Disclaimer: Vampire Knight is not mine. This story was made for fun. I don't own the characters and no money is being made with this story.
Greetings, minna-sama! (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ Hope you haven't forgotten about me, yet. (❁´▽`❁)*✲ﾟ* To those who are still with me please let me share the joy of this fic's first year anniversary here! Yay! σ(≧ε≦ｏ) While I was only able to give you nine measly chapters, I really appreciate the support and kindness you've so generously given me. (シ_ _)シ
So here's the next chapter! Nothing much happens here (ノ ﾟДﾟ)ノ ＝＝＝＝ ┻━━┻ but I believe you'll like the next one after this. This is just to introduce other information about the children. Please give Ichi your never-ending patience~! ー( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ
Lots of things are going on with my world currently which mainly means that a lot of ships are intruding and distracting and making me fangirl for the most of my time ｍ(｡≧Д≦｡)ｍ(but they're all important to give inspiration! I swear! (Σ(゜ロ゜;))) but please do know that I have every intention to finish this. I hope you'll bear with me some more. m(＿＿)m
I'd like to make a pretty belated apology for the confusion I seem to have caused with Chapter 8 since most seem to not have guessed who the honey blond female vampire with rose-quartz eyes was. It was actually Ruka Souen. I know, I know, based on the pictures and Wikipedia, she's got brown hair and brown eyes as well. I could have sworn it read blond before and I kinda went with the description of her I saw in one fanfic way back (and why are they all brunettes?! щ(゜ロ゜щ) I'm overflowing with brunette's already! - granted, they also have lots of blonds XD) and I felt the description suited her, I would have preferred her like that. But should this truly go against the grain for most of my readers, I'm not super unwilling to backtrack and change Ruka back to her original hues. ∩˙▿˙∩
Of course, comments and suggestions are all welcome! I would truly appreciate it if you think the characters are becoming (way) out of character. Just another reminder that this is such a slow-poke of a story from a very amateur writer. m(_ _;m)三(m;_ _)m
Hope you'll enjoy this! Dozo~! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o
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Chapter Ten
And When You Thought You Know it All
Anxious chocolate brown eyes hovered from the stark white face of her adopted brother beside her to the beautiful golden children who were also glancing their way since earlier to the rather pale blond she had never seen this quiet and serious before and finally, back to the green eyes of the vampire standing not far from her. Is it her imagination, or is the air kinda stale here? This gotta be the most awkward situation she's been in, and that's saying something since she got lots of those, and she doesn't even know why Ichiru looks near to passing out.
Yuuki gently pat his shoulder, "Ichiru, are you alright?"
"Yep, I'm okay." Was the automatic response from the silver-head, but he's still looking close to death, she frowned.
Meanwhile, Kaname was introducing the four additional visitors and the people of the Night Class was torn between looking in amazement at the beautiful fraternal twins of the pureblood King and giving a particular blond noble sly looks because of the children that was obviously sired by him, some wondering who's the possible mother of the children while some was bewildered that the annoying know-it-all could actually produce such extraordinarily exquisite children.
The brunette vampire then went back to his seat and asked his youngest twins, who are again wrapped around Zero, if they would like something to eat. They enthusiastically chimed an answer for him. Most of the Night Class surrounded little Ichi and would have begun asking him questions and fawning over him and his brother had not their silver-haired princess' voice rang across the room from where she's sitting beside her parents while drinking tea to address her blond cousin herself.
"Ichi dearest, please ease my mind and tell me that you have prepared my siblings' provisions when you decided to drag them here with you." She said this sweetly while placing her cup gently back to its saucer.
The blond boy puffed up his chest and beat a hand to it in a gesture of confidence, "Of course, I did, Hime-nee! This genius me never misses a detail." And then he walked over to where an ashen Hanabusa Aidou sat dazed to arrange his little brother inside his frozen arms, his little brother looking at the noble a bit anxiously, taking a hold of his expensive clothes and sucking his thumb. Then, Ichi went to one of his many great boxes that arrived with him not unlike how his cousins did before him and opened it. The onlookers peered inside, very curious about the trinkets that travelled years back in time. The blue-eyed seraph then extracted a large, fluffy pillow and a thick blue fleece blanket as well as a huge bunny stuffed toy and displayed them as proof of his overwhelming consideration.
"Taadaah! I brought Shino-chan's favorite pillow and blanket and Tsuki-hime's favorite doll! They shan't feel lonely while they're here!" he said proudly with great energy, eyes closed and chin up.
The silver princess continued to look at her cousin with that same sweet smile on her lips.
And there was silence. Sato was shaking his head, his palm going to his twin brother's lips to aid him in restraining a laugh, both of them looking from their twin sister to their cousin and back again.
"That's it?" she inquired softly after a while, to which the boy just vigorously nodded his head. Some of the Night Class gulped as some kind of sixth sense warned them of an impending disaster.
"And clothes?"
"None!" the unaffected blond told her immediately, still with his guiltless smile. You just need the clothes on your back when you're going for an adventure, right? He didn't realize how the lower class vampires took a step away from him.
"Hygienic supplies?" her candied voice continued.
"Nope!" is she trying to see if he brought anything unneeded? Well, of course, he's got everything covered! Is it just him or is it growing colder?
And the Night class took another step away.
"Emergency food supply?"
"Nu-uh." He shook his golden head. Who needs food when you're as excited as he is? Hmm, did daddy use his ability?
There's a great shuffling as the Night Class backed up against the wall at this. Zero was looking amused as he observed his daughter's temper rising the way a certain pureblood does, just without the saccharine smile fixated on an angelic face usually. Kaname was doing the same, sipping his tea, completely unaffected and already thinking of the supplies he will have to order for his children. Shino and Tsuki-hime were not listening and not caring at all as they simply fed Zero some strawberries while they comfortably sat on his lap with their Sato-nii still warning their Hiro-nii against loudly pouring his mirth over beside them. Yuuki unconsciously took hold of Takuma's sleeve while the green-eyed noble's shoulders' shook at the brat's honest, and unconsciously lethal answers and he kindly patted her hand for reassurance. A petrified Ichiru still looked dazed like a certain blond noble in the room. The chairman, who was still fawning over his granddaughter's interesting irate expression until that time, finally stopped in clicking away at his camera and began to contemplate how he would save the unknowing blond cherub.
"Their blood tablets?" slowly, with painfully honeyed tone, the feminine voice asked in almost a whisper, the princess looking like something carved out of smooth marble. She once again set her cup down when she noticed that the handle mysteriously became chipped in her hold and the saucer received a mighty crack for no apparent reason.
Sapphire eyes opened at this. He put his index finger and thumb under his chin and thought about it. Oh, yes, there's that. Guess he forgot one thing, after all. Well, he only looked like it but he's not perfect. He put his right hand at the back of his head and laughed a little, looking innocently sheepish, Silly me. It quite escaped him the horrified gasped of the adults around him.
The female silverette put the end of her fan near her lips and gave a laugh of her own that made the room's temperature drop even more, "Fufu, I see, and can you kindly tell me the contents of your huge cargos, oh dearest, darling Ichi?"
"Of course, it's my laboratory equipment and experiment materials, Hime-nee! They go wherever I go." He positively exclaimed. This is common knowledge. He finally turned to his cousin and felt cold sweat appear on his forehead at the drop of a hat as he saw her still giving him that sugared smile while her wine-red eyes depicted the Arctic Circle. He knows he must be imagining it but he could swear he's seeing snakes shape up from her silver hair and leer at him hungrily. And that dangerous flash across burgundy depths can't be just him.
"Fufu, that will be remembered. I shall make specific instructions to have those put in with you in your grave. So if you would just please proceed to the punishment room, dear, dear Ichi." She crooned softly in a seemingly kind voice that nevertheless made his blue eyes water, showily and slowly taking off her white lace gloves that might be her version of knuckle-cracking. "Oh, what to do with all this rage." She cupped one cheek gently with her hand, still smiling.
But he doesn't understand, what is she mad about? It's just one slip! "Hi-Hi-Hi-Hime-n-n-nee-sama…" the look on his cousin's face made his voice get stuck in his throat.
"Stupid Ichi." Hiro was hiccupping from the strain of holding back a laugh earlier but it didn't stop him chortling now.
"Really, now." Sato just said, "Hime, stop teasing him. He's looking close to tears already." He shook his head.
"Oh, but I'm in earnest." She replied lightly, walking over to their teary-eyed cousin nailed to the ground and gave him a pinch on his cheek and tugged mercilessly, "We should rid the world of this abysmally foolish person, there's no help for him."
"His investors would cry." Sato still indifferently reasoned, "Stop that, please, Hime. And retract the cold aura please."
The princess 'hmph'-ed at this and withdrew her aura, but she pinched the poor boy's other cheek and tugged opposite ways, "We'll just have you work for us, dearest, to make up for the trouble your thoughtlessness caused. Let me squeeze that genius mind of yours of the right kind of wit." She then released him after he gave his acknowledgement ('Y-yesh') and chuckled darkly before going back to her seat while the poor darling with red spot on both cheeks ran to Ichiru and threw himself down his lap muttering about incomprehensible, unfeeling female relations.
The dazed prefect was jostled out of his complicated remunerations as he looked down at the smaller version of his golden light, the sweet smell of raspberry surrounding him. He didn't know what to do or how to feel in this situation. He touched the child's golden hair, feeling something cut holes deep inside him. But the child is simply beautiful. Like him.
The chairman resumed his unquenchable obsession as soon as the dark cloud passed and began clicking away, fawning at the adorable children ("Aw! The sweetheart with Ichirun! And my granddaughter's adorable expression!").
"My, the poor child seems to have been blinded by fear, he didn't know who to run to for comfort." Calmly covered up Hime when he saw where their idiot cousin landed himself, peeking through one eye to check their silver uncle's unsuspecting face as she continued to drink tea from the newly repaired tea cup.
"Err…please don't mind him, Uncle." supported Sato giving Ichiru a sideways glance and hoping that their cousin wouldn't say anything stupid now.
"You're mean to bully me like that, Hime-nee! Just because my delectable self is subjected to immense envy doesn't mean you have to treat me like this!"
"Oh, cease. You're embarrassing me. Speak no more; people might think we're related." The silver-haired princess said in apparent apathy but the last sentence was made to remind him of their guise, "The horror."
He got the silent reminder but was still baffled at being punished, "Err…I don't even know why you're angry!" he exclaimed, pushing himself up a little from Ichiru's lap with his hands.
"Not knowing your crime is the very reason why you're still considered a child." She said a little imperiously, setting down her cup on the table and then, after smiling at her Otou-sama sweetly, reached for the tea pot to refill hers and her parents' cups with fresh, hot tea, asking Zero if he wish for two sugar cubes or one.
"You're just a few years older than me." He pouted before sinking back on his unknowing otou-chan's lap, the only comfort for his mighty self when faced with the overwhelming storms that are his cousins. Ah, the tragedy of being envied for my brilliant self.
"And yet you're still a child." The female silverette returned coolly with her nose in the air. She then shared a smile with her Chichiue, who was observing the exchange, as if teasing time-traveling cousins was an everyday natural occurrence.
"Now, now, don't go upsetting Hime further, Ichi, you brat." spiritedly said Hiro who walked near his cousin then put one arm around the blond's neck in an act of playfulness and furtively dragged him away from the silver prefect to lessen the danger of being found out, "You don't want to really anger her so soon, do you remember you still owe her for when your experiment ran amok and ruined her vineyard." He added in a loud whisper that was meant to travel around the room.
"That was a decade ago!" came the protest from the blue-eyed imp. And a cute chimera running around playing hardly constitutes a crime! So what if it breathes a little fire? It was cute!
"You also wrecked her garden tea party with a cyclone two years after that." he carried on, as if merely citing about bruised knees and broken dolls.
"You were tickling me so I lost control!" they were both beaten up by Hime-nee for that.
"There was also that time when you painfully landed on her when you were soaring through the air despite countless warnings." The brunette continued while shaking his head as if in tragic remembrance, ah, the good old days.
Ichi remembered the near fatal experience that would have been the end of his life had not his otouchan been present to placate his cousin. He also remembered being congratulated by Hiro-nii for his success in annoying Hime-nee, "I was a toddler, Hiro-nii. Ever heard of an accident? And I was even more cute and cuddly back then, it couldn't have hurt…that much."
It did, stupid Ichi, delicately snorted Hime with light derision in her tea cup, his skull is thicker than Hiro-nii's.
"And there was that time when you shredded her bloomers to ribbons." Hiro went on enumerating his debts, ignoring the other's defense.
"Wha-? That wasn't even me!"
"Oh, it wasn't?"
"Hiro-nii!"
"Just suck it up. It's your fault for being a 'Good-to-Bully' no.1."
Zero was listening with interest but was growing confused at the content of the two's banter. A decade? Two years after? They don't even look near ten! Even if they do grow slower due to them being vampires, that should only be evident as they grow into their teens. He threw a questioning look at the brunette pureblood to ask for an explanation but he saw that the similar question reflected from the vampire's eyes. He could see that the same goes for all those in the room who noticed.
Sato and Hime who were quietly sitting and observing the two rascals in their banter making sure that they won't say anything that would blow up the cover of the blond imp, noticed the growing confusion and gave a look of understanding.
"Hiro, Ichi, be quiet for a minute. You just managed to make people confused."
"Oh, well, I suppose we did forget to confer that particular detail." The female silverette inclined her head at one side thoughtfully, slowly putting back on the lace gloves she took off earlier.
"I think Chichiue and the others were wondering about our age?" Sato articulated the question in the air for them, also recalling that they didn't mention anything in regards to that.
There was a knot marring the silver ex-human's handsome face, "Aren't you six or seven?"
"We just took for granted that you might be six years old." seconded Kaien who took a seat near Yuuki and Ichiru. So there's more to be heard?
Hime laughed lightly, "You are not completely incorrect."
Sato explained, "We actually grow slower even compared to vampires. If we are going to put this simply, vampires practically ages twice as slow as humans though powerful ones don't age at all once their physical body reaches the ages between seventeen to thirty, but that's the general idea. We on the other hand ages twice as slow as regular vampires and therefore four times as slow than your average human but unlike vampires whose growth is almost normal during childhood, ours is at a fixed rate. Our bodies change a year's worth of growth in the course of four years. We're still observing it but according to a certain clairvoyant, the growth should also stop completely once our bodies become young adults." He finished, idly wondering if anyone would freak out at this.
"We are the only Heosphoros in the world and in the course of history but we're not the only ones ever been born between a vampire and a hunter, we're also basing it on old documented reports regarding them because they have the same growth pace though not publicly known." added Hiro, looking around at the quiet surprise on the adults faces, smiling, finally letting go of their mischievous cousin after giving him a covert look of reminder not to say anything about his age as it's a dead give-away.
"So meaning…currently, you three…" Yuuki said, not trusting herself with mathematics but if she's not wrong then the triplets would be…
"Oh, the three of us just turned twenty-six last summer, two more years and we would be officially seven years old. Shino-chan and Tsuki-hime here are fifteen years old, next spring they would finally be considered as four years old physically. We're sure that we got the consistency correct but Hana-jichan and Chichiue are still studying it to make sure." answered Sato.
Everyone pondered this new information as they looked at the triplets that they know now is older than most of them, with Hime taking her tea cup and saucer from the table to take a sip of Darjeeling tea and intently looking at their Otou-sama while Hiro put his hands at the back of his head while still looking around smiling at anyone who would catch his eyes, trying to gauge their reaction. Sato was still quietly sitting on his chair, testing himself if he's up for another plate of pancakes.
"So in regards to education…" Kaien trailed off after a short while, looking at the triplets who currently have nine years more life experience than most of the people in the room.
Hime was the one who answered, "Hmm? Oh, the three of us finished school already, Grandpa. Our youngest are taking classes for secondary education."
"University was rather tricky because of our appearance but we managed to go 'round it. We really didn't wish to wait for our body to catch up before starting our education. And home schooling is boring." supplied Hiro, rolling his eyes at the last sentence as though he can't quite convey just how much of a torture it was.
"Certainly, and he nearly harassed otou-sama half to death to let us go to a normal high-school after just a few years of home schooling. Thankfully, Chichiue eventually agreed." stated Hime.
"W-were you told why? Why the growth's slow, I mean." a suddenly very-much awake Kain couldn't help asking, he was almost falling asleep because of the early hours of midday but this is certainly an eye-opener. He looked at his cousin to check for his reaction at this incredible news of such slow growth but the poor bloke is still out cold with both eyes open. He shook his head, risking a peek at a certain prefect. The ginger-haired noble was surprised to see the younger male silverette mirroring his cousin's expression. Is it possible that…
But at that time, the king's heir answered his question which forced him to direct his thoughts back to the current topic, thinking that he'll just look into this further later. Maybe there's hope for his handful cousin that would answer his dearest wish and satisfy all those sleepless mornings.
"There were lots of theories. It could have been because of the power we wield that slows it down." disclosed Sato, "Some said that it could be to prepare our bodies properly for having immense power. But no one knows really. Anyway, it doesn't pose any problem; after all, as early as now, we can protect ourselves."
There was stunned silence as the room's occupants absorb this. Zero was quite unbelieving. He looked down at the captivating fraternal twins on his lap, Shino was biting on a newly served pancake while Tsuki-hime was reaching for another strawberry to feed him. How can it be that these two are only a year younger than him currently? No teenager can be so pure.
Kaname on the other hand was just marveling at these unique creatures that are his children. How the world reflects from their eyes, he wonders. The way their lives unfold before them is not something even he knows. And yet, they're just perfect.
Hime broke the stillness, "But, of course, just because one has lived for twenty-six years doesn't follow that they have the actions and reasoning of your regular adult. After all, it's just a count of years. We have an experience of twenty-six years of existence but with the body of a child and receiving attentions for children, it's no wonder our behavior and wisdom are that of children. So I hope it doesn't bother you too much, if we act beneath our years." She finished sweetly, holding her fan near her lips while smiling, I can for one name a particular cousin who acts like a two year old despite being twenty-one, she then gave a certain blue-eyed hellion a surreptitiously knowing look.
Some people smiled at this, including Kaien and Kaname. Takuma cheerfully reassured, "You don't act childish, Hime-sama."
Hime giggled gratefully, "You might be surprised. But of course, as a young lady, uncle, I do not wish to do anything unsightly."
"I highly doubt you will." The pureblood king said with quiet fondness for his children. The female silverette awarded him with a genuinely gentle smile.
"Aside, of course, from bullying." Hiro teased to lighten up the mood which just made Hime give him a look.
"How rude, I do not bully. When did I ever?"
"Yeah, yeah, so that's just some tender molly-coddling gone berserk, eh?"
But Zero smiled at this hint of childishness from the kids. He finds having to grow up in a body that doesn't follow up your mind's development a bit constricting. But this also means that they can have lots of time to dote on them as children. He found that he kinda like the idea…he put a stop to that thought. Just what the hell was he thinking? He looked up from the bantering children to see the vampire King watching him as if trying to garner his thoughts on all this. Shit.
"And how old is Ichi-sama?" asked one of the members of the night class.
"About fourteen." Answered Sato for him immediately, taking into consideration the earlier banter of the cousins.
"Eh? So he's growth is not like ours?" and several eyes flew to the blond-haired angel who was massaging both of his red cheeks, contemplating running to his otouchan again. It's interesting how beautiful his otouchan is despite being human-hunter currently, No wonder I turned out to be so great.
"W-well, he's special." continued Sato, his head scrambling for any excuse for this. It's a good thing the aura of their two youngest masked his cousin's upon their arrival earlier. Hopefully, no one really noticed that the two blonds are also Heosphoros.
"Of course, I am!" cried Ichi indignantly. Of all the obvious things…
"Like a mutation." quipped Hiro with sudden teasing inspiration.
"Hey!"
"Yeah, that's right." agreed Sato right away, internally groaning at their pathetic excuse.
"That is the case, isn't that right, Ichi dearest?" set Hime, wishing that no one would look into it further anymore, they are yet to think of their battle plan in regards to this, "Oh, but please consider him as a two year old." She carried on hoping to distract them.
"Five, Hime, not two." Joined Sato.
"Oh, really now? I thought he acts like that much of a toddler."
"Hime-nee!"
"Fufu, just come and eat breakfast, dear Ichi." She said with finality that halted the questions from the rest of the Night Class. Takuma, Kaien and Zero were looking a bit suspicious while Yuuki was giggling a little.
Ichiru managed to be silent from start to finish, barely hearing the explanation about his nieces' and nephews' age. He slowly stood, trying not to catch the attention of anyone but failing since Zero, Yuuki, and Takuma saw him and watched with growing alarm as he walked like a zombie outside with hardly any parting greeting.
"Oy, Ichiru!" called out Zero
A certain blond angel stopped from putting peanut butter and strawberry jam in his porridge at this, "Ot—" the blond cherub's call was muffled by Sato who also gave him a light smack on the forehead for almost revealing his connection to the silverette just like that after their painstakingly comical effort to disguise him, fiercely averting his eyes from the other's idea of a breakfast. Hiro picked up Itsuki who went down from his rooted noble daddy to follow his comparatively alive otouchan.
"Sorry, no can do Itsu-chan." Hiro shook his head at the toddler who, despite being four years of age, still has the body of a one year old baby.
Yuuki and Zero, who gently and swiftly put down his two charges on an empty chair, tried to ran after the departing silverette. Kaname stood up and would have made an excuse to stop his future mate from going but the chairman bodily threw himself at his nearest son and caught his leg blocking his attempt to leave.
"Wha—, let go stupid Chairman. I need to go see Ichiru." Barked Zero while yanking on his left leg, Yuuki, who didn't notice this, was already outside trying to catch up with her adopted brother.
"Eh, but…I'll go see Ichirun, you stay here." whined the poor excuse of an adult. He wanted to accustom his son to this environment, encouraging the future that is set for his brooding silver child, internally thinking that this would save him from his previously dark and suicidal self. Of course, that is not to say that he's not worried for his other son so he would like to go check up on him but he wants Zero to stay.
Tsukiko and Shinobu also copied their grandpa in halting their Otouchan's departure, landing on the lean back of the golden-haired ex-hunter.
"Don't go!" Tsukiko cried out desperately.
The male silverette looked at the fraternal twins with a complicated expression of quiet indecision.
Kaname, who's already on his feet at this, went to the two brunettes clinging at the Chairman's back, he knelt on one knee beside Zero's captured leg, "Now, now, Tsuki-hime, Shinobu, you shouldn't force Zero to stay if he doesn't want to. It wouldn't make him." wondering how well reverse psychology works on his hunter.
When the two brunettes raised their dark heads to look up to their parents to reveal two pairs of lavender eyes overcome with fat tears, their soft lips trembling, both adults was taken aback and winced as if struck by lightning. Both ignoring the headmaster who's got a similar imploring countenance.
"Oh, my." The vampire king just said condolingly to his children, making an added effect for the hunter's benefit.
Zero has an unknowingly pitying expression on his face as he looked at the twins beseeching gaze. He tried to avert his eyes and it landed on his silver daughter who was dramatically dabbing her silk handkerchief on relatively dry eyes, then to his sons; Sato was apologizing through his stare for all the trouble though still holding on to the golden-haired copy of a certain annoying noble, said child was not paying them any attention but was looking at the door his twin disappeared to, while Hiro was attempting an appealingly forlorn look himself but his mouth was twitching as if fighting a laugh while holding a struggling toddler in his hands. The silverette feels as if they're ganging up on him but he still can't do anything but surrender.
"But Ichiru…" he muttered as a last attempt to struggle.
"I'll go to him." assured the Chairman still on the ground, making round puppy eyes which he still ignored.
"Fine." He said a little gruffly, sighing in resignation, one hand coming up to ruffle the back of his head, "Let go, stupid Chairman, how long would you cling to my leg?" he snapped at his guardian, pulling at his captured leg. Then he stooped down to carry the brunette princess from the ex-hunter's back while a now smiling Kaname did the same for her twin.
"You," he would have lightly scolded the lilac-eyed beauty for her part in making him capitulate but when she sniffed at him and the tears she was holding on to finally slid down her soft cheeks he said instead, "don't cry. I'll stay." He wiped the affronting liquid away.
He felt a pat on his cheek and turned to her twin brother who was also demanding his attention while on the pureblood's hold, his other hand wrapped around his Chichiue's neck. The prefect sighed again, he can't win against them. He seriously doubts anyone can. He gave the young brunette half a smile. There was a great flash of a camera and he turned to glare at an ecstatic chairman who was moving here and there to get various angles of the good-looking family as if his time on the floor never happened.
"You're going, right?" the ex-human said murderously to his guardian. He'll definitely find the time to steal that annoying camera later.
"Y-yeah, I was, am, I mean." The blond reluctantly said as if just remembering it. Then he swung around, facing his other grandchildren, and took his handkerchief out and loudly bemoans the separation with them. Hime wonderfully rose to the occasion and held his hand and told of unbearable anguish and regret. Zero had to kick his guardian out of the dormitory to get him going since he looks like he's having so much fun now that someone is willing to go along with his theatrics.
He looked down on his silver daughter after sending his guardian out. She also looked at him after waiving her pure white handkerchief at her grandpa as a sign of farewell, sporting a genial smile on her angelic face.
"Yes, Otou-sama?" she began.
He would have said something but thought better of it. Now, what to do. He just let himself be held up in a place full of vampires. Great.
"Would you like to see the spell we're making, Otou-sama?" Invited his daughter while already taking his hand and steered him with her sister to the direction of a certain room.
Zero just sighed and let himself be hauled by his daughter, unconsciously clasping her hand tightly, as she led him to another part of the Moon Dorms, leaving the rest of the Night Class to mull about their extraordinary visitors or just go back to sleep, the silverette hoping that he won't have to worry about them for the rest of the long weekend. He's got enough to think about as it is.
He vaguely felt the presence of a certain annoying vampire follow them along with three comforting aura's of his sons. He maintained that he felt Kaname 'vaguely' refusing to acknowledge how the very air around the vampire appear to be like a homing beacon to his senses, making him aware of every single aggravating detail about the damn pureblood that it seems unfair that Kaname can still fucking sneak up on him when he wants to. He grimaced a little at that.
At length they arrived in a room on the first floor and Hime willed the door to open in time for them to step inside. The hunter's skin instantly broke into various goose-bumps as every hunter faculty that he has reacted to the sheer compelling power that clung to the very air in the huge space. The slightly oppressive force in the room has the complex mix of hunter and vampire in it. He felt himself settle a little more comfortably after a minute or two, but lower class hunters, as well as lower class vampires, would certainly find this room too overwhelming for comfort.
He began taking steadier breathes in an attempt to calm his senses further. He took a look at his two daughters who were looking at him as if they didn't find the dominant capacity in the place any different from the air outside.
"Impressive, is it not?" the king's proud silky voice said somewhere from behind him. Zero didn't turn around, not wanting to look at the irritating pureblood any more than he has to; it's not as if he's itching for the sight of him. He'll just as soon make him a target practice for his Bloody Rose, he convinced himself firmly. So, instead, he just answered while training lilac eyes around the room, "How come I didn't feel it from outside?"
This must be a room not frequently used in the Moon Dorms, he observed. Several unused furniture skirted the wall at the far end of the room, covered in several massive white cloths. Various desks lined around the rest of the room filled with clutters of bottles and other materials that are undoubtedly being used by his children, old books the size of paving stones burdened three desks along with scrolls of yellowed paper that might be older than him together with his children's unmistakable notes while decanters and herbs of unnamed plants decked the rest. A huge white cloth laden with metal rods to form a six-pointed star hexagram occupied half the room. The hunter immediately knew that the pulsing power circling the air came from the enormous mark. There are unfinished inscriptions that covered the cloth inside the star-shaped cylinder. It almost reminded him of cults that prowled the night chanting strange nonsense to summon the devil or whatever freakish creature in those weird movies that Yuuki insists on watching while clinging to him and Ichiru in disgust and fright. Though he very much doubt one virgin as a sacrifice could satisfy the immense seal seeing the monstrous power it has even while still incomplete. He cannot comprehend how anyone can manage to make that.
He let out a deep breath as he tore his eyes from the symbol and directed it to the other side of the room where certain comfortable dining chairs surrounds a medium-sized round table while a couple of armchairs are arranged around some side tables in simple elegance. It was obviously hastily organized to accommodate the children but he's satisfied to see that it's cozy enough. Those armchairs look even more expensive than the bed he has in his dorm room, he thought wryly.
"Chichiue was kind enough to put up a barrier so that the spell won't disturb anyone." Sato answered his earlier question while Hime gently settled the male silverette on one of the armchairs in the room.
"Which is fortunate or Senri-jichan would have impaled us for continuously ruining his sleep." added Hiro with a smirk, depositing his younger brother's effects on the big table while Sato went near their Otou-sama to deliver the big bunny stuffed toy to their youngest sister who was making grabby hands for her doll.
"No one would do anything of the sort." Kaname asserted as he sat on one of the armchairs in a relaxed distance from is hunter. He situated his youngest son on his lap but the beautiful lilac-eyed boy gave him a gentle pat on the cheek and asked to be put down which he did, curious at what his youngest wanted, and the boy gave him a kiss on the cheek before making his blanket fly to him from a top the table using sheer mind force. His dark, wavy hair swaying as he proceeded to drag it with him in the direction of his Otou-sama. The king smiled, Shinobu is pining for a nap, it seems. His eldest told him before that he always takes a nap in Zero's arms which he encouraged to stop his hunter from going frequently on dangerous missions.
But the young male brunette was halted from going towards his Otou-chan while dragging his blue fleece blanket when their silver-haired princess next spoke, "Ah, on that note, Shino-chan, since you're already here, kindly make us some of your talisman so as to not bother Chichiue with a barrier." Hime quietly requested of her little brother even as Kaname commented that it's no trouble at all. He turned to his oneechama with a slightly despondent look before nodding silently.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed delightedly, providing him with several strips of paper and an ink bottle with the brush that they were using with their own preparations.
The young vampire frowned at her, "Do forgive me, dearest little brother," returned Hime, smiling charmingly, "But I'm afraid I haven't the time to patiently ground a fresh, new ink stick for you. We'll have to make do with what we currently have, dearest."
There was an almost indiscernible pout on the little brunette's lips but let it go so he can immediately proceed with his nap.
Zero frowned deeply as he observed the little vampire's eyes morphed from pure lilac to fiery red and fluidly and elegantly wrote great black characters on a piece of paper while power seems to be flowing from him.
"My, is that 'Shinji'?" asked Kaname, impressed at his children's abilities. But of course, with their power they should be able to do this. Hiro nodded in affirmation,
"What's that?" inquired Zero, it sounded familiar.
"Ahm, it's basically a vampire's ability to make something that embodies or holds their power." answered Sato, looking over his little brother's shoulder as he works.
The male silverette racked his brains of the things that he was taught about vampires from his Master Yagari. He does remember a particular ability like that but not the details, as far as he knows not all vampires can do it, after all. And most of them are just those overbearing, high and mighty, I'm-fucking-itching-to-shoot purebloods, precisely like the one currently sitting not far from him. Of course, they're the only ones arrogant enough to call their skill of making something 'God's Characters/Letters', the hunter thought dryly. Zero, who doesn't put his children in the same category as their irritating father, has a slight mar on his forehead as he confirmed if he was right, "So this is 'Emission', right? A temporary transfer of power?"
"That is correct Otou-sama." delightfully confirmed his daughter, "It would automatically lose its power once the creator's designed goal has been fulfilled." Hime cheerfully added and, looking at her busy younger brother, added, "Shino-chan's ability includes making the most powerful barriers and he likes to make seal-like papers when lending it to others for a long period of time."
"There is also that type where you make something out of nothing right, those that really last?" he asked further. It's part of their duties as hunters to bring back those so called 'Immortal Artifacts' to the Association if they come across one. But they're rare, the only ones known to them are their very own anti-vampire weapons which came from the power and will of one unique pureblood. The Parent. And a teapot that sings people to sleep, but that's a different story.
"As expected of Otou-sama." approved Sato, "Though Shino-chan and Tsuki-hime here have yet to master making an 'Artifact'." The fraternal twins prefer eating and sleeping than practicing 'Materialization'.
"More like, they don't like to bleed themselves to make one, which makes it more powerful and eternal." supplied Hiro knowingly. He was awarded with a pout from their youngest sister.
The hunter murmured the classifications under his breath trying to recall them all. Fuck, his master would skin him alive if he forgot about it as he made sure to drill it in his and Ichiru's mind, anything and everything important about the creatures they were trained to hunt. Though he can't say that the same reason applies to him anymore as he looked back down to his children.
"Can you make familiars then?" Kaname queried, very proud of his children's accomplishments.
"Of course, Chichiue." Hime affirmed, looking at their father with clear quiet confidence and, as if to verify, stretched out a hand beside her and her eyes changed to glowing rubies as she called out, "Lycanthrope." A large, pure silver-white wolf, several feet taller and wider than his creator appeared behind her to Zero's silent amazement. The great wolf looked at him with sharp grayish-silver eyes as he lowered his great head to his daughter for a pat. "I like to give him my ability over dimensions and telekinesis." Fondly added Hime while stroking Lycanthrope's snout, her eyes now back to their serene chocolate red hue.
"Unfortunately, he also got Hime's bloodthirstiness." Hiro surreptitiously whispered to his Otou-sama but was still heard by his twin sister (she never misses a thing, does she?) who chuckled.
A moment later and he found his head literally inside the enormous mouth of the light wolf which made Zero exclaim a little in surprise with Sato faithfully coming to his brother's rescue and tried to haul him out of great familiar's dangerous mouth while complaining to his twin sister. Kaname was placating his daughter who innocently said that it's all her familiar's doing and she took a full minute before she called her aide's name and he immediately let go, "Oh you silly, naughty boy." She crooned sweetly, while stroking Lycanthrope's pointy ear after he released her brother, "I do apologize for my mischievous servant, Hiro-nii." She amended kindly before letting her silver attendant run outside through the open balcony door of the room they're all in.
"Yep, it's fine Hime. Good doggy." Hiro said a bit disconcertedly. And he thought he's getting lucky lately, but knowing his track record to date, he really should have known it won't hold. He didn't realize that he already went pass his sister's quota of patience for the week, Ichi used it all up, I bet, he groaned internally while patting his messed up hair.
Sato just gave him a glance warning him against further aggravating their twin sister's strained tolerance that became non-existent because of their trouble-making cousin. Perhaps, Hiro should wait until tomorrow before teasing her again. It'll be surely back to its former glory by then, her minimal fortitude, that is.
At this point, Shino, who didn't have any reaction when his older brother was in danger of spending the rest of the day in Lycanthrope's stomach, went to her smiling older sister to give his handiwork to her and her smile faltered a little as she beheld her youngest brother's workmanship. She sighed as if robbed of a beautiful work of art as she looked at a strip of paper with a magnificent calligraphy of Japanese characters that read 'Meat'. Other strips have words like 'Steamed Rice', 'Miso', 'Tofu', 'Pickled Radish' and 'Tempura' on them. There's even one with an extra heartfelt writing for 'Grilled Mackerel'.
"I think we know now the request for tomorrow's breakfast." silently chuckled Kaname as he looked at his youngest son's masterpieces over his daughter's shoulder.
Hime sighed again dejectedly, "I do hope that he'll listen to my multiple requests of writing something that isn't embarrassing to put up." Throwing a defeated look at the youngest brunette who's making his way towards their Otou-sama. Tsuki-hime slowly and automatically jumped from Zero's arms to give way to her twin brother. Lilac eyes beseeched Zero and the silverette answered it by stooping to pick him up and arranging him on his lap with a quiet half smile. The young boy threw his blanket over him and his Otou-chan and, after taking one of Zero's hands to hold onto, went to take his much needed nap.
The silver princess sighed for the third time but stood, nevertheless, and with the help of her twin brothers, attached four strips of paper on all corners of the room and the other four on the four corners of the cloth of the charm they're making. All the occupants could feel the dynamic shield build around the room and the spell mark before stabilizing. Kaname hummed in approval before carrying Tsukiko who came to him with an entreating gaze and placed her on his lap and he smiled further when she snuggled close to him while hugging the fluffy white stuffed toy further.
"Magnificently done. Now that's over, Hiro-nii, kindly fetch some tea while…" the female silverette's conclusive exclamation trailed off as she looked around and seemed to just realize something, "Oh, dear. We forgot our cou—…ah, newly acquired help in the dining room." She caught herself just in time before she herself blunders in the issue of their blond and silver cousin, three pairs of red-wine eyes furtively glanced at a certain silver-haired hunter who they know would react violently if he knows of such a future all things considered while a fourth followed to merely watch as his future mate gently and unconsciously caress his son's brown hair, soothing Shinobu further into sleep.
Hime cleared her throat delicately, "Well, I feel that I should fetch that ignorant child before trouble comes courting our doors. In the meantime, Hiro-nii, that tea please."
"Yes, yes, Hime." The second son answered mechanically, his hands coming up behind his head as he lagged after his twin sister out of the door.
Sato followed his siblings with his gaze and would have continued on to the spell at hand when he caught his dearest silver-haired parent staring outside of open balcony door. Hoping that it doesn't indicate their Otou-sama's wish to leave, "Is something wrong, Otou-sama?" he asked carefully.
The silverette's lilac eyes found him and he felt enormous relief fill him when he didn't see any rejection in them.
"Hmm? No, I was just thinking, where did Hime's familiar go?"
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
A certain silver prefect continuously chanted as he blindly made his way through the academy woods. He was just walking a short distance but with the erratic beat of his heart, he found he's already panting. The fast thumping against his rib cage should have made him feel sweaty but he feels cold inside out.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
He continued his litany, his right hand coming up to his chest, trying to coax his heart to calm down. To not feel anything.
I'm fine.
But, fuck, who is he kidding?
It hurts.
Like hell, it hurts.
He could feel the ragged breathing escaped him. No fucking way will he cry over something this stupid. The silverette raised his other hand to his forehead and roughly knocked his temple with his balled up fist, desperately trying to prevent his lilac eyes from watering like some sissy. No, thank you. He's already pathetic as it is.
But what is it that he expected? Damn it!
Of course, he's normal, unlike him. What a farce. Aidou Hanabusa would have a family with some beautiful, fancy girl and Ichiru will remain a hopeless, almost nameless, existence to him. He should have anticipated it already.
Did he think that he would have a chance? That whatever this condition these vampires are apparently crazy about will be able to make him look his way? Ha! He could be a goddess patron to them and he doubts he'll notice him.
He gripped his shirt even more tightly, as if afraid that the gaping holes in his chest would open wider if he let go.
"Argh!" he groaned exasperatedly, tremulously, enough already.
"Ichiru? Are you okay?" a pat on his shoulder took him by surprise and the silver prefect sharply turned around to find his adopted sister looking concernedly at him, also taken aback at his sudden action, the sound of the bell dangling from his hair making little chimes echo throughout the woods. A curious Takuma behind her, watching intently.
When the female brunette saw the prefect's face she immediately gasped, "Are you crying? What happened?! You look terrible!"
His hand immediately flew to his eyes, thanking what angel who could hear him that the shameless tears didn't fall down his cheeks, "I-I wasn't crying, Yuuki. Something's gotten to my eyes. I remember I have a date so I need to go now. S-see you." He hastily reasoned before whirling around and making a run for it without hearing her reply and even failing to acknowledge her companion. He didn't stop even when Yuuki shouted after him. He only wants to get as far as he can from this place.
He should have given up a long time ago. He should have tried forgetting all about it. Perhaps he could have begged him to take anything else but his heart. Or maybe just plainly cut him into two when he had the chance. Now he has to let himself be shredded alive. To continue looking at the abominable, unknowing thief who really should have left him alone that night. To keep realizing, that no matter how much he wants to, he can't hate him. And to carry on falling for him deeper and deeper every damn second of each fucking day.
"Ah! Shit!"
Too late.
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Children. Children. Children…my children….
That should mean I'm married…
Marriage. Married to Ichiru, right?
Because it can only be him.
Wait! Ichiru…
Ichiru, might be misunderstanding this.
I didn't cheat. I wouldn't!
Where is he?
Ichiru!
"Hana!"
Blue eyes rapidly blinked when he heard a loud voice yelling directly beside his ear. He turned to see his frowning copper-haired cousin straighten while carrying a blond toddler in his arms. Said toddler looks close to dozing off. For some reason the color of his hair seemed lighter than when he first saw him.
His son.
The indignant complaint he was going to hurl at his tall cousin for nearly deafening him got stuck in his throat as his vision was drowned with the beautiful sight that could really, really only connect to Ichiru and no one else.
"Finally! I thought you died already!" one Akatsuki Kain added further but it turned into a sigh when he saw that the blue-eyed noble is no longer listening and instead was roaming his sapphire gaze around the already deserted dining room in search of his other son.
Hanabusa found small Ichi standing near a window, hugging a bowl containing strangely-colored porridge and grumbling around the spoon in his mouth, anxiously fixating his bright azure scrutiny outside. When the young boy saw his daddy finally out of his trance, he took the spoon out of his bow-shaped lips and smiled at him, running near as he exclaimed.
"Daddy! You're alive! We have so much to do! Get your tuxedo! Ah, no, let's first get flowers! And red-bean paste chocolates! Wait, let's make a speech for you! Perhaps we can do this in the Tokyo Tower or Eiffel! Kyoto! The Venice Canals! Victoria Falls! Or the Easter Island! We'll rent the whole place! And then there are the rings to choose! I'll get the pastor! Wait, I'll ask Kaname-jisama now to administer the bite! And the caterer!"
The blue-eyed noble wasn't able to comprehend any of those but had enough sense to catch his future son by his shirt collar to stop him as the boy swiveled around in a frenzy to exit the room, the bizarre contents of the bowl in his arms sloshing dangerously around the rim. Did he just call Kaname-sama '-jisama'?
"Ichiro, you're not making any sense." Kain shook his head at the erratic child. For some reason, the young rascal wouldn't answer the question of who his mother is so he just asked the child for his full first name while the noble was out of commission and the answer he got furthered his belief that his blond cousin would only get more irritatingly excited from now on. Why is it that he's getting the feeling that it'll only get noisier here?
The name caught the blond aristocrat's attention. Something started whispering deep inside him as what could only be hope began to overcome him like a tide going higher and higher by the second.
"Your name is Ichiro." He said numbly. Could it be? Surely it's not because of a broken wish that he would name his son as such?
"Yes, I know!" the young blond positively claimed as he smiled hugely. The great him should have the number 'one' in his name, his beloved otouchan said so! And he loves how close it is to his otouchan's name! It's perfect! Like him!
Stunned aquamarine eyes met positively beaming ones. There's no hint, no indication at all that could give him the answer he's looking for but…
"Your name is Ichiro." Hanabusa said again for good measure. Did he imagine it? Is it possible?
"Yyeeees, we confirmed that." The young blond assured very slowly. His daddy seems to be having a rough morning, or is my name too wonderful and befitting?
"Kat! What do you thi—" he turned to his cousin to ask for his opinion and to make sure that this is not due to him just trying to fit every detail the way his sincerest dreams want him to when his jaw dropped at what he saw.
Copper eyebrows met at the look of bewilderment his blond cousin is giving him and a mightily baffled Kain followed his gaze, looked down and yelped.
Gone is the blond cherub who was snuggling against him just a moment ago.
In his arms is a sleeping baby silverette, his features resembling none of the Aidous. From the silver hair, upturned nose, naturally pouty lips, delicate chin and extremely pale complexion, it can only be of one specific bloodline – the Kiryuus.
"Ah, Itsuki fell asleep. That cancels out…his…shape…shif—…ting." The young golden-haired rogue started to happily comment at first but each syllable reminded him of his female cousin's warnings so that his speech and smile faltered as realization of what happened hit him, blue orbs became full of mixed horror and exasperation, "Aw man, Itsuki fell asleep!"
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
Sienna eyes watched anxiously as a certain silver prefect move away from them as if the devil himself was out for his blood. She tried to call out to her adopted brother once more but to no avail. Ichiru didn't even seem to hear her.
His date must be very cute to make him hurry like that, Yuuki thought curiously. She's been worried about Ichiru since earlier and was thinking about the possible meaning to her brother's devastated condition.
Let's see, Ichiru was still excited earlier when they came to the Moon Dorms. She remembered hearing him mutter that he wish that most of Kaname-senpai's aide are awake. Then they found Ichijo-senpai, Seiren-san, Aidou-senpai and a dozen other students awake together with Kaname-senpai and his children and Ichiru's smile was brighter then. Okay, and then…the youngest children arrived with Ichi-kun and Itsu-kun. They're so cute! All that bright golden hair! Just like—nope…nope, nope. Stupid me, why are we going there? Back to the matter at hand! Err…let's see…green eyes…err, that is…yep Ichiru was…hmmm…he became pale when he saw Aidou-senpai's children. Eh? After that he's a complete wrecked mute…weren't they standing together then?...oh…oh…and then he went away looking like he was sentenced to death…if she'll take into consideration his earlier near-tears state and, before that, his paler-than-death pallor then…he said that he's got a date…pfft…he thought she won't see through it, huh? Who does he take her for?
He…he's being bullied into going out with this girl, isn't he?!
The female brunette's dark brows crumpled at this alarming idea. The concerning theory fast becoming settled in her mind. How dare she?! Must she, really? Must she? To her kind, sweet brother Ichiru no less! This girl must be one of those avid fans that'll do anything! She's probably blond. A Yankee! So that's why! Gosh! Ichiru! We should save him!
She was unaware how her russet eyes narrowed dangerously at the heathen of a woman who threatened her brother into capitulating. She'd better speak to Zero about this, knowing Ichiru, he won't tell even if he's suffering from any form of mistreatment. It usually takes them awhile to…huh, isn't she…isn't this…amazing? Must be a woman's intuition, right? Ah, she's growing up to be more feminine now.
The prefect smiled to herself. No need to thank me, darling brother. This cute sister of yours will save you from this vicious, virulent girl with her newfound inborn womanly wit!
"What do you think, Yuuki-chan?" the intrinsically bright tone of one Takuma Ichijo whispered directly in her right ear, his warm breath ghosting the sensitive skin of her ear, making her blood pump faster in surprise as she whirled to face him, the scent of books, antiquities and autumn wafting the air around them.
She felt overly warm for some reason as she eyed the smiling noble, "I-Ichijo-senpai, you startled me." Her hand gripped the side of her neck that's still tingling from the blond's earlier exhalation. She wanted to ask why he followed them but her heart appears to have clogged her throat since she's finding it extremely hard to utter even one more word. She swallowed thickly.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was worried about how pale Ichiru-kun was so I came." He smiled at her dazzlingly, though, and his hair seems to sparkle even more splendidly where the sunlight passing through the dense treetops caress them gently. He looked like the gods' favored person as he magnificently present himself.
The brunette could feel something sprouting inside her that might just make her crazier than before but it appears all jumbled up in her core that she can't even start to sort it out to take a good look at the details. She decided that she could wait until later to inspect the budding sensations. Yuuki turned to the subject offered. "Y-yes, I'm worried about Ichiru, too."
"Does Yuuki-chan have any idea what happened?" he inquired kindly, maintaining a polite distance now but still looming over her which made her somewhat distracted and she welcomed the question since she's got a ready answer and she exclaimed openly and fervently her excellent deduction made possible by recently discovered talents.
"I'm sure of it! Zero would be furious!" she declared with confidence by the end of her exceptional narration.
The green-eyed vampire who listened attentively from start to finish and whose smile never faltered said indulgently, "A very sound theory, Yuuki-chan. As expected of you."
The prefect smiled in return, very pleased at the praise, "Oh, it's nothing much." She voiced, rather shyly, blushing while her hand ruffled the back of her head in a happily flustered manner, never once thinking that she might have missed something important.
She was on the point of adding more details in her hypothesis regarding her brother's plight when she caught something in her peripheral view that had her turning her head sharply in the direction of the lake beyond, her breath suddenly leaving her in shock and her heartbeat increasing with less than agreeable sentiments.
What met wine-red eyes is just the shimmering body of water under a fine afternoon sky and she was confused for a while, panting slightly as she tries to regain her bearings.
"Yuuki-chan?" the worried voice of the blond noble and a comforting hand on her arm soothed her somewhat and she returned her gaze to the anxious vampire. She blinked a couple of times to clear them, looked again at the glittering lake and back to the green pools of concern of her companion.
She tried to smile and after faltering a little, managed to give him a convincing energetic response, "Oh, sorry about that Ichijo-senpai! I thought I saw something, must be my imagination. Silly me."
Takuma continued to look perturbed for a minute longer, observing if she's telling the truth before allowing himself a little smile that further consoled her. "I see. You paled all of a sudden and it got me worried."
Yuuki laughed a little and thought of something to distract the blond, "Ah! Now that I think about it! Is Ichijo-senpai alright under all this sunlight?!"
There was a second of pause before the Moon Dorm Vice-president turned the other way in slight distress, "Well, now that you brought it up, I feel like I'm going to crumble any second now." He muttered in quiet anguish.
Any other thought flew out of her mind as apprehension for the vampire occupied her mind. Her arms were flailing wildly as she cried out agitatedly, "Wah! What to do?! Ichijo-senpai should take cover! The dorms! We need to return you there immediately! Let's—WAH!"
The prefect was trying to herd the noble to the direction of the Moon Dorms when one of her foot tangled with a rogue tree root while her other one toppled over the captured foot and so she tripped and tumbled to the forest floor with an amazing lack of finesse, taking the blond with her whose shirt collar she held on to in surprise.
She landed on top of the green-eyed Adonis and she opened her eyes to find that her knees straddled one of his thighs; her left hand covered his right one and her face hovered half an inch away from his. Yuuki froze and the air caught in her lungs as her own reflection stared at her from a pair of clear emerald orbs, her words of apology seized in her chest.
Takuma, who recovered first, didn't look the slightest bit perturbed at their current position. He immediately forgot the slight throbbing of when his back hit the tree he's now leaning on. Green-eyes melted into heated allure as they drank the sight of the petite figure on top of him in quiet satisfaction, his free hand travelled the length of her left arm in a disguise of a restraining caress.
"Careful. You know you shouldn't come any closer than that." He whispered huskily against her lips, his warm gaze looking down on that inviting delta before returning to her transfixed burgundy orbs, his breath mingling with hers fanning the spark she can sense growing just beneath the surface. Then he gave her a most mysterious smile.
The prefect felt her body flush profusely at the crushing sensations the aristocrat's causing in her system and it really can't be good for her sanity. She can't help thinking that it was her being distracted instead of the other way around.
And, indeed, as they very slowly and quietly untangled themselves from each other after a couple of more minutes and trekked the well-known way back to the Moon Dorms with nothing but animated mundane chatter that didn't speak a word of the private moment they shared, she can't find it in herself to be troubled about the image that disturbed her earlier.
Surely, the vicious scene of vivid red sky and a lake of blood is just her imagination.
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
"You know, I'm thinking. Didn't Hime-sama mentioned 'cousin' before their youngest arrived? So shouldn't that mean…" the silver princess heard this sentence being uttered by one of the Night Class who stopped immediately in their gossiping as well as their tracks towards their rooms when they felt her aura become slightly forbidding. She was on her way to the dining area to fetch her cousins and have them under strict surveillance lest they, or at the very least, Ichi, give themselves away due to sheer stupidity. She halted at the words whispered by the curious student and her mind raced immediately. Oh, dear. Well, nothing for it.
She turned her pretty head to the nervously awaiting students after being transfixed for a full minute. She smiled extra sweetly, "I said 'manservant'." She cheerfully assured with sugared, dominant and quietly fierce certainty, silently daring anyone to refute that and the Night Class, adhering to the plea of their survival instincts, immediately replied.
"Y-yes, of course, H-hime-sama. Sorry for m-misunderstanding."
"I also apologize for the confusion. It's good that it's all clear." She excused with gentle tranquility and went her merry way. Fufu, it's not time yet.
She opened the door to the dining room she knows to be deserted except for her cousins and two uncles based on the auras she can perceive inside, not at all perturbed at the disturbed air of the two adults. Little Ichi is in the room, after all. It's to be expected. The troublemaker can fly, start cyclones and make chimeras so disturbance is natural.
She froze the moment the scene inside met with her russet eyes which widened a little in silent disbelief, her earlier serene smile slowly but completely fell from her lips.
A wide eyed, dumbfounded Aidou Hanabusa was gently holding a newly awakened Itsuki who should really be blond according to the script she's making. Only, the little angel isn't blond but is in all his natural silver charm, his somnolent blue eyes clearing as his daddy accidentally stirred him from his nap.
A frantic young Ichi was flailing his hands, desperately trying to throw his daddy off a fact that's already screaming at his face and waving enthusiastically with three arms, "N-n-n-n-nnoooo, y-you see, d-daddy…h-h-he's a-a-a-adopted! W-w-we…w-we found him…in…a…a…a…a basket! Down a river!...yes, that's right! H-he's adorable so w-we took him in! Otouchan, wah! A mother! A mother, I said! He-she thought I'll need a brother! Because, of course, I'll make an excellent older brother! Right! The blue eyes are not at all related to the Aidous, I swear! Not all amazingly clear, sparkly, vivid blue eyes came from us! And who said otouchan's family, wah! No! No! I meant, I meant…the Kiryuu family, who decided that they are the only ones with silver hair and exquisite beauty?! That's not definite! Itsuki having it is a coincidence! A coincidence!" He's closing to tears already with all the effort he's exerting and the only success he's managing is burying himself further.
A flabbergasted Akatsuki Kain just stood beside his cousin, also unable to comprehend the incredible truth in front of him.
The bewildered princess stood still for a full minute before managing to close the door behind her. Her hand coming up to her face, quite unable to decide whether to palm her cheek or press her lace-covered fingers against her temple. Goodness, what a disaster! Hastily made plans one after another! And she needs to change it again! What was she thinking before? Oh, yes—
It's not time yet!
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I wanted to give the chance to introduce some of the familiars here and, yes, if anyone noticed, the details for 'Shinji - God's Characters' came from Hunter x Hunter's nen dynamics. So sorry that I suck at this! ヽ(≧д≦)ノ Please let me know if there's anything you don't understand about my make-believe vampiric abilities m(＿ ＿)m
I hope my dear readers weren't disappointed by this chapter's length (or annoyed by it, as the case may be) ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ. This was written quite a while back and I hadn't the time to do some last/final proof-reading, please forgive me for any mistakes in grammar and usage. (((((( ;ﾟДﾟ))))) Again, English is not my first language.
I shall make excuses for Hime. Please note that she's not a truly evil character...just that...well, she's evil...sometimes. (・・。)ゞ Oh, well, I had wanted her to have more of Kaname-sama's personality than anything while bearing Zero-rin's face. Did that succeed I wonder? And do let me know if any of the children is ticking you off, ok? I personally hate obnoxious children in kid fics but I might have unknowingly created some myself. 《《o(≧◇≦)o》》
I shall be off writing some more! ヽ(•̀ω•́ )ゝ✧
On a completely change of subject, I hope you all read Sasaki to Miyano! Such a great manga! ヽ(´∇´)ノ (∇´ノ) ヽ( )ノ (ヽ´∇) ヽ(´∇`)ﾉ
Hope to see you all next chapter! Ja ne!