Chapter 1: Memory stained with blood
Zero straightened the red bow of his new girl night class uniform. After he deemed it straight enough he took a step back to face his own reflection in the mirror fully. Zero didn't stop the loud growl that escaped his lips at what he saw.
His long silver hair was tied up into a high ponytail; lip-gloss coated his rosy pink lips, eyeliner and mascara made his lilac color eyes look darker than they originally were. The white skirt was too short for his liking even though he had two pairs of underwear, which he only wore to hide his obvious manhood. And in cause of anything he donned on some black shorts underneath it for in case some pervert idiot tries to lift up his skirt for a peak of his 'panties'.
Zero hated wearing a bra because not only was it a big blow to his ego as being a man, but it was so damn hard to put on. Zero couldn't understand how a girl could put up with a contraption made from hell. The bra itself was uncomfortable to wear but even so Zero was force to wear it in order to place the dreaded fake silicon boobs.
The black button-up shirt and white uniform jacket was way too fitted that it gave the illusion that he actually had huge tits to show off. Zero didn't like to reveal his legs so he was grateful for the fact that the night class uniform for girls came with over-the-knee high socks.
Zero didn't want to admit it but he looked like a genuine girl.
"Now what was that growl for Zero-nii?" Ichiru asked as he entered the room both Zero and him shared together.
"I look ridicules Ichiru." Zero growled again.
"Really?" Ichiru said wrapping his arms around his brother's shoulders from behind and looked across Zero's shoulder at the large mirror leaning against the wall. "I disagree Zero-nii, I think you look wonderful in that night class uniform."
"How can you even say that when you can't even see how I look?"
Soon after those words left Zero's mouth, he immediately turned around to look at his brother who stiffened in his arms.
"I'm sorry Ichiru, I didn't mean to say that."
Ichiru looked up at his brother's face. His light violet eyes stared at Zero but his eyes not seeing anything but blackness.
"It's okay Zero-nii. Your right, I can't see anything after losing my eyesight after what happened ten years ago. But even so my memory is still pretty good at remembering how adorably cute my onii-Chan was when mother use to dress us up in frilly little dresses when we were young."
"Tch…don't remind me." Zero said chuckling at the memory as he buried his face into his brother's short silver hair that was shoulder length.
A few minutes ticked by before Zero's chuckle died down and his face become serious.
"What's the matter Zero-nii?" Ichiru asked after a moment.
"It's nothing Ichiru."
"Liar! I can feel your frown on my head and that can only mean your remembering that time again."
In Zero and Ichiru's head there was one distinct time that they could never forget no matter how long time went on because it hunted them in their nightmares. It was carved into their minds and was burned into their very heart and soul. It was the time they witnessed the murder of their parents.
-Flashback-
Snowflakes were falling like leaves from a tree, gently drifting to the ground covering it with a blanket of untouched snow. The sky was grey and the night was chilly over the wooded log cabin that was surrounded by miles of wilderness. But that was how the Kiryu couple liked it. Because it was here where they couldn't be judge by the eyes of others or be the center of the hushed whispers and rude remarks made by the two different societies they were both born from.
Their love was a scandalous act in the eyes of both societies even though they had pushed for co-existence amongst each other and though the all-powerful pureblood couple Juri and Haruka Kuran gave their blessing for the happy couple, a pureblood vampire falling for a human who happened to be part of the strongest hunter families was just something that neither the vampire society and the hunters could except. However none of that mattered to either Shizuka Hiou or Akira Kiryu who were madly and deeply in love with each other; because with the love they shared they were able to have Zero and Ichiru, the most important people in their lives.
The night started out like any other night had. Shizuka was in the kitchen preparing dinner, Akira was in the living room watching the news and both Ichiru and Zero were upstairs in their room doing whatever they were doing. Shizuka was cutting freshly washed carrots and celery when she heard the hurried footsteps of her sons running down the stairs.
"Zero-nii wait." Ichiru shouted running after his brother who was reaching for the doorknob to the front door.
"Hurry up Ichiru I want to get there just as a second coat of snow is forming." Zero said as he opened the door to a winter wonderland. Just as Zero was about to step one foot out the door a strong hand grabbed him from the back of his shirt pulling him back and closing the door.
"Where do you think you're going mister?" Shizuka asked lifting her son so that his eyes met hers.
"Zero-nii looks like a kitten." Ichiru giggled at his brother being held from the back of his shirt.
"Going outside." Zero answered his mother, ignoring the not so funny remark made to him by his brother.
"Well you're going to have to wait until dinner is finished." Shizuka said putting down Zero and walking back to the kitchen.
"But that's a long time from now." Zero whined following his mother into the kitchen.
"It's only a twenty minute wait until it's done."
"Yea but that's like a billion hour wait for us kids."
Shizuka rolled her eyes at her son's words and continued cutting the carrots. "Well you're a vampire Zero, you can wait that long."
"What can he wait for?" Akira asked entering the kitchen.
"Mother won't let me go outside because she wants me to wait until after dinner."
Akira looked at his son then to his wife, "Come on Shizuka at least just for a little."
"Akira I said no."
Akira wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, "Pretty please with a cherry on top."
Shizuka gave a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay fine, but be back inside in time for dinner."
"Yes…thank you mother." Zero said and ran with his brother out the front door.
Shizuka pulled back the curtain of the small window in the kitchen and watched for a moment as Ichiru and Zero played with the snow.
"You know Akira sometimes I really hate you." Shizuka murmured as she continued cutting.
"You don't mean that." Akira whispered hugging his wife tighter. "You love me too much to actually hate me."
"Shut up."
Akira turned his wife around so her rosy pink colored eyes were looking into his violet ones. "See your cute little blush says it all."
"You know you're not very cute at all."
"Oh really? So what about me is not cute?" Akira asked his wife.
"Those violet eyes of yours…that ash blond hair, your pale skin and…and,"
"And what?" Akira leaned closer. "My lips perhaps?"
"No." Shizuka said flatly. "It's your inability to say no to our sons."
"Ouch." Akira held his hands to his heart, "That hurt Shizuka."
Shizuka giggled and turned her attention back to making dinner. "Just shut up and help me will you." Akira compelled with his wife and began to stir the broth around after Shizuka had added the cut carrots and celery. Shizuka was cutting the sauté chicken breast she had prepared earlier into small pieces when she felt an ominous aura hit her suddenly making her stop her action.
"Shizuka call the boys quickly and bring them inside." Akira said immediately going into protection mode after feeling the same ominous aura his wife felt a second ago. Shizuka only nodded before she darted toward the front door of their house.
-0-
"Zero-nii look I made a snowman." Ichiru pointed over to a where he made his snowman.
"That's nice Ichiru." Zero said uninterested because his current attention was held toward the horizon.
"Liar you didn't even see it."
"Ichiru hush!"
Just as Zero said Ichiru hushed and followed his brother's line of vision. "What's the matter Zero-nii?"
"I sense people coming…and a lot of them at that."
"Y-you think we should tell momma and papa?" Before Zero could answer his brother's question, the worried voice of their mother called for the both of them to come into the house.
"Let's go Zero-nii." Ichiru pulled his brother along and the both of them ran in the direction of their house.
"Mother there's people coming here." Zero said when he entered the house.
"So you sensed them too, Zero." Zero looked up at his mother and nodded.
"Momma why are they here? I'm scared." Ichiru said beginning to cry, his hand was still holding tightly onto his brother's.
"Shh don't worry sweetie everything will be all right I promise." Shizuka tried to reassure her son. "So come with me so I can put you two in a safe place."
Zero and Ichiru both followed their mother into the hallway where she pushed aside a large Persian rug to reveal a trap door. Shizuka lifted it and ushered her sons in, "I need you two to promise me something, okay."
Both twins nodded their heads.
"No matter what you hear or what you might see don't leave this place. Follow these tunnels all the way to the other side until you reach an opening. Once you have reached it I want you to run as fast as your legs can carry you, there will be a large lake that most likely will be frozen over by this time. I want you to make it over that because on the other side will be a large mansion that belongs to a distant relative of mine, that place will be a safe place for you two."
"Momma what about you and papa?" Ichiru cried. Shizuka gave a sad smile and placed a kiss on top of her sons' forehead.
"Don't worry Ichiru as soon as we take care of things over here we will be right behind you," Akira said from the doorway. "So until then don't look back and just continue running no matter what."
"You promise?"
Akira and Shizuka both looked at each other before looking back at their sons' faces, tears were streaming down Shizuka's face.
"Here…take this with you, Zero." Shizuka unclipped the back of her necklace and handed it to her eldest son.
"What is it?" Zero asked looking at the weird color jewel.
"It's a black amethyst jewel that possesses unbelievable powers within it."
"Like what?"
"Well for instants it is able to conceal both you and your brother's vampire auras from being detected." Akira said as he clipped the silver chain that held the Black Amethyst around his son's neck.
"But the best part about it is that when you hold it up toward the sky and let the light beam through it you are able to see the faces of the ones you love whether if they are dead or alive." Shizuka looked at the dark purple oval shaped jewel that was set in white gold and had silver vines wrapping all around it, curling over the surface of the jewel that was surrounded by a row of round diamonds. "It is my greatest possession and now it's yours Zero. Please take care of it for me." With that Shizuka closed the door and placed the rug back over it, disappearing down the hallway with Akira following behind her.
"Zero-nii what did she mean by that?" Ichiru asked.
"I don't know but come with me." Zero said crawling in the same direction their parents went down.
"Zero-nii we have to go the other way."
"I know I just want to see whose coming."
"But Zero-nii."
"Only just a peek Ichiru and then we can leave."
Ichiru didn't say anything but followed his brother from behind until his brother stopped under a crack in the floor board above, Zero and Ichiru covered one eye and peered through the crack. After looking around a little they were able to tell that they were underneath the living room floor.
"Akira I feel bad for lying to our sons like that." Shizuka said to her husband who was standing next to her.
"I know, I do too but it had to be done in order for them not to get involved in this."
"I-I hope they make it to my relative's house safely."
"They will honey they are both every smart boys."
"That I know…but I haven't spoken to my relatives for so long and what if the enemies were to search for them there?"
"They won't because the last place the enemy will think to look will be at a relative's house, especially one that the Hiou family hasn't talked to for almost a thousand years. So I know they will be safe there no matter what."
"I hope your right." Shizuka whispered as she placed a chaste kiss to Akira's lips. At that moment the front door burst open along with the windows of the living room revealing level E vampires.
"Quite the place you have here Mr. and Mrs. Kiryu." A tall big man with hard lines of muscle and bone etched onto his sturdy frame made his way into the living room along with a smaller yet heavy built man following behind him.
Akira immediately recognized the first man as his old childhood acquaintance when the man, Toga, and him had studied under the same master when they were training to become vampire hunters. His name was Daisuke Tsukahara; he was one of the third best vampire hunters in the Hunter Association. The second man Akira didn't know personally, but he did see him around special gatherings held by the Vampire Council and Akira knew for sure that he was most likely a rat for them.
"How dare you trespass on our property and barge into our house." Shizuka growled fiercely at the unwanted intruders.
Daisuke turned his attention toward Shizuka; an annoyed look was plastered over his face. "Well if it isn't the Mad Blooming Princess Shizuka Hiou. You most know how pissed my employer was after you had married a human." Daisuke looked over at Akira who was baring his fangs, "Well ex-human now."
"Zero-nii I can't really hear what they're saying." Ichiru whispered to Zero who was still peering through the crack.
"I can't either but if I can get a little bit closer then maybe we can." Zero responded back.
"Zero-nii we can't it's too dangerous."
"I know but I have to hear what they're saying to each other." Before Zero could crawl closer Ichiru grabbed his brother's arm. "What is it Ichiru?"
"Look," Was the only response Ichiru gave to his brother before he looked up to see what was going on.
"What business do you have coming here?" Akira asked the man who had so rudely invaded his home and was terrorizing him and his wife.
"I will answer all your questions but first…may we have a seat first." Daisuke said and pointed toward the living room. "I really don't want to stand in the hallway all day…and don't worry I won't do anything."
Akira and Shizuka looked at each other for a moment before stepping aside letting Daisuke and the other man enter the living room, all the while not keeping their guards down for in case Daisuke was to go back on his word. After Daisuke made himself comfortable on Akira's beige colored couch, he turned his full attention toward the two wary vampires staring down at him near the doorway between the hallway and the living room.
"I guess you want an explanation to why me and my friends are here?"
"Friends…I find that quite shocking coming from a well-known vampire hunter, who I known for years for hating the very thing he hunts with a passion just like Toga Yagari." Akira replied coolly.
"Akira don't get me wrong I do hate these pieces of shit vampire scumbags…" Daisuke pointed to the level E vampires around the room, including the level B vampire who was sitting next to him. "But you must also know that I love money more and it doesn't matter where it comes from or what dirty deed I must accomplish for them as long as my employer pays me well for doing it."
"I don't give two shits about any of that because all I want is for you to tell me why you are here and I want the truth if you don't mind." Shizuka demanded harshly her patience wearing thin.
"Testy aren't we Mrs. Kiryu." Daisuke chuckled, "but I guess all mothers would act like that especially if they had young ones to protect."
Shizuka was going to lash out on the man, but was stopped when Akira stepped in front of her, "Sorry to inform you but Shizuka and I don't have any kids."
Daisuke looked at Akira disbelievingly, "You expect me to believe that you two have never produced offspring's even after twenty years of a love filled marriage?" The room erupted in laughter before it was silenced in an instant when the man next to Daisuke held up his hand. "Don't bullshit me Akira I know you won't be able to hold yourself when you have such a sexy looking pureblood bitch sleeping next to you every night."
This time it was Akira that growled at Daisuke. "You son of a bitch, I will kill you."
"I will love to see you try-"
"Enough!" Akira and Daisuke turned toward the vampire that was sitting next to Daisuke on the couch. "Daisuke I suggest you get started on the task my master had asked of you and not continue delaying."
"I am not delaying." Daisuke protested angrily.
"Then do as you were told already." The vampire stood to stand, "And do it quickly my master does not like to wait." With that the vampire disappeared through the front door.
"Cocky bastard." Daisuke murmured as soon as the vampire was far away enough. "But anyways I guess I better wrap this up if I want to get paid." Without notice two level E's came from behind Akira and Shizuka grabbing them just in time for Daisuke to inject them with a syringe.
"W-what the hell?" Akira stuttered out his words, his body began to burn as whatever it was that was injected within him started taking effect.
"This little ole thing?" Daisuke asked looking at the syringe that had once held a reddish liquid inside. "This happens to be an experimental drug that is able to seal away a vampire's natural ability such as powers, strength, the whole sorts."
Akira felt a sharp pain in his lungs that had him hunched over coughing up blood.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that would happen."
"Y-you bastard." Akira wheezed as more blood started coming from his mouth and each of his ears. Blood began dripping onto the hard wood floors, seeping into the cracks until finally landing on the pale skin of Zero's cheek where he and his brother sat frozen to their spot.
"Another thing I forgot to mention is that this drug is not really a drug but more like a cell eating parasite that scientist created upon the request of my employer who wanted it made especially so it can kill the Kuran couple."
"T-the Kuran c-couple?" Shizuka looked up at Daisuke through blood filled eyes, her hand was clenching tightly to her chest.
"So you didn't hear?" Daisuke faked a shocked expression, "The Kuran couple died…well actually I shouldn't say that since they were actually murdered a week ago."
"Y-you killed them?"
"Me? Of course not but my friend that just left did…while I just watched and let me tell you they pretty much died the same way you are about too."
"You won't get away with this do you understand! The Vampire Council along with the Hunter Association will find out about this and have you all killed!" Shizuka warned as she fell to her knees.
"Sorry sweetie, but that is where you're wrong. You see everything was made and planned so that you were the ones who murdered the Kuran couple and with the death of the dear King and Queen on your hands the Council members have called for your immediate capture and execution. But listen closely because this is where I get to the good part…" Daisuke said with a smile, "The Hunter Association is also looking to have you killed…mostly because they don't want to be blamed for hiring a murderer into their Association and by doing that they betrayed your trust and gave the where about of your hide out to the Council members who probably sent dozens of vampires and hunters on their way here now to kill you."
"B-but aren't you working for them?" Akira asked a little confused.
"No I work for an independent employer, but I will admit that this person does have close connections to both heads of the Vampire Council and the Hunter Association. However none of them know what he is planning behind the scenes, even I don't know and I work for the bastard. I am just here to kill you two and leave the blame for god knows who, but I might have an idea."
"Who do you mean by that?" Shizuka questioned but only received a dark snicker.
"I'm sorry, but it appears I said too much and now you have to pay with your lives." Daisuke pulled out a Black Hand gun and pointed it toward Shizuka aiming for her heart. And just as he pulled the trigger Akira's form ran in-between Shizuka and the bullet where it pierced into his chest.
"NO!" Shizuka yelled as she crawled toward the body of her husband. Her bloody hands were cradling her husband's head as tears of blood dripped from her eyes and fell onto Akira's pale color skin.
"I-I love you S-Shizuka." Akira whispered kissing the ends of her long silver hair.
"I love you too Akira." Shizuka looked at her husband; her fingers brushed away a few strings of hair away from his face. "Live free my husband."
"And die well my wife." Akira's hand fell limp making those his final words. Shizuka didn't stop the uncontrollable sobs that escaped her lips the moment her husband's body went stiff.
"Aw, how sad those bullets were made for you." Daisuke said disappointedly, "Oh well, he was going to die anyways. But now for you my dear, do you have any last words before I kill you next?"
Shizuka glared dangerously toward Daisuke, "I'll see you in hell-"
Something sharp made its way through Shizuka's neck from behind her, making Daisuke stare up until he met dark green eyes of the same vampire that he was with earlier holding a bloody sword in his hands. "What the hell! She was my kill."
The vampire just shrugged his shoulders, "I got tired of waiting and decided to finish it off for you…no worries though you will still get the rest of your money."
"Well in that case, all is good then." Daisuke was about to turn to leave when he stopped after seeing a flash of silver beneath a crack on the floor broad. "And he said he didn't even have kids." Daisuke pointed his gun toward the floor.
Zero pulled his brother and shouted as loud as he could.
"RUN!"
The two ran in the opposite direction toward where their mother had told them to go that led to their escape.
"Damn brats I'll get you." Daisuke made his way toward the backdoor but was stopped when the vampire grabbed his arm.
"Leave them."
"Leave them Yuji? But they saw everything." Daisuke growled. "They will tell everyone what happened here tonight."
"That doesn't matter. I mean who in their right mind would believe two small children after they had killed the Kuran couple and their own parents?" Yuji looked at his subordinate with a dark smile. "All we have to do is make the crime scene look as if the twins had committed it enough so that the public will believe it and once that happens it will be a matter of minutes before their names go on the top of the execution list on both the Hunter Association and the Vampire Council and be the most hated beings in the entire world."
"So this was the meaning behind killing the Kiryu couple?" Daisuke asked.
"It's all part one of my master's plan, leave the blame to the Kiryu children then lead them down the wrong path toward the one they will believe is behind the planned murder of their parents which will be the new head of the Kuran fame, Kaname Kuran and his sister Yuki Kuran."
"So wait, let me get this straight, we are going to lead these two remaining family members toward each other with the fake excuses that it was the other that had planned the death of the other's parents?" Daisuke laughed.
"Exactly right my friend. Then all we have to do is sit back and wait until my master gives us the cue for us to start."
"And that is when we can watch the blood shed between them." Daisuke smiled to himself, "This is something I must stick around for."
-0-
"Come on Ichiru." Zero pulled his brother through the trees. "We're almost to the lake so don't give up on me now."
After the twins nearly escaped without getting shot they followed the tunnels toward an opening that led them to the woods behind their house and just like Shizuka had told them. Zero ran as fast as he could, practically dragging along a still traumatized Ichiru toward the lake. As soon as they reached about halfway over the frozen Lake Ichiru collapsed to his knees and let loose the tears he didn't even know he was holding in.
"They're dead." Ichiru sobbed, "Mommy and daddy are dead."
"Ichiru please don't cry," Zero tried to reassure, "Everything will be okay."
Ichiru didn't seem to hear or want to because he only cried harder, his small frame shaking out of control making it became worse when he stared at his own reflection on the icy surface over the water. He was covered in blood and not just any blood, but the blood that had once flowed freely through his parent's body and seeing that was enough to release more forceful cries of agony to spill through his trembling lips.
"Ichiru please calm down," Zero had to stop his brother before he released something more dangerous than cries of sadness.
Ichiru and Zero were born from a pureblood parent, which meant that they possess some of their powers and it was around this time where they were developing their strongest of natural abilities from that parent. Any bad emotion can trigger it and the fact that they were sitting over the deepest part of the lake was not a good thing. But Zero's worst fear came true when suddenly the ice beneath his hands started to crack until finally breaking and engulfing the twins into its freezing depths.
The last thing Zero could remember was that he was holding onto his brother's hand, wishing that he would make it out alive and soon after he had made that wish the pendent around his neck began to glow a bright white before his conscience faded into black.
The next time Zero woke up, he was in a bed with a large Egyptian cotton blanket wrapped around his body and a cool rag placed over his forehead.
"So, you have finally awoken it seems."
Zero slowly turned his head toward the place he heard the voice come from and there standing beside his bed was a woman dressed in a lavender dress, her dark gray color hair hung loosely along her slim shoulders and her dark blue eyes were staring warmly into Zero's violet orbs.
"You have been asleep for a very long time Zero-kun, two weeks to be more exact."
"W-who are you?" Zero's voice was so dry that it felt like he had swallowed a box full of salty crackers in one bite. "A-and where's Ichiru?"
"My name's Lily Kurenai and your brother's in the next room playing with my daughter Maria." Lily said as she poured a class of water and handed it to Zero who was now leaning his back against the headboard of the bed. After taking a long sip of water, Zero's throat felt slightly better but there was still a thirst that lingered there and Zero knew exactly what it was. Knowing that there was only one thing that could make it go away.
"You have reached that point in life where a young vampire has to drink real blood in order to fully heal themselves." Lily smiled at the shock look that spread through Zero's face, "Well I'll go fetch you a blood tablet then."
Zero looked at Lily with a confused expression on his face making her chuckle. "It's a new blood substitute for vampires that was made by the Hunter Association in a way to promote co-existence with humans. But the thing has a very horrible taste compared to real blood. Yet, however yucky it may be it still has the same nutrition's as the real thing which is good for us in the end."
"Oh," Was the only response Zero gave before Lily turn to leave. "Um, thank you Lily-san."
Lily stopped in her tracks; her right hand was gripping gently onto the doorknob. Slowly she turned her gaze until it landed back on the small boy lying on the bed. "Is there a particular reason why you are thanking me Zero-kun?"
"I-it was you who saved me and my brother's life was it not Lily-san?"
Lily's smile grew wider, "I am terribly sorry Zero-kun but it wasn't me who saved you and your brother's life. It was the pendent around your neck, the one your mother had given you that did."
"Y-you mean this?" Zero asked surprised as he looked down at the dark purple jewel. Zero was shocked beyond belief that a simple jewel was able to save his and his brother's life from drowning in the freezing cold water of the lake.
"Yup that rare jewel and your will to live was what brought you and your brother to my doorstep. So if you must thank someone, I suggest you thank that jewel first." And with that Lily left, closing the door behind her as she did do. All the while leaving a very confused and thankful 6-year-old boy alone with his beautiful savior.
"Thank you Black Amethyst."
-End of flash back-
After another week in bed Zero was able to leave the room he had been staying at and finally be able to see his little brother Ichiru. But due to the trauma of seeing both their parents die in front of him and the near death incident at the lake Ichiru had lost his sight on both eyes and there was a ninety-nine percent chance that he will never regain his eyesight back.
Yet Zero still held onto that one percent chance that one day his little brother will be able to see the world again and until that day comes Zero was determined to find the ones who had killed his parents and the Kuran couple and clear their names as the ones responsible for their deaths.
'Ichiru I swear I will find the man behind the murders of our parents and the Kuran couple and bring him to justice so that we can clear our names for their murders and finally not have to disguise ourselves as girls just to live a normal life. I will fight until my dying breath to know the truth.' Zero thought to himself as he held his brother tighter.
This was a promise Zero had long ago drilled into his mind and just as the memories did Zero had burned them into his very heart and soul where a bloody vengeance was the only thing he seeks until death consumes his very being.
TBC…