● January 9th ●
○ Third Person P.O.V ○

It's been a couple days since Ryuuji, Aalia, Yumi and Junior were rescued. Aalia was still healing, but the others were almost fully healed.

The three of them felt awkward being around Aalia's friends. They didn't even know if they really were her friends.

•In Aalia's room•

The nurse opened the door, and found Aalia fast asleep.

She walked to her and took off her night gown to see if her wounds were closed.

Aalia had a line of stitches going from her collarbone to the middle of her stomach.

The stitches were ready to come off and the nurse took out a pair of scissors and cut them off. There would be a scar, but it would be barely noticeable. The nurse soon left.

•In the game room•

Emiko, Tadashi and Sakura were reading a book together. Arata and Sora were playing chess and Ken was sitting by the window thinking.

Ryuuji, Yumi and Junior just sat there in awkward silence.

The door opened to reveal the nurse who was taking care of Aalia. Tadashi immediately stood up.

"Is she okay?" She said with a worried look.
The nurse smiled and said "she is almost fully healed. But for some reason she is still weak. I tried giving her food, but that didn't help. It only made her weaker."

Ryuuji's eyes went wide. He knew why she was weak. "She needs flesh" he thought to himself.

He stood up and spoke to Arata. "Do you mind if I go for a walk?" He just nodded.

He went to his room and opened the closet. Arara had bought each of them new clothes. He grabbed his jacket and went outside.

He walked for 10 minutes, making sure no one from the mansion would see him. He then put on his hood and spread his wings.

He used his nose to smell for human flesh (the powers he got gave him the ability to smell better than the average human)

He didn't want to kill an innocent person so he searched for dead bodies.

After five minutes of flying he could smell a dead body. The smell was revolting, but he had to get it, for Aalia.

He followed the smell, his eyes watering from the stench. He saw a circle of blood in the snow and started digging.

He pulled out a man.

"Looks like he died from frost bite." He prayed to the dead man and used his claws to scratch a piece of the meat off. When he left he grabbed a special paper to wrap the flesh in so no one would smell it.

He stuffed it into his pocket and walked back.

•In the mansion•

"Do you mind if I check on Aalia?" Ryuuji said to the nurse.

"Yes. She might be awake now" the nurse walked away and he went Aalia's room.

*knock knock*

I didn't hear anything so I just opened the door and walked in.

○Aalia's P.O.V ○

*knock knock*

Ugh someone is at the door. I didn't feel like seeing anyone so I pretended to be asleep.

But that didn't stop the person, they opened the door and walked in.

It-It was Ryuuji.

"Ryuuji" I said quietly. He smiled and locked the door.

I used all my strength to stand up and walk to him. But my legs were still recovering and I lost my balance.

"Hey!" Ryuuji ran to me and caught me.

"Are you okay?" He held me tightly.

"Yeah, I'm just a little bit weak"

"I know why, You need flesh"

At that word my eyes started watering.

"I can't, I can't, I can't." I started crying into his chest. "I can't"

"You have to. Remember what happened last time? If Alex comes out she will go after your friends." He wrapped his arms around me and I cried more.

He picked me up and put me on my bed. "O-okay. I'll do it. I don't want to hurt me friends"

He sat in front of me and took out a bag.
He opened it and brought a piece to my lips.

Tears started falling down my cheeks and opened my mouth to eat. I didn't chew it, I just swallowed it. I started crying even more.

But my hunger was dying, and I felt my ghoul side coming forward. My eye changed and I wanted more.

"M-more" I didn't mean to say that. But Ryuuji gave me another piece. I finished all of it.

My hunger was gone and I felt my weakness going away. But the fact that I ate a human, something I used to be, was just too much for me.

Ryuuji got up and threw the bag into the fireplace that was in my room and he sat next to me.

"You okay?" He patted my back.
I tried to blink away the tears that were forming, but I couldn't. I put my head down and tried to cry silently.

Ryuuji noticed and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him and cried into his shoulder. He started rubbing my back.

"Let it all out"

After five minutes of crying I stopped and pulled away from him, I rubbed my eyes.

"Feeling better?" He smiled at me.

"Yeah" I said softly.

"You've been asleep for a couple of days, do you want to see your friends?"

I thought about it for a second "yes"

"Did you tell them about my powers?" I looked down.

"No. They shouldn't know. It could put them in danger." He said while standing up.

"You're right. It's better that they don't know"

"Here. I'll help you get to them" he extended his hand and I instantly took it.

He wrapped my arm around his neck and he put his arm around my waist. I leaned on him for support as we walked down the hall.

A butler who stood infront of the door opened it for us and we slowly walked in. Everyone saw me and stopped what they were doing.

Emiko, Sakura and Tadashi ran to me and attacked me with hugs.

They all started crying while group hugging me.

"Wahhhh!!!!!! Aalia we missed you!!!" I slightly laughed and hugged them back.
They soon let me go and I hugged Arata.

"Thank you for rescuing us"

He hugged me back. Sora and I never hugged so I just playfully punched him in the shoulder. I saw.....Ken.

He walked up to me and hugged me. I was shocked by this, but I hugged him back. He didn't let me go and we hugged longer than planned.

I looked over his shoulder and saw Ryuuji looking away from us with slight frown. "What's wrong?" I thought to myself.

I pulled away from Ken and smiled at my friends.

"It's so good to have you back Aalia. Are you okay? Do you think you'll be able to recover?" Sakura said.

I smiled at her "I'm okay. I'll put everything behind me and move forward"

~1 hour later~

I spent the whole time reuniting with my friends.

But they soon had to leave. They told me that their parents said they could only stay until they found me.

Emiko, Sakura and Sora were going home.

I hugged them goodbye and they soon left.

"Aalia can I talk to you in private?" Yumi asked.

"Sure" we walked to the window so no one could hear us.

"What is it?"

"I want to find my parents. I haven't seen them in forever and I think they may be worried about me."

"Go find them. We'll see each other again" I smiled at her and she hugged me.

As she was about to leave, Junior grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"To...erm...find..my parents"

"I'll go with you"

"You don't have to"

"Yes I do. I need to protect you"

She blushed when he said that and they left together. Before they left, Yumi promised me we would see each other soon.

"Tomorrow, let's go do something fun Aalia. Right now you need to rest so you can heal fatser" Tadashi said while putting her hand on my shoulder.

"You're right" I got up off the sofa and Ryuuji came to help me, but Ken stepped in front of him before he could get to me.

"I'll take you to your room" he smiled at me.

I slightly smiled and he picked me up bridal style. When we excited the room I saw Ryuuji looking away with a frown.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He gently placed me on my bed and sat next to me.

He looked at me with a sad expression.

"The day Jun and I broke up, I was hoping I could've gotten another chance with you, but you ignored me. I planned to come back in a couple of days to try agian, but when I heard what happened, my heart broke." He looked me straight in the eyes, but I turned away from him.

I heard him sigh. He placed his right hand on my left cheek and turned my head to face him. He brought his face so close that our noses were touching.

"I was so worried about you" he closed his eyes and leaned in. His lips lightly brushed mine, but I pushed him away.

○ Third Person P.O.V ○

Ryuuji came to check on Aalia, but stopped when he saw the door was slightly open. He peeked through and saw Aalia and Ken talking. He saw Ken lean in and he left with a frown on his face.

Ken got up after she pushed him away.

"I'm sorry" she said.

"No I'm sorry" Ken left and slammed the door, startling Aalia.

"Great, now he's mad" she sighed and walked into the bathroom.

○Aalia's P.O.V ○

I locked the door and looked into the mirror.

"At least my bruises are gone" I walked to the shower and turned it on a medium heat. When the water was hot enough I took of my clothes and stepped into the shower, closing the shower door behind me.

I let the hot water run down my shoulders, making me feel relaxed.

So many things were running through my head: My parents, Alexander, my powers, Ryuuji, and the almost kiss.

All of these were driving me crazy. I leaned my forehead against the wall as I fell to my knees.

I know I cry a lot, but it's hard not to.

After I was done showering I put on a white nightgown and opened my window.

Although it was freezing cold, I needed some fresh air. I noticed a pile of jewelry sitting on the table.

It was the ones I saved! I searched through the pile and found the bracelet my grandmother gave me. I only met her once when I was five, but when I wear this bracelet, I feel like she's with me.

I sat by the window and watched the beautiful snow fall down. I could see the moon peeking through the clouds, it was magical.

As I was gazing out the window, I saw a dark figure walking out the gates.

"Who is that?" I assumed it was someone from inside going on a walk, but why now?

I shook that thought away and closed the window. I pulled back the bedsheets and jumped in. I then pulled them over my head and let my dreams take over.

○ Ryuuji's P.O.V ○

Why am I so mad? Aalia isn't mine and she has every right to kiss Ken. But why does it disturb me so much?

I shook my head and walked into my room. I closed the door behind me and fell against it, making a loud sigh.

"I need some fresh air" I stood up and walked to my closet. I grabbed a black hood and walked to the main door. I went outside and opened the gates and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been walking for 15 minutes and the cold snow flakes felt good against my skin. My legs got tired so I climbed the highest tree I could find and sat on a branch that I was sure could hold my weight.

I pulled of my hood and took a minute to check my surroundings.

I could see all the beautiful city lights. I was far away from them, but I could still see them. The moon was shining bright through the snow clouds, it was a breathtaking view.

Suddenly the image of Ken and Aalia came to my mind, and I instantly frowned.

"Ugh! Why do I keep thinking about her? It's not like she likes mine, she probably likes Ken" I sighed loudly and hugged my knees

I leaned against the tree and pulled my hood over my eyes.

I closed my eyes so I could rest, but I was so tired and stressed that I fell asleep in the cold snow.