Blood Candy 21- Maria
"That's fine. I understand the need for you to stay around Zero. Don't worry."
"Good. Then I'll be staying?"
"In your room at the dorm, if you'd like. Or you can stay in my guest room. Whichever you prefer." I shrug.
"I'll stay in my room."
"Then when Kaname gives Yuki the keys to the dorm, I'll have her leave them in your care. Is your servant…?"
"Maru-chan is going with them. She's been long in need of friendships, and that's exactly what she's building."
"Ah, speaking of whom…you realize that she's the top of the Night Class? Well, besides Kaname of course." I sigh.
"That's not really surprising. She's a quick learner and she has a very technical mind."
"Exactly…how old is Maru?" I shrug.
"We both have lost count."
"And when did you take her on?"
"Can we not talk about personal business Kaien? Oh, you might want to check on Maria-san." I turn and leave the room, heading for the infirmary. Kaien runs ahead of me and I sigh. "And this is why I have always hated dealing with that family. They're all insane." I head to the infirmary and step inside just as Kaien runs out.
"Hanami-sama! What are you doing here?" I smile at Maria.
"Checking on you. How are you feeling? I'm sure you've been through a lot." She shakes her head.
"I'm fine. Are you…friends with the Chairman?" I nod.
"He's an old hunting friend." She stiffens minutely and I smile. "Don't worry. I don't do any more than the Council would ask if things got out of hand." Yuki and Kaien arrive and I lean on the back wall.
"Chairman! What happened?"
"Shizuka was killed, and Ichiru-kun disappeared." All eyes are on me. "What?"
"Well, that was blunt." The door opens. "Ah. There you are." Maria jumps up and tackles Zero as soon as he steps into the room.
"Ichiru-chan! You lied, Hanami-sama! He's right here!"
"Umm…no that's…"
"Ichiru-chan, that person is so mean. She told me that Shizuka-sama is dead…wait…you aren't…are you Zero-kun?" I sigh and touch Zero's shoulder.
"Maria-san…" Maria backs away from Zero and looks at the ground.
"Shizuka-sama met with you. Then…then she really did die…" I sigh and we gather around Maria as she sits on the bed. "Shizuka-sama came to me with Ichiru-chan…she asked me if she could borrow my body. Shizuka-sama said that she would, in return, make my weak sickly body stronger…I am blood related…to Shizuka-sama…and now she's gone…" I look down and lean on the wall. I glance at Kaien and he walks over as Maria continues to talk.
"She shouldn't stress herself. It takes a toll on even the strongest of vampires when a pureblood does that."
"Zero-kun! Even if you killed Shizuka-sama, I don't think she regretted doing anything…" I nod slightly at Kaien and he steps up.
"Now, now, calm down, Maria-chan…you can't stress your body, you just woke up..."
"Maria-san…"
"Come here, Yuki and Zero…let's let her rest." Yuki and Kaien leave the room and I catch Zero's hand.
"Maria-san, you wanted to say something to us?"
"Just Zero-kun…"
"You really don't know how close I was to the Kiryu do you?" She shakes her head and I sigh.
"I want to tell you the truth."
"What…?"
"The day that the Kiryu were ordered to hunt that man…they were ordered by someone else to do so…someone who didn't like the idea of Shizuka-sama loving a vampire who was a human…when Shizuka-sama found out about this mysterious figure…she put all her effort into trying to find and kill it…that person is the purebloods'…and your…real enemy…I think…" Rido-ojiisan. We leave the room and shut the door.
"Hanami-sempai…Zero? Are things all right…?"
"Yea…she isn't 'Shizuka' so…"
"Maria-san…isn't intending to stay in this school so…she told the Chairman that she was planning to return home…"
"Love…huh…"
"Oh! Hanami-sempai! The Chairman told me to give you this. It's the key to the Moon Dormitory." I take the envelope from Yuki and Zero raises an eyebrow.
"The key?" I smile.
"Because I'm not going anywhere for the break."
"Aren't all the servants gone though?" I laugh.
"And you don't think I know how to cook and take care of myself? That's a laugh!" I step away from Zero and start down the hall. "See you later!"
"Hanami, you looked like you knew something back there when Maria was talking. What's up?" I look up from the chess board and sigh.
"I know exactly who she's talking about. And he's been pulling the strings behind both the Senate and the Society for nearly a century."
"Who?"
"My uncle. Kuran Rido. Though I'm ashamed of that. He's the one who killed my family too. I'm not too sure on the details about why he did that to Shizuka, it might have been, in the long run, simply to set things in motion to get rid of me."
"But you're not dead." I nod slightly.
"Exactly. When he decides to show his ugly face here, he'll get a surprise."
"Calm down, Hanami." Zero touches my shoulders gently and I smile at him.
"Right. Sorry. Oh, you know that because I drank from Shizuka, we don't have to worry about you falling to Level E."
"I figured as much."
"When is Maria leaving?"
"Her parents should be here shortly to get her. The Chairman called them as soon as she woke up apparently." I sigh.
"Leave it to Kaien. But it's fine. She needs to be at home anyways."
