A/N: Hello! *wiggles fingers* Yeah, this is a bit of a weird, spiritual thing *points down* so... I apologize in advance if it's confusing for you all. Just an idea :) I wanted to give Ichiru more hope see, since we all know how his life ended in canon *sheds tear* And I just wondered, well, Fuck that, things don't got to be so bleak! (Yes, this is me being rebellious XD)

Warnin's: If you haven't seen the chapter in which Kaname shares his scattered memories with Yuuki yet, the whole legend of the pureblood woman giving her heart for the creation of anti-vampire weapons bit might confuse you. I don't think it's that hard to grasp in the one-shot, but just letting you guys know.

Disclaimer: No own, no own.


Nutmeg - Kiryuu Zero

"…And that was how vampire weapons were created." Yagari Touga finished.

He didn't know how he found his way into their current conversation, but he somehow ended up talking about the pureblood no decent hunter went without knowing - and all to two little boys he doubted understood everything.

He himself had been confused when first hearing about her from his own parents. Why would hunters use the help of a pureblood vampire, one of their worst enemies, to create the weapons they now used to destroy them? His father had simplified the matter to snake venom and vaccines, which was basic enough for him to digest at the time.

He wondered, as two pairs of wide eyes blinked once then twice, from across the table, if he would have to use the same example.

"But Uncle Yagari—"

Damn it! "I am not your uncle!" He immediately denied, indignant. "I'm only nineteen—"

"But Uncle Yagari," Kiryuu Ichiru bulldozed over whatever he was about to say with practiced ease, "what happens to the pureblood lady after?"

Yagari narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"She dies." He said flatly.

Ichiru looked stunned at the cold revelation before his face crumpled in devastation.

"What…why?" He whimpered. "She was so nice to us, and she died?"

Yagari nearly blanched at the oncoming of tears. He couldn't believe the kid was crying. He hated crying people.

Just as his half panicked brain decided shoving a kerchief up the kid's nose might be a good idea, Kiryuu Zero spoke up, catching his brother's attention.

"She's not dead, Ichiru. Don't cry." He said, patting his brother's hair.

"She's…She's not? Then Uncle Yagari was lying?" Sniffle.

The hunter in question bristled. Lying? Of course he wasn't! What would he gain out of that anyway?

"Yeah, don't listen to him."

What? Yagari sent Zero a disgruntled glare and merely received an accusatory one in return. 'It's your fault he's crying so shut up!' those sharp eyes reprimanded, and Yagari raised a brow, but backed down.

"What happened then? To the pureblood lady?"

"…She gave Her heart to us," Zero said slowly.

"Yeah, I know." Ichiru sniffed bemusedly, moving to wipe his nose. "That's how we got our weapons."

Zero shook his head and placed his hand at his brother's chest. "Not just this heart, Ichiru. She gave us Her Wish."

"Wish?"

"…That we protect each other."

Yagari almost gave into a snort, but Zero pinned him with another warning glare and he swallowed his reflexive response with a sullen crease of his brows.

"Protect?"

Zero nodded, his gaze strong and convincing. "We protect vampires and they protect us." He whispered.

"Protect…" Ichiru whispered back. "So She's not dead right?"

"If we remember Her Wish."

"I'm going to remember. I won't forget."

Zero nodded again and kissed his cheek. "Don't forget. Always remember."

With soft vows and gentle promises, Ichiru sunk into sleep for the night. All the while Yagari watched Zero with shrewd eyes.

He always thought the kid was somewhat strange. Too young, too old, too knowing… There was something timeless about him. Untouched and infinitely deep, his potential seemed limitless. The young hunter-to-be was a well of opportunity just waiting to be tapped. It was eerie, what Yagari glimpsed in those pale bright eyes, if and when it decided to show. And it wasn't just him. Kids much younger picked up on the Kiryuu heir's otherworldly presence that he couldn't seem to go anywhere without. Whether it was out of an innate sense of self-preservation or some genetic hunter instinct, the hunter children gave Zero a wide berth.

Ichiru had yet to notice, oblivious against the wary looks his older brother tended to garner from their peers. He had simply never known his older brother to be any other way.

Yagari couldn't help wondering what Zero was thinking when he reiterated the ending to the legend he'd told, but it sounded like a fool's ideal. Not so different from that Cross Kaien he heard about… And yet, not even the cheery ex-hunter had ever interpreted the story that way.

'Protection.' The idea was completely ludicrous. Their hunter weapons were for killing vampires, and that included every level, from E to A when necessary. They were made to protect humans, to be used against vampires. He honestly couldn't see how the boy had come to his inane conclusions. As much as he wanted to pass it off as childish fancy, there was something about Zero that made him rethink of dismissing it so easily.

"Uncle Yagari, did you bring rice cakes?" Zero was tucking his brother in.

Brow twitching, Yagari ground out, "How many times do I have to say—"

"You have hair on your face like Father. You're old. Did you bring rice cakes?"

Reminding himself losing it against a seven year old wasn't the least bit mature, he nodded curtly. "It's in the fridge."

"Good. Ichiru likes them."

"I would never bring them otherwise." He said dryly.

"Mm." Zero hummed. "Cause you don't like them."

"Sticky and mushy." Yagari shrugged.

"Shortcake is sticky and mushy but you like those."

His lips twitched. "I do not."

"You do. Mother said you ate more than two slices at our birthday party."

"That's not completely true…"

"Mother doesn't lie."

He chuckled." No, she doesn't."

"And you?" Bright eyes looked up evenly. "Do you lie?"

Pausing, Yagari frowned, suddenly on guard. "What do you want?" If his tone came out sharper than intended, the child didn't seem to mind.

"…She didn't die, Uncle Yagari. Everyone just thinks She did."

So they were back to that story? "Well, there's nothing that says she did." He admitted.

Zero stared for what felt like hours before he smiled, small and sweet. "Yeah." He said absently and walked past Yagari, out into the hall, his bare feet patting along the wood flooring, down the stairs.

Yagari watched him go, shaking his head. The kid was weird as hell.

. . .

Zero knew he was a little different from other children, from others like his brother, who was soft and carefree, bright and full of life. Ichiru was eager to learn things, anything he could get his hands on he didn't know before. Zero didn't know a lot of things either, but he knew more than other kids, more than his brother. He was aware of more.

He didn't know where the varying information came from or how he came to know, he simply did. Uncle Yagari didn't believe him about the pureblood vampire who'd sacrificed Her life for peace, but Zero knew he was right. She wasn't really dead. Death was made up of numerous interpretations and Her physical deterioration was just one of many. He knew She wasn't gone because he could still feel Her. Her presence still rang true in the gun Uncle Yagari possessed, in the sword Cross Kaien kept in his study, carefully tucked away, and in the tools his parents owned. She was still here.

Sometimes She called to him, from one old soul to another.

You've been renewed many times over, She had whispered to him. Soon, you'll likely regain what you've lost.

It wasn't uncommon for souls to be renewed once or twice without ever knowing, though getting renewed as many times as he had was, in fact, quite rare. And with rare opportunities, came bizarre side effects, such as gaining natural access to past memories his soul was imprinted with.

You mustn't shun them, She cautioned, they will feel foreign at first. Acceptance was key.

He'd tried to be sly and curiously asked if his soul was older than Hers, just to gain more information, but She'd laughed and easily sidestepped his efforts. They were both old, She merely said, very old, but She graciously added this was the first time he had been renewed in a long, long while.

Supposedly, it was one of the reasons why She was able to establish such a strong connection with him. Age had enabled his soul to tolerate Her presence for an extended period of time without any serious damage. Her power, strong enough to last thousands of years, was entirely overwhelming for new souls; She could hurt them irreparably without precautions.

All some can manage is to touch physical extensions of myself. She referred to the anti-vampire weapons. Those like your trainer or the man with a photo fetish have a deeper understanding of my extensions in comparison due to being able to stand a greater amount of my presence. Do you see?

Those who could call on Her strongly were considered better hunters. Their physical connection with Her, through their flesh and blood and their weapons, made their senses more sensitive, their bodies more sturdy and versatile, adding to their advantage when going up against a vampire.

But initially, She hadn't shared her blood and life to create living weapons. She hadn't wanted for destruction or for hatred or fear. She had simply wanted for understanding. The middle ground between the two species should've been what they now referred to as hunters.

Vampire enough to relate to vampires and human enough to relate to humans – they were meant to be the perfect intermediary between two races, neither of which weren't actually so different.

Eying his mother's knives lying innocuously on her nightstand, he murmured, "Good evening."

A solid chuckle echoed through his mind, husky and confident. Good evening, little one. You know you needn't be near my extensions to speak to me.

"It feels better than talking to thin air."

She chuckled again. What have you been thinking about to feel so somber?

"…Uncle Yagari told us about your extensions. He didn't believe me when I said you weren't dead. Ichiru does, though."

As always, She became intrigued whenever Ichiru was mentioned in any capacity. Your Little One? What has he said?

"…He cried for you." Zero said softly. "I told him as long as we remembered, you'll be okay."

A wave of warmth spread over him, powerfully affectionate, deep and content.

Thank you.

"Mm." Anything for the one who had saved his only brother. Ichiru would have died before he was born without Her interference. Nearly all cases of hunter twins turned out the same way.

And you must remember, both you and your Little One are special. You must keep each other safe.

It was what she reminded him, every time, in every conversation. He didn't know what had Her protective instincts flaring, but he heeded Her warnings to the best of his abilities. Ichiru was fragile enough as he was without added danger to his physical health.

"Mm." Stepping closer, he placed a gentle hand to the polished blade. "When will Ichiru be able to feel you?"

She smiled. Soon. He heard it as a soothing whisper. He needs time; his soul is still so new. Have faith in your Little One.

He nodded slowly. "I do." It was his parents who worried him. The way they looked at Ichiru…as if being forced to face something painful…it was worrying. They loved Ichiru as their child, but they couldn't love him as a hunter.

Soon, She had said. Soon… Just a little more time.

She sighed softly, a flutter of disappointment gliding across his mind, and gently shooed him. Go, little one, your parents are here.

True to her words, he heard two pairs of footsteps coming up to the front door.

"Good night."

Sweet dreams.

His small feet silent against the carpet, he quietly closed the door behind him with the faintest click before scampering back up to his room, where Ichiru was tucked safely under his covers.

Just a little more time. He smiled.


Thanks for reading! :D

Edit: 12-30-2014