Onee-sama, I'm so sorry but I couldn't just stay still.
Mana pulled away from Mamoru. She wrapped his cut hand and looked up at him.
"You shouldn't have," she whispered.
"You're a close friend, how could I not?" Mamoru said as he sat down with his wife.
He looked pale but not as haggard as Mana. Mana sat back on the sofa, wincing.
"I shouldn't stay," she murmured.
"No, we can't let you go out like this," Mayumi said. "You're too weak."
"But…"
Mana shook her head and covered her eyes.
I've interfered enough. Who knows what might happen if I linger longer?
Mana pushed herself off the sofa and staggered. Mayumi and Mamoru jumped to their feet and rushed to her support.
"Did you not take enough blood?" Mamoru asked.
"No more, please," Mana shook her head and pushed his bloody hand away. "I can't drink any more…"
Not from you. Not from Onee-sama.
Mana sighed as she settled back down on the sofa.
"Very well."
The Kiryus shared a relieved look and Mana lay down.
"Ichiru," she murmured. "He was the one who led Shizuka here."
The parents' smiles faded.
"No, he was followed, he wouldn't have…" Mayumi began.
"Ichiru led Shizuka here with the intent to kill you," Mana said in a harsher tone.
Mana closed her eyes to the Kiryus' despaired looks.
"You know it in your hearts. Ichiru has been misguided. When your sons wake up, I'd like to speak to you as a family."
She dropped her head into the cushions.
"But allow me some rest first," she mumbled. "A seven-hour duel hasn't done me any favours."
She felt someone cover her body with a blanket.
"You should have let us handle it," Mamoru murmured.
Mana snuggled into the sofa.
"Off guard and in your own home? You wouldn't have survived…"
I'm sorry, Onee-sama. In another life, I would have let Kaname do as he wished. But you know I'll never get along with him.
Mana woke up to the smell of vegetable soup. She heard cluttering in the kitchen. She opened her eyes and saw Zero sitting in a chair, eyes on her. She smiled up at him.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good evening," he replied.
Mana giggled as she sat up and stretched her arms. Zero shifted back. Mana sighed as she loosened her braids.
"Did you sleep alright, little one?" she asked with a smile.
"Didn't sleep."
Mana's smile wavered. She dropped her hands from her half-done braids.
"You don't trust me, do you?"
Zero shuffled in his seat. Mayumi came in with a tray and her eyes lit up.
"Mana, you're awake!"
Mana yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"It's been a while since I've slept comfortably," she said with a chuckle. "How's Ichiru?"
Mayumi sighed as she placed the tray on the coffee table and gave a bowl of soup to Mana.
"He's in the kitchen."
"Bring him and Mamoru."
Mayumi nodded as she left the room. Mana stirred her bowl before taking a sip. She glanced at Zero who was still staring at her. She hesitated then fumbled in her cloak.
Zero straightened when she pulled out Bloody Rose and placed it on the coffee table, next to his bowl. Mana smiled at him.
"If I try anything, you can shoot me with that, OK?"
Zero stared at the gun and nodded.
Just like when his father first met me.
The family and Mana sat around the coffee table, eating dinner. Mana finished her soup and placed the bowl on the table.
"Would you like some more?" Mayumi asked.
"No thank you," Mana smiled.
She glanced at Ichiru who hadn't touched his soup. She cleared her throat.
"Ichiru?"
Ichiru and Zero tensed. Zero's fingers flexed as he glanced at Bloody Rose.
"What did she promise you?"
Ichiru shrugged, eyes fixed on the floor. Mana glanced at Mayumi and Mamoru.
"I believe she promised to cure you of your sickness."
Ichiru shuffled and Mayumi's eyes fell.
"Ichiru…"
Mana held her hand up.
"You feel left out because of what you were born without," she said. "But you shouldn't blame your family for your weakness."
Ichiru rubbed his nose.
"Her blood would have strengthened you. Which is why, with your parents' permission, I offer mine."
Everyone stared at her with wide eyes. Even Ichiru lifted his head, a glimmer of hope sparkling in his eyes. Mana glanced at Mamoru.
"Well?"
Mamoru and Mayumi looked at one another. Ichiru looked at them.
"Mama? Papa?"
His parents looked at Ichiru with forlorn eyes.
"Boys," Mamoru said as he placed his soup down. "Remember when we told you the story of the first vampire hunters?"
Zero turned to them.
"A woman threw her heart in the furnace to make the first weapons and gave her blood to a group of humans so they could fight against vampires?"
Mana grimaced.
"Well," Mayumi sighed. "That woman was one of the first vampires who took pity on the humans when they were at the point of extinction."
Zero and Ichiru frowned.
"But why?" Zero asked. "She was a vampire!"
Mana chuckled.
"Because, young one," she sighed. "The only thing that can kill us is ourselves."
Tears brimmed in her mismatched eyes as she glanced out at the snow.
"All she wanted was to help humans. We were born to human parents after all."
Ichiru and Zero glanced between her and their parents. Mamoru ducked his head.
"Mana is the woman's twin sister. Her blood would give Ichiru the vampire hunting powers that he was born without."
"But why do you look upset?" Ichiru asked with a glare.
Mana glanced at Ichiru.
"Whilst it's true the humans who drank her blood grew stronger," she said, "some of them died. Would you be willing to take that risk?"
Ichiru's face fell and Mayumi covered her face, sobbing.
"The thought!" she bawled as Mamoru hugged her. "I couldn't! Not my baby!"
She cried as her husband rocked her. Ichiru watched them with a crestfallen look. Zero glanced at Mana.
"But why are you helping?"
Mana chuckled.
"I'm not too different from my sister. Like her, I do not hate humans."
I might as well dive head first into this.
"Please."
Ichiru grabbed Mamoru's sleeve.
"I don't want to be weak anymore."
"No!"
Mayumi grabbed Ichiru and hugged him.
"I can't risk losing you!"
Ichiru hugged her back.
"But I'm dying anyway," he mumbled. "I'm just weak and not being useful. I'm just a waste of space. Let me take this chance!"
Mamoru looked between Mana and Ichiru, sighing.
"Mayumi, we should try."
Mayumi looked up at her husband with wide eyes.
"No!"
"Think about what could have happened if Mana hadn't been here to protect us!"
Mamoru placed a hand on Ichiru's back.
"He's right. I wouldn't have want to die sick in a bed either. Let him take this chance."
Mayumi looked between him and Mana, eyes flowing down her cheeks.
"Mama. I love you."
Mayumi looked at Ichiru who smiled up at her.
"I'll be strong enough. I promise."
Mayumi fell to her knees and covered her face. Ichiru turned to Mana. Mana nodded.
No regrets. No looking back.
Mana shivered as she stepped out into the snow.
"Won't you stay for longer?" Mamoru asked.
Mana shook her head.
"I've saved you and Ichiru is showing positive signs that my blood is working," she said. "I can't stay any longer."
"But why?"
Mana grimaced.
"Someone let Shizuka out with the hope that she'll find you," she said. "When he finds out about her death and finds me, we all may be vulnerable."
She turned to Mamoru.
"You and your wife killed Shizuka last night," she said. "Now that your home has been found, you will find a new home and train both your sons."
She placed a hand on Mamoru's shoulder.
"I was never here, understand?"
Mamoru grasped her wrist and nodded.
"But what about you?"
Mana glanced up at the dark sky. Snow began to fall and she smiled.
"The wind has changed. A new path has been opened. I will be free with my decisions."
She turned to Mamoru.
"Zero will be excellent with Bloody Rose, I can guarantee that," she said with a grin.
Mamoru nodded then held her cloak out. Mana shook her head.
"I'm Mana," she said and began walking away.
Her hair blew behind her as she braved the chill and left the Kiryu residence.
I'm sorry, Onee-sama. I shan't cling to your memory any longer.
Requested by a guest reviewer