No Warmth

Chapter 12- Suspicion

Aido and Akatsuki walked down the hallway of the Moon Dormitory.

"Maria Kurenai transfered here officially and took the vow. She was born frail and has never attended any social events." Akatsuki looked through the file in his hand. "I don't find anything strange about her except that she's fearless."

Aido placed a hand on his chin. "Hey Akatsuki, have you ever seen Lady Shizuka Hio? She disappeared after the Kiryu family incident; some say she died after that."

"I've never met her." Akatsuki turned to face Aido. "What did you want to know?"

Aido frowned. "No... it's nothing. Let's stop talking about her, it's unlucky."

"I'm going to return this file." Akatsuki said. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going out for a bit." Aido said. Then, he walked in the opposite direction.

After a while, Aido found Zero and Yuki talking in the courtyard.

Yuki gasped. "Aido, what are you doing here? The Day Class is still in session!"

Some of the Day Class girls had begun to gather around them.

Aido shrugged. "I just wanted to have a word with Zero."

"Alright. I actually had something I wanted to ask you as well."

Zero led Aido to the empty cafe terrace.

Aido looked down at the courtyard and noticed that the group of Day Class girls had left. "The girls are too scared to approach me when you're around. It's pretty convenient."

"Is Maria Kurenai related to that woman?" Zero asked.

Aido raised an eyebrow. "That woman?"

"Shizuka Hio."

Aido sneered. "How insolent to speak of a pureblood without using honorifics, but she did murder your parents...so I understand."

Aido was silent for a moment before he continued. "The Hio and Kurenai bloodlines shared ancestry long ago."

Zero frowned. "No one has been able to track that woman down in four years. Isn't it because she looks different now?"

"I have no idea. Only the purebloods themselves know all the powers they possess." Aido turned to face Zero. "What's more important is how you feel about her...that is what I want to know. Only you would be able to identify her since you share a blood bond with her."

***

Akari knocked on the old faculty building's door.

Ichiru opened the door.

"Hi Ichiru, I wanted to speak with Maria." Akari said.

Ichiru held the door open and Akari walked in. "She stepped out for a bit, but you can wait for her upstairs."

This time, Ichiru led Akari into a room she hadn't entered before.

Akari noticed this room had a bed and a closet with a few dresses. There was a vase with flowers on top of a dresser. Also, there was a black coffin in the corner of the room and a painting on the wall.

Akari walked towards the painting and stopped a few inches away. The painting had a huge cherry blossom tree in the middle and the ground was covered in pink petals.

It reminds me of Father's paintings... Akari thought.

Akari stepped back and turned to face Ichiru. "I'll just wait for Maria in the room we were in last time."