Running through the forest, her white, grass-stained dress blew furiously in the breeze. It was the dream she had every night. One that liberated her mind and soul from everything that could ever happen in her hell-of-a-life. She was free here, in this world her mind composed of little threads of thought. She began to wonder if maybe this was where she really belonged, not in a world where she was strange, aberrant. Here, in the forest, she felt like things could possible become some sort of…better?

She hummed as she skipped down the path along the stream, listening to it rustle in it's flowing movement as she made her way to God knows where.

It was pretty outside, a beautiful and bright sun illuminated the sky. For once, it didn't irritate her skin. It merely warmed her, as if her skin was normal, as if it was human.

The blue sky raced over head with puffy white clouds and birds of beauty. She whirled around, enjoying the bliss. Unnoticing of the tree roots in her path, she felt her foot catch and her inhuman instincts neglected to kick in. She felt herself free-falling towards the dirt floor.

She immersed herself in the bliss of something so unusual to her. She felt the weight of gravity on her entire body as she waited for the heart wrenching impact.

But it never came.

Instead, a pair of cool arms wrapped around her. She slowly looked up to find the soft, calm face of someone familiar. Who was it? She didn't know. She hardly even recognized the dark, red burgundy hair and the gray blue eyes that stared down at her. He was beautiful beyond all means…and so familiar.

And that's when her perfectly light dream became dark. She was lost in his eyes as the sky turned black and the stream flowed red. He looked worried and broken, she wanted only to fix him. He held her in his arms and she felt free, away from the hardships of her life's journey.

"Akahana…" He whispered.

Her name on his lips sounded so perfect, she felt her eyes close as she enjoyed it as if it was bells in her ears.

"Akahana…"

Again, she felt her heart flutter even as her own personal haven crumbled around her.

"Akahana…"

She resisted the urge to sigh in the moment, the once brightness of the sun that blanketed her eyelids turned to darkness.

"You will die."

Before she could open her eyes, she felt herself falling. She hit the ground this time, crying out at the pain as she hit her head on a rock. She opened her eyes to look for the mysterious red head, but even if he was in the vicinity, she couldn't see because it was just too dark.

"Hello?" She called desperately with no avail.

No, no, no…

She couldn't live in darkness. She was happy, she was hyper, she was powerful. How could she…

"Aka!"

She was brought back to reality as she was shaken awake.

Oh, that was right. She was dreaming.

"Aka." Her sister was beside her in the car, shaking her awake.

"I'm awake, I'm awake." Akahana shook her head and ran a hand through her dark hair. "Are we there yet?"

"Just outside the gate." Kaori told her.

One look at her sister told Aka that she was just not that excited. Her long, crimson red hair was tied back in a high pony-tail on top of her hair to where it toppled down to her shoulders and made her blue eyes look almost fiery. She wasn't wearing it down like she did when she was in a good mood. In fact, she was pretty sure her sister hadn't worn her hair down in years.

Kaori, unlike Akahana, was human. It was a mystery to them how. As Kaori and Akahana were twins, and Akahana was an Aristocratic Vampire as well as their parents. Only they knew why Kaori was special, but they wouldn't tell the secret to anyone.

Kaori would be entering the Day Class, and Akahana the Night, of course. Neither of them were two happy about attending Cross Academy but they'd deal. It wasn't their idea, by all means, but their parents. And they honestly couldn't refuse. Who tells their parents "no", for God's sake?

As the gate opened, they both groaned internally as the car approached a small house with the lights on inside.

"This is the chairman's quarters." They were told by the driver. "Your mother said to drop you off here and you'll be escorted to your dorms."

"Great." Aka muttered. "Bye, then."

"Have a nice time." The driver commented as they both climbed out of the car.

They grabbed their suitcases out of the trunk and headed towards the door.

Akahana would bet anything that they looked pretty interesting right now. She herself was dressed in a short blue school-girl skirt and lime green leggings along with a designer blue and green top she got for her birthday. Along with that she wore some killer stilettos that she knew were only possible for her to wear because she was a vampire and balance was key to her.

Kaori had on a slimming trench coat and black skinny jeans along with knee high, high heel boots. She kept her head down as she pulled along her suitcase and headed towards the door.

It opened before they even reached the door.

"Aaaaahhhhh!"

They weren't surprised to see Cross Kaien running towards them, all excited and exuberant, as always. They had met once before and he was cheerful, and he was exactly the same.

"Akahana and Kaori Tsukino!" He called. "How lovely to see you! Please come inside. Just put your things by the door and they'll be taken to your dorms!"

They did as they were told and silently entered the house.

He lead them into the hall, jabbering away, as usual.

"Yuuki! Zero!" He called. "Come and meet the new students!"

It seemed the two people he called for were in what seemed like the kitchen.

The girl rushed out and bowed politely.

"Hello, I'm Cross Yuuki." She said with a kind smile. "It's nice to meet you. This is Zero. He doesn't talk much."

Zero had his hands in his pockets. His grayish hair covered his eye as he grunted and walked right past them towards the door.

"Zero! Zero!" Kaien tried to call for them, but it was hopeless.

"He's not much of a people person." Yuuki sighed. "I better go after him. It was nice meeting the two of you."

She bowed once more before running outside and into the night.

"Please, follow me." The chairman urged them towards his office and as they entered they noticed the presence of someone else.

"Welcome, ladies."

Their eyes went wide as they saw it was the Pure Blood Kuran Kaname.

"Kaname-sama!" Akahana bowed low.

Kaori was sort of in shock so she stood there in Kaien's way as he tried to pass by her.

"Please." Kaname nodded to them and they entered into the room.

Along with their surprise to see the Pure Blood, neither of them noticed the other vampire in the room.

"This is Ichijou Takuma." Kaname introduced him.

Akahana examined him, taking in his scent and memorizing it as she did with all vampires, just in case things got dirty.

He had blond hair and a cute smile as he looked curiously at them. He wore a white uniform, just like Kaname and had a nice aura about him. He struck Akahana as kind, which was why she smiled back and bowed her head politely.

"I expect you'll be the one entering the Night Class, Akahana-san." Kaname stated.

"Yes, sir." She nodded.

"Well, we have a few rules." Kaname told her. "You will survive off blood tablets. The drinking of fresh human blood on campus is forbidden. There is no use of power by any vampire without my permission. You will attend classes and maintain an acceptable reputation. Never will you expose our secret to any of the Day Class, besides the prefects who already know. You will also obey those prefects, whether you like it or not. You will obey the rule and obey me. Any questions?"

"No, Kaname-sama." She bowed her head with a straight face as the attention was turned to Kaori.

"Kaori-san, Akahana-san. I am sure you're extremely tired." Kaien smiled warmly. "Seeing as Yuuki has just went out, I'll call for her and she'll escort Kaori-san to your dorm. As for you, Akahana-san, Kaname and Ichijou will escort you."

Akahana nodded as they made their exit.

Kaori was left standing in the office with a shocked expression on her face. What was she supposed to say to a Pure Blood? It was kind of strange meeting one other than her grandfather, who was also a Pure Blood himself but married an Aristocrat vampire.

It was weird. Just…weird.