Disclaimer: I do not own or am affiliated with Vampire Knight, the werewolf characters are specifically mine.
PS Twilight should die in a fire because these vampires are SOOOOO much cooler.
It was not long after noon and Kaname was still awake. He didn't sleep much to begin with and now he got even less. On his desk lay the cause of this insomnia. Reports; reports from the Vampire Council, reports from his spies, dozens of reports each one separately infuriating and disconcerting at the same time.
The council were questioning his ideals for Cross academy yet again and there had already been a few isolated incidents of 'encroachers' on school grounds. The Hunter's association were also making their insecurities on the situation known.
Tensions between the council and the werewolf assembly were growing by the day, with accusations of breaches in conduct on both sides, as of yet unverified.
On top of it all he had more personal problems to deal with. Yuuki was coming closer to discovering the truth every day and he now had to contend with a bloodthirsty Zero as well. The council was watching his every move, now closer than ever. They had always wanted to try and control him, out of fear no doubt and he had always been a step ahead but now the house of cards he'd built around himself was slowly falling down around him.
The council's latest attempt to spear head his privacy was their insistence that he choose a mate. Obviously they expected him, to mate with another pure blood; that was the last thing he needed, another pair of power hungry eyes watching his every move, invading his space, putting Yuuki in danger.
He shook his head to himself. If the council knew who he was supposed to mate with…that would put Yuuki in even more danger.
He leaned back in his chair turning away from his desk, he needed to quiet his mind to think of a solution. After a few moments of sitting quietly letting his mind go vacant he fell into a fitful slumber.
Dream Sequence
He dreamt of himself as a child, seeing himself and yet seeing it all through the child's eyes as well. He was watching several older larger boys wrestle. Although a violent sport they all had good natured smiles on their faces. He heard a light laugh and turned to see his parents chatting amicably with another couple. He looked back at the wrestling boys and suddenly heard a small voice cheering off to the left.
"Come on Thor! Come on! You can do it!" She cheered clapping, jumping, and laughing.
He stared at her for a while entranced by her exuberant nature so unlike vampires. Unfortunately he was caught when she turned to look at him. He looked away and when he finally looked back her gaze had not moved from his person. She gave him a friendly smile before bouncing over to him. "Hi, my name is Maia what's yours?"
"Kaname." He answered coolly.
"Pleased to meet you. Would you like to play with me?" She asked openly.
He looked from her to the boys wrestling and back to her. "I am afraid I do not know how the game is played and I fear my mother would not appreciate it if I mussed my clothes."
Maia laughed and shook her head. "Not that game silly, another game. What do you like to play?"
"I've never played…" He stated eyes turning away from her warm expression once again.
"Well then I'll teach you. How about tag?" She proceeded to teach him all the rules of the game and then some how managed to coax him into playing. Regardless of the simplicity of the game he soon found her laughter to be infectious and found himself enjoying it as well.
"Gotcha!" Maia shouted as she jumped and grabbed a hold of his leg dragging him to the ground. They both laughed and suddenly a small Yuuki jumped on top of Maia. "Gotcha!" She mimicked. Maia was now older to his eyes as was he although Yuuki was just a baby and now their games were restricted to within the manor walls for Yuuki's safety.
Maia laughed and rolled over tickling Yuuki.
"Maia!" A woman's voice called from the door.
Maia hugged and kissed Yuuki before turning to smile at Kaname and bowed her head. "Bye Kaname!" Her voice echoed as she ran across the room. As she moved her form seemed to fade out of being and suddenly Kaname was surrounded by vampires in black lavishing him with attention and fake sympathy.
His heart heavy and his stomach empty he was not in the mood for any of it. The memory of that day was one he would not soon forget. He finally managed to duck away from his 'keeper' long enough to get some air. He stood in the garden outside the lavish villa staring off into space when the sound of leaves shuffling near by caused him to turn his head sharply, but the scent that assailed his nose was not one of foe, but friend.
In the shadow of the trees stood Maia and her family all dressed in black. The sorrow in their eyes was real sympathy, for they were the only people who could truly understand his pain for they felt it almost as acutely.
"We are truly sorry for the loss of your family, Kaname." Her father said trying to keep a proper air about him.
"We will all miss them terribly." Her mother said with a heavy heart her eyes downcast.
Her brothers all shared their condolences. "Your sorrow is ours brother."
"Know that you have a family with us as well."
"If you need anything, do not hesitate to contact us."
When his eyes fell on Maia's face she bit her lip and threw her arms around his neck in an unexpected move. Hugs were rarely something Kaname indulged in but he desperately needed this one. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.
"Oh Kaname!" She choked into his shoulder. "I am so sorry. I miss her too."
He could smell her tears falling and wanted desperately to comfort her and tell her the truth. If anyone deserved to know it was Maia, but he had known telling her would not only endanger Yuuki, but her as well.
Suddenly as he stared into those beautiful sorrow filled orbs her expression changed from one of sadness and comfort to one of horror and pain.
"NO! STOP! Leave me alone!" She screamed before her body and face disappeared into darkness replaced by Yuuki's face. "Help! Oniisama!"
Then the face of his father, Haruka, calm and resolute in the moments before his death. "I wish you truly were my son."
Then everything suddenly turned red, blood red, his hands were covered with blood, the thirst for it began to thrum through him until the shadows parted and revealed the corpses of his loved ones.
The humming in his veins all but dried up and he was consumed by a feeling of cold and fear like he had never known when suddenly…
End Dream Sequence
Kaname's eyes opened and he slowly blinked as he recognized the surroundings of his study. He looked down at his hands and felt relief wash over him as he saw they were clean of blood.
"Maia…" He whispered to himself. He had not seen or thought of her in years. Suddenly his curiosity peaked by the dream he began to flip back through the reports searching for the report on the werewolf kingdom.
Kaname did not often dream by design, but sometimes he lost control over his sleep patterns and they managed to turn up. So the fact that he had dreamt at all served to stir his interest.
He looked over the notes on the uncertain peace between vampire and werewolf and the catalog of complaints the council had against the kingdom at present. Neither held any pertinent information regarding the royal family. He thought for a moment before getting up and going to a cabinet across the room. The cabinet held the last two or three reports his spies had brought him. He never kept them for long but he hoped that one of these would hold the answer.
After flipping through them he came upon a copy of a formal royal missive from the werewolf kingdom to the council. It was nothing but the same political niceties masking a contemptuous peace, but it was the signature that baffled him.
It was signed, Her Royal Majesty Queen Maia de Lupo
Kaname's eyes widened a fraction, 'Queen?!' He thought.
When he had known her, Maia was the youngest child and only daughter of the werewolf King Miran and his wife Queen Esperanza. She had four older brothers, there was never any reason for her to ascend the throne…
"Seiren." He called softly.
The female vampire appeared out of thin air before him. "Yes, my lord." She bowed obediently.
"I want you to find out whatever you can about the werewolf royal family and our current political standings with them regarding the peace of Nox is Frati."
"Yes sir." Seiren nodded immediately disappearing to complete her appointed tasks leaving Kaname with his thoughts still mired in confusion and disarray.
Seiren did not return until the next morning when the night class was returning to the Moon Dorm. Kaname was still preoccupied with all his problems, but when Seiren appeared before him in his study as he shucked out of his uniform jacket he could think only of Maia.
"What do you have for me?" He asked all business.
"Kaname-sama the Queen of the werewolf kingdom is one Maia de Lupo only living heir to Miran's line. She has been ruling these last two years since the death of her brother. There is discord amongst her own assembly. It would seem they feel a woman is incapable of leading them and that she is far too young for the job. The Nox is Frati still stands my lord, but on fragile legs. Both sides have complaints and are attempting to sabotage all established peace efforts."
When Seiren finished her report Kaname stared off to the side trying to adjust to all the information, some more shocking then the rest.
"What happened to the royal family?" He asked trying to sound passive.
"There are not many details, but they are all deceased."
"Thank you Seiren." Kaname said quickly dismissing the spy.
He sat in his chair running her words over and over in his head. 'Deceased? All of them? That can be no accident.'
Maia and he now had everything in common. Both left alone to face a world that both hated and envied them. To rule and be ruled. She was considered weak and he was under suspicion, it was nothing like their happy days of old.
Kaname's mind traversed the gauntlet of all his troubles and the new information regarding Maia.
As his mind settled on Maia his thoughts all seemed to fall into place. They were both lonely and it was obvious he longed to see his friend, the dream was proof enough, but more than that he saw a way they could help each other.
"Ichijou." He called for the dorm vice president.
The perky blonde vampire entered the study without prelim. "Kaname-sama?" He asked with a quizzical expression.
"I need you to deliver a message for me."
"I will get Seiren straight away." Takuma automatically answered.
"No, I want you to deliver it personally. I need your discretion and you are the only one I would trust with this task." Kaname stared down the younger vampire. Kaname trusted no one, but Takuma was his best friend and although his grandfather was not to be trusted in the slightest he knew Takuma was better than that.
Takuma nodded slowly. Silently proud that Kaname would give him such an important assignment.
"I need you to travel to Campo de Estrellas." Kaname still maintained his cold outward façade appearing all business.
"The werewolf capital?"
"Yes. Request an audience with her majesty Maia de Lupo."
Takuma stood still his eyes slightly widened, in surprise at the request. Kaname had never before showed any interest in the politics with the werewolves.
"Tell her that I request a private audience with her 3 nights from now, here at the moon dorm. Tell her it is of the utmost importance and if she balks at the idea, tell her Kaname does not know how to play such games."
Takuma nodded and wasn't certain if he had seen the small smirk that crossed Kaname's face it happened so fast.
"No one is to know where you are going." Kaname reiterated firmly.
Takuma nodded again and bowed. "Yes Kaname-sama." He turned and left the room without another word maintaining a calm and unhurried façade as he went about preparing to embark on his journey.
He went on foot, such travel would attract the least attention, relying on his vampiric speed a black cloak hiding his sensitive pale skin from the morning sun as he race across forest and wasteland to reach the werewolf capital. He arrived just after 1 in the afternoon. He kept downwind and to the shadows to keep from being prematurely detected. He knew that many werewolves held no love for vampires regardless of the peace treaty. He was enchanted by the capital. He had never been before but Kaname's directions were spot on. It was more of a large township then a city and it held a very rustic and community appeal.
When he reached the royal manor he was surprised to find a smaller less grand chateau then those of his noble vampire brethren, it was none the less magnificent.
He traversed the busy street carefully and snuck through the gates unnoticed. He debated on whether he should sneak all the way in, but decided on the diplomatic route as was his forte. He removed the hood of his cloak and knocked on the double wooden doors and a burly man in uniform answered.
"Yes?" He asked his voice even and strong.
"I wish to have an audience with her majesty it is a matter of great import." He asked with his same old polite manner and smile.
The burly guard stared at him with an analyzing gaze for a few moments before stepping aside and saying, "Come in."
As soon as the door closed the man sniffed and Takuma could tell by the way his shoulders stiffened that he could smell he was a vampire. He took Takuma's cloak from him and hung it up. "Wait here." He instructed throwing a gaze at another guard nearby that clearly said, 'Watch him.'
The guard headed up the central staircase and took a left heading down the short hall to Maia's office.
He knocked and a firm "Enter." Was heard from the other side.
He opened the door to reveal Maia sitting at her desk reading over reports diligently. She looked up at him and raised a curious brow, "Yes?"
"Your highness, there is a young man downstairs requesting an audience with you. He says it is important, but he smells of vampire."
Maia's eyebrow raised higher at this information and she set her pen aside sitting back in her chair. "Bring him up."
The guard nodded and closed the door. Maia listened this his footfalls and thought hard. She was not expecting an envoy from the vampire council, but with all the goings on lately she knew more or less why one might appear at her door, but it was not for an audience.
Takuma was led to the study and when the guard opened the door he was greeted with the sight of the beautiful werewolf queen. He had heard many rumors about werewolves, most of them bad. He was told that they were disgusting, filthy, and barbaric creatures by most but, he had hardly ever seen one. Looking at the gorgeous creature before him he now knew all those rumors to be false. He bowed respectfully and maintained a charming smile.
"Your majesty, it is an honor to meet you. Thank you for seeing me."
"I would say it is an honor, but I do not know you. I seem to be at a disadvantage."
Takuma noticed right away that her voice was all charm and calm, but firm brokering no mischief.
"I am Ichijou Takuma, loyal servant to the pureblood vampire Kuran Kaname."
Takuma missed the shock that passed through Maia's eyes at his words.
"Lord Kaname?" She whispered curious, but kept her voice even.
"Yes. He wishes a private audience with you."
Maia narrowed her eyes at the messenger. She had not seen nor heard from Kaname in many years, it was hard to believe he would just contact her out of the blue one day especially in such a formal fashion. To her knowledge he didn't even know of her ascent to the throne and she knew nothing of his situation.
"How do I know you speak the truth?" She asked abruptly.
Takuma stood tall prepared by Kaname for such a query. "Kaname-sama said he does not know how to play such games and that you would understand."
Maia allowed a small smile to cross her face at that. She remembered well the first day that she met the pureblood, the poor boy knew nothing of 'playing'. This had to be a real request from Kaname.
"A private audience you say?" She questioned.
"Yes. 3 nights from now at Cross Academy's, Moon Dorm." Takuma replied.
"Unofficially?"
"Unofficially."
"Did he say why?"
"Only that it was important, nothing more."
Maia shook her head, she shouldn't have been surprised that Kaname had inherited the Kuran family's legendary pension for secrets and discretion. A leader herself now she realized how important such things were.
"Alright. Tell him I shall be there one hour after nightfall." She answered with finality
Takuma smiled and bowed once again. "Thank you your highness, I will tell him we await your visit most earnestly."
As the door closed behind Takuma she sighed a dreamy kind of sigh.
"Kuran Kaname." She said to herself. Her mind raced over memories of the young vampire's smiling eyes.
She laughed and shook her head. "I wonder what game we will play this time."