Morg: Heyo! New story time!
Ikuto: Another one?
Amu: If this one sucks like some of your other ones then I hope no one reads it.
Morg: Funny you should mention sucking.
Ikuto: I like the sound of this already.
Amu: You would, you pervert.
Morg: It's a vampire fic!
Ikuto: …what?
Amu: Great.
Morg: What!? I haven't written one, yet! I want to go for it!
Ikuto: She's joined the dark side.
Amu: Thank ever higher being that she doesn't own us.
Morg: This is a Dracula fic so it's going to be great!
Ikuto: Somehow, I doubt that.
Amu: You said it.
~Vampire Heart~
Living in isolation was all the Ikuto had ever wanted. Being close to humans was not what he desired. When the Hotori family had built their estate so close to his own-it was still a few miles away but that was too close for Ikuto-he'd been furious. His anger had started a feud between the two families that had lasted through several generations on the Hotori side. It couldn't last as long on Ikuto's since he didn't age.
"Stop staring at that house. You only brood more when you do."
Ignoring the female voice, Ikuto continued to glare over the railing of his balcony. His supreme eyesight gave him the ability to see as a car pulled into the long drive of the Hotori Estate. Something was happening there. Ikuto had been watching the preparations happen for weeks. They were about to celebrate something. "Mind your own business, Rima."
Used to the snarky comments from her betrothed, Rima simply rolled her eyes before moving further into the house. Just because Ikuto could be in the sunlight didn't mean that they all could be. "Whatever, that house has been there for ages now. It isn't going anywhere. Just give up all the fighting. It's useless."
Ikuto opened his mouth to hiss back a comment but stopped the moment the car door opened. A young girl was helped from the vehicle. Her hair was a lovely shade of pink and Ikuto wanted her. "Well, well, well. Things certainly just got interesting."
XXX
Staring blankly out the window as a car brought her to Tadase's family's home, Amu ignored the man chatting beside her. Whatever it was that Tadase was saying, Amu wasn't hearing it. It wasn't that she wasn't interested, it was just that she was rather nervous. It wasn't every day that you met the parents of the man you were going to marry just before you married him.
Amu's thoughts were only brought back to focus when Ami nudged her.
"-you're going to love it here, Amu. The air is so fresh and the land is beautiful. Kukai-san takes great pride in keeping the grounds in perfect condition. Our wedding will definitely be wonderful."
Smiling at the man she was to marry, Amu nodded before looking back out the winder. Her eyes landed on a rather large house sitting on top of a nearby hill. The house looked foreboding, but that didn't stop Amu from seeing some beauty in it. "This is definitely a beautiful area. I'm sure I'll be happy here."
The lie seemed to satisfy Tadase as he hummed while maneuvering the car around a turn. The house was blocked from Amu's view by trees, but that didn't stop the pinkette from thinking about it. She wondered if anyone lived there still.
By marrying Tadase, Amu was going to be living at his estate with his parents. She didn't particularly mind moving to the countryside. What Amu did mind was the fact that Tadase now expected her to just play the role of wife. She wasn't to do anything that might seem untoward.
However, with him traveling for business, Amu planned to do as much exploring of the area as she could. Their wedding would be within the week. After that, she'd be free of him most of the time.
Jolting out of her thoughts as the car stopped in front of the stairs that led to a rather large house, Amu briefly closed her eyes to gain her composure. Her parents hadn't made the trip yet. They'd be coming later in the week for the wedding, but her sister had come and Amu had to make certain that Ami couldn't tell she was apprehensive about this union.
The door opened without Amu touching it. She accepted Tadase's hand as he helped her out of the car and up the front steps to his home. The place was massive. Amu knew for certain that she'd easily get lost there.
XXX
"Yaya wants to know where Ikuto-sama is going!"
Sighing, Ikuto ignored the two brides before him. Their changes from human to vampire had happened centuries ago, but they still acted childish at times. However, Ikuto could honestly say he never regretted his decisions when he'd picked the three girls that were his brides. His life had definitely gone from dull to a bit exciting with them around.
However, they should never question him. Not when Ikuto was purposely not telling them something. He was still their master, after all. Had he been so lenient lately that they thought they could do whatever they wanted?
Hissing at the girl, Ikuto watched as Yaya and Rima cowered away from him. They hissed back, but it was more out of defense than it was to hold malice. "I will do as I wish. Keep your questions for yourselves."
Yaya hung her head as she moved to leave. It was daytime. She and Rima could not be in the sunlight unless they wished to perish. Ikuto was the only one that could do that. Him and whoever he took as his mate someday.
Sighing, Rima moved to follow Yaya and leave Ikuto to do whatever it was that Ikuto was doing. "Utau isn't going to like this when she finds out."
Ignoring the clear warning that his bride was giving him, Ikuto shrugged his shoulders before leaving the house. "She can also keep it to herself."
The time that it would take Ikuto to walk to the house mansion was far less than it should have been. His abilities as a vampire made it easy for him to move quickly. In fact, he was much faster than any human could ever wish to be. His senses were also heightened. He easily maneuvered past the useless guard that patrolled the borders of the land to make certain no trespassers would enter. Humans were useless.
Straightening himself, Ikuto approached the front door of the house before knocking on the large door. He did not have to wait long for it to be opened for him. Without hesitating, Ikuto entered after a low 'come in' was given to him by the servant. It had been a long time since he'd actually visited the Hotori Estate. He could honestly say that not much had changed.
"What is it that I can do for you, sir?"
Smiling at the servant before him, Ikuto gave a slight nod of his head in the form of a bow. He'd never bend his back to a human, but he needed to be polite at the moment to gain entry to the house. "I wish to speak with the young master of the estate. I bring good news for him."
The servant bowed before leaving the foyer to find the young master that was sought after. He returned soon enough with the man that Ikuto hated purely because his last name was Hotori.
"I'm not expecting anyone. Who could be here to see me?"
Nodding his head at the human now within his view, Ikuto kept his demeanor as pleasant as he could. Hotori Tadase was a brat that he'd never wanted to meet. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Hotori. I'm Tsukiyomi Ikuto. My estate borders yours. I've heard the good news of your engagement and came to wish you congratulations."
"Tsukiyomi? What are you doing here?"
Ikuto knew that the feud between them would hinder his plans, but he wasn't about to give up so easily. The pink haired girl was definitely somewhere within the house. Ikuto simply wished to meet her. "Ah, I'm here to set the fight between our families to rest. Think of my visit as an opportunity to lay old feuds to rest."
Tadase stared at the hand offered to him for several seconds before taking it. His father and his grandfather and his grandfather's father had all hated the Tsukiyomi's, but Tadase had never been wronged by the family. With his wedding drawing so near, he thought it would be a good opportunity to indeed mend the rift. "Welcome to our home, Tsukiyomi."
"Call me Ikuto." The man that he was shaking hands with did not need to know that Ikuto was the same Tsukiyomi that had started the fight with Tadase's ancestors. If the man knew his true age then Ikuto would be cast out and called a monster, though that was exactly what he was. "You must be busy with the preparations of your wedding. Are things going smoothly?"
Still a bit wary of the man that suddenly showed up at his home, Tadase gave a slight nod of his head to answer the question. "Things are going well. My servants are seeing to it. Please, won't you join us for a bit of tea?"
Ikuto would have refused the offer at any other time due to the fact that he did not consume human food. Unless it was humans as his food. However, the purpose of his visit was not to make friends with the young Hotori. No, Ikuto would rather snap his little neck and be done with the entire line. He, of course, accepted the offer of tea for one sole purpose. To meet the fiancé. He'd seen her from afar, but Ikuto wanted to see her from a much closer to viewpoint to make certain that he was correct in his thoughts.
Following the man through his house, Ikuto didn't bother to hide his distain at the decorations that littered the hall. The Hotori's had no sense of propriety. Then again, he left all the decorating to Utau, so Ikuto couldn't really say much about the items around him.
They entered through an open to door into a small parlor where two young girls were already seated with cups in their hands. One was clearly younger than the other. Her hair was a light brown and she seemed rather excited to be where she was.
The other girl, however, didn't seem to share the same enthusiasm. Her pink hair was pulled halfway up to leave her face open for Ikuto to see. In that moment, he knew that she would be his wife. He only needed to make her accept it.
"Ladies, this is Tsukiyomi Ikuto. He lives up upon the hill. Our families have never gotten along, but he's heard of the engagement and came to set old disputes to rest."
Ikuto only had eyes for the pink haired beauty. He was quick to bow to her, the first bow he'd given a human in several hundred years. She, however, was more than a lowly human to him. His eyes never left hers as he spoke, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I do hope that your time here will be pleasant."
Amu was not quite certain what she should think of the man staring at her so openly. However, her sister broke the silence she seemed to be trapped in by those blue eyes.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Tsukiyomi san. Please join us for some tea."
Smirking a bit, Ikuto moved forward to sit opposite of the girls. He didn't bother to look away from Amu's beautiful eyes. She would, indeed, make a most beautiful vampire bride. "I hope that this week is rather eventful for you."
Clearing her throat, Amu shifted her gaze down to the cup in her hands. Something told her to be wary of the male that had just entered the room, though she couldn't help but be drawn to him. "Yes, I suppose it will be."
Clapping his hands, Tadase smiled at his soon to be wife before gesturing for everyone to enjoy their tea. "Let's drink to our happiness! Amu, my love, please pour our guest a drink."
Ikuto, though he disliked the taste of human foods, gladly drank to that. He would indeed be happy in the future. Especially with Amu at his side.
.
Morg: First chapter done!
Ikuto: What is this?
Amu: I don't know, but I kind of like it so far.
Morg: It's a vampire fic. What else would it be?
Ikuto: This better get good in the near future or no one is going to like it.
Amu: Oh, stop it.
Morg: Please prove him wrong and tell me what you think!