(Beware of the marks though… don't confuse)

"Talking in the past"

"Echoing talks"

'Thoughts'

"Link/Bond talking"

Chapter 10

Sound of the birds cawing and squeaking on the trees in the forest indicates calmness and cool of the night of the equinox. The silence that provided is far from the truth. Far inside the forest was present the fight that was taken place. A sound of clashing metals and slashing of flesh disrupt the silent that it had. There stood two men, both of them have the same figure, the same face, the same hair color, same height fighting with each other. The twins fighting since an hour ago. The twin with the longer hair taunting the other one, only effectively reversed the other way around. The longer twin, Ichiru being possessed by the gypsy Kal managed to counter an attack from the other twin, Zero. Going on an offensive attack, a blood colored javelin were sent to immobilize the possessed twin, only to be countered by a defensive spell. Sensing an open opportunity by the possessed one, he sends off a dangerous attack that potentially injured Zero greatly. Zero couldn't counter it fast as he can only to be engulfed in a blinding light.

"Zero!" Kaname suddenly shrieked; giving the rest of the vampire within vicinity shocked at the sudden scream.

Three hours before…

A lone figure was seen lied on a bed inside a man-made prison. The figure is none other than the pureblood prince, Kaname Kuran. But, a stairs below, a figure was seen inside a rusty metal prison, both the hands and legs chained on the wall. A female, not more than 25 years old (although she is actually older than that) was conscious. She tried to escape and find her Kaname-sama fast. She remembered a box that was given by Zero-sama in case of emergency. She decided to use it. No one knew her powers. She can control space and distort it. Because of her power, many vampires and human alike wanted her, be it by manipulating her or wanted to dissect her for research purposes. She was found by Kaname after saving her from the clutches of a cruel vampire aristocrat. And that was why she was never used it until now. A box was lying, floating in front of her. She didn't know what was inside of it. She just hope for that whatever it is she can save her Kaname-sama swiftly, as fast as she can. There was a sudden light coming from it and engulfed her into it. What she felt like hours, suddenly in front of her is the figure of someone she greatly knows of. Kaname-sama…

Seiren panicked. She fails her job miserably. And now, the said person who she was supposed to protect was captured and unconscious. They were tricked by them and trapped in a house in the middle of the forest. The Dark Forest… The normal breathing she heard indicate that Kaname is still alive and okay, but she cannot be sure of that. After all, their captor did something to him from what she had heard yesterday. She averts her eyes to the soft mount on his abdomen and slightly touched it. There are sudden kick from one of the babies. Thank god the babies are fine. Shifting her focus to Kaname, she gently touches Kaname to wake him up.

"Kaname-sama, please wake up!" she pleaded. She didn't get any response from the brunet for ten minutes. She cannot wake him up. What was wrong with Kaname? Maybe the box can help. After all this is what Zero-sama instruct her to do. Maybe he predicted something like this bound to happen. The blinding light coming from the box and this time it was Kaname who absorbed the light, not the other way around like her before. What is that box actually?

Kaname POV

I stand on a pristine white room just now and suddenly the scene change and I see myself standing floating on top of an ocean with a blue sky high up. I notice that I was wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. I saw someone in front of me. It is blurring at first, but then I can see a figure of girl. There is a brunette, with petite looking and cool fuchsia eyes. She is wearing a white gown. She is staring at me but at the same time not. Then I notice a presence at my back. I turn around and saw silver haired boy, with a purple tint and warm fuchsia eyes too. He is wearing a white dress shirt with blue suspender and blue short pants. The three of us are floating on the water. I feel somewhat familiar at them; feel a sudden protectiveness surge forward and familial love. It cannot be, right?

"Mama." The girl called. Her voice is so beautiful. "This is the first time we met. I am so happy!" exclaimed her. The girl is smiling. Her smile is so bright, pure and innocent. I am stunned. These two are my children?

"Nice to meet you too, mama." This time the boy said. The boy who was supposed to be behind me suddenly appears beside the girl. The boy looks calm and collected, but beneath the façade I saw a beaming joy apparent on his eyes. I can't believe it…

"My children…" I cried. 'So this is what she felt…' I thought. The joy and happiness I felt when meeting them makes me cry. Now I'm blaming the hormones. I move to where they are and hugging both of them.

"Nana told us about you and papa. We were so lonely, we know that mama have to accomplish whatever mama wants, but lately we cannot hear mama anymore. We missed you." The girl told me.

"Oh god, I am sorry! I have been neglecting you guys. It's just that mama have to fulfil your grandmother's wish." I reasoned. I forgot to respond when I'm focusing on something.

"We understand mama, but just let it be. You already suffer enough to bear the burden alone. It's time for you to start to share and care for others too. Papa will be waiting. Don't waver and be strong, mama." The boy said firmly.

"One day when you have grown up, you will be a wonderful person. Remember that no matter what happen, don't waver. Be strong Kaname."

'But I am not… I hide beneath the façade of Kaname Kuran. I don't know if I can be strong just like you, Suishou-sama. I will try my best. Thank you Suishou-sama.'

"…-sama… up…" came a whisper. I heard someone calling me, interrupting my thought. I do not know who the voice belongs to, but there is this softness in the voice indicates that it is a female. It seems that I fall into my subconscious. I glad I can meet my children personally.

"Mama, please wake up now. Papa would be sad if you don't wake up now. Poor auntie Sei." The girl chirped.

"Thank you my children..." I said before I fall into blackness.

"…me-sama, please wake up!"

I slowly open up my eyes, adjusting the darkness inside the cell. I heard Seiren calling me. I remember the children. I am happy to see them. I wonder how Zero will react if I told him about them. Urgh, it's my fault for delaying the news to Zero and ignoring Seiren's idea. I notice my surrounding, I was lying on a bed and it seems my hand and legs are un-cuffed. It must be Seiren who un-cuff them.

"Thank you, Seiren." I said to her. I ruffled her hair. She is worrying about me and blushed on my action. I assure her that I'm alright.

"You're welcome, Kaname-sama." She replied.

"How long I'm unconscious?" I asked her.

"Eight hours after that man move you to different cell." She replied again.

I sighed. Kal knows my condition now. I really am afraid what he will do to the children. I'm really glad that Zero put the barrier on me. We need to get out from the mansion. I notice that there are two vampires coming to my cell. I ask her to hide and me pretending still to be unconscious. The vampire guards then coming to my cell and check me out. Seiren, with her fast reflex, killing both guards instantly. The unknown vampires reduced to ashes. We both seeing this opportunity to escape and hide somewhere far from the mansion. 'I have to warn Zero about him…' I thought.

Normal POV

Two figure were being seen at the entrance that leading to the outside of the dungeon. They paused at the entrance, sensing any danger that might come towards them. It seems none for a while. Kaname sensing a normal human just ten meters ahead and ask Seiren to immobilize him. Then they resume back running outside and found a nearby shack five kilometres from the mansion. They put a stop to rest since the brunet is panting. Kaname sit down and make himself sitting comfortably due to his large middle while Seiren guards from the inside. He makes himself calm down and starts to communicate telepathically with Zero.

"Zero?" Kaname called.

"Kaname! Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?" said Zero frantically. He just finished briefing the Night Class about Kal half an hour ago. Right now they are on their way to the forest using cars. It takes them about five hours to reach there. The main reason they use cars rather than their vampiric speed because they wanted to conserve energy for the battle later. They already were riding the car for three hours now.

"I am alright. He only threatened me. We managed to get outside of the mansion. Ichiru is alive. He is being possessed by Kal. Why didn't you tell me he was your father?" Kaname sadly asked.

"Ichiru is alive? Thank God, I thought I killed him…" Zero said happily, relieved that his twin is alive and well and continued "I will free him from father." Zero said confidently. After a while, Zero giving an honest answer from Kaname's question. "I don't know how to break it to you. I don't know how you will respond when I told you about it. I'm sorry." He didn't know if Kaname is still harbouring his feeling for her. It breaks his heart to see Kaname sad. Kaname felt guilty because Zero prioritizes him more than himself.

"No, I am sorry. I've kept something from you too." Kaname said. He didn't know how to break the news about the twins. He settles it by being direct. It's too late to tell him now that he's been captured, but at least Zero should know what had happen to him. Zero already proves to him that he cares about him and he didn't want to make it more complicated. After all he already fallen in love with Zero without him realized about it.

"Why?" queried Zero.

"I shouldn't have kept this from you. I'm pregnant with twins…" He finally said it. He hopes that Zero won't mad at him for keeping this big secret. Zero on the other hand just stared blankly in front of him at the news.

"…"

"Zero?" he called nervously after a while of not getting his reply. He is afraid. After all the feelings that he buried inside, he is becoming vulnerable. He is uncomfortable with all those feelings that Zero showered to him. But now he made his resolve and embracing it. Zero felt Kaname's insecurities through the bond and assured him.

"…I am not mad, just sad. I am understood why you did that." Zero said firmly and continues it before Kaname could argue, "If I'm on your shoes right now, I will do the same. You want to protect them, right? Just don't blame yourself; you have your own reason."

"I still wanted to say sorry, Zero." Kaname replied. "And I love you." Kaname said truthfully, blushing madly at the statement. Thank god, Zero didn't see his cheeks painting red. "I thought about it. About us, I mean. I'm just confused at that time, but one thing that is clear to me; I care about you a lot and I want to have a family with you."

"Me too Kaname, I love you. I will be there by midnight. Just take care of yourself. Rest assured. I will finish it once and for all. See you later." Chuckled Zero. He also is blushing at the Kaname's previous statement.

"Okay. Promise me that you come back in pieces." He said.

"I will." Replied Zero before ending their conversation.

Kaname sighed. He caught a glimpse on the clock in the mansion and it seems about two hours more for Zero to arrive there. He just needed to conserve energy and hide from them for now. They just needed to hide their presences. Zero on the other hand is happy and smiling inside the car. Yuuki notices Zero's behavior and asked him.

"What happen Zero? Why suddenly smiling?" Zero just hum and not giving any answer to Yuuki. Yuuki understand his antics and just let him be. It seems Zero in a good mood. She didn't want to ruin that. Zero shifted his gaze to his left side gazing outside of the window car. He shifts his mind to on how to release Ichiru from his spell.

Flashback

He leafed through Akihiko's journal on how to create the blade. He secretly forge a simple blade from the metal ores from the HA as the core and coated it with pure liquid gold mix with his blood. The tricky part is about obtaining the pure liquid gold. He have to steal some and melting it. The nearest is in Russia, so he have to make an excuse for a three days trip from the HA, the chairman and Yuuki. The extraction was a success and he has no trouble to melt it in a smelter somewhere in Japan.

"Just wait for Equinox then. I need to memorize the spell." Zero said to himself.

The cars suddenly stop, interrupting his musing. It seems they already reach the entrance of the forest. Zero began to distribute them into two teams. First team consists of Zero, Kaname inner circle except Kain and Senri and three boys of the Night Class. While Yuuki, Senri and Kain with one Night Class member for rescuing Kaname. They nodded and vanish to their respective area. Zero and others act as the frontline to raid the mansion. The four member from other team briefly noted that Kaname was hiding somewhere near the mansion. 'It's time…' thought Zero.

The silver haired prefect arrived in front of the mansion. It seems they already expect Zero and his companion going to attack them tonight.

"Welcome Suishou's descendant and his friends. I hope you enjoy our hospitality here." Kal mocked. Zero just stopped his track and stare at him blankly while everyone gasped at someone in front of them. It was Ichiru. "I see. So you know me already. You are no fun…" Taunted Kal. Suddenly there is an explosion on their west and someone's blood is spilled. 'Yuuki/Yuuki-sama!' all of them thought at the same time.

"How dare you!" Aidou hissed. He wanted to attack first but halted by Zero's hand gesture. "But Zero-"

"Calm down Aidou-sempai. This is what he wants." Zero said calmly. Aidou noticed the glint on the possessed Ichiru. Kal tch-ed. He gives off the signal. From there, some of Kal's vampire lackeys attack them first, leaving only Zero with Kal in the middle. "Let's settle this once and for all."

Both of them are attacking each other with fervor. Zero shoots some bullets at Kal while he countered with his wind barrier spell and diverts them to nearby trees. A small blasts appeared on that tree, leaving the tree become a stump. Zero tch-ed and attack Kal again with an offensive hunter spell and telekinetic waves only seeing that Kal managed to side stepped and just barely grazed his left cheek. The blood permeates, giving off a blanched smell, but still barely had a pureblood scent on it. Kal summoned his wind familiar and the said familiar changed into a transparent sword. Zero ducked on the incoming wind attack and immediately parried the sword with his blood colored javelin.

"Just like her! Ha ha." Cackled Kal. Zero ducked, rolled, twisted and blocked the continuous attack. He called up his telekinetic waves and unleashed towards Kal. Zero just frowns at his evil grin and resume his fighting stances. He fired up two bullets at Kal and at the same time chanting a stun spell. The subsequent attack was parried with earth elemental spell. Zero cursed under his breath and distances himself from the gypsy. He looks around since he lost the possessed Ichiru and was attacked brutally from behind and is thrown onto a tree. Coughing, he immediately side stepped avoiding a blast from the gypsy. He readied himself for a sprint and launched a blood spiked javelin. The action caused Kal to have a gash on his shoulder. Both of them stop to catch their breaths. Kal gaining an upper hand start to attack his powerful attack…

Yuuki was being grazed by a knife aimed at her. Thankfully she barely dodges the sneak attack and just being graced on her shoulder. The wound healed fast. Kain immediately kills the hiding vampire.

"Are you all right Yuuki-sama?" asked Kain. Yuuki giving a nod, signaling she is okay. They resume they journey ahead until they found Seiren defending a shack behind her from three possessed vampires.

"Seiren-chan!" Yuuki shouted. They immediately help her seeing that she is overwhelmed by the attacks and being injured. They finish killing the last vampire then Kaname going outside. Kaname looks exhausted.

Kaname nii-sama!" panicked Yuuki. Yuuki shocked seeing her brother's state. Well, after being more than eight months without contact of course it shocked her seeing him. Who wouldn't shock seeing the usually lean brunet suddenly become bigger, especially it is centered on his middle?

"Yuuki…" said Kaname softly. Yuuki immediately hug him, minding on his delicate state. He hugs her back, smiling at her. Both Senri and Kain were shocked but they didn't let it seen on their face. It seems that their leader is pregnant. "I'm sorry for leaving you, but I have an urgent matter needed to get rid of." He said, giving the answer to the unspoken question why did he leave. The babies decided to kick and Yuuki felt that.

"Wow, nii-sama. Is it Zero's?" she asked. Kaname nodded and guided her hand to the left side of his stomach to let her feel the kick again. Yuuki awed at the kick. "I become an auntie!" she exclaimed happily.

"Where is Zero?" asked Kaname. He knows that Zero said that they arrived on midnight and it already half an hour past twelve. Suddenly there is an explosion sounded nearby them. Kaname hopefully Zero didn't catch on that. They immediately gone to the nearby place and saw something shocked them. Kaname seeing the scene in front of them can't help but praying that Zero is okay.

"Zero!" screamed Kaname when he just arrives there.