With a clink, Kaname downed another glass and set it on the stone with force, causing a hairline fracture to appear along the side of the champagne flute. He chased it down with another mouthful and looked to his side and saw a row of glasses all consumed by him. He tried to rid himself of thirst by over-feeding, a technique that he used often, but never in public. The whispers among the vampire community would be great if they knew how much he was struggling. He looked over his shoulder and felt no snooping glances. With a swoop, he sent the champagne glasses flying over the edge of the balcony and into the bushes. He walked back into the party, put the now empty flute in his hand on one of the server's platters and walked briskly back to the dormitory building. He could not stand the party any longer with the burning sensation at the base of his throat and needed to regain control of his thirst in solitude.

He walked outside into the brisk night wind and tried to compose himself a bit more. He again checked over his shoulders to see if anyone had noticed his escape, but was satisfied to see that he had made a clean getaway. Blood tablets rattled together in his pocket. He would have to get a new packet after tonight, it was not natural the way he was speeding through them. He quickened his pace, eager to be far from prying eyes and entered the Night Class Dormitory. It was empty and silent, perfect for the state he was in. Kaname knew that even Hanabusa did not know of his cravings, he hid it extremely well.. except for tonight. The presence of a certain individual disconcerted him from his usual control. He would need to figure out how to adjust for her. Still, he pushed Yuuki Cross to the back of his mind, unable in his state to analyze the situation before. He would deal with it in the morning.

With a sigh of relief, he entered his room and bolted the door. He froze. He turned around.

Sitting with one leg crossed over the other on his love seat was the very person he had been avoiding.

"Yuuki…"

She stood and walked across the room until she was right in front of him. She looked up at him with big imperceivable brown eyes and he wondered what she was thinking. He used to be able to tell so easily, he could've read her like a book. Now, it was different.

"How did you get in..?" he breathed out, words raspy from the heat in his throat.

She ignored the question. "How have you become so thirsty Kaname-senpai." She said it like a statement.

His face grew dark and masked, betraying no emotion. "Always so formal," he said dryly.

Before he could stop her, she put a finger in her mouth and bit down hard. The blood dripped down her hand and found himself licking it clean in the next second. His teeth soon found her wrist and pierced the skin. He heard her exhale sharply at the pain, but found himself unable to stop or even slow. The wrist was soon discarded as he made his way to her neck. He could not even savour the moment he had anticipated this long year before his fangs sunk in, driven mad by thirst. He swallowed mouthful after mouthful, feeling her lifeblood drain from her and her body lean against him for support. When his mind finally cleared, he let go. She was still bleeding profusely so he licked the wound shut. The full weight of her figure was on him now, weak from blood loss.

"You took a lot," she said in a barely audible whisper.

He lifted her light frame off the floor, carrying her draped over his arms. He lay her gently on the bed and climbed over her, sitting lightly on her lower stomach, his knees on either side of her. He bit into his own wrist and offered it to her. She shook her head.

"Sleep."

He nodded and moved to get off her and out of the room. She tugged him by the sleeve and with her eyes closed, murmured, "with me."

He nudged her neck with his nose, licking the splatters of blood left behind and whispered, "okay." He gathered blankets around both of them and curled up beside her with an arm draped over her stomach. Her back to his chest, he held her close and closed his eyes.

And to think, just moments ago, he thought he was going to have a bad night.