Chapter 20:

The Arms that Held the Original Sin

Four Years Ago…

- Why were we born separately?- asked a young Ichiru.

Zero turned to watch his twin at that question and see what he was doing.

- To be born as part of Zero would be so much better than to be born like the trash I am now, what… was I born for?- that's when Ichiru grab a pill since he always need to eat medicine.

That's when Zero launch over him and make Ichiru fall back hitting his head in the process.

- Ah! It hurts, my head got hit, Zero?- Ichiru started to question his twin since he couldn't understand why he did that.

- Sorry… Ichiru…- said Zero while hugging his twin for dear life, making Ichiru to be surprise.

I know,

- It hurts just a little, you don't have to apologize so seriously.- said Ichiru.

When I said something like this,

Zero rise up looking at his twin and then moving his eyes else were while frowning at the same time.

I know what kind of face Zero would make.

But only at this moment, when Zero is hurt by what I said,

Only at this time, I can sense the feeling of being his "other half".

You knew it too, Zero.

Then Ichiru cares Zero's cheek and embraces him so he can lay down next to him.

- What should I do?- asked Ichiru.

- I do not know, Ichiru.- answer Zero.

Even though I know what Ichiru is thinking,

But what I can I do?

Or what should I do?

Zero stare at his twin while thinking everything until now, his very doubts.

I do not know.

Because Ichiru's body was born weakly like this.

Ichiru stare back at him wondering what he was thinking.

Maybe

It was

My fault.

- Hey… Zero, what are you thinking?- asked Ichiru.

I took away the other half,

Inside of mother's body.

Zero was starting to get depress for everything that was happening to his twin.

Took it away,

And it became mine.

Just like the vampires.

- Let me guess?- asked Ichiru already piss off.

- Eh?- asked Zero snapping out of his trance.

Zero stare back at his twin only to see that he was showing a stone face to him.

- …- Zero didn't know what to say to him until Ichiru grab his face.

- You are too hesitant. You will not become a powerful hunter if you stay like this. And, the things you cannot tell me, remember to tell it to mom and dad.- said Ichiru to him while closing his lavender eyes. – Zero, there are things you are hiding from me, because we know each other too well, right?-

That's why, little by little,

- It worries me.- said Ichiru.

Little by little.

- Yeah. Ichiru, you haven't eaten your medicine yet.- Zero rise up and try to reach the medicine only to be stop my Ichiru's hold on him.

He look back down at his younger sibling. And notice that Ichiru wasn't looking at him.

Little by little.

- I don't need it, I won't heal because of the human's techniques. – said Ichiru without a doubt and with a serious expression.

The gear started to turn.

That surprise very much to Zero. Realizing that Ichiru will never be cure.

And little by little,

- I feel so much better when Zero is here.- said Ichiru with a gentle smile on his face now looking at his twin.

I decided to do what Ichiru wanted me to do.

Very late at night, there mother went toward Ichiru's room and notice that her children were there. She went toward them to place the blanket over their necks to cover them.

- Sleeping together again? I'm back. Sorry it's so late. – Good night Ichiru. Good night Zero.- with that she pat both their heads.

And lean over them to touch their heads with hers as in a hug.

Little by little,

STOP IT, MOM!

Zero woke up a little as he notice this.

The gear started to lose its track.

The warmth mom equally gave,

It belonged to Ichiru, and was for Ichiru,

Then the arms of their mother was gone.

Back to the present…

But I took them away from him.

His left hand was bleeding with the transformation going its course.

- Zero… What am I?-that's the phrase that Ichiru told him when he was going outside the same night their parents die.

- Zero… stop dazing, look at me closely.- said Ichiru.

I do not deserve to be loved.

- Being captured in here, and behaving so well.- said Ichiru was already inside and knee down in front of Zero. – Just like you did before, you've never stopped punishing yourself. Or are you trying to atone?- then he hold Zero's chin so he could stare at him. – You didn't think that this will make me feel better, did you?- Ichiru's face was cover with some blood on his face. – Thanks to you, even though I hate it, but I still cannot help but to notice the fact, that Zero will feel much freer without me.- and stare at Zero with anger. – Seriously, and the fact that you took Shizuka-sama away from me.-

- … Don't worry, the naïve thought of atonement… disappeared a long time ago.- said Zero as he remember Ichiru's young face with a smile on it at the night of their parents dead. – That night, when I saw you smiling… how could you smile? About mom and dad's death?- he took hold of Ichiru's left wrist and glaring at him.

Ichiru also glare at him before answering.

- You are still pretty energized. But after this gunshot, a vampire who was previously human couldn't survive.- still holding Bloody Rose on his right hand. – Zero… This academy was The Hunter Society's base before, and this basement was originally to imprison vampires. How ironic…- said Ichiru while looking around.

Zero made his hold a little with force with the powers going out of control with his emotions.

- … It hurts, Zero…- said Ichiru since he was still human and the strength of a vampire was very much more than his. – Ah! It's quite painful isn't it? Became a vampire, although you are stronger than before, but you are not complete.- Zero clench even more as he was trying to control himself. – Are you going insane? … Not really… but I'm anticipating death.- Ichiru frown as he was feeling a lot of pain. – The vampire that Shizuka-sama loved, was killed by our parents… Even though, he didn't fall to Level E yet. But he was still on the list. They didn't do anything wrong… They were just doing their jobs. But when Shizuka-sama… heard what happened, I felt very sick, during that day they killed… Shizuka-sama's lover. Just like before, and hugged us tightly… And from The Hunter's Society's aspect,-

They feel pain just…

By looking at me.

- They had to report as "Ichiru is no use".- said Ichiru remembering that phrase.

- Ichiru, let me ask you…- said Zero as he was struggling to maintain his will under control as the smell was been too strong for him to ignore. – Why are you injured so badly?- that's when Zero notice the deep scars on Ichiru's left side that were big and his dark coat was already soak in his own blood.

- I only wanted to make… Shizuka-sama's wish come true. – said Ichiru with his eyes low. – My goal ever since the start was him, the man who imprisoned Shizuka-sama, who changed the list, Rido Kuran.- then he close his eyes with a frown as he remember the face of that monster.

Flashback…

At Senri and Takuma's Room.

Rido just rise up fully from his coffin as Ichiru was holding his sword toward him. He manage to stab him over the ribs but Rido just only smirk while watching this.

- Just… for the sake of it, "what do you mean by this?"- asked Rido with a sinister smile.

- I'm avenging Shizuka-sama, whose life was destroyed by you. – said Ichiru with venom to him. – And that's why I was hoping for your awakening.- they both stare at each other.

Rido only watch him with amusement as in a second… Ichiru's left side was scratch as his blood was spill all over. Ichiru was shock for not seeing it coming.

- Go away, I don't need weak things…- said Rido as he place his right hand over his mouth to lick the blood off.

End of Flashback.

- Although I used all… I've got… The result is very limited, I know…- said Ichiru with difficulty as he started falling over Zero.

This alarmed Zero since he couldn't believe this. Ichiru frown as he try to stay awake a little longer. Ichiru was lean over Zero's shoulder as he try to make himself be awake.

- Ah… No… I have something… else to tell you…- said Ichiru as Zero only watch his twin losing his life little by little.

- Ichi… ru…- Zero try to called him but was a little unsure of what to say.

- How disgusting, this place is full of the smell of our blood. But to Zero, this should be a good scent…-

- …- Zero only stay silent as he close his eyes and try to not let his thirst get the better of him.

- And you are bearing it… …- Ichiru open his eyes as he relaxes over his twin. – Although we have become differente "species", hugging you like this really calms me down.- he close his eyes.

Zero only open his eyes as he was getting more worried over Ichiru.

- Isn't it because we were from the same egg?- said Ichiru as Zero was hugging him. – Zero… the last piece of my life… eat it all…- then a flower that was in the sealing started to wither, just like Ichiru's life.

Ichiru took a tight hold of Zero's shirt as he hugged him so he wouldn't escape from this. The veins that were getting out of control reach Zero's left side of his face as he heard this and was losing control.

- Ichiru…- he try to warn him.

- Do you know what I am saying? If you ate me, you will be able to take back the strength that belonged to you before you were born. And the thing inside your body can be treated too.- said Ichiru.

- No, I won't do it.- Zero close his eyes with a frown as he didn't want to accept this.

- No, you will. Why did you think I shot you using this gun?- state Ichiru.

- I won't!- shout Zero as he finally hugged with all his heart at his twin. – Stop it! I don't want to lose anything else anymore!- this shock Ichiru.

- I'm so happy, I thought I was dead inside your heart…- Ichiru smile as he hugged him with the same love to him. – It's just like she said… you're way to kind for your own good.-

- "She"?- asked Zero not understand who Ichiru was referring.

- Misaki.- said Ichiru.

- Misaki?- asked Zero very shock.

- I know that when we met her she was a scary cat at first. She was very much attach to you than I ever was. But she also care a lot about me, much different than our parents. I could see that she wanted to help me more than anyone else. I still remember when she told me…- said Ichiru while going back to that moment.

Flashback…

Ichiru was in his bedroom as Zero was downstairs with Master Yagari. Misaki came to his room as she first peek inside and see him. She smile as she saw him, she was caring a tray of cookies and two glasses of milk with her. Ichiru only watch every move she made as she sat in front of him and show him the tray.

- I thought that you might want some cookies, I now is not much of what I can do for you but… I hope you like them.- she smile to him with all her heart as you could see that she was nervous for him to like the cookies.

- Thank you.- said Ichiru as he took a cookie and eat it.

Misaki make sure to pay close attention to his facials as he was tasting the cookie. Ichiru was a little amuse by this, he actually like the taste of the cookie so he took another one and ate it. Seeing this, Misaki smile as her eyes grow even larger with excitement.

- Misaki.- called Ichiru once he finish his second cookie.

- Yes?- she told him to continue.

- Why are you so kind to me?- he finally asked her.

Misaki was taken a back and that's when he notice that her eyes cast a shadowy sorrow all over her face. He didn't know why but… he felt pain inside his heart when he notice that feeling in her face. Now he could understand Zero's motive to make her smile.

- Actually, can you keep a secret Ichiru?- asked Misaki finally looking up to him with a serious expression. – Even from Zero?-

Ichiru didn't think that she could make that expression but he knew that this must be her darkest secret for her to tell him to keep it a secret from his twin brother.

- I promise.- he said as he rise his hand in sign of his loyalty.

- As you can see… remember when Mastar Yagari shot me with his rifle?- she asked him.

- Yes.- he said remembering that first time that she was in their home.

- He had his right to be unsure of me. He thought that I was a vampire.- she said looking at the sheets. – Which he wasn't wrong in one thing.- this shock Ichiru more as he face her. – To be clear of this, I'm actually the daughter of vampires.- she finally look at him.

- Of vampires?- he asked her not really understanding.

He was sure to hear that the vampires could procreate their own children who are also going to be vampires, but never of vampires procreating a human.

- I'm not even sure myself of why I was born been a human either. But I was. For that same reason… they treat me differently. I didn't even feel that it was my family. My own parents pay more attention to my sister than me, and my brother only try to get closer to me because he felt pity of me.- she said as she place her hand over her eyes. – I don't even have the same color of eyes as my parents or my siblings. I'm the only one who is different.- she wanted to cry just remembering those times in agony. – My brother took me away from my house without telling me something, my mother didn't even look back at me and my father… he never care for me.- she said as the tears couldn't be hold anymore.

Ichiru couldn't take it anymore and hugged her tightly, while she keep crying and hugged him back.

- I don't even know if my sister is okay or if she misses me. She was the only one to ever care for me. Been a lone in that house… was too much for me… that's why I run away from it. But by doing so… that vampire chase me to eat me. Then… I met you guys in that place… and for once… I feel safe. Staying with you guys has made me understand what the meaning of a true family is. Looking at you… it remind me of me back then at my parents house. I could see your agony of not been able to train with Zero a lot or… been useful. I wanted to make you feel fine even if you couldn't do anything. I wanted you to feel safe, to feel secure, to feel love…- she broke right there as she told him. – Promise me that you're not going to tell Zero about this, and not even your parents.- she looked at him with teary eyes as some of them were already sliding down oven her cheeks.

- I won't tell them but… I think Zero needs to know about this, I think he can…- said Ichiru.

- No, he wouldn't understand.- she look down.

- Actually, he will, he…- he try to reassure her.

- Don't you see? When he finds out that I'm the daughter of the same beast that he hates… he is going to feel disgusted by me.- she cry even more.

- You don't know that, Zero…-

- And what if I'm turned into a vampire? What is he going to do? He is training to kill my race… and he wouldn't hesitate to kill me if I'm one of them.- that left Ichiru silent.

He knew that very much. Even his parents will try to kill her if they knew this.

- I want to tell them when the time is right, but if I can't and they find out about it… I don't know what I will do. I know that Zero cares a lot about me but… to see the sorrow in his eyes… I would prefer if he hates better.- she finally admit as the tears keep rolling down.

- What are you talking about?- he was more worried of what she was going to say next.

- If I can prevent that he suffers of the truth of who I really am… then I prefer to make him believe that I was just using him.- she said as the very idea was painful for her.

- Are you going nuts? That will devastated Zero even more! Do you really want him to feel that?- he practically hold her by her arms and make her see some sense of all of this.

- I don't see any other choice in that. If I can safe him from danger or from some agony that will soon pass… then… I'm willing to make that just to keep him alive.- she said with determination as her eyes stop to water and only the sight of her cheeks been water by her tears remain.

Ichiru wasn't sure about this but… he knew that either way… both were going to suffer because of this. He could clearly see that Zero care very deeply for her and now… he could see the same feeling in her for his twin.

- You know… Zero is too kind for his own good.- she said while looking at her hands.

- What do you mean?- he finally asked her seeing that she just calm down.

- He's too kind, from someone who is going to become a hunter.- she smile at the idea. – Even if his close ones hurt him… I can see that he will not hold grudges to the ones that are deeply inside his heart… - that's when Ichiru notice that she could read Zero already.

If only you knew that he would the same with you.

- But I know that… that kindness… is going to disappear eventually.- she admitted as another tear fall over.

- Don't cry, please. I don't want to see you like this. I pains me to see you like this. Especially, since you take care of me more than even Zero himself.- Ichiru smile as he almost wanted to cry too.

Misaki notice this and then hug him as she knew what she did to him.

- I'm sorry, Ichiru.- she said finally.

- Don't worry. I promise I'm not going to tell Zero. For your sake.- he hugged her back.

End of Flashback.

- Zero… All this time… She's been protecting you…- Ichiru finally confess the truth of Misaki.

Zero stay silent as he process everything that Ichiru told him. Then he remember what she told him back then, the same day that Yuki transform into a vampire.

- I plan it from the very beginning to use one of the brothers as a pawn in this little game of ours.-

She lie.

- My brother and I. He made me have a deal with all this. Since I look just like an ordinary human, he told me to get close to a vampire hunter, get their trust, make them believe that you're their friend, make them love even if you don't. And once that's done… turned the life of the one that is attached to you the more… into it's worse nightmare.-

I always knew it.

- Not only did I turned you into a vampire for that purpose. I also turned you so you can be my servant-

She was lying.

- You're just a lower class vampire that will never know that everything we do… is for our own glory and get ourselves more power like never before.-

Why?

- To see you crumble while everything that you have ever believe, that you ever hope for, and to see… that the only person that you ever consider that believe, care and love you… were just pretending and used you for their own reasons. And you're even more pathetic than ever before, Kiryu.-

Why did you told me those things if you didn't mean it?

- Prepare yourself Kiryu. Everything, is about to change. And you're going to fall either way or the other.-

Where you…

Warning me?

Zero felt heartbroken with everything. He didn't know what to believe now. But he knew that Ichiru's words were truth. If that was truth… then, everything that Misaki did… every word she said… every action she took… was for him.

He wanted to apologize to her, but right now… his brother need him.

- Maria… wants to see you too!- he try to make Ichiru reconsider of this.

- Really?- he closed his eyes hearing this from Zero.

- Dad and mom too, had watched you closely and loved you.- said Zero desperate.

- I know.- said Ichiru.

- And you too. Even if you cannot forgive, but please don't hate Shizuka-sama.- said Ichiru with less strength in him.

- I will not let you become a vampire.- That was Shizuka's phrase to Ichiru.

- Shizuka-sama… treated me very well.

- Eat me, and let me become part of you.- she said with a smile on her face as she starts to crack in front of him.

- That's why I did this, but I don't regret it. And soon I will…- said Ichiru.

- Ichiru, This is wrong…- Zero try to argue with him but deep down he knew that it was far from good.

- Wrong?- asked Ichiru as he grab Zero's short to make him lose control once and for all and eat him. – If you think like this, Zero, you… Just accomplish your goal. Alive… soon…- Zero's eyes widen as he could hear Ichiru's heartbeat weakening. – You and I… will become … as one…- whisper Ichiru with a smile on his face as the strength of his hand losen his grip and fall.

Accomplish it…

Alive.

Meanwhile…

At the Day Class Dorms…

Yuki turned around, while Yori just watch her and Hanabusa also turned very shock. Kaname had finally arrive before them. Everything was very silent except from the whistle of the wind.

- Let's go Yuki.- said Kaname.

Meanwhile…

Back at the cells.

Zero's foot was cover in blood as he started to rise up. He bite down his own wrist as he drink his own blood. Then he started to walked a little unstable so he had to place his hand over the wall. He went to the exit and walked up the stairs. With each step he took his shadow started to grow behind him and a giant roar was heard. His shadow show a big monster while Zero's hand scratches the wall making it grumbles. He needs to reach the top.