Bond Through Time
Chapter 13: A New Plan
"Its been nearly three weeks since Kain left and we still haven't heard back from him." said Aido. They all sat in Kaname's study, trying to figure out what to do next.
"Do you think something could have happened to him?" Yori whispered, absently stroking her hair.
"It's possible." said Kaname, slowly drinking from his wine glass. "I haven't been able to send out many of my bats because there have been a few Prowlers lurking on our trail. I wouldn't want to risk them spotting one of my bats and finding our location."
"Then what are we suppose to do?" Yuuki asked. "If the Prowlers are closing in on us, shouldn't we move again?"
"But if we do that, Kain and Ruka won't be able to find us." Aido said, frowning.
"Assuming they aren't already dead."
Zero stood by the door, leaning against the wall as he observed the conversation going on around him. Kaname sat atop his red leather chair shaped suspiciously enough like a throne, spinning the contents inside his wineglass around in slow circles. Yuuki sat on the ground at his feet, her face showing how deep in thought she was, no doubt trying to find a solution that would leave everyone safe and mostly unharmed.
Yori was across from the siblings, sharing a love seat with Aido, contributing little to the conversation. She still wasn't too adjusted to her new life, and often wound up sitting alone somewhere, stroking her hair and gazing off into a world she had long left behind. No doubt wishing to return to the life she could still remember. Every so often Aido would glance at Yori quickly, seeming to check for any sign of her hunter self, before focusing once again on Kaname. The situation had hit him the hardest, seeing as how Kain was probably the only relative Aido had left. That's why he was so strongly against the thought of Kain being dead and abandoning him.
As for Zero, he saw no need to contribute because he knew that it wouldn't matter what he said. If Kaname decided on something, the only person who could change his mind was Yuuki and even she was having trouble coming up with another solution. Zero didn't see many himself. They were all right. The Prowlers, otherwise known as scouts for the new Vampire Republic, were drawing close.
The Vampire Republic was born from the aristocrats who despised and feared the power of the Purebloods and rebelled against them. They enlisted help from the majority of the common vampire class and even some members of the Hunter Society. They attacked the homes of purebloods in mobs and took them out one by one, barely leaving them alive enough to become a food source. There have been rumors that purebloods captured by the Vampire Republic are locked away, sedated by both magic and human drugs so the leaders of the Republic can gain powers from their blood.
Just thinking about the Republic made Zero boil with hatred and self-loathing. It was because of his actions of rebellion against the purebloods that those aristocrats discovered it was possible to fight back. Because he had aided in the killing of Hio Shizuka and Kuran Rido, and had craved the death of both Kaname and Yuuki. He had been the illegitimate father of the Vampire Republic.
"Zero? Are you listening?"
Zero looked up to see the whole room staring at him. "Sorry, I didn't catch the last part."
"We wanted to know if you had any ideas, Zero." Yuuki said, smiling.
"Well," he said now standing upright, "I agree that we can't stay here, and I also agree that we can't leave Kain and Ruka behind. That's why I think we should try and end this once and for all."
"What? Are you suggesting that we walk up to the Vampire Republic's front door, ask to see their leaders, and then kill them right there?" Aido said sarcastically.
"Exactly." Zero said, smiling. "We need to take them out at their heart, namely, their leaders. Just like they did to the other purebloods. That's when one of us takes control from the inside, and puts an end to the Vampire Republic once and for all."
"And how do you suggest we do this? We don't know where their base is or who their leaders even are." Kaname said.
"I think one of us knows where the location is." he said slowly, Zero's eyes falling on Yori. Everyone else moved to follow his line of sight.
"Me?" she squeaked. "I don't even know what the Vampire Republic is, much less where it is! I don't even know who I am anymore!"
"Yes you do. It's locked away in your memories somewhere, inside the mind of the hunter in you."
"And you want me to just pull them out of my mind, just like that? I've been trying to remember these past few years of my life for over a month now, and I still can't remember anything!" Yori cried, now standing up and gripping the ends of her hair in a tight fist.
"Zero, stop! You're upsetting her!" cried Yuuki as she stroked Yori's head. "Its okay, Yori-chan. You don't have to rush any of this. It will all come back to you in time. Just relax and breathe."
Aido stepped behind the girls, his glare focused entirely on Zero. Judging from the sudden change in the atmosphere, Zero thought it best for him to leave. Before he walked out the door, however, he whispered loud enough for only the vampires' powerful ears to hear, "If we don't strike them down now, they will strike us down first." As he said this, his eyes met Kaname's for a second before he turned his gaze back to the hall in front of him. "Kill or be killed. Those are our only options."
Later that night, as Zero stared at his ceiling and thought back on his old life, someone knocked on his door. Someone he knew would come. "Come in, Kuran."
Kaname opened the door and walked into the room, giving the room a quick glance over before focusing on Zero. "It's a shame that the room is so bare and boring. Much like its occupant."
"Can we just skip the witty remarks and get straight to the point, Kuran?" groaned Zero as he sat up on the edge of his bed.
"I suppose so." replied Kaname, leaning himself against the wall adjacent from Zero. "Your plan isn't bad, but I do have a few questions. For one, how do you know Wakaba Yori worked for the Vampire Republic?"
"For one thing, when she attacked us the first time, her self control was almost on-existent. Most hunters wouldn't have such irrational thinking." he said.
"But you did." replied Kaname.
Zero chose to ignore his comment. "Another thing is that her fighting skills are by no means complete. If she was with the hunters, there is no way the Hunter Society would let one of their own out on the field without finishing their training. Its dangerous both for the hunter and anyone around them. She didn't learn to control her strength and agility either, which further supports my theory that she didn't stay with the hunters. She's the kind of reckless killers the Vampire Society wants on their side. Blinded by her own hate and revenge, willing to do whatever it takes to bring down her target."
"A suicidal pawn." mused Kaname. "It makes sense. Now tell me how you think she'll be able to remember their location."
"I was thinking that was something you could do." Zero said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sure you have some type of ability that can bring her memories back. After all, your kind can lock away the vampire part of themselves and turn that person human."
Kaname paused for a moment, "I can look into it. Now I have one more question for you. If and when she gets her memories back, how can you be sure she's going to cooperate with us?"
"I'm hoping that the past month will make her see that we are not her enemy. And just in case that doesn't work, I'll go there myself. I'm sure they will welcome the man who brought about their rebellion." he said bitterly. "I'll find one of their Prowlers and demand to be taken to them. But lets hope we can get Wakaba to cooperate."
"For all of our sakes, I hope so." Kaname walked out the door and just before closing it, called back, "I'll talk to Aido and Yuuki about this plan and keep you posted."
Zero nodded and let out a sigh of relief when Kaname was finally gone. He knew he was in over his head with this idea, but what other choice was there? Just as he had told everyone else before. Either they take out the Vampire Republic or the Vampire Republic takes them out. And he had already seen the latter event happen. There was no way he was going to let it happen again.
So here is the next chapter! The new threat has been revealed, The Vampire Republic! Things are gonna start getting a little more action filled, and I'm a bit nervous because action scenes are by far, NOT my strong point. But I will do my best! Until the next chapter, adieu!