A/N: Does the document editor here on FFnet ever piss you off? Because it's pissing me off as I write this. The first three parts of text are supposed to me centered, which they're not. Now, as you can probably see, the first paragraph is centered, and italicized. So, for all the little mess-ups in the beginning of chapters, I blame this editor. I'm going to attempt to fix the other chapters, so beware.

In other news, I'd like to thank you all for your support on Grey Flower. As I write this, I am beginning to write Chapter Fifteen. I also have to apologize for not replying to any reviews. I'm studying for my exams in two weeks, so I'm very busy... And earlier, I was transitioning through a tough time — school, work, family issues, you know? Thanks for your patience!

Please continue to support Senri and Grey Flower!

Grey Flower
"Real loss only occurs when you lose something you love more than yourself."

Chapter Eleven
When I awoke, I was laying on a cold, roughly carpetted floor, my arms and legs bound with anti-vampire ropes. I could barely move as it was, so were the ropes really necessary...? Moving... Right. I pushed my head forward, then off to the sides, forcing my body upward. Okay, maybe I could move. When I had gained enough momentum, I was able to pull myself up into a sitting position so that I could look around. I was in a mobile office, small and clean. Dormant. Empty. Good. Now, I rocked myself back on the balls of my feet, leaning forward on my knees for stability. Then, I pushed up once more to stand. I wobbled a little, then hopped my way over to a seat by the window — padded, and much more comfortable.

I could hear loud, mechanical noises coming from beyond the office walls, and was naturally curious of the source. But, the blinds were down and my hands were bound, so I was left in the dark about what was going on. I listened hard, examining everything I heard out there that accompanied the mechanical sounds. Faint yelling — directing. Almost as if there was some sort of construction going on...

There was a window open nearby and a cold breeze rushed in, chilling me. I shivered, taking in a deep breath, only to recognize the faint scent of a recent fire, and the overlying scent of fresh dirt. Then it all clued in to me at once. Heavensent! They had scrapped the plans to build an entrance farther away, and decided to go straight down! That would save time, money, and manual labourers — a backhoe was definitely not fitting in a little, tiny tunnel. I wondered how far they had gotten, and if there was any way to stop them... Takuma's role in all of this...

Hey, where was he, anyway?

I heard footfall now, coming up the concrete steps just outside the door. Jingling — keys! There were two possibilities to whoever made an entrance now — they were either here to save me, or part of the plan that got me here in the first place. I wondered if I shouldn't get back down on the floor. Did it really matter? I hadn't done anything wrong; I was still bound up and innocently unaware of my surroundings. I was just a little misplaced and awake, that was all. I decided to stay where I was, and only stared as the door was opened.

Not Kaname. Not Kaname. Not Kaname. I can deal with anyone but Kaname. NOT KANAME!

Not Kaname, thank the Gods... I sighed heavily when Takuma snuck in, his back to the office to watch for anyone who might give him away. When he turned, I decided to play with him a little — he hadn't noticed me sitting up yet.

"Good day, Ichijou Takuma," I greeted with a dark monotone. He jumped back into the desk and flailed in a flurry of paperwork as he went over the side opposite of me. There was a loud thump, I watched in amusement as the padded, leather office chair turned in a half circle as a result of the small earthquake Takuma created upon impact. He groaned, using the desk and the chair to pull himself up so that he could take a peek at the source of the voice. I smirked when he laid eyes on me, and only me.

"Senri! By Gods, you sound just like Kaname when you do that!" He stood, then collapsed in the office chair, a hand over his heart. I had scared him, and the fact made me laugh internally. "You nearly gave me a heart attack; do you know what Kaname would do to me if he found out that I was sneaking around in his office?"

"Well, I could think of a few things; but they all end with you on top..." I screwed up my face a little in faux confusion. Takuma blushed slightly, looking away from me with a heavy glower.

The pout on his face carried through into his voice. "You know I wouldn't, Senri."

This made me laugh again, out loud this time. "You were thinking dirty, weren't you?"

Takuma's face lit up like a stop light. "You weren't?"

I shook my head as a response, slowly so that he could take it in. He let his jaw drop slightly, watching me, then shook his head vigorously as if to put himself back onto the original topic. "Senri, you should be a little more serious about this, you know." And to this, I could only nod. "You were drugged by order of Shirabuki-sama, and I think Kaname might have had something to do with it as well. I don't understand it; he's your cousin... part of your family..."

"He hates me," I hissed, low and venomous. "He didn't have any interest in me at all, even before he found out that I was his cousin; so why should he now?"

Takuma was silent for a moment, then: "Don't say things like that. I'm sure he must have some interest in you... He's bringing Kuronue-sama back for you."

"Not for me, Takuma. For him. You know that."

"But that doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it! Let me dream, brat." He suddenly became a little more playful, getting up to sit next to me on the sofa.

"Big baby," I teased, and as punishment, Takuma ruffled my hair. I tried to duck away, shaking my head to try and replace my hair. To no avail. "Hey, not the hair. You know better!"

"Who's the baby now—"

Takuma's taunt was cut short when the sound of footsteps on the stairs presented itself again. Takuma froze for a moment, checking out the window. "It's Kaname; get back on the floor!" I did as told, and Takuma rushed to the desk, gathering all the misplaced papers into a neat pile and putting them on the desk. He had just enough time to crawl underneath the desk before Kaname entered, pulling off his jacket. He went straight to the desk, falling in the chair with a long sigh, rather informally. Then, not fifteen seconds later, his phone went off and he hit the speaker button, lazily.

"Kaname."

The voice belonged to an older male... Aidou-sama? "Kaname-sama, we're more than 75% complete out here."

"That's nice."

"Is Shiki awake yet? We're going to need him ready by at least midnight tonight for the ceremony."

Kaname looked around the side of his desk. "Yeah, he's awake. Do you want to send Tsukiko up here to take care of him?"

Aidou Tsukiko? No thanks...

"No, no. She's helping the other women with dinner. I'll send someone up later, but I'd rather not expose my daughter to such a task, Kaname-sama... if that's possible."

"I understand your concern. Send someone who you find capable after dinner."

"Perhaps Ichijou-sama could do it now. He's free... I think. I haven't seen him..."

"That's an interesting idea, Aidou. I know where he is, but I'm not on very good terms with him at this moment. Choose someone else."

"Alright... Did he do something, Kaname-sama? He always seemed like such a good child."

"No, he's fine. I'll have to speak with him later though..."

"I see... Well, I believe Shiki will be very surprized by this, Kaname-sama. Don't you agree?"

"I agree. Now, get back to work. I can't have you wasting time like this."

"Yes, Kaname-sama. I apologize. I will call in again when we've finished the excavation."

"Good." And he hung up, just like that. I was certain he put the phone on speaker on purpose, and I was also able to determine that he knew about Takuma's location currently. He'd have to be stupid not to know. "Takuma, come out here. Shiki, sit up."

Yeah, he knew, alright. Takuma crawled past Kaname out from under the desk, and came around to help me back up, though I didn't really need him to. Together, we sat down on the sofa. "Kaname-sama, I apologize, I just—"

"I know, Takuma. But you know you're not to be in here without an escort. You're becoming more and more insubordinate, and I don't want to have to take you off the operation so close to the end." Kaname's voice was purely faked sympathy. I wanted to spit on him, but I knew better. He lectured Takuma on this for a few more minutes, letting my lover hang his head with shame. Then he turned his attentions. "Shiki, how are you feeling, now?"

"I feel fine. Why?" I answered in my outwardly natural monotone.

"You're not hungry at all? It's been at least forty-eight hours." Kaname leaned forward, searching for any trace of insubordinance in me. I shurgged slightly and he leaned back again, staring at me. "Takuma, go get him something to eat, would you? He needs to be completely fortified for tonight; I'll take care of him while you're gone — don't worry."

Takuma didn't trust him. I could feel it in the tensed grip just before he let go, reluctantly. And when he stood, it was slowly, staring at me to show me all the apology in his eyes. He leaned down and kissed my lips gently before he left, as if he thought it might be the last time...

Takuma... what's going on...?

The door shut without another word from him, and I suddenly felt a surge of danger. What was Kaname going to do to me that made him look so sad...? I was shaking now as Kaname approached me slowly... My heart was pounding in my chest, but I managed to keep my breathing deep and even. For once in my life, I was actually scared.