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It was a pretty frosty morning, with ice particles creating swirling designs upon the window, a bitter nip to the air, and the sun's rays becoming diluted by the frosted glass. The whole bedroom had an eery blue tint to it, which soon faded into white as the young human woke up.

Wooyoung stretched his arms out over his head, listening to the little noises his body elicited with the action.

It was so cold.

In the late autumn, usually the boy would've run off outside to walk across crunchy brown leaves that had been coated in ice with Seonghwa, or ditched class for a day to sit in the student kitchen and drink hot chocolate with him.

But not this year.

Possibly not ever again.

As the white-haired teen proceeded to sit up and look around him blearily, it was apparent that San hadn't stuck around, as usual. Most mornings, Wooyoung would silently wish for the older to be there beside him as he woke, or at least leave an explanation as to why he left.

But there was nothing, and he was pretty used to that at this point. A sudden memory hit him though, before he could delve too much farther into disappointment. One of the previous night.

Damn, he told me to wake up early! What the hell am I waiting around here for? Without much care, he whipped on a cosy outfit that more or less consisted of sweat pants and an oversized jumper. He then slid his feet into a pair of runners without socks, uncaring of how uncomfortable it was.

Wooyoung sprinted down the empty hallways, wondering at first why they were barren, then recalling it was a pleasant Sunday in the early stages of the morning.

Down the stairs.
Past reception.
To the front door.

Once he threw the whole wooden frame open, the harshness of the air took his breath away quite suddenly. He hadn't expected it to be as freezing as it was.

He said front gates, didn't he? Are we going somewhere? Why was he so bloody vague about this? Regardless of the boy's reserves, he continued to march towards the edge of the school campus, finally finding a group of five chatting lightly with a lot of belongings surrounding them.

Are those bags? Where are they going?

"Ah, Wooyoung," the only pureblood of the bunch waved softly as he beckoned him over. "You actually woke up early. I was somewhat dubious that you would."

He used my full name. Is something wrong? Is he mad? Why didn't he call me 'darling'? The younger wondered nervously, eventually making it over and getting enveloped in San's warm arms. The long, navy coat hanging over his slim frame was cold on the outside, yet the vampire's skin was warm to the touch. He's not mad?

"We'll give you some space," Hongjoong muttered as he ushered the other three vampires towards the exit. Yunho, for once, looked a little bit hesitant, like he was trying to sympathise with Wooyoung.

Yet once the young lovers were alone, it wasn't particularly 'easy' news that was shared.

"Darling, you may notice we're all ready to go somewhere, yes?" San began, attempting to keep a soft tone to the conversation.

"Ready to go where? Is this what you weren't telling me? You're off on some sort of trip or holiday?"

"Not exactly.....This is a little bit more serious than that. You see, Yeosang and I were put in this school with roles to uphold. We needed to help the system out and create an environment where you and your other human classmates could feel more equal with us; the vampires."

"So?"

"So every job expires at some point. I've fulfilled exactly what I needed to do, and now I can go. The place is flourishing now-"

"Woah, no. No. Are you seriously trying to tell me that you're just leaving me?"

San laced his fingers through his own dark hair, knowing that this reaction would come. "I suppose I am. My parents would like me home as well, I have more pressing jobs to do. I know this all seems sudden and unfair, but every time I thought I could just tell you, I became cowardly and backed down. I shouldn't have left it this long..."

"No. No shouldn't have. I can't believe this, San. This is why I hate vampires! You're all selfish!"

The older couldn't exactly defend himself in this case, nor could he feel sorry for himself when it was his own doing. But it still hurt to hear that Wooyoung still felt that way. "I'm sorry I did this. I really am. But I guess I might as well ask you something anyway."

"Ask me what? I still have a year left in this school, okay? A year. Am I not going to see you for all that time?"

"Well, you could come with me. That's the other side of the coin."

What? Why the hell didn't he offer that sooner? "Jeez, you're insufferable. Obviously I'll go with you, since I'm linked to you now-"

"And give up the last year of freedom? I was offering this year alone for you to be yourself. You don't want that? To stay with Seonghwa?"

When put that way, Wooyoung could actually see where he was coming from. It was decent of San to wish for the other's one goal in life; freedom. Happiness, even. But Wooyoung no longer felt that his joy stemmed from being left alone.

He wanted San....

"Thanks..." he mumbled, folding his arms and looking bashfully to the ground. "I didn't realise you were thinking that way..."

The older smiled softly, pulling his baby into his arms and cuddling him fondly. "I didn't assume for a minute that you'd be overjoyed or particularly willing to join me on my next chapter. I'll come back for you in a year, if you'd like to stay with Sang and Seonghwa-"

"No. I'll go with you!" The white-haired boy interjected a little too enthusiastically. "Ah, I mean, I want to stay with you. Seonghwa and Yeosang are our friends, and I'll see them soon anyway, right?"

"Of course."

The four behind the gates were now clapping and whistling so that the pair would hurry up and come over. Neither could suppress small giggles at the immature sight.

"San!" A feminine voice called loudly, the image of two girls racing towards them while wrapped in coats and radiating condensed breaths, turning their heads.

"Ahyoung?"

The young lady stopped abruptly, catching her breath, yet it wasn't from fatigue. She was upset. "Damn, you could've told me you were leaving. I know I fucked up, but....but I'm still your friend, aren't I?"

"I'm sorry," the pureblood chuckled, "But you come over all the time. There won't be much of a change."

She sighed, nodding along all the same. "Look after yourself."

"And you look after Rina. She deserves a break."

Yunho finally yelled into the air to attract attention, swinging his arm to beckon them over faster. "Come on, already. I'm halfway to a hundred. I've skipped too many birthdays waiting for you lot."

Wooyoung gasped, "But I don't have my stuff! I need to pack-"

"We've got it here," Seonghwa's velvet-like vocals interrupted this time, walking alongside Yeosang towards them, and gently handing the two bags over. "We sort of assumed you'd want to go, so we prepared ahead of time."

The younger's eyes glassed over with a sheen of touched tears, weakly taking his belongings and dropping them to the ground to pull Seonghwa into an extremely tight hug.

"Oh my god, Hwa. I love you so much, and I'll come and see you whenever I can," he gushed hurriedly, nuzzling against his warm body, and then eyeing Yeosang, "Look after him. You made him this way, you take responsibility."

"Of course I will," the pureblood winked, ruffling the human's hair affectionately and stepping away with his mixedblood. "Take care of San as well, hm? I can't while I'm here."

Wooyoung nodded affirmatively before picking his bags back up and giggling at the sight of the four vampires by the gate urging him over like the ground was about to collapse. Ahyoung, Rina, Yeosang and Seonghwa waved them all off sadly, still upset that they couldn't continue the way they always had.

"Well Darling, I hope you'll like my home," San hummed as he wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder, "Because it'll be yours now for the foreseeable future."

"I'm pretty sure I'll like it," the younger agreed. "As long as I'm sharing a room with you."

"Be gross somewhere else," Hongjoong fake-gagged, leading them all down the almost never ending avenue of wilted trees.

With the ice-cold breeze rustling their hair, the faded sun illuminating their day, and a new emotion settled in their hearts, it seemed the end to this snippet of their lives finished well.

Wooyoung couldn't see what would happen, or whether he had made the right decision.....

But it would sure as hell lead to another adventure.

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~The End~

Yay, we've made it to the end, everyone. I'm so glad you got this far, and I hope you liked reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Believe it or not, it took four first chapter drafts, my sister's keen opinion, and a lot of thought to even start.

Again, thanks so much for your love and support, and maybe I shall see you in another book sometime~
-lily