Upon the sound of her husband's return, the gorgeous Pureblood vampire sat up from her chair elegantly and greeted with a warm beautiful smile. However the smile froze on her face when she saw what her husband returned home with.
"Juri, I know you are surprised…" Responding with a most charming charismatic smile, the husband replied softly, his voice tender. "But this is not what you think…"
Knowing she was never able to fight her husband's gentle smile, the female Pureblood secretly took a breath to calm herself and asked. "Haruka, you know I do love you. But please explain why you came home with a baby?"
"Juri, we have to love and guard this baby with our lives." Although his voice was still calm and placid, the female Pureblood was able to sense the weight of such words, the words that came from her King.
"In that case," receiving the baby from her husband's arms, Juri smiled in return. "This baby shall be our child from now on."
Gently fondling his wife's soft long curly strands, Haruka gave her a kiss on the cheek lovingly. "What should we call him?"
Carefully rocking the baby in her arms, Juri replied.
"We shall call him, Kaname."
Scarlet Fangs of a Goddess
Chapter Seven ~The Ancestor
Yagari Touga frowned when he took another look at his pocket watch. Turning to his student, the hunter asked. "Zero, can you check why Ichiru and Hotarubi are still not here yet? If we were to make it back to the village on time, we need to leave as soon as possible."
Feeling his heart aching with Touga's simple question, Zero replied. "Shisho, there is something that I need to tell you."
Touga's sharp deep blue eyes glanced over at Zero, and when he saw the melancholy on his face, Touga let out a sigh. "You really do love her don't you, Zero?"
"Huh?" Not expecting that statement from his stoic strict teacher, Zero lifted his head.
"But can she really leave, Zero? As long as the Yagari hunter blood flows within her, there was no way she could turn her back from what she was."
"Shisho…you knew?" Zero could hear his own voice shaking. From Touga's words it was clear that he had known about Hotarubi and Ichiru's departure. Yet he had allowed them to leave because he had the strong confidence that Hotarubi would return.
And as if to prove Touga right, Zero felt his heart skipped a beat when he saw two people entered the room. The two people he had said goodbye to and thought he would never see again. And when Zero saw the determined gleam in Hotarubi's eyes contrasting the thin pale fragile face, Zero's heart ached even more knowing Hotarubi had chosen to give up on her one last chance of freedom.
"…Have you made your decision?" Not at all surprised, Touga asked.
Avoiding Touga's eyes, Hotarubi took a look at Zero, and when their eyes met, Hotarubi felt her cheeks flustered as she turned away again and shook her head softly. "No, I haven't. But this much I know. There was no denying that a hunter lives within me. Running away from my fate was never something I could do." Reaching out her hand she held onto Ichiru's hand as she concluded. "Although I have not come up with a conclusion yet, but this I know. I want to save Ichiru, and this was the reason I came on this trip in the first place!"
"Hotarubi…" Ichiru called the name softly while his hand held onto Hotarubi's tightly in response. He knew he may never be able to become the man she loves, but he understood too that his presence within her was not light either.
To Ichiru, it was more than enough.
Once again Ichiru knew why he was so in love with Hotarubi. If everyone in the world, even his own parents thought his being was simply plain, non-existent. Hotarubi had always treated him as an individual, a close friend she treasured.
"Well said," Shuffling his little sister's hair in tease, Touga smiled. "That's more like it."
"Onii-sama…"
"Well, since we are unsure whether Zero will be able to operate the Kougazan, I guess we would have to go with plan B." With a sigh, Touga said as he gave a frown. "If it's possible I really do not wish to use this option…"
---
Plan B? Hotarubi didn't know there was a plan B. But from the graveness on her brother's face, she wondered how bad plan B was. After that conversation, the team left the secret temple of the hunters, and Touga mentioned in order to go with plan B, they needed to visit someone.
Not far from the temple was a house hidden behind the trees, which sat miraculously in the middle of a lake. There was neither bridge nor boat that led to it. Seeing that, Hotarubi asked. "Onii-sama, how are we going to be able to reach the house?"
"We walk." With that simple answer, Touga took the first step to step into the water.
To everyone's surprise, as if there was an invisible footpath, Touga was able to walk above water and calmly headed for the house.
"Shisho?? How are you doing that??" Zero called in shock not knowing his teacher had the ability to walk on water. That was a trick he never taught them!
Calmly turning around, with a confident smile Touga replied. "These grounds were set with vampire hunter spells, so a long as you are a hunter, you will be able to cross the lake without trouble."
"Hunters can set such seals?" In amazement Hotarubi asked.
"Not all hunters are able to, but only the man who lives here could." Indicating towards the house Touga replied.
"Well, I guess I will try it out then." Ichiru was the first to step up and calmly walked into the water. Like a miracle, same as Touga Ichiru was able to walk above it. Turning to Zero and Hotarubi, the silver-haired youth smiled. "It looks safe."
Exchanging a look, Hotarubi and Zero nodded and followed on. Amazingly, it was really like walking on flat solid ground as the group reached the front gate of the house without anymore hassle. With a push, the giant metal gates opened to a walk path that led to a wooden front door.
"I wonder who lives here?" Hotarubi asked as the group entered the gate.
Touga replied letting out a sigh. "My teacher."
Shisho's shisho??
The same term hit the three youngster's mind immediately. Knowing Yagari Touga to already be a most powerful hunter, it must take an even more powerful fighter to be able to train him!! Yet the three had no memories of ever seeing Touga's teacher. In fact, they had never known another hunter more powerful than Yagari Touga! However when they saw how Touga would sigh every time he talked about his teacher, they all wondered what kind of person could possibly make Touga feel this way?
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Knocking impolitely on the door, Touga called. "Shisho, it's me!"
It did not take long when the door opened and a man in his twenties wearing an apron rushed out and hugged Touga tight. "Oh! Long time no see! You cruel man, don't you ever miss your teacher??"
"Let go of me!" Quickly yanking the man's arms off him, Touga backed away. "That is why I hate coming here!"
"Still so cold, and you are a shy boy still."Moving his finger from side to side, the apron man shook his head. "That is no way to talk to your senior right?"
Hotarubi thought her jaws dropped with the scene before her eyes. The…the man who looked not much older than Touga, dressed in a floral patterned apron and silver framed glasses is the hunter that created the most powerful hunter of their time?? At the same time, she saw the two hunter twins endured hard to not laugh out loud with the scene before them. That stoic, powerful image Touga carried had all been destroyed.
"Stop laughing boys, this will be our plan B." Trying to hide his embarrassment and keep a straight face Touga cleared his throat.
"Plan B?" With that the apron man gave a sigh. "Why do you want to get me involved? I am enjoying my peaceful time here."
"Trust me," With a big unfriendly frown Touga interrupted. "If I had a choice, you will be the last person I would ever want to be involved with. As Zero is still unable to master the Kougazan, we will need another powerful hunter to deal with the Pureblood."
"Battling again? All you guys do is talk about killing all day." Turning to Hotarubi instead, the man greeted changing the topic. "You must be Hotarubi. You have similar eyes to your brother, but a lot warmer and prettier."
"Thank…thank you. Onii-sama's shisho-sama!" Hotarubi replied quickly standing up straight not sure how to best respond. Considering this man before her was her brother's shisho, it would mean she too needed to show him great respect.
"No need to act all nervous." The man continued to smile warmly. "My name is Cross Kaien. Please don't call me 'onii-sama's shisho-sama' something or rather…"
"Cross Kaien??" With the man's self-introductory, both the twins called in amusement. "The legendary hunter who alone destroyed a troop of vampires and came head to head with the Kuran King??"
Hotarubi too have heard of the legendary Cross Kaien. When she was small, her parents have not stopped telling her stories of the legendary hunter who carried the team on when the battle against the vampires were fierce. Studying the man before her once more, there was no way Hotarubi could believe the twenties looking man who now holds a wooden cooking spoon was the same hunter who slaughtered numerous vampires with his sword!
"That…was a long time ago." Cross Kaien muttered as a sad look came onto his face.
"So are you going to help us or not?" With his arms crossed, Touga asked his teacher once more.
"AHHHHH!!!" To everyone's surprise, instead of answering Touga's question, Cross Kaien yelped and ran inside the house. Unsure of what he was up to, Touga let out another long heavy sigh. Turning to the three behind him, he indicated that they enter the house.
The moment they entered the house, a mouth-watering smell of something baking filled the air. Coming out with a warm motherly smile was Cross and a tray of freshly baked cookies. "Luckily I saved these cookies before they were burnt."
"Look…" Scratching his head in frustration Touga replied. "We don't have time for this. Just let us know if you are going to help us or not."
"Not until you have tried my cookies." Cross insisted too shoving the tray before Touga.
"…You have become a nuisance."
"And who came for the nuisance's help?"
"It was a mistake coming here." Concluding in anger Touga turned to leave, however before Hotarubi quickly followed, Cross stopped her. "Hotarubi, would you mind helping me prepare some tea?"
"Ah…" Not sure who's order to follow; Hotarubi took a look at her brother.
"The tea leaves are just in that cupboard there." Not letting Hotarubi say no Cross pointed to the cupboard behind him. Having no choice, Hotarubi nodded and entered the kitchen with Cross while the three men waited in the living room.
Although her hands moved to make tea, Hotarubi could not help but study the legendary hunter in curiosity while he carefully served up the cookies on a plate humming a tune. From the legend she heard, Cross went head to head against the Kuran king, and it would mean he had encountered Kaname's father.
"Um…Cross-sama," Making sure the men outside could not hear her, Hotarubi whispered softly. "Is it true that you have met the Kuran King?"
Cross' hand stopped moving upon Hotarubi's question. Although it was faint but Hotarubi noticed a gleam of sadness shown in Cross' eyes as he replied. "It was more than ten years ago though. If you want any of the juicy details, I won't be able to tell you."
"Ah...no, that's not what I meant." Hotarubi justified quickly. Hoping to find another hunter who would view the Pureblood vampires like she would, Hotarubi sighed. "I was just curious when you met him…was he, was he what you expected?"
Despite Cross acted as if he was care-free and chirpy, he was able to sense the tone in Hotarubi's question, and of course what she was implying. With an understanding smile, Cross replied. "If you meant was I expecting to encounter a beast instead of a normal creature with emotions, I must say I was surprised. Both the King and Queen of Kuran were compassionate, understanding people."
"In that case, why can't we have a peaceful relationship with the vampires?" Hotarubi could not help but ask. Because if Cross too knew Pureblood vampires are kind people, why then is there the need of war between the two races?
"It's because we are hunters." Cross replied simply while he took out the tea cups and placed them on the bench. "What is the meaning of the existence of hunters if there is no more need to hunt?"
Hotarubi felt her heart sank with Cross' words. What he had pointed out was a simple yet cruel fact. The world she lived in was not a simple communal environment where everyone wished to just exist peacefully together. But rather, the reason the hunter clans can become such powerful families in the human world was—they were the ones to protect humans from vampires.
However if the world have come to understand the true nature of vampires, all the power and supremacy the hunters stood upon would collapse. Therefore, Kaname's dream of an eternal peace between vampires and humans would only be an obstacle to the hunters, a challenge to take away the power and standing they have.
Seeing how Hotarubi's face turned white with the realisation, Cross sighed within and put on a cheerful smile. "Anyway, let's bring the cookies and tea out to the boys shall we?"
---
It has been a week since Kaname last saw Hotarubi.
Every day for the last half year, Kaname always had Hotarubi by his side and they were the best days of his life. Although it was only a short week apart from each other, Kaname had found it to be the longest and hardest time he had to endure. He was always a calm and composed person. He was always in control yet he noticed something within was starting to come undone.
That was why when Kaname learned of the hunter's return to the village, unlike his usual self, Kaname immediately went out to fetch Hotarubi. And when he saw her standing underneath the blossoming plum trees, her already slim figure looked even more fragile than he had remembered, Kaname hastened his pace and immediately held her in his arms.
However, Kaname noticed the tiny soft body in his arms stiffened upon his embrace. Instead of responding with the same passion, Hotarubi moved away from him keeping a distance, her eyes avoiding his.
As observant and cautious as he always was, Kaname knew immediately something happened to Hotarubi to make her frightened of his touch, doubting his presence. Most of all, Kaname noticed a small bruise on Hotarubi's pearl white neck, a seal and mark set upon her by another man.
"…"
Keeping that observation to himself, Kaname greeted the girl gently. "It was nice to see you again, Hotarubi, but I have the feeling…" Stopping, a self-mocking smile came onto his perfect face as he concluded. "The same could not be said about you."
"…Kaname, I…" Knowing her rejection must have destroyed Kaname, Hotarubi did not know how to respond. Because, knowing her ability, how could she not suspect Kaname's intention?
Finally lifting her head to face the man who occupied her heart for the past months, Hotarubi felt as if all the questions she had were stuck in her throat and she was unable to speak them out to Kaname.
Is it true that our meeting was not a coincident? Have you planned all these? Were you just using me?
….
Did you lie when you said you love me?
"Hotarubi…" As if he read right through Hotarubi's mind, Kaname prompted instead noticing the doubts and fear in her eyes. "Is there something that you wanted to ask me?"
"I…I," As if her tongue was tied she had a million questions for him, yet none of them could be asked. She knew it was simply because; she was frightened to find out the truth, scared to be confronted with the fact that Kaname may be using her from the beginning.
"Hotarubi!" Luckily at this time, Zero came to rescue her from the awkward situation. Seeing the man she was with, rage immediately came onto his face. "I have warned you to not come near her, vampire!"
"I will go inside the hotel." Leaving the two men that sentence, Hotarubi fled inside the building knowing her heart was in too much of a mess to be dealing with this right now. As Zero turned too to leave Kaname stopped him.
Turning around to the Pureblood, Zero frowned in irritation. "What?"
Unexpectedly, Kaname was suddenly in front of him and before he could respond, Kaname's claw grabbed him by the neck and with the huge force, smashed him right against the wall. Despite the air was unable to travel pass from his lungs with Kaname's grasp, Zero was still able to respond with his hunter skills and pulled out his Bloody Rose at Kaname's head.
Unmoved with the deadly anti-vampire weapon against his head, the vampire crimson gleam glowed from his eyes, Kaname asked coldly. "What did you do to Hotarubi?"
"…Go to hell." Pressing his thumb down on the revolver hammer, Zero cursed.
"…" His eyes narrowing in displease and killing aura upon Zero's confrontational response, Kaname tightened his grasp.
"Whoa! Hold it there, boys!!" Just before someone was about to be seriously hurt, a person called and ran up in haste. Placing one hand on the gun and the other on Kaname's arm, the man sighed. "Think about who you are really hurting if anything were to happen to either of you."
Moving his eyes over to the man that interrupted him, Kaname stated. "Cross Kaien…so they have asked for your assistance?"
"…I only wish to complete what your parents started." Responding to Kaname's authoritative majestic aura, Cross simply gave him a warm smile.
With what Cross said, Kaname finally let go of Zero as the hunter fell to the ground coughing trying to catch his breath. Understanding the almighty strength of a Pureblood, Cross secretly sighed within as he helped Zero up.
"After Rido had devoured other Purebloods, even as a Pureblood too you would find it difficult to defeat him. You will need my help." Cross turned to Kaname and said. "This is the least I could do for your parents."
"…Thanks. It was nice to know there are hunters like you too." Placing his hand over his face, Kaname replied softly whilst he successfully suppressed the outburst he just shown. An act he was not known to perform. However Kaname knew, the moment he saw the mark Zero placed on Hotarubi's soft skin, an uncontrollable rage took over within.
"Not all hunters wish for war." Cross replied.
"In that case," Giving Cross a gentle smile, Kaname concluded before he too returned to the hotel. "It was nice having you join the team."
After Kaname left, Zero turned to Cross in disagreement. "Why are you acting as if he was your friend? You are a hunter and he is a vampire."
"Zero, not all vampires are bad." With the same gentle expression Hotarubi would show whenever she talked about the vampires, Cross replied. "I hope you could come to see it before you learn to operate the Kougazan. Because the amount of power that it could grant you, it would be best not to be used in the wrong way."
---
Once the hunters and vampires were united again in the trip, another meeting was held to discuss the itinerary for the remaining journey. It was just like the breakfast meeting held at the hunter's headquarters at the start of the trip, but with the addition of the new members from both sides. However, sitting in the room, Hotarubi's heart never felt so heavy. Since when was she finding it uncomfortable to even be present in the same room as Kaname? A week ago, she thought of him day and night, and unable to spend quality time together at all during the trip was killing her. Now whenever she notices his gaze on her, she had only wanted to flee.
"Do we have any news on the whereabouts of Rido?" Touga asked. "Are we still heading for the ancestor's tomb or are we just going to fight Rido head on?"
"It appears Rido had long heard of this trip we are taking together, and from a reliable source, I was informed Rido had already left the palace, and although he hid his whereabouts, I am sure he is following us, but from a far enough distance because he knew I would sense his presence if he were too close." Calmly Kaname explained of the news he heard from Sara.
"So when do we plan to fight him before he ambush us first?" Still unfriendly, Touga mocked.
"Knowing Rido, he most likely will not show himself unless he was sure I have provided Ichiru with the real Kuran ancestor blood." Kaname answered. "Because after all, this was what he longed for so desperately, to the extent of murdering my parents, setting the inscriptions on Ichiru, ensuring my meeting with Hotarubi…"
Upon that statement, Hotarubi felt her heart sank in helplessness. So…it was true her meeting with Kaname was not destiny, but simply a step, a process Rido needed to gain what he wanted. However knowing Rido's plan, why would Kaname go along with it? Was Kaname also using her?
Unlike Hotarubi who was troubled over the real reason to her meeting with Kaname, Touga chuckled in despise. "I didn't know Rido was such a coward that he would be too frightened to fight us?"
"Coward would probably be the last word to describe Rido," Cross spoke up as he calmly took a sip of the tea in his hand. "He could easily kill every single one of us if he wanted to. But I am sure since he went through all that effort to place the Kuran Inscriptions on Ichiru, he would rather wait and make sure Kaname really did reach the Kuran ancestor tomb."
"Very well then," Touga nodded in conclusion. "We will play dumb until Kaname returns with the blood of the Kuran ancestor. But the moment Rido shows, we will take him down."
With that decided, the group travelled on. However, Kaname would never clearly indicate which town they would be arriving next. Unhappy with the secrecy, the hunters kept their mind clear and on full alert whilst allowing Kaname to lead them without clear direction and goal.
In between, Hotarubi and Kaname became even more detached from each other. Hotarubi was constantly avoiding Kaname, and it appeared Kaname noted it and therefore refrained himself from contacting her. However, instead of feeling relieved about it, Hotarubi discovered that she was extremely bothered by it.
Yes, she was frightened to be close to Kaname. Insecure about the many mysteries he held. But just the fact Kaname always seem so in control, so calm, as if he knew many things, just like how he gave her the space she wanted had only in turn made Hotarubi want to be near Kaname even more.
With the many troubled thoughts going on between the hunters and the vampires, the group lodged in the next town. It was here, Kaname finally indicated where they were heading.
"I will be travelling alone from here." Kaname said simply. "In two days time I will return with the ancestor's blood."
"So we're finally here." Touga noted the location they were at. "As agreed, we will remain here and await your return with the blood."
"Kaname-sama, we will come with you." Aidou immediately offered. There was no way he would allow his master to cope with danger alone.
"Aidou," With a calm smile Kaname replied. "Don't forget only the kings of Kuran were allowed to enter the tomb. So no one should follow me, not even the noble vampires."
"But Kaname-sama, what if Rido was to attack you when you were alone…"
"Hanabusa," Interrupting Cain sighed. "To be honest, if Rido really appeared, none of us would be of any use but would only become burdens to Kaname-sama."
"Yes…us noble class could never fight the Pureblood. It's against the vampire nature." Shiki nodded too while he quietly munch on the sweets he bought during the trip.
As Kaname's best friend for many years, Ichijou understood once his friend had decided on something, nothing could make him change his mind. Still, with the uneasy feeling pressing upon him for the past few weeks, Ichijou knew he still needed to remind Kaname of the consequences. "Kaname, I know you have already made up your mind, but I really ask you to reconsider what you are doing. The blood of our Kuran ancestor must not be taken by anyone other than the Kuran kings, even if it was to save Ichiru."
"Ichijou," Unmoved Kaname replied. "I am sure Cross Kaien would agree with me that my parents would have hoped for something like this to happen. The battles between the vampires and hunters have gone on for too long." Pausing, his eyes glanced over at Hotarubi as he added. "I just want to make sure the two races could coexist."
The moment her eyes met up with Kaname's, Hotarubi felt her heart ached with the statement. A month ago, she was able to fully believe Kaname when he addressed such dream. However as she watched Kaname's tall figure leaving the room, knowing she would be parted from him again for a few days, this time, the emotions she was experiencing became completely different.
---
"I don't trust him." Zero stated after the hunters settled in their hotel. "He could easily pretend to go fetch the blood but instead lead Rido right to us."
"I don't disagree." Touga shrugged his shoulders with Zero's statement. "I don't trust him either."
"In that case what should we do?" Zero asked quickly. "We can't just let him leave like this."
"I will follow him." To everyone's surprise, Hotarubi suddenly volunteered, a most determined look on her face.
"No way." Zero and Ichiru disagreed immediately.
"Let's cut me some slack here," Hotarubi stood up from where she was. "Out of us all, the person that excels in tracking and trailing is me. No one could be as light and track down a target unnoticed like me. Yes, I may not be as powerful as you all in battle, but this area has always been my forte right?"
"But you are tracking down a Pureblood, not a level E." Zero frowned. "And yes, I would give you the credit for your ability in tracking, but it's just too dangerous for you!"
"Yes it is dangerous," Hotarubi nodded. "At the same time we all know either way, even if he caught me, I would probably be the only person that he would not kill."
With Hotarubi's point, everyone became silent knowing she was right. Whether or not Kaname was lying about his feeling for her, she would be too precious for Kaname to kill. Even if he faked his love for her, Kaname would desire her ability too much to want to kill her.
"I guess I have to agree Hotarubi is the best candidate out of us all to track down Kaname." Cross spoke up as he pushed up his glasses. "Although it is a dangerous mission, at the same time, it would be safest to let Hotarubi go." Standing up too, Cross approached Hotarubi. "In that case you might want to leave immediately before he went too far. And just as precaution…" placing his hand before Hotarubi, Cross silent chanted a spell.
"Ho…I guess with shisho's spell, even the Pureblood would find it hard to notice Hotarubi." Knowing what Cross had done, Touga smiled.
"The spell should help to set a seal around you so he won't notice you. But still, make sure you keep a distance far enough because the true ability of a Pureblood is unknown." Cross smiled and patted Hotarubi's shoulder as he leaned in and whispered. "Be careful, and hopefully you will be able to find the answer you are looking for."
Hotarubi blushed a little when Cross was able to pin point the real reason why she volunteered herself for the mission. Being confused and doubting constantly for the past few weeks, Hotarubi knew she needed to find out for herself whether Kaname was genuinely offering to help Ichiru, and that he was not lying to her about the things he said.
That he was…real.
"Hotarubi, wait." Before Hotarubi left the lodge, Zero quickly came out after her. Taking out the Bloody Rose from the inside pocket of his coat, Zero placed it in Hotarubi's hand.
"Zero?"
"Take it with you." Zero said as great concern showed on his face. "I know I could not go with you but at least keep this beside you. If anything happens, even if you are unable to kill him, this should at least numb him temporarily while you flee."
Holding the gun tightly in her hand, Hotarubi did not know what to say. As a hunter she knew how important each hunter's weapon was to them. Yet, Zero gave his to her, and the concern and care shown on his face reminded her once again of the time when they were on the mountain, where Zero was willing to risk his own life to save her without one single second of hesitation.
"Thank you, Zero…" Giving Zero a warm smile Hotarubi assured. "I will be back safely, don't worry."
---
Hotarubi made sure she was at a safe distance from Kaname as she tracked him down. With her trained skills, despite Kaname had left earlier, she could recognise the traces he left behind. Ensuring that she stayed invisible to Kaname, Hotarubi managed to follow Kaname into the mountains.
However, Hotarubi noticed the trails and tracks she had been following disappeared after Kaname entered the mountains. Unsure whether it was because Kaname purposely cleared the trails or that he had already noticed her following. But if it was the latter, for some reason Kaname had not confronted her. Whatever it was, Hotarubi was not planning to back down until she found out the truth.
Taking a dagger out from her side pocket Hotarubi made a small cut against her finger. As the blood flowed out and dripped onto the ground, Hotarubi knelt down and chanted a quick spell used for tracking down vampires. Responding to her spell and blood, a highlighted line only visible to the hunters appeared before her. This particular tracking spell allowed hunters to be able to see the grounds a vampire has treaded on by highlighting the path.
If it was possible, Hotarubi had hoped to not use this method because although this spell allowed her to track Kaname down, but with the shedding of her own blood, it could too alert him of her presence, for there was no creature alive that was more sensitive to the smell of blood than a vampire.
Knowing the consequences, Hotarubi quickly memorised the path the spell had shown before she once again cancel the spell so she could hide her presence from Kaname again before she was found. Moving in the fastest speed and as silent and light as she could, to her joy she could see Kaname again. Even better, it appeared as if Kaname had not noticed her presence as he continued up the hill and then stopped before a tree.
From where she was, Hotarubi was unable to hear or see clearly what Kaname was doing. To her amazement, not long after, the trees around Kaname started moving as it realigned to open up a path. Hotarubi held her breath and waited until Kaname had long headed down that newly opened path before she finally started moving again, soundlessly down the same direction.
Knowing she was getting closer to the truth, Hotarubi could sense her heart pounding hard in restlessness. And when she saw the path led to a huge monument, nothing could describe the relief she felt in her heart. Closing her eyes, Hotarubi was in extreme elation to find that Kaname was really headed for the ancestor tomb instead of selling them out to Rido.
Unfortunately Hotarubi did not have much time to relax when she heard the sound of footsteps coming back out of the tomb. Quickly hiding herself again, Hotarubi saw Kaname coming out of the building and as if he did not want to linger too long there, he turned and quickly walked back down the path they came from.
By now, Hotarubi was glad that there was nothing suspicious she saw, Rido did not appear, and Kaname really did as he promised and retrieved the blood from the ancestor's tomb. However, something within was telling her that this whole following and tracking game was too easy and smooth. With Kaname's ability, could he really not have noticed her presence despite she was under Cross' powerful seal?
As if the unbelieving side of her became dominant, Hotarubi found her feet moved towards the tomb as she too entered the forbidden ground that led to a place where only Kuran kings have ever walked.
---
Hotarubi was amused with her surroundings. When she first heard of the vampire's ancestor tomb, she had the image of a dark, underground tomb. Rather, before her eyes, it was an open space building with limestone colossal, a sacred building like those of the Grecian temples. Showered by the warm sunlight was a stunning flower garden with a water fountain in its midst. Behind the garden was a huge door made out of two massive pieces of rocks, and the moment Hotarubi saw the door, her heart thumped hard knowing this was where the ancestor laid. Taking in a deep breath, Hotarubi pushed the door open with all her might and entered the most sacrosanct ground of the vampires.
In the chamber, there was a large coffin in the centre. Hotarubi could sense her hands turning cold with nervousness while she took step by step closer to it. Although knowing the longer she spent here the more danger she could be in, but for some odd reason Hotarubi could not just walk away. Something within prompted her to open the coffin because if she wanted to know the truth, it would be found inside it.
Closing her eyes, Hotarubi told her mind to stay calm and her body to not shake in fright. Opening her eyes again, Hotarubi placed her hands on the lid before pulling away again in fear. "I have to do this." She persuaded herself again before she finally placed her hands back on the lid and with a pull opened the heavy covering.
However, the moment she saw what was within, Hotarubi felt all the strength in her legs vanished in one go as she collapsed onto the ground, her eyes still wide fixed on the body that lay inside. "No, this cannot be…" Shaking her head, Hotarubi whimpered as she covered her mouth in shock. No, it was not a gruesome sight of a rotted corpse she saw, but rather, just as Kaname had described, the body of the ancestor never decayed, and he was just like those of his own race, beautiful, majestic, perfect and…
When suddenly, the sound of someone closing the stone doors brought Hotarubi back to reality as she turned around in alarm and found Kaname standing right there, his arms crossed as he looked at her, no sign of surprise or anger on his face.
"Ka…Kaname…"
"You are a bad girl, Hotarubi." Kaname softly sighed as he started walking towards Hotarubi, making Hotarubi's heart thumping harder in terror every step he took to come up closer to her.
Attempting to quickly stand up onto her feet and flee, to her horror, her legs were still without strength from the shock she received earlier as she collapsed and sat back down onto the ground. As a reflex she quickly reached inside for the Bloody Rose Zero gave her. Unfortunately before she could pull it out, Kaname was suddenly before her as he gently placed his hand on her hand and like magic forced the gun to drop from her hand.
"Were you going to shoot me, Hotarubi?" Still soothingly, Kaname asked.
However, nothing could describe the fear Hotarubi was experiencing. Never in the world could she imagine that Kaname could frighten her to this extent, his peaceful and calming voice that she once loved were only adding more terror to her mind.
"Who…who are you??" Hotarubi finally managed to blurt that out.
"That is a strange question," Kaname smiled in return as he replied. "I am Kaname, have you forgotten already?"
"No, you're not!" Hotarubi shook her head madly, pointing to the coffin she asked. "If you are Kaname, then who is that in the coffin??"
"That…is also me," Glancing over to the coffin Kaname answered. "Or should I say the pneumatic form of me."
"Pneumatic form?"
"Here," Helping Hotarubi onto her feet Kaname led her once again to the coffin. Reaching out his hand, Hotarubi watched in disbelief as Kaname's hand went right through the body that lay inside. "This is the spirit or should I say, 'essence' of what I am that lays in this coffin."
"So this means…"
"Yes," Smiling with the most elegance and grace, Kaname replied. "Just as the hunter ancestor was born again in this generation, the vampire ancestor too was born again. And like Zero, I too was incomplete…"
With what Kaname said, Hotarubi pushed him away with all her might and in lightning speed grabbed her whip from her belt. "If you are the ancestor reborn, why then did you put up this show of getting us all on this trip when you could have just offered your blood to Ichiru on the spot??" Lifting her head, Hotarubi could hear her own voice shaking, "Yes, like you said, it was because you were incomplete…"
"Hotarubi, it is not like that…" Kaname frowned as he approached Hotarubi once again.
"Don't come near me!" Hotarubi screamed in despair as she swung her whip before her, sending numerous attacks at Kaname causing him to back away from her. "You knew I was following you from the beginning right? Yet you still pretended you didn't so you could trap me here?? What are you going to do??" Stopping, Hotarubi thought she was going to vomit with the thought behind Kaname's despicable intention. "I see…you need my ability to complete you…"
"Hotarubi!" Kaname called in desperateness, the first time Hotarubi has ever heard him raise the tone of his voice. With a swing of his arms, Hotarubi sensed a force pulling against her whip and like a metal sucked towards a magnet, the whip in Hotarubi's hand flew off as it landed in Kaname's hand instead.
Before Hotarubi had time to grab a second weapon, a pair of strong arms came from behind her as Kaname held her tightly in his embrace. In shock, Hotarubi struggled madly, "Let go!!! Don't touch me you horrible monster!!!"
Instead of letting go as Hotarubi said, Kaname held her even tighter as he whispered by her ear, his voice so sad, so hurt. "Hotarubi…do not push me away. I don't want you to treat me as if I was using you!! That as if my love for you never existed!!"
Not expecting that from Kaname, Hotarubi's body stopped moving while she heard Kaname continued to speak in a tone of such emotion, such passion that she never knew Kaname had. "Yes, I may be the ancestor reborn, but does that immediately deny me from being a man who is deeply in love with you? Just because I was the first vampire, does it mean as the man Kaname, I am not allowed to long for you??" As if he was frightened to hear anymore words of rejection from Hotarubi Kaname continued on. "You were right when you said I was a monster, a beast that lived for thousands of years. It is also true that I have not lived these times with untainted hands, but still…as a dirtied monster, was it wrong to find salvation in a human girl?"
Noticing Hotarubi had stopped struggling, Kaname also gently loosen his embrace in case he was hurting her from such strength. "I led you to this trip because…I wanted you to find out the truth about me, Hotarubi. I don't want to force you to respond to my love when you constantly doubted me. Yes, initially I saved you because I needed your ability to complete my reborn, but I miscalculated the fact that even after thousands of years, I would still be able to be touched, to be able to love, to be able to find warmth in someone…" Gently smiling in gratefulness, Kaname whispered. "Because you, Hotarubi, are my possibility to do many things."
Upon such confession, Hotarubi felt a storm of emotion ran down on her. Weeping, Hotarubi covered her face as she allowed Kaname to just hold her softly, gently kissed her hair, her face. Finally turning around, to Kaname's surprise, Hotarubi placed her arms around his neck as she tip toed and kissed him, so deeply and passionately that Kaname for the first time was unable to be in control of the situation.
"Hotarubi…" Kaname chanted the name of the girl he loved more than his own life as he wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer to himself.
"Kaname…" Hotarubi whispered in between the kisses, "I am so sorry that I hurt you, I am so sorry…"
"No, don't apologise." Gently kissing away her tears, Kaname smiled. "I am just glad I was able to finally tell you the truth, I no longer need to lie to you…"
Placing both her hands on Kaname's face gently, Hotarubi studied the stunning man before her. Feeling her heart thumping hard, she lowered her head as she whispered. "I want you to have me…Kaname."
Not expecting that, Kaname became quiet as he looked at Hotarubi not knowing what best to say.
Blushing like crazy Hotarubi turned her face away, "You can't suddenly become silent like this…it's not fair!"
"Hotarubi…"
"I know what this means…" Hotarubi bit her lower lip in embarrassment. "But I don't want to be used as a tool anymore. Like you said, is it wrong to simply want someone…?"
"No…there is nothing wrong." Stroking Hotarubi's soft cheek lovingly, Kaname smiled. Stooping, he gently caught Hotarubi's lips with his own as he whispered. "I love you, Hotarubi. I really do…"
Slowly closing her eyes in response, Hotarubi could sense her body turning hotter and hotter with Kaname's kiss. Her heart rate increased even more when she felt Kaname's hand reached the belt of her garment as with a pull loosened it. The moment that rush of cold air hit her skin when her garment fell off her shoulder, Hotarubi thought she was going to faint.
"Hotarubi…" Chanting the name once more while kissing her soft sweet lips, Kaname's hand moved back up as skilfully with another pull, untied the ribbon on Hotarubi's pony tail causing her soft silky strands of shinning black hair to flow down along her shoulders. Leaned in, Kaname gently brushed her hair aside as his lips tasted the soft warm skin on her neck causing Hotarubi's body to shiver in pleasure.
With the soft body in his arms, Kaname remembered the sentence that was spoken on that day, the voice of the kind gorgeous Pureblood.
"Kaname, forgive us.
Haruka and I can no longer fulfil our role…
That is why, to save the vampire race,
You must find her, the daughter of the Yagari Clan…
You must find her…"
.
