The Winter Rose
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or its characters, they belong respectively to Matsuri Hino. These words however are my own.
AN: I hope you all had a great New Year. I loves the fireworks because they are pretty and sparkly and of course all that good food the next day is great too!
The lonely wooden door opened with a groan of protest as Kaname tugged on the handle and stepped outside. The cold air was sharp on his tongue - not painful - but enough to taste the chill in his lungs and chest. His expression turned to Yuki who huddled by the door; his full attention directed by her. She was hesitant he knew, not because she was afraid but because she didn't want him to get in trouble. Kaname took her mittened hand and held tight. She showed him confidence she didn't have before and followed him outside.
Kaname held his sister close to him like the young child she was for a few moments before curiosity overcame Yuki and she broke away, though still remaining by his side. The barren like landscape that Haruka had picked for their safe house in the woods was suddenly like a beacon to Yuki; he could see her eyes drink in each feature hungrily. In the evening twilight the snow shone with bright prisms like tiny diamond faucets. The sight absolutely enthralled Yuki, she was captivated by it, and she captivated him.
"It's so pretty…" she whispered, her gaze taking in everything she possibly could "The world is a lot bigger then in the picture books".
Kaname smiled but her words made his heart tug painfully. He wanted to apologize even though she wouldn't know what he was apologizing for. Tiny snowflakes began to fall then; one gently landed on Yuki's cheek as she looked up at the sky. She gasped when it melted.
"It's hot!" she exclaimed wiping the flake away from her face. Even as she did Yuki stuck out her tongue to take a taste, when she successfully caught one she concluded that it was also cold too.
Kaname thought about getting an umbrella but dissuaded the idea when he summarized that the pressures in the wind weren't enough for a heavy snowfall.
"It's so cold it just feels hot" he explained, catching one in his hand before it melted. "Would you like to go for a walk with me in the snow Yuki?"
Yuki's eyes widened, she nodded her head "I would like that very much Kaname Onii-Sama" she responded. He explained to her that they wouldn't go to far, just into the woods and then back again.
The entire forest seemed to thrive in the reprieve of winter. Had the snow always been this luminous? Or was it Yuki's presence that was making it so? The crisp crunch…crunch…crunch… under their feet sounded like a symphony.
"Tell me a story Onii-Sama" Yuki said quietly, after he had finished explaining to her that the moon would not fall out of the sky "I want to hear the one about the humans and the tree like in my present you gave me".
Kaname hesitated a moment -- the traditions of humans were something he was not that familiar with. He remembered a story their Mother told him once however, she who was enthralled with the peace between the two factions, was always eager to learn more about them.
The Pureblood looked down into his sisters wide eyes and began "Mother told me a story that every year when the earth is blanketed in snow the humans gather together to celebrate and honor one another with gifts and decorations. They display lights and wrap trees with special ornaments in the spirit of Christmas"
Yuki smiled and tried out the new word for herself "Christ…mas. It's fitting for them isn't it?" her smile turned into a frown as she wondered "Why do they use trees Onii-Sama?"
Kaname paused and thought hard "The trees themselves are a symbol of life. When all other plant life dies the evergreen thrives even in the harshest of times".
The silence that ensued from his latest words caused Kaname to pause a moment, he sensed a shift in the land and could almost hear the humans in the village below. Haruka and Juri would often go shopping there and sometimes he would buy sweets for Yuki when he got the chance. Had they really come this far? He hesitated knowing they should go back. Yuki was content to stay by his side but he felt the duty to bring her back home pull on him just a little. He sighed.
The humans thrummed with energy; he could tell Yuki longed for something to eat when her stomach growled.
"I'm famished. I haven't eaten since…" she paused thinking "Since yesterday evening. I didn't eat any breakfast"
Kaname frowned "You shouldn't skip meals Yuki, you'll waste away to nothing"
"I was to excited to see Onii-Sama, I couldn't have eaten even if I wanted to" she confessed, clutching his hand tighter.
Yuki was not yet old enough to drink blood. Energy from their parents coupled with solid food usually sustained her. But going into town was a big stretch from taking a leisurely stroll in the woods. The older Vampire sighed when Yuki took off her mitten and gently interlocked her fingers with his.
"I'll be safe as long as Kaname Onii – Sama is with me," she said, almost as if his fears were written plainly across his face. His sigh was a little less audible this time and he nodded.
The smile that stretched across Yuki's face was bright "Can we buy some chocolate and some candy?" she chirped, eager to get down the hill and into the hustle and bustle below. Kaname held her hand a little tighter, following her with slight apprehension of the day to follow.
