(Pssst. Story's done! :P 4 chapters left dears. I'll space them out over the next couple weeks. ~Belle)

Aido pulled away from me and I was struggling to control my breathing. He was looking at me deeply, searchingly, and I consciously had to remind myself that it was for show. His blonde hair had been styled perfectly, its golden strands twisting around his head like a halo. I looked into his aqua-colored eyes and felt myself being drawn in. Aido's blinked, and his gaze fell to my neck and just like that, the spell was broken.

I straightened my dress and cleared my throat as the Day Class girls walked away, huffing. "Do you have to do that?"

"No, but I want to." Aido said simply. He raised an eyebrow. "Call me 'Aido-sama' again and I'll stop."

I flushed brightly, causing Aido to chuckle. "I sure won't. That's embarrassing!"

A flash of pure evil went through Aido's eyes and he bent down again. "Okay, if that's your wish..."

I put my hand firmly on his chest, stopping him from touching his lips to mine again. I could feel my palm shaking against his body, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Aido-sama... not here." I said softly, before stepping away and opening my eyes.

Aido's face had a peculiar expression on it, and I didn't try to figure it out.

"Can I dance with you, Aido?" A soft voice to my right said, and I turned to see Ruka standing beside me in a white dress with a plunging neckline. It looked mature and tasteful and I wanted to sigh with envy. I'd never be able to pull off something like that.

"Of course!" Like a lightswitch, Aido had switched to his "passing the Day Class" personality, and with a grand gesture offered Ruka his hand. She rolled her eyes, took it, and they walked onto the dance floor.

I suddenly felt awkward standing there, and turned to walk away. I collided with a broad chest outfitted in an all black suit.

I rubbed my nose and looked up to see Kain looking down at me, his mouth turning up at one corner. "We could dance, Matari-san, if you wouldn't be opposed to it."

I nodded silently and followed behind him to the other side of the dance floor. I noticed Yuki and Zero leaning on one of the walls, with Yuki all dressed up and looking worried. Zero just looked bored. I then saw Kaname approach Yuki from the side and she jumped, assuming formal posture.

Kaname's late? My inner noted. That seems highly unusual.

You're right... But I didn't have time to ponder the matter further as Kain took me into his arms and we swayed slowly.

Halfway through the song Ichijo bounded over and grabbed my arm. "Akatsuki! I tried to wait until the last dance but I simply must dance with Kisa-chan. May I?"

Kain nodded his head and offered my hand to Ichijo who eagerly accepted. I allowed Ichijo to begin moving us around.

"Did Shiki come to this?" I asked casually. I was aware that Ichijo and Shiki were close friends. I hadn't seen Shiki anywhere yet.

"Ah yes, but Rima-chan was taking forever to get ready and so we left without them. You know how models are~"

"Rima's a model?" I asked. "I mean, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised."

"Shiki-kun's a model too!" Ichijo exclaimed, grinning. "He and Rima-chan often do shoots together."

"He really doesn't seem like the kind of person to be into that." I tried to render Shiki as a model in my mind and was coming up blank. Didn't models have to smile occasionally..?

"Shiki-kun would surprise you." Ichijo crooned. "Even though he's Kaname-sama's cousin he's quite different."

I thought of all the times where Shiki showed concern and compassion for me and all the times Kaname had been cold and ruthless. I guess I already knew how different the two of them were, but I had only realized it now that it had been pointed out.

"Was there a specific reason you needed to dance with me?" My curiosity had gotten the better of me, and Ichijo didn't seem to want to tell me anything.

"Ahh, not really. Just saw a pretty girl and wanted to dance with her before she fell back into the clutches of her boyfriend." He waggled his eyebrows at me and I blushed.

"Aido's not my-"

"Oh it's alright Kisa-chan, I think everybody knows now. Aido just couldn't keep his hands off of you any longer!" Ichijo didn't realize he wasn't right so much as guessing what had literally happened. Aido just couldn't go without my blood and didn't want to see me with anyone else and this was the most logical and believable explanation. I caught myself before I sighed out of frustration.

Ichijo twirled me in a circle as the song ended. "I must go, Kisa-chan! Enjoy your evening." And with that I was alone again, so I wandered back over to Akane and Rei, who were eating some snacks at a table.

"The soirée looks great." I told Akane as I sat down. "You guys did a great job."

"Thanks!" She exclaimed. "People have been telling me that all night. I'm glad."

"Couldn't get your boyfriend away from his fanclub?" Rei asked dryly, causing me to look across the ballroom in Aido's direction.

He was indeed surrounded by a bunch of girls. Most of them were Day Class, and one of them was Aika. I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't notice, but thanks. I doubt that I could drag him away from all that." I sighed. "He loves the attention. Eats it up. You know, he's completely different when you get him by himself and away from his apparent need to 'perform' for other people."

"Really?" This seemed to pique Akane's interest. "What's he like?"

I glanced across the room at him again, and tried to decide how best to describe it. "He's... more serious, for one, but he can still be joking. He's definitely less flamboyant and rambunctious. He notices things more, because he isn't busy projecting the Aido that girls go crazy over. And he's surprisingly supportive of his family." Aika pulled Aido down by the elbow and whispered something into his ear, and that broke something in my chest. I stood up, and my glance changed to a glower. "He's also a huge idiot. I have to go to the washroom." I left the room.