"Truth"

"Hey Haruna, I'm back- what's with the sinister look?" Aido dropped his textbooks when he saw how dark her pupils were. She recalled how Misha was saying how she and Aido were childhood friends. "Did that witch do something to you?"

"Me do something to her?" Misha walked down the staircase with her tongue slithering out like a snake, "She was the one who verbally attacked me- are you listening to me?" She shouted, seeing Aido give Haruna a high-five for 'attacking' her.

"That's my girl~" Aido laughed, totally ignoring her. "So I was thinking maybe we can go out to dinner tonight, how about it?"

Haruna wanted to get away from the humid place; she felt like she was slowly being suffocated being indoors. "Then I want pizza tonight-"

"Sorry to ruin your plans and all, but my parents are coming for dinner tonight. As my husband," she trotted around Aido, placing her arm around his waist, "you have to be there. Otherwise, rumors will spread that you're having an affair with some dog," she eyed Haruna with disgust.

Her insults were obviously aimed towards Haruna. Aido's fingers twitched, wanting to strangle her at the scene. Aido hated being tied down like this; he was practically standing on a wobbling chair trying to not fall with a rope around his neck. "It's fine Aido," Haruna could see the girl doing a victory dance inside her head. "Things will work out."

Later

"The Koga family is honored to have become one with the Aido family," Misha's parents agreed, sitting down at the dinner table with the Aido family.

Aido squirmed in his seat, feeling the temptation to cripple Misha's hands as they wrapped around his. "We always knew this day would come. When you both were little, we all assumed you two would marry and we were right," they laughed, including Aido's father. They were completely wrong. Aido hated the girl's guts. "Are you two planning on going on a honeymoon?"

"No."

"Yes."

The newlywed glared at each other, clearly on disagreements over everything. "I," Aido breathed steadily, "would rather much prefer things sizzle down. I'm not really into the extras of marriage."

"Father-in-law," she whined, "you have to convince Hanabusa to go on a honeymoon with me. Every girl dreams about it!"

Under the pressure of her family there, his father had no choice but to be firm with Aido. "Hanabusa. She is your wife and you have to meet her requirements, understood?" Aido couldn't believe how his hands were completely tied because of the witch.

Aido could only give her a dirty look. "I'll keep it in mind," he gulped the entire glass of water mixed with the blood tablets down.

"So do you plan on children?"

"No." The sense of danger in his voice shut everyone up. "I'm afraid we'll only produce abominations," he suddenly held a charming smile. Misha's mother gasped, unsure whether he was in his right mind. His father dug his nails into the dinner table.

"Hanabusa," Misha urged, "You mustn't be so negative. We're both beautiful people; I'm sure our children will be loved." He rolled his eyes. Seeing her already made him want to gouge his own eyes out.

Her father spoke, "Hanabusa-san, it's important to carry on your family name. We will all be expecting a child from the two of you." It was a demand. Aido crossed his arms, pouting like a child.

Later

"How'd dinner go?" She ate the food he brought up to her while watching him throw a tantrum.

"She's a bitch!" Haruna looked with bewilderment. "I hate her; she's such an eyesore. All she talks about is having babies and going on a honeymoon! She's ruining my life Haruna," Aido collapsed into bed. She swore she could see his soul leaving his body.

She patted his head, "There there..." She tried to muffle in a laugh; he was such a girl. "It's over now."

He peeked at her with one eye. "Would you like to have a wedding now?" Haruna watched him set her plate aside. He grabbed a rose from a nearby vase, placing it in her hair. "I, Hanabusa, take you, Haruna, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Haruna had never imagined her wedding to be taking place on their bed, but... she didn't mind. In fact, she felt that this was a lot better than a church wedding. "I can't remember that... so I'll just say ditto."

Aido laughed, then pulled her into a kiss. The kiss was simpler than usual, but it was kinder. "Shall we get to the fun part-"

"Hanabusa!" The door slammed open, "I swear if dinner occurs like that again, I'm going to-" Misha flinched, hearing the glass cup shatter when it was thrown against the wall. "Are you trying to kill me!" She shouted, inches from having it smack her face.

'Cockblocked,' Aido thought, shouting to the heavens above with hatred, "Why have you let this demon be casted from hell?" Haruna could only try to comfort him.

Days Later

"Father, this is really unfair. You promised me that behind the scenes, I would be married to Haruna. With the eyesore around, it really seems quite the opposite." His father only walked down the hall, calmly reading an article. Aido stomped his foot, earning a disapproving look from his father. "If you're going to act like a child, then I will tell everyone that this marriage with Misha is a lie. You understand clearly that it will bring shame to you, right-"

A loud noise echoed through the halls when his father struck him across the face. The blood trickled down from his cheek, the swelling pain quickly came into effect. "This is exactly why I disapprove of that woman. Don't you see what she is doing to you? You're hallucinating." His father had no regret for he had done, "If you dare say one word to the public, I will make sure that your human and her family suffer."

Aido could only watch his father's back as he walked away, thinking of how ugly the situation had become. With the witch in between him and Haruna and his father breathing down his neck, there was no way he would live a happy life with Haruna. Would there be a good ending? "What's the matter?"

"Oh. It's just you," he waved Misha off like a fly, uninterested in her. She followed him, "Why are you acting like you suddenly care?" He walked faster, hoping to get her off his back. If she were to develop a habit of stalking him, he wondered how much more he would be able to take before he killed himself.

She smirked, "How could I leave you alone when you're obviously conflicted? Didn't you used to like it when I stayed by your side at times like this?" She hoped to see him cling back to her instantly, but only saw his mood worsen.

"Ha, use that little brain of yours and figure out what the phrase 'used to' means in that sentence, you hag!"

"I don't understand why you hate me so much!"

"I don't understand why you suddenly like me so much!"

She blushed, noticing how close their faces were. Aido halted, instantly pushing her out of the way. "Hey!" She staggered, "You can't look me in the eye and tell me you don't have feelings for me still."

He stopped dead in his tracks; she held her breath. "You're. A. Creep." He walked away, "Oh yeah," he turned around, looking her dead in the eye. "And I have no love for you."

Misha watched him slowly linger out of her sight. With things the way they were, she wondered if he really did forget about her. "You can lie to my face, but can you lie to the person you love?"

Later

"You want me to what?" Haruna asked, eyes looking up with doubt. Moments ago, Haruna had just gotten out of the bathroom when the witch had abducted her and locked them both inside the closet.

Misha smiled, placing her hand on Haruna's shoulder. "My dear companion," she leaned down to whisper into her ear, "I want you to ask Hanabusa if he still has feelings for me." Haruna frowned, not understanding what her motive was. "I know, you're obviously thinking, 'what's the point of asking when it's obvious he still does?' right?"

'That's not what I was thinking at all...!' Haruna thought. "Why don't you ask him yourself-...!"

She shriveled in fear when the demon's grasp on her shoulder tightened while she held a devious smile, "It's obvious he's pretending to hate me, that's why he's so stubborn. He won't tell me the truth anymore. That's why," the glint in her eye hinted that she was up to no good, "I need you to be the one to ask him."

"What makes you think he'll tell me the truth? If he did happen to still like you," Haruna's heart raced, secretly praying that he didn't, "wouldn't he lie and say he didn't, otherwise it'd do him harm?"

Misha tore the coat Haruna was wearing off her petite figure; Haruna covered herself in fear. Would she do something perverted! "That my friend is where your innocent self comes into play! Give him the pitiful face you always have," she laughed cruelly, "and he'll be sure to give in!"

Haruna could see why Aido was terrified of the woman; she was insane. "Why should I do your dirty work to ask him? You've been nothing but hateful towards me since the beginning..."

"Look," she raised a brow cunningly, "Do you honestly want to live a lie? What if he does secretly still love me? You're okay with not knowing whether you're a rebound?"

Haruna hated to admit it, but the woman was right. "Or don't tell me, you have doubts in his love for you?" Haruna didn't answer her question. She just bit her lips with worry. "I knew it! How can a love like this last if there isn't even trust between the two of you?"

She breathed in Haruna's face, giving her a smug look. "Hanabusa is totally out of your league. You're the most insecure, pitiful, and loathsome person I've met! Wait till' I tell him how you don't even have faith in him-"

"Don't!" Haruna grabbed her hands desperately, causing her to shout and struggle. "Please don't-"

"Get your filthy hands off me- ah!" She fell backwards, tripping over her own feet and crashing into the mirror hanging on the door. The glass shattered and Haruna watched in fear as blood ran down Misha's head. "Y-you... You attacked me! Physically this time!"

"I didn't- I..." Her hand was slapped away as she tried to help stop the bleeding.

Haruna shuddered when the girl started screaming for help, "Hanabusa! Father!" Moments later, the door opened and sure enough, it was a bloody scene. Haruna turned absolutely gaunt when the first person to arrive was her father. The look on his face was absolutely frightening.

For now, she was saved as the priority was not to punish her but to stop the girl's bleeding. "If- if there's anything I can do-"

"You've done enough," he scolded, taking his precious daughter-in-law to the bed to care for her wounds. Haruna felt like the enemy.

The maids came flooding in as though Misha was dying, although the cut only required less than five stitches. "Haruna, are you okay?" Aido asked, seeing Haruna sitting outside beside the room where Misha was resting. "I got a phone call from father saying you got into a physical fight with the demon," Aido sat down beside her.

She didn't have the strength to speak. With the way everyone was looking at her, she didn't feel so much like the 'innocent' girl Misha was speaking of earlier. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" She asked, frightened that she ruined her chances of being accepted into the Aido family. Aido embraced her. He was the only person who would always forgive her, no matter what she did wrong. "She panicked, and then the glass and there was blood-"

"I know you Haruna. You're not the type to intentionally hurt someone. Besides," he assured, "even if you did, I'll always be on your side." Haruna couldn't tell why he was being so kind to her... Aido was a bit baffled when she pushed her face into his chest. He wanted to smile, but couldn't as he realized that she wanted to cry. "What are you moping about? She's a vampire, she'll heal in less than an hour."

She shook her head. That was part of the reason why she was depressed, but she felt like she had just jeopardized her chances of having a healthy relationship with Aido and his family. His father would always look at her with disapproval, thus he'll never agree to her being married to Aido.

"Father..." Haruna clung tighter onto Aido's shirt when she heard him say that. She felt as he was her shield, like he would protect her forever.

"You... Get up." Haruna shut her eyes tight, wanting to just become invisible. If this was a nightmare, she wanted to wake up instantly. Aido shielded her with his arms, never letting go. "I don't care what feelings you have for this human, but I want her out this instant. You," he averted his attention to Haruna, "how can you be so selfish as to let my son take the fall for your mistakes?"

"Father! Leave Haruna alone. It's obvious Misha started it! Honestly, a human doing that to a vampire? That doesn't even make sense!" Aido shouted, angry that his father was just trying to find an excuse to kick Haruna out of the family. "You know it, don't you? You're just purposely targeting Haruna."

Although she wasn't even in the wrong, she felt guilty. 'He's right...' Haruna thought. Her feelings swayed. She knew it hurt Aido to even speak against his father. While he was suffering, she was using him as a wall to protect herself. "Haruna... what are you doing?" Aido asked, watching her pull away from him.

She stood up, facing her 'father.' She gathered the courage to even look him in the eye; she was afraid. "Father, I-"

His hand struck her across the face, though she didn't falter even though it hurt more than usual because he had the strength of a vampire. "Father!" Aido could only watch in agony. The blood trickled down her bitten lip; it killed Aido to see her hurt. But still, his loyalty to his father prevented him from lashing out at his father.

"Allow me to speak with Hanabusa in private one last time." Aido couldn't comprehend what she meant by 'one last time.' He could only feel his heart ache when the tears kept streaming down her face, and he couldn't do a thing to stop them.

She eventually led him outside to the back garden in front of the fountain. When she didn't speak, he took the initiative. "What did you mean by one last time, Haruna?" Somehow, he felt he knew what she meant, but didn't want to really believe in it.

"Aido... Do you still like her?"

The setting was calm yet the atmosphere was intense. At this point, Aido wasn't sure why she was crying. She fidgeted with her shirt, wanting to hear nothing but the truth. "Idiot," he laughed, "why would you want to know something like that? It's obvious you're having a nervous breakdown-"

"I just need to know!"

He hated to see her so sad and worn out. How much more until she'd finally collapse? Her heart pounded faster and faster; why wouldn't he just answer the question to stop her painful anxiety-

"I'm sorry Haruna, but she was my childhood friend... I still love her."

She thought it would be easier to leave him behind if she knew the truth, yet why was her heart aching more than ever now?