said. "Was the shoot to much for you?"
"Not really. I just haven't been sleeping enough," I sighed, resting my head in my hand. I opened one eye to look at him. "What about you? Why did you leave so early?"
"Had an errand."
"That's what the note said," I pulled the slip of paper out of my pocket. "I want to know what the errand was."
He took the paper from my hand, his eyebrows raising as he read it.
" 'Bestest friend'" he said. He sighed, putting in down on the paper. "I'll tell you after we eat. We can go to the park before we head back."
"Why do I get the feeling that you don't want to tell me?"
"I do…I just don't know what your reaction will be…" my reaction?
Our order came by then, and seeing how uncomfortable he was becoming I decided against questioning him farther.
xXxXxXx
"You know, your really annoying sometimes!"
"How can you blame this on me?"
"Easily, now go after it!"
"But it's running…"
"Shiki!"
Sighing, he ran, me right behind him. On our way to the park we caught the scent of another Vampire. Turned out to be a Level E. we had cornered it in an alley way but Shiki being Shiki, stopped attacking as soon as it disappeared, not bothering to look around to see where it went.
"Hold on," I grabbed his arm, stopping him. I could feel it's presence near.
"See anything?" he asked, his eyes searching.
"No, but I can smell it." silence fell between as we listened for the fallen Vampire. It must have turned Level E recently, or else it wouldn't be possible for it to be this quiet. I walked away from Shiki, ignoring the nervous look on his face when I did. Idiot, he really needed to stop being overprotective of me like this. You'd think I was made of glass.
"Such a pretty woman, mind if I have a taste?" a raspy voice came from my left. I turned, just dodging it's attack. A red like rope went past me, piercing the Level E in the shoulder, pinning it in a tree trunk.
Sparks surrounded my hand as I drove it into the things heart.
"We'll have to report this to the Dorm President," I said as it turned to ash.
"Hn," Shiki nodded. "You okay?"
"Of course, like a Level E could hurt me." he chuckled at my tone.
"Right. C'mon," he grabbed my hand, leading me away from the scene.
xXxXxXx
"So, you finally gonna tell me what that errand was about?"
"Your really want to know that badly?"
"I don't like it when you keep secrets from me."
We were walking down a path in the park. I think it's around 9:30. It was dark out, the only light coming from street lamps.
Shiki stopped walking, and turned to face me. I had to look up at him, as I was so much shorter the he was. He reached towards my pigtails, pulling my ribbons out one by one so my hair fell against my shoulders.
"I like it when your hair is down," he said..
"Hold out your hand," I complied, raising an eyebrow at the odd request.
He placed something in my hand. If I had looked down before he moved my fingers over it, I would have seen what it was but I was still starring into his intense light blue eyes. "Here." he said quietly, not breaking our gaze.
But I had to.
I looked down, opening my hand. My eyes widened.
It takes a lot to break my composure. Even with Shiki, I always had some even though I allowed him to see my soft, kinder side. He's the only one whose really seen me smile. Ichijo had once, when we eleven and hanging out at Aidou's house and that's just because I forgot he was standing next to me.
But now, this small object in my hand made shock fill my face and my breath leave my lungs.
It was a ring. It was silver, the band forming a double wave, the tip holding a single diamond.
"Shiki…this…" was all I could get out. I looked up at him. He looked nonchalant, or tried to. His hands were in his pockets as he starred up in the sky, and though his face was calm I could see the red tinge on his cheeks.
"It's…just a promise ring…I mean…I don't plan on marriage anytime soon…and to be honest I don't really care about it…but…" he looked over at me, a soft look in his eyes. "If it's with you…"
My cheeks felt warm. Almost like a sunburn but not as painful. I looked down at the ring. A promise ring. A promise to get married someday in the future. The future…the thought made me surprisingly…happy, the idea of a future with Shiki. I say surprisingly because like him, I didn't really care about the idea of marriage, result from my parents not-so-good one.
I looked up to see Shiki watching me, a slightly worried look in his eyes.
I turned away from him slightly.
Shiki POV
I watched her as she looked at the ring, a thoughtful expression on her face. I know she didn't care about ever getting married. I don't either. But the idea of a future with her…made the idea not so bad. But as she continued to stare at the ring without saying anything I grew slightly worried. What if she got upset that I got her a promise ring instead of an engagement ring? Or that I even brought it up?
She looked up at me before turning away from me slightly. That didn't help my worry.
"Idiot," she said, quietly. "You know I hate surprises. Let's head back to the Dorms, I'm tired." she moved her hair out of her face, turning to me with a soft smile on her face.
I smiled back.
On her right hand, the one she used to move her hair, on her right ring finger, her ring shined slightly in the light.
When Rima and Shiki returned to the Dorms, everyone was back already.
"We got out of class early today," Ruka explained when they walked in. "So how did your shoot go?"
"Same as always," Rima answered, sitting on the couch. Shiki followed, laying down so his head was in her lap.
Ruka's eyebrows raised. She looked from him, to Rima, to the hand Rima used to stroke his hair. She could see the silver band in her ring finger.
She would ask about it later in their room.
"Rima-Chan, these came for you," Ichijo walked over, a bouquet of roses in his hands.
"Don't call me 'Chan'," She said as Shiki sat up. She took them, looking at the card.
'You're the loveliest thing I've seen, and these roses don't do you justice for they pale in comparison' it said. There was no name.
"Who're they from?" Shiki asked, leaning to see what it said.
"Doesn't say," Rima put the card back.
"Are you going to keep them?"
"I don't see why I should," She handed them back to Ichijo, who also read the card. "Just throw them out."
"That's a bit cold," Ruka commented.
"You've thrown out stuff that Day Class boy gives you," Akatsuki, who was walking by, said.
"Hmp."
"Where's the Dorm President? Shiki and I have to talk to him," Rima asked Akatsuki.
"Probably in his room with Yuki-Sama."
Shiki got up, following Rima to the room.
Rima knock on the door twice before the long, brown haired Kuran Princess opened the door.
"Touya-Senpai, Shiki-Senpai, your back," she said, the usual smile on her face.
"We need to talk to the Dorm President." Rima told her.
"Come in Rima, Shiki," the Purebloods voice sounded from behind Yuki.
Kuran Kaname was sitting on a couch that was very much like the one the two models used for their shoot. Yuki walked over to him, sitting beside him.
"What can I do for you two," he asked.
"There was a Lever E in town," Rima said. "We took care of it so you might hear some complaints from those Vampire Hunters."
"I see," Kaname nodded. "Thank you for telling me."
Rima and Shiki bowed before leaving. When the door closed Yuki stood up, walking over to the window.
"It is the Vampire Hunter's duty to kill Vampire's." his words from little over a year ago rang through her ears.
'Zero…' she thought. 'Will you be upset that Touya-Senpai and Shiki-Senpai killed a Level E when it's you job? Even though Aristocrats are supposed to manage them as well?'
"Yuki, you should start getting ready for sleep," Kaname said from behind her.
"Hai, Onii-Sama," As she closed the curtain, she thought she saw silver in the darkness.
XxAn unknown flower, watched from afar