Finding My Way

Chapter 27

We arrive at the Moon Dormitory before Kaname and the others return. I guess that dealing with the Senate was not a simple task.

Yori meets us at the door, I spy Senri and Rima behind her looking at us curiously. Yori scans me from head to toe. "You're okay?" she asks. I nod at her, smiling, and she throws her arms around me. "Zero?" she says over my shoulder. "And Maria? And...?" She pulls herself away from me. "And you...Shizuka."

"You know each other?" I ask, shocked.

"Yes," Yori confirms. "Shizuka kept me sane during that long month. She sent me blood tablets and even gave me some of her blood a few days before Rido released me." Then Yori notices the other male behind Shizuka. "Zero?" she says surprised, "But you were just –" she points to where Zero still stands and looks extremely confused.

Hanabusa put his hand on her shoulder. "Why don't we go sit in the common room and catch up while we wait for the others," he says. "I'll go get some snacks."

---

It turns out that Zero had made a bargain with Shizuka Hio while she'd been here possessing Maria. I'm still shocked to see that he's on, well, maybe not good terms with her, but amicable terms.

After Zero had visited Maria, they had gone to meet up with Shizuka and Ichiru. Shizuka had given Zero some of her blood and now Zero was also a Level C vampire, no longer on the edge of succumbing to that beast within.

It seems like Zero and his brother are not on the best of terms, but I probably won't learn more unless I talk to Zero about it directly.

I feel frustrated that Zero had kept all of this from me, but we'd also hardly seen each other. Thinking about it, we hadn't had one-on-one time since before I was turned into a vampire. So I can't really blame him. I'd have to fix that.

"Wow, you all were busy," I say after hearing their stories. "I'm grateful that you came when you did. The timing could not have been more perfect."

"Well, your note was pretty clear that I should be there at that time," Zero says. "I didn't know why exactly, but I suspected it was big. So, I brought backup."

I'm really glad my novice note sending had actually worked. I'm not sure Hanabusa would have made it back in time if Zero hadn't been there. I look at Maria, Shizuka, and Ichiru. "Thank you," I say. "I'm truly grateful." Maria smiles at me. Ichiru just stands there stonily in Zero's usual spot by the window behind the chair on which Shizuka sits.

"Your gratitude is appreciated, but not necessary," Shizuka says. "I had my own reasons for wanting Rido gone."

"You did indeed," I say. "But I can't thank you enough for what you did for Yori." Hanabusa nods on the other side of Yori. "We're indebted to you for keeping her, well, sane. You didn't have to do that."

"It was the right thing to do," Shizuka says. "But I might call in your debt one day."

"Please do," I say. "You have an ally in us."

Shizuka nods. "Well, I think I will take my leave," she says. "I do not think you require my presence." She stands and moves towards the door. Ichiru follows her. "Farewell," she says. "We'll no doubt see each other soon enough." And she exits, Ichiru right behind her.

I feel bone tired, but I can't go to bed until Kaname and others return. I have to know they're safe and they have to know what we'd done.

I dig into my own piece of cake that Hanabusa had scrounged up and brought. The sugar floods my system and makes me feel alert, but also somewhat on edge.

I'm curled up next to Yori on a couch, who sits between me and Hanabusa. He has his arm draped around the seat behind Yori's shoulders. Zero and Maria sit across from us on a loveseat, while Rima and Senri sit in the corner by the door.