Well hello! :)

I told you the updates would be coming faster, and they are. Aha. ^ ^' This might be the last chapter until sometime in August, because I'm going for surgery and I'm not sure how long I'll be "out". But in the meantime, thank you for putting up with me and enjoy this latest installment!

-Belle xoxo

Shit.

I don't know who in my mind said that, but my inner and I were both thinking it.

I turned around slowly to see a painfully beautiful girl, her blonde ringlets hanging perfectly around her face, and her rich green eyes uncomfortably warm. She was smiling in a sickeningly sweet way that I instantly distrusted. My eyes flashed to the thing in her hand.

"My bag." I said, the words tumbling out quietly. She rolled her eyes and extended her arm to me.

"I couldn't help but... overhear that you were going home, so... I took the liberty of grabbing your bag for you, from Aido-kun's room." She smiled again, and just the way her mouth moved made it look threatening.

My inner, for once, was silent.

I nodded, reaching out my hand. It was shaking. I took my bag carefully, wrapping both my hands around the shoulder strap and holding it in front of me.

I decided to be brave.

"Thank you." I said, nodding. "I'm Kisa Matari."

She nodded again. "Oh I know." She said like this was the most obvious fact in the world. This scared me a little. "I'm Aika Satoshi."

I lifted my bag up a little and started to turn around. "Well, I better be going-"

Suddenly she was very close to me, and her eyes were piercing mine. "I don't know every nitty gritty detail on what's going on between you two, but I'm sure it's just a formality. I intend to take what's mine, and I won't let you stand in my way. So be a nice little girl and do things my way, and maybe you won't get hurt."

"... What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Don't be obtuse!" She said, flinging me away from her. I stumbled, and she was suddenly glaring at me. My inner was snarling angrily in my head.

I'd say to do something, but we're no match for her.

Thank you for that exposition. I replied. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

I waited, expecting some kind of movement from her. None came. Suddenly, a piercing noise penetrated my skull, vibrating in my brain. It propelled me to my knees, and I clutched the sides of my head.

"I manipulate sound waves." She raised her voice so she could be heard over the noise. "It's a very useful talent." She said, turning and pacing back and forth slowly.

I rolled my eyes. I forced myself to my feet to face her. I winced as the pain in my head intensified.

"Amazing you can still stand when I'm projecting waves this strong." The pain suddenly vanished, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Remember what I said." Soon after saying that she was gone. I looked around confusedly.

My inner was still reeling. That no-good, controlling, manipulative BITCH!

I rolled my eyes now. No point getting angry over it.

But we are angry.

Yeah...

I sighed, picking up my bag off the ground, quickly rifling through the contents to make sure my things were intact. Slinging it over my shoulder I began making my way toward the Sun Dorm under the cover of darkness. My inner was proverbially scrambling around inside our head trying to figure things out.

What is she talking about?

Who, Aika?

No, the tree. Yes, Aika.

Well I think she thinks we're "with" Aido.

"With"?

As in together, or something. She definitely thinks we have some kind of relationship that's too close for her liking.

Well screw her! My inner suddenly pictured us getting closer to Aido while Aika watched.

Do you have a death wish? I thought frantically.

She does if she thinks she can keep messing with us.

Oh drop the bravado. I admonished my sanity. Are you sure you're the sane part?

My inner hissed and fell quiet, letting the anger stew I guess.

"There you are!" An exasperated voice called from behind me. I turned to see Aido chasing after me. "I told you I'd take you back after sunset."

"And I told you you didn't have to."

He rolled his eyes. "Well I was going to leave it at that, but Akatsuki and Ruka insisted I follow through."

Part of me felt hurt. "Wonderful."

"Was that sarcasm?"

"You are definitely a genius."

Aido narrowed his eyes. "Am I ever going to hear the end of that?"

"Not likely, genius boy."

He shoved my arm lightly. "You're mean."

"And you were going to let me walk home alone in the dark you jerk! Remember what-" I clasped my hand over my mouth. I swore to myself I'd never bring that up.

"-happened last time?" He bent in front of me to look at my face as he said that. He stood up straight again, laughing quietly without humor. "Yes, I certainly have not forgotten that fact, Matari-san."

"You can call me Kisa all the time you know." I said quietly, adjusting the shoulder strap on my bag. "You don't have to be so formal with me like I'm a stranger."

"You may not be a stranger but you are strange."

"Hey!" I said, smacking his arm with mock anger. He chuckled again, this time the smile actually reached his eyes.

We both fell quiet as we started walking across a long bridge.

"... Tell me something else about yourself, Kisa-chan."

I frowned. "What do you want to know?"

He thought for a moment, and then recalled something I'd forgotten I'd said. "You said you don't have a lot of family..."

I smiled. "Ha. Well. Um. My parents died when I was young." I ticked two of my fingers off. "My aunt that raised me passed away shortly after I moved here." I ticked off another finger. "And I don't know where the rest of my family is or if I have an."

Aido frowned, appearing sorry he brought it up. He tactfully apologized.

Curiosity got the better of me. "Do you have a family? Beyond Ruka-san and Kain-san that is."

He blinked, not expecting the question I guess. "Yes, I have my father, mother, and 3 sisters at home."

"You have sisters?" I giggled. "No wonder you have satin pajamas."

"Oh be quiet, that's not why." He growled. "I happen to like satin."

"Pretty boy!" I accused jokingly, pointing my index finger at him as we neared the door to the Sun Dorm. "Do you coif your hair too?"

"Yes."

"Ahhh! Pretty boy!" I cried, probably too loudly, as I ran away from him up the steps to the door. He stayed behind. I sobered quickly as I turned to look at him, his facial expression unreadable.

"Enjoy your week, Kisa-chan." He said seriously, the darkness hiding some of his face. I could've sworn he almost sounded sad.

"Yeah..." My voice trailed off as he turned to walk away. I almost felt bad. "Hey!" I suddenly called to him, causing him to turn around, surprised.

"When will I see you again?"

He wiped the shock off his face with a smile and replied, "Friday. I'll expect you to spend another weekend with me if you want another week off. I'll come and collect you."

I grinned in spite of myself, running over and grabbing his wrist, pulling him down a little so I could quickly press my lips to his cheek. "Thank you for bringing me home!" I said quietly as I scurried back to the door of the Sun Dorm and run inside.

What I didn't see was a blonde vampire who'd just been kissed put his hand on his cheek in shock, and another blonde vampire who'd watched the whole exchange unfold cross her arms and slowly shake her head.