"Shizuka, I'm allowing you back in my blood and mind, so talk. Where are you?" I question as I look around for her in my dream world. The cemetery now has cleared from all horrifying sights since the day I learned to block away unwanted visitors from my mind. I walk around the area searching, and opening myself up for Shizuka. This shows by the cemetery gates opening.

"Have you finally come to terms with me?" Shizuka questions me as she enters the cemetery. I lock the gate behind her, so no other guests intrude in my dreams. She smiles as I stand before her. I motion for her to sit on a bench I summon beside her. Her smile never falters as she gracefully sits down. I sit across from her with less grace, since I want to get the point.

"Your offer seems tempting, but I need something in return from you. Your information for me. What do you think?" I question her. I see a glint of mischief and amusement in her eyes, but I keep my gaze level with hers.

"I like the sound of it. What do you want to know, Alondra?" I nod my head.

"What happened after Toga Yagari captured Ichiru, and I left with Zero and Kaname?'" Shizuka lightly chuckles, and rises.

"That's a very easy answer dear." She walks over to me, and takes my hand. Looking at the blue veins that run through it.

"Hey! You tell me first!" I yell at her as I pull my hand away from hers.

"After you left lower level members of the Senate came to my aid, and captured him." I look at her stunned.

"I-Is he alive?" I question her.

"Barely. They've been trying to pry information out of him. Information about you." I gulp, and shake my head.

"Tell me where he is. I promise if you help me get to him. . .I'll give you every last drop of my blood." Shizuka laughs, and looks at me.

"How can I believe you?" She questions me.

"Because I can't lie to save my life, and Sensei is more important than me. If you'd like a blood oath I'll give it to you." I tell her putting my wrist out. Her eyes flash crimson as she bites into my right wrist. I wince, and she meets my eyes with her mad gaze.

At least this is a dream world, so I won't turn into a vampire in real life. I gasp as I see a symbol forming on my wrist. Shizuka pulls her fangs out, and wipes my blood off her face. Well, tries to, but it just smears all over her beautiful face.

"That is the symbol for 'Cherry Blossom', if you go back on your word the virus I put into you will kill you instantly." I stare horrified at my wrist. I really didn't know what I got myself into. Shizuka laughs at my expression before backing out towards the gate, and disappearing in an explosion of cherry blossoms. I suppose curses are different than drinking my blood.

I sit up, and find myself back in Kaito's room. I reach for the light switch beside me, and close my eyes abruptly at the bright light. I wait as my eyes adjust to the light, and pick up my throbbing right wrist. The symbol is there. I really have to go through with my promise now. I can't tell anyone about this or else they'll try to stop me.

                                                                             ~0~

"Wake up, Alondra!" I jump awake as I feel something land on my face. I sit up, and take off the towel from my face.

"Be more gentle when you wake me up!" I yell out at Kaito that stands at the door.

"You complain a lot. I went to pick up your little sister like you asked, and I told her a couple things. I told her to keep that a secret, and get you some clothes to change into. Shower is through that door." He says pointing to the door to the left of me. I nod my head, and take the covers off. I remember my injury, and lift up my shorts a little, and I see that all that's left is a fading scar. I really did heal fast. That's impressive.

"Right. I'm going now." I use the towel to hide my right wrist. Kaito hands me a bag of my clothes, and I head into the bathroom, but stop at the door.

"How-"

"They're fine. They're eating breakfast." I roll my eyes at him, and close the door behind me. I drop the towel, and look at the symbol on my wrist. My heart starts to pound, and my stomach clenches up tightly. I may be fascinated with the idea of death, but I don't like the sound of dying just yet. Not when I've actually found reasons to keep living.

"Where are we meeting?" I write out on the mirror in front of me. I make more fog on the mirror, and wait for Shizuka's response.

The actual cemetery at midnight.

So, that's it then. I have my response. I'm sure Ichiru and Shizuka will be waiting for me there. I just have to keep acting normal until then. Nobody must know. I wipe away harshly at the mirror. Until I know there is no trace of the writing. I turn to the bathtub, and decide to shower instead of bathe.

                                                                         ~0~

"Morning!" I walk into the kitchen as I wrap the towel around me. I had a strike of bad luck. My sister gave Kaito a dress for me to wear, and I have no long sleeve dresses.

"Want breakfast?" Kaito questions from behind the kitchen counter.

"No, I'm-" My stomach growls, and I blush brightly. "Nobody heard that, right?" Kaito puts a plate in front of me of scrambled eggs, and another plate with fruit.

I keep my right hand down, and attempt to eat with my left hand. It's a little difficult, but I can manage.

"Aren't you right handed?" Zero questions. I gulp in my fruit. Who even pays attention to that?! 

"I'm training myself to become ambidextrous." Gosh I suck at lying! Though, I suppose it's not exactly a lie since I do need to wield two guns.

"Why?" He questions, but I find a great excuse.

"Well, I use two guns, so I should start training my left hand, right?" I question him. Zero sees my point, and I internally cheer that I got away with it for now.

"Alondra." I wince at the sound of Kaname's tone.

"Yeah?" I question him trying to seem as cool as possible.

"Is there something you'd like to tell us?" Uh oh! He's figuring me out!

"No, not really." Oh boy, stomach cramps. This lying is making me sick again.

"I should probably go home! I mean my parents are probably freaking out, and most likely questioning my sister." I say standing up, and keeping the towel from showing my right wrist.

"Thanks for the meal, Kaito. Just tell me where to toss the towel, and I'll be out of your hair." I say standing up from the seat, and finding a hamper. I toss the towel in, and reach for my other clothes. I go towards the door, but Kaito blocks it.

"What's the rush?" I smile, and I find keeping my cool harder and harder to keep.

"My parents are the rush." I say waving my hand in front of me in dismissal

"Is that right?" I nod my head.

"Hunters are trained to be vigilant. You're acting weirder than usual, and you seem to be hiding your right wrist a lot." I internally curse as I realize I wasn't as collected as I wanted to be.

"It's morning, and I don't like getting into trouble! Especially getting into trouble with my dad." I tell him, but looks like I'm losing this game of lies.

"If you have nothing to hide then show me your wrist." I frown.

"What kind of stupid proposition is that? Here see!" I show him my left wrist, and now he frowns.

"The other one." I shake my head.

"This is ridiculous! Just move!" I say try to shove him out of the way, but I hardly made him budge.

"If you don't have a problem, and you're not keeping a secret, let me see your right wrist." I find an idea fast.

"It's a cut okay! I cut myself!" I yell at him as I pull my hand away from his grasp, and keep it held tightly to my chest.

"I didn't smell blood, Alondra. Pick a different lie." Kaname says to me. I turn to look back at him. Looks like there is no way out of this.

"Just drop it! I don't want to talk about it!" I yell out backing away from them. Kaito locks the door behind him. I grip my wrist even tighter, and keep watch over the two of them.

"What are you hiding?" Zero questions from behind me. I look back at him, and back at Kaito and Kaname. Looks like they refuse to give up just like me.

"Don't make me do something rough." Kaito warns me.

"Like what?" I question him. Getting mouthy.

"Restrain you painfully." I clench my hands tightly. I drop to the ground, and grip my wrist. Refusing to show them anything, but I don't think I have a choice.

"Let me see your wrist." Kaito says kneeling in front of me. I look at my hidden wrist, but I guess I have no other choice. As long as I don't tell them when I'm meeting Shizuka and Ichiru. I loosen my grip on it, and Kaito pulls my wrist to look at it. Kaname and Zero look over his shoulder.

"Cherry Blossom'. . ." Kaito, Zero, and Kaname look at my wrist intently. I hope they don't know what it means.

"When did you get this?" Kaito questions me. I bite my lower lip.

"You didn't have this last night. When did you make a deal with Shizuka?" Kaname questions me. I see the stunned expression of Zero and Kaito.

"It was for Yagari-sensei." I tell them quietly.

"What kind of deal?!" Zero questions me angrily.

"I can save him, but you have to trust me!" I tell him.

"What kind of deal?" He questions ominously silent. I open and close my mouth.

"I. . ." Zero manages to jump on me, and make us fall back. I look into his angry and hurt eyes.

"You what?!" He yells out at me. I close my eyes, and turn my head away.

"I. . .I can't tell you!" I say hearing my voice crack and my eyes starting to burn.

"Why not?!" I know I could push him off, but there's no point. Kaito could easily catch me, and restrain me. I yelp as his claws dig into my chest, just a bit above my breasts. He takes out his claws, and puts his mouth to it. I blush brightly, and hold in a groan at the intensity of his lapping.

"It's for your blood, and you're meeting her tonight." I gasp out of my daze, and push him off of me. I curse as I realize that vampires can see memories through one's blood. I put my right hand to my bleeding chest, and avoid looking at them.

"Do you even know what you've gotten yourself into?!" Kaito grabs my wrist, and pulls me up harshly.

"Not until it was too late." I tell him shamefully. I wince as his grip tightens.

"What is the deal?" I keep my gaze lowered, and watch my tears drop to the carpet.

"Don't give me that! Tears won't make me take pity on you! Now talk!" I catch my sob, and wipe at my eyes with my free hand.

"If she t-told me where Yagari-sensei was I'd offer her my blood. She didn't take my word f-for it, so I gave her a blood oath. She infected me with some curse. If I don't keep my end of the deal the virus will kill me." I tell them as I try to keep from sobbing every word.

"Unbelievable. You're such an idiot!" Kaito screams out at me as he grips both of my arms tightly giving me a harsh shake. I close my eyes, and strands of my bangs stick to my tear stained cheeks.

"I KNOW!" I scream out gripping his shirt tightly as he too grips my arms. "I didn't know what else to do! I was getting desperate! When someone I care about is in trouble I get reckless!" I explain to him.

"Forget the excuses, Alondra! You're useless!" Kaito lets me drop harshly, and I hide my face with my hair. My face completely flushed at the horrible scolding I'm getting. I've never been in so much trouble before. Who knew helping someone could get me into so much trouble.

"I'm not going to apologize because I don't regret my choice." I tell them as I find this spark in me, and look up at them with determination.

"Hunters sacrifice themselves everyday. We don't expect anyone to take pity on us, and try to rescue us." I ignore the throbbing on my arms. Kaito was brutal with me, so I can just imagine the bruising developing.

"I'm different! I wasn't raised in the ways of a hunter, so I don't know much about your expectations or your ways. I was raised to always help those in need, to never give up, to never lose, and to never ever let anyone look down on me again!" I rise from the ground, and meet him. Feeling bigger than him even if he's way taller than me.

"I can't go back now, so you should just get out of my way, and let me accomplish my deal." I walk towards the exit, and no one attempts to stop me this time. When the door closes behind me I run away as fast as I can. His apartment is on the other side of town, and the cemetery is on the opposite side. I have a long way to go, but I can't let up now. I have to do this now or never. I may be of hunter lineage, but I am not a hunter. I am Alondra! A human being with a heart!