a.n. this thought had been going on in my head for sometime. inspired from a story that my friend told me. hope you guys enjoyed. also keep in mind this is alternate universe. but I guess you all figured it out by now. no vampire, all characters are human. and of course I don't own vampire knight. the characters belong to the rightful owner.
Chapter 1 - Their first meeting
Ai was only two years of age when her parents Kaname and Yuuki Kuran divorced.
Her mother remarried exactly six months after the signing of the papers. She married her childhood best friend, Zero Kiryu. Even after her mother's second marriage there wasn't much change in Ai's life because Zero loved her like she was his own. Not even for once did the man with silver hair allowed her to think otherwise – that she wasn't his, but the offspring of his once arch nemesis.
During their collage years both Kaname Kuran and Zero Kiryu were fighting for Yuuki's heart. In the end Kaname won, leaving Zero defeated. After all the handsome brunette was the one whom Yuuki had a crush on since she was a child.
Yuuki chose Kaname eventually Zero left with sour heart.
Yuuki and Kaname tied the knot right after brunette male graduated and started their family. Together they welcomed Ai into this world in a matter of year.
Soon after Ai learned to walk, fate brought Yuuki and Zero into contact once again.
She wanted them to be friends again and he agreed without any form of hesitation. Their friendship rekindled. But this time it didn't only stay at that. Destiny had different plans for them. Deep within her heart Yuuki conceived feelings for Zero. She did not even realize when such happened. But by the time she came to realization it was too late... Yuuki no longer only wanted Kaname, she desired Zero also.
Her heart started to cry for the silver haired man. While her body ached to be embraced by him.
Soon the passion took over. They were no more just friends, the two became salacious lovers.
The times when Kaname was away on his business trip, Yuuki dedicated those times to Zero. Whether he came over to her place or she went to his either way the affair continued. This way Yuuki's life lived perfectly. She had the perfect husband and the perfect lover.
However, like all good things, this fruitful time also came to an end when their affair came into light.
They got caught.
Kaname walked in on them.
It was that moment that Yuuki felt the greatest of her fear. She thought she would lose Zero forever. Her husband will kill him.
After all Kaname Kuran is a powerful man. He has network, he got connections on very high level. If he wished he could have made Zero disappear in no time. He can simply destroy the silver haired man, get him killed and feed his flesh to the street dogs. But he did nothing as such.
He was a man of dignity. He had maturity. Hence with a broken heart he asked his wife why she did this…? When she couldn't answer he asked again this time the question was what she wanted? And this time however he was met with an answer which she did with honesty. Her answer was…
"Zero Kiryu."
It became clear where her heart belonged and whom she wanted.
Therefore no further argument was made.
…
Just two weeks before Ai's second birthday her parents legally separated. Her mother took her and moved out of the Kuran mansion and moved into Zero's apartment. Ai's birthday was celebrated in that small two bedroom apartment with an equally small cake and just the three of them. Ai was very young she didn't have much memory of that day. If there was anything she could recall of that day it was her father's absence. Although the biggest present came from him, but he was not there in person to give it to her.
Three months later Kaname and Yuuki signed the divorce papers. Their marriage ended officially. Once and for all.
After divorce Ai's custody was one of the main concern for the couple. But thankfully instead of getting nasty they were all able to come to an agreement. Therefore the matter was settled to joint custody shared among both the parents.
Kaname wanted to give his daughter a healthy family life, which is why he agreed to terms and conditions set by Yuuki and Zero.
At first it was decided that Ai spend two days at the Kuran mansion, the weekends she would spend with her father.
A year later, when situation calmed, Zero opened his door for Kaname so that he could visits his daughter.
It took almost about another year for the three adults Kaname Kuran, Zero Kiryu and now Yuuki Kiryu to come to an understanding.
It started with small talks regarding Ai. Then Zero asking Kaname to stay back and have dinner with them.
Eventually Kaname also started to invite his ex-wife and her current husband at his place. And from then onwards things got better; Kaname was invited to Ai's party each year that came afterwards.
And little Ai Kuran couldn't be any happier. Her family was fully again. Now she has a mother along with two fathers who loved her unconditionally.
…
On the night of her sixth birthday Yuuki made the announcement before all…
"I'm expecting."
At first Ai did not understand what it meant. But both her fathers had change of expression on their respective faces. Zero looked like he was going to burst with joy and her father Kaname looked overwhelmed.
"I'm pregnant Ai." Her mother clarified. But little Ai still wasn't sure what that meant till her mother explained in full details. "Mother and Father Zero will be having a baby!"
Just like her father Zero, Ai too was over joyed by this revelation. She expressed her desire right away that she wanted a baby brother, no sister!
In between the family's happiness Kaname just sat there with a broken heart. Trying his best to look happy. He even congratulated the expecting couple and gave them his best wishes and smiled his level best on the outside. When deep down his heart and soul both were crushed, shred to pieces.
He left early that night but no one really noticed.
During her next visit to the Kuran mansion Ai understood how the news of her mother's pregnancy affected her father. For her age Ai was not only intelligent but also matured, which was why it was no problem for her to see through her father and his sadness. She even understood how difficult it was for her father to go to that house. So to make it easier for him Ai decided to spend most of her time with her father.
…
This pregnancy was hard for Yuuki and towards the end it got even more difficult. Zero needed to give her his full attention.
Thus Ai was sent over to the Kuran mansion during that time.
…
Her time at the Kuran mansion gave Ai more time to bond with her father. It brought the father daughter closer and gave them scope to understand each other.
Her father helped her with the studies, taught her how to play chess, read to her during her bedtime.
Although it took Ai a little while but eventually she got a grip on the technique to play chess. And it became an everyday routine for the father-daughter. They played chess every evening inside his private office at home.
…
The day Yuuki gave birth Ai and her father went to the hospital together. They took the biggest flower bouquet with them in order to wish the new parents.
It was as if Ai's prayer was answered, her mother gave birth to a beautiful baby boy that very much resembled her father Zero. The father son have exact same hair and facial feature. The only feature of his mother that the boy inherited was the soft brown eyes.
Yuuki-Zero named their son Ren. Ren Kiryu.
…
With age Ai finally started to understand the circumstances of the situations. She finally understand how lonely her father was. Her mother now had a family of her own, with husband and son. Whereas her father had nothing, he had no one.
So she made the decision to dedicate more time to him.
In the recent times on some occasions Ai even companied her father on his business trips.
And that is how the next few years passed…peacefully.
…
A week before Ai's twelfth birthday the father-daughter duo went out for dinner to a fancy diner.
It was just the two of them. No Yuuki and no Zero. Even if Yuuki and Zero aren't there Kaname always take Ren, every time he takes Ai out. Over the time he actually grew quite fond of that young fellow.
But tonight even Ren wasn't there.
And to be honest Ai actually preferred it that way. In the recent times she barely has had any private time with her father; where it would be just the two of them. Someone from the extended side was always there.
And tonight being with her father alone presented Ai the opportunity, to ask him the question that she had been meaning to for the longest time.
"Father when will you have a wife of your own?" She actually vomited the words out of her system.
Her father was so taken aback by her words that he did something quite uncharacteristic of him. The regal Kamame Kuran almost chocked on his drink. But composing himself soon enough he gave her a strange stare but asking back in turn
"Why do you ask?"
"I guess I'm very curious, father."
There was a whole minute of silence during which Ai observed her father contemplate.
"I don't think I can ever give that special title to anyone else but your mother." he finally answered breaking the silence.
"Do you still love mother that much?" the rational of Ai wanted to kick herself for asking this question while the irrational side couldn't help but ask, since she wanted to hear the answer from his own mouth.
"There is something I want you to understand Ai, there has been only one soul whom I have loved unconditionally and that is your mother. I loved her, I love her and will continue to do so till the end of my life." Ai could felt her heart swell up with pride while her father continued.
"…Just because she fell out of love with me and fell in love with someone else does not mean that I have stopped loving her. I still love her the same way I used to when she was my wife. So to answer your question daughter, for me there is and will always be one wife that is your mother."
The respect this girl had for her father actually multiplied hundred times after that evening. A sense of happiness and strange pride came over her along with the realization – Just because her parents divorced doesn't mean that their love died for one another. Also the fact that her father chose not to remarry actually made her happier. Even though she is used to seeing her mother with Zero. But she grew up in Zero arms, watched from the frontline how much he loved her mother. So he fits in a different scenario.
But even the mere thought of another person entering her father's life gave Ai the disgusting shivers. Sometimes a voice within her reminded how selfish she was being, keeping her father lonely, restraining him from having a partner, a family whereas her mother built her own long back. That is when her irrational side took control always blocked of that voice. It found ways to justify how her father only belonged to her and her mother. It was them who had the right to monopolized him.
If only back then Ai knew that with time everything changes.
…
All her life Ai had been looking forward to stepping into her teens. When the time finally came she just couldn't wait anymore. It was her thirteenth birthday. And she couldn't have been happier. This will actually be her most special birthday. Ai and her parents have been planning for this particular birthday since she was five. Meaning for the last seven years the Kuran and Kiryu family have been preparing for this very day.
Some close friends have also been invited for this special occasion.
Zero invited his twin brother Ichiru along with his girlfriend Maira. His best friend Kaito Takimiya and his wife. Yuuki invited her best friend Yori along with her husband Hanabusa and their son Seiya who also happens to be Ai's best friend. Kaname invited Takuma and some of his other close friends. And off course all of Ai's classmates received invitation as well.
Ai wanted a special dress for this event so her father bought Ai a beautiful red lace dress that ended right below her knees.
.
.
.
The party begun as per the scheduled time, seven pm sharp. Almost everyone arrived on time. Well everyone except one. Ai's father. For some reason this year he was the only one who was running late. And the mother-daughter got to know this information from Zero. Weirdly Kaname called Zero and told him that he will be running late.
The time was past nine-thirty still there was no sign of Kaname.
Both Yuuki and Ai were growing impatient. Ai even straight out refused to cut the cake without her father which further added to Yuuki's already increasing stress level. By now she was panicking. Because Kaname is never really late. So what could have happened?
It was five minutes to ten when Ai's father finally arrived at her party.
As Kaname entered everyone present there noticed he didn't come alone, there was someone with him. He had company. A beautiful young lady. Maybe girl would be more accurate to address her. Age was no more than eighteen. She was of thin built, with moderate height. Has long dark straight locks that fell below her waist, glowing Ivory skin, small sharp nose, big blue sky like glowing eyes and dark long voluminous lashes surrounding it. She had on –a black lace top paired with metallic sliver mini-skirt. And of course to complete the look she threw on some silver high-heels that quite matched with her skirt.
Kaname ignored the curious glances everyone was throwing in his direction. He paid them no attention. He headed straight to where his precious daughter was. Because in the end he owed no one an explanation but his daughter.
"Father!"
Ai ran to her father and pounced on his awaiting arms.
"Why were you so late father!?"
"I'm so sorry, it was my fault. Please don't hold Kuran-san responsible for it." The words were spoken, but definitely not out of her father's mouth. They came from the woman beside him –no the girl to be accurate.
Ai now turned towards the figure, giving the girl her full attention. While silently demanding with her gaze 'who she was?'
Getting no response from either of them she decided to face her father and get straight to the point.
"Father who is she?"
"Hello, my name is Aiyora. And you don't have to introduce yourself I already know who you are Ai."
The way this person was speaking it assured Ai that she was indeed speaking the truth. However suspicion rose inside the birthday girl as she started to wonder 'how this stranger knew about her?' She again looked at her father for explanation but this also this Aiyora person did the job instead of her father.
"You're father speaks quite highly of you. He praises you at every given opportunity. And does so with a proud heart." No words left Ai's mouth. Not even a small thank you as an appreciation of those kind words. Till now she only kept wondering onething - who is she? And why is she here?
" ... Oh before I forget, this is for you. May you have a wonderful birthday." She extended the small wrapped box for Ai to take. But Ai simply ignored.
"I'm sorry but who are you? And why are you here on my birthday? I don't remember inviting you." the words that came out of Ai's mouth was direct and to the point and also... a little insulting!
The person to whom these questions were directed fell in completely silence. Before nervously facing her companion.
"Ai…" finally her father spoke, breaking the icy silence. He placed a hand over his daughter's head to soothe her already growing discomfort and answered honestly.
"Her name is Aiyora..." his hand that was placed over her (Ai's) head, now moved away and wrap around the other's (Aiyora's) small waist.
"... She is my wife!" your stepmother!
It's was those two lines out of her father's mouth that changed young Ai Kuran's life forever.
No more was needed to be said.
a.n. Thank you all for reading. hope you guys enjoyed. lemme know if you want to see more of it.