Youngblood: Chapter 2

Eventually, I took the bag of freshly-baked cookies and got on my bike, pedaling over to the Kuran manor. Consequently, Seimei waited on the front lawn, leaning against the gate. Like my onii-chan, he was much taller than me, and his straight, cropped, chestnut-colored hair was messier than eleven years ago, features, still flawless. The adolescent pure blood grinned once he saw me on my bike.

He opened the gate and helped me park it. "I thought you'd never come."

"Sorry, onii-chan was being a moron and stealing the baking things away from me. I made you chocolate chip cookies; I know how much you like them. Happy 18th birthday, Seimei," I said breathlessly, rummaging my backpack for the cookies. Seimei's smile grew wider when I handed the bag over. I noticed I caught him off-guard again when I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"God, Asuka, you should really stop surprising me with your hugs; but thank you, I know your baking is wonderful," he gratified. "You're coming tonight, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I winked.

Seimei grinned as he walked me to the manor, suddenly entwining his hand in mine. I widened my eyes and pulled my hand away from his.

He raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Seimei, you know how your parents feel about this. And we're in your house for crying out loud!" I whispered.

The young pure blood grunted and frustratingly placed both his hands inside his pockets. "We used to do this when we were kids, why not now?"

"We're not children anymore, you know. You're to marry your sister when you reach 21."

"I hate being a pure blood," he muttered in his low, authoritative voice.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Please act reasonably, Seimei. We're even lucky your parents still allow me to come and see you."

"I would probably never speak to them again if they did otherwise anyway," chuckled the vampire youth. His voice then turned low, audible only for my ears to hear. "I'm in love with you, Asuka, not my sister. I've told you that."

"I know," I groaned. "You've told me a thousand times already."

"Still no 'I'm in love with you, too'?"

"Nope."

"Damn."

"Face it," I reminded him. "We are never going to happen."

He was as stubborn as both of our fathers were. "It could if you felt the same way."

"Well, I don't."

"You do," said Seimei smugly. "You just don't realize it yet."

"Excuse me, I know my feelings more than you do. The only reason why I'm not avoiding you right now is because I care about you too much," I argued. "And even if I did, we still couldn't happen. You're supposed to continue the pure blood lineage and be the pure blood head after your father retires. Besides, you're not the only one with a fiancé."

"I don't care and I don't want to do that."

"You're unbelievable!"

He laughed, "I know, Asuka-chan."

I sighed, and Seimei merely went on with his musical laughter.

"Oka-san, not so tight, please!" I choked as my mother tied the ribbon behind my waist.

Kaori Kiryuu grinned. "I'm sorry; I'm just in shock how much my baby has grown. It's been seventeen years since I gave birth to you."

I looked at her youthful, proud face. "Oka-san?"

"Yes, dear?"

"How'd you know?"

"Hmm?"

My hands balled into fists. "How did you know oto-san was in love with you all along, and not Yuuki-san?"

Her expression was nostalgic; a smile playing on her perfectly-shaped lips. "Oh, he was in love with Yuuki-san, alright, but the love he had for her was in vain. It took me a long time before he finally saw me as more than just an ally. I've always been in love with your father, Asuka, ever since I first saw him when we were both children. When I was beginning to think that it was pointless for me to have feelings like that, he…he told me…."

"It wasn't Yuuki that I've been waiting for all along, Kaori," oto-san's voice came. "It wasn't Yuuki who cared for me from the start. It was you."

I looked at my father, who was well-dressed for the evening. He took oka-san's hand within his and squeezed it.

"I was much happier with your oka-san than I ever was with Yuuki, Asuka," said oto-san. "I would always frown whenever I was still in school with Yuuki, but with your mother, her smiles were my own as well. She is my joy, and the love I have for her is so much more than anything I could ever explain."

The grin I had on my face widened. The happiest people I've ever seen were my parents. Oka-san told me oto-san was a wretch in the past, but now, I'd rarely see him with a frown.

"Well, then," oka-san started, her voice even happier than usual. "Shall we start going? I don't think Seimei-kun would want to wait any longer for him to see you, Asuka."

"'ka-saaaaan," I grunted. "I've already had enough of his nonsense this morning."

Oto-san muttered, "Asuka, remember what we talked about."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Oh, Zero, is Ryuuga-kun attending tonight's celebration too?" mother asked. I flinched at the sound of his name. She noticed. "I thought you liked Ryuu, sweetie?"

I shrugged. "He's alright and all, but I don't know, he can be a wee bit obnoxious sometimes. All this fiancé talk is getting to his head, I guess, but then again I don't really know much about the guy."

"He's a skilled vampire hunter, and a vampire himself," oto-san informed. "I think it's good that the both of you would bond tonight."

"But it's Seimei's birthday, oto-san!"

"Seimei-kun's not the only one with a fiancé to deal with, Asuka. At least dance with Ryuuga-kun a couple of times," he replied calmly. "You're to be husband and wife in four years."

"But I don't love him," I frowned, still not used to the fact I had a betrothed.

"You don't know that yet, darling. As far as I'm concerned, I think Ryuuga's a fine young man for you. His parents tell me he's had a crush on you for the longest time," winked oka-san. "You've met him around the same time you met Seimei-kun, right?"

"Ehhhh, oka-san, oto-san, can we just go already? And is onii-chan still mad at me?"

My sight immediately caught Keiichi leaning against the doorframe. He was as well-dressed as Father was, yawning in impatience. "If I said I could never stay mad at my baby sister, can we go now, please?"

The expression on my face lightened up while I rushed to embrace onii-chan.

"Heeey, I told you I don't like hugs!"

"Thanks, onii-chan."

He smiled and patted my head gently. "Well then, it's best we get our butts a-moving then."

To be continued.