Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight or any of its characters or plot. I only own my OCs and the plot that differs from canon.

To Free moon: I'm glad that you liked my descriptions and that they evoked such vivid images in your head, which is one of my goals when writing :)

To Iris D. Peverell: I'm happy to hear that! I know that there are quite a few stories with reincarnated OCs out there already, but I really do love them and couldn't help myself to write one, too.

To moonlightstriking: Aww, thank you! There'll probably be more fluff in the coming chapters~.

To Dei: Thank you for the praise and for taking an interest in my story!

A/N: A big thank you to everyone who has left a review! Also, thanks to everyone who has followed and favourited Where The Flowers Bloom, as well as everyone else who has read the first chapter!

I hope you'll enjoy this one, too, and like where I'm going with this :D


Chapter Two – The Ichijō Family

Once more Koharu glanced at the person that was seated next to her on the backseat of the limousine they'd gotten into, marvelling at the fact that this was truly Kuran Kaname and that he had gone so far as to offer her to stay with him instead of disposing of her right away. That had been a possibility she'd been fretting about ever since she knew who she'd been reborn as.

Kaname appeared to be about two to three years older physically, but she knew that he was the oldest person she had ever met. Or would ever meet. The mere thought was daunting. She couldn't begin to imagine what it was like to live that long and always tried her best not to mull too deeply over the fact that her body was now technically immortal, too.

Even though she had clung onto the hope she had from a story and a life long gone that she might be freed at the time the ancestor came to release Shizuka, she had never been certain of it or Kaname's reaction to her. Nor did she know what she would do if she actually got out of the cage she'd called her home and had been confined to for all her life as Koharu.

Run away from the Hiō compound, the Vampire Council, the rest of vampirekind, and the Hunter Association? Try to live somewhere among humans until her thirst for blood awoke or they got suspicious that she didn't age like them, or, on the streets if she couldn't manage that? Try to change the plot herself somehow despite the fact that she neither could nor wanted to fight? Or should she stay in hiding until that man was dead?

Everything seemed like a stretch to her; she just wasn't the confrontational or overly courageous type of person, even if she could stand up for herself and others if she really wanted or needed to. But peace and quiet and a comfortable and safe living space were preferred. That didn't mean that she liked being confined to a cage, though.

While the former human woman had long since accepted that she'd been reborn in the world of Vampire Knight as the unfortunate daughter of Hiō Shizuka and Kuran Ridō of all people, as a Pureblood vampire, that didn't mean that she liked any of it. She had despaired over her new life situation at first, but was able to somewhat make her peace with it in time. Not that she had much of a choice anyway.

Often she'd wondered why she had been granted this second life, that was in a lot of ways even more miserable than how her former life had ended. When she had passed that stage of wallowing in self-pity, she'd begun to try and enjoy her restricted new life as far as was possible. She didn't know how long she would live after all and despite everything, she very much liked being alive.

Even a Pureblood could die, though it was not through conventional methods, and considering who her parents were, it wasn't that unlikely that she would get caught up in their schemes and ended up dead as a result... if Kaname didn't do the deed first.

She'd been aware that Shizuka had discarded her ever since her birth and had never seen the woman since then either, just through the eyes of her familiar when Koharu had grown curious. As such, it came as a surprise to her that she'd reacted so strongly to Shizuka abandoning her again without a second thought. That it had hurt and affected her to the point that she'd been a crying, emotional mess and had bemoaned her own existence once again in front of her ancestor.

She rarely lost her composure like that, and it wasn't how she had wanted to meet Kaname, but what was done was done.

Did she form an attachment to the other Hiō because her presence, the knowledge that Koharu wasn't completely alone in that golden cage, had pacified her? Was she merely affected because her partner in misery had disappeared and Koharu would have been the only one left alone in that prison if Kaname didn't free her? She didn't know the answer.

Now she was nervous and anxious, but also slightly excited and hopeful about what the close future would bring. It had been a spur of the moment decision to go with Kaname and as she was calm again, she wondered if it had been a good idea at all. At least she wasn't alone in that cage now.

She'd told Kaname that what she wanted most in life was a family and that hadn't been a lie. But to be more specific, she longed for the family she had lost even though she could never have it back. Still, she couldn't help but cling onto them and had taken the picture she had drawn of them with her, as well as the shinobue, the traditional Japanese transverse flute she had learned to play – she missed her teacher and the letters she had secretely exchanged with his daughter through him.

Both of her possessions were tucked into the silver obi of her kimono and were the only things she had taken with her. The only possessions of value to her.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me?" Kaname's voice tore through her thoughts.

It was then that she noticed that she'd been outright staring at him for the past... ten minutes? He had to think that she was ogling him, even though she had been in thoughts for most of the time. She couldn't fault anyone who was truly ogling him, though.

She noticed that she'd been curling one of her hair strands with a finger while being in thoughts – a habit she had carried over from her past life – and stopped the action.

In person and even as a teen Kaname was breathtaking, more than almost any person she'd ever met. He had luscious, chocolate brown hair that was slightly curled at the end like hers, mesmerizing garnet eyes, and elegant facial features. Some of which resembled her own, astonishingly enough.

'Must be the incest,' she thought dryly to herself.

She'd been too distraught at first and too caught up in her own emotions, but now that she had the time to watch her surroundings and the person who had introduced himself as her cousin, she couldn't help but notice it.

Koharu had been surrounded by Level C vampires for all her life in the Vampire Knight world – to her artistic eye they were all aesthetically pleasing – but they were no comparison to Shizuka, that man, or the over ten thousand year old vampire in adorable teen form sitting right in front of her.

Even if he was kind of intimidating because of his powerful presence and the knowledge of millennia hidden in his eyes that shouldn't belong to a teen, Kaname was a real heartthrob. His natural scent was pleasant as well – it was a spicy cinnamon smell that reminded her of orchids. It was almost absurd how attractive he was. The other Pureblood vampires, herself as well, were included in that sentiment.

'No wonder that the Day Class girls were over the moon with him and the rest of the Night Class students in the series,' she mused.

She'd always thought the mangaka was exaggerating, but she'd been proven wrong. In Koharu's opinion vampires were like poisonous flowers; enchanting in every aspect to lure you towards them, but get too close and you were in for a rude awakening.

"...Resemblance. I can see a resemblance," she said, and furrowed her brows, wondering how she was supposed to make small talk again as silence descended on them once more. She didn't have a lot of practise in her prison and could count the people she'd interacted with since being reborn on one hand.

Kaname watched her with the same calm, unreadable expression he had regarded her with since meeting her a few hours ago.

"You resemble your aunt – my mother Juri," he informed her. It was probably meant as a compliment, but for her the reminder was more distressing than encouraging and filled her with nothing but dread.

'I'll return to devour you completely once you've grown up, my dear,' the ominous words of a madman echoed inside her head.

"Oh..." she clutched the fabric of her silver obi a little and avoided Kaname's observant gaze, turning back to the window to watch the outside world that she had longed to see with her own eyes. She had heard that before but didn't particularly want to be reminded of the monster that had purred this sinister promise into her ear.

The rest of the five hour car ride was spent in relative silence aside from Kaname telling her where exactly they would be going.


The Ichijō estate was huge, somewhat remote, had a lot of surrounding forest area, and it was more like a castle than an English mansion. Koharu had gotten a glimpse of the Hiō estate when she left it for the first time, which had been about half the size of the Ichijō estate and also very isolated, and wondered what it was with vampires and gigantic houses. She appreciated the design and architecture, but it had to be a pain to keep them clean.

'Kudos to the housekeepers,' she thought, knowing what it was like to clean a house from her past life though it had been nowhere near that size.

During the car ride she had been able to get a few glimpses of smaller cities from afar as they passed them, and had grinned like a child on Christmas Eve whenever she saw something that wasn't road, uncaring what Kaname would think of that because he had already seen her at her worst. To be fair, this was the first time that she had left her quarters, so everything she saw with her own eyes excited her.

They also drove by a few cars and even some carriages – according to the books she'd read, the post-apocalyptic world of Vampire Knight used some kind of different liquid than fossil oils because they had long since been used up.

The technology in this world had also reverted in some instances, but improved in others; as far as she knew, the world had drastically changed since the climate change and the following emergence of the first vampires ten thousand years ago. Koharu hoped that she would be able to interact more with this intriguing new world from now on.

The sun had already risen two hours before they arrived at the estate, so the light of day irritated her eyes. Koharu's quarters had never allowed for sunlight to enter her rooms, because all the windows had deliberately been north-facing.

As a result, she was excited to feel the sunlight on her skin again when the driver finally pulled into the driveway and opened the door for Kaname and her. It had been too long.

The direct sun rays of the morning on her enhanced vampire eyes were a harsh, almost painful sensation. Her skin also tingled a bit as the warm rays touched it.

'Ah, yes. Sunburn, here I come again.' She'd been prone to sunburns in her past life and guessed that this tendency wouldn't be different this time. Her skin was even lighter now as a vampire.

Yet, she couldn't help but gaze up at the bright blue autumn sky in joy. For the first time in countless years she was outside and free.

"Koharu, we have to go inside," Kaname said next to her after he had let her stare for some time, letting her momentary dream bubble burst, and she remembered where she was.

"..." She refrained from shooting him a disgruntled look, but it seemed as if he had picked up on her sentiment anyway.

Several servants in suits and maid uniforms – she was astounded that people actually wore them because her caretakers had all worn kimonos – were looking expectantly at them, though Koharu was regarded with more guarded but still polite fronts. Because she was the unknown Pureblood.

She had been free for a total of... two minutes? In any case, it was better than nothing. She turned to Kaname in silent agreement, felt the sharp stones underneath her bare feet as she walked. The other Pureblood had noted her lack of shoes when they'd left the Hio estate, but Koharu didn't possess any to wear.

What use would shoes have to her if she was never supposed to venture outside?

As if having read her thoughts, Koharu was suddenly lifted into a pair of slender but strong arms and let out a noise of surprise.

"You could hurt your feet," Kaname explained as she peered quizzically up at him with warming cheeks while he carried her towards the front doors.

She thanked him quietly for his consideration, but this position made her feel vulnerable, embarrassed and uncomfortable as everyone was looking at them and she was at Kaname's mercy. Just because he had freed her and she had known him as a character from a supposedly fictional series, it didn't mean that she trusted him right away.

Why was Kaname being kind to her when he seemed to know whose daughter she was? And why had he offered to take her with him? Just to gain another pawn in his game? Or, had her appearance, her apparent resemblance to Juri, made him sentimental?

Whatever the answer was, she was glad that she was out of the cage – she would have been a sitting duck waiting for her demise if she had stayed in it. Going with Kaname was a dangerous decision, but probably better than her other options. At his side she would have at least an idea of what was about to come.

The servants bowed and greeted them with 'Kaname-sama' and 'honourable guest', because they both didn't introduce Koharu just yet until they were inside the manor. Kaname set her carefully down onto the thick, violet carpet.

The inside of the manor was as luxurious as the outside suggested – golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, vintage sofas were situated at one corner of the entrance hall, the floor consisted of polished marble, the decoration vases set on small tables and the paintings hanging on the walls were clearly as expensive and tasteful as the rest of what Koharu could see.

Luxury wasn't new to her in this life and she had become used to it, though back at the Hiō compound everything was traditionally Japanese and not western-styled like this manor. It made her feel slightly nostalgic, and she had the urge to draw a picture of the building. She loved the interior architecture.

The head maid and butler, as well as the chief of security came forward and welcomed Kaname back.

"This is my cousin, Koharu. If you would be so kind to inform Ichiō that I would like to have a talk with him," Kaname introduced her, and Koharu finally slipped on the polite, neutral mask she usually displayed around most of her own caretakers back at the Hiō residence. For some reason she still hadn't put it on around Kaname – was there even a point to it if he had already seen her during her breakdown? Plus, she was pretty sure that he could easily see through it anyway.

She didn't particularly like to hide her true self and emotions, but it had been pounded into her head by her servants as soon as she'd been able to understand the language. As a Pureblood she wasn't supposed to show her emotions or weaknesses. It was incredibly disturbing that they'd taught this to someone that was a child in their eyes, but it came in handy in uncertain situations like this, where she would have appeared like the nervous mess she was internally.

"Of course, Kaname-sama," the butler answered before he turned to Koharu. "It is a pleasure to welcome you here in the Ichijō Residence, Kuran Koharu-sama. I'm Ishikawa Shunpachi, the head butler. Fujimoto-san will guide you to our guest quarters right away and provide you with anything you might need."

"She will stay in my company for the time being, Ishikawa-san," Kaname corrected the butler before Koharu could answer.

"As you wish, Kaname-sama."

The head maid, Fujimoto-san, guided them towards some kind of picture room. Then tea with sweets was served for them as they got comfortable on the plush sofas in the room.

As a vampire Koharu was never quite as hungry as when she had been human, because for a vampires' survival only blood was essential – or life energy in the case of young vampires like her that didn't have their fangs yet – but they enjoyed to eat normal food, too. Otherwise, she would have been famished after that five-hour car ride.

At almost 9 a.m. it was well-past the usual time Koharu went to bed, which was shortly after sunrise. Since she was nocturnal now, it was almost like midnight for a vampire, and she was getting a little tired. Her body would allow for her to stay awake for as long as she pleased without strain, but it was strange and exhausting on her mind if she did so. She also enjoyed sleeping.

It didn't help that Kaname didn't initiate a conversation and that she had no idea how to start one either. Ah, but she did have a question. She sipped once more on the chamomille tea and set the cup silently down on the plate.

She gave her ancestor, who was content with staring out of the window and into the woods, a tentative look and broke the silence. "Why did you let the servant assume that I am a Kuran?"

"The name Hiō carries a certain stigma," he replied. "Are you aware of your family history?"

Koharu knew that some Hiō – her maternal grandfather and his mother – had gone on mad rampages in the past and had been feared for their highly destructive powers even amongst other Purebloods.

She suspected that the 'insanity', as they called it, might have been caused or encouraged by either the pampered upbringing, the sadistic tendencies some of her ancestors had, that had carried over to the children because of the incest, or because they had lived for so long that they didn't give a damn about anything anymore and just did whatever they pleased to get rid of their boredom.

Considering that she had a mother with such a family history and a father who wasn't the best example of sanity either, Koharu hoped that she wouldn't end up like them simply due to her genes. For now she still felt like herself, even now as a vampire, and had thankfully no urge to maim, kill, or torture someone yet.

'I hope it stays that way.'

She nodded solemnly in confirmation. Before she could say anything, the door was thrown open and a teen around Kaname's age or about a year younger appearance-wise stormed in.

"Kaname, you're back!" the tall boy with honey blond hair and forest green eyes greeted him warmly. "Where..." he grew silent as he spotted Koharu, his eyes growing a little wider.

Koharu knew that he could tell from her scent and presence that she was a Pureblood vampire, just like she could tell from his that he was an Aristocrat, the second Level B vampire she had met so far.

"Ah... it looks like you've really brought a guest over." The blonde turned to the female Pureblood without a hitch and bowed slightly to her with a polite yet friendly smile on his lips. "Good evening! I'm Ichijō Takuma. May I know your name, milady?"

"I'm... Kuran Koharu," she introduced herself as Kuran, like Kaname had indirectly suggested. It felt strange, although she was half-Kuran she was used to the Hiō name by now, and she contemplated for a moment how she was supposed to address Kaname. Calling him by his last name was out of the question as his relative, but what to add to his first name? -San? -Kun? No...

'Buttering Kaname a little up won't hurt,' she mused. 'It's the right way to address him anyway... but oh boy, it's going to feel strange.'

"...Kaname-onii-sama's cousin," she settled with, giving the other Pureblood an unsure glance, but he continued to calmly sip his tea and made no indication to call her otherwise.

'Acceptable then,' she patted herself mentally on her shoulder.

Surprise showed on Takuma's face and he glanced back and forth between the two Kuran. "Hmm... I think I can see the resemblance even if the colours don't match," he recovered himself.

"I didn't know that you had a cousin, Kaname," he spoke to his friend in a playful, half-accusing tone as if they were equals, seemingly uncaring of the vampire hierarchy and that he should address a Pureblood with more respect.

Koharu had missed these kind of casual interactions. Getting pampered like a princess grew old quickly.

"Me neither until today," the ancestor answered dryly.

"Heh...? So there are times when even you don't know everything?" Takuma mused, earning himself a twitch of Kaname's eyebrow and a slightly cross look. Koharu had to contain herself not to let out an amused snort but couldn't do anything against the amused quirk to her lips.

Unperturbed, his attention was back on Koharu. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Koharu-sama," he beamed once more at her and this time it was more sincere. She found herself smiling back without a pause, caught off-guard by his attitude and blinding smile. She swore she could see sparkles hovering around his face.

Takuma was as handsome, amiable and adorable as a real person as he had been in the series. Very un-vampire-like. Koharu approved.

"Likewise, Ichijō-kun," she replied quietly and with a light blush dusting her cheeks.

Takuma joined them and asked some more questions about Koharu, if she liked the tea and sweets, what her favourite kind was, if her journey had been pleasant, how Kaname found her, and if she had known that she had a cousin.

The Ichijō heir remained friendly and kind as they chatted, and Koharu could tell that it wasn't just a polite front but how he really was, which pleased her immensely and put her nerves a little at ease. Even though they were still strangers, he made her feel slightly more comfortable for the first time since leaving the Hiō compound. It also helped that she just had to answer his questions to keep the conversation going and didn't have to come up with them herself.

Yes, she had obviously known about her relatives but hadn't been able to contact them. At the mention of finding her at the Hiō estate Takuma grew visibly distressed.

"What did you do there, Kaname?"

"I released Hiō Shizuka so she could seek her revenge." A shadowed, haunted look, that Koharu hadn't expected, crossed over Kaname's face.

She guessed that he truly felt remorse for unleashing Shizuka onto the Kiryū family. Although it didn't erase the fact that he would now partly be responsible for the death of Zero's parents, his vampirism and the arising conflict with his brother. Still, she was somewhat relieved to observe this reaction from him.

Takuma jumped up from his seat, startling Koharu. "Kaname! How can you make such a cruel gamble?" To a point he was apparently in the knowing about Kaname's plans.

The other Kuran glanced at Koharu, the blonde following the motion to remember that they weren't alone. Not that it mattered, for the reborn woman already knew everything anyway, but they didn't know that. She had owned the whole manga series of Vampire Knight and so far everything, apart from herself and some minor changes, had occurred like in canon.

Koharu was astounded that Takuma felt this sympathetic towards a Hunter family, though he also had to have reacted so strongly out of worry for his friends' conscience and mental health – if Kaname had any semblance of a conscience, he would suffer because of his own actions. The blonde vampire rose even further in her esteem for his concern and because he wasn't afraid to reprimand Kaname.

After Shizuka's lover had been killed when he ventured outside the Hiō estate, Koharu wrote a message to her – the first one ever – and sent it to Shizuka via her familiar. It had been the only thing that she could do in regards to the plot with Zero in her situation and to... apologize.

She'd asked Shizuka to consider who the puppet master behind her lover's death was, the one who was truly at fault for Yusuke-san's death, and not to take revenge on people who hadn't known that they had been caught in a spider's web and simply did their job, believing they were protectig humans from a dangerous Level E. She didn't know Shizuka's answer because she had never received a reply from her. It was out of her hands now what Shizuka would do.

Koharu lowered her eyes to her cup as guilt rose in her while she was thinking about the incident with Yusuke-san, feeling Kaname's appraising gaze on her. She figured that it was probably for the best to reveal what she was thinking about him and his actions. He was clearly awaiting some kind of reaction from her.

"I'm aware that you released my mother as well. And that she probably left because of... Yusuke-san."

Takuma sucked in a sharp breath at the revelation of Koharu's parentage, though he must have already suspected it because of her appearance and scent. Hiō were famous for their silvery-white hair, their natural smell that resembled that of cherry blossoms – a mixture of lilac, rose, vanilla and soft almond – and for favouring traditional clothing. She shared these traits with Shizuka.

"You speak as if you knew her lover," Kaname observed.

An image of a man with brown hair and a friendly smile, but with eyes full of self-hatred flashed through her mind. "Would you like to play a game of shōgi with me, little princess? It must be boring to stay alone in your quarters all the time."

Despite keeping a hold on her still developing destructive powers, her tea cup got cracks as Koharu's control slipped due to emotional distress. Her reaction didn't escape the other two vampires.

"...I did. Yusuke-san was a kind man," she said vaguely, sadness clouding her eyes.

Although he had despised what he had been turned into and had partially hated Shizuka for it, he had also loved her. The man had even gone so far as to visit Koharu a few times to talk to her or play a game with her. His kindness had ultimately become the cause of his death. Unlike Shizuka or herself, he had not been trapped inside the compound and was allowed to exit the cage as long as he fulfilled his duties as Shizuka's servant.

Fortunately, Koharu didn't have to elaborate because the butler returned with the message that Ichiō was awaiting them.


Ichijō Asatō was as intimidating as Koharu had expected – his presence was only second to that of a Pureblood vampire – and she did not like the hand kiss she received from him at all. However, she made sure to keep a calm and composed mask on in front of him. She was convinced that she could defend herself against an Aristocrat but hoped that it wouldn't come to that. She despised violence.

Kaname and Takuma were both in the room as well, which served as a small relief for her. After the introductions were over, they came to the juicy parts. Ichiō, the leader of the Vampire Council, had apparently known that Koharu existed but had never informed Kaname or his parents of her.

This was news to her – Koharu had assumed that Juri, Haruka, and Kaname didn't want anything to do with her because she was Ridō's daughter, and so had never approached her for this reason. She didn't realise that her existence had been kept a secret from them. Hearing about the lost opportunity to meet them and try to warn them disappointed and saddened her.

"It has become custom to keep members of the esteemed Hiō family away from society for their own and everyone else's safety. Their sad history may never be repeated," Asatō defended his stance.

"You think you will be able to achieve this by keeping them caged like wild beasts from birth?" Kaname asked pointedly.

"Until this day it has been a sufficient method, Kaname-sama," Asatō rebutted, his steely blue eyes travelling once more to Koharu, who sat silently next to Kaname on the sofa opposite to Takuma. She was content with leaving the two others talk for the moment to get a feel for them and the situation. She was more than uncomfortable.

"What about Koharu then, who is also half-Kuran? Why was she kept in a cage and a secret from her other relatives?"

"I don't wish to imply anything, Kaname-sama, Koharu-sama, and pardon me for saying this, but as the late Haruka-sama and Juri-sama had to realise for themselves, Ridō-sama is sadly not a very stable person either. With this in mind, the Council of Elders thought it for the best to keep his daughter, Koharu-sama, safe like her mother." The elder kept a straight face, just like Koharu, as if he hadn't just implied that she was a walking disaster waiting to happen and had inherited madness from both of her parents' sides.

Not only was she offended and angered now, but also apprehensive at the reminder.

"Considering your recent loss, I can understand why you would want your cousin to keep you company, Kaname-sama, but with all due respect, Koharu-sama should be returned to her home."

"Ojii-san..." the blonde teen gave his grandfather a slightly scandalised and sceptic look, before glancing at Koharu in apology.

She had to keep a reign on her temper to prevent her powers from leashing out and swallowed it all down. She was now riled up enough to say something in her own defence, having had enough of being discussed over her head when she sat right with them.

She had assumed that Kaname would do the job and convince Asatō to let her stay with him, so he could make her his pawn or whatever else he intended to use her for, but she was pretty sure that he wasn't going all out for some reason. Or, did he simply not care if she would be sent back again because he had freed her on a whim?

Then... she would have to fight for her freedom herself. Koharu would not return to that prison where certain death awaited her. She contemplated her words well before she chimed in.

"Ichiō-san, do you doubt my older cousin's abilities and competence?" she asked the older vampire innocently, playing the role of the clueless thirteen-year-old Pureblood, so he would let his guard down.

"Of course not, Koharu-sama. Kaname-sama is the head of the Kuran family and despite his young age capable in every aspect." Ichiō lifted one brow and she could feel Kaname shift beside her. His full attention was on her, fuelling her nervousness. Hopefully, showing more of her intelligence or shrewd streak to him wouldn't change his opinion of her and label her a threat in his eyes.

"Why do you think then that Kaname-onii-sama would be unable to keep me under control should I ever become a threat like one of my ancestors?"

Ichiō's expression hardened as he grasped what she was playing at, and that he had just stepped right into her trap because he had completely underestimated her. A beginner's mistake.

"I implied no such thing, Koharu-sama." Doubting a Pureblood's power and competence was not something that he could openly do.

The atmosphere grew tense around them, but Koharu wasn't quite done yet. She could have a mental breakdown about antagonising one of the most influential members of vampire society later. Perhaps she had just been too impatient and Kaname would have spoken up for her if she'd waited just a little longer. In any case, she had started this now, so she had to bring it to an end.

"Then I don't understand why I can't stay with Kaname-onii-sama?" she tilted her head in question and evenly held the senator's gaze. "I promise to be on my best behaviour, Ichiō-san, and not to cause you inconveniences."

The question if he believed her word hung in the room. They all were aware that the promise of a Pureblood was considered sacred by vampires and was not to be doubted. She felt more than grateful for having learnt the intricacies of vampire society, even though she hated to make use of it like this.

"..." Oh, she could almost feel how Asato seethed internally, but he seemed also... intrigued? She could only hope that this was a good thing. There was a glint of mirth in Kaname's eyes.

"It seems that my fears might have been unfounded for the moment if you present yourself with such a keen mind, Koharu-sama." Ichiō folded his hands in his lap as he finally answered. "And who am I to disregard a Pureblood's promise?"

She gave him a small practised smile that was usually directed at her servants.

"As your relative so strongly wishes for you to remain by his side, and you wish for the same, I will grant you your request. I will speak on your behalf in the Council. Don't hesitate to ask the servants if you require something. I hope you enjoy your time here in my home, Koharu-sama, and don't forget this humble servant." He placed a hand over his heart and lowered his head slightly.

"Of course. Thank you for your most gracious offer, Ichiō-san," Koharu smiled politely, as if the man had not just been like putty in the hands of the Pureblood.

She doubted that she could repeat the feat of making the elder underestimate her again and guessed that she had to be more careful around him from now on, but the tactic had served its purpose at least once. She was ashamed for basically forcing her way into someone else's home, but she didn't have many options. Returning to her cage now was unthinkable, and she didn't particularly want to try to live on the streets either.

Getting Asatō's permission to stay took a weight off Koharu's mind. Takuma appeared thoughtful as she glanced at him, possibly wondering what Kaname was gaining through this, and also seeing her in a new light. She was probably more like her cousin than the first impression of a quiet girl he had gotten from her had suggested.

The two Kuran both thanked the head of the Ichijō family and left. Takuma remained behind with his grandfather, undoubtedly receiving instructions to spy on Koharu from now on, too, just like he was supposed to do with Kaname. The tension in Koharu's body eased once she was away from the vampire elder.

Per his request, a room next to Kaname's was readied for Koharu, which had been Asatō's condition. She received a short tour to it and to the rooms that would be the most important for her at the moment.

While a maid opened the door to Koharu's new quarters and had her back to her, the Pureblood let out a silent, relieved sigh but turned her head as soon as she felt somebody's eyes on her. Kaname was staring at her and about to enter his own room. She had thought that he was already resting in it.

How did he manage to catch her off-guard again? And he was looking at her as if he wanted her to say something. She realised that she hadn't thanked him yet, had she?

"Thank you for getting me out of the Hiō compound and for bringing me here."

"You shouldn't thank me yet. I freed you with a certain purpose in mind."

As she had already suspected. But why hadn't he helped her earlier then if he needed her for something? Did he want to see if she could convince Ichiō herself?

"...It wasn't just for companionship, was it?"

"You are right with that assumption."

"Are you not going to elaborate, onii-sama?" she remained hopeful for a straight answer.

Kaname's lips tilted slightly upwards. "You will know my reasons in time," came the cryptic and frustrating response from him. "Good night." With that he entered his room.

"Good night," Koharu mumbled, wondering what she had gotten herself into. At least she had some vague ideas because of her knowledge.

A maid measured Koharu, so she would be able to order fitting clothes for the Pureblood. She hadn't bothered to take any clothes with her; she didn't even own a suitcase. For now, as everyone retired to sleep in the vampire household, she had to make do with a new nightgown intended for guests, that was slightly too big for her. At sundown the maid would probably return with her new clothes.

As she climbed under the cream-coloured silk covers of the foreign bed, she let herself relax for the first time since leaving her cage. Nonetheless, she created a familiar to let it watch over her sleep as a safety precaution. She could hear the servants in the house and feel Kaname's powerful presence in the room next to hers.

She was still wary of him, but so far he had aided her to turn her life around, which had earned him her gratitude. She was looking forward to the time here and figuring out the mysterious Kuran ancestor. And there was also Takuma, who was like a breath of fresh air with his sunny disposition.

Despite that she would have to be on her toes from now on, Koharu felt that this change wasn't bad at all.


A/N: Although I personally prefer the 1st POV, I decided to try out the 3rd POV in this story. Not that much has happened yet, but I needed to cover Koharu's backstory and thoughts a little, so you get a better feel for my OC here before I speed up the pace. Hopefully, you found her interesting :) I don't want to spend more than a few chapters on pre-canon.

You might have noticed a small divergence from canon in the first chapter already, which was caused by Koharu's appearance in the Vampire Knight universe. There are more changes planned for the future~.

I hope I've kept everyone in character... if not, don't be shy to point it out and give me suggestions on what I should change/ improve!

Thank you for reading and feel free to leave a review to tell me what you think :)