Disclaimer: VK is not mine!

Warnings: Angst… un-beta-ed… slight OOC?

Immortality… It is said to be the ability to live forever… forever and ever… for all eternity until one begins to wilt away from the loneliness and emptiness that accompany it. It is something that is said to be sought after by many people regardless of their age… gender or even social position in the world. It has caused many to commit such unspeakable acts to gain that very said ability. Yet… when there are others who seek it so desperately for unfathomable reasons… it is something that is given to her kind right from the very start… It is something that her kind does not need to fight for and there are some – in reality – who despise the idea of living forever.

Her kind… are what you people call vampires; creatures of the night, blood-sucking monsters, etc etc… To be frank, she doesn't understand why humans are so afraid of them… Yes… she knows that one of the primary reasons for that social stigma and prejudice mainly stems from the fact that they – the vampires – consume blood as their main source of food. But… She wonders… how is that any different from the humans who feed on the meat of animals as part of their daily consumption…?

She harbours a deep grudge towards her kind – especially the purebloods – and those who hunt her kind. It is truly an irony… she thinks… considering how she's obviously one of the former. While growing up, she knows that it is common knowledge in the vampire realm that she – Hio Shiori – is the child of both Hio Shizukaand Kuran Rido. With that in mind, she is also aware that it is no longer a secret that she is a product of rape. Sometimes she wonders why on earth didn't her mother just take her life away from child birth… and instead put her through all this torture… does this mean that she still has some use for her mother? No, no.

She clenches her hands tightly together in a painful grip as she recalls the overwhelming disgust and the taste of bile that rises in her throat when she had first learnt about her birth. After acquiring that knowledge, it did not come as a surprise to her that her mother had abandoned her; she had been cast aside from childbirth just like that. Once she was informed of her past, she had been infuriated – almost on the verge of destroying her room in the Moon Dormitory in a fit of unadulterated anger.

And yet… Shiori begins to leave self-deprecating thoughts in her wake as she takes up her mother's surname. The silverette would rather push herself into a bed of a thousand thorns than call herself the daughter of Kuran Rido. Pure hatred courses through her entire body, causing her person to break out into tiny shivers just from the sheer amount of force she needs to stop herself from going berserk and causing devastation around her; knowing that Kiryuu would no doubt experience great pressure and joy in finally finding a suitable justification for the need to end her godforsaken life.

Then again… she probably wouldn't have minded it even if Kiryuu suddenly pops up of nowhere and point that accursed gun at her spot by the window in the corner of her room, Shiori lets out a soft sigh and smirks wryly to herself at that dark train of thought.

No one would care even if I'm dead anyway.

That very much is true… She is not blind… She knows that the vampires back at the Moon Dormitory are showing her the supposed respect that a pureblood deserves because of Kaname. She knows… Shiori does see the side-glances that the others have thrown in her direction from time to time… whispering to each other before averting their gazes once they realized that they've been caught staring.

She wants to scream at them to stop giving her such looks – she wants to tell them to… well… fuck off – as Kiryuu would have put it – but she doesn't. Wrapping an arm tightly around herself, she leans against the wall, looking exhausted and drained… even when the changeover is only five minutes away and that class hasn't even started. There will no doubt be someone calling for her to gather at the main hall soon.

Sure enough, Shiori does hear a soft knock on the door; the loudness and magnitude of it amplifying as the sound particles resound throughout the entire room. "Hio-sama… the changeover will be starting in five minutes…"

This time round, it appears that her visitor is Ichijou Takuma – the Vice President of the Moon Dorm and well… right-hand man of Kuran. Shiori tilts her head at that, the corner of her lips curling downwards to form a small frown. Then again… whether or not Takuma is Kuran's right-hand matters not to her.

She shakes her head, causing beautiful silver strands of pure silk to cascade down her shoulders and fall all the way to the back of her waist. Maroon eyes close for a moment, relishing in the blessed peace and quiet that she knows is going to be shattered by the loud screams of fangirls and fanboys alike… before opening them once more as her mask of stoic coolness shifts back into place.

Shiori gets up with all the grace of an elegant pureblood and brushes away any remaining dirt on her uniform, hiding any signs of weaknesses and keeping them buried in her stone cold heart. Once she's certain she's composed enough, Shiori turns open the door knob and makes her way out of her room, only to be greeted by Takuma, an amiable and respectful smile on his countenance.

She nods to the blonde silently; her expression slightly distant and void of the sorrow and loneliness that was clearly written all over her face back when she was still in the comforts of her room, attempting to seek solace from such an enclosed space. Shiori walks past him and proceeds down the great stairs to the main hall, an unpleasant feeling churning in her stomach as the soft chatters in the room freeze immediately as they lay eyes on her.

At this, Shiori resists the urge to avert her gaze and instead, she meets them all unflinchingly as the maroon-eyed pureblood approaches the other occupants of the room before coming to a stop once she's reached her destination where she stands beside Kuran Kaname – proud and regal pureblood as well as the head of the Kuran Clan and… her cousin.

Throughout this short interval, Shiori is oblivious to the worried glances that Takuma is shooting in Kaname's direction, a small uncharacteristic frown marring his flawless features. Exchanging glances with his childhood friend, Kaname makes an indiscernible effort to nod before trailing his eyes down his blood cousin's person in an attempt to ensure that the latter hasn't hurt herself when she's alone. Contrary to what the silverette may think, the others don't hate her at all… but rather they're getting increasingly worried for the girl's physical and mental state of health as they do notice that Shiori has slowly started to withdraw more and more as of late.

"Now then… since everyone's here, let's all head to class… shall we?" Kaname calls out softly to the residents of the Moon Dorm.

And thus, they begin to make their way out of the Moon Dormitory and once outside, Shiori winces slightly due to the deafening volume of loud screams from fangirls and fanboys alike; the barest hint of irritation evident in her seemingly never-ending maroon eyes. The Day Class students are certainly very much too eager whenever it comes to the changeover… Personally, she doesn't really like the attention that almost half the school's entire male population is giving her but she's not that cold-hearted enough either to tell them to turn their eyes away.

A pale eyebrow is slightly raised as Shiori notes the satisfied smile on Aidou's face; letting out a small snort and earning herself a small chuckle from Kaname beside her. She turns towards him slightly, peering at him from underneath her long eyelashes and sees… his stoic exterior soften when he catches her staring at him. They exchange gazes for a moment and Shiori immediately looks away, resisting the urge to flush slightly from the small interaction.

"Ah… my favourite time of the day…" Aidou murmurs softly, causing his cousin to snort at his words.

"That's not mine for sure… Those screams are enough to drive anyone crazy…"

"Well… we all know that Aidou loves the attention that the female population is pouring at him… He is a skirt-chaser after all." Takuma teases, a little mirth is heard in his tone.

"I wonder if Kiryuu will show up tonight…" Shiori hears her half-brother whisper to his friend, blinking at the strange question. She has no idea why on earth would Senri want that hunter to be around but what she does know is that there is a slight thrill that she gets from riling the Prefect up…

She is so evil…

As they reach the gate, her lower lip juts outward… almost into a small pout, noting the hunter's absence. Shiori sighs softly as the small excitement in her chest gives way to one of disappointment as she's not granted the opportunity to tease the hunter tonight. She wants to see the anger and irritation blazing in those gorgeous lilac eyes of his – those emotions are so much better than the ones she's receiving from her peers as of late. They make her feel alive…

Maroon eyes blink as the girl that Kaname's been enamoured with suddenly trips from trying to hold back the huge group of students crowding at the side-lines, all eager to get a good look of the group of the "flawless students from the Night Class". From her spot in the front, Shiori stops herself from rolling her eyes as she can practically sense the waves of annoyance and jealousy emanating from Ruka as the object of her affections gracefully makes his way over to help the brunette up, a soft tender look in his eyes as he bends down to offer her a hand.

She feels somewhat sorry for Kaname as Cross immediately gets up without his help, flushing with embarrassment at her clumsiness. Shiori inclines her head thoughtfully, pursing her lips as she notes the… almost sad smile sprouting on the pureblood's countenance; sighing softly and shaking her head.

Seeing Kaname about to place a warm hand on her head, there is something akin to… envy creeping in her chest… not because of the fact that she's in love with Kaname – mind you she isn't – but rather how the petite girl is able to enjoy such genuine affections and warmth from those around her… And to see her pushing that away…

The hairs on the back of her neck stand as the presence of a hunter suddenly appears, causing a small rush of adrenaline to course through her body as indeed… it is Kiryuu who arrives just before Kaname can do what he wants… the latter grabbing the pureblood's hand in a tight grip, preventing him from touching the small brunette.

With that, the air around them shifts as Zero shoots Kaname a frightening death glare; one that certainly would scare the Day Class students away but considering the animosity and hostility between the two… it is of no surprise that the action is requited. Watching this display, Shiori hears Aidou growl softly at the blatant disrespect that the tall silverette is showing to his beloved pureblood, no doubt wanting to cover the offending limb in a block of never-melting ice.

"How scary… Mr Prefect…" Kaname mocks softly, causing the hunter to narrow his eyes.

"Get to class, Kuran."

"…Polite as usual, I see…" Shiori says softly, walking up to the three of them, paying no heed to how both Takuma and Senri stiffen ever so slightly. The corners of her lips lift up into a small smirk, seeing that lavender eyes of his darken even more at the sight of her. She wouldn't admit it but… having that look of pure hatred directed towards her does send a shiver down her spine. Something must be wrong with her…

"Are you always this…" She walks right up to him, lowering her volume so that only the both of them can hear it. "…rebellious and defiant… or is it just brave stupidity…?"

She tilts her head upwards to look at Kiryuu, peering at the other from under her eyelashes. A hint of dark amusement is apparent on her face as she analyses the latter's physiognomy. A part of her is elated at the fury boiling in his eyes, certain that the man is conjuring up images of ending her life by shooting her with the Bloody Rose but alas… she knows that he is aware that it's unprofessional for him to do so – not when everyone is gathered here, watching the scene unfold in tense silence.

But… to be frank, she honestly doesn't mind if Kiryuu just shoots her here and now so that she can end her rather miserable life… although that probably wouldn't happen, knowing that she's under such close scrutiny… courtesy of Kaname.

Before he can retort with an offending remark, Shiori turns and sends Kaname a look, silently conveying the message that it is almost time for class and that they'd stay here long enough. Understanding her unspoken words, Kaname nods before glancing at Cross who surprisingly had stayed silent this whole time, never once reprimanding Kiryuu for his actions.

"I'll see you soon… Yuuki. As always… I appreciate your hard work and determination in doing a job well done…" He murmurs softly to her, his eyes smiling softly as Yuuki looks down at her feet, a pink hue on her cheeks.

"A-ah… don't need to thank me, Kaname-senpai! It is my duty as a Prefect after all!"

"So cold… Yuuki…" The said girl blinks at the somewhat saddened look in Kaname's eyes, her brows furrowing slightly as he straightens elegantly, turning to glance at Shiori who nodded and then proceeded to continue the path down to their classrooms with the others trailing in tow…