"Booty Call"

"She's my partner. Does it bother you?" Aido questioned Zero firmly, his eyes glowering at him. "If you're going to look at this situation with those judging eyes, then leave us alone."

She flinched when they both looked over at her. "If this lavender freak is forcing you into doing this-"

"He's not! I know that I'm a human and he's a vampire, but he hasn't done anything to harm me." Aido held a smirk and crossed his arms; Haruna sighed at his cocky stature. Zero gave it no other thought before leaving, annoyed that a vampire has gotten their way again.

Haruna closed the door, relieved-

"What were you doing at the market?" Aido's voice instantly turned stern. "Because of you, I have to look out for the hunters now." His blue eyes flickered across the floor, contemplating about what he should do with her.

Her breath halted seeing him in disapproval. "I was buying ingredients to cook up dinner for both of us tonight. Is that so wrong?"

"Yes, it is. Before you go dilly dallying around, make sure to ask for permission."

She turned away, seeing his face so up close. He was making the same exact faces of those dirty men, holding the face of disgust. "I did, I asked..." She paused, not wanting to rat out any of her friends. "Nevermind..."

He threw up his arms, "Exactly my point. But moral of the day - think before you act."

That drove her to the edge. Think before she acts? Was he calling her stupid? "I did. I was thinking that maybe it'd be nice to spend some time with Aido since he's always at the academy and since I never have any fun around here."

A frustrated chuckle came from him; he clenched his fists, wanting to punch something. "Now you want to make an effort to be with me? What's with the change of heart? As I recall, you were so pessimistic about this whole marriage."

She was surprised; wasn't he supposed to be happy that she was finally starting to return his feelings? Why was he bashing on her? Confusion made her weak to the knees. "I..." She felt humiliated and naked in front of him, "I like you Aido! I really like you. Why are you being so mean? Am I just useful for sex, is that it? I'm not allowed to behave like a normal woman and cook dinner for the man I like? If that's my purpose for being here, then this is just as bad as being in that hell house!"

Her only caught a glimpse of her face as she ran upstairs, but that was enough to make him feel like there was no hope left in the world. This little dispute didn't have to turn into a huge argument that would make her feel that way.

Later

"Knock knock." Haruna heard the voice, instantly recognizing it. She pushed her head deeper into the cushions. He was ready to kick her out, she nodded. She knew her barbarian behaviour and mouth would eventually get her thrown out. "I made you dinner."

She cringed. She never wanted to hear the word 'dinner' again. "Your generosity is wasted; I'm not hungry." Still, she felt the bed sink in when he sat beside her. She looked up at him, seeing his old self again.

If there were two sides to him, this was the side she liked best. "Did I make you cry?"

She glared, "As if that'd make me cry. It made me angry and I was ready to hit you, that's why I ran up here." He laughed, not getting the idea that she still wanted to hit him.

He didn't stall, wanting to put her mind at ease as soon as possible. "You're not here because you're just, what one would call, a booty call; you're here because when I first saw you, I saw the most innocent girl hiding behind her hair and the bruises. I thought, 'I really want to fix her. I want to show her what it's like to be a princess.'"

Haruna listened attentively, wanting to slap herself for thinking about forgiving him. "Ha... Only an idiot would think that. Aren't you a prideful person? Why would you pick the most rotten apple out of the tree?"

He shrugged, "You may not know this, but I'm a pretty good womanizer." She laughed silently inside her head; she already figured that out long ago. "And since I am one, I have a pretty good eye to see who's rotten and who's not, and my cute Haruna, you are the ripest one."

"This isn't just one of your tactics on how to get women?"

"No. I'd die of humiliation if I were this mushy to every woman. You're the only one who gets to see me like this, so be grateful." She was in awe, seeing a slight tint of redness to his cheeks while he looked the other way. She held her breath, figuring that now wasn't the time to tease him.

But she realized that what he said just now might be true. She recalled him flirting with girls, but not in this sort of manner. "But, what I really want to say is, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't expect to be so harsh on you. It's just like I said earlier, I want to treat you like a princess. That's why I don't want you straining yourself; I want to do everything for you. You don't have to please me, just be faithful, that's enough. Though... If you really insist on trying to live a normal life, then..." He hesitated, not wanting to grant you your freedom.

You held back a laughter; he just didn't want to share you to the world. "Then do it. I won't get angry, so long as you don't go looking for trouble."

Aido wondered if he was doing the right thing. He saw the world as an evil force and wanted his beloved Haruna to not be tainted by it, not again. Still, even he knew that a bird needs to fly away sometimes, but it made him question her - would she fly back to him?

He could see the happiness fall back into her eyes; he had no right to take away her freedom for his own selfishness. "Then, can I go study at the academy too?" She clasped her hands together, begging desperately.

He stared with pity and fright. Would she be able to handle the outside world? "I can do this Aido. Can I, please?"

It was the hardest decision he had to make yet. "Give me a kiss and I'll think it over the night." He smiled at the upsetting groan she gave, impatient as ever. "Just one. Be glad I'm not asking for anything more."

She closed her eyes, thinking that he was so cruel as to blackmail her like that. "Fine... But you take the initiative." She stayed oh so still, trying hard to not shake so much. The room was real quiet, causing her to wonder if he had left discreetly.

"Sorry Haruna, I lied. One kiss just won't be enough to feel your existence."

Her brows narrowed into a frown, feeling his cold lips against her own. It was obvious that he'd been pampered his entire life; his lips were the softest and his hands that snaked around her waist were surprisingly smooth.

Before she could pull away with resistance, he held her close, "I haven't held you since that night in the hotel. Won't you let me in once more?" He felt his self-esteem dramatically decline when she held a disgusted face. Her face became hot red; she still hadn't gotten used to his touches. She feared she never would.

He gave her a reassured look, revealing a faint smile that had no intentions to fool her. "I promise no biting this time," he ushered, recalling the pain in her face when he sank his fangs into her. He feared she'd never come to understand his feelings and how much he yearned for her, body and soul-

"Only if you promise to stop asking me for permission... It's embarrassing to answer that kind of question every time," she turned away, feeling perverted and out of her mind.

He restrained himself from grinning for feeling so ecstatic. He nodded to himself, confident that she was making improvement. He raised his hand, unsure of how to touch her. It made him frustrated that he would feel so... awkward. Was he supposed to just flat out throw her on the floor and attack her? That was exactly what his hormones wanted him to do, however, he could see that she was still taciturn as always.

"Ha... Only you're able to make me so vulnerable like this," she looked up, watching him lust for her. He gently brushed the strands of hair in her face aside, taking a long look before proceeding. "I'm still unsure how to make love to the person I care about," he spoke while undressing her layer by layer, "but I'm looking forward to discovering new things about you."

Her attention was too busy focusing on his soothing voice that she barely realized that she was nearly naked in his presence. Snapping out of the trance, she tried to break away from his contact, "They'll hear us-"

"Don't find an excuse to stop me now. It's far too late for that," his teeth nipped at her ear, traces of his fingertips on her skin left a blistering feeling. He took her down with him, laying her across the carpet floor. "I'll try not to leave any visible marks." Her eyes shut tight including her lips, feeling him leave trails of kisses across her bare neck.

She understood that he could've chosen to be like those dirty men and instantly push into her, but he took his time to cherish her and make her feel loved. Every touch healed her a little more, though she'd never admit. "You don't have to try so hard to make me feel good... You can go further."

His sea-like eyes glistened, nodding when he saw the look in her eyes. "Please love me soon," he prayed. He pushed himself above her, placing his forehead against hers. If she were to describe it, she'd say it were as though he was trying to leave his presence inside her heart.

She gasped, feeling him push into her. "Hana... busa...!"

"I'll make it so that you never forget me."

Indeed, she would never forget his embrace.