"The Hunter"

"Are you tired?" She followed Aido like a puppy after he had arrived from school. He quirked a brow, curious as to why she wanted to start a normal conversation. He shrugged. "What are you doing?"

"Just about to do homework... Did you need something?" She shook her head no, giving a brief smile to reassure him. His heart skipped a beat, "Eh... Well, I'd like to concentrate, so if you don't mind..."

She faltered a little. He wasn't giving her that wink, smirk, or gesture to show that he wanted her. Did he find someone else? She fell ill. "I mean- I don't intend to offend you. I just can't focus when the woman I like is beside me you know."

Haruna flushed at his cheesy words. "I'm not offended."

He finally showed a grin, "Good." After that, he left.

She was a tad... Annoyed, more or less. When he wanted her, she didn't want him. Now that she sought his attention, he didn't even bat an eye. She couldn't help but hate herself a little. Why did she only want him after today?

The feeling of jealousy finally made her realize her developing feelings? It was no reasonable excuse.

Later

"Aido-san, are you still in there?" Haruna called from the other side of the door. He'd been inside the library for hours now; she'd gotten worried that maybe he had gotten a bad paper cut and bled to death. Yes, most of her thinking was unreasonable half the time.

Using her status as his wife to her advantage, she took the liberty to intrude. "Aido-..."

She found him asleep on the couch. The numerous books that lay in front of him frightened her a little. He was hardworking, she'd admit that. Creeping towards him, she could see no movement; he was deep asleep.

She hoped that she didn't contribute to any of his sleep-deprived reasons. Her hands somehow ended up grasping his, "Aido-san... I really do hope that these hands haven't held any other besides mine," she whispered unconsciously.

The pain that ached in her heart from the thought of being second best could not compare to any physical pain she's ever suffered. "I wonder if this is love, Aido. Is it supposed to backfire on me like this?"

She laughed a little to herself, resting her head on his knee. "I finally realized that I do have feelings for you, so please don't flirt with any other girls, okay?" She stroked his hands, smelling the sweet scent of lavender.

Haruna felt silly, stupid almost. This was her future husband yet she couldn't tell him her feelings, only for when he was asleep. At the pit of her heart, she still felt a bit terrified of him - not because he was a vampire - but because she felt so far from his glory.

Weeks Later

"And so the wedding will take place in about a month. Is that alright?" Aido sat across from Haruna at the table. She semi-smiled, nodding. Looking at the situation, it seemed like serious business as the oak table seemed very... Business-like to her.

He frowned a little. "Why are you making that face...?" Did he want to call the marriage off? He eyed her as though she was a stranger who took a crap in the bushes.

"Nothing, nothing. I just thought you'd be a little more... In denial. Something like, 'oh, the wedding is so soon, it's the end of the world~!' Something like that."

She blushed in embarrassment, "I'm not that dramatic," she sneered, "besides, I've come to accept this marriage. It's not like I dislike you."

He shrugged, "Yeah yeah... Well I've got to get to school soon. Don't wait for me." She sulked a little, saddened that he didn't get the idea that she had already developed amorous feelings for him.

"Aido," she stopped him before he could make an escape. "If... If I flirted with other men behind your back, would you forgive me?"

She jumped a little when an unexpected laugh came out of him. "Of course not. I'd have to kill them including you." His laugh came to a stop, "Er, I'm kidding Haruna," he said after noticing the fright on her face. "What's with the random question?"

She couldn't tell him that it was because she saw him flirting with other women! Maybe he'd really kill her for having witness that. "No reason, it's just a silly thought," she gave a reassuring grin.

It bothered Aido, but he gave one last glance before taking his leave. Her eyes lingered on his figure, desperately yearning for the courage to be able to convey to him her feelings.

Later

Haruna wore simple clothing today, hoping to not stand out too much from the other people in the marketplace. "What is it that you want to do here?" Alfonse asked her, one of the guards. She told him that she was hoping to have a nice dinner with Aido that night. "You can cook?"

She became hesitant. Living in a 'brothel' never taught her anything about cooking a high class meal. "I can try. Betsy said she'd help me if I didn't cause too much trouble in the marketplace today." Betsy was one of the female cooks in the kitchen. "Because I can't tell Aido how I feel, I want him to at least know I care with the little things I do."

"That's beautiful!" Alfonse teared a little, nodding in total agreement.

"I'm glad my story is able to touch you! However, please try to watch me from a distance. I dislike having eyes on me because I have a bulky man guarding me." Haruna made her way into the crowded streets, glancing over fresh vegetables, meats, and fruits.

She observed how other normal women behaved, hoping to get the same vibe as them. "How can I get that same grace?" She asked herself, wanting to have a motherly sense as well. She mimicked them, observing fruits the way they did, which puzzled her because they all looked fresh to her.

"This is hopeless," she groaned. "Aido wouldn't-"

A few loud gasps and screams echoed in the market, disrupting the idyllic atmosphere. A large crowd formed around a brawl, instantly raising red flags for Haruna. "Alfonse!" She headed towards the center, seeing him pinned to the ground by a much smaller man with silver hair.

Instinctively, Haruna started whacking the enemy with her bag of oranges. "Get off him!" Everyone turned silent at the scene. This frail girl was beating up a man with a bag of fruits. The only thing in the silence that one could hear was the wail of a baby and a few pigeons cooing.

Even the culprit was a bit stunned at her move; just what was her motive? He let go of Alfonse, who threw a punch at the man but failed miserably and was tripped to the ground once more. "Alfonse," Haruna shook her head at how clumsy he was.

"He started it! This hunter tried to kill me!" By now the crowd was dispersing and nobody had heard what he said except Haruna and the other male.

"Hunter?" She could briefly recall Aido telling her about how they were the enemies of vampires but yet cooperated with them at the same time. "Who are you?"

"You're acquainted with this vampire? I simply thought he was eyeing you as a meal," he spoke with no regrets. "Who are you?"

"You totally ignored my question!" She accused, but gave in with a sigh. "My name is Haruna Aido." She cringed a little with her new surname. Getting used to saying it was required by Aido; he wanted to make sure the whole entire world knew she was solely his.

"Aido? What does a human have to do with Aido family? Perhaps you're a meal?"

She sneered, irritated with his rude bluntness. "I'm not obliged to tell you anything, especially when you attacked a friend of ours."

He looked at her with little interest. "Tell Aido Hanabusa that I'll be having a discussion with him later on."

"Well then, what is your name?"

"Kiryuu Zero."