Chapter 1

The Truth

"Kurenai Maria, what a surprise?" said the headmaster.

"I have come to see Zero. I have some things to tell him about his heritage."

"His heritage, I am not sure what you are talking about."

"It would not be wise of me to tell you, now. I must tell him first."

"Very well, I will call him."

"Kanna, send for Zero."

"Yes Sir."

Kanna walked briskly. She ignored the looks that the day class students, who were lounging in the common room of their dorm, gave her. She moved past them. She stopped at a door with the word "Prefect" inscribed in the wood. She held her breath and knocked. The door opened.

"What?!" said a very bad tempered Kiryu.

"The headmaster sends for you," she said meekly.

"I'm coming. Wait. Does Yuki have to be there too?"

"I don't know. She can come if she wants."

"Yuki, you want to come?"

"Sure."

They walk to the headmaster's office. They knocked on the door.

"Oh, hey, it's you," said Zero.

"Yes. I can see that," said Maria. "I have come to tell you about your true heritage or ancestry, if you will. I am sorry, but the rest of you will have to leave, though, Yuki may stay, if you wish, Zero."

"Yuki can stay."

"Alright, then I shall begin at the beginning then…" Maria's form began to change. She grew taller and more womanly. "Zero, please look at me and tell me what you see."

"I see the woman that abandoned her children, when they were both the age of three. You're my mother," said Zero. "But how is this possible?"

"When I was younger, I fell in love with a vampire hunter. His name was Kiryu Daisuke. He was everything his name said he was. He was very much devoted to vampire hunting though. I hid my identity from him. We were married. I lowered myself to attacking livestock and stray animals for blood. I bore him twins, you and your brother. I sealed away the monstrosity that would make you and your brother vampires. But, then he found out. He had me kill my cousin's manservant, to prove what that I would have nothing to do with being a vampire anymore. I did, but fearing that my cousin would find out, I fled, hoping that if I did, she would not harm my family. But she truly is the Mad Blooming Princess; she killed our family and took Ichiru away. After that, all I remember is learning that she was dead and hearing her voice in my head. Oh, Zero, please forgive me."

"Not only do I learn that I am related to the woman that made my life hell, but I find out that my mother is still alive and a coward. How can I forgive you, if the truth about everything has been hidden from me all this time? Ichiru is here, you know that, don't you?"

"I do. He already knows the truth."

"Hn, whatever. Oh, look there he is."

Sure enough, through the window, Ichiru was walking toward them. His mouth curved into a sneer. "Hello mother."

He fired a shot. The shattered glass of the windows fell in. He jumped into the room,. He pulled out a bootleg gun and pointed it at her.

"She will be back. You know that, right? I will kill you before she does. After all, auntie did a good job looking after me. You and father hated me!"

Zero stepped in front of his mother, instinctively.

"Zero, why defend a mother that abandoned you."

"You!"

"Stop, right this minute!" It was the headmaster. He had heard the gunshot and the window pane shattering. He had come back into the room.

"Get out of the way, old man. You're disturbing the plans that my mistress set. Let me kill my mother, dammit," snarled Ichiru.

"Zero, your brother is insane," said Yuki."