Chapter 11

Ichijo snapped his eyes open when a loud bang echoed through the forest. Someone was fighting and judging by the sound of it, life and death stood at stake. His body was still cold, it ached like hell but something told him that he had to move. He felt that he was needed. Another bang made him cringe as branches of a tree was snapped and fell to the ground. He sat up slowly to remove his still wet jacket, the night air was cold but it would be warmer without it then to try to use his body heat to warm and dry the jacket. With it the quiver followed from his back where he had stored his arrows. He detangled the straps of the quiver from the arms of the jacket. There was only one arrow left and where had his bow disappeared? It sure wasn't on his back anymore. Ichijou looked around but not for long as he saw it by his feet and reached for it. At least he has some luck in this nightmare.

Ichijo's next move was to rise from the ground. His head throbbed badly at the new altitude so he leaned on the well wall to get his bearings back. He clutched the bow and the single arrow in his hands. The world span as he took his first steps since coming out from his imprisonment. This could have been one of the more beautiful nights in his life if things hadn't turned the way they had. Life's a bitch aren't it?

Neither of them had started the fight. It had begun out of pure instinct but more likely jumpiness. Kaname held his sword so hard that his knuckles turned white. He had gotten a little out of breath from their first clash. Rido was no one to be taken lightly. Said man stood before him with his signature blood whip circling around his body as a protective shield.

"What's the matter Kaname? Are you having cold feet after realizing who is truly the strongest here?" Rido mocked.

Kaname gritted his teeth. Don't let it get to you, his inner voice chanted. He took a step forward to test his opponent's reflexes. Rido smirked further but stood still. The prince had disadvantages to him. To be able to hurt Rido he would be forced to shorten the distance between them. The old vampire on the other hand could extend his blood whip from any distance. The odds weren't to Kaname's advantage, not at all. He had to do this, for Zero. He took one more step forward which was followed by another and another. Kaname ran towards Rido with the sword high in the air, ready to strike. It slashed against Rido but was immediately met by the whip. He tried again and again. It was almost making him frantic to not be able to even grace his opponent.

Rido laughed at Kaname's futile attempts. This was getting boring, fast.

"Is this all you got? Thought you were good at playing with swords! This is just embarrassingly disappointing and you are supposed to take over the throne? Our ancestors would turn in their graves!"

The blood whip shot out and curled around the blade on Kaname's sword. The prince tried to yank it back but the hold on the sword was firm. With ease his sword was ripped out of his hands to dangle in the air. It was crushed seconds later into pieces before his very eyes.

"Ancient gods hear my call, circling arms raise a wall." Kaname managed to chant before the blood whip made contact with his body. The yellow protecting shield appeared in front of him and Rido sent the whip slashing against it repeatedly. Every time the whip made contact with the wall, Kaname skid back and left marks in the ground. When he thought that the whip was going to hit him again it divided itself in to two and the second one went straight past him. He turned his head backwards to follow it only to see that it was already closing in on his unprotected back. Kaname extended the wall with a scream to have it protect completely around himself. The effort of doing so was great though. Sweat rolled down from his temples and he had to concentrate on the usually automatic breathing. The whips moved in unison as Rido hardly broke a sweat. A cracking sound came from the yellow shield as a crack appeared.

"Finally…" Rido grinned.

Kaname's eyes widened as his shield turned into millions of pieces. He didn't have the time to recover as a whip sent him flying a few meters before he hit the ground. In order to keep the shield up he had sacrificed a lot of precious energy which meant that he was currently spent. Footsteps came closer and Kaname did what he could to protect himself. A fist full of earth was thrown at the older vampire's face but eyes were easily covered with a forearm.

"The cheapest trick in history?! Really Kaname, you surprise me."

Kaname lay panting on the ground, he begged his limbs to move, to do anything but they were heavy as lead. Blackness was creeping in his field of vision. This wasn't good. Rido didn't wait for a comeback and lifted the prince by his neck with his right hand. Kaname wanted so badly to claw at the hand restricting his windpipe but his arms hung limp at his sides. Rido smirked widely before bringing the youth closer to his own body. A set of bat wings developed out through his back with a sickening sound. He flapped them a few times before lifting from the ground. They flew up to the sky, over the tree tops but it wasn't time to appreciate the view. Kaname had almost given up hope when the sound disappeared and as the creeping blackness grew. Rido didn't want the little prince to be out of it just yet so he let go of the neck and held him in his armpits. Kaname drew much needed air into his neglected lungs. He only had the chance to see his uncle's sneer before he was dropped to fall towards the ground. Frantically, Kaname kicked with his legs and threw around with his arms in a futile attempt to stay in the air. His uncle hovered in the air for a second before he descended from his altitude to throw a fist in Kaname's stomach. The prince coughed out bile and was sent flying faster. With just a few meters left to a certain death, Rido came and grabbed an arm to swing the body in to a tree. The little air Kaname's lungs had gotten during his fall was rushed out as his back hit the tree trunk. He followed the trunk down the last bit to the ground and ended on his hands and knees. The prince gasped for air, he had no control over the situation anymore and it scared him. His arms and legs couldn't support him and they trembled from the weight off his body. His limbs sank him down on the ground, somewhere above him the flapping of Rido's wings sounded. His eyes grew heavy as unconsciousness wanted to pull him under. What he didn't know was the blood whip coming at him, this time aiming for his heart. Something through the heart meant death even though you where immortal.

"Kaname!"

His eyes opened slowly but he came to quickly when he saw Ichijou standing at the other side of the lake. It was hard to believe what he saw, he didn't contemplate on it long as he heard the blood whip coming. Ichijou drew his bow shakily to send away an arrow, before he knew it, the arrow was shooting through the air. God please don't let it hit Kaname. The arrow hit the blood whip making it miss its target. It shot down in the earth beside the prince. Adrenaline had taken over Kaname's battered body at this moment and made him rise from the ground. Standing was almost all he could do though. He turned his head toward his friend and nodded seriously at him, hopping that he could get the hint. Ichijou did. He swallowed hard but extended his arms in front of himself.

"Confrigo." He whispered. The ball formed between his hands and seconds later it was sent flying to Kaname. Rido saw what the newcomer tried to do and sent a whip at his direction. Ichijou was faster. Kaname caught the ball just like before but this time sending it at the enemy. Rido had no time to change his focus and the energy ball went through him, straight through the heart. Blood splattered as it protruded out on the other side. The vampire fell down towards the lake's cold water but exploded into a million sharp pieces before the body could go hit the surface. The pieces rained down over the lake where Zero had been waiting for his transformation so many times.

It was finally over. The prince almost fell down on his knees but his willpower to go to Zero's side held him up. He ran. Kaname had no idea where is strength where coming from but the image of his beloved alone at the shore made him go faster. Zero lay the way he had left him. He knelt down and pulled Zero's upper body on his knees. Two fingers felt for pulse at the throat just below the jaw line, there was none to be found. There had been a sliver of hope, that Zero would miraculously open his gorgeous lilac eyes and smile his equally gorgeous smile. The enemy was defeated and Zero still lay unmoving. He had been too late. This would have never happened if he had noticed that Ichiru pretended to be his brother. In conclusion, it was his fault and he would never be able to forgive himself.

"I never intended for this to happen." He said quietly. His shoulders started to shake as everything dawned up on him. His chest ached like mad and it was hard to breathe. "Forgive me Zero, forgive me…I only wanted to break the spell. To prove my love." He kissed Zero's forehead. " I love you. Your kindness, your courage…I always have." One aching kiss on the lips sealed his commitment. He hugged him desperately, whishing that those limp arms would hug him back.

Suddenly Zero coughed for air and took a breath before whispering…"Kaname?"

"Zero?!" The prince couldn't believe his eyes. "You're…you're… not dead?"

A small smile appeared on his beloved lips. "It was dark and quiet but then I heard your voice and I followed it. Before I knew it I was resting in your arms."

"You can't believe how happy I am that you are back! I thought I lost you."

"Shh… I'm alive and unharmed. Wait, Kaname, why are you bleeding? What happened? Where's your uncle?" He said with a weak voice.

"He's gone. I killed him, Zero. He will never bother us again."

"Kaname! Zero!" Ichijo's distant shouting was heard. The two princes' turned their heads from each other to look at Kaname's best friend running towards them. "We did it, Kaname!" He exclaimed as he arrived at the shore.

"Yeah, we did." The noble said and smiled at his friend. His promise that he was going to save Zero was held and his friend was kept alive as well. He couldn't be happier. "Let's return to the castle. You are drenched and Zero looks a little too pale to my comfort."

The vampire rose together with his beloved. He held Zero in both hands to test the man's balance before letting go. But it was then he felt how messed up he really was. The adrenaline had disappeared, to leave him aching all over. He took a deep breath to control his body but his throat got clotted. Quickly a hand was brought to his mouth to cover it as he coughed. What he didn't expect was the red fluid seeping through his fingers. Another wave of coughing followed, letting more blood escape his lips. He felt weak all of sudden. His organs must be bleeding. He dried his mouth with the back of his hand. They needed to get back.

"K-kaname? Are you sure that you are alright?" Zero asked alarmed of his condition.

"I'm fine no need to worry." I'm sorry. "Let's go find my horse."

Kaname's horse where standing oblivious to the fight that just had happened and munched on grass. His owner patted his long neck before freeing him from the tree. "Zero, my love, please mount the horse. You shouldn't push your body further."

"But I'm not the one in need of-…"

"Do as I say." It wasn't intended to sound harsh but it did. Zero's face saddened but he did as Kaname said.

The trio slowly made it out of the forest and could see the castle in the distance. Kaname had a vice grip on the reins as he led the horse. If he didn't he probably would fall. Ichijo walked quietly by his side, thinking of something.

"Ichijo, are you okay?"

"Uh? Yeah. I just can't believe that it's finally over. All this has been going on since we were little."

"It's quite unbelievable, we can finally live our lives in peace. Vampires and hunters will be able to coexist without any qualms."

"This is what dad has been trying to achieve since Ichiru's disappearance. He would be so proud."

"Just knowing that you are safe is good enough for him." Kaname assured Zero.

The walk back to the castle was agonizing for Kaname. In the last hour, every step he took sent shooting pain through his body. Ichijo was fairing not so great either, the man was exhausted and still dressed in his wet clothes. The strange way he had started to walk indicated that he with certain had developed chafing in sensitive areas. It had felt like an eternity for all of them but they finally reached the protective wall around the castle of the Kuran kingdom. The alarm sounded to report that they had arrived. Touga himself came rushing out through the gates with his hunters close behind. Haruka followed with his guards. Kaname, Zero and Ichijo were surrounded by worried men as they were escorted into the castle grounds. Inside, Kaname made the horse to stop and Zero dismounted. Touga was at his side immediately. The young hunter tried to reassure his master that he was tired but otherwise okay. He got away from Touga's clutches in the chaos to check on his love. Kaname stood and held the saddle with one hand while the other covered his mouth. His body convulsed as he uncontrollably coughed up blood his body had no interest in keeping outside his organs. It pooled on the ground below him and all the vampires turned their heads toward the scent of spilled blood. Haruka grew worried too, no vampire was supposed to spill that much blood. Zero ran to his side to support him when his legs couldn't carry his weight anymore.

"Doctor!" He shouted. "Kaname needs a doctor!"

AN: Yes, this is incredibly late. I have no excuses. I hope that this although short chapter is to your liking. I think that there is only one chapter to go of TSP. Let's hope that the final chapter won't take as long as this one. *crosses fingers*

Tata, BIAE.