A/N: Hey readers. At first I hadn't decided if I wanted to turn this one-shot into a series, but y'know.. I've decided that I do. It's going to be a mature story, so if you're much too young to read these, then please don't! Anyway, continue~

"Family Meeting"

"Hanabusa Aido.. Is a vampire," she touched her chapped lips, trying to get a solid feeling of the word 'vampire.' She always thought they were myths and creatures that were just from a book, but apparently they weren't.

Her slender fingers traced down her thin neck, the wound from his fangs already gone. It'd been a week since their meeting and she still couldn't get used to her new lifestyle. "Ms. Haruna, which dress do you like better?" The maids danced around the room, trying to get her attention.

She looked away from the mirror and at the servants who struggled to hold up the fancy dresses. This whole 'Cinderella' life couldn't be real, could it? One moment she was being abused and in a hell hole, and now she's being treated like royalty? All because the blonde man-.. Scratch that, vampire, found her beautiful?

It was such a shame for Aido to be 'blind.' His eyes were so beautiful and blue like the ocean, and he couldn't even see that she was just so… Plain and dull. But that's the exact reason why he found her so unique.

She sighed, giving a semi-smile, "You all can take a break, I'll pick out my own wardrobe," she could obviously see their stress. They exhaled, relieved and quickly left the room without questions. Haruna looked down at her pedicured nails and up at her curled brown hair.

She never had gotten this kind of treatment before, it really was incomprehensible.

Her skin had finally gotten the chance to heal from all the bruises she received from the men back in the old house and she started to feel refreshed and alive again. "Haruna," she flinched, turning around to meet Aido.

As usual, he was dressed in expensive attire and looked stunning as usual, as expected of a vampire. She pursed her lips, "Are you ready to meet my family? They're really looking forward to this-.." he paused, seeing her not even dressed up yet. "Why aren't you ready yet? Where are all the maids?"

She had a guilty blush on, "I sorta.. Told them to leave," she mumbled, receiving a questionable look on his face.

He went berserk, "What! They're all waiting down there and you're not even ready?" He quickly grabbed a dress and threw it at her, nearly knocking her out of the chair. "Quick quick quick," he chanted like a sergeant. Living a life like this was definitely not easy.

Later

"He.. Hello everyone," she shyly greeted. Somehow, she didn't like the idea of her sitting at a dinner table full of vampires, and she was the only human. She was starting to wonder if she had been invited to be dinner, instead of for dinner. She did recall Aido saying 'for' dinner. Didn't he say that?

Everyone stared at her and she felt insecure all over. They were all so breathtakingly gorgeous. She squinted at the sight, feeling as though she'd be blinded if she were to stare any longer.

Aido sat beside her, guiding her along the meeting. "Everyone," his voice completely changed into a mature one, opposite of how he'd speak to her. "This is Haruna. She is my mate but she's not one of us." She realized that by 'one of us,' he meant a vampire.

As he said that, almost everyone started gossiping into each others ears, it made her feel nerve wracking. "Please father, do accept her into the family," he bowed his head towards the man that was at the head of the table.

Indeed, he too had blonde hair and somewhat of the electrifying blue eyes. He seemed to hesitate, staring closely at Haruna from afar. "Why do you want her to be your mate? There are a lot of other beautiful women that are vampires as well. Did you even consider the ones that I introduced to you at the last soiree?"

Aido seemed to notice the troubled face on Haruna, she clearly felt unwanted. She wondered, why did she have to do such a humiliating thing? For one thing, she didn't even want to be the mate of Aido, it was all his idea. But she had to, for her family.. Being selfless wasn't easy.

For her, this whole engagement felt forced and unpleasant. A girl like her would never know how to love.

"Father, please grant me permission. She may seem ordinary, but I'm sure of it she's not. I've made my decision and I'm settling down on her." He seemed so sure of it, it even persuaded Haruna that he perhaps really did have feelings for her. She shook her head to herself, telling herself that what he felt wasn't true love.

It was like Romeo and Juliet, he wasn't in love, he's just lusting. That's right… How could he fall in love with her at a glance? It wasn't believable.

His father sighed, glancing at Haruna with what seemed like disgust. She really did not like the attention. She felt the desire to just dig a hole and stay buried until eternity. Haruna held her head low, staring at her lap while trembling in fright. "You girl," his voice thundered, causing Haruna to stiffen up like a board.

"Y-yes sir," the words came out as a mere whisper.

"For what reasons do you agree to this engagement? What can you offer to the Aido family?" A lump of hesitance was lodged in her throat as everyone waited for her answer. What did she have to offer? "Or is it that you're just in it for our wealth?"

Aido scowled, wanting to shield Haruna from all the judgmental vampires, to just tell them to leave her alone, but he couldn't go up against his father like that. He was the head of the Aido family, doing something careless like that would be disrespectful, one couldn't even imagine the consequences.

"That's.." She turned pale and looked like a skeleton. It was, partially true. But only for her family. She wanted to stay by Aido's side so that he would take care of her family for her. Her breath became heavy, pupils dilated, she felt faint.

Everyone could see that the frail human in front of them would collapse any minute now. "Father, that is enough," Aido interrupted the tension and everyone seemed to finally breathe again. He grabbed Haruna by the arm, leading her up the staircase.

Watching his father attack her like that, he couldn't keep watching the sight. Clearly, everyone must've felt sorry for her. "I'm sorry," Haruna murmured, stumbling up the stairs, her knees wobbling.

He held a concerned face, "It's alright. For your reward for putting up with my father like that, I'll take you to see your family tomorrow," he watched her face instantly beam with surprise. Was he serious? She hadn't seen her family in months, it made her gut twist in fear of how they would react to her being back home.

"Though I can't let you stay with them, but we can visit them once in a while. I've already given them a place to stay and all the necessities. Do you find me cruel that I'm helping them by forcing you as my lover?" He glanced down at the girl who still seemed in a daze.

Did she find him cruel? She shook her head, "Thank you Aido…" she sighed, the burden lifting off her chest. When they reached her room, she said her farewells to him as he watched the door close on him.

She froze in surprise, looking up at the vampire with questioning eyes. He had stopped the door halfway, stepping into the room and closing it behind him. She heard a light click as the door was locked. "What is it?" She was unsure of his intentions.

Even though she was inexperienced at these things, she noticed a certain peculiar look to his face, one that hinted of lust. She couldn't help but feel vulnerable as his eyes went from blue to red. Cowering down, she embraced herself, as though it would protect her from him. "Aido.." She backed up against the foot of the bed.

He strided over, staring her down. "As part of this 'deal,' your role as my lover also includes serving my.. Needs." She stared up at the vampire, petrified.

Her mouth was gaped, her skin went cold as his fingers laced around her hair and trailed down her jaw, neck, and down her arm. "Do you understand? I won't force you, but you'll have to come around some time." He was being patient with her, though it took a lot of restraining. If he for one moment were to let go of all his dignity, she would've been in big trouble. "Will you tonight? Or no?"

Her heart raced. Though he was giving her an option to say no until next time, she already felt like he was taking her body. Her strength had seemed to be forever gone. He could see her scared face. Of course it was natural for her to feel pressured and frightened. For one, he was a vampire and she barely knew him, and secondly, she was so insecure about herself.

Trying her best to not be rude, she shook her head, "No." Unfortunately, she had offended him anyway. Her answer came out more of a shout than a simple 'no.' It made him feel unwanted and disgusted with himself. She shut her eyes tight, feeling guilty. He was treating her like a queen and yet she denied him. She couldn't offer anything to him, not even her body. "So.. Sorry," she murmured, to which he waved it

off.

"No, I apologize for rushing," his eyes went back to being their natural aqua color. She didn't move an inch as he moved away, letting her breathe. "I'll see you tomorrow," he left the room, closing it behind him. Even though Haruna did feel bad at herself for rejecting, she was relieved that he had decided to wait his 'needs' off.

"Too close.." She gasped, putting her hand to her chest to feel her heart hammering away.