hehe... sorry this chapter took so long. And is so short. I actually planned to update it last night, but for some reason I couldn't log in. Anywho, here's the new one! :) Thank you again for reviewing :)

~Belle

I froze, eyes wide. "Um," I said, wiping my eyes quickly. "Nothing. Just, um, my side hurts!" I said, jumping up to my feet. "I have some painkillers in my bag in the bathroom; I'll go take them." I half-smiled, and dashed to the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed. My inner finally had something to say.

I must say it's not... wise... to love Aido, but if you love him you love him and you can't really change it, right?

You're right. I thought back, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I blushed, remembering Aido had been touching my hair just moments before.

But you know he's only using you for your blood, so I don't think he feels anything for you.

I know. I thought sadly, opening the little pill bottle in my hand, shaking a couple out and tossing them in my mouth. I poured a glass of water from the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. I lifted up my shirt a little and inspected the bruise on my left side in the mirror. I pressed my fingers to it tenderly, hissing and wincing at the pain it caused. Not wanting to delay any longer, I put the cup up to my lips, taking a large mouthful of water and swallowing the pills. I looked at my face in the mirror once again, cringing slightly at the sight of my eyes being a bit red from crying. I inhaled deeply, my stomach churning as the smell of something delicious filled my nose.

I exited the bathroom to see Aido answering the door, presumably talking to the maid who had brought the food up. I came back and sat gingerly on his bed, smoothing out the sheets around me. A few minutes later he shut his door and came over with a plate of assorted food, which I assumed had been left over from the breakfast that had been served from downstairs. Aido set it lightly on my lap and then sat beside me on the bed.

"Here you go, Matari-san." He smiled a bit.

"Thank you." I returned his smile, and picked up a piece of toast and bit off a piece of the corner. It took me a few bites to notice that I was being watched. I turned and looked at him.

"What?" I asked, feeling a little self-conscious, therefore defensive.

"I was just thinking about when I should return you." He said thoughtfully, looking away.

"Return me? Since when did I become something to be returned?"

He rolled his eyes, and that dangerous look glittered in his eyes for a second before vanishing. "Your weekend is almost up and it is most likely more convenient for you if you can manage to get a night's sleep before your class on Monday."

I chewed, thoughtful. "That's so nice of you to consider."

He sighed impatiently at my sarcasm. "Well you slept most of the morning; it's already 11 o'clock."

"Really? That long eh?" I took a bite of some egg that had been sitting beside the toast. I blushed slightly, remembering why I'd been so tired.

"What?" He asked, noticing.

"Nothing." I replied, chewing a bit more slowly. "When are you thinking I should go back?"

"After dusk at least." He said. "That way it'll be easier to sneak you back."

I touched my chin thoughtfully. "It doesn't matter, I told Akane where I was going."

His eyes flashed. "Oh?"

I rolled mine. "Nothing specific, obviously."

"Does Takahashi know anything?"

I flushed. "No... Akane's covering for me."

He flopped back on the mattress, his feet still on the floor. "Good."

I frowned, wondering if I should bother asking for clarification about his hostility toward Rei, but thought better of it. "What are we going to do until dusk then? I don't want to just stay in your room."

"Well," he said slowly. "We kind of have to keep you here. It'd be unwise for me to go outside, and it'd be unwise for you to be anywhere else but here inside." I noticed how tired he looked and realized I had forgotten he'd usually be sleeping right now.

"Hmm." I hummed, thinking.

"Would you like to meet Ruka?" He asked. The name rang a bell, and I figured I was making a face while trying to remember because he elaborated. "My cousin. She's usually the one with Akatsuki; she's the one that dressed you last time you... visited."

"Oh, speaking of that." I turned around to face him, and he lifted his head to look at me. "Why did you have your cousin do it when you have maids?"

"Um." He said sheepishly, smiling. "I didn't want the maids to alert Kaname-sama that you were here."

"Makes sense."

"... Well?"

"Well what?"

"Do you want to meet her or not?"

I fidgeted, unsure. Do I want to meet Ruka?

Why not. Worst she could do is put you out of your misery.

Good point.

Thanks.

"Um, sure." I said quietly. "That is, if she wants to meet me."

"I'm sure she does." Aido said, making a face. "She's not as rude as she appears."

"How rude!" I said, turning around to glare at him. "She doesn't look rude!" I said, remembering how she looked the last time I'd seen her with Kain. So cool, collected...

Dangerous.

Shh.

"Well." I said, smiling slightly. "The day's not going to get any shorter. I'll meet her."

Aido stood, walking swiftly to the door. He turned to wink at me. "Be back in a few minutes!"

I rolled my eyes and flopped back on the bed.

So we've got the happy-go-lucky Aido today. My mind observed.

So it would seem. I thought back. I wonder how long he plans to stay...