Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire knight. I only own my own characters Chiaka, Daichi, Izumi and Yuudai. Also, I don't get paid to write this, the only things I gain from it are reviews. (So please leave a review before you leave)
Hello everyone. I hope you all had an enjoyable week.
First off a big thank you to all of you, because my story has had over 400 visitors which means a lot to me. Next I want to remind everyone that I update this story once a week. Apparently some people didn't know that yet since I got a review that promised me 'evil cookies' if I didn't upload again soon… (Yes I'm talking about you, Nott01).
And the last announcement I have is about the one-shot I wrote for BrizzyBabber. It's called 'Study Session Interrupted' and it's about Yuuki and Hanabusa Aidou. I already received one review from the person to write a follow-up chapter and if there are more people out there that want it as well let me know and I'll try to write and upload it ASAP.
For now let us continue with the main story. Enjoy!
Chiaka woke up alone. She stretched and reaches out for Kaname. When her hand only found the cold sheets she opened her eyes and looked around. Kaname was laying on one of the sofas and appeared to be deep in thoughts. Chiaka gets out of the bed and adjusts her clothes so she looks presentable once again. "I'll go back to my own room and leave you to your thoughts, Kaname-kun. I hope you feel a bit better…" Chiaka looks at Kaname but he gives no indication that he heard her so she decides to leave. Most of the other students have already retired to their rooms so she manages to get to her room unseen.
After a quick shower she lays down on her bed with one of her mangas. Suddenly she hears someone screaming. She focusses on the door and it opens.
"Bad news! Grandpa's coming tonight!" Takuma screams.
Chiaka sighs and gets out of bed. 'Time to find out what's so bad about his grandfather. I would be happy to get a visit from my family, to bad they're dead.' When she arrives at Aidou and Kain's room she elbows her way through the crowd.
"Ichijo, are you really a vampire? So energetic in the morning, just like the vampires in the mangas you forced me to read… You'll probably turn into ashes in the sunlight." Aidou says.
Takuma rips away the curtain and presses himself against the window. "I'd be very willing to turn into ashes if I could…" Takuma starts but is cut off by Aidou who yells 'Do you want to die?'
"The person that the vice president is so afraid of… It could only be that person." Kain said. 'That person? I wonder who he means…' Chiaka thought.
"Yes… A business so experienced in handling the outside world… to the point there's no imaginable aspect of commerce that's not involved in the Ichijo enterprise. In the night world, even among vampires, he's a force to be reckoned with; Ichijo Asatoo or 'Ichio' as he's called. In the council of ancients, he continues to be one of the most senior vampires." Takuma says to all the vampires gathered. He knows that most of them already know this but this way he was ensured that Chiaka knew as well without getting the feeling that he was lecturing her.
"I'm afraid that's not all…" Ruka adds. "The council of ancients is the highest body in command of our world. However, it's not our sovereign. No… forget it. In any case, just leave it at that… I don't want to disturb our dorm's little bit of peace, even if it's for Kaname's sake."
Slowly all the vampires retreat to their rooms. 'I wonder what Ruka meant…' Chiaka thought. "Ruka-chan? Could we talk for a bit?" Ruka turns back to you and looks surprised. She shrugs and follows Chiaka to her room.
"I was just wondering what you meant…" Chiaka says. The two of them sit down on a sofa and Ruka starts explaining some things about Kaname. She talks about his parents' suicide and how Ichijo Asatoo manages all of the business from the Kurans from that point onwards. She tells about how Ichio was supposed to become Kaname's guardian, but Kaname refused him. Chiaka realizes that the more she learns about this man the less she likes him.
After a while Ruka excuses herself and returns to her own rooms to get ready to greet Ichiou. From the looks of it the whole night class will be skipping their classes so Chiaka decides that she will follow the example of Ruka and pick out something nice to wear. After she picked out her dress and did her hear, Chiaka stands in front of her mirror. She had curled her hear a bit so that instead of the normal frizzy waves it now formed smooth waves that cascaded down her back. The dress that she had picked out was black, had long sleeves and a V-neckline. Around the waist there was a black sash that separated the top from the skirt. The skirt was knee-length and the back of the skirt was slightly longer then the front. 'This is bound to make a good impression on everyone' she thought as she casted a last look into the mirror before she walked out of the room.
Chiaka paused at the top of the stairs just out of sight. The whole night class was downstairs waiting for Ichio; the only two missing were Kaname and herself. "Hmph. Even you guys are here as loyal greeters. Are you that afraid of the old geezer in the senate?" Ruka askes Aidou and Kain.
"Of course… He's a monster who's been alive twelve times longer than we have. That's why everyone cut classes to be here, right?" Kain replies.
"He admits it…" Rima whispers.
"I'm afraid too, Rima. But, who's more scary, him or president Kuran, the Pureblood?" Shiki says at which Aidou snorts. "You don't need to ask."
When Chiaka looks up she sees Kaname standing right next to her with a slight smile on his face. He looks at her intensely and brushes his lips against hers. Chiaka blushes and steps back a bit to remain out of sight of the others while Kaname walks down the stairs.
"Kaname! It's alright. You don't need to be here. He's probably just coming here to lecture me." Takuma says when he sees Kaname walking down the stairs.
"I want to say hello to Ichio since I haven't seen him for so long. May I?" Kaname asks.
"Of course you may…"
Kaname turns towards the door when it starts to open. Chiaka moved a bit closer to the top of the stairs to get a better view of this man that is feared by so many of her friends. "Well, well… I deeply appreciate all of you coming to greet me, but I came only to visit my darling grandson. You don't have to stand on formalities." A deep voice says. When Chiaka looked closer at the man she recognized him. It was the same man as the one she had seen in the memories of her parents and brother. Realization hit her hard. The man who was behind the murder of her parents and brother was Ichio, Takuma's grandfather… Chiaka had come to care quite a bit about Takuma and made a vow with herself that she would talk to him later about her newest discovery.
"Ichio, I'm glad you seem to be in excellent health." Kaname said.
"We haven't seen each other since the day you refused to have me as your legal guardian, Kaname-sama." Ichio answered.
"I didn't want to be coddled." Kaname replied.
"Kaname, not here…" Takuma whispered.
"You're right."
"Kaname-sama, Purebloods are different from aristocrats. Even if you're covered in blood nothing can defile you. You're a flower that smells lusciously sweet for all eternity." Ichio says while he moves to kiss Kaname's hand. "Your overwhelming youth, power, beauty… I pray that someday I'll be able to receive the benefits of your unrivalled blood…"
"Kaname-sama!" Ruka says as she rips Kaname's arm away and holds it close, while Aidou grasped hold of the wrist of Ichio. "I'm sorry Kaname-sama, but…"
"You jest too much, sir" Aidou says.
"The daughter of Souen and the son of Aidou…" Ichio remarks.
Kain pulls Ruka away from Kaname. "Stop it, Ruka. Let go."
Takuma places his hand on Aidou's shoulder and says his name. Chiaka moves to the top of the stairs but no one takes notice of her.
"You say that, knowing that asking a Pureblood for his blood is the greatest taboo among vampires! I'm not afraid of you…" It is clear that Aidou is angry and Chiaka has the feeling that the situation is about to escalate when Kaname moves in and slaps Aidou.
"I haven't thought him enough manners." Kaname says coldly.
"Because you are here, Kaname-sama, I feel at ease keeping my grandson in this academy." Ichio bows and kisses Kaname's hand. "My lord."
Chiaka starts to descend down the stairs. She doesn't bother to be quiet so everyone notices her approach. The whole night class bows when she reaches the bottom of the stairs and Takuma walks up to her immediately.
Shock flashes over Ichio's faces when he sees her and he speaks with a disdain in his voice that makes the whole night class uncomfortable. "And who might you be?"
Chiaka keeps her emotions in check and answers coldly. "You might want to change your attitude when you address me, Ichijo Asatoo." From the corner of her eye she can see that almost the whole night class is smirking at him.
"Grandfather, this is Chiaka Tejinaji." Takuma says uncomfortable. Chiaka looks at him and smiles softly which he returns.
"It is an honour to meet you, Chiaka-sama. I'm glad that at least one member of your family managed to survive that unfortunate attack 17 years ago. My belated condolences for the loss of your parents and brother. I hope that my grandson has made an effort to see to the fact that all your wishes are fulfilled." Ichio says and bows to kiss her hand.
'He recognized me the moment I he saw me. And from the undercurrent in his voice it becomes very clear that I'm going to have to keep an eye on him.'
"Thank you. Takuma has been a good friend to me since I arrived here."
"If there is anything the Ichijo family can do for you, just let me know and we'll be at your service."
"There is just one thing I want to know. Did the council ever found out who was behind the murder of my family?"
"I'm sorry, Chiaka-sama, but no. There was not enough evidence to draw a conclusion and none of the attackers survived. So we expect that the one who was in charge of the attack was there and died during the attack."
Chiaka turned her back on Ichio and walked over to one of the sofas and sits down. Kaname turns away after one more look in her direction and returns to his room, while Takuma and Ichio walk away to talk in private.
"Aidou, come here." Everyone looks at Chiaka in shock, but Aidou walks over to her and kneels in front of her. Chiaka gently covers the mark on his face from the slap Kaname had given him. She focusses and a soft glow emits from her hand. After the glowing has stopped she removes her hand from Aidou's face. "That was a really stupid thing to do. If Kaname hadn't stepped in and punished you, Ichio would have ripped you into shreds. But I do agree with you, he went too far."
Aidou touched his cheek carefully. "You healed it…" Chiaka nodded and smiled. "Ah well, at least you embarrassed him by telling him to mind his manners. It would have been more fun if Takuma hadn't introduced you. I bet he would have been rude again and then you could have thrown one of those energy balls at him. Would have loved to see him fly through the air and hit a wall or something…" Aidou closed his eyes in bliss at those thoughts and the rest of the night class had to laugh. The conversation continued for a while before everyone decided that it was time to go back to their rooms.
Chiaka was at the top of the stairs when Takuma and Ichio walked back into the sitting area. "Takuma."
"Yes, grandfather…"
"Kaname-sama seems to trust you very much. Serve him well and keep an eye on him. And keep an eye on Chiaka-sama as well; see if you can become her most trusted friend. I want to know how she managed to survive that attack and where she has been the past 17 years. This is why I'm letting you attend this academy." Ichio turned around and made his way to the door to leave.
"Grandfather, you don't understand. I will not do anything that goes against the interests of my best friends."
"You're the one who doesn't understand. A friendship based on a fictitious peace in the small world of this academy…"
"Cross Academy is truly peaceful!"
"Yuuki!" Takuma said.
"S-so the chairman said he wants you to donate a lot this time too. You are Ichijo's grandfather, right?"
"I would love to hear why the chairman considers this place peaceful. I even heard that a commissioned vampire hunter entered the academy grounds the other day."
"The chairman would like to explain that matter as well. I was told by the chairman to bring you to him immediately." Zero said while standing in the doorway.
"Zero, you're feeling better?" Yuuki asked.
"Cross… He's as impudent as ever. All right. Show me the way." Ichio said and he left together with Zero.
"Zero! I'll go with you!" Yuuki calls as she starts to follow them.
"Wait, Yuuki!" Takuma says and he holds her arm. "Did something happen between you and Kaname?"
Yuuki looks surprised by Takuma's question. "No, why are you asking me that?"
"Well, Kaname doesn't tell me the important things so I thought that you might know something, Yuuki."
"Um, I didn't even know Kaname was a Pureblood. I really don't know anything…"
"But, you used to be very close. You know a side of Kaname that we've never seen." Yuuki shrugs and walks away. Takuma sighs and closes the door behind her, before he starts making his way up the stairs and towards his room. 'Time to go, before he finds out that I heard everything…' Chiaka thought and she made her way to her own room. After she had dumped the dress into the laundry basket she went to bed. It took a while before she finally fell asleep as she was thinking about the thing that she had found out that day. But her biggest problem was the fact that she no longer knew whether she could trust Takuma, it was obvious that there were a lot of things she didn't know anything about…
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I tried to make the dialogues better understandable by giving each person a new line. I would love it if you leave a review and I hope that you will continue to follow this story.
See you next time ^^
