A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it
Chapter 8 - Uncomfortable Dinners
As Kaname lounged in his private suite, he turned his head to hear an unfamiliar squeal and another voice that he knew very well. Standing up, he walked over to the window and gazed out at the green lawn. His eyes fell upon Hanabusa carrying a very dirty and distressed Hikari. Her cream clothes were soiled with mud and tea stains. Her legs were red with the tea which had spilt all over her and scalded her.
Kaname felt hands resting on his slim hips and a warm body pressed behind him, "What are you looking at, my lord," Hanaka asked. She peered around him and out the window to see Hikari being carried by the handsome nobleman, "Ah, this is a development…" she purred, "Are you pleased?"
Kaname didn't answer for a moment, "It isn't my problem. Aidou is a ladies' man. He doesn't take any of the women seriously."
"But doesn't is bother you that he is touching your wife in such a way," Hanaka replied, "You said yourself how you wouldn't allow her to have a lover because it would be seen that you could not control her."
"True," Kaname replied, "But I will bide my time and see where it goes."
Hanaka turned him around and pulled him down into a passionate kiss, "I wish you could divorce her. You could set her free to marry who she chooses."
"This marriage is to benefit our families more than ourselves," Kaname replied, "My family wouldn't help the Kitamuras financially unless there was a marriage involved. It just so happened that Hikari and myself were both unmarried."
"Why couldn't your parents let you marry me," Hanaka asked, "I am of high noble standing and you are in love with me. I, too, am in love you and only want to see you happy."
"Of course you do," Kaname said, kissing her lightly on the lips, "And I love you too."
Meanwhile, Hanabusa had taken Hikari to her suite and placed her down on her ornate lounging chaise. Hana had followed them up quickly, making sure that all propriety was kept.
"I will help Lady Hikari from here, Lord Aidou, please wait outside whilst she is changed into some clean clothes," Hana said as she pushed Hanabusa towards the door. Hanabusa complied and walked out, closing the door behind him, "What happened to you, my lady," Hana asked with her hands on her hips.
"I don't wish to talk about it," Hikari sniffed, "I've just embarrassed myself and I don't wish to make more of a fool of myself."
Hana placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, "All right, my lady, let's get you changed before Lord Kaname sees you. I heard that Lady Sara and Lord Ichijo are visiting tonight for dinner and then staying the night."
"I see," Hikari said with a happy smile, "That's good news. I can't wait to see them again."
Hana nodded as she removed Hikari's shirt and skirt before pulling a blue Lolita style dress which was not short of lace and puffed sleeves. The back tied in a bow with a blue sash and buttoned with silken buttons. The dress reached her knees and had a petticoat underneath to make it voluptuous. Her blond hair was tied at the back with a blue ribbon.
"You look beautiful, my lady," Hana said with kind smile, "Lord Kaname will think that you are too."
"I doubt it," Hikari replied as she pulled on her white tights and slipped her feet into patent leather, baby blue shoes, "He is much too preoccupied by a certain Lady Hanaka to look at me."
"Oh, I'm sure he will," Hana dismissed. Hikari played with a lock of her silvery blond hair. Hana walked over to the door and opened it. Hanabusa smiled as he looked up, "Lord Aidou, Her Ladyship is now ready to receive you."
Hanabusa walked inside and was instantly struck by Hikari's beauty and serene smile, "Well, your maid certainly knows how to rectify a situation," Hanabusa said with a charming smile. Hikari slipped some lacy gloves onto her hands and placed them delicately on her lap, "You are not short of grace and beauty, my lady."
Hana giggled slightly as she left the room and closed the door behind her, "Thank you, Lord Aidou," Hikari said demurely, "I hear that there is going to be a formal dinner tonight. Lady Hanaka will be in attendance," she said through gritted teeth, "As will Lady Sara and Lord Takuma."
"They're engaged, are they not," Hanabusa said fondly, "I always knew that Ichijo would choose a suitable bride. He's got good tastes. Lady Sara is from a very influential pureblood family. Since her parents died, Lady Sara has been the head of the family. It must be hard for her."
"Indeed, Lord Aidou," Hikari replied, "She is a nice girl and has a lot to contend with being so young. I pray for her happiness," Hikari absentmindedly smoothed down the silk of her dress.
"Lady Hikari, you can call me "Hanabusa", you know," he said with a smile, "I hate being addressed like my father."
Hikari looked up at him, her dark sapphire eyes boring holes into him, "Well, if you're sure… Lord Hanabusa."
"You say it so wonderfully," he said with another of his charming, gleaming smiles.
"Are you attending the formal dinner tonight, Lord Hanabusa," Hikari asked and Hanabusa nodded.
"I am… I hate stuffy dinners," he commented, "However, to keep myself and my family in favour, I must."
"Why must you be in favour," Hikari asked sceptically, "Surely, you're Kaname's friend based on years accumulated by playing and associating with each other?"
"You'd think so," Hanabusa replied, "But times have changed. Kaname is now the king and lord of our society and we all must fight for his attention now. Pure friendship isn't enough anymore."
"Doesn't he value you as a friend as he does with Ichijo," Hikari asked, "He's not a very nice person is he? I am very sorry to hear that years of friendship have gone down the drain now that he has taken an even higher pedestal in our society."
Hanabusa stared at her for a moment before clearing his throat, "You have very interesting and intriguing views, my lady."
"As the famous line goes, "I say it as I see it"," Hikari said, "As long as I am polite, I will voice my opinions where necessary."
"I admire that in a woman," Hanabusa said pensively.
"Really," Hikari asked, "Well, what do you look for in a woman?"
Hanabusa loosely folded his arms and thought for a moment, "I suppose she has to be extremely beautiful, intelligent, grace, charming, quick witted and has to have her own mind," Hanabusa said wistfully, "I need someone who is intellectual to keep interested. So, what do you look for in a man?"
Hikari's eyes widened for a moment and Hanabusa gasped, "I'm sorry, that was impertinent of me. You're already married."
"No, don't worry," Hikari replied, "I'll tell you. After all, my marriage to Lord Kaname is merely a contract for political and financial ends. If I wasn't married, the man I would choose would have to be handsome, intelligent, of a happy disposition, intellectual, charming, passionate, kind… Sorry, I have very high standards. My father always told me to hold myself highly and not give myself to just anyone."
"Very sound advice if I don't say so myself," Hanabusa said, reclining in his chair, "You should always hold yourself highly."
Hikari fought the urge to fidget with her hands as she averted her gaze shyly, "Well, it's time for dinner I think."
"Indeed," Hanabusa said as he stood up, "Would you like me to escort you down, my lady?"
"I think that would be practical," Hikari said as Hanabusa stood up and placed an arm around her waist and pulled her up, causing the girl to lean on him to take the weight off her ankle. Hanabusa let go of her waist and let Hikari link her arm in through his. When she was steady, they walked down to the dining room.
When they finally arrived at the formal dining room, they spotted Sara and Takuma talking to Kaname. Hanaka was hovering behind him, listening in on the conversation.
"Good evening, Lady Hanaka," Hikari said stiffly, "I trust you are well."
Hanaka turned around on her heal to face Hikari and she blinked, her green eyes wide, "Oh, good evening, my queen, Lord Aidou," she bowed slightly before taking her seat. Annoyingly, Hikari noticed that she had sat herself on the left hand of Kaname's ornate dining chair.
"Come, I'll take you to your seat," Hanabusa said as he escorted a limping Hikari to the other end of the table. Hikari looked up at Kaname as she passed him but he didn't even acknowledge her. It hurt having a husband who despised her. Sara and Takuma walked over to her after she had taken her seat.
"Hello, Hikari, how are you," Sara asked kindly. Hikari smiled serenely.
"Oh, just fine," Hikari said sarcastically, "I twisted my ankle today."
Sara and Takuma gasped, "I hope you're all right," Takuma said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and Hikari nodded. Sara blinked and turned her head towards Hanaka who was openly flirting with Kaname.
"It seems that Lady Hanaka has firmly got her feet under the table," Sara said with a small, disapproving frown. Hikari smirked slightly.
"Yes, so it would seem," Hikari replied.
"Is she his official mistress," Sara asked, looking up at Takuma, "I thought you said he didn't have one."
"Well, I thought that he had let her go but apparently not," Takuma mumbled, "What is Kaname thinking of? He has his wife sitting right in front of him and he invites his mistress. I know he's in love with her but I would have thought that some propriety would be kept alive."
"Don't worry about it, Takuma," Hikari replied, "I am not in the least bit worried. He can have who he wants."
"But, Hikari, how can you just accept this? You have restriction where he doesn't. For example, it is not treason for him to take a lover but it is treason and considered immoral for you to do the same thing," Sara whispered. Hikari nodded.
"I know," she mumbled, "But I have to endure this. Lady Hanaka will not live forever like I will. He'll fall into my arms eventually."
"Yes, after about 1,000 years," Sara pointed out, "How can you wait that long?"
"I'll just have to," Hikari said as she clutched the material of her dress, "He will come to me eventually. He obviously likes the thrill of the chase with Hanaka. But when he is finished with her, I will be waiting."
Sara sighed and nodded, sitting down next to her. Takuma took his seat next to his fiancée and took an uncomfortable glance at his best friend before turning his gaze to Hikari, who was demurely gazing down at her lap.
The meal was uncomfortable throughout. Nobody spoke at all and the tense silence ruined peoples' appetites. Sara picked at her food and Takuma didn't touch his meal at all, moving it around his plate with his knife and fork. Hanabusa would occasionally glance up at Hikari who would return them but would quickly look back down at her half eaten meal. Sara and Takuma both glanced at each other and noticed this. Saying nothing, they turned their attention back to their food.
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