I shut the door to Akane's and my dorm and folded my jacket around myself.

Zero turned and stalked down the hall, as if the act of having to escort me was ruining his entire life. I had been enduring my current situation long enough to be used to melodramatics, and didn't bother to comment. Yuki walked wordlessly beside me and when we got to the door of the dorm I saw Zero talking to Aido on the grass several feet from the dorm. When Aido noticed me he stopped talking, and he and Zero both looked at me.

Yuki approached Zero and they took the lead. Aido kept a careful distance away from me but I needed to talk to him. I closed the gap and tugged on his sleeve so he would lean down.

"Do you know what this is about?"

"No." He frowned and looked at me. "I thought you would."

I slapped a hand to my forehead and looked up at the night sky. "Great."

Aido opened his mouth like he was going to ask Yuki and Zero what was going on, but thought better of it and closed it.

Like walking into a brick wall I felt the panic hit me. What if Headmaster Cross found a new memory spell? Honestly, that was the best case scenario. What if he found a spell that wiped ALL of my memories? What if Kaname got tired of waiting for him to find something and they were going to kill me?

The thought of having possibly talked to Rei and Akane for the last time without saying goodbye caused me a wave of grief and nausea.

"Kisa-chan?" I hadn't realized I'd stopped walking until Aido called my name, several feet ahead of me. I jogged quickly to catch up, scrubbing my cheek with my sleeve to erase the couple tears that had managed to escape.

This visit could benefit Aido. No matter the outcome where I was concerned, Aido would walk away free. Whether I died or had my memory wiped, I would not be his responsibility anymore. He was probably excited for this, which made me all the more determined to hide my dread.

The aforementioned genius was now watching me closely. I looked at him and shrugged, continuing to walk silently beside him. I began to pass the time by listing things I would miss about being alive. I figured it would be a short list.

The stars in the night sky, nights giggling with Akane, wildlife...

My inner kicked in Aido.

I nodded to myself, unable to deny it. I forced my expression to remain neutral, not wanting any of my inner termoil to cross my face while Aido was staring at me.

"What are you thinking about?" Aido leaned closer to my face, scrutinizing me.

"Uh, I'm wondering how many detentions I'm going to get for being caught breaking curfew?"

Aido nodded pensively. "The truth, please."

I met his eyes and opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I couldn't tell him I thought I was going to die in case it hadn't crossed his mind. I wouldn't survive seeing him become happy at the thought.

Aido looked down and I followed his gaze to my hand - it was shaking. He grasped it in his and stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. "Tell me." He almost sounded pleading. "Tell me what you're thinking."

We had arrived at the Headmaster's office, and Yuki and Zero told us to wait outside. They entered and I heard hushed voices inside.

I turned to Aido, who was still watching me.

I regarded him carefully for changes in demeanor. "Headmaster Cross was looking for something, the last time we saw him. I think he may have found it."

A couple of emotions flickered across Aido's face, as if he were replaying the whole conversation in his mind. "You think he found a spell?" Aido whispered. "Or worse..."

"What else could be so important it couldn't wait until morning?" My voice broke twice, and I sat on the floor beside the office door. "Just leave me alone; I'm trying not to think about it." I didn't want Aido to feel sorry for me on top of the guilt he already felt as he thought he was responsible for my situation.

I felt his arm brush mine as he slid to the floor beside me, and my eyes went wide as I stared at the floor. My inner sanity was screaming that he was too close. I felt the arm between us go around me and his hand grasped my shoulder as he pulled me against him. I let out an involuntary happy sigh. But this wasn't the time.

"There's nobody here." I reminded him. Why would we need to be demonstrative now?

"This isn't pretend." Aido's voice was warm, and sincere.

"What is it then?"

"It's me comforting you. You clearly need it. You look more distressed than you think." He rubbed up and down my arm after I shivered from the cold. "Sorry. I might be projecting icy air. Akatsuki is the one with the fire powers."

I hmmed. I hadn't known that. Suddenly, finding more information about vampires interested me, as me knowing more wasn't going to matter no matter what happened in Headmaster Cross's office. "Does Ruka have powers too?"

Aido hummed. "Yes. Illusions. It's quite interesting."

"Do all vampires have powers?"

"Purebloods have many. Aristocrats often have one or two. Anything below that usually doesn't."

"Below that?"

"Vampires have different ranks based on their lineage. Common vampires and former human vampires are the lowest."

"Makes sense." I nodded pensively.

"Vampires who are bitten and do not drink the blood of the pureblood who turns them eventually descend into madness, or Level E. They have to be destroyed."

"I see. Are there any in the Night Class? Who you're waiting on to descend to Level E?"

"No." Aido's voice was tight. "But there's one in the Day Class."