AN: I'm so so sorry for how long it took me to upload another chapter! Especially because the quality of this chapter is pretty low. I hit a roadblock with this fic that I really have had to struggle through, but on a more positive note I have the chapter after this mostly written! I promise to finish this fic, no worries, and I really am trying to work on it so that the wait between chapters isn't as long. Unfortunately, I haven't had much inspiration for it, so I've been working on my other 2 fics instead... Bleh. I'm really sorry-I'll try to get the next chapter out before too long!

The note mysteriously appeared beside the worn bookmark in her textbook. It read: Get permission to go out next Friday. She didn't need a signature to know who it was from. Nor did she need to see the slanted, messy handwriting to know who it was from. Leave it to Aidou to give her zero details but expect her to be there anyway. Although, of course she would be there...

So, without any explanation to Yuki, she'd gone to the Chairman and requested to leave Friday night. Her excuse was transparent: her father's birthday was coming up, and she wanted to surprise him with a gift. Yet, Kaien Cross hadn't suspected a thing, instead praising and gushing over what a good daughter she was, until a heavy lump of guilt festered in her stomach. She supposed she'd have to find something for her father while she was out.

That Friday, unsure if this was a casual or a formal affair, Yori carefully selected a cute grey dress slashed with cream. Since there had been no further communication from the blond vampire, Yori simply walked out of the front gates and headed towards the town. She had no idea where she was supposed to meet him, or when, much to her frustration, but she assumed that he'd find her with that uncanny ability of his. And sure enough, about halfway to the town, he was quite suddenly beside her, grinning ear to ear.

"Good evening, Yori-chan," he greeted her.

"Good evening," she replied automatically. Then she paused in the road, hands on her hips. "You could have told me what to wear or where we were going," she rebuked him.

"What, and ruin the surprise? No way." Before she could respond, he leaned forward and kissed her, breaking off any protest she might have given. "It's nice to see you, too," he teased.

Admittedly, she was happy to be away from the school and to have him all to herself for the evening. Her fingers easily fit against his, and they continued down the path like that, palms enjoined. "Thank you for inviting me out," she told him. "Any chance you'll give me a clue as to where we're going?"

"None," he replied cheerfully.

Quickly, Yori looked him over. However, there was nothing in his appearance to suggest a particular destination. The jeans and long-sleeved shirt looked good on him, of course, as did literally everything... At the very least, she supposed that she wasn't overdressed.

"How are classes going?" he asked.

"Well. Yours?"

"Fine. Boring. The usual. It might be different if I could switch over to the Day Class..."

"Why would you want to do that?" She stared at him skeptically.

"I'd have you to occupy me, wouldn't I?" He winked, and she rolled her eyes.

"And you'd also have Zero-kun and Yuki," she reminded him.

"I wasn't thinking about that," he admitted, and she laughed.

At this point Yori realized rather abruptly that Aidou was leading them in what seemed to be a straight line towards... "The supermarket?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes, come on, come on." He tugged her hand and led her inside, maneuvering past the aisles to the back of the store. The scent of seafood was strong here, and she wrinkled her nose ever so slightly.

"You have to see this," he proclaimed with apparent, childish delight, and led her straight to the container of lobsters, which milled about aimlessly within their tank.

Yori stopped, laughter building in the back of her throat. "Did you...did you bring me to see lobsters?!"

"Isn't it incredible? They keep live ones here in the store! And sometimes you can get them to fight!"

Unable to hold it in any longer, the caramel-haired girl broke down into a fit of giggles. She didn't know why, but the fascinated expression on his face was just too much. Most likely, he'd never even been inside a grocery store before, but... Tears were leaking out the sides of her eyes. Hanabusa Aidou, aristocrat vampire, entranced by supermarket lobsters!

The blond's shoulders slumped slightly. Weakly, he defended himself, saying, "I wanted to show you. And...I wanted it to be a unique date..."

Still battling giggles, she wrapped her arms around him and managed, "It is definitely unique."

From his face, she could tell he wasn't sure whether to be pleased or sulky, the result being a half-pouty, cute expression that made her giggle again. Why was he so adorable? Nevertheless, she had already given up trying to fight it. Somehow...I really like you, she thought, and her heart contracted with affection.

"My lobster is going to win this duel," she told him, releasing him to select a distinctive one from the tank. At least, she thought she would be able to identify it again, judging from its tail.

"We'll see," Aidou said, but the lobsters were not very enthusiastic to fight, and eventually the pair gave up, declaring it a draw.

"How did you find out about the lobsters?" Yori inquired curiously as they left the store.

"Akatsuki wanted to cook something for Ruka himself, so I came with him. It was my first time coming into a store like this," he confessed, just as she'd thought, "and I knew I had to show you. But...you probably already knew they were there..."

She smiled. "I did, but it was fun."

"Are you hungry?" he asked, and she nodded. "Let's get some dinner, then."

"Alright," she agreed easily.

"I know a good place," he told her, and she followed him out of the store.

Hanabusa could barely contain his agitated nerves and excitement throughout the dinner. He took Yori to one of her proclaimed favorite restaurants, an Italian place that served a variety of pizza and pastas. They chatted over lasagna and garlic bread, followed by a simple dessert of vanilla ice cream, but despite his enjoyment of the company and the food, the blond was preoccupied with the question he had for the girl seated across from him.

Finally, on the way back to campus, he decided he couldn't wait any longer, and breeched the topic he'd been trying to put off for the last 2 hours. "Did you have a good time tonight?" he asked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

She smiled. "Yes. Thank you."

"Me, too. I always have a good time when I'm with you." He was making the transition now, pleased by her slight flush at his words. "Actually, thinking about that, there was something I wanted to ask you..."

"Hm?" She looked at him, eyebrows flicking up slightly in curiosity, and he took a breath before asking, "Yori-chan...will you be my girlfriend?" Seeing her mouth open, he held up a hand, forestalling her. "I mean, officially. Not just dating, though I know we can't really tell anyone..."

In the brief interval after his question, Hanabusa felt himself grow exponentially more nervous with every passing second. He thought things were going well, but Yori was difficult to read sometimes. If she said no... He gave himself a mental shake. He wasn't going to consider that possibility just yet.

"I'll do it on one condition," she murmured.

His nerves jolted. He blinked, surprised, curious, and on the edge of disappointment. He had hoped she'd say yes...unconditionally yes.

"You have to promise to see me again as soon as possible," she said.

He relaxed, grinning. "Done."

"Then, yes, I'll be your girlfriend." Her cheeks were that now-familiar, endearing shade of pink again.

"I'm glad." He touched his forehead to hers, losing himself in her eyes. He still could scarcely believe it. Prior to these past months, he had casually dated too many girls to count. He had tossed them aside one by one, stepped on their feelings, and felt not even a twinge of guilt. And now..? Now he desperately wanted to cherish this girl standing before him. Who would have thought him capable of it, much less with a human...

It was dangerous. He knew it was. Not just because Kaname might discover their relationship at any moment, but also because vampires, so tied to instinct, bonded deeper than humans. While Yori might forget him tomorrow, he might still long after blood, perhaps for years and years after she was gone. Yet he didn't regret it. He was addicted to the scent of her blood, to the warmth of her eyes, to the gentle curve of her smile. It was only a small claim on her, something as fickle as girlfriend, but it was all he had. And he was selfish enough to want it.

To his surprise, it was Yori who pulled him closer for a kiss. He relented immediately, although he remembered his promise to go slower this time. He didn't want to push her limits. So he only brushed his mouth against hers lightly, increasing the pressure a fraction at a time, before at last deepening the kiss. Her fingers contracted against him as he explored the sweetness of her mouth, but she showed no hesitation, and he tasted vanilla ice cream from their dessert on her tongue.

At last drawing apart, slightly breathless, he murmured the question. "Was that okay?"

Her heart was racing; he could both hear and feel it, but nevertheless she answered him steadily, "Yes." Laughing a little, she teased, "Maybe even too slow this time."

"I can fix that," he told her, and claimed her lips for a second time, a touch roughly. If he was worried about being too hasty, he realized immediately that he shouldn't be. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pressed her body against his in a way that set his pulse pounding. He thought he could kiss her forever, if she'd let him. It was perfect. Yori, the kiss, this night...everything. As he lost himself against her mouth in the moonlight, he fervently hoped it would last.

Yori gasped quite suddenly against him, and he started, thinking he must have hurt her. Had he accidently scraped her with his fangs? Had he bitten too hard? Had he-but her words cut him off.

"I forgot! I was supposed to look for Father's birthday present!" she exclaimed.

"You..." All his preoccupations ground to a halt and he laughed. "You had me worried."

"I have to go back to town. I told the Chairman I was shopping for Father; I can't go back empty-handed!"

"It's late, though," he said dubiously. "I should take you back." At her stubborn expression, he added, "I'll take care of it."

"But-"

He cut off her protest before it could begin. "I'll take care of it," he repeated. "It will be my first act as your official boyfriend. Trust me."

"Alright," she finally agreed, albeit begrudgingly, and let the blond vampire begin leading her back to campus.

Despite her misgivings, the next day when she returned from her afternoon ride, a black box had mysteriously appeared on the desk in her dorm room. Inside was a sleek gold watch, sporty yet sophisticated, exactly the type of thing her father was sure to love. Even the price tag was within the range she would have set for herself. She held it up to the light, inspecting it every which way. She had to admit, she was more than a little impressed with Aidou's selection. And more than a little giddy each time she remembered the previous night...

AN: I know it isn't much...more next time! And better quality! (I hope)...