A. N. A little information/background on this fic and what possessed me to write it. I was thinking about how as a child Zero used to trust Vampires and believe they were good, so it wouldn't be so farfetched if Zero had a Vampire friend that made him believe that. So I decided to write a fic with just that. I made his friend a pureblood because it is the thing he hated the most in the series and it would help create drama. Thinking about Ichiru's placement was probably the hardest thing but the kinks will be hammered out in the story. I was also debating on whether making his friend a male to be a love interest but I believed my character would have more suited for a girl. Also I do have a weakness for fujoshis in fics and she is on the Kaname/Zero side. This is a Kaname/Zero story but it will have hints of repressed/past Yuuki feelings canon to VK's original storyline, however it is minuscule. It will also have Jealous Kaname because that is my life blood and a shameless OC. Other pairings will most likely be added.
"Zerorin! It's been a long time." He froze the moment he heard the voice of that woman. He could not believe his ears. How? How the hell could she have found him? She was supposed to be half way around the world in the Caribbean lazing around on some beach, not here in Japan terrorizing his life once more.
"Bally, what brings your foulness here?" The caramel skinned women looked as if she swallowed lemon. "Zero you rude asshole, I thought I told you to call me Jessica?" She continued on, "Last month your fucking brother shows up with a Hiou and the bitch nearly brains me with a coconut and then he had the nerve to point his sword to me!"
Zero looked in disbelief as this woman went on and on about the integrity of his brother and how he treated her so coldly. Weren't they past that stage? Wasn't Ichiru cool with her last time they checked? She was not stopping her rant. "I know Ojiichan and Obaachan raised you both better than that."
"You have no right to talk about my parents you damn pureblood! Weren't you the one going on and on about protecting things and then left out of nowhere? Keep your bullshit." He could not believe her nerve.
She immediately glared, "You better that stop that bitchiness Kiryuu, you did not know my situation and you know better than to talk to me like that."
"All you purebloods are the same, you think you can command us and not give a damn. I am neither your friend nor your slave. Don't talk down to me, Pureblood." He started walking in the opposite direction, far away from yet another pureblood bent on controlling his life. Any residual happiness he might have felt from seeing her drained away. He should have known she wouldn't have been any different.
"Wait! No wait, Zero I didn't mean it like that!" Jessica was desperately calling out to him.
Kiryuu Residence 12 Years Ago
"Yo brat! What's your name and why are you sulking?" The girl asked the brooding child sitting on the tree. He looked about five and it was unusual for such a young kid to be out without supervision.
"It doesn't matter, once you meet him you won't care." The silver haired child sighed. As if on cue, an identical child popped out from the house, "Ichiru where are you? Shishou and Kaito are waiting for us. Kaito says he's sorry for-" The child noticed the girl and pulled his brother from her, "What business do have with my brother, Pureblood?"
"You have good senses for such a young hunter." She recognized the name of the sullen boy, "You wouldn't happen to be the twins from the Kiryuu clan would you? If you are, that would mean you're Zero, correct?"
"And if we are?" Zero asked defiantly. He observed the girl carefully, and noticed her relaxed posture. He pushed Ichiru behind him more. "No need to get so defensive kid, I am just curious." She followed up, "My name is Jessica Bally, I moved in next door."
Ichiru knew that would happen, once the girl met Zero she would not pay any mind to him. It was always like this, everyone loved Zero more. Zero, Zero, Zero! His resentment was starting to nip at him.
"Woah Ichiru-kun! That's a scary face," Jessica remarked, "You would look a lot better smiling." She had taken notice of his souring attitude. "Tell you what, I've got a pint of ice cream with your name on it, let me go grab it." The sound of a gun clicked.
"It's best you keep your ice cream, bloodsucker. We don't want any of your treats." Yagari spoke from the door of the house. Even though the girl looked around seven, she was a pureblood and that spelled danger. "Zero, Ichiru, get inside. I'll deal with this beast." The twins walked over to their house and Ichiru pulled at their masters pants, "Sensei I don't think she was going to hurt us." Zero nodded. He sighed, "Just get inside." They both looked back at the still smiling girl and she waved. They walked inside with hesitance.
"Yagari-san, you do know if you shoot me it could start a war, right?" This girl had balls. "I was just offering them some ice cream." Yagari snorted, "A pureblood offering two hunter kids ice cream, what's next? You wanna have a tea party with me? I know your schemes Bally, stay away from these kids or I will shoot you."
"If you know who I am, then you do know I don't drink blood right?" She continued, "You also know I don't even eat meat and I believe in co-existence. Just last week I was with Kaien-jiji talking about his ideas for the school." She wasn't fazed by this hunter. "Anyway, do you know when the Kiryuus will be back from their mission? I live next door now and wanted to invite them for dinner."
"As if they would have dinner with a pureblood." He scoffed. This chick was out of her mind. "What are you even doing in Japan?" Last he heard the Ballys were Purebloods of the Caribbean, and were happy in their beach living lifestyles and enjoying the sun. Masochistic vampires, those Ballys.
"I had a disagreement with those people and heard of Kaein-jiji's dream school and wanted to help make it a reality." She felt uncomfortable with the change of subject. "Please let the Kiryuus know of my dinner invitation, if they do refuse let them know that I am not afraid to let the councils know that they denied a simple request and greatly offended me. I am willing to bring politics into the matter." She gave a huge grin and waltzed back to her house.
Yagari sighed and thought of all the ways Cross brought trouble to him and why a seven year old pureblood thought she could order him around. He'll let the Kiryuus know, if only to get the child to back off from the twins.
"I'm glad you agreed on having dinner with me." Jessica looked like the cat who caught the canary. She sent a beaming smile to the twins, "Ichiru and Zero, I brought the ice cream I was talking about earlier, it's taro flavoured!" They had all agreed dinner would take place at the Kiryuu household for safety reasons.
"Well you did threaten to bring politics into this," Kaoru sneered. She did not like being played by the young pureblood at all. Enishi patted his wife's hand and gave her a comforting look. Jessica looked ashamed.
"I really am sorry about that, but I knew that you would refuse my invitation unless I did that." She paused with a look of despair clouding her eyes, "I would rather not admit this but I have been lonely since I left home and your children have regarded me without fear and hatred. Caution yes, but not fear, and no trace of hatred. It is for that selfish reason that made me want to have dinner with you all."
"And what exactly do you expect after this dinner? For you and our children to be friends? You seem to be a level headed child, you should know that vampires and hunters are enemies." Kaoru was exasperated, what did this girl think?
"I do know that vampires and hunters are enemies, and I am not naïve. All I ask is that you give me a chance to prove I am worthy of you and your children's friendship. You must have heard about my belief in co-existence and I know you hunt by the associations will and not for pleasure."
The girl had a point but still. "If you are lonely, do you not have anyone else to turn to? I'm sure there's many vampires willing to be your friends. Why our sons?"
Her face was full of sorrow. "Vampires will always bow down and obey me, they see me as royalty and not as an individual. As I've said your sons are smart enough to look with caution but not fear." And no hatred she mentally added.
Ichiru's quiet voice piped up, "You keep on talking about having Zero and I as your friends, but have you asked us if we wanted your friendship?" Zero pitched in, "How can we trust you?"
It was time to pull out the big guns. She took a deep breath, "If you think I am a danger to you and your family you have full permission to exterminate me, my intentions are only good and I just need a cure for my loneliness."
Enishi gave his wife a look and she sighed, this was madness. "If Zero and Ichiru agree to this friendship, we will allow it. However one false move and make no mistake, we will crush your heart." Ichiru and Zero seemed to be having a heated conversation with their eyes, and finally they nodded. "If the ice cream is good, then our friendship is good." They both stated rather childishly.
Jessica gave them the sunniest smile she had. "Then Kaoru-obaachan can you please pass the salt? Ah! Enishi-ojiisan the ice cream needs to go into the freezer before it melts."
Kaoru felt the biggest headache approaching. Enishi gave his wife a sheepish smile.
No doubt the ice cream was delicious.
"Kaoru-baachan! I heard Ichiru was sick so I brought leeks and soup and ice cream. Wait! Sick people shouldn't eat ice cream, do I have to take it back? But Ichiru loves ice cream so he can eat it later but what if Enishi-jiichan eats it? I know he loves taro flavor too." Kaoru interrupted the young girl, "Bally-san-"
"Jessica! Not Bally-san." "Right. Jessica, Ichiru needs his rest now but if you promise to be quiet you can visit him. Zero went out training with Yagari and will be back soon. I'll heat up the soup while you head upstairs."
Jessica was nervous, she never had a friend who was prone to illness before, what if Ichiru dies? What if she gets too loud and he hates her for damaging his ears? What if she's too quiet and he thinks she hates him? Well there is only one way to find out. She pushed open his door. "Ichiru? How are you feeling? I brought some leeks and canned soup. I wanted to make it fresh but Tanaka-san didn't want me near fire."
Ichiru coughed and looked at her, "Who is Tanaka-san?" He was curious about the purebloods home, "Tanaka-san was sent to watch over me by my family." Her face soured speaking about her family.
"Why aren't you with your family now?" Kaoru paused at Ichiru's door, she was curious as well to find out about why such a young pureblood would stray from her family.
Jessica sensed the elder Kiryuu's presence at the door but answered anyway. "My mother loved my brother more and had no room in her heart for me. She also hates my belief in not hurting any creatures whether it be human, hunter, vampire or animal. My father said nothing in regard to my beliefs but I could tell he was dissatisfied with my behavior. He did love me but not enough to accept me. My brothers had a hand in making me feel unwanted as well, often telling me of my uselessness to the family and it would be better if I hadn't been born."
Kaoru felt pity for the child who had been rejected by her family. She didn't think she would ever allow her children to leave just because of a moral disagreement. She noticed the sound of the front door opening and small footsteps walking up the stairs and approaching the room. Zero looked as if he was about to ask her if Ichiru was okay but she made a shushing gesture.
Ichiru, on the other hand felt a sense of comradery with Jessica, he understood what it felt like to be the odd sibling who just didn't live up to their parent's expectation. But he also had one burning question that not only he wanted to know. "Why don't you drink blood or eat meat? Even humans eat animals."
Jessica again sensed the additional Kiryuu at the door but felt they also needed to hear the answer. "I do not drink blood nor do I eat meat, for who am I to decide what gets to live or die. I believe life is precious and should be cherished, no matter what or who the creature is. The only reason I would ever violate my belief is if anyone hurts my precious people." She gave him a grim smile, "You and your family are a part of my precious people now. If anything hurts any of you, I will destroy it." She then called out, "But I'm sure no harm will come around, right Kaoru-obaachan?"
Kaoru came in with the soup with Zero trailing after her, looking as nonplussed as she could. "Jessica, should you be talking about destroying things when you cried for a mouse caught in a trap?" She teased the young girl while Zero was badgering his brother to eat his soup and take his medicine. Oh no, she thought as Jessica insisted it would be better if Zero spoon fed Ichiru, she was warming up to the brat.
Yagari and Zero's guards were highly raised as they patrolled the event, Kaito had refused to do this mission because of the high concentration of vampires and Ichiru had to sit this one out due to illness, with the elder Kiryuus staying home to monitor him. These missions were a pain in the ass to Yagari, who hated babysitting vampires more than anything but his young charge needed the experience.
Zero pondered on the pureblood kid that recently leeched herself onto his and Ichiru's lives. Jessica was so formal at this event and it was disturbing to see. Everyone was addressing her as Bally-sama and she looked bored at all the attention and he could see she was dying to walk over to him. She made it clear that she was harmless to him and his family, and even his parents warmed up to her but Yagari-sensei still told him to be cautious of her. 'Every vampire has fangs, no matter how pleasant they may seem.' He often repeated this mantra to his young disciples on missions such as this.
Suddenly a hush fell around the room, a strict old man walked to a podium and started speaking. "Thank you all for attending my 1000th birthday celebration this year." Many members of the audience clapped. "This year I have the honor of two purebloods joining me for this special occasion. Thank you Kuran Kaname-sama for accompanying my grandson and I." A brown haired boy, surrounded by a group of kids the around same age nodded at Ichiou. "And a warm welcome and thank you to Bally Jessica-sama who has joined us from the Caribbean branch of vampires." Jessica gave a polite smile to the Council Elder. "Please enjoy the celebrations and once again thank you all for your attendance." The music resumed and the vampires continued mingling.
Zero gave a glance to both purebloods and continued observing for any suspicious activity. "Zero, I'm going to speak to Hideaki, keep an eye out for any blood drinking." Yagari headed toward one of the other hunters stationed with them. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed an old woman slipping onto the floor, he rushed over and caught her just in time.
"Are you alright ma'am?" Even though the woman was a vampire, he couldn't ignore an old lady falling. "Yes sonny, I'm not injured but I do feel a little dizzy. Do you mind walking me over to one of the guest rooms? I think I need to lie down." Zero looked around to inform his Shishou of where he was going but couldn't locate him. It'll just be a second he thought as he took the woman's hand and lead her to a room down the hall. He felt Jessica's eyes following him the further he got.
As they entered the room Zero felt the atmosphere change, the old woman didn't seem as helpless as before and a chill swept through him. "You smell so good for a hunter." Her fangs were gleaming and her eyes steadily grew red. "Not many kids are as kind as you are little one, I was lucky I stumbled upon such a pure hearted hunter." She advanced to him, preparing to enjoy her meal.
Jessica was immediately suspicious of Higurashi, a normally graceful woman tripping on nothing in front of Zero. After excusing herself from her company she followed the two down the hall only to stumble on the old witch trying to attack Zero. Jessica let out a low growl and rushed at Higurashi claws out and fangs growing.
"How dare you!" Jessica grabbed the older vampire's throat. "HOW DARE YOU?" She was so enraged, this was her precious person and Higurashi wanted to hurt him. She was shaking the choking woman. "Never touch him again. Drinking blood of the non-willing is not permitted. If I so much as see your face again I will burn everything you hold dear." She let go of the lesser vampire and Higurashi made a break for it.
"I could have handled that." Zero stated a little shaken up. "I know you could have, but I lost control." She looked calmer than before. "Let's get back to the party before Yagari-san accuses me of murder."
A beat passed. "So burning? Aren't you not allowed near fire?"
"Zero you butthole, are you sassing me?" I guess I can see her appeal, Zero thought to himself. "And anyhow, aren't you not allowed near ice cream after what happened with Jiichan?" Or not.
Why the hell were those memories coming back to him now of all times. He thought he built up his hatred for her and all purebloods alike. She was the one who left, not him.
"Zero please wait!" She yelled still chasing after him. "Let me explain what happened back then. I only want to talk to you. Do you think I would have come back just to lie to you? If you don't like what I have to say you can walk away but please just listen," Jessica pleaded as they reached a clearing on the campus.
"Why should I listen to you? You left right before my parents killed that woman's lover." He gave her a piercing look. "It was suspicious when Tanaka-san said you decided to reconcile with your family and didn't inform anyone of your departure and then not even a week later Tanaka-san disappeared."
"Please believe me when I say this, the Vampire Council set me up. They contacted me about a matter in the Caribbean and said it was urgent, stating that my brother might have gone mad and they needed to capture him. I wrote a letter explaining the situation to your parents and asked Tanaka-san to deliver it but I guess I should have never trusted him." She smiled sadly and continued on, "When I got to the Caribbean, nothing was out of place and when I spoke to my brother he was fine. I contacted the Council again and found out that nothing was wrong with my brother they wanted me out of the country…
"Due to the strange closeness you have with the Kiryuu family, we decided it was best that you were out of the country before you do something heinous. We have reason to believe that the Kiryuus will kill Shizuka Hiou's lover and in return Hiou-sama will get revenge on them. If you interfere either you or Hiou-sama will kill one another. We humbly apologize for misinforming you but it was for the greater good. You do understand don't you, Bally-sama?" Jessica slammed down the phone in outrage.
She could feel herself losing it and her fangs were biting into her lip. Her eyes glowed red as she let out a scream. Energy blasts flew from her hands as she began her route of destruction.
"Jessica calm down, it was better that you didn't make a fool out of yourself by going on a rampage and getting killed over there." Her mother snidely remarked. "You have betrayed this family for the last time. Getting cozy with Hunters? For the next ten years you'll be sent off to a prestigious Vampire School in America and you will learn your place. You will never disgrace this family again." She dealt a blow to the back of her daughter's head and ordered their servant to prepare Jessica for her travels.
"When I woke up I was in an Elite School in America. I tried multiple times to escape but my mother told me you survived the attack and threatened to kill you if I didn't behave. I tricked them into believing I had changed and they let me back home. Not too long after Ichiru and that Hiou woman came and wrecked shit up. I came to back to Japan under the guise of revenge." Her eyes beseech him for forgiveness. "I am sorry things turned out this way Zero but I never wanted to hurt you."
"So if Ichiru didn't attack you, you would have never come back?" He asked bitterly. "I was looking for every opportunity to come back, Ichiru just came at a surprisingly good moment." She gave her best puppy dog eyes, "Do you think you can still cure my loneliness?"
"Are you still not allowed near fire?" He can't believe he is doing this again.
"Zero you butthole!" I guess he was.
A.N. So it kinda drags on for the first chapter but I promise you'll be getting your yaoi and crack drama the next chapter. I just wanted to clear up some backround information on Jessica and the Kiryuus past. On the topic of the next chapter Jessica gets introduced to the Night Class and begins her shipping spree and the next chapter will probably be posted tomorrow night or the day after. I have kinks to work out and as always constructive criticism is appreciated!