DISCLAIMER: VK is the property of Hino-sensei.
Hourglass
Zero gazed at the group of men surrounding him and his sensei. "You have to cut off their heads to kill them," he informed his former teacher, his gaze wary of the men circling them.
One of the assassins jumped into the air.
Toga pulled the trigger of his gun. POW! The bullet tore from the chamber and hit the airborne assassin directly, blowing his head clean from his shoulders. "Like that?"
Zero nodded concurringly. "That'll work."
They stood back-to-back whittling away at the number of men. Left and right they moved throughout the circle in perfect synchronization, managing somehow, despite their individual movements, to find each other. They sliced through the men rending bones, maiming flesh, and taking heads, uncaring of the blood jetting forth after each kill.
The dozen that remained retreated to the tree branches, sending a spray of poison-tipped shuriken and kunai hurtling towards them. Toga sought refuge behind a tree while Zero effortlessly dodged the projectiles, popping off several shots that sent a few Hitokirii plummeting to the ground.
Toga shook his head and loaded his weapon rapidly. "Showoff." Once he finished he stepped from his shelter and began blasting away, felling one with each shot. Toga backed up until he touched Zero, noting that there were at least a dozen more than previous. "These guys really got it in for you." He pulled his trigger, dropping one that flew at him from above.
"Yeah." He shot a few shuriken that flew his way, knocking them off their course, and dodged several more of the projectiles, making sure to warn his sensei of the impending danger each time. The vampire inside leapt with each kill, delighting each time blood was spilled. Zero just hoped he could control the hunger when this was over.
Toga growled. They were trying to make them use up their bullets deflecting those damned shuriken so they would end up defenseless. Not gonna happen. Employing his hunter's reflexes, he pulled the trigger, sending several bullets between the shuriken and into their targets.
Ear-splitting shrieks, bullets flying, and blood's pungent aroma pervaded the rainy night. Finally, they stood amidst the headless corpses, ignoring the river of blood flowing from the bodies.
Toga wiped his bloodsplatterd face, figuring the rain was not moving fast enough. "Well that was fun."
Zero rolled his shoulders and took in a deep breath. "Yeah." He held his face heavenward, allowing the downpour to erase the blood from his skin.
Toga glanced at his student momentarily. "Come on let's go before we get some attention we don't need." Like Level Ends or worse, some random passerby. He picked his way over the bodies and walked towards the car.
Zero fell in step with his sensei, gazing at the small scratch on his cheek. "You okay?" He knew his instructor wasn't too fond of people being to overly concerned about his physical welfare, but, nonetheless, he felt he should inquire about it.
Toga loaded his gun, just in case they were attacked again, and concealed it within his overcoat. "I'm walking ain't I?" He swiped away the warm blood seeping down his cheek and then grinned. "Besides the poison does not affect me."
"Lucky you." He strode through the grass and to the parking lot where their lone car sat idly by.
"Yep." He opened the car door and climbed in, cranking the car.
The teenager got into the car and shut the door, buckling his safety belt when his sensei pressed the gas. Kaien was not going to be happy about them sitting in his car with drenched clothes. They sat in silence for a while, Zero simply gazed out of the window while Toga drove quietly smoking on a cigarette. What was wrong with him? Why did he have this sinking feeling?
Toga braked at a stoplight. "Guess that was all those bastards thought to throw at us tonight." He stated with a feral grin tugging at one side of his mouth. He glanced at his former student peculiarly when he did not speak. "You're not thinking about offing yourself again are you?"
He leaned his head against the window, following the raindrops leaking down the pane with his eyes. "I just got this weird feeling is all."
Toga nodded comprehensively. "That's just indigestion from all that curry you ate." He answered. "It shouldn't be possible for a person, human or vampire, to consume that much spicy food in one sitting."
Zero glowered at the dark haired hunter. "It's not my stomach," he snapped acidly. "Something just doesn't feel right." He cuddled into the cradle of the door and continued to stare out of the window. Why did he have this feeling that something was terribly wrong?
Kaname sat in the ornate Victorian chair, legs crossed, face still somewhat placid. Cracks veined down the glass of the bay window, testifying to the pureblood's displeasure. He held his anger, biding his time for the right moment. "Your masters seem quite confident in the success of their plan." He stated coolly as if the sword was not at his throat.
Hotaru smiled nastily. "As I said before, fate cannot be changed pureblood. You above all people should know that."
Kaname's eyebrow arched ever so faintly. "Fate?" Perhaps if he asked questions the fool sitting across from him would be daft enough to disclose some key fragment of information.
Hotaru nodded, clasping his fingers together, and crossed his own legs. "The Prophecy. It cannot be changed. He will be awakened, and you will fall and all of your loathsome society will fall with you. The First's rule will blanket the world in never-ending shadow."
Kaname did not outwardly react. Khaan was the same as the man sitting across from him. How would his reawakening have such a dramatic affect on the world and vampire socieity? "Wishful thinking does not become you." His eyes darkened when Hotaru gave a snide chuckle. "Your Masters' plan is folly."
He sneered at the brunette. "Your arrogance will be your undoing, Kuran-sama."
"You trust too much in words." He glanced down at the double-edged sword positioned a single breadth from his Adam's apple. "But I extend my warmest thanks for that tidbit of information." A malicious shadow passed through his crimson eyes. He flashed before either man could react and ended up behind Tachi, wrapping an arm around the man's shoulder. "It's sad that you must pay for your superior's mistake." He whispered in Tachi's ear, before thrusting a hand through his back and out his chest, impaling his heart.
Tachi's eyes widened and he let out a gurgle, reflexively tightening his grip on his sword, his body unaware that he was dead.
Hotaru gazed in terror at the blood covered hand jutting from the young man's chest.
Kaname smiled in satisfaction when he perceived the naked fear on Hotaru's countenance. He withdrew his hand. Tachi fell to the floor, motionless. The vampire lord glanced at the horror-stricken man on in the chair, took one step, and grabbed his hand, dematerializing into thin air.
A blink of an eye later, Kaname and a disoriented Hotaru reappeared on the plateau of a snow-capped mountain.
"Wh-where are we?" He asked, knowing full well what fate he would suffer at the pureblood's hands. They were here so no one could hear him scream.
A wicked smile crossed the brunette's lips. "Don't you know a sacred mountain when you see it?" He asked with a large dose of condescension lining his tone. Kaname tossed the man to the ankle-length snow and made a swiping motion with his hand, causing three lacerations to rend the flesh in Hotaru's side.
Hotaru shrieked agonizingly and held his side protectively, the fabric of his clothes soaking up the blood.
Kaname refrained from licking his lips when the smell and sight of his enemy's blood assaulted his senses. The beast within ached to brutally mutilate the man whimpering at his feet and feed upon his blood, but he resisted. "You are fortunate I am in a merciful mood." He took a step towards his foe.
Hotaru cowered in fear.
Kaname scowled, debating whether or not to allow such a sniveling coward remain alive. He took another elegant step forward, somehow managing to glide gracefully over the ground despite the snow. "Today, I shall grant you your life, no matter how worthless it proves to be." He stared down at Hotaru with menacing crimson pits. "But tell your masters that their plans shall come to ruin by my hand, and their lives will be forfeit. Now go, before I change my mind."
Hotaru jumped to his feet and started down the steps carved into the mountainside.
Kaname watched the wounded man descending the steps with shrewd eyes. He raised his eyes to the snow-white owl flying overhead. "Follow him, find their lair, and report back to me, little one," he whispered into the blowing wind.
The bird circled once and flew off in the direction of Hotaru.
Kaname smiled smugly and flashed back to the hotel.
Takuma, who had awakened the instant his dorm president departed, stood in the hotel's sitting room staring down at the gaping hole in the man's back. He lifted his emerald gaze to Kaname when he appeared. "Why is there a dead man in here?"
Kaname restrained the sigh at the back of his throat. He was quite fond of Takuma, but grew tedious of the blonde's habit of asking questions that common sense should answer for him. "I thought he may be a nice evening meal for you," he answered stoically. He was actually telling the truth, he'd left Tachi there out of consideration for his vice-president, who had expressed his hunger a few hours earlier.
Takuma's eyes sparkled, but he did not move to claim his gift. "I am truly grateful Kaname-sama, but I was afraid his blood may be tainted," he answered humbly, hoping not to offend his vampire prince.
Kaname reduced the man to ashes with the wave of a hand. "Now he isn't a threat to either of us," he said evenly.
Takuma shrank back slightly. He'd offended Kaname. "I did not mean to insult you milord it's just--"
Kaname interrupted him. "Get dressed," he commanded, strutting to his bedroom.
Takuma bowed deeply. "Yes Kaname-sama."
Kaname shut the door to the suite's bedroom, threw his silk robe aside, and began clothing himself. How in the hell hadn't he detected them? There was no telling how long they had been in the suite before he awakened. They could have done anything, poisoned the wine whatever. And what enabled Tachi to resist his pureblood control? There was ancient fushigiri at work here, the likes that hadn't been seen since the First Age. His shrewd mind raced with the speed of Hermes. He would need to visit the Archaic Grounds for answers. His eyes narrowed. It would seem that the Order of the Dark Lotus was a bigger threat than he anticipated.
Aidou gnashed his teeth, determinedly fighting against whatever it was that deadened his limbs. He would not let Umi die, no matter what happened he would never allow her to depart this life not as long as he continue to draw breath. Tenaciously he battled against it, drawing upon strength that he never allowed anyone to know he possessed. Hold on, Umi-chan! He worked through the blinding pain, squeezing his eyes as if that act would aid in his struggle.
Come on, come on, Come On! He mentally urged himself. His fingers tingled. Relief filled him and he opened his sapphire eyes, reaching up slowly to the knife lodged in his arm and the tree trunk. He jerked the knife out, managing not to scream in agony, and hurled it at Kitogirii.
Kitogirii turned and grasped the knife out of midair, placing it in his inner pocket. He chortled nastily, his countenance one of amusement. "Well it looks like my daughter's suitor has a bit of pluck after all," he observed with a mild sense of disdain. He hated spunky people, it just made his job harder.
Aidou was on all fours, blood bubbling from his wounds, breaths coming in heaving gasps, vision blurring, energy ebbing close to nothing. He gazed past the man taunting him to Umi.
She lay on the ground unmoving as if the Nil Law had already ran its cruel course.
Seething anger ascended into the blonde. What kind of person tries to kill their own daughter? "Monster!" Ice engulfed the branches of the surrounding trees. "Why would you apply the Nil Law to her? You're supposed to be her father!" He growled, persistently trying to rise to his feet, but finding the task more daunting than expected. How could he do this to his own daughter?
Kitogirii smiled drolly. "Why thank you. Being an evil vampire is so much fun."
His eyes reddened. "Traitor!" He snarled, spittle flying from his mouth. This was too much. No wonder Umi was so damaged. I mean sure his father could be a bastard and his mother a bitch at times, but at least they both always reassured him of their deepest love. Umi's parents didn't give a flying frag.
He nodded admittedly. "True, but had you not succumbed to your own obsession, Suza would never have been able to set her trap. And my little princess might have been able to put up a decent fight, but thanks to you, she couldn't, because of the wicked little web you wove."
Aidou's eyes widened in painful realization.
Kitogirii grinned sadistically. "So, sure, I may be a terrible father, but at least I didn't betray her trust. Who of us do you think is the bigger traitor?"
A pain more torturous than the throbbing in his arm and searing through his chest plowed into him. It was him. He was the bigger traitor. Her father had never been in her life, but he was supposed to be her shelter, her dearest friend. But, he had betrayed her because he wanted the one thing he'd been denied. His stomach turned, sickening him. Instead of lying there and curling into fetal position like he wanted, he tried rising to his feet.
Kitogirii drop-kicked him in the face.
Aidou's head snapped back. He gathered his wits, fighting back the pain, and began willing his trembling limbs to bring him to his feet. He uttered no sound when his foe delivered a vicious kick to his ribs, falling to the ground in a heap. He had to get to Umi, to somehow let her know that he was with her, that she was not alone, that everything would be all right.
Kitogirii placed a foot on Aidou's neck, pressing heartlessly. "Because of you, Umeko will be dead within the hour."
Aidou kept his eyes on Umi's inert form, fighting back tears. She was so still, all the vibrant glow gone from her ivory skin. Kami, what had he done? His mind barely registered the sound of a gun's safety latch being pulled, a mere blink crossing his blue eyes.
He pointed the golden handgun at Aidou's head. "But you will be dead long before that…" He tilted his head to the side, staring at the sun kissed curls of the adolescent vampire. "Such a shame to kill such a beautiful creature."
He looked through the trickle of blood dribbling from his head wound into his eye at Umi. I'm sorry. Kitogirii began uttering a death prayer. His life passed in front of his eyes at warp speed, both good and bad memories. He hoped Kain would be okay without him.
Kitogirii screamed in agony just before he concluded the requiem.
Something warm and sticky rained upon his cheek. A pleasantly familiar odor tickled his nostrils. His brow knitted. Blood? He lifted his head when the man withdrew his foot. Blood spurted forth from the stump where his hand was supposed to be located. He looked down.
The severed hand lay on the ground, gun still in its grip.
"You will not harm her," a feminine voice commanded. Tetsu flicked her wrist and the razor-edged chain slid back into her guiding hands. Her appearance was no longer that of a normal stay-at-home mother, but of a mother acting upon the maternal instinct to protect her offspring.
Kitogirii snarled savagely at her, baring his fangs menacingly. "Well if it isn't the womb that birthed such a worthless abomination." He took a step back, out of the way of her deadly chain, when she walked to him.
She helped Aidou to his feet, keeping a wary gaze upon Kitogirii. "Run child. Take my daughter and go as hastily as you possibly can." She commanded urgently.
Kitogirii scowled. "Fine, I'll just kill you first."
Aidou stumbled to Umi on exhausted legs. He dropped to his knees and encircled her in his arms, gazing down at the stone encasing her fingers with petrified eyes. "Hold on," he muttered, fighting off the beginnings of panic. His wounds were severe, he'd lost a lot of blood, his lungs were hardly functioning, and he wanted to simply lay down on the ground and sleep until sunup, but he would not give up. He wouldn't allow Umi to die. He squeezed her motionless form close and, gathering whatever strength was left in his body, flashed.
Tetsu gave a relieved inner sigh. She hoped the little vampire could hold up long enough to get to Cross Academy. She switched a hostile gaze upon the vampire standing before her, nursing his bloody stump. "Stop impersonating your brother Takeshi. Even when you have his face you are still not half as noble as him."
Kitogirii narrowed his eyes into slits and morphed into a stunningly handsome vampire with silver hair and amber eyes. "This better?"
Her eyes faintly widened. "I'd forgotten how strikingly handsome you are." She unsheathed her katana, the runes engraved upon the blade glinting in the moonlight. "But then again, it's like that old saying goes, 'beauty is only skin deep', especially for a monster like you."
A pleased smile passed over his face. "A honeyed tongue will not cause me to forget the crimes you committed against oniisan."
"What crimes?" She clenched the hilt of her sword, cautious of the vampire before her.
His eyes tightened. "What crimes?! You tempted him with your human blood until he lusted after you like some foolish schoolboy." He stopped nursing his handless arm, letting it drop to his side harmlessly. "You made him weak! Like all the rest of your pathetic species with your inferior intelligence, strength, and speed, sniveling and running from everything that frightens you like terrified sheep. You're nothing but livestock." He spat derisively.
She rolled her shoulders. Takeshi had always been a talker, so she felt she might as well let him get it off his chest before they fought. "And you wonder why Ryo didn't love you," she said sarcastically.
Takeshi's entire countenance contorted in mock anger, the vein in his temple throbbing dangerously. "He did love me until you came along! You stole him from me! You turned him into a lovesick shell of himself when you left! He wouldn't even let me drink his blood after you disappeared! I hate you!! You and your bitch offspring!"
Tetsu's eyes narrowed. "No more talking, Takeshi. Draw your weapon."
Takeshi drew his weapon. "Fine." He twirled his weapon and rolled his shoulders, his eyes tinting scarlet. "I've always wanted to feel your body impaled upon my sword, your sweet blood cascading down the blade and into my hair like crimson rain."
Tetsu raised an eyebrow. Jeez what a whackjob. "Tonight we end this Takeshi." She eased into her kata. Maybe she would survive this battle, maybe she would not, but it didn't matter. Tonight, she would atone for her sins.
Aidou rematerialized on Cross Academy's sheltered campus. His knees trembled and buckled beneath him, causing him to fall with Umi in a heap. He clutched her motionless form close, penetrating blue eyes roving over the death-like pallor of her skin. "I'm so sorry Umi-chan. Please just don't die. Wake up." He sobbed softly.
Yuuki found them lying on the ground just beyond the Art building. "Omigod!" She landed next to them, her ruby eyes broadening once she saw the seriousness of Aidou's wounds. She had to get help. Now. She turned and took off at full speed towards her father's home.
Mere moments later, she and Kaien carried the two incapacitated students into his house, laying Umi on the bed and Aidou on the couch. Kaien gasped when he saw the stone encasing Umi's hands. "Kami, no." The Nil Law.
Yuuki gazed down at Aidou at the blood bubbling forth from his wound. "What do we do?" she asked, starting to panic.
Kaien sighed heavily. "Go fetch Kain and bring him here, as fast as you can." He stated urgently.
"What about U--"
"Go!"
The roughness of his tone made her jump and sent her quickly on her way.
Kaien kept his eyes upon Umi. There was nothing he could do for her now. She was going to die, if he did not reach Kaname-sama in time. He hurried to his phone and picked it up. Barely had he time to dial the number before Kain appeared in the room.
The fiery haired vampire's countenance fell when he saw his unconscious kinsman. "Hanabusa," he whispered softly. He leaned over the couch and picked up the smaller vampire, nuzzling his nose in the his golden curls. "You promised not to do anything stupid," he whispered in his ear, then directed his gaze to the human. "Thank you for taking care of him but I'll take it from here." He cast a fleeting glance at Umi and exhaled deeply. This was going to spell trouble. Kiryuu was going to go ape-shit when he saw his beloved Halfling's state. He exited the house without another word.
Yuuki, who had to run rather than just teleport, finally made it back into the house. She stopped when she saw the terrified expression on her stepfather's face and directed her gaze upon the stone encasing Umi's hands. "What's wrong with her?"
Kaien slipped a hand nervously through his blonde hair, dialing Kaname's cell number speedily. "Someone applied the Nil Law to her."
She raised an eyebrow. She'd seen much fushigiri during her time at Cross Academy, some good and some grotesquely horrific. This was one of those grotesquely horrific times. "What?"
Kaien waited patiently for the pureblood to answer. "If nothing is done, she'll be dead in forty-five minutes," he replied somberly.
Her eyes rounded in terror. "But-but can't you do anything?"
He shook his head sadly. "The Nil Law stems from a power that all vampires above a Level C possess within. There is nothing I can do." He spoke softly, voice thick with loathing for his own uselessness in such a dire situation.
"Kami no," Yuuki gasped, tone thick with unshed tears. If Umi-chan died, what would happen to Zero-kun? Kami she didn't think she could deal with seeing him return to his former self.
Kaname sat down in the comfortable seats of the first-class room of the train. He sipped his Beaujolais wine, mulling over the night's events. What a hell of a night, and he had a feeling that things would continue to spiral down the drain.
Takuma shifted uneasily in his seat. "Again, I am sorry Kaname-sama."
Kaname restrained the sigh. "I am not upset with you Takuma. In fact, your concerns were well founded." He stared absently at the wineglass, gazing at the liquid. Red wine, the color of blood. Before this was over, much blood would be shed.
Takuma glanced inquiringly at his superior. "Is something troubling you Kaname-sama?"
Kaname supped his wine daintily. "Darkness shadows the rim of our society." He stated grimly.
Takuma's brow knitted. "What do you mean Kaname-sama?"
"Our society borders on chaos."
He placed the bottom of his half-full wine glance against his lap. "I do not understand Kaname-sama. How can our society be bordering on darkness and chaos? It is in it's prime. The others no longer view humans as livestock, Rido-sama has been permanently dealt with, the corrupt leader of the Hunter's Association has fallen, and you have the object of your affection. Sure the Dark Lotus Order plagues us, but even they will be dealt with swiftly."
Kaname gave a wan smile. Takuma was such an optimist. He turned his gaze to the window, grim thoughts circulating rapidly through his brain. You have gained a new strength, but at the same time you have summoned a sinister future. Wherever you go, there will be nothing but darkness, Kaname. Shizuka Hiou's last words played in his mind. "Fate cannot be turned back, Takuma."
He raised his eyebrow perplexedly. Why was Kaname-sama so unsettled? "Fate?"
"Prophecy."
"Prophecy? I don't--"
Kaname's phone rang. He picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Takuma observed his vampire prince's expression, noting the change in his aura. "Kaname-sama?"
Kaname undid his safety belt, a pinched expression on his face. "I will be there shortly. Good-bye." He hanged up the cell phone. "Takuma get our things and flash back to Cross Academy."
"What about you?"
"I must depart now, an urgent matter has come up." With those words, he vanished into the thinness of the air.
Takuma undid his safety belt and hurried out of their private room, which for a vampire of his rank was extremely fast.
Yuuki sat on the family room sofa, biting her nails as water leaked down her cheeks. She jumped to her feet when someone knocked on the door and bolted to the portal. She threw it open and fell into her beloved vampire's arms, sobs wracking her diminutive frame. "Please Kaname-kun, save Umi-chan, don't let her die." She said gazing up at him with glossy eyes, her fingers clutching his shirt sleeve.
He smiled assuredly at her, patting her chocolate locks. "I won't." He entered the home and strutted down the hall, going into the bedroom. A tinge of pain pierced him at the sight of the girl lying motionless on the bed. The tiny muscles around his lips narrowed. Without much ado, he made his way to the bed, standing over her unmoving form. "Please leave us."
Obediently, the two exited the room, shutting the door.
Kaname stared down at her. "Forgive me." He touched her forehead. "Wake up. I need you to wake up Umeko," he commanded.
Her eyes opened, revealing black pits of nothingness, the tiny veins around them coloring her ivory skin dark. Black thick liquid drained from her eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, seeping onto the pillow. She opened her mouth and let out a bloodcurdling wail strangled with blood, ineffectively endeavoring to move her arms which were mostly encased in stone.
Kaname closed his eyes and waved away the dark fluid, knowing full well how cruel of him it was to awaken a recipient of the Nil Law. Despite the heart wrenching screams emitting from her, he remained calm, caressing her raven tresses. "I will not allow you to die before I release you." He closed his eyes and drew upon the power granted to him by his pureblood lineage.
Yuuki and Kaien waited outside anxiously. Precious moments ticked by, but still the door remained closed. Umi's screams had stopped several moments ago, but that did not settle the quivering in their stomachs. Yuuki bit her bottom lip apprehensively, trying to ease her nerves. What was taking so long? Would Kaname be able to save Umi? Or was it too late already? If Umi-chan died would Zero-kun die as well?
The door creaked open and Kaname exited the room, noticeably slower than usual.
Both humans stood quickly. "Is she okay?"
Kaname refrained from leaning on the doorframe like his tired body wanted, hoping that neither human saw the tiny black circles beneath his eyes. "We will see at sunup tomorrow."
Yuuki wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. "Arigatou Kaname-kun!" Those big innocent eyes fell upon him, gazing piercingly. "Are you alright?"
He gave another smile of reassurance and swiped a hand through her hair. "I'm fine dearest."
She pressed a kiss to his mouth and bounded into the bedroom to sit by Umi's side.
Kaien, discerning the pallor of his skin, the fatigue in his eyes, and faintly slowed movements put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "May I walk you to your dorm room Kaname-kun?"
Kaname nodded thankfully. "I would appreciate it." He turned in the doorway to his beloved. "Good night, dearest."
"Good night." She said with a warm smile.
Kaname exited the home with Kaien at his side, walking into the gloomy night.
"Who could've done this Kaname-kun, surely not Aidou-san?" Kaien queried, slightly befuddled.
Kaname wagged his head. "Of course not. Aidou may be irrepressible, impulsive, and selfish at times, but he truly cares for Umi-chan and would never go so far as apply such a cruel law to her. No matter how hurt he feels." He put a hand in his pocket, wishing that he were in his bed. "This was the work of a third party."
Kaien nodded, digesting the teenagers sagely words. "Zero-kun will blame him for Umi-san's state." This was not going to be good. Zero was uncontrollable when he lost his temper.
The teenager did not break stride. "I know."
"How are we going to get around this?" he muttered mostly to himself, but the pureblood took it upon himself to answer.
"Let them settle it, between themselves."
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Frankly speaking Kaname-kun, that doesn't sound wise at all."
Kaname restrained the forearm that sought to erase the perspiration from his brow. "Kiryuu will not do anything too foolish," he replied stolidly, maintaining his demeanor despite the weariness rolling throughout his being.
Kaien did not reply. Zero could do some pretty rash things when he was upset. This was going to be terrible.
Kain stood in his and Aidou's room, gazing at his kinsman. It had been hours since he had taken his cousin to his room and still the only change was the cease of blood flow. He sat down on the bed and gently caressed his silky cheek. Aidou would physically heal, that much he knew, but it would take some time. However, his cousin's emotional well-being was what concerned him most. Why did he pine for a Halfling like she was some kind of noble lady of high rank? It was beyond perplexing.
Why couldn't Aidou just desire some unattainable vampiress of the noble class like all the rest of his classmates? Hell, even a human would be more acceptable than a Halfling. Humans might be inferior but at least they weren't natural abominations split down the middle. "Why couldn't you just let it be? Just allow them to be lovers?"
He knew why Aidou couldn't let it go. He viewed Umi as his, and Aidou never stood for anyone encroaching upon his territory, whether something or someone. Now he had allowed his own heart to trap him. Kiryuu was going to be livid. He was probably would be ready to kill Aidou when he found out, and that was something Kain would not allow. Since Umi had come to Cross Academy, a physical altercation with Kiryuu had become an inevitability.
This was Aidou's fight, but he would be damned if he let him go it alone. He yawned and gave a feline stretch, then curled up next to his cousin with a good book.
Zero got out of the car and strode to the house, not bothering to use his key. He knocked on the door and waited. He raised an eyebrow when a nervous faced Kaien opened the door. "Let me in." Zero walked past him into the family room.
Toga strutted into the family room puffing on a cigarette nonchalantly. "Something wrong Cross?"
Kaien stepped in front of Zero who he had no doubts had already sensed his lover. "Now Zero-kun promise not to do anything too rash."
He looked at him with a knitted brow, going around his guardian. Umi was in the house, but something felt off. He followed her faint scent to the bedroom and stopped cold when he saw her lying motionless in the bed. Two steps later, he was next to the bed. Why was she so still? Why was her skin so pale? "What happened to her?" He asked, managing to keep his voice from rising an octave.
Yuuki, who had been sitting there the entire time, gulped nervously. "Someone applied the Nil Law to her."
His eyes widened. "What?" He tightened his fists into little balls. Someone was going to pay for this, he was going to hunt down the culprit and make sure they suffered. He sat next to her, sliding a hand through her dark tresses. "Is she going to be okay?"
Kaien nodded. "Kaname said give it until sunup tomorrow."
Toga blew smoke from his mouth, forming tiny rings. "What happened?"
Kaien and Yuuki glanced at each other hesitantly. "Yuuki found her and Aidou-san unconscious near the Art Building."
"Ah shit." Toga cursed. Zero had confided in him about the situation with Aidou, and he was very well aware how tense things were between them. This was not going to be pretty.
Kaien could feel the seething anger rising within the young Level D and had he not been a conventional man he would have sworn he saw smoke rising from his ears. "Now Zero-kun, just relax," he said soothingly when he perceived the veins standing out in his neck like rigid cords.
Zero stood deliberately and took in a deep breath. Aidou was going to pay for this misdeed. He was going to make sure of it. He produced Bloody Rose and pulled back the hammer expertly, enjoying the heft of the weapon in his hands. "I am relaxed." He dematerialized and rematerialized in Aidou's dorm room.
Kain looked up from his book and stood quickly in a defensive stance. "Get out."
Zero sneered contemptuously at the pyrokinetic vampire standing before him, holding Bloody Rose at his side. "My fight isn't with you Kain."
Kain bared his fangs at the Level D, knowing full well how dangerous the ex-human was.
"Get out of my way." He growled, pointing the gun at the fiery haired vampire.
Kain stood his ground. "Leave this room Level D and you will have no problems."
Zero clenched his teeth. If Kain wanted to get in his way, then so be it. Drawing upon the charms given him as a child of the Kiryuu clan, he sent a burst of energy to the vampire, paralyzing him on the spot.
Kain fell to the ground in a heap, gnashing his fangs and snarling violently, the wallpaper curling into black ashes. He watched the Level D as he went about his way pulling back the covers and picking up his unconscious kinsman. "Killing him here would break the treaty ex-human," he warned between strained growls. Confounded hunters' charms, always made a vampire's life that much harder.
"I know." He picked the limp blonde from the comfortable bed, throwing him over a shoulder.
"Where's your honor, killing a wounded vampire while they sleep?"
Zero grinned wickedly. "Who said I was going to kill him while he sleeps?" He flashed again, leaving an extremely worried Kain on the floor.
Aidou awakened, wondering why his skin felt like it was burning and why the sunlight was blinding. "Akatsuki-kun, close the curtain," he whined.
Zero sneered. "Get up vampire."
Aidou froze. Shit, Kiryuu. He moved, moaning when pain spiraled through him. Kiryuu probably was going to try to kill him. Ah well, it was an inevitable eventuality. He timidly cracked both eyes open to take in his surroundings. They were beneath a shade of trees upon the grassy bluff overlooking the city. Aidou clutched his nagging wound and sat up, holding back his tears. At least Kiryuu did allow his overly sensitive vampire skin some shade.
Wait, where was Kiryuu? He turned his attention upon the Level D and felt himself shudder. His amethyst eyes burned a murderous scarlet, pearly white fangs peeked menacingly from his upper lip, his face was contorted with unadorned rage. The silver haired Level D's aura screamed one word: death. He was going to kill him.
Zero pushed away from the tree he had been leaning on and stood before the blonde. He raised his gun, aiming it directly at the other's forehead. "I know it sounds cliché, but any last words before I end your miserable life vampire?" In Zero's eyes Aidou didn't deserve any last words, not with what he did to Umi, but he felt he should show a little mercy.
Aidou flinched, eyes fixing on the muzzle of the gun. Bloody Rose was anti-vampire, a hunter's weapon born from the hatred between both factions. It would end his life swiftly, taking with it the guilt and misery that plagued him. "Go ahead."
Zero gripped the handle of Bloody Rose, ready to shoot, but hesitated. Aidou was not challenging him, he was pleading with him to end his misery. He stared down into those melancholy sky blue eyes. "So, you wanna die?"
He lowered his eyes, not wanting the ex-human to see the tears pooling in his incredible baby blues. "I might as well. Umi-chan will probably hate me because I broke my promise because of my selfish desires. If I cannot bask in the glow of her smile then-then what is life to me?"
What the hell? His brow furrowed in unbounded bewilderment and his trigger finger went lax. He didn't think Aidou could feel so deeply for anyone, especially someone beneath the aristocracy. Then again Aidou could be rather melodramatic at times.
Aidou continued to mumble, mostly to himself than to his would-be assailant. "Perhaps my death can atone for what I've done to her."
Zero couldn't believe his senses. He couldn't believe the sight of the crestfallen vampire kneeling before him, his sincere words spilling from his mouth, or the salty smell of unshed tears. It was a foreign concept to him that Aidou, the king of egoism, could feel so deeply. He'd never seen him so dispirited, so dejected not even after Kaname displayed his disapproval for his misbehavior. Damn. It was true. "Umi-chan was more than a possession to you," he stated incredulously.
Aidou raised his eyes, ashamed because of the tears clinging to his lashes. "Is that so hard to believe?"
The mental agony displayed in the blonde's eyes stirred a feeling that the silver-haired teenager had never felt for any vampire: compassion. He lowered his gun, cursing himself inwardly for not ending the aristocrat's life. "You really loved Umi-chan." He sat in the shade of the large tree, looking out at the city as its residents awakened to begin their daily lives.
Aidou winced when he huddled into the shade as much as possible, trying to escape the sun's harsh rays. "Yeah, but it doesn't matter. No matter how many times she gives me her blood, she will always reserve her heart for you. I should have just let it go and gave her the free range she deserves, instead of obsessively pushing my own agenda." He rested his back against the abrasive trunk of the tree, hardly able to believe that Kiryuu had decided to keep spare is life.
Zero tilted his head to the side, and observed the nocturnal creature next to him, psychoanalyzing him. He'd read about guys like Aidou in his psychology book. He viewed everyone short of Kain and Kaname as possessions. He saw women as mere vessels for pleasure his entire life, never allowing to understand the difference between possessivness and love. But now that he finally felt genuine love, he couldn't live without it.
Aidou sighed heavily. "Do you know that even after she was in the throes of bloodlust she refused to partake of my blood? Even then she thought of you." He chuckled bitterly. "And no wonder she loves you, because you would never use such deception and trickery to betray her as I did." He hung his head guiltily. "I guess I'll just have to get used to living in a cold world."
Zero was able to deduce from Aidou's words that the impish blonde did not apply the Nil Law to Umi. He was possessive, but he would never harm that which he held dear. He uttered an expletive and concealed his gun. "Who did this to her?" He rested his forearm on a bent knee.
Aidou shuddered from the cool air brushing over his exposed torso. "A man claiming to be her father."
Zero cursed. Again. He'd heard of dysfunctional families but Umi's, at the present, was at the top of his list. "Her own father applied the Nil Law? Jeez what bastards."
Aidou nodded agreeably. "Although, when I first met him--never mind."
"What the hell happened to you? Why didn't you protect Umi-chan?" He knew it was wrong of him to keep beating up on Aidou's already self-abused conscience, but he just couldn't stop his mouth from moving. That and he still viewed the whole situation as the selfish little dick's fault.
Aidou looked down sheepishly. "He used a paralysis charm on me."
Zero raised an eyebrow. A vampire than knew charms that hunters used? Peculiar. "Then how did you escape?"
"I managed to overcome the charm," he said with slight pride, "but he would have blown my brains out had it not been for her."
"Who?"
"A blonde woman--Come to think of it she called Umi-chan…It was her mother. The woman that saved us was Umi-chan's mother." Being saved by a human was definitely on his most embarrassing moments list.
Zero was shocked. That deserter saved Umi? Maternal instinct must have won out after all, that or the reasoning that she could atone for abandoning her daughter to the wolves with this one act.
"I hope she's okay." He muttered, attempting not to show the prefect that he was on the verge of crying out in agony.
Zero stood and brushed off is pants. "Let's get back before everybody thinks I killed you." He grasped the blonde's shoulder and teleported them back into his dorm room at Cross Academy. He revoked the paralysis charm on Kain and left the room without a second glance. You're getting soft Kiryuu.
Aidou climbed into bed and curled into the fetal position. Umi-chan would hate him now, and it was this fact that felled Hanabusa Aidou. Without Umi's affection the world felt so cold, so…unkind. He buried his face in his pillow, hardly reacting when Kain lay alongside him.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Aidou pulled the covers over his head.
"Do you want me to go away?" He asked, looking over his cousin's shoulder.
For a long moment, Aidou did not answer and when he did it was a very small, "no."
Takuma stopped Zero in the first story hallway. "Have you thanked Kaname-sama for saving your lover's life yet?" he asked, the tone in his voice neither commanding or urgent.
Zero gave a snort.
Takuma clasped his hands in front of himself, eyeing the teenager's stunningly handsome face. "I know you think it was nothing, but reversing the Nil Law is almost as bad as trying to turn back death. He is quite weary."
Zero stared at him blankly for a brief moment, then went around the distinguished vampire. Like he gave a rat's ass about how that damned sadist felt. He stopped and turned, voicing that fact, "like I give a shit." He ignored Takuma's hugely reddened face and exited the Dormitory.
Takuma pressed his lips together. He considered himself quite tolerable of Kiryuu's insolence, but even that tried his even temper. He was lucky he did not have the authority to deal with that attitude. He turned and hurried up the spiral staircase.
Evening found Zero sitting in the chair next to the bedside watching Umi sleep. He fought the lump in his throat valiantly, but could not deter the few teardrops that escaped the rim of his lavender eyes. He took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "Please don't leave me Umi-chan." He whispered tremulously. Since she had came into his life he had felt the warmth that had been missing in his life for so long, but now that wonderful warmth threatened to leave him forever. He pressed a kiss to her tiny hand, wishing with his entire being that there was something, anything that he could do to bring her back to keep her from just lying there like marble.
Toga stood in the doorway. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
"Why won't she wake up? Kuran reversed it right? So why isn't she awake yet?" he blurted without answering his sensei's question.
He restrained the need to light up a cigarette and leaned against the doorframe. "She needs to heal." His heart went out to his student when he saw the disheartened appearance on his face.
"Is there nothing I can do?"
Toga hesitated before he answered. "Be patient. Pray. Whatever strikes your fancy. For now, it's a waiting game."
He heaved a heavy exhalation and buried his face in the cradle of her neck, drinking in her scent. He could wait when it came to hunting a Level E, but moments like these nearly drove him to insanity. He didn't have the stomach to wait to see if his beloved was going to be alive tomorrow.
He observed the young man hunched over the girl's body and felt an ache stemming from his very core stab directly into his heart. "Just make sure you eat sometime today to keep your strength up." He stated in a much more paternal tone than usual and strode away.
Later, Zero had just finished eating a bowl of yakisoba and was about to go back into the room to watch over Umi when Yuuki sat down in front of him.
"How are you doing?" she asked worriedly, interlacing her fingers.
He drained his glass of soda and shrugged sharply.
"Are you going to thank Kaname-kun?" she leaned on the table, biting her bottom lip.
"What for?"
"For saving Umi-chan." She stared into his eyes, pleading with him. "Please don't be like this Zero-kun."
He stared into those piercing garnet depths, wondering why he had never built up an immunity to that doe-eyed gaze and puppy dog pout. He groaned exasperatedly and dropped his head. "Fine if you would just stop looking at me like that."
She beamed at him. "Thank you."
Zero mumbled peevishly beneath his breath, got up from the table, and sauntered out the house. Why did he always have to be the bigger man?
Kaname smiled fondly at the blonde half-sitting in his lap and gently ran a hand through his tousled sun-kissed curls. He was quite upset with Aidou's behavior but at the moment he was more concerned with drinking his sorely needed blood than punishing him. He would discipline the little rascal later.
Aidou blushed and cast a quick glance at his cousin, who lay at the foot of the bed in a euphoria induced semi-awake state with two deep puncture wounds in his neck. "Why is Kaname-sama so much more gentle with Hanabusa-kun than he is with Akatsuki-kun?" He kept his gaze downward timidly, his voice passive.
Kaname passed the back of his hand up the smaller vampire's silken cheek. "Aidou-kun should know the obvious answer to that question." Indeed Aidou should know the answer to that question, because out of all of the members of his court, he was his favorite that and he was being considerate of the small vampire's injuries, at the moment.
Scarlet colored his cheeks. "Oh." He resisted the urge to bat his eyes alluringly and instead just allowed the tiniest charming grin to spread over his lips.
Kaname smiled to himself. "There is something that I wish to ask of you Aidou-kun."
His eyes lit up. Perhaps if he did not have Umi, he would find joy in flinging himself headlong into performing his vampire lord's most frivolous whimsies. "Anything Kaname-sama," he said eagerly.
"When the time comes, I need you to watch over Umi-san gently. Keep her safe." He stated softly.
Aidou nodded. "I promise, but Kaname-sama why--" His voice ceased when his dear pureblood tongued his neck and his eyes rolled when he punctured him.
Zero rapped on the door and opened it without bothering for any permission to enter. To his displeasure he walked in on Kaname after he'd just finished feeding.
Kaname licked up the crimson rivulets draining from the corners of his mouth, his eyes heavy with ecstasy. He acknowledged the younger teenager in his room with little regard. "What do you want?"
He glowered at the pureblood when he saw the two vampires laying in his bed sleeping off the affects of sweet bliss. Was this classified as cheating? "Sorry to interrupt your blood orgy," he stated snidely. Why did the pureblood's skin look so pallid? Hold the phone, why did he even give a damn?
Kaname pushed back the bedcovers and concealed himself beneath a lush silk robe. Normally he would punish the ex-human for that remark but at the moment he had other concerns. He put his feet on the tiled floor and stood, painfully aware of the decrease in his natural grace. A wearisome sigh fled his lungs. "Why are you here?"
Zero pinched his lips. Why was Fate always laughing down at him? Why did he always have to be the one to swallow the big pill? Why was it that, despite it all, he always found himself in debt to the pureblood? He mumbled beneath his breath, trying to form the words 'thank you' but finding it grievously hard.
Kaname stared at him briefly but then walked to the heavy curtains and started drawing them, allowing the moonlight to filter into the room. What was Kiryuu's problem? First he just barged in on him right after he finished feeding and now he was just standing there mumbling like an imbecile. He turned and let his eyes sweep over Zero, wishing he could get back into bed. "What is it?"
Zero sucked up his pride and shoved the words from behind his clenched teeth. "Thank you for saving Umi-chan. I am aware that you did it for selfish reasons, but thanks all the same." He uttered humbly, realizing that he was truly grateful for the pureblood's intervention. Now he would have to wash his mouth out with soap when he got back to Chairman's.
Kaname did not bother to be polite and say 'you're welcome' instead he cast a fleeting glance at the teenager and sat down at his desk, taking out his stationary set. There were people he needed to write in a small amount of time to inform them about the current situation. "Did you finally figure out why They're after you or did your precious sensei have to hold your hand?" He took the cap off the ornate ink pen and started writing neatly upon the parchment paper.
Zero squeezed his fists until the knuckles turned white. Here he was trying to be nice and show his appreciation and Kaname was continuing to be a dickhead. Bastard. "What difference does it make?" he snarled irately.
He glanced up from his paper, resuming his letter. "Then you understand your role."
Zero put his hands in his pockets and shifted his weight to one leg brazenly. "Yeah."
He lay his pen down for a moment. "That you belong at my side."
Zero rumbled threateningly and was about to protest but stopped when he studied the pureblood closely. There was no scorn in his eyes or arrogance underlying his tone. "Yeah," he replied half-heartedly.
Kaname's face retained its same stoic expression. "Good." He dropped his head and waved Zero away dismissively.
Zero rolled his eyes and left the room, happy to be out of the pureblood's presence. Stupid Kuran, always made him feel like he was inferior just because he wasn't born a vampire. If it weren't for Yuuki he would have put a bullet between his eyes a long time ago.
The sun crested over the horizon ushering in a new day. It's gentle rays bathed Cross Academy's roofs beaming through the window of the Chairman's domicile upon the bodies of two teenagers one male the other female.
Umi's eyes snapped open, raking over the room, unafraid of the darkness that met them. Instant pain knifed into her skull and ricocheted throughout her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, riding it out until finally she felt herself grow light, as if she were floating. Her vision returned after a few moments, then she finally became aware of the warm body next to her and the hand holding firmly to hers. With much effort she turned her stiff neck to look at him.
He was fast asleep, silver hair falling lazily in his face.
To her surprise, his grip was not lax on her hand even in his current state as if even as he slept he sought to hold her in this world. She smiled at him and pressed her forehead to his hand. Big mistake. Intense thirst jack hammered into her, twisting around her throat, cramping up her belly, and robbing her mouth of all it moisture. His warmth, his scent, the sound of his breathing, his heart beating strongly in his chest, all of it assailed her heightened senses, threatening to overpower all lucid thought. Oh no. Oh Kami, what could she do? Her fangs pricked her tongue, her mind racing with the way it would feel to have his rich blood flooding her mouth and running down her throat.
Omigod. She could not drink from him, because that act would only end up torturing the both. She released his hand and turned over, hoping that not being able to see him would make it all better. She was horribly wrong of course.
Her sudden movement roused him. He blinked the haze from his eyes, smiling joyfully when he saw her back turned to him. The different position told him she was alive, but he thought perhaps she had recovered from the affects earlier and was just unconsciously finding a better position. He hoped not, he wanted to look into those amber eyes. "Are you awake?" he asked hopefully. Just one look in those golden eyes and he would be okay for the remainder of the day.
She swallowed slowly, restraining the hunger creeping into her voice. "Yeah."
He put an arm around her about to squeezedher close when she went rigid. "Umi-chan? Are you okay?" She drew away when he touched her shoulder gently, almost breaking his heart in to pieces. Why was she so silent? Had he done something wrong? "Umi-chan…" He leaned over her, supporting is weight on his hands.
She buried her face in the pillow, hiding her scarlet eyes and lengthened fangs. God if he didn't leave now she was going to attack him. "Don't you have to go to school today?" she asked, much colder than intended.
His eyes widened both in shock and pain, the iciness in her voice like a shot to the gut. "Are you coming?" Why was she being this way? Did the Nil Law somehow alter her? Had that bastard Kuran managed to warp her mind somehow? He stood and just merely kept those piercing eyes on her back.
"No." God just go, please just leave already. She could feel it, the beast in her chiseling through the layers of her control. Soon she would go mad with thirst and he would be her target. She stilled the limbs that desired to quake with unappeased desire, bringing her hand to her chest instead.
He put his hands in his pockets, his mind racing for possible reasons for her current demeanor. Then it hit him. He promised her that he would be her shield and keep her safe, but that promise had been broken Saturday night. Was that why she was acting this way? Because he had not been there to protect her? "I'm sorry that I wasn't--"
"Please just go." She whispered, but was still heard clearly by his keen ears.
He would swear that he could hear his heart splintering into pieces. She didn't want him around. Did she view him like all the others that had broken their promises to her? Did she feel like he betrayed her? He wanted to stay with her, to explain that he would never ever betray her, that he was sorry that he had not been there with her, but instead he retreated from the room. For a moment he stood in the doorway, desperately trying to find something, anything to say that would make everything all right, but eventually closed the door behind himself.
Kaien stood in the kitchen fussing over four plates of well put-together shrimp omelets when he heard hurried footsteps. "Ah, Zero-kun, I fixed shrimp omel..ets." He stopped when he fleetingly caught the miserably dejected expression of the teen as he hastened through the kitchen and out the door. A deep exhalation fled his lungs. Something had happened.
"The girl was trying to get him out of the room before she attacked him and he took the wrong way," Toga answered, finishing off a cigarette and throwing it into a nearby flowerpot, which by the way housed an azalea flower.
Kain glowered at Toga and flipped over an omelet, smiling when the pan sizzled. "Eavesdropping is a bad habit my dear hunter," he scolded mildly.
Toga snorted, availed himself of a plate of the steaming egg dish(the biggest one), and sat down, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. "I was awake and happened to hear them talking."
He sighed and finished his omelet, thinking to himself that he would have to save the one Zero failed to consume for later. "Same thing." He flipped over the last omelet, plated it, and sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of steaming tea.
Toga savored the shrimp, the mixture of vegetables, and the double dose of cheese. "Anyway you should do something about the girl, because I would really hate to kill her."
Kaien chewed his food merrily and swallowed. "She will not be reduced to the same depths of the Ends."
He guzzled his orange juice, almost finished with his breakfast. Hey, he didn't mean to gobble his food down like he had no manner, but in his occupation savoring one's breakfast could be the difference between life and death. It had become one of those die hard habits. "Yeah well it could still be a nuisance. So you should do something about it."
Kaien stood and wiped the sides of his mouth with an embroidered napkin.
Umi lay on her back, forearm covering her face, body trembling uncontrollably. The door creaked open, a foreign scent filled her nostrils.
Kaien carried a drinking glass filled with water in one hand and two blood tablets in the other. He studied her briefly, noting the perspiration on her forehead and the way she turned away when he came nearer. Good, she was still lucid. He handed the glass of water first, then the small round tablets. "Take these. They'll help."
She took the tablets and tossed them to the back of her throat, then grasped the glass. She guzzled the pills down draining the entire glass of its contents. "Thank you."
"Those aren't going to stop her thirst, she needs the real thing." The one-eyed hunter said pointedly from his place in the doorway.
Kaien concealed the annoyance in his voice. "But they will help, a little Toga." Kaien got to his feet and smiled cheerily at her. "When school is dismissed you should explain your behavior to Zero-kun." He stated with a warm smile.
She blinked up at him. "How--?" The thirst did not depart her, but instead merely lost its edge.
"He only looks so depressed when someone truly close to him treats him harshly."
She dropped her head, focusing her attention on her clasped hands instead of the chastising gaze from the ex-hunter. "Oh. I will explain it."
He smiled merrily at her, gathering up the drinking glass. "Now, rest well."
She bobbed her head. "I should be out of your bed by tonight Chairman-san."
He chuckled and smiled wider at her. "It's no trouble at all, just get better." He left the room giving Toga a once-over on the way out.
Umi fidgeted when Toga stayed in the doorway, staring at her. He didn't utter a sound, just standing there, peering at her with that sharp azure blue eye. Kami why was he looking at her like that? Was he plotting on killing her or something? She threw that ridiculous idea to the wind. In her mind she knew Toga did not outwardly show it, but he held Zero close to his heart. So he wouldn't harm her. But god, why couldn't he just turn that eye somewhere else? That gaze made her feel naked. "Is there something that you need, Yagari-san?"
He entered the room, leaning on the bedpost, and continued to peer at her. "Yeah, I need to know something."
"O-okay." What was his game?
"Why wouldn't you just drink Zero's blood? He was the perfect choice, being your lover and all, but you went out of your way not to drink. Why?" Either way around, a vampire drinking another's blood was repugnant, but nevertheless her feeding from his pupil seemed a given.
He was too perceptive. She could not give an answer to his question, knowing that he would be bound to see through a lie. "Yagari-san is very perceptive."
He cracked a grin and took out his box of cigarettes, retrieving a small box of matches from his pocket. "Because you made a deal with the devil, in this case a certain pureblood."
She tried to speak, but incoherent stammering only spilled forth, so she shut her mouth.
The flame flickered when he struck the match holding it to the end of the cancer stick until it ignited. He blew out the match and tossed it in the trash, pulling contentedly on the cigarette. "Well, I hope it was worth it." With that he left the room, entertaining the idea of eating the omelet Cross put in the refrigerator for his student.
Umi gathered her knees to her chest and concealed her face, letting out subdued sobs.
Sometime later, Takuma sneaked through the window of the Cross domicile, learning a few seconds ago that Toga was not present within the home. He stepped gracefully on the floor, closing the window softly so not alert anyone. Silently he stole down the hallway until he came to a closed door. Kaname had barely the opportunity to ask him to feed Umi before he volunteered. She saved his little Shiki's life despite knowing he would have applied the Nil Law to her. Because of her, he was still able to enjoy that beautiful smile. He was obligated to feed her.
Of course it's not like there were other options. Aidou was out of the equation, and Kain and the others would very well consider it an insult to provide nourishment for a Halfling. Despite feeling obligated, he'd decided that he would be the one to take one for the team. He opened the door.
Umi was sitting on the bed listlessly reading what appeared to be the Aa-B volume of an encyclopedia. She glanced up and put the book away, making to stand and greet him properly.
He held a hand up. "Don't."
She sat up on the lush pillows, still a little disturbed that a former hunter had so many frilly pillows, and dipped her head respectfully. "Takuma-sempai, is something wrong?"
Sucking up any reluctance, he closed the gap between them. "Kaname-sama sent me."
"Tell him I am doing quite well. My strength is returning at a welcomed pace and all my senses have returned. Although…" She trailed off when he sat on the bed. Why did he look so nervous?
"He did not send me here to gage your health Umi-san," he spoke gently.
She stared at him in bewilderment. "Then why…?"
He smiled softly seeing the exact moment when the light in her head came on. She knew he was here to nourish her. "What position would be better for you?" Holy shit, that didn't come out right. If Shiki were present he would be shooting him death glares.
She wagged her head vigorously. It was a sin for her, a Halfling, to drink blood from a vampire of such high rank. Sure it was fine and dandy for one to use her as a vessel for blood. But for her to actually feed from an aristocrat was scandalous. "I cannot drink from you Takuma-sempai."
"It's okay, I would have volunteered anyway." He flashed a reassuring smile.
She continued to shake her head, barely able to comprehend that Kaname would send one of his underlings to feed her. "It's wrong."
Takuma tilted his head to the side and studied her. He would have to take the initiative. In a few fluid movements he trapped her beneath him with a leg on either side of her. He bent his head. "It's okay." Regardless of the coaxing tone, she withdrew from him looking as if her tiny frame would disappear amidst the excess of down and fancy trimmings adorning the bed. There was such a thing as too many pillows. "Consider it a debt being paid."
She chewed her bottom lip when hunger reared its hideous head once again. He smelled good, not like Zero, but still his odor was pleasant. Her fangs throbbed mercilessly, ruthless in their desire to be lodged within the vampire's neck. "I--"
He leaned over further and allowed his emerald gaze to capture her topaz one. "You will become dangerous if you do not drink soon and I doubt you wish to face down the hunter." He slid a hand through her hair. "Now…" He unbuttoned his collar exposing his soft flesh. "Drink." Before I change my mind.
Her vision hazed, her ears picking up the steady throb of his pulse. "Okay."
He nodded, swallowing hard. He had never been bitten by any creature lower than a Level B before, yet here he was about to pierced by a Halfling. He hoped it wasn't as disgusting as his grandfather said when he wanted to scare him to sleep as a child. A tiny gasp escaped him when she sniffed his neck, nuzzling for the right spot.
She closed her eyes, tongued his supple neck once, and plunged her fangs into his yielding flesh, allowing gravity to do the rest.
Takuma gave a surprised whimper at first but when his vampire genes took over he found it not unlike being bitten by any of his peers.
She drank deeply, enjoying the thick rich blood coating her tongue and gliding down her throat. In spite of being barely aware of anything but feeding, somewhere in the back of her head she was thinking: I hope Zero doesn't walk in on us in such a compromising position.
Zero scented the odor of blood as soon as he stepped out of the school building. Was Umi-chan okay? Oh god she was hurt! He was about to take off towards Cross's abode at breakneck speed but Yuuki stopped him.
"Are you coming to eat lunch in the cafeteria?" She asked softly, curious to the agitated expression on his face.
"You and Yorii-chan go," he blurted wanting to get to the house.
Yuuki cast a side-glance at her best friend. "Yorri-chan, I'm going to go with Zero-kun. "
She nodded. "Okay."
Zero grumbled and speed walked the entire way, trying not to draw any attention. What would happen if those bloodsuckers smelled this blood? As he got closer he realized that it was not her blood at all. But whose, then? He flung the door open as soon as he was in arm's length of the knob and strode in cautiously, Bloody Rose drawn. Blood's beckoning odor flooded his nostrils nearly capturing him in its intoxicating embrace. He shook his head and continued further into the house, Yuuki following him quietly.
The two prefects sneaked into the hall and continued towards the main bedroom their senses on high alert. Zero felt his fangs throb mildly, anger pinching him at the fact that just the scent of blood intoxicated him just like the rest of their kind. He felt the second presence behind the door. Whose blood was that? He threw the door opened and pointed his gun, ready to shoot. The sight that greeted his eyes stunned him.
Umi lounged on the bed licking blood from the corners of her mouth while Takuma buttoned up his shirt collar, both their expressions thick with ecstasy.
What the fuck? She refused to drink from him but yet she fed upon Takuma? What kind of goddamn sense did that make? "What the hell?" he shouted.
Yuuki retracted Artemis and squinted uneasily. Maybe she should have went to lunch after all. "I'm sure there's an explanation for this," she said confidently, hoping there was one. A really, really good one.
Takuma stood gracefully, giving a sweet smile. "It is not what it looks like Kiryuu-san."
Zero clenched the handle of his gun. "So she wasn't just sucking your blood?"
"Okay it is, but…" He trailed off, trying to think of way to put it delicately.
"Shut up!" He stormed into the room, glaring accusingly at the two teenagers, his lover in particular. "What's going on Umi-chan? Why would you drink his blood?" He wanted to add 'and not mine' but left that part out from fear of sounding childish. "If you needed blood why didn't you just ask…?" He rolled his lips inward.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered, covering her face in shame.
"First you treat me like the friggin' Plague this morning and now you're--What the hell is wrong with you?" Jeez, why was he so worked up about her drinking Takuma's blood? No, that wasn't why, he wasn't riled up because she partook from Takuma. He was upset because she drank from another guy, period. She was his lover, she wasn't supposed to drink from anybody but him. Wait, no that didn't seem right. However those words found their way to his tongue and out his mouth, "you're my lover you're not supposed to drink from anybody else!" he roared, gesturing lividly.
Umi dropped her hand from her face. "Zero-kun, please."
"What? I'm not good enough or something? Is that it?" He snarled wrathfully.
She shook her head. "Zero--" How could he even think that?
Part of him screamed at him to shut up, that she had been through enough already, but most of him, the fraction that had been looked down as no better than a common dog for these past years, continued doggedly. "I'm not good enough for you to drink from, but I'm good enough to fuck to high heaven?" He said, a bitter edge to his voice.
Yuuki gasped. Did Zero just say that? "Zero!"
Umi's eyes widened and lowered with a doleful expression as if at any moment she would shatter. "You don't understand."
Takuma, who would rather not be around such yelling, stood and before anyone could react grasped Zero's wrist and ushered him out of the room. He shut the door and barred the silver-haired teen's way, wary of the gun in his hand. "Calm yourself Kiryuu-san." He offered a small smile, trying to retain his calmness.
"Get out of my way!" He pointed the gun at the blonde's head.
Takuma's smile shrank to nothing. He was in no mood for Zero's tantrums. He locked his emerald orbs with the seething prefect.
Zero felt a chill run down his spine and slither over his body. No matter how hard he tried to look away from those ominous emerald eyes he couldn't and soon, the grip on his gun slackened. What the hell was Takuma doing to him?
"You shouldn't be so possessive." He said, the dark expression circling his jade eyes belying the softness in his tone. "I merely came here to nourish her, since the incident left her drained, and because I felt obligated. Nothing more."
He set his jaw, still glaring stonily at the vampire. "I wouldn't have minded her drinking from me," he stated, hoping he did not sound like a brat.
Takuma eyed him for a moment. "Really? Are you saying that because that's how you truly feel or because you feel like your territory is being trespassed?"
Zero opened his mouth but his voice choked. He couldn't answer that question. He stepped back until his shoulders rested against the hallway's wall. Was he just being a possessive jerk?
Takuma nodded. "If she were to bite you Kiryuu-san, you two would become bondmates."
Zero thought about it. A double-bond could not be dissolved, linking the mates together forever. That didn't sound so bad right? He knew he loved Umi-chan deeply, and really couldn't see himself being without her. Sure he was young but still… The increased warmth of another body roused him from his musing. Takuma was near him, so close in fact that there was hardly a space between them. "There is such a thing known as personal space. I wish you'd respect mine." What was it with vampires and the lack of respect for personal space?
Takuma grinned saccharinely but did not move. "Becoming bondmates now would only torture you both in the end. Be patient and allow the hourglass to fulfill its purpose."
Zero arched an eyebrow half out of curiosity but mostly because the slight haze he felt in his brain. What the hell was Takuma doing to him? "Huh?"
He chuckled softly, combed a hand through the silver-haired teen's tresses, and over the many piercings in his ear. "If it would make you feel better you can drink my blood as well." He sniffed Zero's tempting neck, letting his abundant eyelashes sweep over that silky skin.
Zero pushed him away. "What hell is wrong with you?" He was used to Kaname doing such things, because he knew that sadist would do anything to make him uncomfortable. But Takuma actually seemed serious.
Takuma tittered mirthfully. "See you later Kiryuu-san." Still chuckling he disappeared down the hall.
Zero sighed and turned his attention to the closed door. How was he going to make up for what he said to Umi? How was he going to make it better? Kami why did his stupid tongue and temper always make matters worse? How could he have said that to her? He banged the back of his head against the wall repeatedly and sank to the floor when he heard her sobbing in the room while Yuuki tried a hand at comforting her.
Moments rolled by but still he sat on the floor, knees drawn to chest, head hanging shamefully. He looked up when the door opened, shedding sunlight on him. Yuuki.
She didn't toss him a second glance and went to her old room down the hall, returning with an armful of clothing Umi might be able to wear. She stopped and leaned downward. "Yuuki-chan understands Zero-kun has been through a lot of pain, but he should explain himself to Umi-chan so she won't think he hates her." She straightened.
"I didn't mean those words, I just…Kami I"m such an idiot." He wiped a hand down his face out of frustrated guilt.
"Tell that to Umi-chan when she comes out of the shower." She said honestly and vanished behind the bedroom door.
And he did explain his feeling to her, although it was not easy. In the end they made up, embracing each other lovingly.
Aidou sat on the bank of the lake staring at the water shimmering beneath the moonlight. That was why he liked science so much, it never changed. The sun would always rise in the day and the moon at night, water would always become a solid when frozen, the earth would always orbit the sun on its axis. The consistency made him feel secure, safe even. But life, life was so unpredictable. One minute you were on top of the world, the next down in the dumps. He sighed and lay back on his picnic blanket (like Hanabusa Aidou was going to sit on the bare ground and risk getting his designer jeans dirty), staring up at the starry night sky. Such a beautiful night.
Two auras greeted his vampire senses, both recognizable. Kiryuu and…Umi-chan. He jumped to his feet and swallowed the nervous lump in his throat. What was going on? Was Kiryuu bringing Umi here so she could scream at him? He waited patiently until they appeared out of the trees. Kiryuu hung back, although he was obviously not happy about it, and stayed in the shade of the bordering trees while Umi approached. He slid his eyes over her features, attempting to read her emotions, but found them unreadable.
She stopped in front of him, frowning when he dipped his head as a salutation.
He kept his eyes downward, daring not to raise them for fear he would see nothing but absolute hatred. "I'm am truly, deeply, eternally sorry Umi-ch--san. I'm sorry for deceiving you, for nearly draining you, for breaking my promise, all of it." He gulped back his tears, stilling his quivering voice. "I will make no excuses for my actions, for they were unspeakable. And I know that you h-hate me now, but all I ask is your forgiveness." If he knew she forgave him, that would allow him some solace.
She simply stared at him.
The quiet was killing him, if she did not forgive him then surely his heart would be consumed by a numbing ice until it was nothing more than an unfeeling fixture impenetrable to any emotions. He didn't want to live in such a state.
"I forgive you."
Those three words, simple as they were, lit up the vampire's heart. "Thank y--" He gave a surprised breath when she embraced him, squeezing him in a loving hug. When he finally registered what was happening, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders thankful that his knees did not buckle from the overwhelming emotions speeding through him.
"How could Umi-chan ever hate Aidou-san?" She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into those incredible blue eyes. "He was her unfailing shelter when she had none."
Zero watched them with jealous eyes. The first thing she'd said when she pulled back from the hug they shared after they made-up was, "I want to see Aidou-san tonight." An overpowering aura crawled up his spine. Kuran.
Kaname stopped next to the prefect, watching the two with satisfaction. Their relationship was mended. Good. "She will always run to him you know."
He tinkered with the chain that held Bloody Rose. "I know."
"It would go much easier with you two if you accept him as a permanent part of her life."
A crisp wind breezed by, rustling the leaves and playing in their hair. "I know."
"It would be best if you two called a truce of some sort."
"Easier said than done." Why the hell was he and Kuran holding a decent conversation? "Why did you save Umi-chan? And don't say for the sake of that cursed book. You could look back over her notes and still decipher it if she were to die."
"I have not released her." He answered stoically.
Zero shifted his weight to his other leg and stuffed a hand in his pockets. "Bull. Shit. That don't mean a damn thing to you." He turned his amethyst gaze upon the pureblood, a triumphant look on his handsome features.
Kaname showed no signs of panic, instead he flashed a tiny grin. "Well it seems you have found me out Kiryuu." He tossed his chocolate tresses unconsciously. "When the hourglass has had its fulfillment I will tell you."
His brow knitted, Takuma had said the same thing earlier today. What was the hourglass? "Takuma said the same thing earlier today. What's the hourglass?"
Kaname simply smiled and cast a cautious glance at the foreboding branches of the trees stretching towards them, casting frightening shadows. "In due time, all in due time."
Aidou released Umi and turned his eyes towards the lake, restraining the urge to rock on the balls of his feet. "Aidou-kun would ask Umi-chan to sit, but he knows she does not know how to sit in such a short dress."
She glowered at him but said nothing.
Silence encircled them until Aiodu finally broke it. He was about to do something that he never thought in all his years he would ever do. He took her hand and held the palm up, muttering softly. A tattoo that was not visible at first glowed dimly. His family crest and given name, the brand he'd given her to show his ownership over her blood so many years bygone. Come to think of it, why hadn't it reacted when Kiryuu drank her blood?
Her heart leaped into her throat. "Aidou-s--."
He smiled knowingly, but stared hesitantly at the upraised palm. Could he live with letting her go? He raised his eyes when she trembled, discerning the jubilant expression lighting up those amber orbs. He would learn to get over it in time. "Umeko Kitogirii." He placed his palm over hers. The light from the mark beamed brightly, shafting between their hands. "I release you from our Blood Bond." The light died down and he drew his hand away, pushing away the sensation that half of him was missing. "You may allow whoever you wish to drink your blood."
She flexed her fingers and made a fist. She was free from the Blood Bond. Oddly, though, she felt no difference. She turned her eyes upon her lover, but directed it back to him when he moved.
His shoulders sagged, his usually animated features uncharacteristically somber. "I wish you could love me Umi-chan," he spoke softly, his voice conveying that truly if he had one wish it would be to have her romantic affection.
She examined him for a moment then took his hand. "But I do love you, Aidou-san."
He looked down at the hand grasping his and raised his eyes to her. "But not like you love Kiryuu." He didn't want to seem pouty but…How could she love them both? Wasn't that like two-timing or something?
She smiled warmly at him. "True, but the love I have for you is a different type of love. I love you like brother." She squeezed his hand as if trying to hold him together. "We may not may not make love and time and circumstance may separate us, but I will always carry your heart inside my own."
Aidou's features warmed up and he threw her one of his genuine 100 watt smiles. "Then Umi-chan should call me oniisan!" He wrapped her up in a tight embrace, lifting her up and twirling her around in the air.
"But I'm older than you." She replied purposely.
He stopped and put her down. "But I've experienced more than you."
"But I'm more mature."
He poked his bottom lip out. "Umi-chan seeks to impale Aidou-kun with her sharp tongue." He whined and lay his head on her shoulder, careful not to stray too far to her neck lest Kiryuu try to murder him.
She let out a sigh. "Fine. You may be oniisan."
He hugged her tightly. "And you will be imouto."
Kaname smiled at their interactions. Aidou was truly happy. Good. "Aidou," he beckoned the blonde.
Aidou released Umi and ran eagerly to his precious pureblood. "Yes Kaname-sama?"
Zero frowned. Jeez, all Aidou needed was a shaggy tail and he'd be Kaname's dog. He would never understand how they could stomach catering to such a dickhead.
Aidou acknowledged Zero and followed his superior into the forest.
Zero strode quickly to the bank and stood next to Umi. "You guys got everything sorted out?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. He left his picnic blanket." She reached low to fold it up but he stopped her.
"Let's stay here for a little while." He sat down on the blanket, noticing the intricate designs and lush fabric. How rich was Aidou? Even his picnic blanket was made of Japanese silk. He smiled when she sat down, mostly because her flimsy dress rode high up on her thigh in the sitting position.
"Are you being romantic?"
He blushed and scooted close, putting an arm around her slender shoulders. His eyes landed on her beautiful face and those rosy full lips, lips that tempted him to no end. Lust and not the kind for blood, jumped into his body. He leaned over and tilted her chin up, joining his lips to hers. There they sat long into the night, enjoying each other's company.
Hotaru swaggered through the large gate and across the courtyard. It had been days since he'd slept properly due to the wound Kaname had inflicted upon him, but now he was home. He was going to get some proper medical care and sleep for two days. First he had to inform the Old Masters that he'd delivered the message.
The Forty-Seven stood atop their posts lining the pathway silently standing vigilant. One of them looked heavenward and caught sight of the white owl flying overhead and warned his companions with a discreet glance upward. They took the hint and looked upwardly, their eyes narrowing when they perceived the winged creature flying above, out of range. There was only one reason that Kuran bastard had allowed him to live.
Hotaru stepped onto the path, uneasily darting his eyes left and right at the menacing warriors. They were so creepy, with those hollow eyes and that sinister atmosphere surrounding them.
Seven shuriken flew at him, some lodging in his back while others sliced his hamstrings and others still cut across his jugular.
He tumbled to the ground, holding his neck in a vain attempt to stop the spouting blood. Weakly he managed to turn to his back and stare up at the warriors looming over him like reapers. What had he done wrong? He swallowed, struggling to form words with his mangled throat. "Why?" He managed to gurgle.
One of the warriors, an abnormally tall and muscular man, pulled down the covering over his mouth revealing a nasty sneer. "Because you brought the enemy to our doorstep."
Another one laughed. "But don't worry we will inform the Old Masters that you delivered the message successfully. However foolish you are." They chuckled heartily and returned to their posts, leaving Hotaru to die in a pool of his own blood.
The owl flew swiftly day and night, through mountain ranges, past forests until it reached Cross Academy.
Kaname lay in bed lounging next to Yuuki, who slept soundly next to him. He smiled when the thought about the surprise he had for his beloved, eighty four pieces of gourmet chocolates wrapped up in a lovely velvet heart-shaped box. His heart fluttered when she mumbled incoherently in her sleep. He hoped she liked the chocolates, they were from France after all, but aside from that he just wanted her to like his gift. Of course no amount of chocolate could attest to the depth of his love for her. He turned over and cuddled close to her planting tender kisses up the slender shoulder peeking from beneath the velvet bedcovers. Evident hunger dug into him. He turned away. It was not time, not yet.
He heard a pecking on the window. He glanced at it and got up carefully so he would not wake his darling Yuuki. Grabbing his favorite silk robe to conceal his naked flesh, he tied it around his waist and sauntered to the window where the owl pecked urgently. He threw back the curtain and opened the bay window, allowing the bird to enter. "What have you to report Minerva?" He closed the window, latching the window closed.
The exhausted bird flew silently into the room, finding a nearby perch to rest its tired wings. Milord, forgive my delay, but there was trouble with a blizzard in the mountains.
Seeing that the bird was truly fatigued he patted its head and brought it a piece of meat left over from the dinner he shared with Yuuki. "It's alright."
Minerva gobbled down the large chunk of meet greedily, then ruffled her feathers contentedly. I was successful in my mission, milord.
"Then tell me what you have learned," he replied commandingly.
Minerva swiveled her head in a full circle and blinked her dark eyes. She proceeded to tell him everything she learned: the location of their lair, the lay of it, the Forty-Seven posted outside of the castle. I would have found a way in and learned the lay of the castle, but I was discovered.
"You have done well." He opened the window, letting in the breezy night air. "Now go, rest your wings. I will call upon you when I need you again."
May the wind always blow gently upon you milord. With that the bird took flight and flew out the window.
Kaname sighed and ran a hand through his chestnut brown hair. Now he knew where theywere. He smiled craftily, everything was coming together nicely, but before he made his move there was somewhere he needed to go.
"Kaname?"
He turned, smiling warmly when he gazed upon the lovely girl wrapped in the sheets looking at him with groggy eyes. "Sorry to wake you darling." He walked over to her and pressed his mouth to hers.
She blushed when she drew away. "It's okay. I was getting ready to wake up anyway."
He burrowed his fingers through her dark hair, locking his eyes with hers. It was that beautiful smile filled with so much love and faith that scared him sometimes. He never wanted to do anything to make that smile fade. "There are things to which I must take care of tonight."
"Awww." She pouted. "But I wanted you to myself tonight."
He chuckled softly and kissed the top of her hair. "I'm sorry my dear. But I promise to give you your gift upon my return."
Her eyes gleamed greedily. "That's right!"
He held back a chuckle. Perhaps he was spoiling her. "Try not to make a mess of my room in a fruitless search this time beloved." Another chuckle had to be restrained when she scrunched up her face in obvious vexation.
"I would have found it if you hadn't hid it so well," she retorted, folding her arms childishly.
He kissed her again. "But I so thoroughly enjoy the utterly adorable expression on your face when you are puzzled," he joked.
She scowled at him but then swooned when he glanced his deft fingers over her collarbone and slowly slid them southward. "Kaanaame," she complained, "don't do that when you can't stay all night."
He grinned softly and stilled his wandering hands, for the time being. "Then I shall spare you, my love, until I return." He took her dainty hand and gave it a soft kiss. Only Yuuki could make him feel so whole. He turned and strode into his closet which, by the way, was the size of a sizeable family room.
Zero lay on his back panting softly from his previous exertion. He curved an arm around Umi when she turned over and cuddled to his side, chuckling between pants with her. Gently he combed his hands through her silky tresses, gazing into those beautiful eyes that always made him feel like he could take on the world. He rested his other hand on her face, lovingly caressing her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Choo-choo?"*
"Nnn?" she would have to get accustomed to the pet name he'd given her. A purr escaped her when he massaged the small of her back with his fingers. Kami she loved his touch, his embrace, the way his skin felt against hers, his smile. She loved him, period.
He knew what he was about to say was going to sound naïve, at least it did in his head and would sound immensely so aloud . But he wasn't going let that stop him from saying it. "We'll always be together right?"
His question startled her, bringing tears to her eyes. Instead of answering, she buried her face in his chest, tonguing his nipple.
He shuddered when she bit him, letting out a strangled moan when her hand glided over the muscular planes of his belly to tease his navel. Wait, she hadn't answered his question. "U--" He pulled her upward away from his abused nipple for a vehement kiss. "You didn't answer, my question."
She smiled down at him mischievously and allowed her hand to descend further down to his...
He gasped, his head lolling back in intoxicating pleasure. To hell with that question. He was about to flip her to her when someone knocked on the door. "Fuck off." He yelled over his shoulder and trapped her beneath him, placing burning kisses up her velvety neck. He stopped to abuse that perfect spot near the cradle of her neck, restraining the urge to plunge his fangs into that supple flesh.
"Kaname wishes to see you," came Rima's childlike voice.
"I said, fuck off!" He growled and returned his focus to the girl nipping at his neck, wondering if it was wise to tease her fangs. Then he felt it, the sensation of a thousand creepy crawlers sliding all over his body, robbing him of the pleasure he should be experiencing at the moment. He tried to ignore it, but it only got worse until it felt like he was trapped in a pit of slithering, disgusting snakes while pins pricked his brain. He cursed a blue streak and got out of bed, still cursing like a sailor. Kuran was going to pay for this.
Kaname lounged in his private room along with Takuma, sipping a mixture of wine and blood tablets his vice-president had prepared for him. He glanced at Takuma's face, discerning perceptively that he was uneasy. "What troubles you Takuma?"
Takuma propped his head up on his fist and stared at his lord. "To seek such powerful fushigiri means that we will have to cross paths with her."
"We will have no problems while we are there, I know how to handle her."
Zero barged into the room, a murderous expression plastered on his face. "What do you want?"
Kaname chuckled. The scent of their lovemaking still hung in his skin, covering him like a well-tailored suit. From what Rima told him he figured they had just hit foreplay when he summoned him. Kiryuu looked mad enough to spit bullets. "You will be joining Takuma and me on a quick trip."
"Get some of your other lackeys to go with you. I got better things to do." He turned.
Takuma shot a glance to Kaname, seeking to discern his emotions. So far, he didn't seem annoyed.
Kaname stood, shrugging on his dark frockcoat. "It's time for you to play your role Kiryuu."
He stopped and faced the pureblood. "Why? Because you say so?" he rumbled defiantly. Why the hell was it so friggin cold in here? Oh, maybe because he was only wearing a tank top and sweatpants.
A contraction passed over his features. Kiryuu never ceased to get under his skin. "Because it is what binds us. Now, go get a coat and follow us."
Zero hesitated. He was not one of Kaname's ass-kissing underlings, and would not award the bastard blind obedience. He wanted to know something about the enemy before he went anywhere. "I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me something about our new enemy."
Takuma watched with attentive eyes, surprised Kaname had not slapped the prefect.
The dorm president kept the same emotionless face and after several seconds agreed. "Fine, what do you want to know?"
Zero chewed the inside of his jaw in contemplation. "Tell me about the Forty-Seven." He grinned victoriously when he registered the minute appearance of surprise on his face. "Umi-chan usually falls asleep decoding her notes so I usually take the initiative to skim them."
Kaname gracefully eased into the Victorianesque chair and crossed his legs. "They are creatures born into hatred tortured throughout their childhood until by the time they reach adolescence their mind is an abysmal chasm devoid of emotions. Their sole reason for existing is to shed the blood of their enemy, and you can guess who that is."
Zero crossed his arms over his chest. "Vampires and hunters."
"Exactly."
"Legend says that in the Olden Age, even purebloods fell at their hands," Takuma piped in, placing a small book in the pocket of his dark brown jacket.
This time it was Zero's time to be surprised. He tilted his head to the side. "Not meaning to boost your ego or anything, but how is that possible? Seriously what race could take down a pureblood other than another pureblood?"
Darkness passed over Kaname's face. If the book spoke the truth and was not just the embellished ramblings of an old man desiring to frighten its readers, then that Ancient race was not extinct as previously assumed. "That legend dates back into the Old Age. I have serious reservations if the Forty-Seven that exist at present are the same as those alive in the past." He hoped he was correct. He rose from his chair. "Now that I have answered your questions, let's get going." He studied Zero's attire. "First you should put on some suitable clothing."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine." He stomped away, still wishing he could murder the pureblood. He opened the door to his room, finding Umi snuggled into the sheet tinkering with Bloody Rose's chain.
"Are you going somewhere?" she asked when he threw an outfit on the bed.
"Yeah," he grumbled, dropping his gaze to the curve of her hips peeking from beneath the messy covers. Damn you Kuran. Damn you to hell. He dressed quickly, entirely because he knew if he lingered any longer he would jump her.
"Dammit." She moaned and chewed her bottom lip.
He chuckled humorously, concealing Bloody Rose safely in his inner shirt pocket. "I know." He sat down on the bed's edge and pressed a passionate kiss to her sweet lips, burrowing his hands through her luxuriant tresses. He pressed his forehead to hers, losing himself in those eyes. "Aishiteru."
She smiled adoringly at him. "Aishiteru."
He stood and exited the room, shutting the door behind himself.
Later, they rematerialized in the middle of a lavish courtyard.
Zero took in his surroundings. Magnificently molded marble sculptures, impeccably trimmed hedges and topiaries, and lovely plant life inhabited the space, making it exquisite to look upon. "Whe--?" He cut his sentence off when a pack of large wolves charged at them, snarling and baring their dangerous teeth.
Kaname allowed his death aura to project. The mongrels dropped their heads submissively and backed away for them to pass, continuing to utter half hearted growls. "Come on, they will not harm you."
Zero cast a glance at the wolves as he strode by, noticing that each looked exactly identical to Ryo. That was peculiar. He followed them to the palatial castle, acknowledging its grandeur. Whoever lived here was loaded.
Before Kaname could knock, the massive door was pulled open and behind it was distinguished butler. He bowed several times before speaking and when he did it was in a thick accent. "It is good to see you again Kuran-sama." A bow to Takuma. "Ichijo-san…" He trailed off when he discovered Zero.
"Zero," Kaname answered coolly, knowing better to alarm him by using the Level-D's surname.
His eyebrow almost arched. "Zero-san. Do come in, I will inform the lady of the household that of your presence."
Zero stepped into the house after the other two, his eyes going immediately to the masterpiece painted on the ceiling. He barely paid any attention to much else as they walked because his eyes were glued to the really cool suits of ancient armor guarding the end of each hallway. He wondered if they were as heavy as they appeared. He wondered if the swords were still sharp. Maybe he could test them on Kuran. Soon, they came to the lounge, which was more like a small apartment than a single room.
"Please have a seat." He gestured towards the opulent furniture in the middle of the room.
They took their respective seats, Takuma and Zero upon the sofa while Kaname claimed one of the extravagant high-backed armchairs flanking the couch.
"Would you all care for tea?"
"Jasmine, please," Kaname answered for the three of them.
"As you wish." He bowed again and retreated from the room.
Zero took in his surroundings. "So who is this woman?"
"Her name is Rosemary Chang."
"Pureblood?"
Kaname nodded. Getting what he needed from her was crucial to his plan, he just hoped he didn't have to make an unsavory deal to get it. He also hoped she didn't learn of his true intentions. "I will forewarn you now Kiryuu: be on your best behavior. Rosemary-sama does not abide by the rules of our society. The fact that you are my property will provide you no sanctuary should you incur her wrath." Of course he was not afraid of her, but he did not want needless fighting to break out.
Zero snorted and slumped in the sofa. Vampires and their obsession with saving face.
Soft footsteps reached their ears.
Kaname and Takuma rose quickly while Zero was less than enthusiastic. The pureblood threw him a warning glance.
A beautiful vampire entered the room. Her lengthy locks fell past her shoulders in scarlet waves, her eyes were like limpid pools of silver, and her skin pale ivory that glowed with vitality. They all bowed to each other deeply, Kaname softly kissing her dainty hand.
"Good evening Rosemary-sama," Kaname spoke politely, taking his seat only when she eased into hers.
"Kaname-sama it is so nice to see you again, such a pleasant surprise." She crossed her legs, her floor length green dress rustling softly.
Kaname caught the hint, but ignored the comment. She was not going to bait him. "You are looking well."
"As are you."
Zero resisted the urge to squirm when her gaze rested upon him. Why was she looking at him like that?
The butler entered the family room, carrying a silver tea set upon a silver tray. He sat the tray on the coffee table and poured their tea, softly inquiring of their preferences. After he finished he straightened and was about to leave, but Rosemary stopped him.
"Yuri, entertain my guests by employing your skills as a pianist."
"What would milady wish to hear?" He maintained his downward gaze, knowing not to raise it even the slightest.
"Anything in particular you want to hear Kaname-sama?"
"It is your home Rosemary-sama."
"Yes but the three of you are my guests." She supped her tea.
"Beethoven."
"Very well milord." He walked to the grand piano in the far part of the room, sat down, and began to play Moonlight Sonata, rather well might I add.
"So, what brings you here?" Her gaze wandered the room but always found its way back to-yep you guessed it-Zero.
"I need to make use of your library." He sipped the tea, enjoying the silky taste.
The corner of her lip twitched. "So, how's the outside world? Still being ruled by those filthy mongrels of the Vampire Council, I presume."
"You presume correctly."
Her hand shook slightly, Zero didn't know if it was from nervousness or anger. She didn't seem so bad. But he really wished she would stop looking at him like he was some sort mouse she had by the tail.
She nodded to herself and muttered softly. "You look familiar child," she spoke to Takuma, "what is your name?"
He swallowed his sip of tea. "Takuma Ichijo, milady," he answered cordially, hoping to Kami she didn't get one of her 'fancies', as Kaname coined them.
"Is Ichiou-san your grandfather?"
"Yes milady."
She scowled, but then grinned largely. "Not meaning to offend you, but I hope that insidious cutthroat is dead."
Takuma sipped his tea. "He is milady."
"Oh, well thank goodness for small favors." Again she took a dainty sip of her tea.
Zero almost laughed. What was so bad about her? She wasn't all hoity-toity like the rest of the purebloods.
She changed the subject quickly. "So, how is the wolf you requested from me? He should be quite large by now, yes?"
Kaname finished his tea and sat it on the tray. "I'm afraid, that he is dead."
Her aura darkened dramatically. "How careless of you." She set her teacup and saucer down and relaxed into her chair, clasping her hands together, a crazed glint in her eyes. "If you want to gain access to my library then, give me the Level-D as my plaything."
"What!" Zero exclaimed. What the hell? Why was it everywhere he went, vampires wanted him as their plaything?
Kaname ignored Zero, who Takuma was trying to shush. "I am afraid I cannot grant that request. You see he has been with me for a few years and I am not keen to get rid of him."
She batted her beautiful eyes at him. "Please Kaname-sama, I promise to make good use of him. Of course I will not lie, he may be dead in a few months."
"Lady you have got to be off your rocker if you think for a second---!" He was not going to sit by while the two purebloods conversed about him as if he were some sort of object.
Takuma muffled him with a hand. "Let Kaname-sama handle this."
"Oh! Such spunk in such a beautiful package." She cooed. "Please Kaname-sama I must have him." She ogled the fuming teenager with lustful eyes. He would present a challenge, but she thorougly enjoyed it when her torture skills were tested.
Kaname remained calm, anticipating the outburst when he refused. "No."
Yuri struck the wrong key and ceased playing. Several curses in his native tongue zipped through his skull, but he held on to what little composure he still possessed.
Every single breakable artifact in the room exploded into tiny pieces. "How dare you refuse me? You are but a child! I shall take what I want!" She rose to her feet, eyes burning crimson, face twisted in seething rage.
Takuma ushered Zero out of the crosshairs in the far corner.
Kaname rose as well, face still calm, and put some distance between them, standing in front of his underlings so that she did not use them as pawns.
"I am older than I seem Chang-sama." He held a hand up, deflecting the items she sent hurtling towards him.
She snarled at him projecting her death aura until it seemed to engulf the male pureblood. How dare he deny her? Pompous infant!
He narrowed his eyes, his savage side nagging at him to murder her as he had Shizuka Hiou, but he resisted. Her aura winded around him, slithering along his spine seeking to suck the very breath from his body. The darkness of her death aura transformed into shadowy hands that encircled their spidery fingers around him.
She smiled. "It would seem that I shall have what I want after all."
Zero gaped from his place crouching in the corner next to Takuma. Why the hell did Kaname suddenly turn into a friggin pussy? He wasn't even fighting back, just letting her wrap those terrifying shadow hands around him. The ground shook, the lights flickered, and an atmosphere chilled with death choked the air. Fear compelled him to draw his gun and pull back the hammer. He felt an arm encircle his shoulders. Takuma.
"Stay calm, Kaname-sama will handle it." He smiled sweetly despite the urge to cower beneath the piano like the butler.
She smiled nastily, starting to sink into the dark tide. "It would seem that the Kuran blood his overrated," she mocked, voice coarse. Her pupils narrowed and she flew at him, fangs and claws extended ready to flay him alive.
Kaname sighed, his fangs lengthening until they brimmed his bottom lip. She had no right to speak of his bloodline with such impudence. He could feel it, the dark tide rising in him, but he would contain it. She did not need to know about his hidden powers yet. Effortlessly he raised a hand, drawing upon the Ancient fushigiri he had stumbled upon as a child. He spoke the words loudly, etching his voice with authority.
The phantom hands released him and turned back on their own mistress, sending her hurtling through the air, yelping in surprise.
Takuma's jaw fell slack until it appeared it may unhinge. Kaname had turned her own death aura back on her! How was it even possible? Who was the vampire standing protectively in front of him?
Kaname strode to Rosemary, who was currently pinned to the wall, a golden seal glowing on her forehead and hands. "See what happens when you get upset over trivial matters, Chang-sama." He scolded.
She wheezed and gasped, trying to catch her breath. "How… is it possible? Such a spell is unheard of."
He smiled grimly. "No, not unheard of…" He leaned over. "…Inpelepciune antica."*
Her eyes broadened and she began to twitch spasmodically, shrieking in pain.
"You are being punished for laying a hand upon me. It will be over in a few moments." He willed the phantom hands to dissipate, causing her to drop to the ground like a sack of potatoes. "Now we shall help ourselves to your library." He turned to Takuma and Zero, not surprised to see them standing with uneasy faces. "Takuma. Zero. Follow me."
Whoa. He decided to take back the notion of Kaname being a pussy, but he was still a bastard. He, along with Takuma, fell in step with the pureblood.
Kaname stopped before they exited the room. "Oh and it's irreversible. That would make us allies." He glanced at the butler crouching beneath the piano and continued out of the room.
Takuma was silent as they strode down the lavishly decorated halls. He was ill at ease. For a pureblood to lay such a fushigiri upon another pureblood was unparalleled and seemed…wrong. It seemed like some pureblood taboo. He glanced at Zero whose face was pinched and aura unsettled. His vampire prince was distorting the laws of their society more and more.
Umi sat on the grass on the far side of the campus, notes spread over the ground, the Manual on one side of her leg and her notebook in her lap, deciphering the Prophecy section of the book. She sighed heavily. It was so difficult to just translate and not read the actual words she jotted down. Kaname could be so unfair sometimes.
Aidou lounged on the grass next to her gazing up at the moon from the flat of his back. He had tried his hand at making sense of Umi's disorganized notes but had soon grown weary and decided that finding the planets among the stars was much more entertaining. He stretched lazily. "Imouto,"
"Yes Aidou-san?" She bit the tip of her pencil and referred to another phrase in her records. Strange. That was a weird word.
He shot her an annoyed glare. So far she had yet to call him oniisan. "Do you remember that time we got chased by that bear?"
She chuckled. "How could I forget? You lost your clothes."
"Trying to keep it from eating you!" He retorted. "You have no idea how embarrassed I was when Akatsuki and Ruka caught me sneaking in the cellar window."
She burst into a fit of laughter.
He scowled and sat up. "Don't laugh. I had to strike some really bad deals for them not to tell okaasan." He drew his eyes into slits when she continued to giggle, but soon found himself chuckling as well. Her laughter reminded him of pocky, sweet an irreplacable.
She sighed once her laughter died down, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "That is one of my favorite memories." A few more chuckles left her, but she resumed decoding the prophecy. She stopped at line eight. The last word was smudged. "Hmm."
"What's wrong?" He leaned over, taking care not to come in contact with the book.
"This word is smudged." She groaned irritably and wiped it with a finger. "But I think I can make it out." Her eyes fixed on that single word, peering sharply. "D-diu--" Before she could finish the word, the entire book was consumed by flames, its ashes ground flittering to the ground. Both she and Aidou gawked at the ashes with widened eyes and slack jaws.
Aidou wakened from his stupor first, catching sight of the scorch marks on her fingers. "Oh Umi-chan your fingers!"
"Huh?" She mumbled. Kaname would not be pleased about this. Her very future was at stake. Would he still release her? She jerked when she felt a warm tongue softly caress her fingers, then directed those amber orbs on her dear companion.
He finished licking her forefinger and started on the middle one. He stopped when he perceived the nearly panicked expression pasted on her face. "Don't worry Umi-chan, this is in no way sexual. I'm just helping them heal faster because your regenerative capabilities are slow."
She dropped her eyes permissively. Aidou could be weird at times, but he meant well. "You shouldn't worry so much oniisan."
He shrugged and continued to tongue her fingers, frowning at the acrid taste of smoke and ash. Kaname made him promise to watch over her when the time came and he was going to make sure she was alive when it was time for him to perform his task. When he finished, he stood, crushing his body's instinct to spit in an attempt to expunge the repulsive taste still lingering on his tongue. "Come, imouto, we should go."
She gathered up her notes and fell in step with Aidou. This was bad, but on the bright side, at least she had some of the words to the Prophecy translated. Maybe that would appease Kaname.
Aidou let his senses sweep over the area for a spell, employing his vampire senses to locate Kain and the other slinking around the borders just as their master had ordered. The dismay strangling her aura caught his attention. He studied the apprehension evident on her features. "Does Umi-chan still have her fangs?"
She nodded, clutching the notebook and mess of notes close to her chest. "Yeah. I don't think they're leaving this time."
He smiled impishly. "That would make you more vampire than human now."
"I know." She had realized that when she had to resort to taking another dose of blood tablets.
He tilted his head to the side curiously. "Yet you still walk in the day with no side affects." Like Kiryuu.
"I couldn't understand that either. Cross-san and Toga-san say maybe it's because I'm still human enough to walk in the light." They stepped onto the stone path towards the Moon Dormitory.
Aidou wanted to counter such faulty reasoning, but decided maybe he should just keep his opinions to himself. Two strident caws reached his ears. Ravens. He skimmed the area for the birds, finding the culprits perched on a large tree's branches just outside the wall. He called to mind Ryo's words. The Hitokirii. "Hey Umi-chan."
"Yeah?" What had him spooked? Surely Aidou was not afraid of ravens.
"When is the Moon Festival?" He darted his eyes left and right, searching silently for the assassins. Even with the others patrolling the campus they still wouldn't be able to detect the Hitokirii until it was too late.
She smiled when she thought about sharing a new experience with Zero. Yuuki had already picked out their yukatas and were having them custom made for the occasion, thanks to Kaname. "Next week, why?"
He turned his head away, in an effort hide his worry. Eavesdropping was going to get him into trouble one day. "No reason." He raised his eyes to the trees and blinked in startlment. A man stood on the branches of the tree, watching them with sinister eyes. He grasped her shoulder and teleported.
Fifteen set the heavy gift box on the table of Kaname's room, thankful that his fushigiri worked correctly. He kissed the soft silk furoshiki encasing the box and leapt out of the window, smiling wickedly to himself. How he wished to be a fly on the wall when Kuran returned from his outing. The expression on his face was going to be priceless. He propelled himself over the roof, stopped when he saw the fiery colored vampire patrolling by, and then leapt onto the branch next to his comrade.
"So you were successful?" The Hitokirii assassin asked humbly.
Fifteen nodded arrogantly, jumping from tree to tree until they came to the city. "Obviously. The Old Masters did right to tell you to accompany me, you and the heralds distracted the little blonde."
The assassin followed him closely. "I wish we could stay and see the look on Kuran's face, when he opens his 'present'."
The superior of the two landed on a flat roof. "You and I are strong together, but those Level B's would rip us to shreds if we remained. Now come, we must make it to the dock." Fifteen grinned sinisterly. They were not yet ready to lay siege to Cross Academy, but soon very soon they would be. And, when that time came, no vampire would be left alive.
Whoohoo! I finished another chapter. Thank you for your reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Arigatou!
*Japanese word for butterfly
*Romanian translation for ancient lore.
P.S. What do you think is in the gift box? Tell me in your review. Oh and how do you like Zero's nickname for Umi? I'm open to suggestions.
No flames are welcome.
Love and kisses
