Chapter 42 is also underway, but won't be out tonight :P

~Belle :)

After the school day was over Akane, Rei and I made our way outside where we knew the daily throng of fangirls would be.

Today they seemed extra screamy, but that might be because by now nearly everyone had heard about Aido and I.

"Can we just go quickly, please? I don't want to deal with seeing Aido in front of everybody today." I whined.

"I don't think he's here" Rei said, whose height put him in a better place to see him than mine or Akane's.

"What?" Now I was curious, slowly weaving my way through the crowd to the front. "Aido never misses school..."

I noticed Kain and Ruka walking past and called out to them. When they came over I began speaking in a hushed voice. "Where's Aido?"

"He's... ill." Kain said in a voice that I did not believe whatsoever.

"Do vampires get sick?" I asked.

"They can. It's difficult to explain. He's very weak right now. Not up to school." Kain's tendency of being a man of few words was irritating me right now.

Ruka took pity on me. "He's truly very ill, Kisa-chan. We can let you know when he's feeling better."

I nodded slowly, frowning. "Okay."

The rest of the Night Class made their way toward the school building and as I turned to walk away I smacked into someone's chest.

Kaname.

I gasped, biting my lip to cut off the sound. Kaname looked down at me, his face utterly pleasant.

For everyone else's sake. My inner hissed.

Right. I thought back.

"Matari-san!" Kaname seemed oddly enthusiastic. "How are you today?"

"Fine." I said softly, before stepping out of his path. "Sorry."

"Not at all." He patted my shoulder as he walked past. Rei and Akane came up to me as the rest of the Day Class began to make their way to the Sun Dorm.

"What's going on with Aido?" Akane asked, seeming truly worried.

"Um. He's sick. Apparently." I replied, still not sure about the truth of that scenario.

"Everyone gets sick sometimes." Rei said. "Just make sure you don't catch what he has!"

I laughed to ease the tension, but my mind was still uneasy. Vampires didn't get sick, to my knowledge.

The days passed on much the same, with me asking after Aido every day and getting the same answer from Kain and Ruka. It frustrated me intensely, and part of me debating going over to see him. The only thing that held me back was that if Aido was truly sick, he probably didn't look his best. And knowing him, he probably wouldn't want to be seen like that. By Thursday I was about at my wits' end and I figured Akane could tell.

"Why don't you call the Moon Dorm and see if you can talk to him? Maybe he'd answer if it was you." We had come home that night after another frustrating chat with Kain and Ruka, who were admittedly being very patient with my constant inquiries.

Stunned by the simple genius of the idea, I grabbed my cell phone. I phoned the school directory, and then placed another call to the Moon Dorm.

"Moon Dorm, Cross Academy. With whom are you wishing to speak?" One of the maids answered.

"Um. Aido? Please?" I asked, suddenly unsure if this was a good idea.

The phone went dead for a second before ringing in my ear again. It rang close to 5 times before someone picked up.

"Yes?"

I recognized the voice and sighed. "Kain. Sorry. I was trying to call Aido. Is he awake?"

There was background whispering on the other side of the line. I shrugged at Akane.

"Kisa-chan, you should come here."

"What?" I squeaked.

"Aido would greatly benefit from seeing you right now."

"Can't it wait 'til after school tomorrow? It's late and I have class tomorrow..."

"No. Please do not delay." The line went dead.

I threw my phone on the bed and then myself as well. Akane was watching me from her bed with a solemn expression. "What's going on now?"

"Kain wants me to go over there. I probably won't be back tonight."

"You're going to skip class?!"

"I have to, it's Aido!" I protested. "Kain said Aido would 'greatly benefit' from seeing me right now."

Akane sighed. "Well then. Make sure you bring an overnight bag. I'll cover for you tomorrow."

I hugged her, threw some stuff in a bag, and left for the Moon Dorm.

When I arrived, I could tell everyone was uneasy. Kain and Ruka were pacing, and Shiki and Rima looked grave sitting on the couch. Ichijo and Kaname were absent. Several other vampires were flitting around absently, and I figured they might not be worried if they weren't Aido's close friends.

Kain and Ruka looked at me wordlessly. I pressed my back against the door. "Where's Aido?" Even though I already knew the answer.

"Upstairs." Kain answered. I went to leave but Ruka took a step forward.

"Kisa-chan... you might find that Aido's... different."

I tried to control the fear racing through me, and calm my pounding heart by breathing deeply. My mouth went dry. "Different? Did something happen?"

Ruka shook her head. "Nothing happened... but if we're right, Aido needs you to get better."

"Needs me?"

"And you've been away for a while so it might be worse." Shiki spoke up from his spot on the couch.

Rima looked completely disapproving. "You guys are sending her into a lion's den."

My hands started shaking and so did my knees. "Lion?"

"Aido will be okay if you go to him. He should be." Kain said. "He might frighten you, but it will pass after he drinks some blood."

"Oh." I sighed, and my shoulders relaxed. "He just needs blood?"

Shiki looked at me like there was something I didn't know. Ruka looked pitying. Rima was looking at me like I'd just said something incredibly stupid. Kain's expression revealed nothing.

"Alright, I'll go." I said, and went upstairs.

When I got close to Aido's door, I hesitated. Was this really a good idea? I swallowed and turned the doorknob, entering the room quietly and closing the door behind me. I saw a lump under the covers on Aido's bed and made my way over to it.

I giggled a bit in spite of myself, imagining him all balled up under the blankets.

"Are you awake?" I whispered, gently patting the lump. "I'm here. They said you needed me. Are you thirsty?"

The blanket was suddenly flung back with a force that ripped it off of the bed entirely, and sent it flying to the floor in shreds. Aido looked up at me, eyes scarlet and dangerous. "Very." He rasped, and pulled me down on the bed beside him. "Don't scream."

That was the last thing I heard before he bit into me savagely.