Hello, I am Takuma Ichijou. I have recently joined the host club under Lady Sara Shirabuki's orders. She asked me to find out why this club interests Kaname so much. I hope you all enjoy my site. Dear fans, be nice to each other and post what you wish to. However, please don't go overboard. Sara might pass by and look at it. *Smiles* Have a nice evening.
Takuma smiled at those of the Night Class that called out greetings on the way to his room. Again, Hanabusa had offered to take over for him in watching Kaname sleep and Takuma had accepted. He waved to two more new students before pushing open the door to the lounge between his room and the majority of the Night Class dorms.
Rima glanced up from her corner of the room, but Shiki, head propped on her lap, spoke first. "You're late."
Takuma chuckled. "Gomen. Hanabusa and I stopped to talk for a bit before we split." He set aside Kaname's blade in a crook of another chair and took a seat. "Besides, it's not like you've a chance at beating me this time."
Rima glared and thrust out the playing cards. "Sit down and cut them, baka!"
"Hai Hai," Takuma smiled. He paused then lifted a third of the deck away and placed them on the low table before them.
Rima set her part over them and poked her load. "Oi, Shiki, you're in the way."
"Pocky first," Shiki murmured, squinting his eyes at her sharp prods.
Rima sighed, but Takuma watched a slight smile pass over her solemn features. "You're hopeless." She pulled out a piece and fed it to the red head quietly.
"Arigatou," Shiki said moving off. He picked up a book he had discarded. "Hurry up and beat him. I don't like the light."
"Quit complaining, baka. It's not light yet." Rima muttered, dealing the cards. She raised her hand.
Takuma grinned and pulled out the first card, a queen which matched his own. He placed the pair on the table, much to Rima's chagrin. She sighed and let him pick again.
The game continued.
. . . . .
With dawn peeking in between the curtains, Shiki pulled a red-faced Rima away from him when she lost yet again. Takuma couldn't help but chuckle, making it worse. Finally, she slumped in Shiki's arms and he let go. Blushing deeply, she called both of them idiots and ran away towards her room near the secluded lounge, nearly running into Akatsuki on his way out. She mumbled a curse under her breath and disappeared around the corner. Akatsuki chuckled and continued out, exchanging greetings with Shiki and himself. In a monotone voice, Shiki said he had lipstick on the collar of his shirt. The fire user waved and didn't stop in his stride. Shiki blinked then shrugged, stretching and yawning.
Smiling from his chair, Takuma held his hand out. They shook and Shiki also retreated. Takuma sat down in his chair once more, watching the sun between the thick curtains. When a robin called out the morning greeting, Takuma's smile grew. Hazel eyes bright, he retrieved his sword and also moved on to his room.
"Good night again, Kaname," he intoned.
The door clicked shut. Takuma paused on the other side, hoping that the couple inside hadn't noticed his departure. No one called him back. With a light smile, he let go of the door and moved down the dark hall. He passed Seiren, who nodded his way, but neither of them spoke. Still smiling, he walked onwards. Coming to a closed door with two books on a silver tray, he chuckled, taking the first volume of shoujo manga, and entered the room. He left the second volume in the hallway, shutting the door silently.
A couple hours had passed. The manga lay unopened on the coffee table between the sofa and the fireplace. The blonde vampire was no longer smiling, staring deep into fire, lost in thought.
He couldn't understand, but he would see the end.
Slivers of weak sunlight fled in through the red silk curtains of the window. On the other side of the room, still blanketed in darkness, a door crept open. Takuma walked into his room and shut the door, leaning heavily on the knob for uncountable minutes, heaving in more air.
As morning wore on, light shed color on his drained features and dried blood in his hair and on his shirt. Dust stirred in the streams of light around him. Still, he held onto the door, motionless but for his long breaths.
Finally, Takuma removed his sweaty hands from the door. Only a few vampires were still awake, all those he knew well, and one he thought would have been much better off not knowing him. He pulled away, stumbling deeper into his room. A draft washed through his moist face and neck.
"Gomen..." the young noble murmured, collapsing on his bed and passing into a deep sleep for the first time in weeks.
Takuma sat in a chair in his room, listening to the noise made by the new Night Class students. They were eager and flocking to Lady Sara. Sighing, he put his head in his hands. "What do I do? How far do I go to protect my friends?" His door cracked open, but he didn't look up. It closed again.
"Takuma isn't well, Touya-san," her velvet voice stated. The noise moved on.
As the morning light crept through the cracks of his curtains, Takuma rose. Walking over to his chest of drawers, he opened the middle one and pulled something out, looking down. "How far... " He left the room.
Takuma walked back into his room, brushing snow from his hair. He struck a fire in the grate and collapsed in a chair, taking deep breaths. His body was shivering and he couldn't recall why. Slowly, he fell asleep. Crack! A log snapped, shaking the Noble from his sleep. His hazel eyes watched the fire dance carelessly around the wood.
"Why did you do that, Sara? Should I tell..." He drifted off again.
