Chapter Twelve – Call Me Mr. Rattlebone

By the end of the evening, Kaname had zoned in on Yokomura as everyone else had earlier.

Much to anyone's dismay, they all had their own secret agendas hidden from the other.

Thanks to how quiet he was, no one had an inkling of a clue what Kaname's secluded ambitions and opinions were.

Sadly for her, Ai was entwined in the web lied out before everyone, too.

She was trying so hard to keep herself out of anyone else's way and try to lead her own investigation.

She couldn't help but be weary.

It was extremely obvious there was an abruption in metaphorical motion regarding the dark society – the cause being her father, and she was not going to let anything destroy the peace and order sustained by the Kuran family during Kaname's absence.

She was pleased with the moment she'd gotten to experience with her father during their dance.

It was strange, experiencing it; surreal, almost.

Hanabusa and Takuma had hosted the party exquisitely, especially when it had come to its end.

Because of the rush around her father, Ai wasn't able to keep an eye on Yokomura.

She didn't even know who he really was.

He suddenly started appearing shortly before Kaname's resurrection… How strange, Ai thought.

Of course it was strange, how couldn't it be strange?

Was it all just a coincidence, or were there pieces that Ai hadn't noticed before simply because she wasn't aware something was in the works?

After the party guests were dismissed for the evening, the Kuran family and close friends were now dwelling in the personal quarter of the house.

The lounging room wasn't used very often since the Kurans didn't gather together very much since Yuuki distanced herself right after Zero died, so this was a strange and awkward feeling for Ai and Ren both.

That was alright though for them, Ren had thought, it's good to receive change every once in a while.

Kain had helped Ren ignite the fireplace.

It gave a warm glow to the dark room.

Shiki, Rima, Ruka, Kain, Hanabua, Sayori, and Takuma were all spread about the room in silence.

It was a sight of elegant darkness.

Kaname and Yuuki were still dressed up in their elegant clothes as they sat on the new in appearance sofa.

Ren and Ai sat opposite of them, much like the car ride home before, also stuck in their formal wear.

Ai decided she was going to poke the tension filled air with a pointy stick.

"I'd like to plan another event like this soon"! She exclaimed out of the suddenness, the objective of finding out more of what she was assuming was a plan under the vampire society.

How could the rest of them reject her – she was the princess of them all!

In a strange nod, Ren agreed.

"it was interesting, and I wouldn't mind being exposed to it again", he said calmly.

"Eh"? Yuuki's voice squeaked, presumably by the fact Ren was intrigued by her anti-social son's interest in a social event.

"They aren't that interesting", Rima mumbled to herself, leaning slightly into Shiki.

Shiki sighed and agreed with her.

"I'd enjoy exposing you and Ren more to them", Ruka smiled, nodding.

Kain turned his head as if to excuse himself from the conversation and from possible blame.

"I would too"! Hanabusa jumped in, trying for the lead in pleasing the Kurans.

"You guys should be careful if you aren't used to it", Sayori chimed in a warning.

Sayori's longevity shined much like her youth did when she was still human.

When she and Hanabusa married, she accepted Yuuki's bite and blood so that she could remain with her spouse and son.

Yuuki and Hanabusa were happy to have her, even now.

Through the conversation, Ai tried watching the unmoving Kaname.

He remained silent as he fell victim to the commotion aroused from the idea of Yuuki's children suddenly reviving the tradition of gracing the world with their presence as all other "royal" vampires did.

But then, he stood up.

Yuuki looked up at him.

"K-Kaname"? she asked.

He simply bowed and headed toward the stairs.

It left the loyal followers of the vampire king somewhat unsure of the scenario he played out just then.

Yuuki's eyebrow was risen.

Without another thought, she followed after him.

"Well", Ai laughed, "that's weird"!

She didn't think it was necessary to let the discomfort of the moment to linger and poked it with an even pointier stick.

"I concur", Ren agreed.

"That's Kaname for you", Takuma sighed.

"He's always been that way", Ruka added, also sighing.

"That's Yuuki", Sayori gently laughed, taking the spot on the sofa Yuuki was initially sitting in.

With them gone, Ai begun to speak without thinking.

"I need to discuss something with you all", she said in the lightest tone she could muster in hopes she wouldn't receive a "what" in response.

Everyone caught it fast, their attention turning to her, interest piqued.

Takuma jumped in front of her in an attempt to interrupt.

"Lady Ai", he scolded in a tone that matched, "If it's secretive enough you'll only discuss it while those people aren't here, it's not wise to speak about it under the same roof, either".

His warning was clear.

Takuma had a lot more experience with this stuff.

He knew her parents well, as far as she understood.

His warning made her feel stupid, almost.

It felt like an insult.

Luckily for the group, Yuuki kept a writing desk in the corner of the room where she would write her letters.

Ai grabbed some paper and a fountain pen from it and returned in due haste.

In elegant handwriting, she wrote: Where do you suggest we discuss this? It's regarding someone during the party.

In turn, Takuma wrote: Where's a place you and Ren can go that Yuuki or Kaname wouldn't find odd?

Ren and Hanabusa were hunched over Takuma and Ai's shoulder as they wrote.

Hanabusa snatched Takuma's pen and wrote: The Hanabusa House.

Ren nodded in agreement.

That was a place they didn't visit often but could possibly get away with going to without ringing any bells.

Ruka stepped near and requested the paper to read.

She passed it around everyone so they knew the plan.

"Tea tomorrow"? Sayori suggested.

"Where"? Ren asked.

"Come to the Hanabusa house. We'd enjoy your company", she smiled warmly and winked at him.

"Sounds fun", Rima commented.

"Only if you're there will it not be dull", Shiki remarked.

"You're all invited", Sayori said.

"Consider it done", Ruka said.

Upstairs…

Yuuki followed up the stairs after Kaname.

His silence stung.

It hurt.

Why was he locking her out?

In the last moments she had with him she recalled his honestly and what seemed to be openness with her.

It was different now.

Definitely.

Maybe it was seeing what society had become with the help of his sacrifice, or maybe it was the fact he didn't have a motive anymore.

Thanks to his beating heart, everything was put in an alignment that could be molded into an ideal world and society, so there didn't seem to be anything to worry about, Yuuki thought.

"Kaname"! She called out.

He didn't respond, but a light made itself aware that was coming from an unused room nearby down the hall.

Yuuki went to it.

Kaname was practically in the corner staring down at a lantern just lit.

Something about him was off to her.

It almost rubbed her in an irritable way.

He'd removed his shirt, so the skin of his back was practically begging to be noticed.

Even in her state of mind Yuuki could admire the beauty her beloved was.

"What's going on"? she dared to ask him.

The aura of what seemed to be darkness and mystery radiated from him, even with his back almost turned from her.

"I can't tell you, Yuuki", he replied.

His answer didn't sit well with her.

She walked toward him, causing him to stand straight up.

It made her stop in her tracks as he finally turned to face her.

The discomfort caused the muscles in her back to tingle in an almost fear.

His presence commanded her to stay still.

"Maybe I should…" she trailed off.

"What"? he asked, bringing his hand to the sides of her shoulders.

He slid them down her arms and made their way to Yuuki's waist.

"Tell me what you're going through", her voice shook.

She was now filled with many emotions: fear, love, obsession, confusion, distain, concern among many others.

His grasp on her waist became more forceful in protest of her demands.

"Don't hold back, Yuuki", he said, bringing her into his embrace.

Now in his arms, she lost her mind of reason.

The bottle of her emotions exploded with all her feelings now pouring out.

She began to cry hard.

It took Kaname by surprise, now stepping back to assess her face.

"Yuuki", his voice low, showed concern.

"I can't believe you're here", she cried.

He half smiled as he left off where he'd begun.

His lips came to her neck and dug themselves in deep, causing her to let out a slight yelp.

With a bed nearby, Kaname and Yuuki found themselves on its edge as it offered its support as Kaname consumed Yuuki.

Her blood was delicious.

It satisfied the monster screaming inside his veins.

They demanded more of what she was.

More, more, and more.

Finding light of reason, he pulled back at his victim.

Yuuki's eyes were still wet.

He brought his lips to hers and pressed them together.

It was tender and full of lust.

Kaname offered experience and helped Yuuki lose herself in the passion he offered her flesh.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she couldn't find her sanity.

"Lose yourself in it", Kaname said as if reading her thoughts.

"W-what", Yuuki stammered nervously.

"Lose yourself in your instinct", he said in a dominant tone.

Helping her back up to lean into him.

His fingers helped undo the back of her dress so he had better access to her flesh.

Yuuki invited it, though her rational mind fought it only in fear.

She'd only been with Kaname once in her life.

The idea of being with him again was everything she wanted.

She was simply scared.

Her body helped him removed whatever it was he was trying to rid of.

"You're beautiful", he admitted, lovingly gazing at the now bare body of Yuuki.

The remains of her dress were thrown to the side.

"You make me nervous", she admitted.

She was only slightly trembling.

Kaname pushed her back down into the bed.

"Call me Mr. Rattlebone".

Nothing but them could be heard.

The household otherwise was quiet.

What everyone heard coming from upstairs made Ai extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable.