Updated 10th October, 2012
The Evening Family News
"I cannot wait any longer."
"What would you have me do?" He asked, rubbing her shoulders, as she sagged into the chair.
She stared into the dying embers, "I want her now. I've waited so long for her."
He stopped, as she brushed his hands away, "Then I shall retrieve her now."
Biting her lip, she spared the door a glance as he left into the rain, "I will not be condemned to this life alone. Alone with that thing…" She blinked back bloodied tears, grabbing her cup of tea. She tipped the cup back and hastily gulped the scolding liquid. Instead of the burning she had hoped for, a tickle slid down her throat. She sighed, dropping the empty cup. It cracked, as it hit the stone floor.
After escorting her to her room, he headed down the hallway. Adamant for answers, Zero stalked to the Headmaster's Office, flinging open the door.
If it were not for the sound of his heavy footsteps they may have been startled. As it were, Yagari and Kaien merely scowled at him with annoyance. "What has gotten you into a hissy fit now?" Yagari teased, a small grin stretching his lips to one side.
Zero growled, marching towards the desk. His fist thumped against the wood and splinters embedded themselves in his hand, "I want to know what's going on?" he demanded fiercely, some phlegm spluttering out at Kaien.
Shaking a little, Kaien raised from his seat, "I don't know what you mean." His eyes dashed between Zero and Yagari, the latter of which was attempting to escape.
Zero pulled him back by his trench coat, ordering that he "Stay."
He took a moment to deeply inhale some oxygen, calming himself.
"What is the deal with Yoko?"
Both men tensed, looking at one another and then back at the young man. Yagari coughed, trying to tug his trench coat from Zero's snug grip. He muttered, "I'm not a part of this."
Kaien glared at him, insisting he was. He re-took his seat and gestured for Zero to do the same. Yagari moved to stand by the window behind Kaien's desk, staring out at the moon.
"A long time ago, when I was a hunter, I had a family." Kaien began, digging into one of his desk draws. "I had a lovely wife and a beautiful daughter."
"Yoko." Zero confirmed.
Kaien frowned, "Don't interrupt."
Three months. He had not had her in three months. She denied him even the simplest of touches. He was not entitled to a kiss on the cheek anymore, let alone a proper kiss. He was worried. She had stopped hugging him two weeks ago and now, today, she did not greet him 'good morning'.
Kaien gnawed on his frost bitten lips. The weather was harsher than he expected. Halloween was not a time for snow and yet it paved the paths and painted the garden a soft fluffy white. He gulped, waiting.
He had been working hard for the past two months, hunting a clan of purebloods. They were merciless in their killings. A family of them, hurting innocent people, and his superiors could not allow them to wander about unchecked for much longer. He was assigned to follow the youngest. She frequented the dolly shop four streets from his home. Her elder cousin would drop her off. She would buy a new doll and then wander the park, looking for a snack. It was rare that she left unfed. It was rare Kaien did not have to clean up the mess. She very much liked to play with her food.
He sighed, scraping his sleeve up his arm to grasp a glance at his watch. He would be late. He had promised to get the ribbon back to her before she went trick-or-treating.
They arrived. The young girl released the man's hand, asking for money. He gave it willingly. She walked towards the shop and he down the street.
Kaien shouldered his bag, preparing to follow her into the shop and buy another doll for his own daughter. She was not fond of them, but he was not about to waste money and he required a guise. It would not do for a man his age to buy dolls for himself. Before he could commence with the usual nightly routine, the girl turned back. She called out to her cousin. She asked if it were true he was going to bring home a new addition. He certified it. Much to Kaien's horror, the vampire suggested two additions to the family.
Skidding on the concrete road, watching the girl pander about in the shop, he glanced towards the path the man took every night… every night.
He bit his lips again.
Kaien looked back at the girl, finding her pondering what doll to buy as the shopkeeper doted upon her.
He ran down the street, following the man.
"When I discovered where he was going every night… I was horrified." Kaien poured another cup of sake he had snagged from the desk draw. "He was forcing himself upon my wife, biting her. She was dying. I chased him off before he could have at Yoko, but-" He choked, taking a long sip of the sake.
Knife still poised in his hand, Kaien turned from the open door to gaze at his wife. Bloody and broken, she gasped. He stared at her, she at him. He could tell from the pain etched over her face that her blood was boiling. He scraped his free hand over her eyes, dragging it down his face. He ripped it away with a cry, tears breaking from his eyes despite his attempt to quench them. He drew back the knife, staring down at her… it fell.
He collapsed to the floor, hollering at the ceiling.
Yoko clambered out of the kitchen cupboard. Her pink dress was splattered with her mother's blood. It was browning, drying. Her bare feet pitter-pattered over the slippery, reddened tiles. She reached for him.
"Daddy…" She patted his shoulder, looking round. "The walls are red."
He gasped, taking her into his arms and covering her eyes, "Don't look sweetheart!"
"Red is my favourite colour." She continued, a dazed tone of voice.
Her mother gasped again, blood clotting her airways. It spluttered out of her mouth. Her hands reached out for them. Kaien shook his head, tears violently assaulting Yoko's hair as he held to her to him.
"Daddy." She said, bidding for his attention.
"Yes sweetheart." He asked, staring over her head at her mother.
Yoko quivered, hands moving up to grab at his arms, "I don't think I like red anymore."
He released a choked huff, a small smile cracking his tautly scrunched expression. He sniffed, stroking her hair, "It's alright. I'm not too fond of red either."
She nodded, head buried in his chest. He rose to his feet, taking her with him and lifting her into his arms. Her mother, his wife, stared up at them. Her eyes followed them, as they left.
She tried to call them back. He did not go to her.
"I had called Yagari before entering the house," Kaien continued, sipping more sake between his words, "He arrived to find the vampire escaping."
"I was adamant to go after it once I knew what it had done." Yagari interrupted, snatching the sake cup and bottle from Kaien. He protested loudly, reaching for it, but Yagari sneered. He opened the window slightly and tipped the contents outside, "We could not leave Yoko alone of course, so we took her with us."
"When we caught up to him… he wasn't alone." Kaien resumed, "When I injured him – they could smell his blood. His family came to get him."
"Whilst we tried to fight them off that little girl Kaien had been tracking lured Yoko away."
"She was supposed to be hiding, supposed to stay put!" Kaien shouted, slamming his hands on the desk. Yagari sighed heavily. The man was clearly drunk.
"Yes, but she did not know the girl was a vampire. She thought since they looked the same age it would be okay. Thought the girl was in the same situation." He did not turn to look either in the eye, merely stared out into the night. The moon had disappeared again behind the thunderous clouds. "Yoko did not understand. She was not raised to understand. She was supposed to be normal…"
Kaien began to cry hysterically, clinging to the wood of his desks and weeping.
Yagari sniffed indignantly, "Oh, pull yourself together – she was fine!"
"She was not!" Kaien yelled, angrily shoving papers to the floor, "She was almost killed! Almost – like her mother – almost!"
Yagari licked his lips anxiously, "She wasn't though, and that's what matters."
Kaien snorted, "Oh is it? I had no idea. After all, she escaped death only to end up 'owned'. I still don't understand why he couldn't just let it slip by. Why he felt he had to take her from me."
"He didn't take her," Yagari persisted, "He had no choice either way. It is law, for any of us. He did what he could for her, spared her by making that switch."
"I lost all those years…" Kaien sullenly stated
"She was safe." Yagari strongly insisted, turning to look at the broken hearted man, "Far away from here. She grew up somewhat normal – it's more than we could have given her after what happened." He gripped Kaien's shoulder, squeezing it softly to reassure him, "In the end you did what was best for her."
Kaien reached up and placed his own hand atop of Yagari's, "We both did." He insisted, using his other hand to rub away the tears, "I could not have appointed a better man as Godfather. You got her there safe and sound for me, whilst I handled… handled things here."
On the edge of his seat, Zero coughed quietly to grab their attention, "What happened after she left with the little leech?"
The pair parted, Kaien clearing his throat and Yagari returning to his perch by the window.
"I'm not sure on the details, but after she wandered off the little girl tried to have her nightly meal. Yoko resisted of course, but a child is no match for a vampire." He rang his hands together, his brows furrowed, "Kaname stood in."
Zero blanched, "What? That thing saved her!" He rose from his chair and gaped at them.
Kaien suggested he re-take his seat and remain silent until he was done. Continuing, "When we realised she was gone we went to find her. The others in the clan were either dead or had run by that time." He nervously spared Yagari a glance, "I'm not sure if it was our doing or Kaname's. His presence can be a little… intimidating for some." Zero snorted. Glaring, Kaien continued, "When we found her she was desperately clinging to his legs. He was smiling at her rather peculiarly, but I thought nothing of it at the time. He picked her up and said that he had intended on popping round to see me – I had not seen him for years. His mother and my – my wife, did not get along." He sighed, tightly gripping the edge of the desk, staring at the cracked wood, "He insisted I go take care of her mother as soon as possible. Something I was trying to put off… We went to the house and she was gone. There was no trace of her."
"When I tried to take Yoko from Kaname, he resisted." Yagari confessed, "He suggested she stay with him in case her mother 'returns' for her."
"I insisted she was dead, but he wouldn't listen." Kaien said.
"He was lying – we all knew that. She was bitten by a pureblood. She was bound to turn and who knew what she would do. With or without her sanity…"
Kaien shuffled his feet, tapping them against the carpet, "Kaname wouldn't let up. Said he'd take good care of Yok-"
"He spoke of her as one would a pet." Yagari interjected, balling his fists, "Since he saved her, her blood was his by right. It is law. Her blood teases him, lures the beast inside. She's nothing special – doesn't have to be. He saved her and as such, her blood means something to the creature that lurks in his mind. In his very being…"
"The vampire…" Zero stated. Both men nodded.
Zero glared at the carpet, "Does this mean Kaname owns Yuki too?"
Kaien barked out a laugh, "Gosh no! Yoko is a special case. She has no previous ties to-"
Yagari hacked, choking and coughing. He spluttered loudly, glaring at Kaien whom quietened with a panicked facet. He pursed his lips, "Are you alright?" he carefully queried.
"Yagari's throat stopped playing up immediately, "Yes."
Nodding, Kaien continued, "Kaname had come round mine for a favour. He intended to ask for Yuki to reside with Yoko, my wife and I. He was worried I'd refuse, but after saving Yoko."
"He had leverage." Zero voiced with realisation. Eyes wide, he gasped out, "He used Yoko's life against you - that bastard!"
"Quieten down, will you?" Kaien ventured, "Yes, he used her against me to certify Yuki's place. He promised not to take what was his if Yuki was kept safe. After agreeing, Yagari was kind enough to make arrangements."
"A fellow hunter I met during my time in France had a family friend that ran a boarding school in England. I took Yoko there the next morning. The headmistress agreed to allow her to stay, so long as we paid."
"For years I've paid for her schooling time and more for the summers she resided there." Kaien supplied.
"How is this possible? What excuse did you use to keep her there all that time?" Zero inquired.
Kaien shrugged his shoulders, "Many things. Family issues, work. She knew of the vampires – there was no hiding it as she grew up. She remembered it quite vividly in the beginning and Yagari had to sit her down to explain it to her. As she got older, the memory of how she found out has since escaped her. She understands that I run a school for humans and vampires… and I made her feel as though she would be in the way."
"What? How could you?" Zero noisily demanded.
Yagari replied, "To keep her safe. I saw her sometimes on holidays and Kaien kept in contact through letters, phone calls and emails and what not. It was very easy to keep her there. She quite enjoyed England."
"That's it." Zero questioned. Both men nodded with confirmation and Zero stood.
As he reached the door and clasped the handle, he called back grimly, "Her mother's alive."
He heard the crack, as their heads snapped to look at him, "She asked Yoko tonight to join her. That pureblood is her key to changing Yoko."
Yagarai turned to Kaien, "I'll search the town."
"Not in this storm. That would be useless and at most, make you an easy target. You'll go when it stops raining." Kaien looked back to Zero, "Did she specify when?"
He turned his head a little in order to see the anxious man, "She said Yoko would either go to her or… she would come for Yoko. I'm not sure how long she's willing to wait."
"Not long now I should think," Yagari suggested, "She's waited a long time."
"Indeed…" Kaien murmured, stroking his chin, thinking.
Zero left them to their own devices, traveling back down the passage.
"I enjoyed this," He told her, "We have not had time to ourselves like today for quite some time."
Yuki stuttered out a squeaky 'yes', heavily blushing as Kaname walked her back to the Day Dorms.
'You should not wander alone so late at night Yuki,' he had said, 'I fear for you when you are patrolling alone as late as this. You do so far too often for my liking.'
Yuki had scoffed, saying, 'Blame Zero. He's always ditching, but Yoko's here now! So, I'm not alone anymore and there's no need to worry – I promise!'
"Tonight has been wonderful," Yuki crooned dreamily.
Kaname smiled down at her. As they walked, his hand brushed against hers and his grin widened when the blush across her cheeks flared over her entire visage. They were soaked due to the rain, but it seemed unimportant. Her hair was sticking to her, but he knew he was a state as well. Though she shivered, Yuki refused to let go of his hand to zip up her jacket. It was as he had said. They had not been this close to one another for a long time.
"You!" A venomous voice howled over the rain.
He had caught sight of them, as he trailed down the corridor. Disgusted and furious, Zero trudged towards the doorway and out into the storm. The wind battered his hair and the rain froze his blood, but he continued on ferociously throwing insults at the beast currently attempting to exploit Yuki's devotion.
"I know what you're doing!" he shouted, "Trying to act like you've got it under control, like it doesn't bother you - like you're so much better than everyone else!"
Yuki's mouth flew open, eyes wide, staring at him as he pushed himself forth and forced Kaname away from her.
Kaname sneered, "Better than everyone or just better than you?"
Zero roared, pushing him again.
"You have no right here! You may think you do, but you don't! You can't take what isn't yours – she isn't yours!"
"Zero…" Yuki tried to reason.
"No Yuki! It's about time you realised how big of a prat he really is! You want to know what he did, do you, Yuki?"
"Tread carefully Kiryu." Kaname warned, his fangs peaking over his bottom lip.
Zero shook his head aggressively, "He's the reason Yoko's had to grow up away from home. He's the reason she didn't get to grow up with a father – the reason she-"
He stopped, halting, staring up at the silently fuming vampire. His face contorted with revulsion. He hissed, "Now he wants to consume her."
Yuki gasped, astonished, "Zero!"
"Those are some serious accusations Kiryu." Kaname malevolently retorted.
"It's only the truth." Zero firmly stated. "Admit it Kuran, you crave her blood. You want to tear your fangs into her throat and drag them down into her veins." Kaname's fists began to shake, "You want to see the light leave her eyes and the beat of her heart. You don't just want to hear it speed so fast and then come to sudden stop – no! You want to feel it!"
Yuki shrieked, as Kaname threw a punch. Zero fell to the ground, his nose bloodied.
"You know nothing!" Kaname seethed.
Picking himself up, Zero threw a mighty punch of his own. However, Kaname stepped away. The throw swiped by the air and Yuki cried out.
Gasping, Zero backed away from her huddled form. She gripped her cheek tightly, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Now look what you've done!" Kaname fumed, hurrying to her side and tenderly pulling her hand from her wound. At the sight of her blood Zero's eyes altered. His breath quickened and he to suppress breathing to keep his mind intact. He closed his eyes, turning his head away from the pair. Zero could hear them shuffling about, as Kaname helped Yuki stand. He pursued her into the building, but not before snarling at Zero as he passed him by.
His eyes returning to their usual violet, Zero dragged in a deep breath. The violet was particularly glossy now…