Chapter 2: Kaname Kuran

by lightpathetic

"SIR!"

The entire outer office rose as he entered.

The Second Leader, Kaname Kuran when he was at home, briefly nodded in acknowledgement before crossing the seemingly endless expanse of crimson carpet to his office behind the opulent double doors of heavy rosewood. The guards opened them ahead of him and he entered listening for the satisfying click of the latch before removing his hat to the nearby coat-rack and settling in behind the large, wooden desk. He had a few matters to attend to: some reports to read, some inspections to carry out and an attendance at a firing squad. Some rebels that needed to be made an example of. A myriad selection of things stood out as to require his attention.

But his mind was on just two…

There was a knock on the door and Commander Souen entered with his schedule, no doubt. He resisted the urge to groan.

"Sir, you have two appointments waiting…"

"What? I don't recall…"

"I'm sorry, Sir. They are diplomats from two southern states. They arrived this morning…"

"Ah. So it has started. What are they offering?"

"A Tribute. Twenty percent of their Gross Domestic Products for the next five (5) years in exchange for a truce."

"A truce." No doubt a stall tactic while they negotiated an alliance with the stronger Eastern countries. He settled back in his chair and pretended to regard the scenery outside his office. The Presidential Palace had a gorgeous view of a rear courtyard of cobble-stones and classically inspired fountains, nestled in between strategically placed planters of roses of various colours. The gardens beyond the office buildings and courtyard were also full of beautifully manicured bushes and floral hedges. It didn't compare to his farm, however. Still, he'd find himself longing to take a walk among the greenery and inhale everything. It was easy to take such beauty and vitality for granted. Only when it was lost did you value what you had. Kaname made a mental note to ask for a rose garden to be installed near his room...

"We both know the Supreme Leader, our people, would not stand for a truce. In fact, our country's hopes and our mandate ride on seeing those who would look down on us crushed beneath our boots."

"Sir."

"So why did you really let them stay?"

"Perhaps we could negotiate a peaceful take-over? With full military fanfare, of course. It would save a lot of our resources for the states near the Mediterranean, who, we've noticed, have not been countenancing any such negotiation."

He looked back at her.

"Fine. Show them into the conference room. I'll be there in an hour. Or so."

"Yes, Sir."

Commander Luca Souen clicked her heels together and took her leave as Kaname turned back to the view. He did have a lot to do. But the nagging problem at the estate consumed him. The previous owners were proving quite stubborn. He'd gone to see the boy – who, he'd been made to understand, was responsible for the management of what was an impressive and fully functioning estate – and his mother quite a few times over the last three weeks to no avail. He'd even promised the return of most of their previous belongings that had been confiscated and their old rooms. Nothing. He supposed he could simply hire someone else and leave them be or send them packing, especially as time was running out. The Monoliths would be opening the Southern Front soon. Most of his attention would soon be elsewhere and he'd rather the work begin on the farm so he'd have something wonderful to look forward to on his return. The boy was young and misguided. It could be more efficient to simply move on.

But he wouldn't.

It wasn't a matter of conscience. He firmly believed the end would justify the means. Once his world was at peace and thriving under the Supreme Leader, his methods, he, would be honoured for centuries to come. Why have so many people suffering and so many people so rich, well off and oblivious when all could share and live comfortably? Some people didn't know what was good for them until they tasted it. And he was good for them. He just had to show that to them. Including the Kiriyuus. Nudge them in the right direction. The boy already knew the place, the procedures. He didn't think finding someone else now was the best use of his limited time.

Not to mention, he really hadn't much liked how that over-privileged, beautiful boy had looked down on him. Like an inconvenient infection he was waiting to be cured of, or a gummy, smelly thing he needed to clean off his shoe…

He picked up the phone. His insecurities were showing.

He didn't care.

"Sir?"

"Send a detachment to my lodgings. Have the Kiriyuus arrested and sent to the camp. Then await my order."

"Sir!"

"Make sure they are not harmed."

"Sir! Right away, Sir!"

Now he was able to concentrate on his reports.

"SECOND LEADER!"

"Lieutenant."

Kaname nodded to the person whose office he was invading and marched over to the window. From there he could see down to the holding pens full of prisoners and the clearing where the executions would take place. He, however, only had eyes for two…

"Where are they?"

"On the right. Top corner."

Kaname eventually spotted them. Zero was cuddling his mother and was wearing just a thin shirt. He gathered the coat over his mother's shoulders was his.

There was a light rain peppering the outside just now and they looked soaked. They were probably ready to renegotiate their intransigent position now.

"Who is that?"

"Sir?"

Kaname spotted that Mrs Kiriyuu was actually holding someone else, a young person with long matted hair…

"One of the rebels. Apparently they know each other."

"I see. Bring the boy to Interrogation. I will speak to him. Alone."

"Yes, Sir."

Kaname turned to head to the door and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above a small wash basin in the corner. In all his finery. It was tempting to let the boy know who he'd been trifling with. He probably would get what he wanted a lot faster. But… he wanted to stay anonymous to them just a bit longer. He rather liked that they saw and related to him as just a "Monolith soldier" and not "the Second Leader". It was disarming, and not to mention damned amusing.

He looked back at the Lieutenant, giving him a slow once over with his eyes. The man began to sweat a bit, as if he were being touched…

"I know this is an inconvenience. I do. But I wonder if you would exchange clothing with me for half an hour."

"Sir?!"

"Strip, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Sir."

KANAME entered the interrogation room to the sight of Zero glaring at him. No surprise there. What gave him pause, however…

"What happened? He was not to be harmed!" Kaname was livid from what he almost considered to be unforgiveable damage to his property. Zero was nursing a broken lip and a black eye. He was also holding his left side gingerly.

"He needed to be softened up. The boys obliged, with pleasure."

Kaname heard the laugh and turned to the grinning guard with quite a rather readable expression… which anyone would have been sobered by, but the guard missed the effect as he only saw a Lieutenant. Was he really so unrecognisable without his uniform? He supposed that was what he'd wanted.

"Leave us. Now."

"Yes, Sir. Just be careful. He is stronger than he looks."

The guard turned to go and Kaname walked over to the table to sit opposite the prisoner.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine."

"Good."

This was awkward. The boy hadn't moved since he came in. He'd only wanted to scare him into seeing sense. You know, between "friends". Now he was a bit on the back foot as the boy looked resigned to being executed today. Maybe he'd gone a bit too far.

"Look. I need an answer to my offer or I will have no further need for your presence at the estate. What is it to be?"

"You're saying… I have a choice?"

"Of course. You all do."

"I see."

"Well?"

"If I refuse, what will happen to my mother?"

"You want to refuse?"

"You'd said I had a choice. And frankly the thought of working with you is not what I want to look forward to in the morning. Especially now."

"I see. Well, of course she will join you."

"So you'll let us leave?"

"No," Kaname stood and walked away from the table. He was becoming angry and hurt again. He got a bit vindictive when that happened. "I will let you join the others."

"The others?"

"The ones awaiting their executions today. I think your mother is currently bonding with one of the dead men walking right now…"

"No!"

Kaname returned his gaze to the boy. He was on his feet. He looked less bored with the proceedings.

"What is it?"

The boy closed his eyes and made himself calm down. It seemed he was finally thinking about the situation he was in. Kaname decided to help him along.

"Look. I have no choice. When I communicated your refusal to the Second Leader, he wasn't pleased. Either you die or I do. You could make things easier on the both of us and…"

"I want them all released too. They're just kids…!"

"Out of the question. They must die. You and your mother don't have to. Focus on the problem here…"

"Please. I will do whatever you want but… let my mother's… friend come with us. If she found out what will happen to him, she'll die anyway."

"You want me to get a rebel released? I'm not sure I can do that. The Second Leader gave strict instructions to…" Referring to himself in the third person was almost refreshing.

"He wants the farm to produce, right? That… person used to work there. He knows his way around almost as well as I do. Together we can make the place thrive like you've never seen…"

"Who is this person? A foreman?"

"Even better. You... probably won't even need me."

Kaname was taken aback by this comment. This person had great value to both his mother and Zero. So much so that Zero was… offering to take his place?!

"It's a family member, isn't it? A… brother, perhaps?"

Zero stayed silent. The family of conspirators were often shot. But he couldn't make himself walk away. He had to try.

Kaname pretended to consider Zero's request carefully, complete with hand-wringing. "It will... take some doing. The Second Leader is a bit of a tyrant. He rather likes things done his way or…"

"Then why obey him?! Don't give me that shit about following orders! He's a murderer! There are nothing but children being held like cattle out there! If he were here, I'd…"

Zero stalled crucially, realising he wasn't helping his cause as the soldier's face grew stonier as he ranted. Said soldier still wondered about the ending however.

"What? Please go on. What would you do?"

"I'd… I'd ask him to please have mercy. Please. I'll do anything. Anything." Zero came around the table and grabbed his arm. Kaname looked at it and then up into the boy's gaze. It was no longer frosty, regarding him like a multiple-legged pest. It was a warm grey that pleaded with him. Drew him in. He was close. So close. He could feel his hot breath on his face from his parted lips. His hand squeezing his arm felt strong and warm. He found himself, inexplicably, wondering about their touch on his bare skin…

"I… I'll ask him. Okay? I'll try."

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate the risk you're taking. I do. You won't be sorry."

Kaname nodded and pulled away to leave the room. He felt a little shaken. Uncertain. Like he was following an order. Why?

"SIR!"

Kaname waited until the door to the holding cell closed behind him and turned to the officials present. He noticed the guard that had had Zero in his custody appeared a little more attentive. He suspected he'd been filled in on the circumstances.

"Take him and his mother back to my lodgings. They are to wait there until my return. Bring the rebel they were associating with to me."

"Sir!"

Kaname made to leave, to return to the Lieutenant's office. He had to retrieve his clothing and then go down to his special viewing box for the executions. He paused however, and returned to the guard that had laughed before at the disobedience of his instructions. His word must mean something otherwise it could quickly mean nothing. Also, actually, he really, really hadn't liked that Zero had been touched.

The guard stood even straighter as he approached. Kaname leaned in as if divulging a delicious secret.

"Bring me the men who carried out the beating on my prisoner or I will have you shot in their stead. Am I clear?"

The guard deigned to look him in the eye at this order... and instantly regretted it. He looked forward again with morbid fear in his heart.

"...Sir!"

"THANK YOU, MAGGIE."

The maid, who'd had the first opportunity to meet the Second Leader in the next to altogether almost a month ago, nodded as she began to fill Mrs Kiriyuu's cup with soup as well. Her demeanour was a lot different with the both of them. More relaxed, familiar but full of respect. They had been good employers, firm but fair. Her family had served theirs for many generations but since Zero had taken over from his father things had been much better. It felt more like a team was running the place and not a feudal lord. Zero got involved with every aspect of the running of the estate and his brother had followed suit, although he eventually concentrated on the horse and animal breeding. That is, until he left…

"Do you both need anything else?"

"No, thank you. You'd better go before he sees you being nice to us."

"He'll just have to get over the disappointment, Mr Zero."

Zero smiled. He'd always liked Maggie's spunk. But he was too concerned to outright laugh. He and his mother had almost seen the wrong end of a firing squad and now they were awaiting the fate of his brother. He didn't think the Second Leader was a laughing matter.

The room seemed to freeze as they heard the approach of a convoy. Maggie fled to the window. After all, she was the one allowed to move around.

"He's back."

"Is it…?"

"Yes," Maggie whispered, disappearing from the room. It appeared as though she'd rethought her earlier stance.

Zero went to sit beside his mother on the couch in their fairly sizeable lounge, made even more spacious by the absence of a lot of their furnishings and knick-knacks. It was a bit gloomy in the evening's retiring light as even their light fixtures had been looted. They saw none of it though, as they waited for news of Ichiru. Had he been shot? He noticed his mother's soup had not been touched. He took it from her and held her hand.

"At least, I got to see him again. At least I got to kiss him goodbye…"

"Mother, I'm so sorry…"

"It wasn't your fault, Zero. Don't cry, please. Or I'll…"

One of their guards left them alone as the vehicles pulled up to the door. They closed their eyes and began to pray as they heard footsteps on the steps…

"Mother! Zero!"

"Ichiru!"

They were in a tight embrace before they'd even stood up properly. They both kissed him repeatedly, their hands roaming to make sure he was really all there. He'd looked terrible earlier. He was different.

"You've shaved. Your hair…"

"I was cleaned up. Apparently I couldn't meet the Second Leader looking like an abused prisoner."

"Ichiru! He could be…"

"That's alright, Mrs Kiriyuu. I am quite used to you sons' almost suicidal candour."

Zero turned to see the Lieutenant. He immediately walked over to take his hand, not seeing the quick, almost detrimental action of the guards nearby and the equally quick motion to stand down.

"Thank you. Thank you." Zero was pumping the trapped hand as if afraid to let go. Kaname allowed it for a while then retrieved it before it fell off. The kid was strong.

"You are welcome. If you'd just told me he was your identical twin you wouldn't have had to beg so hard."

Zero half-smiled at this and went back to where his family stood. Ichiru was staring daggers at the man. Zero wondered at this. He didn't have to much longer.

"Second Leader, Sir. The trucks are here."

"Good. See that everything is unloaded and replaced."

Kaname looked back towards Zero and watched as the realisation sunk in. The boy noticed his change in uniform for the first time. The decorations were different to the ones earlier. And more plentiful. Kaname smiled with some smugness as Zero's face eventually registered his horror and met his eyes.

"I am pleased to meet you all. I am Second Leader, Kaname Kuran. I hope you all will be happy here. Please consider yourselves at home… as my most honoured guests."

to be continued

lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. They belong to Vampire Knight.