CHAPTER 11

I do not own Vampire Knight.

I was going to send Kuran Kaname to hell.

And if not…

…then I was going to meet him there soon.

We were entranced in a duel for several long seconds. Not with fists or weapons, but with strong glances. Vampires and hunters, engrossed in the fight, passed by my line of sight with ease.

I knew they were there, but I didn't see them.

His blood-coated hand rose to his lips, and with a lick, my own blood boiled.

Sounds of grueling death around me, but I didn't hear them.

Putting my hand over Bloody Rose, I knew that I would have to be very careful. The disadvantage of my power level compared to his was only added to the issues with my weapon. This was now a dance. A game of chess.

"This will be your mistake, Kuran."

His cold, hard stare narrowed in on my own steely expression.

"Kiryuu. I was wondering when you would arrive. My hope was that you would be here, but now as I smell a particular…lingering scent on you, I realize you were in places you should not have been in…"

"Such as you are now, Kuran. A place where you shouldn`t be." I spat back.

I slowly took my stance and tried to calculate how I could take him on with minimal injury to myself.

"How should we do this, Zero?" Kaito whispered to me.

"There's no 'we'. I'm fighting Kuran alone."

Grabbing me roughly by the arm, Kaito said,

"You're going to get yourself killed! You'll die before you even get to the place where you actually planned to!"

Staring blankly into his eyes, I shrugged off his grip.

"You don't understand. I need to do this. You need to help out the other hunters." And with that, I stepped forward, picked up a fallen hunter's sword, and faced the man who had been controlling me ever since I stepped into the academy, ever since I met Yuki…

My gun will either fire a bullet or it won't fire at all. With a sword, I would at least have some penetrability. 'How much?' would be the question.

"Why did you come?" I asked.

My question seemed to intrigue him.

"To fulfill a promise."

I didn't miss a beat.

"To who?"

"Someone you hunters don't deserve."

In a blink, sharp fingers were coming towards my chest. I dodged quickly to the side, just in time to see a large crater right where I was standing. The moment I stood to regain my balance, I was defending myself once more. With the sword, I blocked each of his attacks as they came to me. I was careful not to take a wrong step backward and to make my blocks precise. One wrong move and I would be finished. I needed to find a way to get out of my defensive position and make a strike.

I saw an opening. While blocking, I pushed back harder and hit my opponent with the hilt of my weapon. As Kuran became slightly disoriented, I lunged. However, before I could make contact, he disappeared. Baffled, I searched in all directions. There was no sign of him.

I felt a swift breeze and turned slightly too late. Groaning, I fell to my knees and touched the blood-soaked area of my side where Kuran had swiped me with his razor thin claws. His attack was quick and almost unnoticeable.

"Where is she?" He growled.

Before I could get up, the pureblood had slashed deeply through the skin of my back.

"My patience is running low."

I was still on my knees as I tried to crawl and reach for the sword a few meters ahead of me. My hope was lost when Kuran kicked it away.

"I have no problem torturing you here until I get what I want." A brisk kick to my ribs was administered.

Struggling to breathe, I said,

"W-Who are you talking about?"

Suddenly, a dark blur from my peripheral vision unexpectedly darted across my line of sight towards the pureblood

"Kaito, stop!"

"I'm going to kill you, you bastard!"

Between his palms was the hunter's sword that I had dropped. Bringing the blade over him, Kaito swung toward Kuran's critical areas. However, it was stopped just inches before contact. The pureblood's hand sizzled as he held the blade between his fingers.

"You know that's not good enough."

The vampire king let go of the sword and released a strong force that propelled Kaito back.

"What is it that you truly want? The hunters have done nothing to you." I spat.

"The hunters are not so innocent. You hide and protect multitudes of greedy and nefarious vampires… and yet I am the criminal."

Kuran slowly approached Kaito, who was still on his back.

"Let's see if your friend has the answers I seek."

I tried to move but was shocked to find out that I couldn't. It was as if something was constricting me…and it was getting tighter.

I knew it was him, holding me back. I needed to get out of this and get to Kaito!

The pureblood had reached my partner.

"That is not all the hunters hide."

In one swift motion, Kaito's feet were off the ground. He was being held up by his neck, which was in Kuran's grasp. I continued to struggle with my invisible bonds, nearly missing a collision with another hunter. I needed to get out!

"Kaito!" I exclaimed.

Gasping for air, my friend tried to pry the enemy's fingers away.

"Tell me…where it is hidden." The pureblood demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" He managed to ground out.

"The furnace. Where is it? Where is she?"

Kaito looked to the Association's entrance in confusion. The gates were destroyed. Kuran had already been in there. He tightened his grip on my partner's airway.

"It would benefit you not to play such games with me. The real furnace."

Kaito's eyes widened along with mine as I heard his words from afar. Seeing this, Kuran dropped Kaito to the ground.

"It seems as if your own people have been hiding more than I thought from you. If you do not know, then you are of no use to me."

No…

I struggled as hard as I could. Kaito!

"Kuran!" I tried to get his attention, but failed.

"It's quite a shame, to die because of the lies of others."

No! You won't control me, Kuran!

One of my legs became free and I hurried to release the rest of myself. Suddenly, a wandering vampire, presumably from Kuran's army, noticed my situation. He used this opportunity to move in for the kill.

Dammit!

The pureblood raised his extended claws towards Kaito.

The vampire was steps away from me.

I put all of my strength into one last pull to free myself. His pureblood powers are strong, but I needed to be stronger! I won't be controlled anymore!

A loud electric snap was heard and I suddenly could move. I took out Bloody Rose as I quickly rolled to the side and managed to put a bullet into the oncoming vampire's head. Turning my head to Kaito, I realized I was going to be too late.

My breath shuddered as his hand descended upon him.

Kaito's eyes closed.

.

.

BAM

"Argh!"

Kaito opened his eyes. He was unscathed!

Looking to Kuran, the hand he was going to strike with was obliterated, showing the distal bones of his wrist. The enraged pureblood turned toward the direction of the attack and found my master, bleeding from his head and positioned on his knees, holding a rifle up to his eye.

"Kaito! Move, damn you!" My master screamed, struggling to keep his balance.

"I must admit that you hunters are relentless. Maybe your senior will have answers."

Before Kuran could take a step, I was before him, gun raised.

"You won't lay a finger on him…or anyone else."

Kuran's hand began to slowly regenerate.

"So you managed to escape my bonds. You're as capable as I thought. Exactly why I picked you to be Yuki's shield."

"Don't you talk about her!"

"And why is that? Do you think you now have some sort of right to her? You forget your place, Kiryuu, and the reason why I let you live. I could have let Shizuka kill you, but I had other purposes for you."

"I defended myself against Shizuka. If Ichiru didn't interfere, I would have killed her and not you!"

"No. Search further into your past. A time where that woman spared your life."

Droplets of sweat rolled down my face. What?

Images flashed through my mind. My parent's smiling faces, Ichiru's hugs, my family…

Peace…

.

.

But then…

Red.

Pain.

And screams.

.

My parents…my parents…

And Ichiru…next to that woman…

.

.

No…

.

.

No!

It couldn't be. It couldn't! It couldn't!

"Nothing in your life Zero, from that moment on, has been your choice."

I almost dropped to my knees right then and there.

"It was…it was you. You."

Him.

My hands shook and my teeth gritted.

It was him. It was him.

He killed them.

He killed my parents.

Kaname Kuran killed my mother and father.

He killed them. He killed them!

My vision began to blur. My chest was collapsing.

…And Ichiru…

He killed them.

He killed my family.

Those words circulated through my mind over and over again.

.

.

I had been rooted to my spot for what felt like hours, my gun still positioned at the man before me, but my stance was no longer how it was. Everything was falling apart within me.

My aim was wavering with my hair sticking to my face, by tears or sweat, I didn't know.

Opening my mouth to speak, only one word came out.

"Why?"

Under Kuran's steady gaze, I awaited an answer.

"I needed you. I needed someone who could destroy the monster who thre-"

I didn't let him finish.

I charged him quickly and swiftly, catching the surprised look on his face before slamming the pureblood into a fallen block of cement.

It was nothing but tunnel vision.

Holding him down with all the strength within me, I repeatedly pressed the trigger and unloaded as many bullets as my weapon allowed into his body.

All within a matter of a few seconds.

I saw the red again.

Suddenly, I was dealt a hard blow to my abdomen that had me propelled back.

The blood-soaked creature ascended from the rubble and tried to heal. I wasn't going to let that happen. Quickly getting to my feet, I knew I had to attack again, but the look in Kuran's eyes this time told me it was going to be much more difficult. He was done playing games. The real showdown was about to begin.

I took a moment to survey the area. This open area would not benefit me. I needed some type of coverage for an advantage. Most of the fighters had left us alone to our own battle and had given us space, knowing the potential damage both of us could inflict. Spotting an enclave of large pieces of rubble, I knew I had to take the fight there.

Kuran seemed to heal somewhat, but appeared to be injured still with murder dripping from every crack.

"I made you develop your hate, I made you become stronger, I made you take back the power the curse of the twins had robbed from you. And at the same time, I detested the sight of you, the smell of you, the rebellion in your eyes and actions, the closeness between you and Yuki. I watched the way you looked at her. I watched the way you pulled her away from me. And worst of all, I smelled her sweet blood being spilled in the night while knowing that I could not kill you yet… I suspected this problem would arise when you moved into the same house as she. Your feelings for her were not part of the plan, but you killing Rido still was... so I held back… and suffered through my window looking out at you two."

I stayed still and observed his claws elongate.

"Well Kiryuu, that chapter has passed. The time I have been long awaiting is finally here. I have no more use for you."

Dirt and rubble suddenly flew towards me. I dodged and turned toward the direction of the area I wanted to be in. As suspected, Kuran followed me with sharp nails drawn.

Moving quickly out of his site, I took shelter behind a large rock. By the look of the damage I had done, Kuran would have to finish me off quickly before he would have to retreat and address his wounds. I needed to attack him in a covert and precise manner.

Growing tired of searching for me, Kuran stared demolishing the obstructions.

I began to think hard, putting together an attack strategy, but two small screams drew my attention.

"Hmm. The children of two prominent members of vampire society."

From my vantage point, were a set of twins cowering before the pureblood. It seemed as though during his search for me, he had found them instead. Both had straight blonde hair and appeared to be five or six in human years.

"Now, what am I going to do with you both?"

The whimpering children peered up at the darkly cloaked figure and began to shake even more, holding on to each other for comfort.

They reminded me of… Ichiru and myself…

"I'm afraid there's only one thing I can do, young ones. The sins of your parents will unfortunately have to come upon you."

My eyes widened.

"NO!"

In a blink, I was blocking Kuran's fatal blow with my shoulder and a thick sheet of metal, acting as a shield to the two vampire twins behind me. The pureblood was shocked, but continued to press harder against the metal. My feet dug into the ground harder as I pushed back with just as much force. I looked back at the twins.

"GO! Get out!"

My feet were slipping and I was beginning to feel Kuran's impact behind the barrier. I wouldn't be able to hold much longer.

One of the twins finally took the other by the hand and disappeared. At that moment, my balance had been lost. I felt the air rush by me and before I knew it, my back had hit something and I was suddenly motionless. My vision was blurred, but I could hear his steps against the ground right in front of me.

"Your actions surprise me once again. Although, as much as I would like to continue, this fight is over."

I clenched my eyes shut. My energy was drained.

This was going to be it.

Mother…

…Father.

Ichiru.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't avenge your deaths.

…Yuki…

I…

A groan was heard. A spilling of blood.

I opened my eyes.

"K..Kaito…" Was all I could murmur.

The slick sound of blood and organs moving echoed in my ears as a long arm removed itself from Kaito's body. He stumbled back and fell into my arms.

"Kaito!"

I flipped him around and placed my hand over the hole in his stomach.

"How unfortunate."

My whole body clenched in anger as I looked up at the emotionless monster. Before I had a chance to do anything, my senses picked up a nearing familiar presence. Kuran felt it too.

"And again your life is prolonged. Don't consider yourself so lucky next time we meet, Kiryuu."

In a steady stream of bats, the pureblood had fled.

For a moment, I continued to stare at the spot he once stood… until a weak hand gripped my collar.

" Zer..o."

I turned my attention back down to Kaito, still applying pressure to his wounds.

"You shouldn't have done that!"

"I-I..I'm sorry." He said while coughing up his red life source.

"Don't speak. The Chairman is close. He'll patch you up."

"I'm sorry… I-I treated you bad…as a kid."

"Stop apologizing! Don't talk like that. You'll be fine!"

Kaito chuckled, spewing out more blood.

"…Zero…Don't…Don't be silly. N-Nothing will fix me."

"Dammit I said to shut up! You'll be fine! You'll be fine and tomorrow we'll go find that-"

"Zero…"

My eyes welled up as I looked into his. I was being unrealistic.

My friend.

My partner.

Was going to die…

"I know." I choked up. "I know."

I gripped him tighter as he laid in my lap. In my attempt to stay strong, I restrained my tears.

"Hey…" He whispered, the light noticeably growing dimmer in his eyes.

"T..Thank you, Zero. Thank you…for showing me…that some vam..pires…are worth p-protecting."

My tears finally fell.

His color was quickly fading.

"Just rest, friend."

After a few moments, I heard the last breath escape his lips. Holding the body of my childhood friend, I let everything within me finally come out.

There, in the middle of the destruction and chaos, silent sobs raked my body.

Please review :)