Chapter 18

"New student…"

At the academy…

"Attention please…" Ichijo caught the attention of everyone.

"What is it?" Rima wasn't in a good mood.

"Uhm…. We have a new student" he announced loud.

"Who? Is it a girl?" Aidou's voice was furious.

"No… it's a boy…" Ichijo let a young boy enter the front door.

"Eh?" Yuuki was surprised. She has never heard of this vampire.

"Tell everyone your name" Ichijo insisted.

"Ran… Tanaka" the boy doesn't seem to have any emotion on him as he did his introduction. No one in the room recognized him; even Kaname was surprise of the unknown vampire.

"Where did you come from?" Kaname asked.

"…" ran didn't respond. A soft stare was what he gave to Kaname. Then he shifted his gaze to seiren. He gave her an uncomfortable smile. The smile was enough to give seiren chills.

"Hey, you should respect Kaname-sama" Aidou gave him a slight scold.

"…." The same response was given to Aidou and it made him annoyed. Suddenly ran went to Airi and kissed her hand.

"Uhm… hello…?" a soft uncertain smile formed at airi's mouth. The little boy hugged her as if they've known each other for a long time. The hug gave Airi an uncertain nostalgic feeling.

"You little brat!" Aidou, being possessive blew up. Ran didn't care and just showed his tongue out and hid behind Airi.

"Come on, ai-chan. His just a kid…" Airi smiled. Aidou didn't like it and just hug Airi "just make sure he knows who his hugging" he gave the boy a glare.

Break time

"Mmm~!" Airi couldn't get over her favorite bread. She's hanging around Yuuki and zero… and Aidou.

"Want more, princess?" Aidou smiled showing a basket filled with melon bread and croissants.

"Hai!" Airi had a cheerful smile, but not always, once in awhile she would look at zero whom is talking with Yuuki.

*remember…she's your master… protect her… don't get jealous… you have ai-chan now for so long right? And he still loves you… don't break his heart* voices from behind airi's mind began to call her or haunt her. Because of this, she lost her appetite earlier than she thought.

"Airi?" Aidou asked.

"I'm gonna go to the ladies room" she ran as she hid her face. She went to the rooftop and cried there.

*y?! I love ai-chan… but why do I love zero too…..! I wanna be with him! Wanna laugh, talk and just be by his side! But I'm afraid to hurt ai-chan! What am I gonna do!* she cried in agony. From behind the doors of the rooftop, she didn't notice Ichijo trying to read her mind.

*why are you suffering from the two of them… when I'm here… why can't you look at me even just one time. They're not the only ones who love you…. I love you too….* he walks away silently with that in mind.

As she cried in frustration and pain, ran appeared out of nowhere like a ghost.

"Why cry?" he wiped her tears.

"It's nothing ran-kun. Don't mind me" Airi still smiled through her tears. He didn't leave her alone though. He hugged her like she's his big sister.

"Don't cry… mama Airi…. Mama Kumiko won't like that…" he whispered to her ear. Suddenly a flashback came to her.

Flashback…

In an old mansion 2 girls that seemed to be turned to a vampire were playing with their seemed to be adopted human.

"Mama Airi!" the little boy or baby was trying to walk as he called a mere 5 year old 'mama'.

"You can do it! Come here!" the silver haired girl stretched her arms for the little boy but then he suddenly fell down.

"Uwaah!" it cried.

"I just went out to water the rose and now he already tripped" another girl with light orange hair and green eyes came and stood the baby.

"Mama Kumiko!" the little boy hugged. Kumiko smiled and turned to Airi "can't you keep him safe for a moment?"

"I'm…. Sorry" Airi began crying unable to be a good mother. Then suddenly the little boy hugged her and said "don't cry… mama Airi…. Mama Kumiko won't like that…"

Back to reality….

"A-anatole?" Airi took a long glance at ran.

"Who's that? I'm Ran." He smiled.

"I…I'm sorry" Airi ran away to her room while thinking *they look alike… is it him? No… it's impossible…*

As ran was left in the rooftop. A shadow of a girl appeared behind him.

"She known your identity?" the shadow spoke.

"She still doubts" ran replied not looking back.

"Let her be. And be careful around sei-san"

"Hai…. Mama Kumiko"

Doubts and pain just keeps on appearing. Is there no end? The rose event starts… who will receive a rose?