I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
That's okay!
Let us go.
We're going to the Aido Villa, but Hanabusa isn't coming...
It feels sorta strange.
It doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm with Lord Kaname.
Shiki, aren't you coming with us?
Nope. My parents keep nagging me to visit, so I'm going home.
Hmm...
Here.
Hmm?
Good luck.
Someone broke the taboo and killed a Pureblood.
That is a fact.
Why?!
We don't know what Dorm President Kuran is thinking.
But there is nothing we can do.
White rose petals
Open one or two of them
And the memory of that day turns into color
Like tracing a shining thread
Time quietly passes
Swaying along with the ebb and flow
People are reborn
Your smile is so warm it melts my heart
- Like a faint dream... ...I've had
Even if the setting sun takes away this moment
Our shadows are one
Endlessly far vastly deep like crossed destinies
Grasp it again and again
Lose it again and again
We were finally able to meet
Like the sky seeks the earth flowers wait for the rain
and the night longs for tomorrow
I've been longing for our two hearts to become one
When one or two white rose petals fall
Our love becomes eternal
THE AZURE PORTRAIT
I know that the things you told me weren't lies.
Do you want to become a vampire?
I can do anything if it's for Lord Kaname's sake.
That's what I thought.
I'm scared.
Scared? Of what?
I'm scared.
What is it? This feeling.
I'm scared.
You cannot change the truth.
What is truth?
I'm scared.
Even if you avert your eyes
- it won't work. - I'm scared.
I'm scared.
Where are you going, Cross?
Dorm President!
I just want to remind you that while we are on break.
The gates will be locked soon.
Oh...
You may be from the Disciplinary Committee...
But I wonder if it's wise to visit the boys' dorm so freely?
Umm...
In any case, you're not making a good impression-!
Huh?
Aido!
Yikes!
There'd be hardly anyone here if you sneak in during the break.
Besides, this is the boys' dorm! What do you want?
I-I didn't come here to see Kiryu or anything... ugh!
Huh?
Aido! Why are you here?
- Dorm President?! - It's against the rules for
Night Class members to come to the Sun Dorms...
- Sorry, I was in the midst of running away. - Running away?
Can you pretend you didn't see me?
I understand. If I had been in the Disciplinary Committee,
you would be punished, you know?
Thank you!
Aido... I thought Night Class members are not allowed in the Sun Dorms.
H-He's right.
You must go back to your own dorm.
I don't want to stay in that dorm.
So I absolutely refuse to go back!
Yuki... Go find a rope.
We'll take him back even if we have to tie him up.
Hey, catch me if you can!
Don't waste my energy with your stupid games.
You should have just said nothing and helped me run away.
For the time being, you won't mind staying in
the Headmaster's private room, would you?
Or perhaps, Zero's room in Sun Dorm?
- No way! - No way!
Um, Aido, you said you don't want to stay in the dorm...
I'm hungry.
Huh?!
Why're you acting so wary?
Home cooking is fine. Make something.
Oh, and I like my bed soft, and the linens to have a lavender scent.
- And of course my toothbrush should have - Now. Now...
soft bristles as well.
I don't like this.
It wasn't a coincidence that Zero and Ichiru met at the gala, was it?
They left Zero alone even though he is a suspect of Shizuka Hio's murder
only to show deference to Kaname Kuran.
If. Ichiru. Who has a deep hatred for Zero,
attacked him to avenge Hio's death...
They won't let Kaname Kuran file a complaint,
because it'd be done out of a personal grudge.
Isn't that about the size of it?
If that was the case
the Senate must have approached the Hunter's Society with a deal.
Or perhaps...
He ate our portion too...
I must say, it wasn't bad. Pretty average.
But there wasn't enough.
What a spoiled runaway.
You look troubled.
Oh yes. But I'll have Kaname scold you later.
How's that?!
Huh?
He ate enough for three and that's still not enough?!
Yes. He looks listless.
Is he hungry due to stress? But does he even have stress?
Here.
Oh!
For now, give him a tablet.
Oh...
I'll make something.
It's okay. I don't mind cooking.
This unnatural silent moment...
You too. Tell me if there's something you feel like eating.
Oh... salt ramen.
Zero must be far more uncertain and lonely...
And yet...
What is he thinking now?
It's late!
He's making it now!
He says to take a tablet for now!
Is this Kiryu's?
No. It's not!
Don't get so worked up. I'm a genius, so I notice these things.
Err... Umm...
Kiryu knows that I'd notice.
Lord Kaname knows too. But hasn't said a word, right?
Although I don't understand what Lord Kaname has on his mind.
Aido?
Why he treats the likes of you so special...
The reasons why he defied the Senate...
I just don't understand.
He doesn't treat me special...
If you really mean that... I'll kill you.
There are two vampires at the beginning of my memory.
The very frightening vampire who was about to eat me.
And the kind, yet scary vampire
who destroyed that vampire and saved me.
Naturally, I idolized that kind vampire, "Lord Kaname."...
...and rather than "special," we have a very simple relationship.
Simple, huh? Does that mean that you trust him no matter what happens?
Umm... Well. To be frank. Sometimes I waver...
But I trust him.
It's okay if he betrays me.
Humph...
Rose tea...
It has such a refined fragrance.
Maybe mixing in the rose jam will make the flavor more intense.
I prefer spreading the jam on the cookies.
I brought you cookies, Miss Toya.
No thanks. Not now.
I see...
By the way, why didn't Aido come?
I don't know. Akatsuki shut himself away in his room too.
I don't know what's going on with him.
I need to ask a favor.
The villa has records of the night galas hosted by the Aido family
as well as the genealogies of prominent families.
I want you to check if there is anyone who could possibly have
a grudge against the Kuran family.
What you're asking is very disturbing.
I have a bad feeling.
That's why I want to learn more... about Lord Kaname's secret.
Why don't you go yourself?
Please...
Dorm President Kuran's secret...
Is it connected to Shizuka Hio's death?
I'm home.
Senri!
Senri... Senri...
I'm home. Mom.
Comb your hair at least.
If your fans from the days you were an actress saw you now,
they'd be so disappointed.
You're starting to look more and more like that brute.
Really? Well, I don't know what my father looked like.
Oh yes, Uncle said to make certain I send you over.
You can't defy him.
After all, he's a member of the Senate.
But you're to return right away.
And give your starving mother... some blood.
You're so selfish... but I will.
Lord Kaname... why?
Hana, you're so smart. Reading a difficult book like this!
Young Misses, break time is over.
- Okay! - Okay!
Oh, you're studying!
The master mentioned how happy he was to have such a fine son.
Hmm...
Umm...
I thought I felt a presence of a child, so I peeked in.
Are you a member of this family?
I...
Wh-Who are you?! How rude to just burst in here!
Lord Kaname! Is something wrong?
I'm sorry I barged in.
No such thing.
Did our Hanabusa do anything rude?
Huh?! Father! He's the rude one!
No...
Huh?
There aren't any kids my age around me, so...
I'm Kaname Kuran.
Kuran? That's one of the Pureblood families...
Will you be my friend?
No!
H-How can you say such a reckless thing, Hanabusa?!
So what if he's a Pureblood?
It seems that you need a lesson on the origin of our kind.
Our founding ancestors appeared in ancient times,
when human civilization was on the brink of destruction.
Those who propagated without mixing a drop of their blood
with other kinds are the Purebloods.
In time, as the population of vampires grew,
it was necessary to designate a sovereign.
And the Kuran family was chosen to be our sovereign.
O-Oh... he's that important?
He didn't look it at all.
I mean, really!
The sovereign two generations ago
disapproved of the concentration of power...
...so the monarchy was abolished and now.
The Senate rules over our vampire society.
Oh, so he's not that important, after all.
But it's an easy thing for them... to wrest power away and raise an army.
They can do it right now, if they felt like it.
Say, is it true that you refused to become friends with Lord Kaname?
Huh?
What kind of person was Lord Kaname?
He's strong, and perfect, and really important, right?
Not really.
Oh...
Good evening.
Hanabusa, do you have a moment?
I'm in the middle of testing sand materials
for our Strength-testing Research Lab.
I don't want to be disturbed.
Oh!
I must have done something to upset you.
I wanted to apologize, so I insisted that I be allowed to come again.
I'm sorry.
Are you stupid? You didn't do anything wrong!
Oh, him? Sorry, don't mind him.
A bodyguard? More like a watchdog.
You don't need to apologize.
I just don't like you, Lord Kaname.
He's feared so much and there's so much expected out of him...
But he's very kind.
He's much better than me...
Poor Lord Kaname...
He lost both his parents at once.
They committed suicide...
Oh...
U-Umm...
So you've reached the age when you can attend the night galas.
My deepest sympathy.
Thank you.
You met my parents once, right?
Yes. They looked very kind.
Yes, they were very kind people.
Are we done here, Master Aido?
Huh?
Well then, good bye.
Oh...
Was there something else that was difficult for you?
Why do you think that?
Oh... N-No reason.
I'm asking why.
Was he this scary?
There's a change in you.
Oh... Is that all?
I thought for a moment that I would have to kill you...
if you knew something else.
I'm kidding. It was a bad joke, wasn't it?
Lord Kaname...
There is someone who wishes to offer her sympathies.
All right, I will be right there, Ichio.
Sympathy?
Lord Kaname!
If you don't want something, it's okay to speak up!
So I'm asking, why?
I-I know because I'm your friend!
Didn't you say you hated me?
No! I like you, but I hated myself for being unable to admit it!
Huh?!
Lord Kaname! I like you... Lord Kaname!
I made up my mind then.
That I would become someone who would protect him.
But from about the time his parents died Lord Kaname has changed.
And the nobles seem to be afraid of something and avoid any mention of it.
His parents loved Kaname and cherished him so much...
Why? Why did they have to commit suicide?
What're you doing?
Sorry!
Oww!
Leave it alone. I'll...
Wait!
Isn't Zero afraid?
I... I...
Lick it.
I'm scared...
Zero's fangs touch my finger...
No! Don't resist it.
I'm the only one... who knows your hunger.
So...
Yuki...
Zero tells me that I am here.
Even if he doesn't know what he is...
This dull ache... Blood...
What am I to you Yuki?
What Zero means to me...
Eyes dyed crimson stare at me.
Vampire eyes.
I'm scared but I can't look away.
Why?
Huh?!
What an annoyance?! What was that?!
That Kiryu...
He's possessed by blood.
Huh?! Why am I worrying about him?!
I should be worrying about Lord Kaname.
It's okay if he betrays me.
I feel the same way!
I do!
Kaname is planning to do something.
My mind is set then...
Huh?
Aido's not here either.
Maybe he changed his mind and went back to the Moon Dorm?
Huh? After putting up such a fuss?
He said he was running away, but all he did was eat our food!
What happened to you?
Uh? What do you mean?
Nothing happened.
Don't try to hide it. You are very unstable.
Don't force yourself to laugh when you're with me.
Oh...
I'm so spoiled. I have the Headmaster, Kaname, you and Yori...
Yet. I still feel so anxious.
If I become a vampire, do you think I would feel stronger?
Kaname asked me if I wanted to become a vampire, and I...
You thought it might be a good idea to become a vampire.
Oh... But Kaname wasn't serious and...
I won't let you become such a thing.
Even if I have to make an enemy of Kaname Kuran...
or even if you hate me.
A dry white cloud passes
Slowly drifting
I am gray
And I just watch it
Disappear
I gather stars
And make a sand castle
My small prayer
Spills over and falls
The wave that was lying in wait
Sweeps me off my feet
Next time: "Devil's Awakening"