"Oh, Yori-chan! You look so cute!" a voice called, drawing the caramel-haired girl's attention, and she turned to see Nadeshiko, one of the Day Class girls who lived in her dorm.

"Thank you," she replied, immediately regretting her clothing choices.

Why had she worried about dressing up today? She didn't need Aidou to think she looked nice, and she probably shouldn't want him to think such a thing. But. But. All the same, she had found herself selecting her cutest outfit, which consisted of an airy, pastel green top and pink skirt, paired with green and pink flowered flats. She was only lucky Yuki hadn't been there to see her pull it out of the closet. That would assuredly have come with some questions she couldn't answer.

"Hot date tonight?" Nadeshiko winked and Yori considered running back to the dorm and locking herself in for her own safety. Or, to the contrary, informing Nadeshiko that yes, actually, she was going on a date tonight. With Idol-Senpai. A grimace threatened her lips. She didn't have a death wish.

"Just meeting up with some old friends," she lied casually.

"Oh. Did you get permission from the Chairman?" Nadeshiko seemed surprised, as was normal. Most of the students couldn't leave the academy grounds without special permission from the headmaster. Yori, however, was a happy exception to that rule.

"Of course," Yori assured her, though in reality she didn't need his permission. Her father did own the school, after all...

"Wow. Well, have fun!"

"I will. Thanks!" And with that, Yori was out of the dorms and heading for the gates.

This was a bad idea. She knew it. Yuki would have known it, had she known the situation. Nadeshiko would have known it, had she. Everyone would have agreed. This was a terrible, horrible, disastrous idea. So, why was she doing it, again? She scowled. Somehow or the other, she liked Aidou's company. She might even like him, though she shuddered at the thought.

But, despite outward appearances, which were admittedly quite attractive, the blond was not the person she had originally assumed him to be. True, he was flirtatious and manipulative and moody, but he was also fun, witty, considerate, nerdy, and sometimes even adorable... The worst possible combination. Yori inwardly groaned, debating returning to the dorms now before it was too late. How was she going to avoid liking Hanabusa Aidou at this rate? Was this how the other girls had felt? Was this the very same trap they had fallen into?

The upperclassman was waiting for her just as promised at the gates. Seeing her approach, he brightened, smiling and waving until she was close enough to hear him say, "Good afternoon, Yori-chan! You look beautiful."

Quickly, Yori, run while you can, her mind advised. Yet her mouth opened and said instead, "Hello. Thank you."

"Shall we?" He gestured to the open gates and she nodded.

"How did your exam go?" she asked, remembering that he'd mentioned it on Tuesday in the library.

He scoffed. "It was nothing."

"Such confidence," she mused.

"Well earned confidence," he returned. Then, "What about your project?"

She grinned. "I think it turned out really well, thanks to you. We haven't gotten back the grades yet, but I'm happy with it. I'm sure it will be fine."

"Now who's confident?" he teased.

"Okay, okay," she relented. "Sorry."

A chuckle. "I'm sure it will be fine, too." Then, curiously, "What are Yuki-chan and Kiryuu up to this weekend?"

"Who knows." She giggled. "Though you're probably right to assume they'll be together."

"Obviously." He sniffed. "That level of oblivious really deserves a page in the book of world records."

Grinning, she inquired, "What about your roommate?"

"Akatsuki?" He blinked. "I don't know. He's probably mooning over Ruka somewhere."

She laughed before a memory cut through the sound. That was right, Kain knew she and Aidou had been together that night... Cautiously, she ventured, "Whatever happened that night? When Kain-san...saw us?"

"Nothing much. He lectured me a little bit, but he won't tell anyone."

"That's a relief."

"Akatsuki is trustworthy." Aidou shrugged. "He's concerned, of course, but he worries over everything."

"Someone has to," she pointed out.

"Fair enough." His finger lifted and he pointed to the town ahead on the path. "Look."

In the open field separating the town and the academy, Yori saw that the ground was now littered with booths, fair rides, and tents. The new sounds and scents assaulted the girl's senses as they entered the festival. Pausing, the pair oriented themselves by looking at a map posted on a bulletin board.

"Where should we start?" Yori queried, perusing the map with her finger.

"Why don't we start here and make a circle?" Aidou suggested.

"Okay." She was about to say more when she noticed a very familiar head of silver hair off to their left, heading towards the exit of the fair grounds. "It's Yuki and Zero-kun!" Yori hissed, tugging at the blond's arm.

Immediately, the pair wedged themselves between two booths, under the shadow of the overhead awnings, and watched surreptitiously as the prefect pair passed by. Yori noted the laughter etching lines across Yuki´s face and the relaxed, easy curve of Zero´s lips. They seemed so natural together, and she only hoped that Zero was able to recover from the brink of madness where he assuredly hung. Thankfully, even if Zero´s appetite was increased, Yuki seemed as energetic and lively as always.

"We always have to hide in doorways when those two are around," Hanabusa grumbled as they extricated themselves from the narrow space after Yuki and Zero had passed.

"Would you rather announce we´re here together?" Yori raised an eyebrow.

The blond ran a hand through his hair. "Well, ideally…"

Both of the girl´s eyebrows shot up now, surprised by this response, though honestly she would have preferred less secrecy as well. Fortunately, Yuki´s painfully oblivious nature made it easy to dodge questions and avoid notice. She suspected it was more difficult for the upperclassman, given the nature of his classmates.

"Hey, let´s play that," Aidou suddenly proposed, pointing and making a beeline for what appeared to be some kind of balloon game.

For the next hour, the caramel-haired girl found herself bouncing around between various different booths depending on her companion´s momentary whims. Yori bested Aidou at the water gun race, but after having his pride slightly wounded, he won a giant stuffed rabbit at a basketball game which he immediately gifted to the underclassman. At yet another game, Yori had to dissuade him from bringing goldfish back as pets for every single member of the Night Class. Instead, she distracted him with food, which they shared before riding the Ferris Wheel together. To annoy the blond, Yori sat beside her newly acquired bunny rather than next to him, leaning against it comfortably as the wheel climbed its perpetual circle.

"I´m beginning to dislike this rabbit," Aidou commented, eyeing the creature with a trace of jealousy.

Yori giggled, snuggling up to it and giving it a kiss on the cheek. She heard the upperclassmen make a sound of discontentment and held back the smile that threatened to sweep up her lips. "It´s so soft, though. And grey… Maybe I should name it after Zero-kun?"

Those blue eyes became vaguely murderous. "Don´t you dare," he warned.

"Well, do you have any better suggestions?" she asked drolly.

"Hana-chan?" he suggested on cue, brightening.

"Hm. No." Her eyes were rolling before she could stop them.

"Hanabusa-kun?"

"Okay…why are you assuming I´ll name the rabbit after you?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"Those are my best suggestions," he sniffed, folding his arms.

Stifling a laugh at his pouting expression, she mused, "Well, I´ll hold off the decision for now. It has to earn its name."

"It´s going to end up being Usagi, isn´t it?" He grinned.

"Probably," she admitted, feeling less than creative at the moment.

"You could put my name to another use though and actually use it. Calling me Senpai is a little much," he informed her as the ride came to an end and he helped her out of the seat.

"Even if you are, in fact, my Senpai?" she asked blithely as they began tracing their way back along the fairground paths.

"Even if," he affirmed.

"I can´t call you by your name on campus, you know that. It will raise suspicion."

"In private, then," he murmured with a trace of suggestion. His eyes hummed electrically and she did her best to look every else. Suddenly, the popcorn booth was very interesting.

"Where are we going, by the way?" she inquired to change the subject, noticing that the upperclassman was leading them away from the festivities.

"Over here." He pointed to the community building the festival was using during the day to showcase art and handmade goods. "It´s open so people can use the restrooms."

"Thirsty? I saw a lemonade stand back that way," she teased.

He snorted. "It´s getting late, that's why I thought we should go there now. I´m being responsible and bringing you back to campus on time."

"How mature of you," she remarked drolly.

"Yes. Take note, Yori-chan. See this right here?" He gestured at himself. "This is quality boyfriend material."

Good grief. She had barely agreed to go on a date and he was already proposing a relationship? And at the same time… Who would believe that Sayori Wakaba, bookworm extraordinaire, would hold the interest of Hanabusa Aidou? The whole thing was preposterous.

"I´m just browsing right now. I´m not ready to make a purchase, thanks," she shot back as they reached the hall and entered through the unlocked door.

"Take your time." He winked and gestured for her to walk down the hall to their right, which led to a dark lobby lit by the dim glow of two buzzing vending machines.

"Couldn´t someone walk in on us here?" she questioned, surveying the assortment of chairs and the couch against the back wall. She observed that he had chosen a far more comfortable place than the two she had picked to date: a shed and the woods. Thinking about it that way, she seemed like an open invitation for an axe murderer…

"I´d sense them before they came. But who is going to come down here at this hour?" He set the bunny in one of the chairs, where it watched them silently.

She shrugged. "Blood first?"

"I was just thinking that." His eyes glinted mischievously as she tossed her jacket into the seat beside the stuffed animal.

"Where are you going to bite?" The question sounded strange in her mouth, cramping against her tongue. Bizarre. Fantastical. She curled her toes tightly inside her shoes to stem off the anxiety.

"Hmm… I know I brought you here so you´d be comfortable, but…maybe like this…" He moved behind her, wrapping one arm around her as his fingertips brushed over her neck. She noticed it was the opposite side he had bitten her on before. True to his word, he was claiming a different place each time…

"Hang on," she whispered, at once nervous and embarrassed and also…maybe…perhaps…a little excited. Just a tad. Loosening the top buttons of her blouse, she checked to ensure that the collar came away easily. No sooner had she done so, however, then she noticed a pair of wide, dark eyes observing them. "I don't like how this rabbit is judging us..." Yori giggled, pointing to the vacant black eyes staring back at them.

Aidou grinned. "He's jealous. Let's see..." Picking up her jacket, the upperclassman artfully draped the item over the stuffed animal. "There."

Yori stifled a laugh. "It's smothering him."

"Good thing he doesn't need air." His arm twined around her again, tugging her gently back against him.

She bit her lip, suddenly unsure. "Are you sure no one will come?" she asked in a hushed tone as he nudged her head to one side and traced the path of the veins beneath her skin with his lips.

"Positive," he mumbled against her neck, tongue marking the spot where his fangs would follow.

She shivered and her fingers laced around his wrist in anticipation. Her heart gave a twinge of fear and a brief thrill shocked through her as his fangs slid into her flesh. An echoing sigh slid past her lips. The pain was really bittersweet, tinged with the now-familiar, pleasant sensation as his venom began coursing through her veins. Her arm rose, fingers tangling in his hair as she lost herself in the moment, eyes falling shut. She shouldn´t like this. Shouldn´t enjoy it. But…his bite was becoming a guilty pleasure.

As both times before, the upperclassman was pulling the blood slowly from her veins, his fangs already retracted and the flow of the red liquid thinning. His tongue caressed her skin, gently but carefully directing the blood to his mouth rather than to her clothes. He did indeed treat her very tenderly... Her guard was slipping away as she relaxed, sedated by both the very real, actual sedative that tingled pleasantly through her veins and the warmth of Aidou's body. Actually...she thought it was rather nice to be held like this... She really wouldn't mind staying this way for a while longer, wrapped in his arms...

But then he was straightening, tongue passing over her skin one last time to remove any trace of blood, and she was forced to release him as his arms dropped. Dropped, along with the temperature of the room as he moved away. A pang of disappointment lanced through her chest. It seemed colder now, somehow, without him against her...

"Can't forget this," he murmured, moving to stand in front of her as he fished a bandaid from his pocket.

The colorful print, visible through the wrapper, captured her attention, and she giggled. "Teddy bears?"

"They were on sale," he mumbled, and she grinned.

"So cute," she commented as he settled the bandage in place.

"The other options were camouflage or zebra stripes. Would one of those have been better?"

"This is fine," she replied. The anesthetic was fizzling out of her body, but curiously she still wanted back into the circle of his arms. "Thank you, Hanabusa-kun," she told him gratefully, employing his name as he´d beseeched her.

The blond froze momentarily, captured by the sound of those syllables, and a glint of red passed through his eyes again as he tilted his head to the side and murmured, "I could always go for seconds…"

Yori blanched immediately, holding up a hand as she stated, "Absolutely not." She didn´t know what a second dose of that poison would do to her, and she didn´t want to. She was already rather disturbed with herself. Apart from her previous desire, she was entertaining other strange thoughts about the blond upperclassman…like how his lips would feel against hers rather than against her neck or her wrist… Shaking her head sharply, she retrieved her jacket.

Aidou sulked for a moment before picking up the bunny as they made their way out of the building. "Next time?"

"We´ll see." She pursed her lips. Admittedly, she was vaguely intrigued. What would two bites do to a human? The academic in her wanted to know. However, the girl in her was utterly terrified by the prospect. Her judgment and common sense had already deteriorated this much...

As they exited the community building, Yori saw that someone had dropped and shattered a glass bottle just outside the door. "Be careful," Aidou advised, eyeing the broken glass. His fingers twined through hers as he led her cautiously through the minefield of clear shards.

The warmth of his hand and the sensation of his palm against hers was new, but oddly comfortable. His fingers fit perfectly between hers, and the heat of his skin chased off the chill in the night air. Yori knew she should pull away from him, but after they had navigated the glass, she didn't retract her hand and neither did he release it. She still hadn't exorcised the desire to be held close by the upperclassman again...

"So, what did you want to know about me?" he asked after a moment, regarding her curiously.

Scholarly instincts engaged, Yori immediately queried, "What kind of vampire are you? You said Zero-kun was level E... You're not like that, though."

"No," he agreed. For a moment, he hesitated uncomfortably, as though reluctant to continue, but then told her, "I was born a vampire, so there's no danger for that. As I said, purebloods are at the top of the pyramid. They have an abundance of powers and some have been alive for...well, thousands of years. They lead the rest of the vampires."

"That's not you, either, senpai," she guessed.

"Is that an insult?" he inquired suspiciously.

"You're not very regal."

"Hey!" he exclaimed, although she could see a laugh hovering around the corners of his mouth. "Maybe I am one!"

"You're not," she countered.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I'm not."

"So, what then?"

"Well, then there are the noble vampires and the common vampires. The noble vampires do have some powers and live longer than the common ones, which have no abilities to speak of. Most vampires are level C, this stable and unremarkable class."

"You still haven't told me which one you are," she observed.

"All of the vampires at Cross Academy are level B. Or, noble vampires..." he trailed off, watching her reaction carefully.

Yori processed this information slowly. The blond upperclassman, then, was some kind of nobility? That certainly explained his entitled behavior. The ranking system Aidou had just explained, sounded positively feudal, though. And, if he was a noble vampire, then what kind of power did he have?

This thought guided her next question. "What kind of abilities do you have? I mean, aside from unwrinkled clothes and finding me no matter where I am on campus."

Aidou snorted, immediately put at ease. It seemed she hadn't given him the reaction he'd feared she might. "All noble vampires can manipulate the elements to some extent." He shrugged. "I guess my forte is ice."

"Do I get a demonstration? Or is that not included?" she teased.

He chuckled. "Of course it is."

Now that they were making their way back to the academy, the road was dark and unpopulated, so the blond had little trouble using his powers without anyone taking notice. He gave Yori´s hand a tug, maneuvering her towards a nearby tree, which he touched with the fingertips of his other hand after shifting the absurdly large bunny plush under his arm. Immediately, the bark began to freeze, rippling upwards until it encased the entire plant in a thin sheet of ice which sparkled darkly under the street lamps. Yori´s eyes widened in wonderment. The chill radiating outward from the tree was very real, and when she extended her fingers the ice bit back at them with familiar cold.

"Amazing," she breathed.

He smiled. "I suppose it is."

"Modest as always, I see."

"I have to take pride in some things," he retorted.

"Yes, but you take pride in everything."

"I have my weaknesses," he confided as they began to walk once more.

"Oh?" She shot one last look over her shoulder at the icy tree.

He winked at her. "You, for one."

Yori's eyes raised skyward on reflex.

He chuckled. "No? I thought that one was pretty good."

"Hanabusa-kun," her lips stumbled slightly over the unfamiliar use of his name, "I hardly think it's necessary to use these lines on me. I'm already out on a date with you, aren't I?"

A mischievous glint lit his eyes. "So you're going to freely admit this is a date?"

"Yes," she agreed.

"Interesting. Because I always kiss my dates goodnight."

Immediately, the caramel-haired girl flushed. When she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, however, she was surprised. Aidou was cutely nervous, glancing back at her with hopeful, embarrassed eyes. Her heart was speeding into double time, rapidly alerting her of her rising blood pressure. Did she want to kiss Hanabusa Aidou? Did she really want this abstract something to become more concrete? Her thoughts raced back to his teeth against her neck, to his arm snugly around her body, to their interlocking fingers which remained together even now. Someone had to help her... She did...

Biting her lip anxiously, face heating up by at least another ten degrees, she murmured, "Well...that is normally how it works..."

She didn't miss the dusting of red across his cheeks as he brought them to a halt. Not much further down the path, she could see the familiar shape of the gates to the academy. If he was going to kiss her, it would undoubtedly be here.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked then, reaffirming despite the fact she had already agreed.

The acute rush of emotion tangled over her heart, muddying her thoughts. Her tongue was leaden in her mouth, and she was reduced to a mere nod. Somehow, her normal coherency had abandoned her. It wasn't anything like the last time a boy had kissed her, in which she felt a kind of numb, indifferent curiosity and afterwards had felt somewhat disappointed to realize a kiss didn't entail anything special. Already, however, she knew this time was different. She was already feeling things she didn't particularly want to, even before he had touched her. Vaguely, she was shocked that Aidou wasn't his usual overconfident self. She would have thought the school's number one playboy to be a smoother operator. Mostly, however, she just felt the increasing rhythm of her heartbeats as she turned to face the blond.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the blond leaned forward, lips brushing chastely across hers for a moment before increasing the pressure, hand rising to lightly caress her cheek with his fingers. It was a small kiss; a subdued, gentle kiss. A kiss of beginnings. Despite the innocence of that kiss, Yori felt her heart tremble in terrible realization. She couldn't escape it, not anymore. Not even when his lips parted from hers and the distance between them increased once more. It was still there, lingering unsaid in the air between them.

I like you.

Her mind began to protest almost immediately, but those thoughts were equally extinguished as his hand found hers again and they entered the academy grounds. Yori trusted the upperclassman to know if anyone was around and therefore might spy them, so it was with relative ease that they returned to campus. The resounding melancholy that commenced its incessant ringing through her ears was a sure sign...she didn't really want the night to end... A sure sign...that she had somehow or another come to like the very annoying blond vampire she had promised herself she wouldn't like.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Aidou said. "But I had fun tonight."

"Me, too," Yori answered sincerely.

"Can I see you again soon?"

"You know where to find me," she told him, and he smiled brightly in response.

"Great. I'll see you soon, then. Good night, Yori-chan," he bid her, at last releasing her hand and passing her the stuffed rabbit.

"Good night, Hanabusa-kun," she whispered, waving before turning and beginning the short walk to her dorm.

Her heart felt oddly warm for the rest of the night.

AN: 2 bites, anyone? Actually, I didn't mean to write this much (7 chapters, whoa!) for this FF, and I'm not sure if I'm really going to continue it or not, especially given that interest in it seems to be dwindling. I think that's probably because I suck at writing this kind of thing LOL. I did/do have some more ideas I could use but I'm very hesitant to continue writing this particular fic. I dunno...thoughts? :/