Pizzicato
Author's Note/Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight
Etude
Haruka groaned as the maids stripped him of his night clothes. He was not a morning person, especially when it came to events, such as this tea party.
"Master Haruka, your arm."
He lazily raised his arm as the maids made poor attempt to dress him, especially when they would stop every now and then to glance at giggle at him.
"I can dress myself!" he snapped, buttoning the shirt.
"But--"
"Leave!" he croaked.
Without further ado, the maids bowed and backed out.
A very grumpy Haruka continued to dress himself, without much thought. The cuff buttons here, the vest buttons there--and then he stopped. What did he sense? He felt something coming. It wasn't a storm, but something with a temper. Something or someone with a threatening aura was approaching. And it wasn't good. Growling, Haruka pulled back his curtains to find a carriage coming up the cobblestone path towards Kuran Manor.
--
"Tell me father," Hikaru began, "what are the Kuran's like?"
Asato eyed his son from the corner of his eye. "They're purebloods."
"Interesting."
Hikaru Ichijou. The second son of the Ichijou house.
"Hikaru."
The younger Ichijou turned and picked his head up. "Yes father?"
"The Kuran's have a daughter. A pureblood. If you are able to win her over--"
"I am aware of that, father. And besides..." Hikaru paused as his eyes glanced towards the manor on the opposite side of the lake. "Rido Kuran does not seem like a threat."
--
"They're here! They've begun to arrive!" a maid shrieked excitedly.
The Kuran tea party was an event that no one would pass. Vampires from all over attended this event just to bathe in pureblood glory. This seemed rather blasphemous to many people, especially the pureblood princess herself.
"I'm excited to see who shows up this year," Rido commented as he adjusted his tie.
"I'm not interested," Juuri replied in a bored tone as she paged through a large book.
The Kuran siblings waited in the den for their guests to finish arriving. It was a rather long process, since guests took the time to admire the hundred year old mansion and the Kuran's themselves.
Haruka gazed out the window with his chin propped on top of his hand. With his eyes scanning the area beyond the glass encasing, something odd caught his eye.
"Ichijou."
The other Kuran siblings turned their heads towards Haruka.
"Asato?" Rido questioned.
Haruka was right. The Ichijou's had arrived.
"And not just Asato this year," he added. Juuri nodded her head.
--
"Welcome back to our home!" Mrs. Kuran greeted guests as they walked up to him.
"It's good to see you again!"
Nobles littered the garden of the magnificent estate. Vampires from different levels of hierarchy took the time to chat with another about politics or other topics of such. Children chased each other around the lawn and the elderly sat and took the time to catch up with one another.
"Hideo," Asato Ichijou's low and commanding voice rumbled in his chest.
"Welcome!" Mr. Kuran shook the elder's hand, but was caught off guard by his escort.
"A new face?"
"Ah," Asato began. He stepped to the side and allowed Mr. Kuran to get a better look at his progeny. "My son, Hikaru."
"The second son?"
Asato nodded his head. "He is brilliant and hard-working young man. He will join the senate, hopefully"
"Of course he is," Mr. Kuran joked as he stuck out his hand. Hikaru shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kuran," he smiled sweetly. "I hope to become an acquaintance in the future."
Something was strange about this newcomer. There were rumors that spoke of Asato Ichijou's sons, however, the rumors were not specific. People would often speak of the eldest son, who was a good-for-nothing. And then there were people who spoke of the second son, a prodigy who was aware of his surroundings the day he was born. Yet, none of these have been confirmed.
"Father!"
Juuri rushed up to her father, who greeted her warmly with a loose hug. She pulled back and turned towards the two blonde vampires that stood before her father.
"So this is the Juuri Kuran?" Asato asked as he raised a brow.
"Please to meet you," Juuri curtsied. Without picking her head up, she looked up from under her long lashes and glimpsed at the other blonde vampire.
"It is a pleasure," Asato replied a bit too quietly. "Hikaru."
Juuri raised her head and narrowed her eyes. This new guest was intriguing. He was indeed handsome--but something seemed dark about him.
"Lady Juuri," Hikaru bowed. He took her right hand and brought it up to his lips, brushing the delicate skin lightly, he continued. "Pleased to meet you."
Blushing, Juuri withdrew her hand. "It's a pleasure," she mumbled, still blushing.
"Haruka!" Mr. Kuran called over to his younger son. Haruka had been standing by the fountain for quite some time, looking bored. Sighing, he casually strode over to the small crowd and stood between his father and sister.
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Ichijou."
"Ah. So you are the second Kuran son. I thought you were Rido for a second."
Haruka's shoulders tensed as his eyes were locked on the elder. "How...funny."
Asato chuckled. "That was not intentional! Come now, I'd like you to meet my son!"
A selfish request...
--
Please Read and Review!
Note: This chapter is longer. We're approaching the climax, apparently.
