No Warmth

Chapter 24- Apprehension

"I'm glad we've arrived." Aido said as he walked towards the mansion's door. "I still think we should have done the whole journey by car even if it would have taken longer. There were so many people staring at us in the station."

"They were just looking at us, Aido. They weren't going to come rushing at us." Kaname reassured.

Ruka sighed. "Didn't the Day Class students start off just looking at us too?"

"Come to think of it..." Takuma placed his hand on his chin. "The Day Class girls still only watch Kaname from a distance...maybe their instincts tell them that an evil being hides under that beautiful skin?"

Ruka frowned. "That wasn't funny, Takuma."

Rima looked at Takuma. "An evil being?"

"Lord Kaname, did you hear what Takuma just said about you?" Aido asked.

"Yes, and he is right." Kaname turned to look at Aido and smiled. "We're on vacation; let's stop being so formal."

Aido nodded.

"Welcome! Thank you for coming all this way." An elder butler greeted the group as they entered the mansion.

Aido stepped closer to the butler and spoke in a hushed tone. "Did you tell Father that I'm staying at Rima's place for the holidays?"

Rima turned to Aido. "My place?"

The butler chuckled. "Lord Hanabusa, you can rest easy and enjoy yourselves here."

Then, the butler assisted the maids in bringing everyone's luggage inside the mansion.

Aido and the others gathered in the living room.

Takuma placed his arms behind his head. "I want all of us to sleep in the same room."

Ruka gasped. "Takuma, my grandmother would kill me if she found out."

Aido became pensive as he observed Takuma.

Takuma approached Rima. "Hey Rima, do you like pillow fights?"

"Why would anyone fight with pillows?" Rima asked.

"Pillow fights are fun!" Takuma smiled. "We're supposed to throw the pillows at each other."

"...Takuma's grandfather is so strict and somber that Lord Kaname practically ran away from that home." Aido muttered.

"What b-brought this on?" Takuma asked.

"I'm sorry, Aido. It must be very taxing to always have to put up with homeless me." Kaname lowered his gaze.

"L-lord Kaname! I didn't mean to imply that you are an inconvenience." Aido stammered.

"Kaname, Aido is being mean! I can't do anything about my grandfather, but Aido keeps making nasty comments." Takuma put his arms around Kaname. "I'm here because I don't want to see Grandfather either, but I don't want to be a burden."

Kaname patted Takuma's back. "We're in no position to complain since we rely on Aido's charity."

"You're right." Takuma looked back at Aido.

"Both of you are much wealthier than I am!" Aido exclaimed.

"This happened last year too." Rima muttered.

"Well...it's been going on for so long now that it wouldn't feel like the holidays without it." Akatsuki added.

"We came here to enjoy ourselves and relax, but they're always playing around with Hanabusa." Ruka looked out the window. "Hey Rima, we should take a walk in the garden."