A/N: Hey, everyone! Thanks for all the reviews! I love reading them, though I don't always get a chance to reply. Keep 'em coming!

Grey Flower
"Our life together is much the same as a grey flower. It's beauty only lasts a short time, for it too was born dying."

When I awoke to the darkness, I noticed immediately the absence of Takuma's warmth beside me. Where was he? I rose from the bed, setting double-socked feet gently on the floor in order to stumble sleepily to the still-covered window. It was still dark out; I noticed this as I pulled the blackout curtains back to reveal a clear sky, speckled with stars. It had been a new moon that night, as it had been the night before. One more night and the moon would begin to return, shedding light on beautiful little Heavensent during the long nights. This would make it infinitely easier for our hunts; at least it would if Takuma had woken me to go out.

One quick glance told me that he had taken Shitsuren with him. Instantly, I was jealous, naturally. I made my way down the ladder as best I could, still in a half-hazed state, and quickly caught note of the remnants of breakfast, coffee, and a short note scribbled in Takuma's precise handwriting on his pink, cherry blossom-scented note paper.

Dear Senri,
Fuyuki and I decided to let you sleep.
Don't be too angry; I know you haven't been feeling the greatest lately.
Love you.
Teku

How sweet. And he had even signed with his old, unfavourable nickname, as if it made the difference. Out of more jealousy than anger, I shredded the note and threw it into the dying fire. For an instant, orange licked up around the paper; but after completely devouring the short message, it burned back down to the coals. With nothing better to do, I threw a few logs on the fire along with some tinder to get it blazing again, and once it had roared to life, I left it to put together my own breakfast — two slices of toast, and an orange. I sat in front of the fire with the minimal increments and a cup of green tea, a blanket over my shoulders. It was rare that I ever sat on the floor, but what the Hell — this was as close to a vacation as I'd ever get to take. Besides, the couch was long since void of Shitsuren's leftover warmth, and dragging the armchair closer was too much work. At that moment, anyway, I would've done anything to get warm again, though the fire's unsurpassable heat was only artificial compared to that of my lover.

I sighed.... Why didn't he take me with him?

The door swung open just then, allowing in two figures dressed to the nines in thick wools; with them came a glacial gust of wind carrying a torrent of snow. Suddenly, the room was full of blistering cold all over again, and I pulled the blanket tighter to my shoulders. Glaring, I watched the two men unhat themselves — it was Takuma and Shitsuren. I was a little surprized that they'd be back so soon, after all it was only a little after twelve thirty. Slowly, they began to shed out of their winter garments, and when Takuma began to pull off his boots, Shitsuren — who was already finished — stepped toward the mantle.

"Shiki must've been up; the fire's going again," he commented, obviously not noticing me sitting on the floor in front of the mantle. I just stayed silent and he turned his back. "I'm surprized that he even knows how to build fires, being a model and all."

"He's not stupid, Fuyuki." Takuma's voice was as cold as the wind, and I shivered, more out of instinct than temperature. "Besides, I don't think you'd appreciate it very much if he said things like that about you."

"I suppose not... no.... I apologize, then."

There was a bit of a silence. I knew that Takuma was probably struggling with the clasps on his new boots. He liked them — they kept his feet warm, and looked quite sharp on him — but the clasps on them always seemed to elude his superior intellect.... I heard him straining at them, then flopping onto the floor like a defeated child with a groan. I took it upon myself to rise from the floor and help him. Both he and Shitsuren nearly dropped dead of heartattacks when I emerged from in front of the fire. "Here, let me."

"S-senri? Where'd you come from!" Both of the others held their hands protectively over their chests. I looked at them dumbly for a short moment, then shifted a glare to fall on Shitsuren.

"Models should be seen and not heard; that's what I was always taught," I replied, kneeling in front of Takuma to help him with his boots. There was a short silence before Shitsuren cleared his throat, going over to the kitchen area to start up the coffee perk. I glared over Takuma's shoulder at him, too busy loathing the other Vampire entirely to notice that Takuma was reaching out for me. When he took my arm, though very gently, I jumped backward, landing on the wet mat with a sharp intake of air.

"Oh, Senri! I didn't mean to scare you..." Takuma smiled, letting his head fall to one side. I stared at him, wide-eyed for a moment before relaxing into the puddle that I was currently sitting in. "It's just... you had a really scary look on your face.... I apologize for Fuyuki — he doesn't know how to act with you. He says he'd like to be your friend, but you make it difficult; you refuse to let him in."

"Why should I?" I asked, suspiciously. I noticed that there was something wrong with Shitsuren that seemed to draw my love in like a fly to honey, and I didn't like it — didn't approve of it. Takuma didn't answer, but offered a questioning look. "There's something wrong with him, Takuma; don't you feel it? It's like he's up to something. Remember how you said that there was something weird about the intelligence of the Level Es? Well, I think there's something weird about him; and maybe, somehow, he's connected to the Level E attacks."

Takuma's brow creased in that worried look of his, and I knew that it was coming. "Senri..." It was the same look as before. "That's not right."

I pushed myself to my feet instantly. "What's so wrong about it, Takuma?"

"Senri, let's not fight about this," Takuma whispered, moving to stand as well. "This is rather trivial—"

"No, this is serious! I don't like him! There's a danger in his aura that I think we need to avoid, and you won't listen to me!" My breathing was growing heavier, the same way it did when I couldn't control myself. My body was heating up, my chest tightening, my eyes stinging. I only wanted to protect Takuma from whatever evil was lurking around Heavensent, and it presented a large problem for me if he wouldn't allow me to do so. I remembered from last night, that we had been talking. Takuma had been in the shower before we had headed for the loft, leaving me alone to talk with Shitsuren.

xXXx

"So, you're working under Kaname-sama?" he asked, trying to start a meaningful conversation. Cuddled up on the couch with a mug of tea, I looked up and nodded. If he was going to attempt to play civil, I'd play along with him. "I see. So I assume you're part of the Cabinet, then."

"You mean the Senate? Of course not, stupid."

"I guess not then. It's a shame... someone as pretty as you."

I growled; what did me being pretty have to do with the Senate. I wouldn't realize until later that he was talking about something other than the Senate, and his obvious reluctance to explain this to me meant he was in on whatever conspiracy was circulating around the Night Class in Cross Academy. Shitsuren quickly changed the subject from there.

"You're close with Takuma, are you?"

"He's my boyfriend," I answered. Shitsuren's eyebrows came up slowly. It was a shocked look, as if he expected as much, but didn't think he'd hear it from me. I nodded again, taking a sip of tea. "We've been together for nearly a year now."

It was Shitsuren's turn to nod, in understanding. He smiled knowingly, and produced his wallet from a pocket in his sweater. "You love him, huh?" I didn't answer; I didn't think I needed to. Acknowledging my stubbornness, Shitsuren came to my side and bent down, showing me the picture in his wallet. "This is my Nanashiro." Then he paused for a moment. I examined the photograph in this moment — it showed a young blonde boy, maybe even younger than me. He was quite thin, and pale-skinned — almost sickly-looking — with large brown eyes, full of sparkling energy and vitality. I admired his beauty.... No, not beauty. He had a childish sort of pretty about him, like he had the potential to grow into his beauty. Right now, it seemed a little too big and awkward on him, almost as if he didn't know what to do with it. "Was, rather." This perked me up. "He went missing six months ago...."

Now there was another silence, an uncomfortable one. I tried to think of something to say, and I ended up sounding completely insensitive when I did. "He's cute, but... isn't he a little young for you?"

"Love is blind, Shiki. You don't choose the person for their age or their appearance, it just happens." His voice was cold now, and I actually felt stupid. I hung my head to show my apology, though Shitsuren continued anyway. "Of course, you're with Takuma; you wouldn't know anything about that. He's gorgeous, he's around your age.... Why should you care about someone else's love?"

Reflecting on this, it does make me sound like a cold-hearted bastard.

"I'll tell you something, Shiki; I've known Sakagami Nanashiro since he was a baby. I've been there for him whenever he needed me. I was thrilled when he told me he loved me for the first time. Now that I can't save him from whatever trouble he's in... do you know what that feels like?" I didn't answer; once again, I wasn't sure I had to. The sustained relationship — the fact that we were here together — spoke for itself. "I suppose not...."

"I apologize; I shouldn't have—"

Shitsuren cut me off, waving his hand. He folded the wallet and stuffed it back into his pocket carelessly. "How about I make a deal with you," he continued cheerfully, the dangerous edge returning to his aura. "If Nanashiro turns up, I'll trade with you."

I wasn't very happy with this. I stood up deliberately as Takuma exited the shower and rushed in past him, slamming the door behind me. Takuma turned and knocked almost immediately, asking me what the matter was. I locked the door in response. How dare Shitsuren even think about asking to trade lovers! No! I loved Takuma far too much to just give him up to someone like Shitsuren! As I pressed my back to the door, I heard Shitsuren's response to my flee from the room.

"Guess that's a no."

xXXx

"Senri, there's nothing wrong with him! You're just being cynical, like always." Takuma pressed, standing directly between me and my escape. He had pushed me back so that I wouldn't leave the cabin. He knew that when I was angry with him, I usually left the room, or the building — which ever came first.

I growled low in my throat, "Really? I find myself to be more of a pessimist; and your ignorance isn't helping me anyway."

"Senri," Takuma sighed, and he sounded exasperated. "The world isn't going to end because you think that Fuyuki's evil."

"You don't know that," I returned stubbornly, crossing my arms. Takuma returned the gesture, a deep scowl on his face. We weren't getting anywhere with this. I knew I was right, and he wasn't listening.... This was turning into one of our most infamous fights yet, and this time, it wasn't over something stupid.