Chapter 1 How it all started
"Why is it taking them so long Zero?" Asked an overly tensed Yuki.
"You are worrying for no reason it has only been ten minutes since their flight landed." Zero answered petting his wife's head. "Besides our Veron is no longer the reckless little girl anymore."
"No, you are wrong Zero," Yuki interjected. "She will always be the reckless little girl-"
And before you could finish what she was about to say a loud squealing voice from far gets the couple's full attention.
"Yuki-ma, Zero-pa!" both of their face brightens up. Finally as they see a girl though now a matured woman but to their pair she will always be their little Veron; now running towards them.
"Yuki-MA, Zero-PA!" the young female ran towards them so fast in in about five seconds she was right before them wrapping both her arms around the duo pulling them both into a tight hug. "I have missed you both so much."
"Oh Veronica," Yuki stated, "We too missed you so much." Zero completed.
"Now where are your luggage young lady?" Zero asked being slightly baffled that she came from abroad but had not even a suitcase with her.
"Oh no!" Veronica panicked. "I became so excited seeing you both that I ran leaving everything."
"Oh need to worry," it was a deep velvety smooth female voice from behind. "I managed to get all our belongings."
Both Zero and Yuki tensed, after all a very powerful aura of a vampire emanated from the approaching young female who appeared no more than twenty one. Ofcourse there was no doubt in them that the girl was a pureblood.
In appearance she very much resembled Veronica with her facial structure, hair and extremely fair complexion but her lips were slightly different it was more thin and straight and her eyes not the same green as Veronica's. Instead they were the beautiful shade of wine. And Yuki knew very well she is the second person who has this beautiful wine color eyes because their first one is her oni-sama.
Yuki could feel her heart skipping its beat as the female neared them gracefully pushing the trolley. The way she walked, it screamed out to all that she had to be a royalty. Unlike Veronica this girl though younger much younger seemed far more stronger and powerful.
"Oh Marika" Veronica yelped and scolded the girl as she finally stood before them. "You better not drop anything, or else you will be in big trouble young lady."
Instead of answering the young female came around the trolley cupped Veronica face and spoke, "Everything is in perfect order Doll."
"She calls Veron, Doll." Yuki silently spoke and only Zero was the one that heard but he chose to remain silent for the time being.
"Come Marika," Veronica tagged the girl along with her and introduced her to Yuki-Zero. "Yuki-ma, Zero-pa, this is Marika," With her hand Veronica pointed towards the girl. "My little baby."
The term little baby looked very ironic to Yuki-Zero since Marika was almost five inches taller than Veronica. "Marika," Yuki uttered the girl's name with a deep sigh. Deep sadness filling in her heart.
"Marika," This time Yuki calls her, opening up her arms for an embrace.
"It a pleasure to finally meet you both." She spoke calmly, embracing Yuki back. And to Yuki it seemed like this is how she always spoke.
….
As they travelled back home, in the limo Yuki and Zero silently observed Veronica and her daughter who were seated opposite to them.
From the way they interacted it appeared as though Veronica is the daughter and Marika is her mother. Nature wise Marika was so much calm and composed it very much reminded Yuki of her beloved Kaname oni-sama. Then again why not, after all she was his very own flesh and blood, his only child.
Lost in all these thoughts Yuki did not realize that her eye not even for once moved from the young female sitting beside Veronica. But when young Marika's eyes caught Yuki watching her that intently, she too stared at her back with her wine color eyes. For a moment Yuki thought she was staring at Kaname's eyes and then the strangest thing happened; a smirk curled up Marika's lips and for a moment t it appeared as if it was Kaname who was smirking back at her.
Yuki's heart once more jumped to the point where Zero even heard the fast beating sound of her heart. He quickly held her hand tightly hoping it would bring some comfort to her.
Veronica never really mentioned to anyone who fathered her, this child but now that seeing with her own eyes there are no more doubts in Yuki's mind that she is her Kaname oni-sama's. In face she may look like Veronica but in body language and aura wise she is very much like her father.
Knowing that Veronica came there was almost feast going on at Cross household every night. Who did not show up, Ai with her family, Hanabusa and Yori, old and retired Yagari and Kaito with his family. Veronica was able to mix herself into the crowd as if she is one of them but Marika though maintained her manner but was also firm in her position. It appeared as though she never allowed anyone near her personal space.
All Yuki heart ached, every time she saw this girl. There is no doubt in her mind that Kaname would have been so proud of her. Though she never met him but she is so much like him.
"Yuki?" the said female looked up to see her niece Marika making her way towards her.
"Oh Marika dear what can I do for you?" Yuki asked a bit nervously scratching the back of her head though she had no reason to be nervous.
"These kitty parties and gather are not my favourite." Off-course it was not Kaname's favourite either Yuki remembered either. "It would be nice if you could guide me to the library. I like to read."
"Oh sure follow me dear," Yuki motioned the young female to follow her. "So what do you like to read?"
"Mystery, history and dark-fiction. Not a big fan of romance though." Yuki remembered that these were the exact genres that Kaname kept in his personal library. "Here this is the library." Yuki said opening the door of the library and switching its lights on.
Upon entering the room the first thing that caught Marika's attention was the glass table at the corner that had all the photos in small frames and then there was a perfectly small decorated chessboard that Yuki kept in honour of Kaname's memory. Yuki did not protest as Marika walked up to the table, she silently followed her.
On the table there were over fifty frames with pictures of Yuki-Zero in their Cross Academy uniform, Zero and Ichiru as kids, their wedding, many funny faces of Cross, Yori-Hanabusa, Ai-Ren, Veronica and only two frames containing picture of Kaname. The first one when he used to visit Yuki when she was a human child and the other one where he is kissed by eight year old Veronica.
Yuki was a bit surprised when Marika only picked up the two frames containing pictures of Kaname. It has been few days since their arrival. And the first thing Veronica said to Yuki after coming home was a desperate request not to tell Marika anything about Kaname and it was the first time she admitted to Yuki that Kaname is Marika's father.
"Marika?" Yuki was not sure whether to take these frames away and take her elsewhere or do something else.
"Who is this man?" Marika asked truing towards Yuki showing her the frames.
"My b-brother." Yuki stuttered. "Handsome is he not?"
"I know this man," Once more the young pureblood's words threw the former Kuran princess over the edge and she could not hold back from asking "How?"
"It's a strange story; you might think I am crazy." Marika said getting more of Yuki's attention. "No please tell me. You have to tell me how you know Kaname-onisama."
"During my early childhood I saw there was this odd dream that I often had where this man," she pointed her finer and Kaname "…this exact same man he would take my toddler self in his arms sit on a racking chair by the garden under the soft sunlight and lull me to sleep."
"You dreamed about my oni-sama," a drop of tear trickled down Yuki's eyes.
"It not only dreams there are more, it was like his presence was always there with, all the time, with each step of my life I felt his aura beside as if it was guiding into some path. He was not physically there, I could not see him but I was able to feel his soul beside me, with me…always."
Yuki's covered her gaped mouth with both her hands.
"Don't worry I am not going to put you in an awkward positing by asking how we are connected…"
"Oh Marika…"
"…because Yuki I already know that he is my father and I also know that my mother requested you not to tell me anything about him." this time a tear from the young vampire's eyes rolled down and fell directly on Kaname's picture where he was getting kissed by young Veronica.
Yuki watched with wide eyes the young female before her kissed both the frames affectionately before putting them back to its rightful place. Then she rubbed the tears of her eyes and spoke in a voice that sounded more like a command.
"I want to meet him."
"But Marika, your mother-" Yuki was cut off mid-way.
"I am not asking for your help, I will find my father with or without your help." This time her wine shade too, glowed red with all the rage and anger reflected on it. "…tell me Yuki, do you not want me to meet my father? Do you not want Kaname to meet his daughter?"
Yuki said nothing but Marika clearly watched the movement of her throat as she nervously gulped.
…
Both Yuki and Takuma watched from the outside trough the large window as Marika stepped into the Kabin. Her breathing was slightly heavy, she was nervous; this was not what she expected. There before her just few feet away her father is sitting on the bed, before him was chess board and on his right hand was a large chocolate bar that he almost finished.
Marika could not believe her eyes he was even more beautiful in person than in pictures.
"I ordered his nurse to groom him properly, when you said that you were bringing his daughter." Taka said to Yuki. Neither taking their eyes off the father daughter duo inside the cabin. "I don't want her to see her father in that poor state Yuki."
"I perfectly understand."
Marika cleared her throat to get his attention but all she got was "Shooo!" with a sharp wave of his hand. This time Marika stepped closer and once more cleared her throat and her father went on with his "Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!" He spoke like a child.
"I'm not going anywhere." The girl was the first to speak.
"And I'm not sharing my chocolate with you." Kaname too retorted back childishly bobbling his head, not even once looking at her. Though his sentence finished, the bobbling of his head did not stop.
"Stop, it will hurt you." Marika said placing a hand over his shoulder. He stopped bobbling his head but then with his feet tried to scratch his head like a dog.
Now if he was in his right mind then definitely he would not greet his daughter this way but tragically he was no longer the Kaname Kuran, the vampire king he once was. Now, in the present he is one of the most dangerous patients to this Vampire operated mental institute.
"Stop! You are not supposed to do that." Marika placed both her hands on him to stop all these odd actions and that was when he saw her tiny wrist. Some in his vague memory it brought back some pictures. He grasped it suddenly startling the young girl.
"Your hand is so small," the former vampire king commented examining it in a way as if this is the most amusing thing he has even seen. "…so small just, just like…just like…" he started to rub his temples trying hard to remember of whom did this small wrist remind him off. But harder he tried harder his head ached.
From outside both Yuki and Ichijo and this time Seiran joined them too, all became alerted watching Kaname started rubbing his temples. They prepared themselves to burst in the moment things get under control.
"Kaname," This time the young woman took his chin between her fingers and made him face her "look at me," his eyes became wide, "do you not want to know who I am?"
"you…" Kaname's voce came out as a low growl. "You…YOU….YOU…" his breathing suddenly became uneven as he stood up on his feet over the bed.
"ITS YOU…ITS YOU…YOU…" he was howling like an animal his fangs elevated, hands turned to claws.
"Do you know me?" MArika asked, "Do you know who I am Kaname?"
Yuki, Seiran and Ichijo all ran inside but they were a bit late as Kaname already pounced on the young woman, trying to tear her up to pieces. But they were fast enough to pull him off her. Takuma and Seiran pulled Kaname off and Yuki assisted Marika.
"ONI-SAMA!" Yuki screamed.
"CALM DOWN KANAME!" Takuma shouted. "THIS IS NOT VERONICA!"
Kaname did not listen instead continued growl baring his fangs towards the young female. Both Takuma and Seiran were able to hold him off because of the anti-vampire cuffs placed on his ankles or else a real disaster would have taken place in this room.
"KANAME-SAMA, THIS IS NOT VERONICA-SAMA."
Marika's eyes widen hearing that. She gave Yuki a confused.
Soon the doctors and few nurses rushed in and injected him with the heavy doses of sedatives putting him to sleep instantly.
"I'm am sorry Marika," Ichijo apologized as he and Marika remained seated inside his office. "He would have adored you and pampered you like there is no tomorrow if he knew who you were." The girl said nothing just quietly sipped into her coffee. "I have seen how much he used to spoil Veronica, like there is no tomorrow. After all she was his first child."
The last sentence gets the girl's attention and automatically her browns squeezed into one. "Excuse me! What do you mean by Veronica was his first child?"
Takuma's finger fidgeted on his mug; he was conflicted whether or not to tell her but then decided to tell her everything hoping that she will understand or at least try to understand.
"You see Marika, thing were a little bit different for your parents."
"How so?" Her tone matched Kaname's when he was sane.
"Marika Veronica was taken in by Kaname when she was barely three, then as she grew up she obsessively fell in love with her…"
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Marika stated confused.
"Well, it all began in that fateful snowy night…many, many years ago…" with that Ichijo started his tale.
It was a dark snowy night of the winter. Snow was pouring down the sky at same speed as rain; it almost covered the entire city. There were barely any pedestrians on the streets. Everyone usually stayed home in this kind of weather; it was not safe to be out. But there was one who, despite this blizzard was still on the streets.
The way the man moved it was easy to tell that this harsh weather and the blistering snow had no effect on his handsome features. He was fairly tall with dark chestnut hair that cascaded down his shoulder in subtle layers of waves. He was dressed fancy for the evening with branded black tuxedo suit topped with long black over coat with high neck and Burberry scarf wrapped around his neck, almost covering half his face.
The man stopped in his tracks only to look up at the sky and watch the snow, white snow that delicately touched his face. The white snow always took him back to that day, the day he saved and became the hero for the only person that mattered to him in this entire world.
Yuki…His Yuki, his tender princess…
But alas…now Yuki was no longer his. She belonged to the one whom he, Kaname Kuran despised with every fibre that he is made up of…Zero Kiryu.
Love is indeed a strange thing; it makes you do the most unexpected of all. Never in his life did the Kuran king image that he would end up becoming the relative of Zero Kiryu, the pawn he so carefully designed. His role was supposed to end with the destruction of Rido Kuran but the cruel humour of fate did change everything upside down, once that pest was out of the way.
Everything moved according to the way Kaname planned but only till the death of Rido Kuran; but once the pest was gone everything started to go wrong making Kaname Kuran's world go upside down. Yuki declared her love for Zero; she chose that soon to be level-e over him, the Kuran king. Within a couple of years after that was the grand wedding of Zero Kiryu and the kuran princess and he Kaname Kuran walked his beloved Yuki to the alter and handed her to Zero. And Exactly five years, five months and fifty days later came their first child Ai Kiryu who lightened up their world. And he became the sad and lonely uncle Kaname.
Ever since then life was not easy for Kaname. He became more cold and shell of stone on the outside and inside completely hollow.
Letting Yuki go was hard, watching her end up in Kiryu was even harder and the hardest was pretending to be happy for her. But there was no escape for him…he had to tolerate all these pain only for the sake of his beloved Yuki. Eventually this brutality changed his view of love. The sweetness of love became something bitter to him. He started to despise the thing called love.
"Kaname-Sama," it was Seiran's voice that brought the pureblood out of his trance.
"No Seiran…I wish to walk for a little while." He cut her off before she could even speak. "Wait for me in the car."
"As you wish my lord."
With that said, she left the male alone but still watched from far as he kept on wondering in an absent minded way. Working under Kaname Kuran this long practically made Seiran his wife. Not in body but very much in duty. After losing Yuki he kind of became side tracked and unpredictable for that reason needs to be by his side constantly. There is no guarantee what he will do next. For example tonight he was not himself, then again how can he be? He just came out of the Cross Manor. It was little Ai's fifth birthday. Kaname had no intention of attending but Yuki was persistent her pestering would not stop till he shows up.
It made no sense to Seiran as to why Yuki was making things difficult than it already was? She very well knew watching her with Zero was difficult for her brother yet she always managed to drag him into the family gathering; let it be her birthday, her daughter's birthday, the headmaster and even to Zero's birthday. It annoys Kaname to extreme to the point where many at times Kaname Kuran leaves the town before any of that upcoming event and this was one of those unfortunate times when he could not manage to escape.
A loud made the grey hired female snap out of her thought!
Rushing to the sight she noticed female level-e vampire has corned a child barely. And from the Aura emanating from the child Seiran realized it was no ordinary child, the child was a pureblood vampire. Before she could even take a step further, her master showed up, and he made his way towards the level-e, just with the snap of his eyes she turned out dust.
The only thing that remained was the child; who after witnessing this once more cried out at the top of her lungs. Ignoring the child's cry, the dark haired male took his steps towards her, picked her up in his arms and put her to sleep by placing a hand over her small head.
Seiran noted that, Kaname Kuran just stood there holding the sleeping child close to his heart. She realized he was trying to track how this child ended up there. Neither of them found anything. They could not sense any vampire nearby. The only scent in the neighbourhood was of human. Then how this child ended up here was a mystery?
"Seirran?"
"Milord!"
"Take the child."
The female obeyed right away and then asked. "What is your next command?"
"We are going home…"
a.n. so here it is, the new version i hope you guys like it. I don't own VK. thank you for reading also warning you before hand this will be very dark and sinister love story.