The midnight moon's light showed itself into the spacious office with a strange sense of familiarity. The space was lit dimly from all areas with artificial candle light, casting its faint mixture of light across the tall figure, contemplating by the window. So the labor had begun according to his pet. News had reached him quickly as his spy had staked itself out at the location that was supposed to have been secluded and secretive, but his eyes had not been blinded to the girl's whereabouts. He had watched patiently the last several months, not only her, but his son's sober disposition. The young man who had once been filled with vivacious life and cocky smirks had vanished from the Hanabusa estate and it was sorely missed. Even Lord Aidou had given pause seeing his son in such a morbid state, but his resolve was reinforced every time he was reminded of the cruel war that was being fought around them. People needed an outlet and should word get out of this human girl's condition the others would prey upon it instantly. They sought distraction so desperately that anyone would be a scapegoat. Hanabusa had been so blinded by his emotions that he was no longer conscious of the consequences and what they would reap not only for him and girl, but everyone within the Hanabusa family. As head of the household, this task had fallen solely upon Lord Aidou's shoulders. It was a heavy burden.

A solid knock interrupted these morbid thoughts as the midwife showed herself into the office, carrying a small sleeping bundle. Lord Aidou's eyes fell immediately to her ward and then looked away quickly.

"It is done, sire," said the midwife, obviously displeased. He nodded curtly and turned to look at the window, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.

"Good, Lilith and a nanny shall come by and take it." She was dismissed.

The midwife had been associated with the Aidou family for generations and despite this fact, she aged gracefully for a vampiress. Having been there for Hanabusa's birth as well as Lord Aidou's she was much respected. Only this allowed to her to speak so informally and bluntly with the Lord of the estate.

"It is a girl, sire." He did not respond. "Do you wish to hold her?" Lord Aidou unfurled his hands and walked slowly to his pet crow, extending a finger. The crow glanced at it sidelong and rubbed it affectionately before hopping onto the offered perch.

"That will be unnecessary," he finally answered. The midwife glowered and stepped forward.

"Please, sire, I insist." Her voice was cold and steely. Lord Aidou glanced at her. He may have been powerful, but even he would be foolish to make an enemy of or displease a midwife. Seeing little choice, he disengaged his pet and turned to face the bundle. Within moments the infant was placed in his stiff arms. His body reacted immediately. It remembered having held Hanabusa for the first time as well. Even after living so long he still looked in wonderment at the lifecycle that they could create.

The baby shifted in his arms to get to a more comfortable position. Like most infants, she had not yet learned to control her muscles and as she slept the corners of her lips twitched up and down into little smiles. Lord Aidou found himself smiling back. Looking up, he found that the midwife had disappeared, leaving him little choice, but to continue to hold the baby. With nothing else he could do, he shifted his position so he could ease himself into his large chair. The child did not stir. He had wanted to save his son the fate of this child. One day his transgression would be revealed and Hanabusa will not be able to avoid the calamity that would follow, but this child's fate had been sealed the moment she was conceived. Lord Aidou felt as though he were staving off the inevitable downfall of this child, but truly he would fight bitterly.

Examining the child's face he saw that Hanabusa had been represented very well. In time, perhaps more of his characteristics would show through.

Yet another knock at the door interrupted. Thinking it was the midwife he called for her to enter, but instead Lilith stepped inside followed by the nanny. Her eyes immediately were riveted by the small bundle in his arms.

"Is that it?" she said breathlessly. Lord Aidou stood stiffly, his age finally being felt.

"Yes." He found himself reluctant to letting the little girl go, but relinquished his hold to the nanny as she took the infant away. Lilith did not so much as glance at her as she sailed by. Instead she continued to stare at Lord Aidou. No further words were necessary as she whirled around and followed the nanny out the door.

Lord Aidou collapsed into his chair, digging his fingers into his golden hair. He was sure if he wasn't already, he was damned in hell.

---------------

Hanabusa was taken with the infant the moment he saw her, but that still did not mean he wished to see her, feeling a reminder of his actions that night with Lilith. The mother had ordered a wet-nurse for the child. Once the child was weaned she would move on to blood at what looked to be the age of two. Vampires aged quickly as infants but the moment they began to consume blood it drastically slowed; it was a survival technique.

It was problematic though. The child would not take to blood. It had to be mixed delicately with honey and milk. Only in small quantities could she take the prepared meals. She did not need the regular amounts that most vampires craved at such a young age. It worried Hanabusa, but it did not seem to bother Lilith, the wet-nurse, or his father for that matter. He shrugged it off then; he knew little about raising a child, so he would leave it to those with experience.

Lilith had flippantly said that Hanabusa could name the child and had even insisted up on it. His father did as well, almost with a flash of guilt in the old man's eyes. Perhaps he had grown sorry for forcing his son into this loveless union. Hanabusa's eyes had softened upon instantly looking at the infant swaddled in blankets. Aria; he would name her Aria, the name of his lover's grandmother, it was the only thing he could give to Yori in this situation. Lilith had no clue of the true meaning of the name and the weight it carried, but Hanabusa figured that she never would find out.

"How many children do you want?" Yori asked suddenly as their pillow talk commenced after making love one night. Hanabusa looked up thoughtfully and then glanced at the young woman in his arms.

"I never really thought about it. I always figured it would be way in the future, nothing to contemplate. You?"She blushed and hid her face in his arm. It warmed his heart.

"I'd be happy with however many as long as I loved the father." Hanabusa felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips.

"What would you name them?" Yori raised her head and answered instantly.

"Draiden if it's a boy and Aria if it's a girl." Hanabusa's eyebrows shot up in surprise at her automatic response. "They are the names of my father and grandmother. The two most important people in my life before I came to Cross Academy." Her lover's arm squeezed her possessively.

"And the most important person to you now?" She smiled at him and hugged him tightly.

"Is there any need to ask?"

The memory always made Hanabusa nostalgic and more often his mood has been one of quiet solitude, veering away from contact with others including his own child. Watching her was just too painful sometimes. He felt a deep affection towards her, but one that held no logic in itself. Children were never his strong point even this one he was not sure he could bring himself to engage her in any form of contact.

To avoid possible collisions at home with Lilith and his father, Hanabusa ou had begged Kaname-sama to take him on one of his frequent expeditions to quell the unrest that had been steadily rising within the community. Through little effort, Kaname was able to find the exact location of a meeting with the purpose of overtaking the entire vampire society. It was something that would be unforgivable in Hanabusa's eyes. He still did not know what Kaname was planning in terms of replacing the Ancient Council, but he knew his master well enough that the situation would not remain so volatile; it could not.

The door of the small room exploded off of its hinges revealing the tall blond vampire, retracting his outstretched hand. Inside the vampires stared at him with stunned expressions. After seeing that their meeting had been uncovered they made moves to recoil furiously, but immediately stopped when Kaname stepped into view. Instead they cowered in their corners and behind various furnishings. Hanabusa glared at them harshly. Such cowards were planning to take over the vampire realm? Ridiculous. Kaname stepped inside and looked at each that was present and every one of them shivered and looked away, avoiding eye contact.

"This is to stop immediately," Kaname said quietly. No one dared to answer him right away. One brave soul, the ringleader stood up shakily and faced off against the pureblood. Stupid.

"What you did to the Ancient Council was treasonous! Its removal should have been discussed…" He froze. Kaname smiled coldly.

"Do you not remember the original purpose of the Council? It was born from chaos and it returned to it. Something born from chaos cannot bring order especially when it was stunted and weakened by its very existence. You seem to be under the impression that there is an order to everything. I am here to remind you that there is no order, the only thing that does keep things in check is me." Kaname stepped forward intimidating and iced shards of the once intact door crunched beneath his boot. The hapless leader trembled, froze in his place. Hanabusa could have sworn he saw the vampire's soul leave him then and there. He stood back in a bored, nonchalant stance, but truly he was intrigued.

"The vampire realm was once shrouded in a violent existence and the weak would immediately perish. You would be one of the first to go. Only the nobles would be able to survive, it is me who is keeping all of you safe at this moment. Should the nobles decide that you all are worthless and are expendable, I am the only one who would be able to stop the rampage that would incur thereafter." The leader trembled and collapsed at the pureblood's feet. "Now do you see? The Council was corrupt and could no longer see what was best for everyone. That kind of power is dangerous, it could have destroyed us all."

Everyone listened, enraptured by every word. They had not been aware of the reasoning of the disbandment of the Ancient Council, but they had simply been angered by the possibility that someone could do it with so little regard to the rest of the vampire community.

The leader mustered everything he could not to faint there on the spot.

"What do you suggest that we do then?" his voice trembled as he tried to maintain his angry tone. "Without the Council there will be chaos once again. There is only one of you and thousands of nobles." The pureblood smiled once again.

"With patience I will bring in a new era for the vampire race." Kaname felt there was nothing else to say and he turned to leave. One soul ran forward, still not satisfied with this answer, headlong towards Kaname's turned back. He yelled as he bore a stake from inside his cloak, his teeth bared. Kaname simply glanced over his shoulder and Hanabusa extended his arm once again. The ice quickly encased the attacker and he felt with a shattering echo. Everyone stared wide-eyed at their fallen comrade.

"Do not make his mistake," whispered Hanabusa as he and his master turned to leave.